I Jinxed Myself

Right after I posted this mornings blog I got "skyped" by my Uncle Mike. Jack was what I thought was a good mood, but from that moment on the day went down hill. I jinxed myself posting all about his "preciousness"... can you tell I am annoyed I am using a lot of these """".  Today Jack was not so much of a precious little baby but a pain. Ok he had his "moments" but for the most part he was a clingy little baby in which nothing could make him happy for long. It is days like these that make me want to pull my hair out, and it is days like this that occur when I am totally alone for the day and night. Mike is in Bama and Mom & Dad are in Naples. But I did have my dogs.

A Mom's best friend.

They listed to me complain all day how I couldn't get anything done because Jack would cry if I stopped playing with him. When I did have to leave him to like go to the bathroom they stood by him. At bath time they were at my side looking in the tub. And to give me a few moments to myself the played with him, bringing their toys to him and licking his face. Jack would just belly laugh when Sammy kissed his face. Don't think I am a neglectful Mom, Jack was changed feed and getting plenty of attention. His cries were just he wanted more of me...more attention and playing and he didn't want to "self soothe" himself today. WOW was it a long day and WOW do I admire single moms! How do you do it???

At about 8pm I put Jack in his crib to make my loyal companions a special dinner bowl, suddenly I noticed no more crying. I ran into the bedroom wondering if he was still breathing. There he was fast asleep hugging his toy puppy that Auntie Lolo gave him. He was so peaceful. So sweet. So precious. And at my feet were my buddies. We all plopped on the couch, I gave them 2 peanut butter treats each and poured myself a glass of wine. Good job team!

Preciousness

Preciousness...not sure if thats a word (I tend to make them up). Preciousness is exactly what I feel like saying during 50% of my day. This four month stage of life is just too cute for words! This week has been relaxing, I didn't schedule much for Jack and I because we will have a crazy busy weekend, I've just been enjoying time with him in this super precious stage!!!! I still remember those challenging first three months, people would tell me how things get get better, but I didn't believe them. I couldn't I was so tired! But they were right, every day gets better and better, better than I could have ever imagined. More full of love than I could have ever imagined!

Sam and Jack are buddies. Here they are during nap time:)

Hanging out with Uncle Ben.

Mid morning snooze.

No Monday Blues Here

Mondays are much more fun now that I love my job:) Of course early this morning it was a sad because Mike had to fly back to Birmingham for the week. But we are trying not to get to down about things because in 5 weeks we will have LOTS of time together again. Mike signed the lease today so we got the house in Ross Bridges! We are so happy and so thankful that we found a house in the community we wanted for rent! Jack and I did some chores around the condo then headed over to the Barrington house.
Jack is starting to sit up a bit on his own, he looks like a gorilla, but hey its a start!

In the past Jack has always wanted to be held, now he squirms and looks at me like, "hey some place please Mom".  Very happy for some independent time in the exersaucer.

After Jacks bath time tonight Grandpa played one of his favorite games RASPBERRIES!

We noticed there was only one dog barking at our feet...there was Sam but where was Dutchie?

Normally I would be happy that the dog voluntarily jumped in the bath but I just took the time to give him one this morning! Ugh. The dogs are having a hard time still distinguishing their toys and Jacks toys, apparently he was after the frog.

I kept taking him out and he kept jumping back in the tub even after I took the toy out. He's sure cute but not that smart:)

Weekend Update

What a wonderful nights sleep in our comfy bed! We all woke up well rested and excited to have the weekend with the family. It was a great feeling to be at our place, we are only going to be living here for another 4 weeks then it will be someone else's home (we pray...please pray). 

We headed over to my parents pretty early to get our furniture shopping on. Even my Dad agreed to go, well really I think we trapped him in the car after our Costco stop, but we wanted to spend time with him and we needed a baby holder:) 

The house in Alabama obviously has more room than our condo so that means that we need new stuff! But we are trying to be really smart shoppers since we will only be in this house about 2 years, we want to make investments that will work in all of our houses here on out. Mike has had his eye on the Restoration Hardware Lancaster couch and chair, and today he got it! He was a pretty excited guy! He works hard he should get what he wants. Plus, we are a tall family we need a tall couch:) Plus the distressed leather look should go well with growing children! This couch will be with us for a while it will grow with our family, I can just see Mike sitting on it waiting for Jack at curfew! 

Mom made a great dinner on Saturday night and we just relaxed! On Sunday morning Mike and I actually got to sit through a whole church service thanks to Dad who held him out in the lobby while he napped. After Church Oma and Opa were at the house with a breakfast feast! My goal for the day was to make baby food for Jack. Mom and I went shopping for sweet potatoes, carrots, and ice cube trays. Oma and Mom helped roast the potatoes, steam the carrots, puree them, and put them in containers to freeze. This way Jack will always have organic home made baby food! It was such a fun project to do with the girls! 

Next we gave Jacky Bear some Sweet Potatoes...WOW did he LOVE them!

It is such a blessing that Jack gets to spend so much time with his Omie and Opie! They are so good to us and we love both of them so very much! Such blessings they are! 

