PLEASE FORGIVE ME...

...but life happens fast, you know?

And at the end of the day, I'd rather say I spent those precious moments enjoying LBB's giggles and being his mommy than blogging about it.

So forgive me for my lack of blogging. That doesn't mean that I don't intend to ever write in here again, however. I still love writing here, and I can honestly say I have 3 or 5 blog topics cross my mind on a daily basis. However, I don't beat myself up if I don't actually write them down. :)

But, I will try to post when the urge hits me. I'm sure you know where I am coming from.

Anyways, now that I've apologized to you :), onward with a thought I had last night as I rocked LBB to sleep.

Dear sweet hubby and I have been married for almost 6 years. And for the majority of those years, we couldn't wait to have kids (there was a brief moment where we crazily thought we didn't ever want kids, but it just turned out to be fear.) We waited somewhat patiently for God's timing. :)

And now that LBB is here, there are moments when I can't even believe that I am a mommy. It takes my breath away. And it's the small things that make me stop and think about it...like when he falls asleep and puts his hand on my chest. Or when he smiles. Or when he giggles. All that patience was definetly worth what we have been blessed with.

That's all I have today.

MOMMY CONFIDENCE AND A BEDTIME STORY

It's funny what a few days will do for a mommy's self confidence.

I feel like I'm really getting this down pat. I'm understanding that while experts, are well, experts, I'm Mommy and that means a whole lot more. After all...who knows LBB better-the experts or me. And while their books are great and all, there is a lot to be said about doing what feels right.

Take, for example, this whole sleep thing. I checked out a book that had a lot of rave reviews. And while it had it's good points that I definitely am implementing in our lives, I know at the end of the day that I'm the one sitting here with LBB. Not some doctor. :) And once I figured out what we need now and want in the future, all this became a lot easier. Now it's just about tweaking the little quirks in LBB's sleep routine. Whew. That is one big sigh of relief. As for now, I'm ok with rocking and cuddling LBB to sleep...as long as once he is asleep, I can lay him down and he stays asleep. And you know what...once I decided that, I realized this whole thing isn't so daunting.

Mommy confidence is a good thing...to borrow the words of one famous maven of homekeeping. :)

Speaking of bedtime routines and good things...as we get this thing down pat, we are really learning what makes LBB sleepy. And last night, about 1/2 hour before his usual bedtime, we started a bedtime routine. We used bits and pieces of things that we know help him get sleepy...like cuddles with a soft warm blankie, a little lullaby music in the background (he loves this Asian Dreamland CD we found at the library), socks on his hands (the minute his hands get chilly, the kid is awake. It's really the strangest thing, and socks stay on as opposed to baby mits!), and his favorite bedtime book.

Which is.... (drumroll please) .....

Bear Snores On

If I time it just right and catch him before he is overtired, LBB will be sound asleep about 3 pages before the end of the book. It's got the perfect mix of quiet noises (those perfect places where you get to whisper), cute story lines, good even rhythm, beautiful pictures, and a story line that doesn't get old. (We've been reading it to him since the day we got home from the hospital.)

I just thought I'd share...it's easily become a family favorite. Everynight, I read, LBB cuddles, and Dear Sweet Hubby is in charge of sound effects (like when the popcorn pops...it's pretty cute!)

*Oh, and just in case you were wondering...the bedtime routine worked like a charm. And then he was out like a light. :) *

LBB AT 3 MONTHS!

My LBB is 3 months old now! (As of Saturday, that is.)

So, what is new with him?

Well, let's see:

• He started giggling! At first it was pretty rare...but as the days go on, we're figuring out what tickles LBB's funny bone. And I've gotta tell you, we'll do anything to make him giggle. I love hearing that precious sound!!!!
• He can do raspberries. He was sitting with my dad (his PaPa) and they were talking away...and all of a sudden LBB decided a raspberry was the perfect input for the conversation. I love watching LBB try to get a raspberry out...you can tell when one is coming because his lips get all pursed together and he keeps attempting to make the noise. And every so often, he is successful!!!!
• He's sleeping through the night on a very regular basis...it's nice sleeping for more than a few hours at a time, I have to admit! Now if we can just get a nap schedule down and an earlier bedtime, we'll be doing great!!!!
• He's been to the zoo, the aquarium, and three different states in these past three months. Isn't that insane?
• He's still growing like a weed...most clothes are now 6 months. Wow! But I do think he is levelling off. We'll see at his 4 month checkup!
• He loves to cuddle. He loves to be read to. And he loves to play in his Exersaucer.
• Bathtime is still one of his favorite times...and he is beginning to splash around lots when he is in there!!!!

