Yet another resolution

     First of all, today's pictures have nothing to do with the content.  However if you have a short attention span like I do, you'll appreciate the breaks.  Yesterday I turned 26. I had some pretty good things happen at age 25 and I'm sure it will only get better. Did I just jinx myself?  Just kidding, I don't believe in jinxes. Knock on wood.

I need to use my camera more instead of my phone

Holding onto his monkey

     Jill shared a blog with me about a woman who is trying to simplify her life by doing one small thing a day for a year. They purged a lot and started being more green.  It's really inspiring, here's the address: http://www.theyearofless.blogspot.com/ . There's a whole movement of people trying to live more simply.  For example, there's a challenge to live with only 100 things that I've heard about.  I've also read blogs about people who only wear one outfit for a whole year. After the headache of moving all of our stuff (mostly mine, I admit) I feel even more inspired to get rid of as much as possible.  I've always been one to hold on to objects because of nostalgia, feeling like said objects could be useful in the future or my head exploding from trying to figure out what in the world to do with random objects. (i.e. computer accessories, cables, papers, hardware, more papers, misc.) This is one habit I would like to avoid passing on to Adrian.  I did get rid of a lot before I got married; I would carry 2 or 3 bags of trash out of my room at a time.  I think getting rid of things strikes my guilt complex.  I have no idea why.

     I'm going to try to do a little bit every day and see how much I can give away or throw away.  I think it will lead to less stress.  Plus who doesn't love the feeling of purging unnecessary items?  Once I get my house together (how many times have I used that phrase?) I feel like we can start getting into a routine.  I would like to eat healthier, finish my curtains, have a cleaning schedule and end my backed up laundry issues. I miss baking and I need practice on cakes.  Plus Christmas is coming up; we need to make room for the tree somehow. Oh my goodness, thinking about Christmas makes me giddy.

     Wish me luck on this endeavor. I have a habit of getting really inspired by something, starting it and forgetting about it within a month. *insert embarrassed face here*

     I should use Adrian's face instead of emoticons.  

The many faces of Adrian

     Can you say "obsession"? There was a sale at my favorite diaper store and I needed a few more anyways so our diapers last longer.  I did not ask for the polka dots, there was a limit you needed to spend to get a free diaper and that's what I received   It's a Kawaii; I have a green Kawaii that I like so I'm not going to complain about the look of it.

     Adrian is starting to like and hold on to toys.  Yesterday he was "talking" to a little monkey toy at my parent's house. He loves that monkey, it has a huge smile on its face. 

     As much as I like the deer in the headlights look:

He makes all kinds of adorable faces:

His neck strength gets better all the time.  So does his tolerance for the bath. I've started playing music and heating the kitchen during bathtime and he's been all smiles.  

     Today we went to Target to get a tub for the clothes he has outgrown and some toys.  I washed all of his 3-6 month pajamas but I'm reluctant to put any of his 3 month clothes away because I am in denial.  I think the biggest factor is his length, but the bulky cloth diapers also warrant bigger pants so I really have to get over it. 

I'll leave you with a sleeping baby.

       

Adrian's Baptism

     This past weekend my baby boy got baptized. (Or as Caroline says "zap-a-tized") He stayed content until the cold water was poured over his head, but he still took it like a champ.  We ended up missing the whole rest of the service because I had to feed him and there was a whole mis-communication about where the formula was.  The party was at my in-laws and all the family members helped put it together.  It was a lovely party and we had a lot of people come.  It was really fun to see everyone. Chris and Emilee are Adrian's godparents, I must have been flustered because I can't believe I didn't get a picture of him with them!  He was very hot in his outfit though, we had to take it off pretty quickly.  We are going to get pictures later but I did get one:

     I made the sign and the cake.  Robert took better pictures but I have to upload them later.  I had a lot of issues frosting the cake, I'm going to practice.  I always make it too thick and the crumbs get all over the place.  I suppose it's a funny story actually.  I borrowed my mom's kitchen because it's more familiar and my house already stresses me out since we are still trying to get settled.  (I will never move while pregnant again.) So things went pretty well until I was finished with the electric mixer and attempted to take the beaters out.  All you do is press the button.  Only one came out while I pressed the button so I struggled with it for several minutes pushing and pulling and finally it popped out.  Unfortunately so did two metal pieces that lock it in place.  I broke the damn thing.  The next day I used it with one beater because I was desperate. PSA: it doesn't work like that.  With all my crumb issues my homemade frosting wasn't enough to cover the cake so I got a can of store bought.  It still turned out close to what I envisioned.  I was going to put "God Bless Adrian" but oh well.

