Everything is the same but different!

So after a long break we are back and have so many things to share.

Z is doing well he almost fits into 18month clothes, he only 9 months old but hey he's a big boy. Crawling is the new thing he will army crawl all over the house and will chase me around or run away when I chase him. He has learned to clap his hands, this took longer than I thought because I never clap my hands when I am around him so I had to make an effort to remember to clap when we were playing, but it payed off because now he claps (when he feels like it). The newest thing that Z does is pull himself up to standing and then walk (inch slowly) around the furniture that he is holding on too. Also he can climb stairs (only one but he can go down that one stair too). Z has turned into a little boy right in front of me, he is no longer that tiny little baby boy that I brought home in December. He is big and funny and smart and mischievous. He gets into everything and finds the smallest piece of dust and eats it. He goes to sleep at night all on his own (after some epic battles of crying it out) But we survived it and we are better for it. He naps most days, twice a day. He knows exactly what he wants. He eats like a champ, he eats solid food like its going out of style. He's a little boy with his very own personality and he is way more awesome than I ever dreamed to be possible.


E is doing well also he is back in school getting his Phd. Another 4 years of school but we will make it! E is the greatest Dad he gets up in the morning and had Daddy and Z time, feeds him breakfast and they chat and play and then wake up Mommy (who is already awake but being lazy) E amazes me everyday with what he can accomplish. He is so busy but always has time to help other people out and he always has time for Z and I. I don't think I could have married a better guy.

My new hair cut

I am the same. I feel like nothing really changes for me. Thats okay I come up with things to do. I am in the middle of reorganizing our house. I hate living in mess and destruction so I am changing it. I (I mean we) are painting the master bedroom, we bought new blinds for most of the house, we bought new bookshelf's and are going through all of our stuff to make sure we rid ourselves of clutter. I think I need to get out more and make some friends since I feel pretty house bound and limited with what I can do with a 9 month old always in tow.  However I have started swimming pretty regularly and have seen some improvements in myself from all of the exercise, so that feels pretty awesome since I was having some major body issues since Z was born (I still am working on this) And on that note I must say that I have decided that it would be in my (and E and Z) best interest to just be more confident in myself just do what I am going to do and not worry what other people think. I have trouble with that kind of stuff. Anyway our life has been pretty awesome thanks to our family and friends who are awesome and we wish we could see more of them.

L

Mumbo Jumbo

Baby Z Exciting Facts:

1. Z is 6 months old
2. Z cut his first tooth on May 30th
3. Z is 19.12 pounds
4. Z is 27 3/4 inches tall
5. Z eats solid food
6. Z loves peas
7. Z wears 12 month clothing
8. Z is fascinated with P
9. Z can sit up on his own for a few seconds
10. Z owns his very own pair of sunglasses

Things learned about parenthood this month:

1. Teething Sucks- there is nothing you can do about this every child goes through it, all you can do is try and help them feel better.
2. Babys Cry- sometimes babies cry and thats okay. 
3. People Say Stupid Things- its true, they don't think before they open there mouths, and dumb and sometimes offensive stuff comes out, let it go and move on. (give them the benefit of the doubt that they didn't mean to hurt you)
4. Eating Solids- babies get food everywhere but they are super entertaining while they learn to eat solid food. 
5. Cherish Every Moment- Kids grow up too fast, its like you blink and suddenly they are completely different and way bigger, relax and enjoy.

 Things I want to share:

Z is getting Surgery on June 14th
E's sister K is getting married to M in July (so excited!)
Z has something cute to wear to the wedding
I hate shopping and can not find anything cute to wear tot he wedding :(
Z thinks it is hilarious to sing the Kit Kat song (give me a break) using his name
Z is ticklish witch is very amusing to me

L

Finger and my Dummy in my Mouth all at the same TIME!

Life has caught up with me lately and I haven't been able to post anything.

Sorry.

Life is good though, E had decided to get his PHD so will be in school mode for another 4 more years. Yay! I mean it I am excited and a little terrified but I know that it will all work out and we will have everything that we need. I plan on staying home and not going back to work so this will make things a little tight but workable.

