Happy New Year Ya'll

It's 2014. 

There are a LOT of things happening this year.

Which also means I have a LOT of 'Resolutions' or Goals as I like to call them, for the new year.

In order to keep to my resolutions, I'm going to write them here AND on my fridge so I can hold myself accountable for them and maybe everyone else can help hold me accountable for them as well.

-: NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS :-

1. Cook at least 5 nights a week

2. Work out at least once a week

3. Read my Bible more

4. Blog every Friday at minimum

5. See my family more

6. Be a better wife & mother

So let's back up for those of you who don't know.

Since September 24 (date sound familiar? that's because it's our anniversary. Irony at it's finest folks), our house here in West Virginia has been on the market. Dean has been living separately from Baby Dean and I since that day as well, because he transferred to one of the new Wal-Marts in DC. He's working an average of 14 hour shifts 5 days a week over night so when he was off we would see him for about a day and a half. This has been the hardest thing either of us has ever been through. I'm happy to say though, we signed a contract on our home on December 10 and are now just TWO days away from moving back together under the same roof! We settle on the house on January 10, and will officially have no ties to WV anymore! Dean's hours and shifts are going to be the same for a while; there's no sign of his schedule letting up any time soon, BUT tomorrow starts his week vacation so I'm happy to finally spend time with him for more than a day (even if it is moving us into our new apartment!) Baby Dean I know will be thrilled to finally see his Daddy everyday too. This hasn't just been hard on us. I give a lot of credit to the military and military wives. It's been a long three months, and I have no idea how military members and their families do this for months and years at a time. 

We're moving into an apartment in Catonsville, MD just a half hour to Westminster, 45 minutes to an hour to Union Bridge and 45 minutes to an hour to Hanover. DO YOU HEAR ME?! We are within an hour to ALL of our family!!!! That takes off an hour to both of my parents and a half hour to Dean's parents! We're beyond excited to finally be close to everyone, that we can start having friends again, and start our roots as a family in Maryland. West Virginia is great and all, but it's difficult when you have to drive 45 minutes just to see ANYONE you know. 

This is all coming in perfect timing, because, we are expecting Baby #2 on June 13, 2014!

Today, I'm 17 weeks along. We find out in the end of January if it's a girl or boy. Everyone in our lives wants it to be a girl, but I'm secretly hoping for another boy. I think it's a boy too, but to be honest, I'm not 100% on that. With Baby Dean, I knew from the get-go that it was a boy, but this one is kinda throwing me for a loop. Obviously I'll be happy either way. 

So here we are. January 3, moving from WV to MD, pregnant with baby #2, and trying to make a better me. I think the whole purpose of New Year Resolutions isn't to set a goal and try for a month and fail (because let's face it, that's how the majority of resolutions go). I think the point of resolutions is to really identify what isn't the best about each of us and at least make an attempt to make it better. How often is it that we sit down and say "I should do this more" or "I need to change this about myself" and actually follow through with it? Why not at least make a goal and make small steps to accomplish that goal? I'd rather set a goal and fail to complete it then not make a goal at all. I'd rather be honest with myself about things and come to the realization that *gasp* I'm NOT perfect, and try to make myself a better me. Wouldn't you? What better time than the new year to start striving to be better versions of ourselves?

We have a lot going on in this house. But I promise to start blogging once a week at minimum. Hold me to it, k?

Image Credit : Karen Leigh Studios

Happy New Year, 

from all FOUR of us!

12 - 3 = NINE!!!

Today marks 9 months. 9 BIG MONTHS.

HOLY MOLY!

So we went to the pediatricians this morning.

Our current measurements stand at:

14 pounds 14 ounces

 and

25.5 inches long

After discussing with the pediatrician my concern of his size we determined that some human error had occurred while measuring his height, but because he's gaining weight and almost back ON the curve she wants to monitor it a little closer and then reevaluate at his one year appointment. 

So, we're going to go get measurements done every month and at his year check up we will determine what to do from there.

Today we also decided to officially START weaning! I know my ultimate goal was to get to a year, but it has been a tough road to get this far, and we want to start trying for another baby soon, so I'm going to be just a TAD selfish and request that my body be my own for just a few months. 

I know. I'm a TERRIBLE human being.

Get over it.

On the plus side, starting the Baby Dean on formula will also help him gain weight AND maybe, just maybe, we will be sleeping through the night in a month or so.

He only wakes about once a night now, and our pediatrician told me that as this age, it's not a behavioral thing. If he's waking to eat and go back to sleep, he needs it, so keep doing it. 

And that's fine by me, I can deal with waking up once a night to make sure my little boy is ok. One day I'll miss him waking me up.

