1/3 of A Year Old

This post is coming to you a little late because, well, I'll explain it below.


Baby Dean,

Well. You're four months old now and still growing like a weed. When we went to the doctor on the 12th, you were 24 inches long, and 11 pounds, 10 ounces.

You can now:

roll from tummy to back

roll from back to tummy

fully support yourself standing (you only need us for balance)

sit up on your own

play with toys

and so much more...

We tried Rice cereal for the first time yesterday, and you are NOT a fan.

Our pediatrician said she wanted us to wait until you were 5 months, but you've been going through this stint of nursing every 2 hours, day AND night, for a good two-three weeks now and, well, I need sleep, so we're going to start just a little early.

Now, this is coming to you a little late because we've had a loss in the family. Your great-granny, (My grandmother) has passed away.

It's difficult to go through the emotions of this, but I think everyone in the family is dealing... in their own way nonetheless.

Your great granny and your great pappy were married for 61 years. They had 5 children, 8 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren with one on the way (by the way you have a cousin due to arrive sometime in March... but more on that another time).

The love that Granny had for all of us was unconditional. She'd do anything for us and was proud of all that we did. She was the best grandmother to grace this earth, and we were all blessed to be loved by her.

Just know that she will be watching you always and loved you very much, even in the short 4 months she knew you.

You helped me and a lot of family members get through this week of saying good-bye to such a great lady. Your smile brightens the world around you, just remember that.

I love you baby boy.

xoxo

Your Momma.

and one hilarious outtake:

In Loving Memory:

Nadine B. Sadler

08.16.1934 - 09.11.2012

One year ago today...

Today is an emotional day for me.

A year ago today, I peed on 3 of those magical sticks and found out I was pregnant.

The overwhelming shock was so intense, I found myself bawling my eyes out, alone, and wondering how I'd tell Dean.

You must understand that I DO indeed know how babies are made, and yes more pre-cautions could have been had, but this was God's plan for us.

You also need to understand my mind set at this point in my life. I was 23 days away from my wedding. I had plans to finish college in the near future, and then have children shortly after. I had just been out with my best friend celebrating her 21st birthday two days before taking the test (aka: a night of heavy drinking), I had been without health insurance for about 3 years and I knew that my future and all my plans were changing right before my eyes.

After collecting myself enough to speak, I called Dean, told him I needed to talk to him in person (he was at work) and proceeded to drive to meet him there.

Once we were locked in a small car together, through my tears, I told him I was pregnant. Dean was in shock just as I thought he would be. He left work early to come home with me, and after a short drive, I met my soon-to-be husband back at our house and he.was.excited. Giddy. Thrilled even. (It took me a little longer to get to this point, I'll be honest).

We had a small lunch and Dean decided he couldn't keep it a secret so we called our parents (who were beyond thrilled) and a few close friends. We felt being able to share it with just a few people at this point was heathy, and we would let the rest of the world know after the wedding and after a doctor appointment.

It's crazy that I can still remember that day just like it was yesterday. But it is rather important. That day I knew I was going to be someone's Mom. That I was going to have a child; to raise and love unconditionally.

When I checked on my boy last night before I went to bed, I stuck around just a little longer. Taking in his peaceful sleeping. His innocence. The miracle that Dean and I made, and I knew was coming to the world a year ago.

I love that boy more than I ever thought I could love a person. And I am so thankful that this day will forever mean something to me.

My Boy. My THREE Month Old Boy.

Baby Dean/Pumpkin Butt/Silly Boy,

Today you are three months old. 

Three. Months. Old.

Time is moving way too fast for me. I just want it to stop or slow down at least a little, but I know that's asking too much. 

You are such an active little boy. When you're not moody because you're sleepy or hungry, you are the happiest, most curious baby I've ever seen.

Forget sitting anywhere for too long. You always want to be on the go and checking things out. 

Your activity gym I just bought you? You're SO over that. You'll still try to make me happy by laying in it and checking things out, but just like clockwork, 5 minutes in and you're over it. 

Dad and I just recently bought you a Bumbo too. I'm pretty sure you love it. When we sit you in it, and keep our hands off, you have the biggest grin. Almost like you're telling us, "SEE?? I AM a big boy!" and it's totally adorable.