Z is amazing! He grows and changes everyday. Its crazy to think that just 6 months ago I was still pregnant and waiting to meet him. I hardly remember what life was like before he was here. I don't know what I did with all of my time. I know I thought I was busy before but now I just feel like I go non-stop. I love it though! Z smiles all of the time now and can do a bunch new stuff that he couldn't before such as:

roll over (back to front)
laugh
sit up on his own for a few seconds
sleep un-swaddled
loves tummy time
loves bath time (splashes around)
he is teething
put his foot in his mouth
talk and babble  (he said mama first, now he like to say nanananana)

We have started him on some solid food, he has only had it 3 times but tonight when we gave him some he grabbed our hand and guided it to his mouth and ate up all of the food. It was so cute to watch him eat like that. It made me realize just how big he is getting. He also has such a little personality now, he is such a happy little guy alway smiling and laughing. He smiles at you and turns away all shy like.
Z also LOVES P and is always trying to pet her and grab her. P is really good about it and doesn't get mad if he grabs her ear a little hard. P sometimes lays down beside Z and they both nap on the couch with me, Z on my lap on a pillow and P beside me with he head on the pillow just above Z (its so cute)!

Z isn't sleeping but you get the idea.

And now I will leave you with a few more photos

My 2 boys passed out 

Playing with the blanket

Eating his Baby Einstein friends

Fingers and my dummy in my mouth

I will try my best to keep this more up to date from now on! Lots of love

L

The 4 month Boogie

I can't believe that 4 months have gone by.  Everyday Brings something new and it feels like I will never be able to keep up with all the little changes that happen daily. But for this brief moment I feel like I have it down, it may change in the next hour but for right now in this exact moment this is what Baby Z loves and hates.

Loves:
Playing with his hanging toy
standing
sitting up
tv (oops I know, I know)
being naked
sucking his fingers
sucking his thumb
Sofie the Giraffe
Smile at mom and dad
talk to people
cloth diapers (sposies give him a rash)
cuddling

Hate:
tummy time
car seat
not being able to see you
not being able to move his hands
being tired

So that is Z in a nut shell. I find my love for him grows everyday and he brings so much joy to my life. It really is crazy how he has completely changed my life (for the better) ! I have some pictures to share

Rocking his pink Bumbo

Tasting his yummy fingers

His favourite toys

Close up 

Anyway the last 4 months have flown by and have been filled with so much adventure. Not many adventures that take us away from home but everyday is a little mini adventure that takes us to every corner of our everyday life.

L

Tips for when you have unexpected guests

Since becoming a mom I have noticed that I don't really get dressed for the day until after Z has had his midmorning / lunch time feed. This puts me in an awkward position when people drop by unannounced. So I have devised a plan for when this happens. If for some reason you have about 2 min to get ready for you visiter (like you saw them walking down the block from the window, or maybe they give you a phone call "hey I am coming over I will be there any minuet") This is what I do:

• Run to my room and change out of my PJ bottoms 
• I wipe the spit up off my PJ top (I wear PJ tops that look nice so I can just change the pants in a pinch)
• sprtiz on some perfume (to hid the sour milk smell) 
• Throw my hair into quick pig tails
• splash some water on my face
• a quick brush of my teeth

Then I answer the door. If you are like me and have a messy house as well I grab a broom and make it look like I was starting to clean before they arrived unexpectedly, or if Z is crying I just take a broom out and leave it so it looks like Z interrupted my cleaning.  Also if I have and extra second I spray some cleaner on the mat by the front door so my house kinda smells cleanish. If however I have no warning and some one rings the door bell they get me just how I am: messy hair, PJ's and spit up. 

Another trick I have is when you have a baby and people know it you can take a bit of time before you answer the door so if I can I really try to change my pants so it doesn't look like I have been lounging all day (not that I am).

L

Hello Wonderful !

