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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Snip-its of a long weekend

I could probably write an extremely lengthy piece about our Memorial Day weekend.  Instead of boring you with the this' and thats of our, kind of exciting, not too exciting, but still pretty awesome weekend, I present to you a picture montage of events and random things/happenings.


Big boy sitting.  This is something he rarely does.  He's a lazy baby, and I think his large head makes sitting harder to do.

Momma and baby at Folklife

The kid's a natural Seattlite.

Enjoying the grass

Listening to some music.  My hat is awesome, I know. 

On one of my days off with Joe we made baby food!!

He likes the colors

Ty ty baby from lots of fun activities.

This is mainly entertainment for me and Rick.  He wasn't as fond of this moment.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Balance

We need it.  We're lacking it, and I'm on the hunt for it. 

When everything is new and fresh you are so overwhelmed with the newness of everything that you don't stop and think, huh, I haven't showered in a while, or, my house needs to be clean, or, I really should tell my boyfriend I appreciate him. 

Your main focus is keeping this little goober alive.  Everything else can and does take a back seat.  This, unfortunately, and pretty quickly, includes your relationship.  Yeah, your relationship....you know, the thing you were in that one time....the person you love....you know, that one guy!

Life becomes so increasingly exhausting and every effort is spent on feeding, cleaning, playing with, trying to get to shut up, putting to bed, washing his clothes, entertaining, dr appointments, daycare drop offs...etc etc etc.  That you don't notice there this tall guy sitting in your kitchen and asking for attention and needing a bit of romance in his life. 

Please, find me the lady that can leave all the exhaustion behind and embrace this huge man in her kitchen (making a mess), and spend all her left over energy filling up his love tank.  Note to reader: If this lady actually exists, I hate her.  She makes the rest of us bitchy women look bad.

Where is the balance....where do you find it?!  Does one thing have to give a little to make the other better... and come on, am I really going to put a little less energy into raising my child to find more balance and romance in my relationship?!  That's a hard thing to swallow....and subsequently leads to mommy guilt, which is every moms worst enemy.

How do you do it?  Is it possible? 

He's lucky he's so damn precious.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

WARNING: Extremely personal and a bit frightening

I got a phone call today that I just can't shake.  A very personal and somewhat intimate situation that while probably extremely inappropriate to broadcast, has me on edge...so I share, and warning, this is personal.

A series of events (don't ask, long story, the end) had me at the doctors office getting my hormone levels and ovaries checked out.  This was 10 days ago, today I get the results.  The nurse (over the phone) tells me the normal range of things and then reads me my numbers and promptly asks if I have completed my family or plan to really soon. 

WHAT!? 

I just had a baby, and if the past is any indicator of future performance, I don't think I should have any problem getting pregnant.  Not so, said the nurse.  She went so far as to say she was shocked I've ever been pregnant.  Really?!  Really!?  She then went on to explain random ovary failure, pre menopause, infertility...blah blah blah. 

I'm shocked.  I had zero issue getting pregnant.  Never even tried to get pregnant (sorry Joe, you're a love child), and now this woman is talking to me about possibly never being able to get pregnant again and advising to seriously start thinking about "completing my family." 

Stress. 

I want another baby.  I NEED another baby, but I desperately need this baby in about 3 years.  Not now, not today, not anytime soon.  And now I have this thought in my head that I might not get that. 

Could I be happy or feel complete with just Joey?  That's a horrible thought right!?  Because, the answer, I feel, would be no.  Happy, of course, complete, definitely no.  It never crossed my mind that we would have just one baby.  I always thought there would be at least 2 or maybe even 3.  What if I can't have that. 

Add this to the list of "if something can go wrong, it will go wrong for us."  Its getting to be a really long list 

And, bless his freaking heart, Ricks response to this news "so this means I have super sperm right, and that's why we have Joey?"

Yes, Rick, you have super sperm. 

Joe's love interest

Remember how I told you Joey loves his reflection?  How every time we pass by a mirror he stops, stares, smiles and waves his hand? 

This morning I was doing my morning thang, getting my lunch all packed and ready to go and Rick calls down "hey babe, you need to come up here and see this."  Usually this is a precursor to me running up the stairs and seeing a funky poop, a huge mess, smell something funky, basically something really unpleasant.  This morning, though, it was the Joe and his bff....himself....


He had gotten himself close enough to the mirror to kiss himself!!  In reality he thinks its another baby, but its funny none-the-less. 

He is smitten like a little kitten....with his handsome self.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Safety first

After our near choking incident last night....


I did what any normal person would do....

