You were 20lbs 7oz & 29.75 inches; about 30th percentile for height & weight. You're just our little BabyDude! You have cut your top two 1YO molars. You are doing just great!!!
All my love,
Mommy
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Walk this Way!!
Love every second of the joy you bring us, BabyGuy!
All my love,
Mommy
Friday, September 21, 2012
Almost 15MO ... & Wild!
At Bastone last Sunday, you cleaned the table for us with a baby wipe ... We still had to leave a BIG tip after the mess we made! =) You cleaned the table at lunch today at ArtPrize with Grandma & Grandpa.
You love the animals, especially the kitties lately. At Grandma & Grandpa Deubys, Max let you pet & pet & pet him. You laid your little head on his booty. He didn't run away.
-==p beep" for car sounds, you know - or have your own version - of moo, meow, hoot hoot, woof, oink, & roar. There is one animal sounds book that you let Mommy read you at bedtime. It's helping you learn. You like to turn the pages yourself.
You can also say baby, bump, hi kitty, hi mommy, & your first three-word sentence: I want Mommy!!! Swooooooooooooon!
You are one amazing little dude ... you are attempting to attack the MacBook as i type this ... squealing, giggling, & climbing on me! now you are making it rain with your sippy cup. time to sign off ...
I love you, wild little baby guy!!
Mommy =)
You love the animals, especially the kitties lately. At Grandma & Grandpa Deubys, Max let you pet & pet & pet him. You laid your little head on his booty. He didn't run away.
-==p beep" for car sounds, you know - or have your own version - of moo, meow, hoot hoot, woof, oink, & roar. There is one animal sounds book that you let Mommy read you at bedtime. It's helping you learn. You like to turn the pages yourself.
You can also say baby, bump, hi kitty, hi mommy, & your first three-word sentence: I want Mommy!!! Swooooooooooooon!
You are one amazing little dude ... you are attempting to attack the MacBook as i type this ... squealing, giggling, & climbing on me! now you are making it rain with your sippy cup. time to sign off ...
I love you, wild little baby guy!!
Mommy =)
Monday, September 10, 2012
Stand by Me
Let it be known that as of 8/11/2012, you can officially STAND all by yourself!!! [INSERT PIX]
Now, as we approach mid September, you have taken 1 to 2 steps all by yourself. You get that far & then fling yourself into us or drop to your booty on the floor.
All my love for always,
Mommy
Now, as we approach mid September, you have taken 1 to 2 steps all by yourself. You get that far & then fling yourself into us or drop to your booty on the floor.
All my love for always,
Mommy
A few words about our 14MO
Dearest BabyTait -
Mommy just wanted to capture a few of the very cute things you have been doing lately. Here they are in no particular order ...
You love to "TP" the bathroom. If left to your own devices, you will take every spec of toilet paper off the roll & decorate the bathroom with it. You take a lot of pride in this effort: you are ALL smiles when caught.
Sometimes you "help" me get ready in the morning. After I comb my hair I give you the comb. You are so smart: you take that comb & imitate just exactly how I combed my hair.
You are growing increasingly interested in climbing (GULP.) ... onto Quinn's toddler bed, onto the little (kid-sized) chairs in the living room, onto your race track (you sit in it as if it were a ride [INSERT PIX]), you have attempted to climb onto the couches, you love to fly up the basement stairs & boy do you ever fly!
You give kisses. It is precious. Sometimes I ask, sometimes you just offer. They are open-mouthed. And sloppy. Annnnnnnnnnd, I cannot get enough of them.
Recently, I've (finally - what a relief!) gotten you to let me read to you. We've been reading Animal Parade at night before bed. You are very good at imitating the animal sounds. When we get to the pig, Mommy oinks like a real pig. You chime right back with "Ckkkkk, Ckkkkk". So cute!!
I love you & everything you do, my sweet BittyBoo!
All my love,
Mommy
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
14 mos & oh so fun!
You love to load up baby buggy & push it around & then dump the contents one by one in the least delicate manner.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
14MO ... A Climber?!
