Holy 5 Months!

So yesterday Judah turned 5 months old and I can hardly believe it! My sweet bebe is growing all too fast! But with the growing comes the learning which is so much fun to witness! My sweet boy is full of personality (and sass) and is just a pleasure to be around... usually :) We didn't have an appointment this month, so I am not exactly sure what his weight is, but if I had to guess I would say 16 lbs! He is a big boy!

Sleep- (or lack there of!!) ha, jk! It could be MUCH worse! Jude's sleep patterns are not as consistant as I would like, but such is life. He has good nights and bad, but is generally waking up a bit more these days (teeth, growth spurt, ???) who knows why. He goes to sleep around 7:00, so it's nice that Doug and I get some time alone in the evenings! I would like to get more sleep myself, but I guess waking up 2 times in the night isn't so bad. It is the early time of 5:30- 6:30 that he wants to be up for the day that gets me. That is just a tad too early for this mama! His naps range from 30 min to 2 hours, but I feel very lucky if I get a 2 hr one! He naps usually every 1 1/2 hours and can be unswaddled during naps, but for some reason can't handle it at night just yet. (I know, I'm bad... still swaddling after rolling over. I need to figure out how to wean him from that!) Very rarly will he fall asleep if you just lay him down drowsy, so I end up rocking him to sleep, which I enjoy while he will let me, but also feel guilty when I read the books because they all say I am robbing him from the ability to know how to put himself to sleep. I have thought about the "cry it out" method, and might try it in the future, but for right now I am not ready.

Food- Still breastfeeding every 2-3 hours and gets a 5oz bottle (of breastmilk) right before bed. We got the go ahead at his 4 month apt to start on rice cereal. I really had no desire to give him rice cereal due to some articles I had read, but I was told that it would make him sleep through the night and I was desperate for some sleep so we tried it for 4 nights and it made not one bit of difference. So we stopped that and plan on starting him on solids (avacado, sweet potatoes, and bananas) that we make at home after he turns 6 mon. We have the baby bullet so I am actually pretty excited to start making his baby food! He turns 6 mon right around Thankgiving too so that will be something fun we can do when family is in town!

Teeth- None as of now but can I say DROOL FACTORY! This kid produces so much drool it's not even funny! He is also gnawing on everything and trying to eat my face half of the day. When he gets fussy I sometimes put some baby oragel on his gums or give him some highlands teething tablets and he usually calms down, so I am convinced that there is one working it's way up and will be here very soon!

Play- Jude still loves his activity mat on the floor, but has to roll over everytime he is laying down. He tries to roll while he is holding on to one of his rings and then gets stuck half way, this confuses him, and entertains me :) He also LOVES his jumper, but only for about 10 min at a time, and then he's all like "get me outta here mama!!" in baby talk! He is very in to toys that crinkle when he squeezes and chews on them. We have an Eric Carl firefly thing that he really likes! He will sit and listen to books, but doesn't really seem very interested yet. He has no time for swings/seats any more! He is far too busy for that (unless he is really sleepy).

Temperment- Still pretty happy most of the time, but has shown a bit more fussy (diva-ish) behavior recently. Especially when you aren't paying attention to him and he thinks you should be! Can you say spoiled! I have come to terms with him being a bit high maintenence :( I really really wanted him to be that mello go with the flow baby, becaue that's how I am, but looks like he took my looks and his dad's personality :) hehe! He sometimes gets frusterated when he is on his tummy and you can tell he wants to move so badly, but just doesn't have the army crawl down yet. Poor guy will get it soon I bet!

New Stuff- he has learned to spit/blow bubbles so he is constantly doing that (more slobber!!) and sticking his tongue out! Riley thinks it's hilarious when he sticks his tongue out at him! Sweet big brother :)

He has started reaching for you a little bit when you go to pick him up. He also will rest his head on my shoulder and put his arm around my neck when he is tired... the best thing is when he puts his little hand on my cheek! Talk about melting my heart!!
He will cackle/laugh when you blow rasberries on his neck or belly. SO cute!
His eyes follow me around everywhere I go, and seems a bit concerned when I leave the room. I have to admit, I love that he loves me so much :) Being his mama feels good!!
He is in 6-9 month clothes. Very few 3 mon outfits still fit. He has the BEST chubby legs :)

He loves to go on walks and usually falls asleep.

He tolerates being out "mommy shopping time" but gets fussy if we are out for too long.
Talks and coos ALL. THE. TIME. Probably gonna be like his brother who NEVER stops talking!

He is sitting up on his own for just a few seconds on his own.

He WANTS to stand so bad!

What a joy this little dude is! I love watching him grow and learn new things. I can't believe how big he is getting! I know I am his mom, but I think he is WAY cute!!

I have always been someone who second guesses my decisions. I go back and fourth a million times, and then wonder if I made the right one. I find myself doing this with parenting decisions also. I hate that about myself. I wish I could make a decision and have complete confidence in it! Somehthing to work on I guess! This parenting gig is tough work, but so worth it!!
Can't wait to see what the future brings with this little love of my life!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday

Preferences

Oh my sweet Jude, gone are the days when you liked to have your pacifier in your mouth turned the wrong way. Now you prefer to have the nipple AND the bottom of the pacifier in your mouth all at the same time!

My sweet, you crack me up! Already marching to the beat of your own drum! I love it!