At your doctor appointment last week, you measured in at 10 pounds, half an ounce and 22.5" long. Dr. Joe informed us that you have a mild case of Eczema, and an "intermediate" case of acid reflux. Basically, we just have to use special shampoo, body wash, and lotion on you, and keep you on more of an incline until the acid reflux grows out of you, I guess is the best way to put it.

You were also given three vaccines. Two shots and one by mouth. 

The first shot, you seriously didn't even flinch. The second one? The one that "burns" as the nurse put it? You SCREAMED. And you screamed good. 

And it broke both your Mommy's & your Daddy's heart.

But by the time we left the office, you were totally fine. Like nothing had even happened.
You're gonna be one kid I definitely won't have to soothe too much when you skin your knee.

So let's see...

Your current likes are:

The Olympics (especially swimming events)

Your exersaucer

Laying on your changing table and smiling and talking up a storm... sometimes when you're just SO fussy for no reason, we go up and hang out on your changing table. It's weird, but you love it so I love it.

The bathtub. Still. You're like a fish. It's ridiculous.
Your fingers. We can't keep them out of your mouth. But that's alright. Drool and all we still love you.

Your current dislikes are:

Staying in one place for too long.

Sleeping anywhere besides my arms.

Me eating. (I swear you side eye me and give me evil looks every time I try and have a meal. Finger foods have become my best friend thanks to you.)

Tummy time. You learned to roll over from tummy to back and now it's like you find no reason to be placed on your tummy. You FREAK every time I try to initiate tummy time. You won't roll, you won't do anything but freak out until I pick you back up.

I think we are going to take you for your first trip to Ocean City next weekend. It's going to be so fun to get your toes in the sand and start a family tradition of going every summer. 

Both your Daddy and I grew up going to Ocean City, and I want you to experience that as well.

Overall little boy, you grow and change every day and I love it. It's an amazing feeling I have watching you grow. When you were first born, I honestly didn't know how I could love anyone more than how much I loved you in that minute. But everyday I love you more and more. 

Everyday you amaze me more and more.

I couldn't be more proud.

Love,

Your Mama.

PS- Here are some pictures your Maw Maw took of you, you big three month old.

And a quick look at how much you've grown since being born. 

Five Minutes old

One Week Old

Two Weeks Old

Two Months Old

Three Months Old

Annddddd all the rest of the "3 Month" pictures I took of you this morning.

 I love you Baby Boy.

Stuff I like.

If you're reading this post, it's because you're interested in the stuff I like. 

ORRRR because you're interested in good things to have with a baby.

The latter? 

Yeah...  I thought so.

You'll notice everything on the list is gender neutral. Why?
Because I'm not about to spend hundreds of dollars on stuff that I may only be able to use with one baby (and I'm certainly not putting a little boy in something pink or a little girl in something blue and manly). Sure it'd be fun to buy blue or pink, but hey, that's what clothes are for! (And those I get at consignment shops!!)

Everything on this list can and should be purchased at Wal-Mart. Keep my hubby employed. K?

Shark Steam Mop

This bad boy is AMAZING.

You see, when people come over my house, I invasion them taking a look at my hard wood floors and picture me on my hands and knees scrubbing and polishing to keep them clean.

Well. I don't do hard labor. 

It's sold with three microfiber pockets that are machine washable.

You fill it with tap water, plug it in, wait about a minute, and start steaming. It cleans and sanitizes your floors at the same time.

AND

It's perfect to have around children because you're not putting nasty chemicals on the floor that they're crawling and throwing themselves on.

It's a higher priced item, but you spend the money on that, and never have to buy another mop or bucket or chemicals ever again.
It works on tile, sealed hardwood, linoleum and vinyl!

It leaves a beautiful shine on my hardwood floors, easily cleans my kitchen floor, and sanitizes the bathroom floor perfectly. I seriously LOVE it.

Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym

Another higher priced item, BUT totally worth it.

All of the items that you hang on it are removable and therefore able to put in other locations. 

LIKE hanging from the car seat handle or next to a changing table. 