Great productive weekend filled with lots of love! 

And We Are Home

Wow that is the last time I can say that while when flying from Birmingham to Chicago for the time being. Not sure if I will really be able to change that though, this will always be my home. Its been decided we are moving down June 4th! This was Jack's 6th plane ride and he did great. He falls asleep before take off every time and we have to wake him up when we land to unload the plane. My parents traveled with me a lot when I was younger, I swear it conditions you because every time I fly I have to fight to keep my eyes open for take off, my head just bobs around still. Apparently you don't have to pay for a flight until Jack is 2 years old, he can just sit on our laps, good deal but it is going to be a challenge fitting that little bear on our laps in those regional jets for another 2 years. He is so long!!!

Notice the wardrobe change....we had to do a diaper change and a warmer clothes change right there on our laps...the talented new parents we are becoming:) My Mom and Dad picked us up at the airport with both of the very excited yorkies. Those were some very happy grandparents to see their little baby!!! Ahh it was so wonderful to see them. Mom had a pizza for us back at the condo and Dad some tall boy PBR's. They are so good to us and always make coming home such a treat. Jacky Bear woke up at 2:30 am and wanted in the big bed! I didn't mind though I was a happy girl snuggling my little bear and my little yorkie in my comfy bed:) Home Sweet Home...

After Work Pool Time & Date Night

Once Mike got home we took Jacky Bear to the pool because at 5pm it was still 88 and sunny! I love it! The water was a little chilly so Mike took Jack in but every time he dipped him down Jack took a huge deep breath. It was cute.

Mike suprised me with a date night to a cute burger boutique called Flip Burger. When I cook I don't really like to follow directions, I mean I usually start off with a recipe but blame it on my ADD I get bored and tent to put my own spin on things. Now I am not claiming to be a great cook, it just makes me appreciates people that think creatively about food and create such amazing things such as the food on the Flip Burger menu! Honestly one of the greatest meals I have ever had with some of the greatest martinis (not strong martinis just yummy ones made with uber fresh ingredients). If you come and visit I can promise we will take you here! They also have outdoor seating over looking the rolling hills, and italian bistro lights come on after sunset which happen to be fascinating to Jack.

Mike had the steak tartar burger and I had a salmon tartar burger with a side of miso potato salad. Delicious!!! For desert I had to try a Root Beer martini!!! Yum!

It was a great end to our 2 week stay here. Going to miss my hubby over these next 6 weeks! Thanks for being so good to me Preppy and making my introduction to Birmingham a wonderful one!

Dutchie get excited we are coming home for you!!!

Is That Baby Still Sleeping?

Just weeks ago I could have never fathomed uttering those words! This morning I woke up to Mike's alarm at 6 am NOT the baby at 3:30 am. I mean I am not even complaining on getting up at 3:30 am, 6 am is like a vacation!!! Jack went to bed at 10 pm and at 6 am his little peepers still weren't open.

For those close to me you know that I have not slept like that in months. Jack was colicky and he just wanted to eat constantly through the night. At about 1.5 weeks I caved and just started sleeping with Jack in the bed. Some people say that is a big no-no, others praise the benefits of co-sleeping, whatever the claims it worked wonders for us. With all of our travels Jack's lack of sleep pattern never changed because he was just cuddled up next to me, he didn't notice the different beds. Plus Mike traveled all the time so it was mostly just me and Jack in the bed...and Dutch. Up until we got to Alabama Jack still slept in the bed the majority of the time, then we got down here and he decided to cut me some slack and sleep in his bright multi colored play pen. It's great!

However, I get kind of sad that he doesn't need to sleep with me anymore (your laughing right, I can never be happy). I set myself up for going through this whole process of weaning him from sleeping with me, but one day Jack just decided that he needed some space. Is this what it is always going to be like? He is going to need me less and less. Now I'm not getting super sentimental about it yet because I hear that babies change their sleep patterns many times in the first year, so this could just be a fluke. It was just a reminder to myself to enjoy even the moments in which I'm exhausted because they pass by so quickly. Bear will always need me but the ways in which he needs me will change throughout his life.

Here's some morning pictures of Jacky Bear and video of yesterday's dinner time!

Birmingham Barons Game

Tonight we took Jack to his very first Baron's game at Regions Park in Hoover, not far from where we will soon be living! As a Cubs fan I was not very familiar with the affiliated White Sox team, but then I remembered that in 1994 this was the Double A team the great Michael Jordan played for during his year off from basketball! Sure enough there was MJ references all over that stadium. It was a beautiful night and Good Neighbor Night, so our hot dogs and fries were $1 each, you can't beat that!

We sat 3rd row behind 3rd base for $10. There were plenty of empty seats by us but in further back and along the baselines there were hundreds of screaming little leaguers!

I am hoping he is going to be an All Star pitcher like his Grandpa! Baseball is still my favorite:)

Jack made it through the second inning.

You know you are a new parent when a beer on a weeknight equals ParTay!

I won't mind one bit if I have to spend lots of time at the ballpark with Jacky Bear!

Great idea Preppy!