Changes

Here's a little nugget of information about myself you may not know: I don't like change. I never have and it's safe to say I never will. I like schedules, routine, familiarity. I'm not a very "flexible" person, you could say. So for the past like, 6 months or so, C and I have had a pretty good schedule going on. Same wake up time, same nap times, same bed time with the exception of a few sick times that threw the schedule off a half hour-ish. He even sleeps well when teething. But now we're approaching the one-year mark {NEXT WEEK...WHAT the WHAAAAT??} and with the one-year mark comes changes. I cry.

Change #1: naps. For the past 2 weeks, C's naps have really stunk. His first one is about 45 minutes and the second one is sometimes the same, sometimes an hour. Highly unpredictable. So, like with any major life crisis I posted this issue on Facebook and got the following suggestion: time to transition {another word I like to poop on} to one nap. Oh sweet goodness no. NONONONONO. I LIVED for the two 90 minute breaks during the day back when our schedule was predictable and awesomesauce. I'm not ready for the morning to be FIVE HOURS LONG. There just isn't strong enough coffee for that. {but maybe coffee + vodka? no?} But alas, after my crying and whining to B ceased, I decided today was as good a day as any to try this stupid one nap crap. C woke up at flipping 6:30 this morning. Thank goodness it's free pancake day at ihop. We ventured out for our free short stack + like 5 cups of coffee fo me. Went to Target {obvs} and then came home to kill like 2.5 more hours with the likes of the Wiggles, Baby Einstein {don't judge me, anti-TV moms} and lunch and snacks. FINALLY 11:50 arrived and I gave him his bottle and down he continues to be. BUT it's only 1:00 and we need to get to like 3:00 for a successful transition {poop} so we'll see....in the mean time I'm just beside myself with the uncertainty of what's going to happen to our days...
Change #2: Adios formula, Aloha whole milk. Positive: formula costs like a billion dollaz a week and it smells like pure donkey shiz. We will be saving mucho casho. Positive: even the fanciest organic whole milk is cheaper than formula. Negative: I will very much miss my snuggle time with boo boo when I give him his bottle before nap and bed. We're not implementing this change until next week when we go to the doc for his one year appt. PTL I can't handle another change this week.
Change #3: He is a full-time walker. He prefers this mode of transportation over crawling. He can't get up yet from sitting so he just crawls over to some piece of furniture and pulls up and continues on his way. He loves to walk laps around the house and I'm perfectly fine with this method of entertainment. CANNOTWAIT for summer when he can walk those little chunky legs outside.
Ok, NO MORE CHANGES until he's ready for school. OMG I can't think about school or I'll have to be checked into the psych ward. I want my baby back!! This is a fun stage though. He has the best little fake laugh down in his throat. If you've heard it, you know it's the most hilarious thing evrrr. And oh, those curls. I die.
We're dog-sitting for my parents this week while they're in Florida {must be nice}. C is in heaven and Max loves when C eats because he gets snacks.

It's hard to capture him on the go because he NEVER STOPS.

The milk has been bought....sitting ready to be used....

STUPID FLIPPING TEETH

ihatethemihatethemihatethem etc, etc.
Teething is THE WORST THING EVERRRR. Let me give you a little perspective: C starting teething when he was 3 months. THREE MONTHS OLD, people. The drool, the gnawing, the fussing. All of it. At 3 months. He's now almost 12 months. We've been dealing with this awful awful process for NINE MONTHS non stop. He has 4 on top and 3 on bottom. Is newest is one on the bottom on the side of the two in the middle. So I've been waiting for the next one on the other side assuming this is the normal progression. DISCLAIMER: nothing about my child is "normal". So today I'm brave and decide to feel around in his mouth {I say brave because dude will chomp down on anything that enters his mouth. He don't discriminate. And those little puppy teeth are like daggers.} To my amazement, I feel two new teeth...ON THE TOP! What the what? They both came in at the same time. That poor, poor baby. No wonder he's been a royal nightmare. So now his teeth total...tooth total?...is up to 9.
I just want him to wake up tomorrow morning with ALL TEETH PRESENT. I don't even care if he wakes up at 5 a.m. ready to play. As long as all teeth are present I would be so so so so happy. What are some of your teething remedies? Sophie the giraffe? {aka an overpriced dog toy} Orajel? Pain killers? Do share.

Here's to just buying some baby dentures, yes?

sweet sweet date nights

I cannot stress to you all the importance of DATE NIGHTS. They're important all the time, even before you have kids but they're SO important when you have kids. B and I have always loved eating out and going to movies. We used to do it weekly before C. But now that we have a chitlin + no cash money, we have to be resourceful and selective of date nights.