Recently I have been trying my best to stay focused on the positive in my life. It has been going well. It started with coming to terms with some stuff, like on of my best friends wants nothing to do with me. I have known this fact since I was about 3 months pregnant, but I was holding out hope that once Z was born she might change her mind. Z is now almost 3 months old and she still has not called or written (I would call her but she told me to NEVER contact her again) She no longer wants to be my friend because of one phone call when I told her I was pregnant, she got offend about something I said (even though if she was offended that was not my intent) however she through out our 7 year friendship over it. And not only that but told a bunch of mutual friends not to talk to me either, and they don't. So I am coming to terms with this slowly, i just want her to know that if the situation had been reversed, it would have hurt and been hard but I would have been happy for her. So since she unfriended me on facebook (I know very Junior high) I waited 9 months for any of these mutual friends to talk to me and then I unfriended them from my facebook and several other people just so I could start fresh. So far I feel pretty great about this choice I don't have to worry about any of them seeing pictures of baby Z or seeing any comments that they write to each other. Don't worry I still have plenty of friends and I am making more!
At the start of my pregnancy I joined a birth club and now this has turned into a facebook group, its really great a bunch of different women from all over Canada in a similar situation as me. We swap stories and advice and really we have become a little Internet family. I don't post to often (but I read it everyday) but when I do post the support and love I get if amazing. These ladies are very important to me even though I have never met them. They are my new friends!
So that is the first steps I have taken to saying good-bye to all the jerks in my life, and saying hello to all the wonderful people in my life. E has been super sportive as well and helps me see just how awesome I really am.
When I went to get Z his 2 month shots (he was a champ hardly cried at all) I nurse talked to me about PPD and told me its not always to do with the baby. Which was interesting to me because I love Z like nothing else but I have been down in the dumps lately. Just about random stuff. So that is what brought all of this on, so I am trying to stay focused on all the good. I am trying to get out of the house more and see other people and I am trying to turn to the Lord and let him help me get through this little rough patch. Also E and I and Z are all going to visit our family next week! I am so excited to see my parents and E's parents and we will be spending my birthday out of town with Family so that is nice! Maybe someone will watch Z and I can get my hair done!

L

Today is a New Day

So yesterday was obviously a bad day. But After I wrote that post I cried a little bit and then Z woke up and I thought this is it I can just start over right now. So then we enjoyed an afternoon of songs tummy time and a little bit of dancing. Another thing I realized is that Z loves me and he likes playing with me, and he proves it to me everyday with his happy little face.

So today is a new day, and it started off with smiles and I thought I would share my little smile with you!

Have a Great Day!

L

...

Lately I have been feeling really crappy. I am not sure why or what my problem is. I have a beautiful, wonderful, amazing little boy who I love so so so much! However I am having a really hard time shaking this weird feeling of failure, I just feel like I am an awful mom. I have no reason to think this. I feel bad I sometimes find myself hoping that he will go to sleep just so I can have some time for myself. I mean I am his mom shouldn't I want to spend time with him? shouldn't I cherish the time that he is awake and I can play with him? Thats a whole other issue I really have no idea how to play with a 2 month old. I used to sing to him all the time but now hes lucky is I sing him one song. I just feel that Z deserves so much more, a way better mom than me.
I guess today is just a bad day. tomorrow will be better.

L

Z at 2 Months

Z is 2 months old and he can:

• Smile
• Hold his head up
• Roll over
• Stand on his feet if you hold him up
• Breastfeed with out a nipple shield 
• Sleep 8 hours through the night
• Sooth himself 
• Squeal when happy

He Dislikes:

• Tummy Time
• Napping in his crib 
• Getting his diaper changed 
• Bath time most days
• Pooping
• Being alone in a room
• Being up in his carseat

He Likes:

• Eating
• Sleeping
• being Naked after his bath
• Being in his swing
• Being in his bouncy chair
• Laying on his play mat
• Getting bum cream put on
• Being in his Cuddly Wrap
• Driving in the car
• Riding in the stroller

L

Go Ahead Think I am an Idiot !

