Number 33!!!

Quick shout out to my favorite couple on their 33rd wedding anniversary!!  

My dad said they just had gotten married (like a few months earlier in this picture), so they were 26 and 28 or around that.  So crazy!!!!   They look like kids.

We are so blessed to have both sets of our parents still married.  With 33 years and 40 years (this year is a big one for my in-laws), that is a lot of marriage and together time in this family!!

Mom and Dad - we love you so much and hope you take time to go out to dinner alone and celebrate with each other once dad gets back from Iowa!

Cheers to 33 and many more!

Mommy and me: time together

This week's mommy and me picture is in the midst of celebrating our long weekend with friends.  Sunday turned out to be a hot one, but we enjoyed every minute we could get outside together.

Here's the thing that I go through as a parent on a constant basis.  I seriously want to be around my child all the time.  Like I don't want to miss one single moment or milestone he has.  I want to soak in every smile, every sweet laugh and especially every time he pulls up on me, hugs my legs and says mama {I'm yes sweet boy, you do that and you'll quickly learn I will drop anything to hold you in my arms.  But at the same time, there's still this crazy thing called life that seems to get in the way.  Whether its work, time with family and friends, dates with each other or commitments we made (like school, volunteer).  Not to mention just the maintenance of a household.

So when I get the chance and have a weekend that is not-so-busy with work and other things, I try to literally soak it all in.  And every hug is a little sweeter, every laugh sounds a little better and very time you fall asleep in my arms I love you more and more.  I love those times.

Last night was the first night in almost 10 months I haven't pumped before I went to bed.  That's crazy right?!?  It is.  But I almost felt like a part of me was missing because I'm so used to it.  I'm down to pumping twice a day at work too.  You are still ok with nursing in the morning and at night, but it's much more of a struggle during the weekends when I'm at home.  I don't want to stop nursing you like ever.  Because I'll miss our special time.  But time is making me comes to grips with reality that my almost 10 month old is growing up.  And you'll need me in a different way, Charlie.  And as we start this process of weaning, how ever long it takes, know that I'll miss it.  Even not pumping at night I felt like I was doing something wrong. Like I am letting you down.  But then I realize this is how my whole life is going to have to be as a parent, slowly letting you grow up.  Sheesh.  I just thought you'd be a baby forever!!!

I love you and your crazy hair Charlie Carter!!!  Thanks for lots of fun this weekend!!!

A long weekend

Because it's almost my bedtime and I did the good thing and worked out tonight after Charlie went to bed {instead of sit on the couch with a beer and blog and watch the bachelorette - don't worry...I watched the bachelorette while working out, but couldn't seem to find a good time for the beer} and I don't remember the last time I did a timely post, here is our long Memorial Day weekend in pictures!!!!

Kicked off Friday with the party shirt...

This Friday, Jimmy surprised me (I promise I have a blog post in the "hopper" about me surprising him) and his mom and grandma came over to watch Charlie and we went to dinner and a movie!  My pick.  Wahoo!  Sushi train at Sakura it is...(yes those are all his plates)

Movie?  We haven't gone to a movie together in the theaters in over a year.  First up?  Using some movie passes we got from a friend to see the Great Gatsby.  Except it was sold out at AMC, so off to the small Leawood theater we went.  Got there at 7:25, youngest people there by about 25 years and tons of seats.  Score.

Saturday: 

Dad was off to play with his friends at the Royal's game

Mom and Charlie?  Well, we lounged in our PJs and rocked bed head for awhile.

And after what seems like the 40th time this kid fell on his face and busted his lip open, we headed off to fight the crowds at the Legends to get him some shoes.

In the evening, we hung out with Uncle Dave and played with our new toys that Amazon Prime brought us earlier in the week.  As mentioned on Instagram, the pool was unsuccessful.  I'm guessing it was because of the flowers?  #boyproblems

Saturday night, this mama got some much needed alone time.  I got to work out for probably the first time since December (WTF I know), watch the Nashville season finale (so good) and go to bed when I pleased.  Charlie was sound asleep and Jimmy was out with his friends.  Best yet?  Don't even remember Jimmy coming home at midnight...apparently I talked to him for 10 minutes.  Oops.

Sunday morning came and my grandpa signed our family up to cook a meal and serve it to about 100 people at the United Methodist Church in KCK.  My grandmother and cousin made some killer meatloaf, potatoes, green beans and rolls and it was quite the hit.  Was nice to take some time away to realize just how blessed we are and how much I take for granted.

