Four Months!

 

Forrest's fourth month was a memorable one.  This little boy is developing such a sweet personality.  He smiles and laughs easily, especially when his mother is being goofy.  (I'll take advantage of him thinking I'm amusing while I can.)

He is definitely not a night person.  The last hour before bedtime can be a grumpy one, whereas mornings he wakes up smiling and ready to play.  And playing, he does.  During his fourth month, Forrest began to actually play with things.  Before, he liked looking at things, like his bird mobile, and would reach for things, but this month, he has really started playing with toys.  It's very fun to watch him develop in this way.

Forrest has also learned how to turn board book pages.  Around the beginning of the month, he started.  Joshua didn't believe me, but after seeing this little boy turn pages consistently and with so much attention, he was amazed.  Yes, a brilliant baby :0)

Another important change was my choice to get rid of the pacifier.  About three weeks ago around 2:00 AM after getting up to Forrest's cries to put the thing back in his mouth for about the fourth time that night, I was done.  So, crabby me made him quit, cold turkey.  It was a rough few days, and putting him down for naps can still be a struggle, but it was a good choice.  Immediately he started sleeping more consistently and peacefully.  Now, he is still up at 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM to eat, but usually he sleeps between feedings.  What a relief for me!  Hopefully during his fifth month he moves to one feeding a night.  A girl can dream, right?

More to come on the Christmas festivities later this week :0)

Five Years Later

Joshua and I celebrated our five-year anniversary last Friday.  It was pretty fun because we got married the day after Thanksgiving, and this year it also was the day after Thanksgiving.  We were staying at my parents' house, so they watched Forrest while we had a little date to celebrate.

We had a nice time driving around the Quad Cities looking at some of the old sites, like Augustana and downtown Rock Island.  I'm not usually a nostalgic person, but celebrating five years with Joshua brought it out in me.  I can't believe how long ago it seems that I met him as a freshman in college. (It's been almost nine years...)  What a happy and blessed life we've had together, supporting each other through lots of school, lots of residency, and now parenthood.  He's still my favorite, and I can't wait to see what the next five (and 50!) years bring.

A couple of pictures:

The first picture of us together.  Joshua's mom took it, back in the olden days when people still used film.

Us before our date last week.  The blurriness helps to cover up the age :0)

The wedding dress still fits!

Yeah, no it doesn't.  The waist and hips are fine, but it seems that pregnancy expanded my rib cage about three inches.  That's never getting smaller again.

I love you, Joshua! 

Three Months

Three months already!

Things we have learned this month:

As this little boy gets bigger, the Moby wrap is getting less comfortable for us both.  I'm sad to start to use it less because it was such a lifesaver for so many weeks, but we are getting by just fine.  

Although sleeping on his stomach is going much better than back sleeping, I have decided that Forrest is never going to be a great sleeper.  We get through the day one 30-40 minute nap at a time (with the exception of a longer afternoon nap with me on the couch).  The nights, again, are much better than before, but still aren't fantastic.  Crossing my fingers that month four will bring fewer wakings that aren't related to being hungry.

It's okay to give up on cloth diapers.  I tried.  (I really could have tried harder...)  I'm over it.  I'll stick with the chemical-free, biodegradable ones from now on, I think.  I'm still not sure why I have such leaking issues.

Done for Now

I know everyone has been waiting for the big nursery reveal, right?  (Just humor me.)

I finally got around to sewing up the pillow for the chair, and now I can say that Forrest's room is complete, or at least complete enough for pictures.  I would like to get a bookshelf at some point, but that will probably wait a while.  

The alphabet wall was inspired by photos I found online of other nurseries and was created almost entirely by Jon G.  That lady knows how to craft!  Dad did get in on the action (was roped into) by making the Chicago Bears C, a request from Joshua.  Dad also spent some time hanging all of those adorable letters while Mom and I supervised.  