So, i think you might just be a climber. Last night you climbed up on Q's stool to stand next to the bathroom sink. On our trip to Peterborough, you mastered climbing up stairs. With open wooden deck stairs as your stair of choice. Yikes!! Yesterday I caught you trying to climb up on the couch & Grammy mentioned she saw you do the same.
BabyTait's stats at 1YO
Bitty, at one year old, you were 19 lbs. 3.4 oz., 29 inches long (tall). That's 40th percentile, if I recall correctly. Six weeks later you gained another 9 oz.
Patterson's Take to the Beach to Bookend the Summer
Well, we started the weekend at the beach - though it was Mommy, Daddy, & Dexter only - & ended it at the beach. Traverse City to a busy summer of fun to Holland. Pure Michigan & you can't beat it with a stick. (Side note, MRM - where Mommy works - does the SEO for Pure Michigan!)
Mommy & Daddy took Friday off so we we could take to the beaches of Lake Michigan, Mommy's favorite spot. I consider myself a bit of Lake Snob in that I only consider it a "real lake" if it is one of the Great Lakes. Lake St. Clair & all the inland lakes just don't do it for me like Lake Michigan does!!
On Friday, after we finally got out the door - Yes, Quinn, you're right. It DOES take a long time for us to get out the door. You got that right! - we reached Holland at about noon & checked in Lake Ranch Resort. This place was known as the place with the "see through" pool when Uncle B & I were little, as we passed by it on our way to Holland State Park each & every time we went.
Grandma & Grandpa Deuby met us at the pool for swimming & relaxing. We later went to New Holland Brewing Company for dinner.
Tee hee hee, BittyBoo, you look like the kid in A Christmas Story who can't put his arms down! Ha!
Um, hey!! BabyTait, not so fast! Get that cute bitty booty back here, pronto Tonto!
Mommy has always loved wearing you guys. Quinn, you are such a big girl now that you are too heavy. Bitty, the Ergo makes wearing you wondrous! You were in need of a nap. I wore you down the beach. You were immediately lulled to sleep against Mommy's chest listening to the rhythm of the water lapping the shore.
Kilwin's for ice cream after dinner (again) at New Holland ...
We let you both stay up way late since it was SO nice out, it was our last night of vacation, & well, we wanted to sit outside & have a couple brews (from New Holland & Saugatuck Brewing Co., of course).
Sunday morning I got up with the sun for a run up Mt. Pisagh. The views were simply breathtaking. I love this state!
Mommy & Daddy took Friday off so we we could take to the beaches of Lake Michigan, Mommy's favorite spot. I consider myself a bit of Lake Snob in that I only consider it a "real lake" if it is one of the Great Lakes. Lake St. Clair & all the inland lakes just don't do it for me like Lake Michigan does!!
On Friday, after we finally got out the door - Yes, Quinn, you're right. It DOES take a long time for us to get out the door. You got that right! - we reached Holland at about noon & checked in Lake Ranch Resort. This place was known as the place with the "see through" pool when Uncle B & I were little, as we passed by it on our way to Holland State Park each & every time we went.
Pay close attention to this one, as you may not see it again for a long while: Grandma Deuby is in the WATER!?!!
We hit the beach Saturday morning. It was just perfect: sunny, hot, breezy. We really couldn't have asked for a better beach day! The water was a balmy 65 degrees. (I would have gone in no matter what, purely out of principle, if nothing else!)
(out of order, dinner at New Holland. I'm holding my beer at arm's length because my little baby dude likes to go after whatever I have in my hands!)
Ahhhhhh, such a great weekend! And weekend spent with the two of you is pure magic!!!
I love you both!!!
Love,
Mommy =)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Firsts & Milestones
Well, first off, I'd like to point out how proud I am of myself that I am even remembering to post things as THEY happen (kind of ...). Where are you at this very moment? In your crib. You're supposed to be napping. Buuuuuuttttttt, instead you are throwing sh!t out of your crib because you're mad. You've made your point - I will go rescue you just as soon as I finish typing this. =p It's pretty hysterical - you're like, "Hmm, I will show them. I'll throw all my sh!t outta my crib. That'll get the point across." I love your determination & tenacity. It will get you far in life, my sweet IttyBitty!
