Thursday, January 31, 2013

Today was a terrific day. It started with me waking up, somewhat frantic, at 7:30 with no Leo in bed with me. I rushed into his room, and there he was: just chilling in his crib, staring at his mobile. When I walked over and peeked in, he smiled at me and squealed. Best. Kid. Ever.

So he jumped and played and was generally adorable and pleasant. Then he took a little nap while I put away all of his tiny baby clothes.

I'm not going to lie, I got a little emotional about it. But I got it together, and then we headed to my Nanny Hilda's for lunch.

Leo bean was sweet as peaches, just smiling and staring and cooing at Nanny. She loved it. And I got a yummy lunch, so it was a good time all-around.

 Then we came home to see Chicky. He was very mad at Vinny, who apparently ran away when he tried to get him to come in. I don't believe it for a second.

Such a good boy.

Leo bean was still sleeping when we got home, and I wanted to snuggle, so I brought him onto the couch with me. He slept for TWO MORE HOURS. It was awesome. He's such a little cuddle bunny. Then we went to my parents' house for dinner. Leo jumped in the jumper and tried on a hat I used to wear when I was his age.

It's pretty eerie how much he looks like I did when I was his age. Eerie, but awesome. He ate a whole bowl of cereal and we sang a bunch of songs. Then we came home and did our normal bedtime routine.

Being a mom is the best.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Today was a great day. Busy, but great. The bad news is that it was rainy and gross.

 The good news is that Leo did NOT poop through his jammies today! Woo hoo!

Small victories.

So after our morning feeding/changing/loving, Leo bean watched a little Sesame Street & jumped in the jumper while I picked out his outfit for the day. He got to wear his new jeans!

Then we went to the grocery store, which is always an adventure. I carry him in the Moby wrap, which he loves. He looks around at everything and everyone, and periodically just smiles up at me. Just before the checkout line, we spotted Mom Mom Ciccarone in the produce section. Leo was very sleepy, but he smiled big at her. 

After we came home and unloaded the groceries, we went over to Mom Mom Ciccarone's house for lunch. While we waited for Aunt Jen to arrive, Leo talked to Mom Mom and played in his walker. 

 Then Jen arrived, and she was joyful and sunny as usual. She was SO happy to see Leo, and couldn't stop talking about how beautiful he is. She told us how she always shows off Leo's photos to her kids and friends.

 So she loved on him for a while, until he started to get a little grumpy. He took a nap in his carseat while we chatted and had some lunch. Then Leo's dad stopped by to say hi.

Before she left, Aunt Jen gave Leo a gift: a lion as big as he is! He loved snuggling it, and tried to nurse its nose.

Then we came home, and Leo took another little nap while I did some chores and started dinner. Dad got home from helping Uncle Kyle at his new house, and now we're all hanging out.

And Leo just pooped through his outfit. I guess you can't win 'em all.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Leo is FIVE MONTHS old today. Unbelievable. Everyone tells you how fast it all goes, but seriously? It's nuts. 

Anyway, today has been just fine. Unfortunately, Leo Bean did not decide to celebrate his 5-month birthday by miraculously turning into a good sleeper. He was up at 9:30 & 11:00 last night, screaming his face off. We thought something might be wrong (teeth? ear infection?), so I took him downstairs to check his temperature & gums. Turns out, he just wanted to be bounced. So I bounced him and slept on the couch 'til he woke up at 4:00 am. But then he slept in bed with me 'til 7:00, which isn't terrible. It's a very good thing he is so cute though. 

Also, he pooped in his jammies again. And he wasn't even sorry. 

Nope, not sorry at all.

He jumped and squealed quite a bit, and then we watched some Big Bird. He really likes the song that comes on during Abby's Flying Fairy School. 

He watches it so intently and kicks the bouncer like a crazy person. And then usually, I get it stuck in my head, so I sing it to him throughout the morning. He cracks up. 

He also really likes Elmo. I guess that's okay, but I really hate that creepy Mr. Noodle. 

Something is definitely not right about that guy.

Boob. Nap. Diaper change. Boob. Diaper change. Snuggling. More jumping and squealing. 

Then we tried again to take 5-month photos. We were slightly more successful today. I think I like the one on the right the best.