     I hope I do a better job with his first birthday.  I never even mailed invitations to his baptism like I wanted and some people got pretty short notice.  We had brunch and my in laws made tons of food and set up the house with enough tables and chairs and china.  They did all the decorating while Matt and I went to a wedding the day before.  If it was all up to me we would have ended up at my house with donuts and paper plates.  Hopefully my inner domestic goddess improves with time.

   
     Speaking of the wedding, it was the first time I left Adrian for longer than 1/2 an hour.  I bawled of course.  It was fun hanging out with my friends, and it was good seeing Tom because he wont be back for another year.  It was nice to have one on one time with Matt. However, I don't have the urge to do it again for a while.  Maybe dinner or a movie but not as long as the wedding. My mom played with Adrian that day by the way and he started reaching for the toys!  That was the first time and he has been doing it ever since.  I'm going to make a separate post about everything else so don't judge me for doing two in one day.

I will never...oh nevermind

     Before I was a mom (all ten weeks ago) I had a lot of ideas about what kind of parent I would be.  Even if you babysit I don't think you will truly know what parenthood is like until it happens.  I figured as much, but I still judged other parents an awful lot.  There are a few things I said I would never do, but now I do them,  such as:

*I will never bedshare - hahahahaha.  Adrian normally wakes up as soon as you set him down. I would try to put him down for the night but he would wake up right away and want to eat.  He still eats for 45+ minutes at a time and likes to comfort nurse.  I wasn't getting any sleep.  After about a month I ended up sleeping on my side between him and Matt and it's been working well. I haven't moved in my sleep and I follow all of the safety precautions. Some say that it is safer and healthier to bedshare because the baby takes breathing cues from mom and she will be more aware if something goes wrong.   He has just started to be able to fall asleep in his swing or after being swayed in my arms rather than by nursing so we should be able to get him to sleep in his bassinet by our bed soon.

*I will never keep my baby out of the house (at a wedding, at the store, visiting someone) after 8:00 PM- Newborns don't have the same kind of schedule as older babies so I learned pretty quickly that this isn't a big deal.  You can make any kind of schedule with a baby and as long as they get enough sleep it's probably okay.  Since Matt has a weird schedule, we started out with a weird schedule so we could see him.  Adrian is starting to fall asleep "for good" at 10:00 and getting up for the morning around 8:00 or 9:00 A.M. Random story: One morning I woke up and Adrian was right in line with my face staring at me with his eyes as wide as they go.  It was hilarious.

*I will not use formula (until 6+ months)- I have no problem with formula, this just wasn't my plan.  For whatever reason I wasn't making enough for Adrian and we ended up having to supplement. This was a slippery slope for me.  He was only supposed to get an ounce but right now he is getting 4 oz after every feeding (except at night) because he is still hungry. This is messing with my supply even more but I'm a little scared to stop because I don't want him to have trouble with weight gain again. I felt like a total failure when the doctor said I had to supplement. I've never felt worse about anything in my whole life than I did about Adrian's weight. Drama queen or not, it's true. Thankfully he does not prefer the bottle and I have a plan to get us back to exclusive breastfeeding. Sorry if all of this is too much information.

     I find myself judging other parents a lot less; you just don't know what is going on in other people's lives.  All babies are different, all families are different and what works for one may not work for another.  I know I'm a late-comer with this revelation.  Good job self.

First trip grocery shopping by ourselves.  Success!

     I just thought of another random story.  A couple weeks ago I was watching a video on youtube about a dad trying to calm his crying baby.  When the youtube baby started crying Adrian got this pout on his face and bawled.  So I turned the video off and he calmed down.  I turned it back on and he cried with the baby.  I read this is the first step to developing empathy but not all babies do it.  I cry when other people cry, maybe he'll take after me.  Poor boy.

Obviously I have a new pet peeve.

     At Adrian's two month appointment the doctor was pleased with his weight and pretty much said he looked perfect.  He had to start getting his shots.  The nurse held his little legs down and poked him in his thighs.  He cried, I cried, and then he fell asleep on the way home while I was still trying to get over it.  I know it's for the best, it's just hard to watch.

     After about 6 years of having the same phone I finally got a new one yesterday.  I got a moby wrap, which is a baby carrier made of fabric that you...wrap. So I used it for the first time at the sprint store and it was awesome, I will be using it everywhere.  I should have gone with my gut and bought it before Vala's.  Live and learn! The cashier said my blue phone was a good choice because the white ones look cheap.  Then two minutes later she realized Matt has the white phone. Awkward.  She also commented on how small Adrian is and asked if he was a preemie.  She didn't mean anything by it but these comments make me feel like everyone thinks I'm starving my baby or something.  He is 10 pounds, it's not that bad.  Being a mom has taught me a lot already; I know what kinds of comments are appropriate to  make about a stranger's baby now.  "How cute/beautiful/adorable etc." and if you really want you can ask about sleeping habits or something.  Obviously I have a new pet peeve.