Other things that need to be documented: 1.) You can stand by yourself. Lots of the time once you realize that you are doing it, you immediately sit down. Today, however, you were getting a bit more confident! It's very exciting, though I must admit that I'm not ready for my BABY to walk! Take your time, BittyBoo, take your sweet time.
2.) You can say Hi! Yesterday you even uttered what could be your first sentence: "Hi Daddy!" You say Kitty, too. It sounds like "ii-ee". Very cute. Not surprisingly, you just love our animals!
3.) You rode the horse at National Coney Island today with your sister for the very first time. You LOVED it! The smile on your face & the look of glee as you bopped up & down .... hanging on to your sister's hair (!!) was both precious & priceless.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, Bitty, you are a TON. of. fun. If only we could bottle you up & keep you like this forever!! Sigh. But now we need to go & "rescue" you from your evil nap & the prospect of a nap. =)
All my love for always,
Mommy
Other things that need to be documented: 1.) You can stand by yourself. Lots of the time once you realize that you are doing it, you immediately sit down. Today, however, you were getting a bit more confident! It's very exciting, though I must admit that I'm not ready for my BABY to walk! Take your time, BittyBoo, take your sweet time.
2.) You can say Hi! Yesterday you even uttered what could be your first sentence: "Hi Daddy!" You say Kitty, too. It sounds like "ii-ee". Very cute. Not surprisingly, you just love our animals!
3.) You rode the horse at National Coney Island today with your sister for the very first time. You LOVED it! The smile on your face & the look of glee as you bopped up & down .... hanging on to your sister's hair (!!) was both precious & priceless.
Ohhhhhhhhhh, Bitty, you are a TON. of. fun. If only we could bottle you up & keep you like this forever!! Sigh. But now we need to go & "rescue" you from your evil nap & the prospect of a nap. =)
All my love for always,
Mommy
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
IttyBittyBabyTait has his first Bitty Birthday!
Even though it was already 10 days ago, I still struggle to believe that you are already a whole YEAR old. Albeit cliche, I have to ask: Where did the time go?! This has been the BEST (& most exhausting!) year of my life without a doubt. To be blessed with TWO amazing, sweet, smart, healthy, gorgeous gifts from God? What's not to love. I often ask God how He found me worthy of such a wonderful life ... But only after I thank Him for my beautiful baby blessings. =)
You are ONE year old! ONE already! Sigh. We celebrated on your birthday with Grandma Deuby, Grandpa Deuby, Great Grandpa Heffernan, Quinn, Daddy, & Mommy at our house. Mommy & Daddy were in Canada the night before for Melissa's - Daddy's cousin - wedding. Grandma & Grandpa Deuby stayed overnight with you guys. We did dinner, presents, & then cake. oh boy, did you LOOOOOOOVE the cake. We had a farm theme with farm napkins, a barnyard-themed cake, & farm animal cupcakes for you & Quinn. Grandma Deuby got the napkins & I came up with the cake ideas: http://pinterest.com/pin/61502351131768711/. You cried when the cupcake was all gone!! Looks like we have yet another sweet tooth in this house. Yikes!! I had to just dunk you in the bathtub afterwards because you had chocolate/frosting in your hair, on the soles of your shoes (Thanks to Dexter for cleaning that up!), behind your ears, etc. It was quite the mess & you soaked up every second.
Party #2 was also at our house, the Thursday after your bday with the Patterson clan. All but Amy & a sick Mya came to celebrate the Bitty. Grammy got dinner & a cake from Holiday Market ... mmmmmm! You got right into the cake this time, as well: smashing it in your fists & between your fingers & ensuring that as much cake as possible made it into that little belly of yours! You & Quinn had a ball with Colin & Mackenzie.