Sunday afternoon?  Party time!  Dad got the other Amazon Prime toy hung up - the swing.  And it was a hit!!  Yeah for outside time that doesn't involve mom crawling around after Charlie taking everything he picks up out of his mouth!

Then we had some friends over for dinner.  Charlie wasn't too accommodating to Bennett.  I think he was just jealous of Bennett's adorable outfit.  I die.

We had the babes try out the pool together.  Bo and Bennett are almost 3 months younger than Charlie and not mobile yet  (ah, those were the days, right!?), so they loved the pool and sat in it like happy little campers.  This lasted about 5 minutes and then Charlie was out crawling after sticks and mulch and dirt to shove in his mouth.  It's only a matter of time Sarah and LeighAnne - you just wait!

Bo got to eat dinner in Charlie's high chair.  This was AFTER his parents put his bowl of food on the ground to get his strapped in and our stupid dog, Willy, ate his food.  Luckily, I had some sweet potatoes to replace his with.  Stupid dogs.

Monday - a day off!  Wahoo!  It was pouring when we woke up and Charlie woke up early.  But then it was shopping with Nana B at Ward Parkway.  This is the trip that Charlie figured out how to put his hand in the snack container and get the puffs out himself.  Next thing I know they are all gone.  Seriously?  Well that lunch was ruined...

Then at TJ Maxx we changed our diaper, ate, and played with mirrors in the dressing room.  And our new kicks came in handy!

Quick stop at Firehouse Subs for lunch before a Target run.  So cute.

While we were off shopping, dad was at home rearranging our house again.  Yes, we are back to "normal".  For good reason, but it was a busy day for house projects and getting some last minute things done.  And then we drove around for an hour so Charlie would nap.  We were desperate, it was nice out and the Royal's game was on.  Hey, we got an hour and 30 minute nap out of it.  We're so cool.

And that's that folks.  It was a great weekend and we are so thankful for all the men and women that serve our country and protect our freedom.  It's an amazing honor to live in this country that I know we take for granted.  Hope you had a great weekend as well!!!

PS I think I take too many pictures of my kid.  Is that possible?

Never ending fat lip

So maybe it's a "boy thing" or maybe it's just a my child thing.  I'm not really sure.  But literally - this kid is always scratched up in some way shape or form.  And really it just started about two weeks ago.  When I got a phone call from his school at 8:30 on Friday morning.  The director said that Charlie was pulling up on the small high chair and the tray fell on his lip.  He was bleeding everywhere and she wanted me to come and make sure I didn't need to take him to the doctor.  

When I got there, luckily, the bleeding had stopped but little mister was NOT happy.  Huge cut on the inside of his sweet lip and his sharp tooth popped through the front of his lip just a bit.  I was able to nurse him and after that he seemed to be back to his normal old self.  But his sweet lip?  Started to balloon up and swell.  After the a short phone call with the doctor, it was confirmed that nothing could really be "fixed" and we'd just have to let it heal on it's own.  

Had to snap some pictures at school for dad to let him know that Charlie would be ok.  Lip was starting to puff up a bit - but he was ready to go outside and play with his friends.  Tough kid.  And this was a picture of the outside of his lip.  Poor guy.  Obviously he wouldn't let me snap a picture of the inside.

By Monday....it was much better.  Just a little white spot versus a huge bloody cut on the inside of his mouth.  He was also home with mom all day trying to break his fever.  Poor guy.

Ever since last week?  He has fallen at least 3 more times.  I'm not sure if his wound re-opened up or if he just cut himself a few more times.  But some were just little cuts with a little blood and some were lots of blood.  Case in point.  He fell on his face and I literally just picked him up and blood went all over my shirt and his.  UGH.  Poor guy.  

So what is the solution?  Besides the fact that I would just prefer to lock him in a cage and never let him get hurt again (or have anything to fall off of or make him stop pulling himself up-- so he can't fall)...which I would love to do all of those things.  I figured we need to buy him some shoes.  So I texted my knowledgeable friend and mom to Brodie, Lauren and she told me to go to Stride Ride.  So off we went to the Legends to get some new shoes.  Expensive shoes I might add.  But so far so good and we haven't had any spills even with the constant pulling up everywhere. (but he does look pretty cute in them - and yes this is the best picture I can do these days where he's not in a high chair or a swing because he doesn't sit still!)