The dresser is an auction find by Mom.  She bid on it, hauled it home, painted it up, and moved it into Forrest's room.  What a lucky gal I am!

The crib is the same that I slept in as a baby.  Believe it or not, but you can still buy this crib online. It's called the Jenny Lind crib, and comes in multiple finishes.  My mom was so on trend 30 years ago!  Dad did fix the drop-side hazard, and we bought a new mattress.

The balloon prints above the crib came from an Etsy seller in Turkey - very fun to track that package as it made its way around the globe.  They are printed on vintage dictionary pages, continuing the literacy theme :0)

I made the curtains using some of my favorite things - linen and ball trim!

And of course, don't forget the cute baby on the changing pad.  He's actually doing some sleeping in his crib at night, and of course the dresser gets used constantly.  Quite a functional, as well as adorable little nursery.  I'm very happy with the finished product.  I love that so many of the items are crafted by Forrest's family.  I think it's funny that the most expensive thing in the room was definitely the letter wall - no predictable, pricey baby furniture here.  I'm looking forward to watching Forrest grow into the space.    

Happy Halloween - Forrest Chose a Trick

A new trick, in honor of the holiday, I suppose. 

Oh Moby Wrap...

How I love you!

What can't be done with a baby in this thing?  Painting over the too dark living room and dining room colors?  Oh it's happening, readers.

Two Months!

After two months with Forrest, we are finally in somewhat of a routine that is agreeable to everyone in the family.  I'm liking the new normal, and I think Forrest is, too.


Memorable moments from this month:

- Getting really good at smiling, so sweet :0)

- Giving up the dream that he will ever sleep longer than 45 minutes on his back.  Yes, I'm a bad mother and now let him sleep on his stomach.  After eight weeks of trying night after night to get him to sleep on his back, with him waking up exhausted (me, too!), we are done.  I bought a breathing monitor to make myself feel better about the decision, and now we are a much happier pair, with both of us getting much better sleep.  While I don't have a fantastic story about him sleeping through the night, I don't care one bit.  I'm quite happy to get up with him every four hours.

- Feeling like myself again and finally feel like I have the house chores under control with a little extra time for fun things like sewing or painting.  (I'm hoping withing the next month or two to have the living room and dining room painted.)

- Becoming more tolerant of being on his own for short periods of time.  This is giving my back a rest!

- Growing!  Many 0-3 month clothes are getting snug, and we have moved on to the 3-6 month size.  (It seems that his feet are giant!  I finally bought 6-12 month socks!)

- First cold.  We're dealing with that now.  Not fun.

- Feeling more comfortable going in public without worrying (too much) about a meltdown.

Things we've learned:

- Babies love dancing!

- How to use a snot-sucker :0)

- Traveling long distances after dark is the way to go.

- Making the bed is hard with the babe in the Moby wrap.  Oh well, that never was my favorite chore, anyway.

We love you Forrest, and can't wait to see what month three brings.    

Suggestions?

My lovely outside Christmas greenery decorations from Peoria are not going to work here in Monticello.  There is no railing, and the spots I might put them on the garage already have live "pointy" trees planted.  So, besides the door wreath, I need to completely redo the look.  Any ideas?  I'm not one for just hanging lights on all horizontal surfaces.  I would rather have greenery of some sort.

First trick!

Finally, Forrest has his first charming trick (because the only reason to have a child is so they can entertain you, right?)  At seven weeks, he is getting so good at an adorable little smile.

Have You Been Wondering?

Many weeks ago I posted a sneak peek at the nursery, waiting the full reveal for when the glider and ottoman arrived.  Well, the glider arrived five weeks ago after being delayed.

It arrived, two different shades of brown.  Seriously?

I have been enjoying the mismatched glider and ottoman for the past five weeks.  Very comfortable!

The replacement glider and ottoman arrived this evening.

