Living up to his Name. Already.

So my boy started rolling over sometime last week. 

Actually. A week ago exactly. 

And I'm FREAKING out.

How could my two month old be rolling over already?!

Not only that, but he can hold his head up completely straight like woah. I mean seriously. Take a look see.

*Picture credit: Karen Leigh Studios. She's my MIL. Check her shit out. She's amazeballs behind a camera. Seriously.*

Every time I put him on his tummy, he gives me a smile like, "Woah Mom. I totally got this"

Then he rolls over to watch me get all excited, and once I put him back he's all, "PUH-LEASE. Check this out" and starts trying to crawl. 

That's right.

CRAWL.

He actually got himself up on his knees the other day and I started seriously freaking and I think he was like, "ok. Maybe it's too much too soon for my old lady. Better settle down a bit" and he went back down to roll over. 

He's also fabulous at standing. 

Fabulous as in, hubby and I just keep index fingers on him for balance. He does the rest.

Check it:

He's all about his exer-saucer since I fixed it and have it at his height.

He's also all about checking out EVERYTHING. And when certain things catch his attention, he's hooked.

Certain things like Batman. 

We watched The Dark Knight at the in-laws the other day. This is him watching the movie:

Yeah. He wouldn't take his eyes off it. 

It's pretty ridiculous. 

I'm pretty sure he's going to be a combination of like Sheldon Cooper (insert we LOVE Big Bang Theory here.. like so much we sing Soft Kitty as a lullaby), and some crazy amazing Olympian.

So obviously...

The force is strong with this one.

Penn State: A Parent's Point of View

If you watch the News tonight, the top headlines are of course the Colorado shooter being in court for the first time, and the Penn State scandal.

I've already talked on one of these subjects, and from my title, I'm sure you know what this post is going to be about.

Before I begin, I'd like to state that this is purely my point of view on the subject as a new parent. I've never attended, wished to attend or plan on attending Penn State.

What Jerry Sandusky did is unforgiveable. 

I don't think anyone can discount that. 

The fact that he founded a charity to serve underprivileged at-risk children and then used that charity to prey upon his victims is incredibly sick. Beyond sick.

And now, to find out that Joe Paterno and several others did know what was going on and didn't do enough to protect those children might as well be just as sick. 

The NCAA passed down a punishment to Penn State including:

1) $60 million fine, representing approximately one year of football revenues. These funds will go to child sex abuse awareness programs.

2)PSU begins a five-year probationary period, with the NCAA reserving the right to implement further punishments.

3) 4-year bowl game ban.

4) Scholarship reduction, cap lasting four years.

5) Any entering, returning football student athlete can transfer immediately. Presuming academic requirements are met, these potential transfers can play immediately.

6) PSU vacates all wins from 1998-2011. The loss of 111 career wins drops Joe Paterno from atop the all-time wins list to 12th.

Penn State also removed their statue of Joe Paterno.

Some people say that this punishment isn't harsh enough.

Some people say it's too much.

And then there are those, that say Joe Paterno died shortly after being fired from Penn State because of all this. That he's gone, so why put this on the shoulders of a dead man. 

Well here's why.

Because if my son went to a camp and had any of the horrifying things happen to him that happened to the victims, I'd want anyone and everyone involved to be punished to the greatest degree. Not only punished for what they did, but also to prove that NO ONE can get away with hurting children. 

I think about the victims and how they must feel about the punishments. Perhaps it's very little, but it's something in the way of justice. 

Sexual abuse and child molestation fall very personal to me. I know a few people that have been abused and I'm certain that out of the three that I know, maybe one got justice for it? 

And then I think about all those players that had their wins "stripped" by the NCAA because of something their coaches did. Those players that shed blood sweat and tears for those wins and now they're removed from the record books.

I mourn for the innocent. 

For the victims.

For the players. 

For the students and alumni of the school that are ashamed of someone they once looked up to.

So yes. Joe Paterno is dead. And yes they are punishing a dead man. 

But it's necessary.

For the victims.