When C was a fragile little high maintenance babe I would have never dreamed of leaving him with anyone except my parents. Now that he's older and really just requires stimulation and ridiculous noises, I've loosened up {that's what she said}. We're so blessed to have a pool of like 10 amazing high school girls to utilize for babysitters. I like to give my p's a break every once in awhile. I know, I'm just so nice like that.

Now that we don't get out as much, I look so forward to the times when we do. Last weekend, my parents took C for the night and we went to dinner, came home, moved the mattress into the living room {per my begging and whining of course. This was due in large part to not being able to see The Vow as mentioned in previous post} and I'll sensor the rest. JUSTKIDDING sickos.

Anyway, my point is this: you may be broke but you still NEED time alone. We're going out tonight and getting a sitter because B won some cash money in a poker game Monday night. Otherwise we probs wouldn't be able to do it. Not my point: don't start gambling to earn extra cash money. Or do.

Ok, go forth and take your lover out for a nice date night.

peace and poker.

wanted: video maker person

Ok, this creating a video of C's first year of life thing is pure insanity. I've done a fairly decent job of getting little videos here and there this past year. So I finally loaded them all onto my laptop {which sounds like a small boeing jet about to take flight because it's just working SO HARD on a normal day, but uploading 100+videos is about to blow it up. Poor thing.} Should I have been doing this months ago? Yes. Are there only 3 weeks before C's party? You bet. Am I about to poke my eyes out? ABSOLUTELY. I keep telling myself if I had a mac this would be so.much.easier. But I don't. And I have no clue how to go about creating this d video. As it stands, it's like 8 minutes long. I know my kid is cute but nobody wants to sit and watch 8 minutes of videos of me saying "c! look at the camera! smile! what are you doing? omgyouresocute ahslkdjfksljaf" So I need to trim down + add music + think about other things party related BESIDES this video. Oh my life. I need an assistant. And also something stronger than a diet coke.
I know none of you believe me that C is taking steps because I haven't given you any video proof, but he REALLY IS I SWEAR.
And now, in honor of the blog name change and because it's Friday, we're going to do a little something new. It's called "beautiful things friday" You can shorten it to "BTF" or BT Friday" if you love acronyms like I do. Here are my 5 beautiful things:
1. we made it through the week {small victories}
2. The high today is supposed to be 53 degrees.
3. I'm caught up on laundry
4. B and I are FINALLY going to see The Vow tomorrow night {trust when I tell you if I don't get to see it tomorrow because it's SOLD OUT again, I will not handle it as well as I did last weekend. Which was actually not handled well at all}
5. THE SUN IS SHINING
Ok that's my list. Now it's your turn to share yours.
Go forth and be encouraged today friends, it's FRIDAY!!

peace and love.

just keep swimming

As of this morning, C is officially registered for swimming lessons. I am SO. EXCITED. to get him in the water. He's going with his lady friend Hannah so I hope he's not too self-conscious in his trunks {excuse me while I go BARF at the thought of getting my fatty fat in a swimming suit}. The kid loves bath time and throws a royal fit when it's time to get out so I'm hoping he loves him some pool time {bonus: it's right before bed time on Mondays so I'm fairly confident he'll sleep until like 10a.m. on Tuesday}.
Other news: C is a part-time walker. Thursday morning he started taking steps and he continues to do so. I haven't caught it on video yet because I'm so amazed I just watch and clap and laugh and MAYBE tear up a little that my BABY is walking. My goal is to get some video footage this week {he's also apparently a part-time napper as he's awake after only half the time of his usual nap...}
More other news: we're in the midst of round THREE of antibiotics for ear infection #3 this winter {DOUBLE ear infection this time}. We also had to break out the nebulizer again for breathing treatments because he had a bad cough/wheezing AGAIN. This winter is stupid.

Ok I've got to go get the monkey up because apparently nap time is so yesterday.

Anyone else completely OVER winter and snow and cold and dry skin and ready for SPRING and sun and warmth and open windows??

the book

i worked really hard on this little customized board book for C's bday. i thought he would just DIE if he could see "woof woof" whenever he wanted and of course, the more he can see pictures of mommy, the better (and then maybe he'll actually SAY mommy, dang it). i've had several inquiries about where i made the book, how much it costs, etc. so here's a little peek at his book and some details for inquiring minds:

www.mycustomstory.com

we ordered a 4x5 for $27.95 which i think is a little small, but the only other option was a 6x6 for $39.95 and i just couldn't bring myself to pay $40 for a book. sorry.

here's a couple pics of the book i made for him.

oh, and if you weren't aware, C turns one in less than a month. he's also started taking steps...my life is about to get awhole lot crazier...