I put my kid on a slippery surface so he couldn't move an inch.  If he doesn't go anywhere he doesn't get hurt.  *(I have a feeling this is the start of a very unhealthy addiction to keeping my kid safe)*  Mommy can't handle broken, sick, hurt, sad, scraped, bruised, or dead baby.  Its too much.

So, I put him on a blanket that I could trust, aka slipperiest blanket in the world.  That, mixed with no pants equalled for sure, 100% non movement.  And pure enjoyment for me.  It looked like he was showing the floor whose boss.  Making that floor his...ok, you get the idea.





Monday, May 16, 2011

Check check check

Super successful weekend - check. 

Super teething and growing baby - check.

Ty ty momma and daddy - check check.


Yay!  Such a big boy in his new high chair.
You can tell by his rosey cheeks that his teethies were hurting :(

We ate tons of squash this weekend! 
And after a meal he would still drink an 8 oz bottle.  We have definitely hit another growth spurt!

Friday, May 13, 2011

An open letter to my old body....

It's hard to even think of where to start.  We spent 24 glorious years together.  24 years of being too tiny to fit most clothes designed for people your age, 24 years of being size small or extra small, 24 years of no concern for your weight what-so-ever.  24 years of complete comfortability in your own small skin.  Unfortunately we've reached that uncomfortable place in our relationship.  The point where one of us has to let go. 

Please accept this letter as my goodbye.  I appreciate all you've done for me and the times we have shared, but it's time to let go.  I have moved on.  The body that once used to define my existence is only a distant memory.  No longer will my hips fit into the size 25 jeans I used to inhabit and my saggy tummy will no longer be hugged by your size small shirts. 

And, I'm ok with that.

Something far greater than you has taken over my existence.  I am a mom and my new body is a shining example of what this means.  I actually have hips now.  Hips that I'm sure came from my pelvis separating to allow a life to be born.  My tummy, while saggy, was the home to the most important thing I will ever do.  Every lingering pound on my body, at one point, helped to ensure the safety and comfort of my growing boy.  The stretch marks, probably the most difficult to understand, also have their place.  You can't just buy these stretch marks, I own them as a badge of honor.  They prove that I was a part of a miracle and I accept them with open arms.

While I appreciate the times we had, and sometimes feel lonely without you, I am better off in this new shape.  I will think of you with great pride and the most sincere sentiment.  We had some good times didn't we!?

Goodbye old friend.


Dinner time sneak peak

I was standing in the kitchen going through mail while Rick fed Joe.  For a while I drowned out the noise and then I started to listen and thought, this has to be captured. 

So this is the tail end convo about a plane dropping supplies or something and then coming back to the hanger after a successful mission....or something like that....

Enjoy....

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Food

Food + baby = HARD.

Its a weird to think you literally have to learn to eat.  Apparently we aren't born with this predisposed ability to understand that this spoon coming at my face goes into my mouth and I eat whats on it.  Babies, as I have found out, don't like to open their mouth and eat something off a spoon.  They have zero interest in shoving that weird thing with that weird stuff in their face and enjoying its tasty goodness. 

Here comes the peas......


You can tell by his "WTF are you trying to do with that lady" look on his face that this is a lost cause.


Denied.

We are being patient.  And we're trying everything in our power to make him laugh during this process so his mouth opens.  So, you can imagine the noises that are coming from our house at dinner time. 

Monday, May 9, 2011

Great weekend

Man oh man did we have a fabulously full weekend.

Joey's six month check up went off without a hitch.  Rick even called me while in with the doctor so he could be sure I got the most accurate information (I think he's finally starting to get the hang of having a difficult/anal/crazy girlfriend). 

Dr. Richter is still convinced Joey just has acid reflux and is now putting him on stuff that we couldn't give him previously, because he was too young.  So, now Joey will take a dissolving tablet everyday.  Its minty flavor, hopefully he's down for that.  And, if this doesn't work, we will test for dairy allergies.  But, Dr. Richter says Joey has all the classic signs of acid reflux, and only a few symptoms associated with dairy allergies.  So, we'll see.  Acid reflux is apparently a sneaky little bitch.  I hope this works!

Also, we have been ordered to start being really consistent with Joey's solid foods.  For some reason, up to this point, we couldn't get in a rhythm and have basically sucked and been lazy about the whole process.  We are fully committed now, both feet in, we even sent Joey to daycare with oatmeal and peas and strict instructions to feed him breakfast and lunch. 