We also talked with the pediatrician about his stranger anxiety.

He has major fits when other people hold him besides Dean or I.

The pediatrician told us this is completely normal and actually a good thing.

She said around 9 months is when stranger anxiety really starts to peak. Whether he sees you every week or not, he doesn't see you daily like Dean and I, therefore he is fearful of you and he only wants us.

She said ways to help with this is when coming around him, you have to almost acknowledge but ignore him. Don't immediately try to pick him up or be touchy touchy. Wait a few minutes to allow him to warm up to you and remember you, then you can try to hold him or play with him.

She said even with this, and you're holding him, if we walk by, he could've been completely fine, but he will immediately start to scream for us. It's a reflex. You feel more comfortable in your own home on your own couch than on others. Babies usually feel more comfortable and relaxed in their parent's arms than others. 

She said we should be worried if he didn't do this because children with autism treat everyone equally, and have no preference of Mom and Dad over others.

She also said that this will continue for quite a while. At around 18 months, he will probably stand behind us when going around others. He may peak around to watch you until he's warmed up, but it's just like being shy. 

So. If Baby Dean screams when you try to hold him, be patient. Don't allow your feelings to be hurt. Don't blame me that he likes me more (I AM his mother after all!)

Our kid is healthy, and that's a good thing. 

So his accomplishments at nine months old include:

*Crawling on all 4s. (no more army crawl)

*Pulling himself to stand and sitting back down

*Getting into a sitting position from crawling and vice versa

*Walking along furniture (holding on to the furniture he can walk)

*Saying "Da Da"

*Knowing who is DaDa and who is Mama

*CLIMBING THE STAIRS

*Drinking out of a sippy cup

I feel like there is more, but I can't think of them right now.

Here's our 9 month pictures from this afternoon.

SO BIG! 

(yet little at the same time)

Today was a BIG day.

Today was a big day for our house.

If you know Dean and I at all, you know that during the course of our entire marriage (and majority of our relationship all together), Dean has worked overnights. 

This means him being gone from around noon on day one and not coming back until around around 4-5pm on day five.

It's been difficult, and long. 

To say I'm excited to go to sleep next to my husband every night is an understatement. 

I'm excited to be able to make the bed every day, and get chores done during the day instead of being up until 1 AM getting them done.

I'm excited to have my husband back on a normal schedule and not have to keep killing his body switching his sleep schedule.

I'm excited for Dean to be here to put the baby to bed every night, and for the ability to come home for lunch and for us to be able to visit him while he's at work.

I'm just SO excited. 

An update on the baby: He has TWO teeth! TWO!

We have our 9 month well child visit on his actual 9 month birthday so we'll get accurate standings on size. 

Everyone keeps telling me how small he is and how he doesn't look like a 9 month old, and I'm not going to lie, it worries me. It's not like he was a premie, we went two weeks past our due date for crying out loud. He was an average size baby at birth, and eats 3 meals a day, and nurses 3-4 times a day and at least once at night. 

Dean says I shouldn't worry because he was tiny when he was little, but I still can't help to. 

I'll let you know what the pediatrician says at his check-up.

Fingers crossed everything is ok, and fingers crossed she gives the go-ahead to start weaning and transitioning to whole milk... because we're both ready.

Let him be little

I don't think there is anything more peaceful than a baby falling asleep on your chest. 

Being able to take the time and look at the peacefulness that is that child just does something to you. 

I don't think I say it enough, but I dread the day my baby grows up. I know it's going to happen. I know one day he will see the evil that is in this world, and his innocence is going to be stripped from him, and I HATE that. I hate that one day he may fear walking down a street because he is or is not like others.

Life is so short, and we take it for granted too often. I want to be sure that I never miss a moment of his childhood, and more importantly, that he never misses a moment of his childhood. 

I remember wishing I was older so often when I was little, hating that I couldn't stay up all hours of the night, I couldn't drive, or go where I want.

I wish I could go back and smack me silly. Those were the days. I love my life now, and I don't want to change anything about it, except, letting my baby be little forever. 

Just a thought for the day.

JUST. SAY. NO.

Well, it's been two weeks since we got the puppy and things are getting better. 

Day to day, it's getting more manageable and less chaotic. 

It's seriously like having two kids, so I'm taking it as early practice.

Not much is going on in the life of us. We live our daily lives and spruce it up every once in a while by visiting friends and family, or having play dates. 

I enjoy a simple life, and I'm going to raise my children in much of the same way.

It IS ok to go to a carnival and just walk around, only playing a game or two and getting some fries. You DON'T need to ride rides all night or play every game and buy every food in sight.

