Favorite Time of Day

Every day in the soft gray light of the early morning, my son 'calls' from his room. I stumble down the hallway and am greeted with a grin and a shriek. We do the necessary diaper change and then snuggle in on the couch for breakfast. Me with a cup of coffee balanced carefully on the arm of our couch and Jackson contentedly nursing away.

My favorite time is the ten minutes after he finishes nursing and we cuddle and play...delaying the inevitable start of our day. We smile and talk, lots of kisses are given out and I soak up his beautiful baby face. Those blue eyes melt me over and over.

Soon enough he is going to be running and playing, not wanting to slow down for hugs and kisses from me, so today I'll treasure the moment.

Special

My husband sent me a sweet surprise yesterday! It was so awesome to answer the door and see these waiting for me. The bright cheery colors were the perfect anecdote to a long week and the yucky gray weather outside.

It has been a challenging week with Jack. Just when I thought we were getting into a routine with him, he decided to start waking up multiple times a night again. I've gone to all my baby books, talked with friends, called my mom for advice and searched the Internet to try and find a solution on why this baby had given up sleep.

I think a couple of things are going on; it's time to stop swaddling him, he needs more daytime sleep and he might be going through his three month growth spurt. The swaddle issue is tough because it really helps him go to sleep but he seems to fight it quite a bit while he is asleep and it wakes him up. Also, he has recently found his hands and anytime he is awake, his fingers are in his mouth. This is great since he doesn't take a binky, but tough because if he isn't swaddled for a nap, he is waking himself up by trying to suck on his hands.

Oddly enough, the baby slept his 'usual' 8 hours last night from 8:30 to 4:30am. He woke up to eat and went right back to sleep until about 8am. I don't know what's going on...

This is one of those times when I really wish there was a manual to raising children. The rule follower in me just wants somebody to tell me what to do.

It's a good thing he is so deliciously adorable. I think I'll keep him!

Fitness

Like so many of us, part of my commitment or 'resolution' for 2009 is to lose the last of my baby weight(about 5 pounds but I could stand to lose an additional 5 after that, so lets be honest, it's more like 10 pounds) and make a renewed effort to be healthy. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm about a 5 when it comes to healthy living. I've always exercised, although I'm not an athlete, eaten lots of fruit and veggies and gotten a decent amount of sleep (pre-baby that is). But, I want to do more.

I was looking for a work out that I could do at home when Jackson is sleeping that would not only hold my attention but also be easy enough to follow along. Turbo Jam is fun but I am just not coordinated enough for it. So, upon the many recommendations of fellow bloggers, I bought 30 day shred and I think it's actually working!

My arms feel stronger, my legs are constantly sore and my belly, which is completely whapped out from having a nine pound baby, even seems to be responding. More than anything I think I have a bit more energy and considering my son has once again given up on sleeping at night, I need all the energy I can get.

My goal this week was to do the workout every day. I missed Tuesday but I'm hoping not to miss any other days this week. I am joining a few other ladies in blogland in posting an update on my progress on Thursdays. You might even see a few before and after pictures, once there is documentable progress.

My other goal, which I wrote about over at Bodies in Motivation, was to eat healthy snacks. I need to ramp up on this one. I'm drinking too much coffee, and dipping into the bags of frozen chocolate chips in my freezer. Yes...I eat handfuls of frozen chocolate chips when there aren't any other treats at my house. What is your secret bad habit? Don't leave me hanging out in embarrassment all by myself!

Mad Face

'Dad...I'm ready. Those birds have nothing on me. Why are we sitting on this chair and why are you taking my picture when we could be hunting right now...?'


This picture made me laugh out loud when I downloaded it this evening. There is no mistaking this kid is full of personality and his facial expression is priceless. The camo fleece is icing on the cake.

New Favorite

This is one of my new favorite pictures of Jackson. His smiles absolutely melt me. The kid loves his bath, I honestly think it's the highlight of his day. He has learned to splash (kicking his legs) and while it might drench me, it's completely worth it.

Better Late Than Never

This amaryllis is a sweet surprise every time I walk by my dining room. It was supposed to be part of my Christmas decor but it just now bloomed this week.

Sorry about the lack of blogging this week. Between starting my job this week and spending every spare moment eating my sons cheeks...there just hasn't been time to do much updating.

It's funny, I don't know if any other working mothers feel this way, but I think I would have happily gone back to work during the first couple of weeks after Jackson was born because it would have been a reprieve from how hard it was at home. Between the sleepless nights, constant crying, blow out diapers and throbbing boobs...a few hours at the office would have been nice. But, in the last few weeks, basically since just before Christmas, my baby has gotten so fun! He coos and talks, smiles a ton, loves to 'stand,' grab at his toys and rarely cries anymore. Now, it's way harder to leave him, even for a few hours because I don't want to miss out.

And to completely change the subject, I need some easy dinner recipes. I'm bored with what I have in rotation...please please share your ideas and recipes with me.

Full Circle

This questionaire was my very first post a year ago. So...to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary and because it's fun to look back and compare, I decided to do it again.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
went to hawaii, got pregnant and gave birth (in that order...)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year's resolution was to get moer organized...since I mostly failed at it, I think I'll take another stab at it in 2009.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
It was the year of babies...several friends and family members had babies!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Both Aaron and I lost our grandpa's this year.

5. What countries did you visit?
No countries...but several counties. Does that count?

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Jeans that give good ass

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 23 -- the day my son was born. The absolute most amazing day of my entire life.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The birth of Jackson Eugene and my emergence as a mother

9. What was your biggest failure?
I had lots of work drama in 2008 and I think I could have channeled my frustration better and been more professional.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Bob Jogger -- I've only used it a few times, but it's hands down my favorite 'kid thing' and Jackson loves it too.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friend Trisha who stayed with me from the minute I went into labor all the way through delivery. She was an amazing friend and support system for me. (Not to say Aaron wasn't incredible, but he had to be there...she didn't)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'm pleading the fifth on this one...

14. Where did most of your money go?
House, baby, groceries

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The birth of my baby -- I'm seeing a theme here. 2008 was the year of the baby.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Colbie Caillat -- Realize

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer?
happie, fatter and richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent more time with my family specifically my brothers

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wish I had eaten less sweets, complained about life less and worried less

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Five jam packed days with Aaron's family in the snowstorm of the decade.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Oh yeah...he's a bit on the chuncky side, doesn't have much hair but he's the baby of my dreams.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope

24. What was the best book you read?
Grace Eventually by Ann Lamott

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lucille and Kanye West -- American Boy (my inner hip hop 13-year-old self loves this song!)

26. What did you want and get?
A baby, a downstairs bathroom, riding boots

27. What did you want and not get?
A new job -- although I did secure one for 2009, details coming!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
The business of being born

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Spent it at Willows Lodge (which I highly reccomend), I turned 26

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Honestly, nothing. It was a fantastic year. There are always small things but nothing could have made it immeasurably more satisfying.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Preppy casual

32. What kept you sane?
My husband, Starbucks, good friends, excersizing and blogging

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hmmm...probably any celebrity who was pregnant.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Presidential race

35. Who did you miss?
My family

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I met so many! Some great friendships were forged in 2008

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
God's plan is always better than my plan. (Sounds ridiculously cheesy but I've lived it this year...)

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm passing on this one because I can't honestly even think of an appropriate song.