They are yet another, two different shades.  Yes, folks, four different shades of brown.  All four are being returned, and I'm without a glider of any color for the next 6-8 weeks that it will take for a glider to be ordered and delivered from a store in Champaign.  As my husband would say, first world problem.  We'll manage to get along, somehow :0)

How Could I Forget?

I forgot one of the best parts of Joshua's birthday!  I finally managed to get him something fun that he didn't tell me to get him!

24 different bottles of root beer!  He's been having a lot of fun tasting one daily and deciding if any are worthy of the man cave tap someday in the future.

Happy Birthday!

Joshua's 30th birthday (30, I know!) was last week.  We celebrated with some friends on Saturday in the only way we know how - with lots of pizza.  Yes, indeed, we had Papa Del's, Filippo's, and Pizza Hut bread sticks.  The evening was topped off with a Dairy Queen cake.  We're predictable at this house, but we know what we like.

Happy birthday, Joshua.  I hope this next year is the best yet!

One Month!

Where has the time gone?  Our little Forrest is a month old, and we're finally getting the hang of this thing (sort of).

Memorable moments:
- Smiles becoming more frequent.

- Changing formula - We now have a much happier baby!

- Newborn onesies getting snug.

- Packing up to go to Labor Day - stressful but accomplished.

Things we've learned:
- What's ideal may not be reality, and that's okay.

- Cribs are overrated.

- Cloth diapers are overrated (though we haven't given up hope just yet).

- It is possible to get all house chores done while wearing a baby in a Moby wrap.  (Did I mention thank goodness for Moby wrap?!)

The Long and Short

So the last three weeks have been the shortest and longest of my life.  Looking back, I can't believe that three weeks have past since the arrival of Forrest.  It's hard to believe, yet it seems that he's been here forever.  I can't imagine not having him.

Things we have learned in the last three weeks:

- Thank heavens for the Moby Wrap sling, or I would get absolutely nothing done around the house.  It seems that my adorable son will not be content unless being held... around the clock.  We're working on getting some things figured out that will hopefully make him more comfortable (read - scream less!).  Until then, we're spending lots of quality time together :0)

- Small victories, such as completing a load of laundry should be celebrated.

- Being a mom really was a good choice.  I love my little boy, despite the fact that he is the neediest  thing at the moment!

 (First, and only, independent nap, lasted exactly 21 minutes.  It was great!)

Happy Birthday Forrest Edward

August 2012 - A life changing month.  More to come later.

Curtains and Other Projects

So no baby yet, and I'm getting quite impatient (read annoyed, sore, uncomfortable, etc).  Don't whine.  Don't whine.  Don't whine...

While waiting, I've been working away on a few little projects, the type that make me smile.  Today I whipped up a curtain for the kitchen window.  Is this the exact same curtain I made three years ago in Peoria but with different fabric?  Yes.  I know what I like.

While in Peoria, my living area was mostly greens, reds, and goldy-yellows.  In the new house, I'm getting crazy and going for turquoise.  I'm thinking of something bold like turquoise damask for drapes in the dining area.  Oh, I do love to look at fabric!

Today's sewing success has overcome yesterday's paint mishaps.  I went to Lowe's to get samples of the perfect shade of light spa blue/gray/green.  You know the one?  It's all over decorating shows and magazines right now.  I have in mind the first one, and below is what I came up with.  I hate them all.  I am so bad at paint.  I suppose I will try again.  How many samples does a girl have to buy?

Here's to another week of waiting (for a glider and a baby)!

Enjoying the View

Yesterday all of my goals of being productive went right out the window.  The temperature was finally reasonable, so the deck, view, and some reading had me for most of the afternoon.  I thought I would share.

Although not a giant ocean or lake, this little pond with the trees, birds, and quiet neighbors really leaves me feeling relaxed and not missing the pizza wedge yard, ugly neighbor gardens, and chain link fence of Peoria.  Do please ignore the dead lawn and plants.  The drought here is terrible, and things were too far gone when we moved in.  Next spring, I'll be back into action on landscape beautification.  Can't wait!