Tear Soup

So I have been missing my dear old dad a lot lately. I mean, I always miss him, but lately it's been pretty intense. I don't know if it's because I just had Jude, and it makes me sad that they will never meet, or something else, but I'm just plain sad.
My mom and niece Kennedy came in town the other weekend and it just so happens that Kennedy brought a book called Tear Soup. She read it aloud to me and it really hit home. It is a book (for kids, but still helped me!) that talks about grief. Whether it be loss, or divorce, or other hard things that kids can go through, it was very well written. The woman that tells the story in the book talks about how everyone has their own batch of tear soup depending on the things that have happened in their lives.
Personally, I (and my family in general) have experienced my fair share of loss. I try not to dwell on it, but some days it gets the better of me. I wonder "why did I have to lose my dad when I was 23?", "Why couldn't he be there to walk me down the isle at my wedding?", "why couldn't he be there to help me welcome my baby into the world?", "why did my brother feel the only solution in life was to take his own?", "Why didn't he reach out and try to get help?", "Why did cancer have to take my cousin far to soon from his wife and little boys?", "Why did God get to keep my two nephews and not my sister?". Kinda sounds like I am having a pitty party, but that is not my intentions. It's just pure and raw sadness. And I don't think that it is understandable until you have suffered a loss so great. Trust me, I also know that I have far to many positive things in my life to list, and I am so thankful for each and every one of them. I think it is okay to be sad about the things you have lost in life. Even healthy to an extent.
So back to the book, Tear Soup, a recipe for healing after loss is a family story book that centers around an old and somewhat wise woman, Grandy. Grandy has just suffered a big loss in her life and so she is headed to the kitchen to make a special batch of Tear Soup. To season her soup Grandy adds memories like the good times and the bad times, the silly and the sad times. She does not want to forget even one precious memory of her loss.
Here is her recipe for Tear Soup...

Helpful ingredients to consider:

• a pot full of tears
• one heart willing to be broken open
• a dash of bitters
• a bunch of good friends
• many handfuls of comfort food
• a lot of patience
• buckets of water to replace the tears
• plenty of exercise
• a variety of helpful reading material
• enough self care
• season with memories
• optional; one good therapist and/or support group

Directions:

Choose the size pot that fits your loss. It’s ok to increase the pot size if you miscalculated. Combine ingredients. Set temperature for a moderate heat. Cooking times will vary depending on the ingredients needed. Strong flavors mellow over time. Stir often. Cook no longer than you need to.

Suggestions:

• be creative
• trust your instincts
• cry when you want to, laugh when you can
• freeze some to use as a starter for next time
• write your own soup making in a journal so you won’t forget

Serves One

I thought the book was pretty neat and I recommend it to anyone with children and have suffered a loss in the family. It reminded me that it is ok to be sad and cry, as long as you keep it in check and if it becomes to overwhelming to talk to someone about it. I am lucky to have an amazing husband, mother, sister, and a few friends that always have ears ready to listen.

My dad was a very special man. He was a dad that really played with us (and then with his grandchildren too). He was caring and considerate and generous and courageous. He was not perfect, sometimes had a temper and rushed me during shoe shopping :) But he was my dad, and I adored him. He gave the best foot massages and made the best buscits and gravy. He made sure I got everything I needed and most of what I wanted! I miss these things, among many other! We had a very special relationship and became great friends in my grown years.

I have learned in my life to not take those you love for granted. Surround yourself with the people you love and you can't go wrong!

We never own the people in our lives. We love them, but they are a loan from God. It is okay to grieve but don't get angry with God for the minutes you'll miss but be thankful for the minutes you had. Miss you daddy!



                                                                                                                                      

GO BEARS!

We are just sitting around watching the Bears game today! We have faith that today will be a win! Jude and I are clueless when Daddy and Riley talk all about their fantasy league, but we like to dress up with them! Happy football day!

4 Month Milestones!

I have been so anxoius to see how much my little meatball weighs these days! He seems so heavy after just a few minutes of holding him! So, he had his 4 month check up today and he weighed in at a whopping 14 lbs 8 oz! He is 26 1/4 inches long! He is in the 50th percentile all across the board! His doctor comented that we have a very proportionally shaped baby! I think so too! His chubby legs go great with his chubby cheeks, booty cheeks, and belly! And I love to kiss and squeeze all of them (even the booty! Clean of course!!)
He got his second round of shots today. Two pokes and one oral one. He didn't cry quite so hard when he got them, but it took a lot longer to calm him down after this time around. My poor boy! Not my favorite part of parenting thats for sure! Booooo shots!
It is amazing how different he is from the last time we were at the doctor! So much more alert, strong, and full of new accomplishments! Speaking of, here is what Jude is up to these days...
* Rolling over both ways!
* Bearing all of his weight on his legs! He LOVES to bounce!
* Cracks up! He thinks mom and dad are hilarious!
* Can fit his entire fist in his mouth!
* Very vocal, and is very in to screaching and laughing!
* Lifts his head and chest up with his arms while on his belly!
* He will twist and turn every which way to catch a glimpse of the TV.
* Sometimes holds his own bottles while eating.

Up next for Jude.... deciding when to start rice cereal/ solids! And waiting waitng waiting to see when that first tooth pops up! He has been pretty fussy so we (including his pediatrician) are on the look out for one.