Where do I even begin to describe this amazing little firecracker we call BabyTait? We get LOTs of comments regarding how happy, giggly, & goofy you are! You laugh, laugh, laugh! You bop along to music- bouncing up & down while shaking your head side to side or up & down. You set land-speed records with your army crawling. You've recently stepped it up to almost exclusively crawling on hands & knees. You even progressed so far as to climb stairs on hands & knees (while at the Annual Canada Party at your Grammy & Grandpa Pattersons last Friday). We need to work on rerouting to your rear-facing when you reverse it, however. You scare Momma to death with your attempts to go head first!! You are also an expert cruiser. You love to play toys with your sister, even if she's not too keen on sharing with you. You're determined to get in there & play Little People, too. I admire your tenacity. You are into everything -much more so than Quinn ever was. You make a beeline for the nightlight in your bedroom, the CO detector in Mommy & Daddy's room, remote controls, & general items not suited especially for tots like yourself. You are our little explorer. I love your curiosity. You love to go for walks, particularly in the wagon. I'm not entirely sure what you love so much about the wagon experience over the double jogging stroller, but whatever it is, you squeal with delight throughout the walk!
You are most definitely still a mommy's boy. You are still getting up at night. Sometimes just once, other times two or three times. I am still getting very little sleep. If I were to pile up all the sleep books I have read, they'd be much taller than you are. Since then, I have metaphorically thrown out all the books. After our 1YO/3YO visit to the pediatrician, where Dr. Peltz conclusion was that you 1.) are very stubborn (NONE of the many, many methods recommended in the sleep books took for you), 2.) need the closeness of Mommy at night to help you sleep. I felt SO much better after that conversation with her. It affirmed the conclusions I had already reached. AND, it made Daddy ease up on Mommy & the co-sleeping arrangement.
Hmm, what else to get down "on paper" about you ... You've got LOTS of nicknames: Bubba, Mister Major Production (Daddy's convinced that you're going to be a smashing success on Broadway or the Silver Screen - LOL), The Sizzler, IttyBitty, BittyBoo, BittyItty, BabyGuy, BabyDude, BubbaCheese. Mommy's fave will always be IttyBitty or BittyBoo. Daddy loves BubbaCheese & The Sizzler.
I love when you crawl up to me & reach up to be picked up. You JUST love to cuddle with Momma. And, Momma looooooooooves every single second of my little lover boy, my sweet angel boy. You are very interested in our animals, too. Daddy gets major giggles when he plays the "elevator game" with you, lifting you up to the "first floor, second floor, third floor, BASEMENT!", just like his grandpa Smitty did to him as baby. What a sweet tradition to continue. You're infatuated with other kids, too, especially your cousins [insert mackenzie & tait pix].
Other recent firsts include: cow's milk on 6/25 & strawberries & peanut butter shortly thereafter, with the go-ahead from your 1YO well-baby appointment.
We frequently comment how interesting it is that we have two kids with such different personalities. We can't get enough of this adventure with you & Quinn! We love every second of every day with you & your sister, BabyTait!!
All my love for always,
Mommy
You are ONE year old! ONE already! Sigh. We celebrated on your birthday with Grandma Deuby, Grandpa Deuby, Great Grandpa Heffernan, Quinn, Daddy, & Mommy at our house. Mommy & Daddy were in Canada the night before for Melissa's - Daddy's cousin - wedding. Grandma & Grandpa Deuby stayed overnight with you guys. We did dinner, presents, & then cake. oh boy, did you LOOOOOOOVE the cake. We had a farm theme with farm napkins, a barnyard-themed cake, & farm animal cupcakes for you & Quinn. Grandma Deuby got the napkins & I came up with the cake ideas: http://pinterest.com/pin/61502351131768711/. You cried when the cupcake was all gone!! Looks like we have yet another sweet tooth in this house. Yikes!! I had to just dunk you in the bathtub afterwards because you had chocolate/frosting in your hair, on the soles of your shoes (Thanks to Dexter for cleaning that up!), behind your ears, etc. It was quite the mess & you soaked up every second.
Party #2 was also at our house, the Thursday after your bday with the Patterson clan. All but Amy & a sick Mya came to celebrate the Bitty. Grammy got dinner & a cake from Holiday Market ... mmmmmm! You got right into the cake this time, as well: smashing it in your fists & between your fingers & ensuring that as much cake as possible made it into that little belly of yours! You & Quinn had a ball with Colin & Mackenzie.