Seriously this kid is everywhere.  Lord help us all and thank goodness blood comes out of shirts!!!

 

9 months old - has come and gone (like a month ago)

Here you were at 9 months a few days old.  I wasn't behind on the pictures, but about a month behind on the posts because you will be TEN months old in just a few days.  Literally time does fly and this past month has been proof of just that.  I decided to do the pictures and outtakes first...commentary last this time.

This month's pictures - well, it was incredibly hard to get you to sit still let alone get a smile out of you.   You are ALL over the place crawling.  It's insane how fast it happened.  Most of the pictures are of you sitting there while your dad is trying to make you stay still or like the on the right side with your hand in your mouth.  That's because we were bribing you with puffs.  Well, lesson learned - bribe with puffs for pictures means hands in mouth.  Luckily we learned this before your real 9 month pictures, right?

Others were like this - close ups of you after me and my camera.  You're pretty cute either way.

Then the photo shoot moved into our bedroom.  You crawled your sweet little bottom across the hall and made a bee line for the dog stairs.  However, they are not the best toy or object (for you or the dogs) because they slide.  Someone suggested velcro and that's actually a brilliant idea!!

And then we ended the night snuggling in bed with dad watching some videos before it was bath time and then time to hit the sack.  Seriously kid, I love you so much it is crazy.

Big things that happened this month?  Well - you found your voice and learned to crawl.  It was pretty crazy.  I feel like you changed a ton this month!!!  You are somehow turning into a little person.  A pretty cute little person.

Here are your stats from your doctor's appointment that mom and dad took you to:

Weight: 20lbs and 7oz (50% percentile)
Length: 29.5 in (75% percentile- 3 inches in 3 months!)
Head Circumference: 18.5 (80% percentile) 

Here's the list of what you are doing now...

• You still have 6 teeth.  4 on top and 2 on bottom.  People are in shock when I tell them that.  Especially when they ask if you are still nursing...haha.
• You babble and babble and babble.  It's hilarious to listen to the conversations you have with yourself.  I'm convinced you and your classmates have some sort of baby language.
• It's funny because I thought the army crawl last month was scary - well you actually crawl. And you are fast and are into everything.  Your favorite things to crawl fast to?  Well that would be the dog water bowl and food bowl.  Guess what else?  You feel down the stairs about halfway through April. It was pretty frightening to everyone.  Luckily you were ok and that night we installed a baby gate.  No more of that.
• The way you interact with your toys is so fun to watch.  You seem to pick them up and examine them and most of the time put them in your mouth.  But it's fun to watch you stack things and unstack them, etc.

• You are now one of the "big kids" in your class and it's so crazy.  I never thought you would get close to being one.  But I guess that's inevitable, right?  It's just insane to see you literally play and interact with your friends.  Your favorite?  That would be Stella.  You guys fight like brother and sister and it cracks everyone up.  Apparently Stella's older sister even talks about you at night!!  All your teachers still love you too - which is just the sweetest.
• So at your 9 month appointment, I told your doctor just how many bottles you were taking at school.  And she said the fourth one needed to be cut out.  (yes, you were getting 4 bottles still).  But since you would get home from school and not really be hungry (i.e. you throw all the food on the floor for the dogs), she said this would help.  I was fine with it...having the discussion with Ms Tamala (your fav teacher) was a little hard.  She doesn't want you to be thirsty and likes giving you a fourth bottle.  Ms Shirley told her she's crazy.   It was a pretty interesting conversation.  But we're working on 3 bottles.
• Constipation isn't really an issue anymore because we put 1/4 cup of Miralax in your bottle everyday. Seems to keep you regular and helps move it through your little body.  Don't like constipated baby!!
• You still love food.  This month's favorites?  Peas and carrots and prunes and apples. Yum.
• You are still nursing in the morning and at night and on the weekends.  And you are still happy with it and so am I.  I just love our time together.  It's nice that you learned not to bite too.  9 months going strong - so proud of us little man!!!!
• Knock on wood- you were pretty healthy during this month!  Just a well-check up with NO shots, so that made it even more fun.
• Your sleep has gotten better and naps are more on schedule at least on the weekends.  It's weird because you are sleeping less at school but seem to get tired earlier and sleep lots during weekend naps.  That's a good habit because on the weekends I have time to nap or do other things.  
• Mostly everything is 9 or 12 months.  It's crazy how fast something because obsolete in your wardrobe.  You are getting so tall.
• You officially mastered pulling yourself up on your crib.  Just please don't figure out how to climb out.  Apparently I did that as a baby at 10 months.  I would really prefer to stay in the crib.  
• Size 3 diapers still!!