Sure it's fun, but really, you WILL live without it.

It is TOTALLY ok to spend an entire week at your house coming up with new fun games to play and just enjoying the company of others.

It is MORE than acceptable to shop for clothes in consignment shops, especially when you're just going to outgrow them in a few weeks.

You DON'T need the newest, most expensive stuff, you WILL be happy with what you have.

Too often in our society, people aren't happy with what they have, and they always want MORE or to do MORE, experience MORE. I think that's part of the reason kids today are so spoiled and needy and end up going down the wrong path.

Learn to say NO people. 

JUST SAY NO.

I thought I was busy before.

Well. It's been more than forever since I blogged last. 

We've been busy.

Christmas came and went, and well, it was an exhausting blast. 

Baby Dean seriously enjoyed ripping open his presents, and I can honestly say that he plays with EVERYTHING he received. My house is a mess daily, and I love it. I know he's happy and enjoying his day to day life.

He turned 8 months old a few days ago. I still need to get pictures, so they'll be added at a later date.

Not too much has changed. He's very easily pulling himself to standing, and sitting back down. He walks with help from a "walker toy" and is really starting to understand what we're saying.

He loves giving kisses, and sometimes doesn't know when to stop. It's too adorable for words.

His laugh and smile will weaken even the biggest Scrooge's knees.

He is without a doubt my biggest pride and joy (and I know the same is for hubby).

In other news...

We added a new family member recently.

A puppy we named Bane.

Photo Credit: Karen Leigh Studios

He's a Rotty/Lab mix, and has definitely worked his way into all of our hearts very quickly.

He IS causing me gray hair, but that's what puppies do. 

Today we have a vet visit, to make sure he's well and healthy, let the bankruptcy begin!!

I promise, cross my heart, hope to die, stick a dirty needle in my eye, that I will start to blog more!

Happy New Year ya'll.

SEVEN.

Obviously this is a little late AND I didn't finish the whole November Thankful thing. 

But life gets pretty crazy pretty quickly, and everyone should know that I'm more than thankful for everything and everyone in my life. Everyone that reads this blog, I'm thankful for you too, just so you know.

Now. My boy turned SEVEN months a few days ago, so, it's time for a monthly update.

Currently, Baby Dean is proficient at:

Eating

Sitting up alone

Crawling

Rolling both ways

Shaking his head 'No' -- He's starting to understand the meaning too!

Go from crawling position to sitting position on his own

Pulling himself up to stand

He's working on:

Ma-Ma

Da-Da

His signs (I'm teaching him sign language)

Standing alone 

(GASP) Walking!

Baby Dean's current likes are:

Any food that goes in his mouth (except Avocado. That was the only one he refused to eat)

This new wooden train a friend recently gave him

Splashing in the bathtub

Getting tickles from Mommy & Daddy

Giving kisses

Crawling! He loves exploring the house!

Baby Dean's current dislikes are:

Being forced to stay in one room 

Having his face cleaned after he eats

Having his nose wiped (fighting a cold/teething)

Being a parent is the greatest thing I have ever been blessed with doing. 

It took me a while to compose myself to write about this, but I do best when I write my feelings out.

The tragedy that happened in Connecticut is one that, I hope, we as a nation will never have to endure again. But I know it will. 

Shootings in our schools and in public places are happening so frequently that it's almost "normal" to hear about. And what kind of world do we live in that it's NORMAL to hear about?!

Yesterday, 20 children lost their lives. 7 adults were also killed. I couldn't fathom being a parent that lost their child to this sick person.

Obviously talk starts about homeschooling, and gun control, but in reality, these shootings are happening anywhere and everywhere. In a shopping mall, in a church, in a movie theater. 

We can't protect our children from everything. We have to pray for peace, and love, and know that God is with us no matter where we go. 

Stricter gun laws, in my opinion will not help either. Criminals don't follow laws, hence they are called criminals. It's all over the internet: "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun" 

I'm not going to go on a tirade about gun laws though.

I'm posting in memory of the 27 killed. 

I dread the day that Baby Dean's innocence to the world is over. When he starts to realize that not everyone out there is nice and friendly. That bad things happen. That there is racism, and bullying, and murders. Right now, we are all the same to him. And while I'll raise him to know that there are no differences in people based on race or gender or sexual preference, that we are all people, I know there are people out there that won't teach their children that. And my son will come across those people. But I know that my husband and I will build strong values into our children to know right from wrong, and trust in not only themselves, but God. We'll be okay. As a family, as a country. We'll be okay.

Sorry. Can't figure out how to turn the pictures. Perhaps in a future post ;)

Happy Saturday all.