Where do I even begin to describe this amazing little firecracker we call BabyTait? We get LOTs of comments regarding how happy, giggly, & goofy you are! You laugh, laugh, laugh! You bop along to music- bouncing up & down while shaking your head side to side or up & down. You set land-speed records with your army crawling. You've recently stepped it up to almost exclusively crawling on hands & knees. You even progressed so far as to climb stairs on hands & knees (while at the Annual Canada Party at your Grammy & Grandpa Pattersons last Friday). We need to work on rerouting to your rear-facing when you reverse it, however. You scare Momma to death with your attempts to go head first!! You are also an expert cruiser. You love to play toys with your sister, even if she's not too keen on sharing with you. You're determined to get in there & play Little People, too. I admire your tenacity. You are into everything -much more so than Quinn ever was. You make a beeline for the nightlight in your bedroom, the CO detector in Mommy & Daddy's room, remote controls, & general items not suited especially for tots like yourself. You are our little explorer. I love your curiosity. You love to go for walks, particularly in the wagon. I'm not entirely sure what you love so much about the wagon experience over the double jogging stroller, but whatever it is, you squeal with delight throughout the walk!
You are most definitely still a mommy's boy. You are still getting up at night. Sometimes just once, other times two or three times. I am still getting very little sleep. If I were to pile up all the sleep books I have read, they'd be much taller than you are. Since then, I have metaphorically thrown out all the books. After our 1YO/3YO visit to the pediatrician, where Dr. Peltz conclusion was that you 1.) are very stubborn (NONE of the many, many methods recommended in the sleep books took for you), 2.) need the closeness of Mommy at night to help you sleep. I felt SO much better after that conversation with her. It affirmed the conclusions I had already reached. AND, it made Daddy ease up on Mommy & the co-sleeping arrangement.
Hmm, what else to get down "on paper" about you ... You've got LOTS of nicknames: Bubba, Mister Major Production (Daddy's convinced that you're going to be a smashing success on Broadway or the Silver Screen - LOL), The Sizzler, IttyBitty, BittyBoo, BittyItty, BabyGuy, BabyDude, BubbaCheese. Mommy's fave will always be IttyBitty or BittyBoo. Daddy loves BubbaCheese & The Sizzler.
I love when you crawl up to me & reach up to be picked up. You JUST love to cuddle with Momma. And, Momma looooooooooves every single second of my little lover boy, my sweet angel boy. You are very interested in our animals, too. Daddy gets major giggles when he plays the "elevator game" with you, lifting you up to the "first floor, second floor, third floor, BASEMENT!", just like his grandpa Smitty did to him as baby. What a sweet tradition to continue. You're infatuated with other kids, too, especially your cousins [insert mackenzie & tait pix].
Other recent firsts include: cow's milk on 6/25 & strawberries & peanut butter shortly thereafter, with the go-ahead from your 1YO well-baby appointment.
We frequently comment how interesting it is that we have two kids with such different personalities. We can't get enough of this adventure with you & Quinn! We love every second of every day with you & your sister, BabyTait!!
All my love for always,
Mommy
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Three Days of Mommy
I've been meaning to commit our weekend-o-Mommy to "paper" for a few weeks now. But, as usual, life got the best of me & I am just getting to it now. Ah, the travails of the SAWM.
Mommy's 35th birthday was May 11th. I make it a point to NEVER work on my bday. This year was no exception. I took the day off & took you guys to the zoo. In a brilliant Mommy move, I got us Olga's Curb-side To Go (lunch) so we could eat a delicious & special lunch at the zoo & not take up a lot of time. We were all settled at a picnic table with our wraps & sweet potato fries spread out. There were two geese lurking a little too close for comfort. One wandered right up next to Baby Tait ... And BIT his chubby little hand!!! Baby Tait was just fine. He didn't even cry ... until Mommy jumped up, started flailing around, clapping my hands, & doing my very best to run the goose of the picnic grove. The rest of our visit to the zoo was a bit less eventful, fortunately.