The month of April was so fun and so crazy all at the same time.  With lots of time together and some time apart (we had a wedding and some fun weekend events for adults only), mom stayed busy with grad school and tried to push through.  Seriously, it was a blessing that you started sleeping well because I'm not sure if we could have made it through this month if you were waking up.  

It was a fun month because now that we can all go out to eat together (and we can give you some of our food to eat), we have started being a little more social.  As long as our friends want to go to dinner at like 5.  But it's still fun.  The crawling thing is a little difficult because you want to be crawling and exploring all the time, but some places and times, that's just not possible!!!

Oh what a joy you are Charlie Carter!!! Love you little man!!

Mommy and me: a blessing in disguise

Today was a blessing in disguise.  Charlie came down with a fever Sunday night and spent most of the evening snuggled up on my chest with a little baby whine.  He was sweating, but he fit just right laying on me.  I was worried his fever wasn't going to break and by the morning, it hadn't.  Poor little guy.  It was just barely under 100, but I get really confused with the whole at home thermometer, I'm not going to lie.  I think it says under the arm, add a degree.  So if that was the case, we were over 100.  Which that means he cannot be at school...which that means we just stayed home.  

And it was a blessing.  Even though my little man still isn't feeling too hot (did the whining on my chest tonight again), I'm thankful for our unexpected day together.  I was pretty good at working on my laptop while holding him in my arms and it was pretty perfect.  Part of me wanted to send him to school and part of me didn't want to let him go.  The employee vs. the mom.  And the mom wins.  Every time.

After the tragic events today in Oklahoma and the prayers for all those that lost their family members and those parents that don't get to snuggle with their little ones tonight, I'm thankful for every moment I get with my little one.  Sick and all, it was a great day.  

I just hope that those teeth come in soon....

It doesn't seem possible

It really doesn't seem possible that 4 months have past since the spring semester of grad school started and I wrote this post about my decision to finish grad school post-baby.

It doesn't seem possible that Jimmy and I have BOTH changed jobs at Hallmark during that timeframe and encountered all the stress and long hours and anxiety that comes with that.

It doesn't seem possible that I took THREE grad school classes from January 1 until May 17.  Nine hours folks.  That's a full time grad school student (trust me I know because I dealt with a lots of drama with UMKC on how they were billing me...let's just say at one point they said I owed them $6,000 and I cried...but then I fixed it - don't mess with me).


It doesn't seem possible that in that time frame my baby boy has gone from a 5.5 month old to an almost 10 month old and so much has changed about him.  He was just learning how to sit up really good by himself and we were started to explore new foods.  Now he is crawling EVERYWHERE and pulling up on everything.  He eats all kinds of foods and has almost mastered the sippy cup.  And sleeps great, makes lots of noises and is hilarious.  He's a totally different kid and we are totally different parents.

It doesn't seem possible that I haven't worked out ONCE since January.  I mean that's terrible, right?  I have done some walks with Charlie and Jimmy when the weather cooperated.  But nothing else.  Somehow I'm still under my pre-baby weight.  Which brings me too..

It doesn't seem possible that I'm still nursing Charlie.  Like I must be crazy, right?  With everything going on you would think I would have thrown in the towel because I have a freezer FULL of breast milk (like literally an entire deep freeze).  But I'm weird and I stuck to my guns on that more than anything and was dedicated to finding time to pump at work - whenever I could.  No more days of relaxing in the mom's room for a nice break - my computer goes with me always, but I still do it.  I love nursing him still and it's working for us.  {However, I do secretly dream about life sans pumping}

It doesn't seem possible that THIS just happened.

My last final is over and submitted (had a final presentation last night).  Just in the nick of time with about an hour and a half to spare until it was due.  I just emailed my professor my extra credit (duh - you think I would be a slacker don't you...like I said, I'm crazy) and that's it folks.  Only two more classes left until I have my MBA.  A goal of mine for a long time.

It doesn't seem possible but it is.  A summer with NO classes and nice weather and weekday nights hanging out with my boys (hopefully not working...).  I cannot wait.  And neither can this little man....