    To end things on a positive note, Matt just got home and Adrian was sleeping.  I moved and woke him up on accident but when he heard Matt's voice he stared in his direction looking at him.  Matt told him he is the best thing that's ever happened.  Agreed. :)

2 Months

     My baby is two months old!  Adrian if you ever read this, here is what you were like at 2 months:

Weight: 10 lbs 3 oz (16th percentile)
Length: 23 1/4 inches (62nd percentile)
Head Circumference: 15 1/2 inches (34th percentile)

*You are happy and alert, you laugh and smile when we talk to you
*You "talk back" by cooing
*We both swear you can already mimick us.  You pursed your lips and made an "Oh" sound just like grandma. Also you stuck out your tongue while I did.
*You rolled from your tummy to your back.
*You wake up to eat 2-3 times a night, and although you're supposed to sleep on your back, you like your side.
*You've been searching for your fist/fingers and you are currently sucking on them.
*You explore with your tongue.  You were licking your blue blankie while aunt Michelle was playing with you the other day.

We love you so much!  You make us so happy and we can't stop telling each other how adorable you are.  I love watching you grow and learn.  I am so grateful that I get to spend all day with you, and that I get to be your mom.

 I just think this is funny for some reason.

And a comparison because it makes me feel good:

This was my 100th post!  Woot!

Going to Vala's with a 2 month old is...not the same.

     On saturday we went on our annual trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch with Emilee, Aaron, Seth, Jill, Shad, Elyza and Anakin.  Matt had to work.  I didn't take any pictures but I should have because he was wearing this adorable sleeper with pumpkins on it and a pumpkin hat.  I'll put him in it again though, we still have a month until halloween.  I believe the only thing I actually did was go into the pumpkin mine after parking my stroller.  Going to Vala's with a 2 month old is...not the same.  I thought he would sleep for a couple of hours at least but I had the genius idea to take him out of his carseat while he was sleeping so I could use the stroller with less bulk.  He woke up.  It was way too hot for a fall day, and I spent half the time trying to keep him out of the sun.  It will be better next year when he will be more interested in his surroundings.

     My friends were nice and took turns pushing the stroller since Adrian ended up needing to be carried for a good portion of the day.  We left earlier than I had expected to because he was hungry and it's not a nursing friendly place.  He drank the bottle I brought at the very beginning.  I would have fed him in the bathroom if it didn't take an hour.  Vala's is huge and I'm not used to all that exercise!  I was so tired.  Side note: don't answer your phone in a construction zone on your way to somewhere you've never driven before.  Lesson learned.

     Adrian and I went to Babies R Us to get a moby wrap because my sling just isn't working for me.  Then we went to Hobby Lobby because I wanted to look at their Halloween decor.  I wanted to use the   wrap there because his carseat wont fit in the basket of the cart (and I remember every horrid news story I've ever read, one of which had a baby die from falling off the top of the cart onto a speed bump) but it was so long, and I felt stupid standing up outside of my car trying to figure it out.  I was able to get it on correctly but it was too tight and he was squished and not too happy.  So I gave up and carried him in my arms while pushing the cart.  They had a 40% off sale on Halloween decor.  Everything I got (3 things) had glitter on it.  It seems inescapable these days.  Adrian isn't complaining yet though.

     This week, thanks to Michelle's facebook status and a picture she posted I started watching a lot of Dr. Who on netflix.  I can see why she loves the doctor so.  I also have some brand new fears.  Like statues.  Just kidding I think.

     Speaking of fears, here is a short tangent: When I was a kid I was TERRIFIED of the movie FernGully, which is probably why I watched it 5000 times. I watched the beginning part today because I was curious and it's just as horrible and traumatic as I remember.  That was made for kids??? Not my kid.  My kid can watch unicorns and talking veggies. Geeze, no wonder I'm so passionate about recycling and taking care of the planet and not killing trees.  It's because deep down in my psyche I know that if I don't play my part in saving the world, Hexxus will come and kill EVERYBODY.  Buffy would have cheered me up after watching that.

Tangent over.  Now baby pictures:

Hanging out with daddy.  This isn't even posed.

Play time!

This is what he's doing as I write this.  He wore pants today and two socks, I promise.