It comes with this awesome 3 in 1 electronic crib toy that lights up and plays sounds. We have ours wedged next to the changing table and turn it on when it's diaper change time and Dean LOVES it. Like he's actually getting use to the music and recognizes it. He gives a "UH MOM?! Where are my tunes?!" look if I forget to turn it on. 

The cross bars are removable for when baby no longer wants to lay on their back, and links are attachable around floor mat for tummy time and to encourage crawling. 

They don't call it Baby Einstein for nothing.

Best part?

It's Gender Neutral!! We can use it with every child we have!

Oh, and it has turtles on it... *side eye to Big Dean* ...yay.

Boppy

I feel like everyone knows what this is, but just in case not.

It's a Boppy or "Man's gift to nursing women"

It's in the "U" shape so Mom's can slide it around them, lay baby on it and nurse very easily.
It also works well with baby learning to sit up and keeping them inclined when necessary. Like so:

We just found out our boy has a little case of acid reflux, so this is nice to lay him in after he finished nursing and is asleep so gravity can do it's work to that nasty acid and keep it down.

The link I gave takes you to a "naked boppy" which is the one we own. We bought a gender neutral cover (as seen above) so I can take it off and wash it and continue to use it with all our children.

The boppy also serves as a great pillow for Mom or Dad (mainly Mom... sorry Dad).

It never gets flat and can be twisted and shaped into whatever you need to make you comfortable.

Bumbo

We've only had this guy for about a week now, but I can tell you it's worth the money. 

It helps Baby to learn to sit up on their own, and teaches good posture. The Tray pictured is usually sold separately, (so obviously it's removable) and works well with putting toys in front of baby to play with or feeding the little one rice cereal that isn't quite big enough to sit in the high chair. 

They also sell covers for them now, but the seat it's self is like a vinyl, plastic, rubber kind of material that wipes off easily.

Also sold in gender neutral colors like lime green, or teal, so we can continue to use with all future children!!

**UPDATE: Since writing this, the Bumbo pictured has been recalled. But for a seriously stupid reason. People, parent your children. Don't leave them alone in something they can fall out of and fracture their skull. One would think this is obvious, but, in today's society, it needs to be spelled out.**

Fisher Price Snugabunny Swing

Ok. So first, this is just freakin' adorable.
Second. Gender neutral! (Can you tell I'm all about the gender neutral stuff?!)
Third, it PLUGS IN!
Do you know how many swings plug in? Not many. Most require batteries, so what are you constantly doing? Buying batteries.
This positions three ways. The way shown above, turn to the left and turn to the right.
A beautiful mobile with a mirror in the middle, harness straps (because babies fall out of this kind of stuff), 6 speeds, and 4 different musical selections (Music, Music and Nature, Nature, Water). If you're feeling REALLY rebellious, get the matching bouncer.

Fisher Price Snugabunny Bouncer

Totes Worth it.

On both apparatuses, the seats are like fur soft and removable so they can be washed... because leaks happen.

The bouncer only uses batteries, but I have yet to change them since putting them in, and we use it at least once a day... for three months.

Diaper Genie

As I wrote when I was pregnant, we chose to use disposable diapers. For a while there, I was thinking about starting cloth, but, that left my mind quickly.

We purchased this because "everyone needs a diaper genie!"

But really...

EVERYONE NEEDS A DIAPER GENIE.

This one has a foot pedal for easy one hand disposal.

Keeps all smells trapped in nice and tight, and surprisingly holds a good amount of diapers. I think I take them out maybe once a week? I'm sure as the diapers get bigger, that'll change, but so far it's really worth it. 

I've only had to buy two refills so far, because I empty it correctly. Not many know that you need to push the diapers together and push all the air out before cutting and tying the bags. I'm pretty proud that I can get about 50 diapers compacted down to a space about a foot big. Can't tie the bag you just took out? Who cares! It's going out in the big trash bin for the nice garbage men to take away on Monday morning!!!

And finally...

Chick-fil-A

I just couldn't resist.


So that's my list for now. I'm sure I'll have more lists as Baby Dean gets older.


What are your favorite items that make your life easier with baby?

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.