{And more blogging.  Oh SO much to blog about and catch up on.  Didn't have a spare second to waste for these last few months, but I'm back.  And it feels so good.  Thank you for all those people that have helped us this semester.  It's not easy juggling it all.  Not for me and not for Jimmy.  Our families have stepped in to watch Charlie many times when schedules conflicted and we couldn't thank them more.  Thank you to my wonderful husband for putting up with my constant bitchiness because all I wanted to do so many night was sit in the shower and cry but he wouldn't let me.  I couldn't do this without you, Jimmy.  It truly takes a village}

Mommy and me: our spot

There's a spot in our house where I have sat for countless hours the last nine months holding my sweet boy. Rocking him, feeding him, loving him. It's our spot. Where I have my quiet time with him nursing in the morning and right before bed. Those are my favorite times. I savor them as much as I can. It's our spot where I go when I want to just be with my baby. No other distractions, just love and happiness in this spot. And LOTS of baby kisses.

This spot makes me not want to stop nursing him. It makes me want to hold him in my arms every night until he's fast asleep and then sit there a few minutes longer just to stare at him asleep.

This spot makes me want him to never grow up. Or at least make it stop happening so dang fast.

In his nursery, in the navy glider, arms around each other...it's our spot. And I finally got Jimmy to take a picture of us there.

Every morning and every night in our PJs you can find us here.  Our special bonding time.  And I love every minute of it.

Life

Life is just so precious.  That is something we all should remember all the time, right?  But as the days seem to just fly by - it's so easy to forget that.  A Pi Phi sister just a few years younger than me and a few years older than my sister lost her husband over the weekend.  Married just over a year.  My sister sent me a text message about it on Saturday morning and we were both in shock.  A life so young and a love so new to be taken from this world - we will never know the "why" to these things.   So many prayers have gone towards her and her family and her husband's family, but please do me a favor and just say one more.  Every one counts.  I cannot imagine what she is going through and continue to think about her and pray for her strength.

With that said, I feel like I have been moving a million miles and hour lately.  Literally just thankful to make it through one and onto the next.  My OCD planner in me has not been easy because I rarely have time to sit down and plan anything.  It's making me feel overwhelmed and like sometimes it is just too much.  Last night when Charlie went to sleep, I had a million things I needed to do.  Catch up on work (that seems to be never ending...), read for my test on Thursday and start my homework that is due on Saturday (only 2 more weeks of school this semester!), blog (yeah right...), plan the menu for next week, finish laundry, spend time with Jimmy, organize our house (it's a constant mess).  But you know what I did?  I laid in bed.  And gave all my burdens to God and went to sleep early.  I know some might think that is crazy because with a long to do list and a sleeping baby, Saturday night is the PERFECT time to do any one of those things.  But I needed time to sit by myself and reflect.  I don't get enough of that lately.  And guess what?  When I woke up, my shoulders felt a little less heavy and I was thankful that at least some of the burdens I was carrying seemed to be lifted.  That's why God is so good.

We got up and went to church this morning.  I really didn't want to because the 9AM service seems to be right during Charlie's nap time and it messes his whole day up - but I needed to go.  I knew we all did.  After a great sermon, we picked up Charlie from the nursery and ran into my grandparents while we were walking out.  My grandmother was so excited to see Charlie and held him and tried to make him smile (he was pretty cranky sans nap).  After we said our goodbyes and headed home, he fell asleep in the car.  When we got home, I quietly got him out of the car seat and took him upstairs praying he would fall asleep.  He did for about 10 minutes and when I was holding him, I could smell my grandmother's perfume.  A very distinct scent.  One that I realized I should be so thankful to know. Thankful that all 4 of my grandparents are still alive, after all 4 have battled cancer and illness, and I know little things like what they smell like.  Thankful that they all got to meet my sweet little Charlie.

I realized how wonderful that moment was.  Holding my sweet baby boy asleep in my arms (that doesn't happen too much anymore) and smelling the scent of my sweet grandmother.  Life is pretty amazing.  Life is pretty precious.  I need this reminder as much as anyone does - try not to rush through life, try to enjoy it and be thankful for what you have and not lusting after all the things you want.  I will get to everything on that to-do list eventually.  

I'm thankful for our wonderful extended family, our friends, but in particular - for these 2 sweet boys.  Life is good.

A sweet moment on Sunday morning