It turns out that as a new mom I fit into the category of worrywart. Its true I kindda new this was going to happen mostly because I worry all the time about every little thing and E can attest to that. But here I am making mountains out of mole hills all of the time.  I just took Z to the doctor yesterday for one of my many worries, it wasn't the first time and it will probably not be the last.
I took Z to the doctor to look at his little boy bits because I was concerned that his circumcision looked funny (I know its a strange worry) I thought it was swelling and looking not right. So I called the doctor and scheduled an appointment. When we got the the appointment the doctor came in and looked him over I explained the issue and she told me what was up. It looks completely normal the extra skin just bunches like that. I was so relived but I could tell the doctor thought I was an idiot. She was nice about it though (I am sure she must get a bunch of first time moms coming in all the time) However I did notice that before they let you book an appointment they make you talk to a nurse and tell them your problem, I am sure this is there way of keeping over worrying mothers like myself from booking a million appointments and wasting the doctors time. I am sure that my doctor was wondering how I managed to get through this defense with my silly little problem (maybe because it was the second time I called about the same issue :P
Anyway I have decided that if I feel that Z needs to see a doctor or I am worried about something then I am going to take him to the doctor, I would rather the doctor think I am an idiot than let something go uncheck and have it turn out to be an actual problem in the future. I will not be one of those moms who is taking her kid to the doctor for every little cough, but if its and issue that I can't fix on my own or can't find and answer to on the internet or from my moms group on facebook (I love those ladies so much, they are super supportive and have great advice and are a wealth of baby knowledge) I will be taking Z to the doctor.  So go ahead think I am an idiot but the health and safety of my child are my first concern. I just want to hear that my son is okay and he is healthy and if that make me an idiot, well then I am an idiot.

L

Getting in the Swing

While E managed to fix all of the leaking roof problems (with the help of his dad) I have been super busy with baby Z. I finally feel like I am getting into the swing of things. Speaking of swings Z is enjoy a little swing time right now, he rarely gets to be in his swing while he is awake so this a real treat for him. I have the music and mobile going. and he is content. Its so nice to see him enjoying something. He is still smiling but he really only does it for me. Poor E tries to get him to smile but he never really gets him to. Oh well one day Z will share his smiles with his Daddy too.

Z has turned into a drool bucket lately. So now he has to ware a bib. He also is starting to form a routine. He starts going to bed around 10pm, this is how the routine goes:

10pm diaper change and puts on his jammies
Then the first part of his bedtime feed.
After the first boob he gets a good burp and warped in his blanket.
Then the second part of his bedtime feed.
After the second boob he gets a good burp.
Then he get rocked in the rocking chair and gets his dummy if he needs it.
Then once his eyes are closed he gets laid down in his crib and the lights go out.
If he opens is eyes he gets his dummy (if he wants it) and hushed.
Then mommy and daddy leave his room and he goes to bed. (sometimes he babbles for a bit and then goes to sleep) If he is crying then mommy comes back and rocks him some more (but he hasn't needed that for a while now)

Then he sleeps for at least 4 hours but lately he has been sleeping for six hours before getting up to eat again, go baby Z!

Z is also fitting into a lot more of his cute outfits and has had a few outings now. Last wednesday Z and I went to stars and strollers (a movie at cinaplex that is for moms and babies *sound not so loud and not so dark and your baby can cry and fuss and no one can complain about it AND you get 2 dollars off your ticket price*)  We had a lot of fun! Z was such a good boy he ate right when we got there and then slept through the whole movie. We saw The Kings Speech it was so good I hope it wine an Oscar. We also went and visited some friends at there homes first A and D house and then the next night M and J house. We had a lot of fun there too and baby Z was so good he was quite and helped us play games and didn't cry at all. I love him so much!

I have been using the baby carrier that my mom bought me it a cuddly wrap and I love it, so does Z he sleeps in it when hes there but it nice to have my hands free sometimes and to take walks without the stroller.

Well thats all I got for now I really should take Z out of the swing now, it not good just to leave your baby alone all the time you need to interact with them, but this was a nice treat for the both of us.

