He's One

Yesterday Jacob turned one. Somebody pinch me - I am the mother of a happy, healthy one-year old. And he's perfect, in every way.

He's not quite walking yet - crawling is his preferance. His favorite past time is to open and close doors, drawers and cabinets. He also likes to take all of the q-tips out of the box, then carefully, one-by-one, put them back. (Usually - sometimes, they are left sprawled all over our bedroom floor)

As far as the types of food he fancies, he loves most of what we have tried giving him. Probably the only things he refuses to eat are peas, but I really can't blame him - I am not a big fan either.

Overall, he is a typical baby - he only cries when he is overly tired or hungry. Otherwise, he is sure to have a grin from ear to ear, showing off his two itty-bitty teeth on bottom, which I just can't get enough of!

And he's definitely spunky, which is just a nice way to say that he is stubborn. It's kind of funny, actually. But not to worry, I have mastered the art form of keeping my expressions hidden from him, as to not confuse the situation.

When I am putting him to bed at night, he loves to hold on to his bottle - it's really very sweet. So, I guess at the moment his bottle is his lovee.

He also loves to babble on and on, which leads me to believe that like his mommy, he is going to be a talker. I have noticed lately that he enjoys matching the tone in my sentence. For example, if I am asking him a question, he will respond with the very same tone, as if he is asking me a question in return.

Now that he is officially one and we have had twelve months worth of memories with him, I just can't imagine our lives with him not in it. Before I got pregnant with him, I always felt as though something was missing. There was a void and I did everything I could to fill it. And I didn't feel whole.

But in my heart, I always knew that I was destined to be a Mom. And now that I am, that hole has been completely filled. In fact, it's brimming with an overwhelming feeling of love, pride and pure joy. When I think about the nine years I had to wait to have him, there is no doubt in mind that I would do it all over again.

If there was ever a song that describes my feelings for him, it would be this one...



The Transition

Leo and I had a heart-to-heart a couple of weeks ago about Jacob and our "co-sleeping" situation and we both agreed that it was time for us to transition him into his crib. {gulp}

One of several reasons, Jacob is a crazy sleeper - he moves constantly throughout the night and he ends up in the strangest positions. On some mornings, we'd find him sleeping lengthwise between the both of us. He also kicks. As a result, I wasn't getting much sleep because I am and have always been a light sleeper. It was also pretty evident to both of us that he wasn't getting the sleep he needed either. And to be quite honest, I sensed that he needed his own space to stretch out in.

So we settled on a Friday to try it out - last Friday to be exact. I followed our normal bedtime routine, which is: bath, book, then bottle. Typically, I give him his bottle in our room, me sitting up in bed, him on my lap, rocking him from side to side. (Next on the list of things to eliminate) Instead, I opted for the rocking chair in his room. He was asleep within just a few minutes - a little after 8pm.

I carefully set him down on his side, binky in his mouth (The third item on my list) and turned on the monitor and a noise machine that makes heartbeat noises and then I quietly left the room. I immediately turned on the monitor screen in our room to wait and watch to see if there was any stirring caused by my opening and closing his door, but there was no movement.

Not even a peep.

I must have stared at the monitor every few minutes for a full hour. I kept trying not to think about the things that inevitably would find their way back into my thoughts, like what if he wakes up and I don't hear him?, or what if his leg gets caught?, or the the room is too hot or cold - I finally turned on a relaxing spa-like CD. (my go-to on sleepless nights) And then magically, I fell asleep.

The next morning when I woke up, I immediately rolled over to check on him but all I could see was an empty crib. Of course, I jumped up and headed for his room but as soon as I opened our bedroom door, Leo called out from downstairs to tell me that he had just checked on him - apparently, Jacob had found the only corner in his crib that the camera couldn't capture. But guess what? He didn't wake up until 7am on that fine Saturday morning and when I went in to get him, he was all smiles.

Today marks day six days since we started the transition and overall, it's still gone really well. And I have to say, it has been SO nice to have my evenings back. I now have time to wash my face and brush my teeth in a normal person pace, I can lay on the couch and watch a recorded television sitcom. (I watch very little television these days...I suppose that's a good thing) I'm able to pick up a little around the house and I've even started packing our lunches for the following work day.

This whole process has also shown me that changes like this one can sometimes be harder on us as parents, than they are for the child. In this instance, the first two nights, for me, were by far the hardest. I missed him being in our bed - the closeness we shared and knowing that he was safe because he was right there with us. But you know what? I don't regret our decision to co-sleep with Jacob until now. I loved every second of it and I wouldn't change a thing.

