My First Mother's Day!

It was wonderful! I took full advantage of having the hubby home with me all weekend. This was a first in many weeks. Guess what I wanted to do? CLEAN! I had every intention of cleaning all day Saturday so I could enjoy the actual day on Sunday. Well, that didn't go as planned because Drake came down with a cold on Thursday. And that meant I came down with a cold on Thursday. So, all day Saturday, I sat my happy hind end on the couch and watched reruns of One Tree Hill. The hubby and Drake slept in the chair for 3 hours! 3! I loved it. After lazing around all afternoon, we got up and went out. Where, you ask?? Why, to Wal-mart, of course! We bought Drake a mess-proof bib! He started eating green beans on Saturday, his 5 month birthday! What a big boy! After feeding them to him, we realized cloth bibs do not cut it. Then, we ate at Zaxby's. It was a good Saturday. Sunday, I woke up feeling even worse, but trucked through some cleaning. We decided to eat at Cracker Barrel for Mother's Day. Delish! But, I still felt like yuckliness. So did the hubby. Drake was fine. We headed to Wal-mart (shocking!) and then to the in-laws, then finally home. Thankfully, I feel much better today, however, I was a little disappointed that on my first Mother's Day, I was sick. Boo.

Feeling helpless...

I have no idea what to do with my 4 month old son. I mean, you can only jump in a jumperoo, do tummy time, swing, and bounce in your bouncer for so long. I feel like he is getting bored. They can do that you know. Get bored. I also feel guilty when I'm not right there with him 24/7 while he is awake. Is that wrong? I mean, I feel like I get absolutely nothing done. Our favorite thing to do here lately is to go for a walk. But, it has been so cold the past few days, that has been out of the question. I guess the reason for this blog is that I feel helpless. I don't want him just lying around on his back. I feel like he needs to be active, but I have no idea what to do. If there are any ideas out there, or you have been through this too, please tell me and let me know what you did! :)

2 days until spring break!

Thank God. I am so ready for my hubby to be here with us for 4 whole days. I need a break. Is that bad to say? Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my baby boy. I just hate having to be the only one home during the day when he goes down for a nap. Or when he wakes up in the middle of one. He cries. I cry. It breaks my heart to just leave him in the crib. I do go in and try to soothe, but I try not to pick him up. I am hoping against hope that it will get easier. A little guy his age is supposed to take a 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap. He wakes up after about an hour sometimes. I know he needs his sleep, but is it really sleeping when he is crying? He is supposed to learn to soothe himself to sleep. I just want to soothe him myself. This is sooo hard. Can you tell I'm typing this as I listen to him cry? Come on Spring Break!!!

Am I Babywise...or do I have a wise baby?

Both. Drake is wise. He knows how to tug at my heartstrings to get what he wants. However, this week, we are trying Babywise again. I tried it when he was first born...not so much. I was stressing myself out over it. I did take the eat/wake/sleep idea and ran with it. That has worked out well. Now, I'm trying the sleep part. So far, it sucks. The first nap went swimmingly. He slept from 10:45-12:15. His second nap is not going as well. Apparently the 45 minute intruder snuck in and woke him up. So I fed him. And changed him. And he's still crying. Not just wimpering, but screaming crying. I hate it! I know there is nothing wrong with him physically, but I just ache to go pick him up. Oh Lord, how long is this going to last?

Thursday = rainy yuckliness

So, it's not raining yet, but I know it's coming. You can tell by looking outside. It's very gray and cold looking. Has been all day. But, it's not cold...not yet. I took Drake, aka he who never takes naps at least not long naps, outside earlier and it was really windy, but, not cold. Nice change. Now, just need to get rid of the gray clouds and wind and we'll be all set. I need sunshine! We do get to get out of the house today though. We are going to Target! Love Target. I have money to spend, but I know as soon as I get there, I won't want to spend any of it. Because, if I do, that means I won't have any money to spend on my next shopping trip. The more money I have, the less I want to spend. The less money I have, the more I want to spend. I'm messed up.

This and That

Well, Drake is sleeping so I figured I would take advantage and blog. Here are a few things:

1. We did get our BOB! It is wonderful, amazing, fabulous...and too big for our son at this point in his life. Bummer. I was so excited to use it. I can put him in it and go for walks, but if I were to jog with him in it, he would be jostled all around. So, we must wait.
2. I registered for the Peachtree Road Race. Last year, the AJC had online registration. It was HORRIBLE. I was online for 3 hours trying to register 2 people. I kept getting a message that said the website was experiencing a billion people at once and they weren't prepared for that. Not prepared?! Do they know how big this race is? Well, this year, I almost missed the registration until my sis reminded me. I was psyched to go to Wal-mart and pick up the AJC because surely they wouldn't commit the colossal mistake of doing it online again. They learn from their mistakes, right? NOPE. It was online again and again I got the same stupid message. When are they going to learn?
3. I went for my first run last night since August. My excuse from August to December was "I'm way pregnant. I can't run." My excuse from January until last night was "I think running will hurt my milk supply." Well, I bit the bullet and ran. All the websites I read and all of my friends who are runners and mothers said running would hurt my supply. I trust them. And, if it does, I have a freezer full of milk to last for at least 1-1 1/2 months. I hope it doesn't though. Formula is WAY too expensive.
4. Every time I finally get Drake to sleep (albeit in his swing), Toby, our puppy, decides he has to bark at whatever is outside. Today, it was the wind. I mean, this dog barks at anything when the timing is just right. Ask him to speak and he looks at you like you're an idiot. Go figure.