Hopefully this does a variety of things, first and foremost, hopefully the little bugger gets full and sleeps better, and hopefully this saves us money on formula.  Feeding a monster baby a million bottles a day = a million trips to Costco and a very light wallet.  Again, we'll see what happens.  Obviously he is going to love food, but hopefully he sleeps well too.

Joey is still in the 98th percentile for height and 50 somethingth percentile for weight.  Its hard to believe, but he's only 18 pounds.  He looks more like he's 25 pounds and 2 years old. 

Still teething.  Dr. said it comes in waves....I'm pretty sure we've ridden enough teething waves by now.  I want teeth and I want them now.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day and an all around great weekend.  Rick was amazing and we had some time to be with each other and be normal and he took care of Joey all weekend.  I also got to spend time with my momma and Lala and Aunt Kathy. 

Here's some photos of our weekend....


Out to lunch with Auntie Shanny.  He chewed on her glasses for awhile and then decided he would look cute in them.  

Joey LOVES cantaloupe, and momma is ok with that!

Joey fell asleep on me and I let him take a snooze for a couple hours.  I cherish these moments because I know he will soon be too big to sleep on me.  Tear...

While at my mom's house on Mother's Day.  He loves anything that crinkles!


OH!  I almost forgot the most important thing about this weekend....Mr. Joseph Armon now crawls.  He's been spinning in circles for a couple weeks now, but just last night figured out how to move forward.  Rick and I will be spending the next few years in hospitals and buying a lot of band aides and neosporin.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Mother's Day!!

Its my very first Mother's Day weekend!! 

I for one am excited.  To celebrate Rick will be sending me to the spa for the day.  I will get my toes done, my nails manicured and get a 90 minute hot stone massage.  I will then be coming home to a freshly cleaned house, and a baby with a sitter.  We will then be going out for a romantic dinner for two somewhere on the Edmonds waterfront.  I will awake on my own accord and hopefully be able to sleep in until at least noon.  Its going to be amazing!

And, you are stoned out of your mind if you think for a second that any of that will be taking place.

My only request this Mother's Day is a night off from mom duties.  I want to be able to sleep in and I want the boys to take care of themselves for a day. 

Maybe when we're kabillionaires I can have a spa day, but for now, a good nights sleep is worth its weight in gold.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there.  Especially mine!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Crazy....or NOT!

There are quite a few times in my relationship with Rick that I seriously question my sanity.  I think to myself, "Am I crazy...or is he crazy?!"  "I am being weird...is he just fucking with me...."

Basically a lot of WTF moments. 

Here was my evening.

Oh you want to sweep your kitchen floor!? 

Oh! You're in luck.  Rick graciously went to the store the other day and purchased a broom....Oh, you were expecting this...

That's too easy.....Rick purchased this...


FOR OUR ENTIRE KITCHEN FLOOR!!!  And all our sweeping needs.  Rick came to the rescue with this little gem of a sweeper.  Isn't it cute!

Also....

Do you touch towels that look like this......


Rick does.

I am not crazy.  These things are just ridiculous.

Unfortunately this sort of this leads to this.....


And this....


You can imagine the state of mind I was in when Rick finally called to tell me he was off work this evening.  His response........blog about it!

Done and done.



Tons of crap

We have been BUSY! lately.  Thus, my blogger absence...many apologies.

Without going into too much detail (because I could probably write a books worth of crap), here are some things we've been up to lately...

Treasure hunting in Friday Harbor....

Teething, still, lord help me....
Joey now grabs at things with fury and cries when we don't let him have stuff, so we give in....


We had a furry friend death, ugh breaks my heart.....

Cupboard door still broken, which is great because Rick's family visits tomorrow and he will have to be all embarrassed....
Our schedules have changed, I now pick Joey up from daycare and Rick drops him off.  This small change has rocked our world and we are struggling.....
Still chubby and contemplating getting my stomach stapled....not kidding....
We have started to do art projects (see above furry friend painting), which is actually quite therapeutic for me...

That's pretty much the skinny on life lately.  Something awesome we did lately was take a boat ride on Mystic.  For those of you who don't know, Mystic was the home to Rick and Danny and their parents for a number of years while they sailed around the coast and down to Mexico.  She is a lovely sail boat.  But unfortunately Joey was a turd for most the time.  Well, besides the 4 and a half hour nap he took, which was pure heaven.

Love you all, promise to be back soon...

Oh and did you hear we "killed" Osama.  Oh you did, weird.

Oh, and thank baby Jesus, Rick shaved that God awful mustache.  This is what I mean when I say Rick intentionally raises my blood pressure and tries to kill me with his crazy crap.  Ugh, the mustache was sooooo bad.