I think the key is to do what feels right for you and your child, without any guilt. I am positive that I could find several articles promoting both sides of the co-sleeping/non-co-sleeping argument but let's face it, nothing is cut and dry when it comes to raising a human being. And what works for one child, may not work for another.

With this big transition under my belt, I am definitely feeling more confident as a Mom and it makes me feel as though I will definitely be able to tackle the other items needing to be eliminated (eventually), like the rocking, the bottle and yes, even the binky. {gasp!}

Enjoy the day!
Missy

Party of Three

I'm excited.

For the first time in years I am SO very excited about Summer. I know this is going to sound strange but I've never really looked forward to it, unless there was a trip planned or a special event to attend. Mainly because Summer to me has always meant lots of opportunities to spend time with your kids so for years I've participated in things but always with the angst of not having any kids of our own. 

The barbeques - playing outside - going to the park - running through the sprinklers - eating watermelon without a care in the world - bonfires at the beach - day trips to the zoo, the museum, a festival or the fair. Granted, Jacob isn't nearly old enough for most of these places and experiences but I don't care. Just the fact that we will have him there to hold, watch and observe the going's on this Summer - together - that is more than enough for me.

And for the future, my head is literally spinning from all of the things I want him to experience, see, feel and touch. My Pinterest board that is almost too obviously titled, "Our Family Bucket List" is literally busting with ideas of places, day trips, activities and games to enjoy as a family. Eventually, some day I know he will begin to get tired of "family time" and opt to hang out with his friends, but until then let's just say I'm planning on taking full advantage of the time Leo and I have with him now.

Kaboose Summer Fun Guide
Summer 2012 - Kid's Summer Ideas
Things to Do with Kids in Southern California
Things to Do in Southern California for Kids
Day Trippen
15 Places Your Kids Should See Before15
75 Things to Do with Kids
60 Summer Activities
100 Free Things to Do with Your Kids This Summer
DIY Outdoor Movie Night
500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up

I am seriously giddy.

We are a party of three and our memory making years are starting now. (heart swelling)

Enjoy the day!

Missy

Pardon Me

Pardon me - it's just me, the author of this blog. So sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. My life you see has become much bigger than just My Life & Everything in Between. The more accurate title would now be My Life with Leo, Jacob and a Full-Time Job...and Everything in Between.

Not that I'm complaining - I wouldn't trade my current life for a million dollars, no thank you. It's just that life today is SO very different than I could have ever imagined. I live, sleep, breathe and eat being Jacob's Mom and I've learned a great deal over the past 8 months. That's right, Jacob is a little over 8 months old now. I still can't believe it myself - even typing it out doesn't seem to make it any more believable.

The biggest lesson for me by far has been realizing that it's easy to be the very best Mom when everything is going right but when things are going wrong - now that's a whole other story. For instance, when Jacob gets sick, I can sometimes "freak out." Granted, for the most part, they are internal "freak outs" but even still, I know I need to be more cool, calm and collected. Let's just say that this not-so-little task has definitely been added to my list of things to work on. Just don't ask me about it when things are going wrong :)

There have been other things, too that I've learned:

1. You can only be the best Mom YOU can be 
2. Having several spare outfits is very, very important
3. You can NEVER have too many wipes in the diaper bag
4. When in doubt, follow your heart
5. Expect to make mistakes
6. There will be lots of tears and I'm not referring to the baby
7. Sleeping is a luxury, not a necessity 
8. Feeling guilt when you are a working Mom is a given - focus on the positives
9. The best daycare provider doesn't have to be the most expensive
10. They LOVE nothing more than to laugh and play - forget the expensive toys

Thank you for keeping me on your reading list - I promise I will do my best to post more.What would I do without you, I'm not quite sure. I am constantly thinking of those of you who are TTC and those of you who are carrying - I am praying for a healthy, easy and safe pregnancy.

Miracles happen every day!
Jacob is definitely proof of that! 

Missy

He's Sick and I'm a Mess

That's right my little boy is sick again with what appears to be yet another cold - poor baby.

I was at work this evening when Leo called me to find out where the fever medicine was when I immediately remembered that I had left it at the babysitter's the last time he was feverish so I quickly grabbed my purse and went straight to Target's pharmacy. Of course there were way too many options on the shelf so I went to the pharmacy counter next where several people were already waiting in line. I couldn't wait a minute longer so I began to repeatedly say, "excuse me" to the pharmacists until one of them finally looked up.