Well, that's all for now. Thank God for naps and sweet baby boys!

2 hours!

Drake slept for 2 whole hours!!! Wah-hoo!!!

To have and to hold

That is what Drake wants. To have his mommy hold him...24/7. Just within the last few days too. He was doing just fine. He would eat around 9, we would play until around 11, then I would put him down for a nap in his swing...the only place he would even think about napping. I gave up on the naps in the crib a long time ago. Well, since Sunday or so, he has REFUSED to nap. His schedule is all messed up now. He will sleep for about 30 minutes in the swing, then he is done. He wakes up fussing and as soon as I pick him up, he stops. I can't hold him all day long, and that is what he wants. What to do, what to do. He is in his swing, at this moment, fussing because he is soooo tired, yet wants to be awake and held. Oh, wait. He is asleep...oh, for how long though? Another 30 minutes? Please oh please let it be for 1 1/2 to 2 hours! Stay tuned...

You know the drill

Well, the hubby is at drill this weekend. That's something you have to deal with when your hubby is in the National Guard. Drill. And at drill, they do nothing, so he is away from us on this beautiful spring day for nothing. Boo. It's just me and Drake this weekend. The first time I've ever spent the night alone with him. So far, the day is going well, with a little bit of a rocky morning. We went to a bridal shower that was during his morning nap. Big no-no. I'll never do that again. I do know the drill and I didn't do it. Cried, cried, cried. As soon as I put him in the car, he stopped. Nice. Now, he's sleeping for his afternoon nap. I hope until 5:00. Then he'll eat and hopefully, we can get a little shopping done. Wish us luck!

I'm back!

Hopefully for good! I get so busy during the day that I forget to blog...no, sorry. I can't lie. I get so lazy during the day that I forget to blog. Yeah, that's more like it. Drake takes mini naps throughout the day and when he does, I surf the web. Mostly facebook and other blogs. Or, I shop the web. I feel like I'm doing so much when he's alseep, but at the end of the day, I realize I haven't done squat.

Drake is still doing well. He is so used to being held that when I try to put him down for a long nap, he cries. Then I go comfort him and he falls asleep. I leave the room. He wakes up and cries. I comfort him...it's a vicious cycle. I eventually just pick him up and let him sleep in my arms. Not good if I want to get things done around the house. When the hubby comes home at 4:15, I'm usually holding Drake, who is sound asleep.

Drake has moved on to a 4 hour feeding schedule, which is FABULOUS!!! I feel like I am getting some of my life back. I can actually go out and shop a little before he has to eat again. And, he sleeps so well during the night. So far. I'm still waiting for those 12-hour nights. :)

I have found the most wonderful baby carrier. I can carry Drake 9 different ways with one carrier. It's better than the Baby Bjorn because it doesn't have any buckles or buttons. Drake never really seemed to like the Baby Bjorn. I hope he likes the new carrier. It's coming in the mail any day now!! A pic of Drake:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In passing...

It has been so long since I last blogged, I'm not sure I know how to do it anymore! It's been a busy life being a SAHM. My life revolves around Drake and when he eats, plays, and sleeps...which is just fine with me. But, sometimes I wonder if I'll ever have time to myself again. Probably not. Well, I have good and bad news. First the good.

Drake had his 2 month check up. His shots hurt me more than they hurt him! I tried so hard to keep it together at the doctor's office. Pat me on the back...I didn't cry in public! Ha! He weighed (at his checkup a week ago) 13.6 pounds and is 24 1/2 inches long! Big boy! The doctor said he was the size of an average 4 month old! I'm so glad. I don't know what I'd do with a little baby!

Now the bad. I just got in from Florida on Tuesday. I went down last Wednesday. My grandfather was in his last few days. He was moved from the hospital to his home on Wednesday where a nurse from hospice stayed around the clock. I won't go into the details, but he passed away on Friday, February 12, 2010. He was a wonderful grandfather and I know he is in a better place. He is with God and my grandmother, where he wanted to be. I love you Grandpa Dale. You will be greatly missed. :'( <3

Drake did well on the trip to Florida, but he lost out on a few naps during the day, which led to one crabby baby at night. Once he fell asleep, however, he was out. He will sleep anywhere from 9:30 to 5:30ish. Sometimes later, so I'm not complaining!

Just the two of us...

Today is the first day I have been alone with Drake. All alone. I'm a little nervous! I am used to having Charles here with me. But, he is at a wrestling match all day long and I'm here...by myself with Drake...all day long. Deep breath. So far, we're doing well. Oh yeah. Toby, our boxer puppy, is here too...this should make for an interesting day. He wants to play, Drake wants to eat, and I've got to work...I need to get used to this though. Starting Tuesday, we'll be making a habit out of being just the two...er, three of us!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I can't believe 2010 is already here. It's weird to say "I had a baby boy last year." Drake is now 3 and a half weeks old and weighs 9 lbs 8 ounces. 2009 was a great year, mostly since we found out we were pregnant, but there are a few things I could have done without...Charles being gone for 2 and a half months being the main thing. But, you take the good, you take the bad, and there you have...the facts of life. He will be going away again this year, only it will be for 3 months. But, I'm not going to dwell on the bad. I'm going to focus on all the milestones we will see together as Drake grows. This new year holds many mysteries in store for us and I look forward to seeing what they are! Hopefully, they will be good mysteries! Yay 2010!