 He's still working on sitting up unsupported, but he's definitely getting there! Maybe by his 6-month photo? 

Vinny contributed to the photoshoot by death-shaking Leo's teddy bear, and then eating the rug in the nursery. 

Thanks, Vin.

Apparently this photoshoot made Leo a grumplestiltskin, so then it was naptime again. This nap only lasted 10 minutes. After some rigorous bouncing, I finally convinced him to extend the nap, if only so I could get dressed and look presentable before his Dad got home. Then Vinny woke him up. Argh. 

On the bright side, we then took a nice family trip to Wal-mart, got Leo some spiffy new pants (6-9 mos. sizes! ah!), and then came home and took a walk with Vinny. For some reason (global warming), it's like 60 degrees out today. But at least it was good walking weather. 

That's all for today. 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Today was a good day, even though it was icy and cold. Leo Bean slept like a champ last night. Woke up around 11:30 to eat, but went right back down. Then he was up around 5:00, but he fell back asleep in his crib. When I brought him into bed with me around 6:00, he slept until 9:30. Yep. 9:30. Amazing. 

Sleeping beauty.

He did however, poop through his jammies. Pretty typical. So we got changed into new jammies (after some serious belly raspberries & tickling, of course), and came downstairs. We had already missed Sesame Street, so we didn't even bother with the TV. Leo jumped in his jumper while I made some breakfast. I threw the wooba to brother Vinny for a while. 

As I'm typing the play-by-play, I realize this isn't too interesting. But it's interesting for us. So, there. 

Leo played on his mat while I got dinner ready for the evening & did laundry. And made jell-o jigglers, but those were an epic fail. Boo.

Then boob time, and back to the jumper. He's really into yelling and squealing at me until I look at him. Then he smiles at me and jumps really high. It's fairly adorable. He's also started ripping off the animals from the jumper and throwing them on the floor. Then Vinny assumes they are now his, so I have to chase him around trying to get them back. 

Then it's naptime. After some major bouncing in the bouncer, of course. Lunchtime for mom. 

In the afternoon, we tried to take some 5-month photos for his frame...Not very successful. 

But we did get some good ones to send to Auntie Em. 

Finally Dad gets home and, as usual, Leo's face just lights up. He loves (but I HATE) when Dad throws him up in the air, so they did that for a while. I seem to have been overruled. After we ate our pizza casserole, Leo ate his cereal. He did much better with eating, and he is even opening his mouth and reaching for the spoon/bowl. 

Enjoying some rice cereal & boob milk

He is, however, still a slob. 

Yep. Slob.

Then, he started to get seriously grumpy around 7:00, so we did our bath/lotion/jammies/book/boob/bed routine. Worked like a charm. 

I'm realizing that there are also like...a million diaper changes and and photos and conversations and songs and feedings and "What's wrong, Leo Bean?"'s and kisses and and laughs and snuggles and burps and spit ups and clean ups and new bibs and bounces and snores that I missed here. It's those things that take up the majority of our day, but they are also the easiest to overlook. These things are the reason why I sometimes don't get to brush my teeth until noon, but they are also the things that make my life the most fulfilling it has ever been. 

The boss of me.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

The first post.

So.

Let me start off by saying that I have a terrific husband. He's the real reason I've started this blog, actually. He gets up absurdly early to do an exhausting job all day, so that I am able to stay home & take care of our son. When he gets home at the end of each day, tired and usually dirty, he always asks what we did that day. And every day, I struggle to answer that question. "Umm...he jumped in the jumper? And we read some stories.... I swear we did stuff!" Usually I am unshowered at this point, occasionally still in my pajamas. I assume that many stay-at-home-mommas like myself encounter this same quandary. So, I'm writing it down.

I'd also like to state that I have a terrific kid. He's five months old (today!), and just the sunshine of my life. I do not want to forget one moment of my time at home with him, because it is such a huge blessing. And every single day is new and exciting and different with him. So, I'm writing it down.


And one day, probably before I can believe it, he's going to be a big kid. And then, a young man. I know these first five months have absolutely flown. And he won't want to sit and read stories with me in the big, brown chair anymore. Or splash me and squeal while I'm giving him a bath. Or snuggle with me in bed in the mornings. Lord, I'm getting weepy about it already. So, I'm writing it down.

Here goes.