"Is there someone who can help me figure out what kind of fever reducer to buy?" The lady with a pair of purple rimmed spectacles seemed to look down her nose at me until I told her Jake's age and she immediately agreed to look at the many options I had been holding in my hands. She even offered to look up the proper dosage amount for his weight and thankfully nobody in line seemed to be upset - probably because they could read, "new mom" all over my frazzled forehead. after I purchased the medicine I raced home only to find a smiling baby - at least for awhile.

He's in bed now fast asleep but he's definitely feverish and he sounded pretty congested until I slathered on the Vick's vapor rub, just like my own Mom did when I was little. I keep checking his temperature and thankfully, it's just a low-grade fever but something tells me that I won't be getting much sleep tonight. All in all though, I think I handled my first "Jake's got a fever" phone call at work really well. Exhibit A: I didn't panic and Exhibit B: I didn't shed a tear because let's face it, we all know that I am generally fully capable of this kind of reaction or rather, over-reaction.

I just sprung into action - sure I may have ran through the Target parking lot and proceeded to continue running once inside the store but I did it in a orderly fashion - being careful not to run into anyone or anything for that matter. I also managed to keep my wits about me as well as my manners by saying "excuse me" instead of "hey you!" and most importantly I got home in one piece without incident (Thank you, God)

Enjoy your evening!
Missy

Finding Balance and the 4-Month Update

Confession: I feel guilty admitting this but although I've never been happier in my life, I have also been teeter-tottering lately between feeling completely overwhelmed and feeling as though I have (almost) everything under control.

Granted, I have a four-month old baby and I am very proud to say that every waking moment at home has been spent playing and taking care of  him - the only time I spend on cleaning up and organizing myself is during his naps or very early in the morning before I get ready ready for work.

I haven't slept in in weeks and I have had several evenings, especially recently when I just wanted to crawl into bed to gather my thoughts and energy for the next full day. But despite all of this, I honestly wouldn't trade being Jacob's Mom for anything in the world. I'm slowly learning to let things go by the way side like dirty dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor and carpets not being vacuumed once a week but I still have a long way to go. 

Which brings me to a very important question and I am dying to hear what all of you have to say on the matter. For those of you who work full-time, how do you find balance between work and your home life? and how do you find time for yourself? I want to know your secrets, your short-cuts and your accidental discoveries. Share away, please! And then with your permission, I would like to post your answers to share with other new Mom's like me who are struggling with the age old question of how to find find balance. (Please send your secrets to me at missyah1@sbcglobal.net)

Back to the main reason I am posting today - Jake turned four months old last Saturday and I am loving every second of him at this age because he is just so much fun!

His favorite things to do at the moment are to stare at shapes and words - I can literally stand in our kitchen, in front of my hutch of cookbooks with him in my arms and he will literally stare at them - I can only guess that he is focusing on the colors and the shapes of the letters in the cookbook titles. It is the funniest thing.

Jacob is grasping at things a lot more now and he loves anything musical. He has also recently discovered hit feet and how to bring things, like his pacifier to his mouth. And I could never get enough of hearing him laugh out loud - it makes my heart melt every time. He had his well baby exam this past Tuesday and he weighed in at a healthy 14 lbs and 26 inches long and he is quickly getting too big for size 3-6 months. He just has a few things that still fit him but for the most part, he is now in size 6 months.

We had another milestone this past Tuesday - I dropped Jacob off at daycare for the very first time.

The night before I was a complete mess. It was a busy 3-day weekend because I needed to do a bunch of things around the house, like move all my things back up to the master bathroom, (I had been showering and getting ready downstairs so as to not wake up the boys) move all of my clothes and shoes back into my closet (they were in Jacob's bathroom for the same reason) and then get Jacob's things ready for daycare. Plus, I needed to go to Babies R Us, the grocery store and to Target and I also needed to get in at least a couple of hours of work to stay on top of things.

It was also important to me to spend quality time with Leo and Jacob. So as you can imagine, all of this just added to my anxiousness and I felt completely overwhelmed. I literally had to remind myself to just focus on one thing at a time - as silly as that sounds.

Once I had everything done and Jacob's things were ready for daycare, I felt so much better. (I always feel better when I get it all done) but I was still anxious and nervous about his first day. Thankfully, I am very happy to report that all of my anxiousness was all for nothing because everything went PERFECTLY and the best part has been that Jacob seems to really like Julia, his babysitter. From the moment she held him for the very first time, he was all smiles. And the other kids love to clamor around him every morning when he arrives - it's so cute to watch.

