Month: January 2012

project 365 (jan 9-17)

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
Project 365, Days 9-17
9/365: Theo’s new play kitchen.
10/365: The Chef.
11/365: Recently remodeled lounge area in the basement of my office building.  I’m so impressed.
12/365:  Stalling at bedtime.  Must. Inspect. Toothbrush.
13/365: Vintage bowls and fresh produce.  Perfect combination.
14/365: Niko.
15/365: Grabbing on, pulling up, and standing around.
16/365: Red fingerless gloves, perfect for driving on these cold, dreary days…courtesy of one Knittin’ Nana.
17/365:  Going up.
Day 17? That’s what you get when you mix oh-crap-it’s-9:30pm-and-I-haven’t-taken-a-picture-yet-today-and-I’m-already-at-work-hurry-quick-where’s-my-phone? and Photobucket‘s fun editing tools.  Sorry, slow picture day I guess.  Still turned out kinda cool anyway, right?  If not, then just hush up.
What’s your pick for favorite pic of the week?  I kinda like days 13 and 15 the best.  Oh, and 11 and 12.  Clearly, I suck at picking a favorite!
still snappin’ left and right,
~C~
See all Project 365 posts here.

sleeping baby

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

I don’t want to press my luck here, but I have to say it.  I will probably jinx myself and everything that is good between here and Mars, but I have to say it. 
Dexter is sleeping through the night.
Since Dexter was born, he’s slept through the night – meaning no one had to get up and go talk to him, pat him, rock him, feed him, etc. – a few times.  As in less than 10.  I haven’t counted, but that’s my best guess.  Last weekend, when we were at Big Splash, something happened.  He would not calm down.  He would not just.go.to.sleep.  Normally we rock him to sleep but it has gotten harder and harder.  He was so fidgety and restless, we resorted to putting him in his pack n’ play wide awake.  He did cry.  It was sad.  But it only lasted a couple of minutes.  Less than 10…and he was out.  He slept until almost 6.  I know that sounds lame, considering that he didn’t go to sleep until about 10:30 that particular night, but that was heaven on earth to me. 

We decided long ago that once we started, we wouldn’t go back or it was all for nothing.  Two times last week, he cried for 30 minutes (Tuesday and Wednesday).  We checked on him every few minutes to reassure him that we were still there and that it was okay to go to sleep.  The rest of the nights, he either barely fussed at all or was asleep after nursing by the time I laid him down.  But guys.  The great news?  He has slept through the night (or at least put himself back to sleep without crying in the middle of the night) FOR THE LAST WEEK.  Do you know how magical that is?

I will say that I’m not a huge fan of crying it out, but I felt that we were out of options that made sense.  We could no longer get him to go to sleep in our arms.  He has just gotten too big and strong and stubborn.  If things continue to go like they have been, this will have been worth it.  Know why?  Because this little prince slept from 8:30 Saturday night until 7am Sunday morning.  And this mama slept from 9:30pm until 7am Sunday morning.

Thank you, Dexter.  You have no idea how much I needed that.  Now do that trick again.  And again.  And some more and then do it again. 

rested,
~C~

what the dudes are doing

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
My little Friday the 13th boy celebrated his 8 month birthday this past Friday.  Friday the 13ths will always make me smile. 
He’s not one to disappoint on his monthly b-days, so at 8 months, he is sporting some new moves.  For instance, this face: 

It must have something to do with teething, right?  He’s getting his second tooth (I can almost feel it) and all weekend, he was sucking that bottom lip in.  I swear, he doesn’t always just live in pajamas.
I think it was Friday night that he decided it would be cool if he just started standing up and letting go.  Then he waits for us to notice and gets a big grin on his face when we start clapping.  Right before plopping down on his tush.  Once he lunged forward.  I’m not sure if he was just falling or trying to take a step towards me.  This kid is going to walk before his birthday, I just know it. Thing is, he’s tiny.  He has no business walking.  Hop on up in mama’s arms and stay little.  Mmmkay?
Look, ma!  No hands.




one hand

 

no hands



try again.
And y’all – whether it lasts or not remains to be seen.  But it seems as though this guy may finally be sleeping through the night.  It only took 8 (exhausting) months. More about this later!
*********
Well, what’s that other dude been doing?
Keeping up on his oral hygiene, of course.
Eating the meal of all meals – yogurt, a hot dog, and a pickle.  Dee-lish.
Snuggling up to Niko.
Hanging out with friends, Max & Mik. 
(Don’t they look like they could be Dexter’s cousins?)
Reading books to brother.
And finally…
Shouting “pee pee potty!” when it’s already too late.  Then squirming and wiggling away when I try to take his picture on the potty.  What?  Don’t all moms take pictures of their kids on the toilet and post them on the internet?  Maybe I should rethink this…nah.
Newsworthy:  We had no plans this weekend other than getting the Christmas decorations put away.  Success! We did the majority of it during Theo’s 3 hour nap on Saturday.  Perhaps that was mean – he was pretty traumatized when he got up and everything was gone.  Once he noticed the tree had been taken down, he went looking for every string of lights that had been up.  It was sad, following him around as he searched for any trace of Christmas. All in all, it was a nice, relaxing weekend after being sooo busy these past few weeks.
Lastly, I have to say that the weekend would have been better had I not been made aware of some heartbreaking news.  I learned that sweet little 2 year old Tripp Roth lost his battle with epidermolysis bullosa on Saturday morning.  No, I didn’t know him or his mother personally but their story has gripped my heart since I stumbled across their site on Top Mommy Blogs.  Take a moment to read about Tripp. You will fall in love with him.  He has so many admirers – I think tears were falling all around the world this weekend.  Rest in peace, little man. 
so thankful,
~C~