A good friend of mine is a recent Penn State graduate and I don't think she could've said it better:

"As a Penn Stater, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Penn State is an amazing university, it's not all about the football program as many outsiders would describe our 'cult' to be centered around. It's about Creamery ice cream, basking in the sun on Old Main, cursing the Blue Loop driver for pulling away when you chase him down in the rain, going to West just for the cookies, supporting all the university athletic teams, making friends and memories you will never forget and some you can't quite seem to remember, getting breakfast at Irving's, walking to class in tsunami rain and multiple feet of snow, wearing a stupid green hat at The Phyrst on your 21st birthday, counting down the winter until daylong season, raising millions of dollars for pediatric cancer year after year, having a faculty that cares about you and hanging a degree on your wall that you are proud of. And we are proud. There is a reason it is "We Are" and not "I am"... We are a family, we support each other and our university. I can honesty say I know I am not alone when I say we, the Penn State community, want to move forward and support the righting of the wrongs that occurred for too long."  -Dana Reeser

Penn State is strong.

Penn State will recover from this.

The victims will just take a little longer to recover.

And the victims... THEY are the ones we truly need to worry about.

Don't be such a worry wart.

Everyone worries. It's just a fact of life. 

As you grow up you worry about having a boyfriend or girlfriend, you worry about your grades, what you look like, if people will like you... you just worry.

When you become a parent though, you develop a whole new set of worries. 

Who will my child become?

Will I be a good parent?

Will I know what to do?

Will I know what to say? 

Will we have a strong bond?

Will I provide him with the childhood memories like I had?

When I think about my childhood and the good memories, I think about sitting outside of Hoffman's in the grass eating ice cream with my mom and dad, just laughing and enjoying each other's company.

I think about going to bed in the summer with the windows open listening to the crickets chirp and just being at peace. 

I think about being forced to clean my room, and just sitting there all day playing with things I haven't played with in forever, not doing any cleaning at all.

And I start to wonder...

Will my son have these kind of memories? 

Will he be able to look back on his childhood and smile knowing that his father and I gave him everything we possibly could? Will he be proud?

And then I watch the news. 

And I see evil that exists in the world that I never thought imaginable.

I hear about 13 people shot and killed and dozens more injured all from one crazed man in a movie theater. Among the injured, a three month old. 

Three months. 

How could this happen?

It hurts my heart to know that my children have to grow up in such an evil, selfish world.

And I worry about it.

I refuse to let my children grow up fearing the world. 

And I refuse to allow my children to become part of the problem as well. 

My children will learn to respect everyone that crosses their path. 

If everyone had respect, there wouldn't be so much to worry about.

We're Going Through Changes...

Whenever a baby is expected, people prepare for the changes ahead. 

The endless nights.

The lack of sleep.

The financial changes.

I could go on and on. 

But a few things happen that people don't expect and no one really tells you it's going to happen.

CHANGE NUMBER 1:

You no longer find poop SO disgusting. 

Instead, it becomes more of a... "eh, whatever, it's just poop."

The same goes for pee, vomit, boogers, eye gunk... pretty much anything that is produced by the body and can be defined as disgusting, no longer is. You see it so often that it doesn't even phase you anymore.

CHANGE NUMBER 2:

 You forget about yourself. 

This one, you kind of get some warning about, but not completely. 

Almost everyday, I find myself at 10 pm remembering I didn't eat dinner. I become so consumed in taking care of the baby, that I forget to take care of myself, which probably isn't a good thing, but it is what it is.

CHANGE NUMBER 3:

You become SUPER creative.

For example. Baby doesn't want to be put down or away from you and you have groceries to put away, floors to sweep, dishes to do, etc...? Why you simply strap them on and enjoy the ride. 

On more than one occasion I have been known to pull out my infant carrier, strap the baby to me, and go to work. (We're still working on breaking his habit of needing to be held constantly, but how can you say "No" to someone SO CUTE!?!?!)

CHANGE NUMBER 4:

You become much more aware of time.

My phone has become my best friend simply for the clock. I am constantly checking the time when he falls asleep, wakes up, begins nursing, finishes nursing, when to start our bedtime routine...

I know I shouldn't be living by the clock but I'm a paranoid first time parent. So shoot me.

CHANGE NUMBER 5:

You become THE FLASH.

Something that use to take an hour to do, now only takes ten minutes.

Shower? Heck I can do that in two minutes flat now. 

Fold 3 loads of laundry? Done in ten minutes.

It's actually ridiculous.

Well... those are the first few major ones that come to mind. Baby is waking up now. At least he napped in his swing long enough for me to eat, fold laundry, do the dishes, sweep the floor, and write this. 

Two Months.

My Dear Little Boy,

Today, you are two months old. 