Julia has been really great about sending me pictures and even an adorable video on his first day of him babbling to her - I could watch it for hours. I feel so incredibly lucky that we found her. And the best part is, she lives less than two miles from campus where I work. I know - so very lucky.

So that's my four month old update - I will try to post again sooner than later - when I don't, I miss it and I definitely miss my blogging community! I hope you all are well and happy.

Enjoy the day!
Missy

Homemade Bliss

Homemade Bliss.

That would be my short and sweet description for all of the beautiful handmade blankets Jacob received: Crocheted blankets, tie fleece blankets, blankets embroidered with his name and even an antique fire truck quilt.

One particular blanket is extra special to me because it was made from material that my Mom had been holding on to since my little brother, Mario was a baby. When I read the card, just before opening the box carrying a beautiful Winnie the Pooh blanket, my heart filled up with love knowing just how special this blanket was to her and now to me and one day it will be very special to Jacob, too.  

Blankets hand-made by the people you love - I really don't think there is anything better. Every time I wrap Jacob in one of these blankets, I smile and my heart warms a little knowing that love went into every stitch and into every tie.

Because they are so special, I make it a point to use a different blanket every month and when I photograph Jacob, I always use one in the background and not just to commemorate the blanket for me but also for Jacob and who knows, maybe one day he will wrap his own baby boy or girl in the very same same blankets with a smile and a warmed heart.
 

One Month Old

Two Months Old

Three Months Old

Lesson #1: Never Say Never

Image Credit

This by far is one of the biggest lessons I have learned over the past few weeks. That and I can only be the best Mom I can be and comparisons will only drive you nuts. For years I claimed I would never let my baby sleep in our bed. Boy was I mistaken. This stead fast rule diminished within only a few days, mostly due to my lack of sleep. The fact is, he just sleeps better and longer with us. And also because who could resist snuggling up to him? I obviously can't.  

I have been feeling really guilty about it, thinking I was only doing it for selfish reasons but then I found this great article on the subject written by Dr. Sears. In it he explains his own personal experience with co-sleeping, which he calls sleep-sharing. It is a very interesting article and it really made me feel better about our inadvertent choice to co-sleep with Jacob. It really has been a great bonding experience for the three of us but I have decided to make it a goal of mine to break this habit before he turns 6 months old and not just for our benefit but for his benefit as well.     

I have however been really good about putting him down for naps during the day so he can sleep soundly for up to four hours in his play crib. And he's pretty good at entertaining himself when I need to take a shower or do a few things around the house. Recently, I've started reading to him and he loves it when I talk to him - I purposely ask him questions and include pauses for him to add to the conversation. And physically he is changing literally every day, which is so amazing to me. At his last doctor's appointment he weighed in at a healthy13 pounds and measured at 23 inches long. (he currently wears size 3 months)

I (finally) started taking video of him last week - in it I talk about his current likes and dislikes and more importantly, any milestones he has reached such as his very first laugh (this magical moment happened two weeks ago = best moment to date) Currently, he loves watching the ceiling fan spin and there is a little black and white safety symbol imprinted on his car seat that he always seems so interested in. He has also discovered his feet - he loves watching them move and he kicks like crazy when he gets excited. To capture the physical changes in him from month to month and since we received so many beautiful blankets, I started taking a photo of him laying on a different blanket once a month. I hope to keep this up through his first birthday.

The biggest change for us to date has been that I returned to work on January 3rd and Leo is now home with him for the next 7 weeks. It was hard but surprisingly not as hard as I thought it would be. The big "to do" on my list right now is to find the best darn place for him I can find. Day Care Centers so far are out of the question. The first place I called quoted me $299 per week, which I still cannot wrap my head around. $1200 a month - that's a house payment. Yikes!

So the search continues. I do have a couple of front runners right now for in-home day care, which makes me feel a little better but I want to make sure I exhaust every possible option before we make a final decision - I will be sure to keep you all posted. I guess that pretty much catches you up to what I have been up to for the last month and a half.

The lessons certainly keep coming and my tolerance with sleep deprivation has seemed to improve a bit but overall, I am feeling really good and I am definitely the happiest I have ever been. I also managed to lose 35 pounds with very little effort on my part since October - I owe it all to Jacob because he is such a active baby. When I mentioned this to a friend recently, she smiled and said..."Of course, he is just like his Mommy."

(Big Smile) 

Enjoy the Day!
Missy