L

Raining with a chance of Smiles

We have sprung a leak. Somewhere between the upstairs bathroom and the downstairs bathroom water is leaking. This is not good. Baby Z is asleep while E crawls around in the atic to try and see if he can see where the leak is coming from.
The house is a mess. I have to clean it but Baby Z needs me all of the time. We finaly bought food today. so now the fridge is full again. E took me and Z out for dinner at earls. Kid friendly you know. It was great, we had a fun date. Z slept most of the time.
Baby Z has started to smile at us. Its so cute. He is such a happy baby. I can't wait until he smiles all the time.
Now E is vacuming, its 10:50pm Baby Z is sleeping.... not for long would be my guess. Anyway thanks all thats new.


L

Diaper Quest

So Baby Z is over 11 pounds now, so most of his diapers should be in the realm of fitting. I promised reviews and they will start to appear but I thought I would give you an overview of what I thought of them so far.

I love my Bummis Pre-folds! they are the best. Super trim and absorbent, my Bummis covers are also my fave and are so easy to use! Even E has them down pat.
My Apple cheeks are also up there in my idea of greatness, the fit is awesome and the colors are so cute! They are not as trim as my Bummis stuff but they still are not to bad.
I hate my rump-a-rooz they are way to bulky and the legs are super far apart so Z looks like he has been riding a horse for the last month and they are ill fitting and gap at the front even on the smallest setting. Oh and they leak.
My dream ease also leak and take forever to dry.
I love all my fitted diapers (Sandy's and fab fitted's) They are trim and awesome and I use them with the Bummis covers or Apple Cheeks and they are leak proof!
Gro-baby's kinda suck there inserts are too narrow and then poo and pee get all over the covers which makes them not usable again which make the whole point to gro-babys not work. However I like the covers and use them with my pre-folds and get awesome results. So I guess the covers are okay.

The rest of the diapers don't fit him yet, but I will keep you posted on how they work out. And I will be reviewing each diaper individually, but I want to give them all a fair shoot so I will be using them for a bit longer. Also E and I will be going to the store today to pick up some more diapers and different stuff to try out. We are still looking for a night time solution for diapers right now we have to use disposables just to keep Z comfy while he sleeps for long periods. Wish us Luck !


L

Nap Time?

Baby Z 6 weeks old

mommy and baby Z hanging out durring nap time. Its daddy's first day back at school so we are all on our own. so far so good. 

its hard to type with one hand.

L

The Beginning of a New Understanding

So its funny the things you learn once you have a baby.

• I can do lots of things one handed now that I never really attempted to do before. 
• My house can wait it may be a mess but the mess will still be there tomorrow but I don't want to miss seeing my little boy grow up. 
• Poop isn't as gross as I thought, and newborn poop is kind of fascinating. I worry more than I originally expected.
•  I can look at baby Z all day long if I let myself and I usually do.
•  I am proud when I can get him to sleep in is crib and not my arms. 
• I have found a new love for all mothers who have been mothers for a long time or who are just starting out like me.
•  I cherish my relationship with my mom now more than ever, and its her advice that helps me get through the rough days.
•  I appreciate E more and more each day and everything that he does for me. 
•  I feel I have a glimmer of understanding as to how heavenly father feels for me and all of his children. Tiny miracles happen everyday when it come to nap time to eating. 
• Breast-feeding is harder than it looks and takes a lot of work for me and baby Z.
•  Bouncy chairs were invented for a reason and who ever thought them up I am truly in you debt. 
• Baby crying isn't as a annoying as you think it should be. 
• Showers are a privilege. 
• Sleep is a distant dream I had long ago. 
• You can never sing Old McDonald had a Farm to many times. 
• When you forget the words to old childhood songs its okay to make up new ones. 
• Reaching out to others isn't as hard as I thought and I am no longer scared to do it.
• Ask for help.
• Let other people help you.
• I no longer am aloud to be shy, Z needs a mom who can speak up.
• Sometimes new friends are needed.
• Love grows and grows forever and ever and has no end.

L