My Top Picks

So, do you ever have one of those moments where you say to yourself "Wow...how did I live without this? It's worth every penny I paid for it."

Well, I've been having a lot of those lately. I don't know if it's because I feel as though I'm really getting into my groove as a mommy and just feel confident in the choices I've made, or if it's the fact that I can recognize a mommy life saver when I see one. Maybe it's a combination of the two.

So, here are some of my "couldn't live without it" picks:

1) An umbrella stroller. I paid $15 for mine brand new...and I would easily say it paid itself off within a week. :) It's perfect for around the house. When I have to go get mail. A walk to the park. Going to the library. It's perfect for when LBB wants to be by me, but I have cleaning and whatnot to do. Just pop him in the umbrella stroller, and he goes where I go...and he's happy.

2) One of those formula containers. The one I have has three separate compartments and a nice little spout to pour the formula into the bottle. At first, I just used them when we went out and about, but now before bed each night, I fill one up with the appropriate amount of formula, set it next to LBB's bottles that already have water in them, and it makes for a hasslefree middle of the night feeding.

There is more to follow, I'm sure...these are just two of the ones I've been thinking about most lately. There have been others that have crossed my mind, but I'm a bit tired and ready for bed...so they'll have to wait!

Goodnight all!

Roly Poly...

But only one way.

LBB easily rolls from back to tummy. Lickety split.

However...I cannot, for the life of me, convince him to roll from his tummy to back. I've tried everything...showing him. Luring him over with toys. And nothing works.

I know that babies do this stuff in their own due time, but it always seemed to me like once they learned one direction of rolling, the other direction followed suit soon after. Maybe I'm wrong though...

So, I'm asking you...any suggestions or thoughts on how to get him to roll over completely? He gets so very frustrated when he is on his tummy...and he is more concerned with trying to scoot than roll over.

My how priorities change...

A year ago, I dreamed of having an immaculately organized and pretty craft room. Matching bins. Glass door cabinets. And nice big work table in the center. And the list goes on. (Granted of course, that I'd need to get an extra room for all that stuff.)

But now...

I dream of having a room with bright colors. Lots of fun shelves. Colorful bins overfilling with homemade toys and store bought goodies. Art supplies for little hands. And the list goes on.

Funny how life changes, isn't it?

Before I wanted a space to create in...now I want a space for LBB to grow, learn, explore, play, and create in. And since an extra room isn't anywhere in our near future...I strive daily to make every inch of our house something that is appealing to his senses. (And ours. :) )

So, I don't mind the bins here and there filled with toys and books. I don't mind that on my nice new dining room table sits a Spongebob Placement and a jar of crayons. (LBB loves to scribble.) It all concretes the fact that life changes, and in this case, for the better.

Complete

I was working on filling out some of LBB's baby book today, and there was a page in there about the day of his arrivial, and a section for Mommy's reaction and Daddy's reaction.

And as I sat there looking at the 6 or 7 lines they gave me to write my reaction in, I wondered...how on earth could I ever sum up that day in such a short space? How could I sum up, in just a few short sentences, the best day of my life?

I figured it out...and I'm not going to share what I wrote...that is for LBB to cherish someday. But I can say this...I can sum up that day in one sentence if I had to. That is the day that I became complete.

Isn't that a simple word? "Complete." But oh so powerful. And as I reminisce about those moments right after he was born, I know that what I was feeling was more than just pride, joy, and love. (It was all those to the greatest power.) It all came together to make me a complete person.

Thanks for listening while I reminisced a little. :)

LBB is a boy's boy...

100% boy.

Even at 4 months.

He would rather be in his diaper all day. He hates having to wear clothes. He adores playing in the sandbox. He especially adores getting sand all over his little toes and hands. He loves riding around (even in the house) in his little umbrella stroller while Daddy makes car noises. And he giggles up a storm when they play Spaceship. He likes to pretend he is hammering when he has a rattle in his hand. (This is especially noisy, and I'm sure bothersome, to other guests in a restaurant.)

He loves fishing shows. He loves boats. He loves tractors. He loves cars.

And he adores fish and species that live in water. Any kind really. But especially turtles.

His favorite toys right now are these stuffed monsters my mom made for him and anything that is underwater themed.

See, a boy's boy. I love that about him.

When we first found out we were going to have a boy, I have to admit a part of me was a little bummed. And when we decided that we weren't going to try to have any more kids, I got another wave of "Aw, I won't have a daughter now."

But, God knows what He is doing. I needed to be the mommy of a boy. I cherish each moment where I get to watch him being...well, the snips and snails and puppy dog tails type boy. :)

Wow...more than a 15 minute nap? No way!

LBB is peacefully sleeping right now.

Big deal, you say?