That's all I can think of right now...but I know there is more. However, LBB is getting a little fussy and I can smell a diaper that needs to be changed. :)

IT'S LIKE PULLING TEETH

I'm really trying to get LBB into a routine of at least taking a nap longer than 20 minutes each day. LBB has other plans.

Don't get me wrong...he sleeps great at night. All the way through, in fact. And he'll sleep for hours in my arms if I am completely quiet. But the minute there is a noise or he is put down to sleep, he's up within minutes.

My mom says let him cry it out. And I really do want him to start being able to sleep during the day like most babies do...however, hearing him cry is torture. I am getting better, but LBB has now discovered that since crying doesn't get him picked up all the time, he is going to start screaming.

Yes, you read that right. Screaming at the top of his lungs screaming. I didn't think an almost 3 month old could scream that loud. But he does. And it's not like there is anything wrong...he'll have been fed, changed, swaddled, burped, and all that good bedtime stuff. He'll fall sound asleep in my arms. But the moment his head touches the crib mattress...he starts to stir.

I'm exasperated and worn out. He's cranky and worn out. And while I know this is all a short passing phase (I hope) I want to make sure that I am helping him to learn how to sleep properly and all that stuff.

*sigh*

Any suggestions?

CLASS IS BACK IN SESSION

For Mommyhood 101, that is.

More lessons learned:

1. Sometimes the things I was adamently against before LBB was born fall to the wayside...for now. Take, for example, TV. I swore LBB wouldn't watch a lick of tv until he was a toddler. However, I wasn't prepared for his adament love of the Olympics. Especially curling. Go figure.
2. Letting LBB cry himself to sleep is hard. And I'm not sure who it is harder for...me or him. I know he needs a nap. He knows he needs a nap. I think he needs to fall asleep in his crib. He really disagrees and would rather be held. But at the rate he is growing, I know that I can't rock him to sleep forever! But golly, I sure do hate hearing him cry. And how do you know when to pick him up and when he should be left alone. I feel like the world's most horrible mommy when he cries and I let him lay there.
3. I always bought adorable outfits for LBB when I was preggers with him. Cute little button up shirts and adorable little pants. Then I had LBB. And I realized that, while those are perfect for two hours at church, nothing makes LBB and me happier than a comfy, cute onesie and some knit pants. Or even a cute little sleeper. Oy.

Class dismissed. :)

I'M A BIT FREAKED OUT...

LBB fell asleep at about 8:00 pm last night and woke up for his bottle at 5:00 am. And, when he woke up for his bottle...there was no screaming, no yelling, and no tomato face (you know, when your child is so mad they are literally as red as a tomato?). He woke up with a few little sighs, looked at me with a smile, and calmly let me change his diaper while Dear Sweet Hubby made his bottle. That's right, I said calmly. Trust me...it came as a shock to me as well.

And I have to admit...having some uninterrupted sleep sure does a mommy good. After his bottle, I folded some laundry while he happily watched his mobile go around, and then after Dear Sweet Hubby left for work, LBB and I cuddled in bed and read a story. I still can't get over how happy he was the whole time. Weird.

One of the things I love about LBB: Even at 2 1/2 months, he already loves to be read to. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that Dear Sweet Hubby read to him while I was pregnant. This morning, he watched as I picked a book out of the library bag and then had a bright face when I cuddled up next to him with a book and his GiGi Blanket. I love that. :)

MOMMYHOOD 101

A few more things I'm learning:

1. There are seriously not enough hours in the day. My to-do list is ever growing. There are piles here and there that I need to sort and organize. And there are about 10,000 projects (that may be a slight exagerration) that I have started and haven't finished. But...that's ok. I love every minute of every day. Even those fussy minutes at 2 am (where it's Mommy that is fussy more than LBB. LOL!)
2. Sometimes, messy moments happen when you least expect them. That is why it is always good to be prepared with the diaper under the old one or a burp rag in every room of the house. You never know when a mess is going to occur. :)
3. Caffeinated drinks are great for keeping you awake. Until the one drink a day loses it's effectiveness. This leads to two bottles of Pepsi a day. Followed by three and a mocha. And there is still the chance of crashing long before LBB falls asleep for the night.
4. Taking a shower while someone watches LBB instead of having the baby seat in the bathroom is the best pampering a mommy could have. :)
5. There are not enough chances for baby cuddles and kisses during the day. Not enough chances at all.
6. Sometimes it's hard to forget I was a wife first. I really need to work on that. :)