In the past month, you've been following every one and every thing a little more closely. You don't see through things anymore, you actually "see" things. 

You definitely know who Daddy and I are now too. I'm sure you knew who we were before, but now you actually recognize us as opposed to others. You search for us when other people are holding you. I know it makes me feel special, and I'm sure it does for Daddy too.

 You are turing into a very spoiled little boy, but what two month old isn't?!

Not a single person can resist commenting on how cute you are and how small you are, even though you've gotten a lot bigger to me! I wanna say you're close to 10 pounds at this point? You're starting to get baby chub on your legs, and sometimes when you sit certain ways you have a double chin, and it's the cutest fat I've ever seen.

When you're awake and finished nursing, all you seem to do is smile and talk. And we can't get enough of it. You find us absolutely hysterical and we find you the same. Just the other day, you were nursing, and I looked down and you were staring up at me smiling and nursing at the same time (not easy to do). I smiled back and you began to laugh, milk going everywhere. It was messy, but worth it. 

We've also had a messy and terrible poo incident. But no details here. Ask me about it when you're older, I'm sure I'll remember it full well.

Yesterday, we went to Hershey Chocolate World for the first time with your Grandma, Uncle Colton, and Aunt Lauren. You seemed to enjoy it, and actually stayed awake and paid attention during the chocolate tour/ride. We had a lot of fun, even though you won't remember this trip, I'm sure we'll go again plenty as you get older.

This past month we also celebrated July 4 at the shore, and went down to the shore again for an entire weekend. Even though the pediatrician wasn't sure about putting you in that water, we thought it would be ok. You were in a float, and were only in for about 10 minutes, but you loved every second of it. 

You're definitely beginning to develop a personality, and while I love you with all of my heart no matter what, I can tell I'm definitely going to love the person you will become. 

Here's some of your two month shots (we took them today)...

As you can see you've also discovered your hands and fingers. You've become quite fond of sucking on your fingers and thumb any chance you get. I don't want you to, but I can't seem to stop you. Let's hope you stop before your father did....

Ask him about that someday. You'll get a giggle.

I love you little boy. 

More than you'll ever know.

-Mommy

My Wish...

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Mostly because I am truly too busy with the little one to even sit down and write anything that makes any sense, but he's finally napping not in my arms, so I'm going to try. 

*Fingers crossed I finish before he wakes up*

So, the entire time I was pregnant, every time the song "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts came on the radio, I would think about my unborn child and start to cry.

The song really does say exactly what I feel as a parent, and what I want for my child.

An excerpt for those that don't know the song:

"...I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish..."

I tear up EVERY.TIME I listen to this song. 

I'll post more tomorrow. I'll leave you this to giggle at for now.

ONE MONTH

To My Beautiful Baby Boy:

Today you are one month old. 

You're currently laying asleep on my arm, making it very difficult to type, but I wouldn't dare move you, not only for fear of waking you up, but also because I know this time of you sleeping on me or with me will soon be gone, and I dread it. 

In the past month, we've gotten to know each other pretty well. We've pretty much mastered breast feeding, and I think we've both become very fond of your pacifier or "ninny" as I like to call it.

It seems like every day you are smiling more and more and trying to "talk" and it's just about the most adorable thing I've ever seen. 

Last night, while laying in your bassinet, you knocked your ninny out of your mouth with your hands. I watched as you tried to get it back in your mouth on your own, but you couldn't quite do it, so I was right there to help.

I'll always be right there to help, and I think you know that already. Sometimes when you look at me, I can see the trust in your eyes, and I fall even more in love with you. 

We've gotten into a pretty good "routine" at this point. We usually wake up between 6 and 8 and nurse, and then are up for about an hour or two. Then, we take a nap and get back up anywhere from 10-12. The day goes on with nursing, two hours of play, an hour nap. Repeat. Over, and over and over again.

Around 8 or 9 we get a bath (on bath nights), lotion up, jammies on, nurse and we're down for the count. You usually wake up about twice a night, for a quick feeding, and we're back to the beginning.

By the way, you LOVE your baths. Whenever I can't calm you down, a bath will always do the trick. You also LOVE the hairdryer we keep by your changing table to dry out "your area" before putting on a new diaper (we WILL NOT get diaper rash in this house!) Your favorite positions are laying on either mine or Daddy's chest, and you love to just be snuggled tight. 

So that's our on month update little boy. 

I want time to just slow down already.

I love you more than you'll ever know.