Oh, it is a big deal. :)

See, as of late, LBB has had a huge problem with sleeping. He doesn't want to do it. He takes 15 minute naps, stays awake for 3 hours, turns into a royal fussbucket, then sneaks in another 15 minute nap. So, you would think he'd sleep the night through, right?

Wrong.

Lately he's been waking up at least two times a night. Why, I don't know. Apparently he thinks Dear Sweet Hubby and I lead a very eventful life, when in reality, all we'd like to do is rest our heads on our nice fluffly pillows! :)

But today...ah, today.

Today seemed like it was going in the same direction that the past five days have gone. He woke up, albeit after a night with only one wake up in the middle, which I can totally handle. Then, he played. Ate. Played. Ate some more. Had some bananas and cereal. Then a little more bottle. And bam. He fell asleep in my arms...until, I moved.

Then he was awake and ready to go. 10 minutes, I thought? But I have so much mommy stuff to get done. Like unpacking. And grocery lists. And cleaning. All of which LBB seems to have little concern for. :)

But, I persevered. I put him in his crib with his mobile on. He lasted 5 minutes before he screamed bloody murder. I put him on the floor to roll and watch me while I did my grocery list. He started fussing within 10 minutes. I put him in his chair. Walked around with him, and then finally, sat on the couch, snuggled up (I had given in, I know) and within one minute he was sound asleep. So, there he slept (securely, I might add. I had my eye on my rolly little guy.) And slept.

It has to have been TWO hours! And he is just now waking up...

But I've got to say, this is the nicest gift he could have given me pre-Mother's Day!

Well, I'm off to cuddle LBB a little. Have a great day!!!

LBB is 4 Months Old!

*Just so you know, I originally started this post on the 10th...see how much of a procrastinator I am lately when it comes to this blog?*

Wow! My how time flies!



And it's been a crazy busy month...each moment more precious than the last and every single one of them flying by at the speed of sound. But, that's life I suppose. :) You just have to change your speed to match the rate the moments flee by, right? Who knows...for now I am just enjoying everything I can!



One big event this month for LBB and us is that we moved into our own place! We had been staying with my parents for a bit (thank you Mom and Dad!) while we transitioned from Old Town to New Town. And once we got comfortable, and the weather started getting warmer, we were ready to be back on our own. :)



Now if I could just finish unpacking these boxes. Phew.



But on to what LBB is up to this month!



At 4 months old, LBB:

• is a giggling fool! He is such a happy happy baby. (His doctor even said so at his appointment yesterday...he said LBB is one of the happiest babies he has ever seen. Aw, shucks...that's so nice!) He giggles when you play peekabo. He giggles when I make kissy noise. He giggles when you tickle him. And he giggles when we play "airplane" (more like reverse tummy tucks for mommy, but he loves it.)


• is a flirt. I hate to say that! I really do...but he sees a girl, and Mr. Sparkly Eyes and Big Smile comes out. He'll tilt his head a bit, smle, and charm any lady he sees. I'm going to have to keep my eye on this little guy. LOL!


• discovered Spongebob Squarepants. I know...I was the mom who wasn't going to let my kids watch tv until they were 3. But...a little bit a day isn't going to hurt him...and it sure makes him happy. He laughs when Spongebob laughs, screams when appropriate, and sits there in awe the rest of the time. It's quite amusing!


• loves to be read to! We go to the library on a regular basis, and I can't have enough books handy! We easily go through 5 or 6 books in a sitting. And we've made a nightly routine...before bed, we read one story out of his storybook Bible, one other new story, and Bear Snores On.


• loves listening to music. And making music.


• imitates sounds back to us. You say "hi", and he sometimes tries to copy. It's adorable. *I have to add...he has actually started saying "hi" occasionally. At first I thought it was a fluke, but then he did it to dear sweet hubby as well. Crazy, huh?


• is working very hard on grasping with both hands. He will sit in the tub and try very hard to grab this starfish toy he has. He recently figured out how to use his feet to help him in the task. Such a resourceful boy!


• loves to be outside. Loves to go for walks. And loves to kick a soccer ball back and forth with his PaPa and Auntie.


• is starting to scoot just a bit. I put him down for tummy time and he will scoot 3 or 4 inches towards me!
• And he rolls from back to tummy! We are actively working on tummy to back...and he's slowly catching on.
• loves to color. Serious. I give him those crayola beginners crayons, lightly hold his hand on top to help teach him how to grasp, and Bam! An adorable piece of artwork unfolds. He's a little Picasso.
• And at his last appointment, he weighed in at 18 lbs. Such a big boy still! He is wearing NINE month clothes, and even some 12 months...but it's funny. He is so short that in order to wear shorts that don't look like pants, we have to get him 6 month size...it's a tad snug in the waist, but not too bad! LOL!

Well, that's it for now...I know there is more...but since I procrastinated, I forgot half of what I wrote. I am really going to try to get better. I am. I promise. ;)