We spent Saturday & most of Sunday in GRap at Grandma & Grandpa Deubys. Mommy ran a 10K race with Auntie Whitney Saturday morning. The rest of the day was spent just hanging out with you both, Daddy, & Grandma & Grandpa Deuby. It's just so nice to chill out & enjoy you guys. Sunday was Mother's Day. What a glorious day!! Any day that celebrates the little people I love most is a beautiful thing!! We went to church, had brunch at Grandma & Grandpa's, visited for a bit, played outside, & then we had to head back to the D. The rest of the day was just nice & chill with pizza for dinner & playing outside together.
The point I want to make is just how much I love celebrating you two & what a beautiful thing motherhood is! I thank God for you both each & every day ... & for making me your Mommy.
Mommy's 35th birthday was May 11th. I make it a point to NEVER work on my bday. This year was no exception. I took the day off & took you guys to the zoo. In a brilliant Mommy move, I got us Olga's Curb-side To Go (lunch) so we could eat a delicious & special lunch at the zoo & not take up a lot of time. We were all settled at a picnic table with our wraps & sweet potato fries spread out. There were two geese lurking a little too close for comfort. One wandered right up next to Baby Tait ... And BIT his chubby little hand!!! Baby Tait was just fine. He didn't even cry ... until Mommy jumped up, started flailing around, clapping my hands, & doing my very best to run the goose of the picnic grove. The rest of our visit to the zoo was a bit less eventful, fortunately.
We spent Saturday & most of Sunday in GRap at Grandma & Grandpa Deubys. Mommy ran a 10K race with Auntie Whitney Saturday morning. The rest of the day was spent just hanging out with you both, Daddy, & Grandma & Grandpa Deuby. It's just so nice to chill out & enjoy you guys. Sunday was Mother's Day. What a glorious day!! Any day that celebrates the little people I love most is a beautiful thing!! We went to church, had brunch at Grandma & Grandpa's, visited for a bit, played outside, & then we had to head back to the D. The rest of the day was just nice & chill with pizza for dinner & playing outside together.
The point I want to make is just how much I love celebrating you two & what a beautiful thing motherhood is! I thank God for you both each & every day ... & for making me your Mommy.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Just a bit about BittyBoo
Just wanted to get a few things down on "paper" about what you are doing these days at nearly (gulp!) 11MO. In no particular order:
- you are just about crawling on hands & knees, though you are fastest still doing your army crawl, just as your sis did
- when I hold you, you like to grip the back of my shirt by my shoulder & wrap your little fingers of the other hand around my the hand of the arm I am holding you with - so sweet!
- you slept. all. night. long. last night at Grammy & Grandpa Patterson's while Mommy & Daddy were at a wedding. I now have a glimmer of hope that you will do OK overnight with w/o Mommy next weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's when Mommy, Daddy, & Dexter do our annual trip to Traverse City. (But i am STILL apprehensive & sad about leaving you overnight for the first time! SIGH.
- you are pulling up in your crib. a milestone! Butttttttt, it appears that you don't know how to get down. Hmmmm .... You do not like to take naps on weekends when Mommy (& Daddy) are home. in fact, we just back up out of the crib. ok, ok, we give, you win!!! signing off to take a family trip to Lowe's.
I love you with all my heart, my little stinker!
Mommy
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Recalling the Rhythm & Routine of Maternity Leave
This one goes out to both my babes, the BabyLady & the IttyBitty ...
I was nursing you to sleep tonight, as I always do BabyTait, & thinking back to our glory days: maternity leave. It was the cuddling & closeness that brought that time to mind. My leave with you was quite different than my leave with your sister, just because I had both of you to keep up with! It's really hard being a SAWM. I never truly feel like I am giving either of you enough of me, no matter what I do. I constantly crave more time, more affection, more attention to you. I often actually physically crave you guys - that is how much I love & how much I miss you when I am at work.
Oh how I miss our days of maternity leave ...
Quinn, you & I would wake up, get some coffee (for me, that is =p ), & head downstairs for the news & a marathon nursing session. One (always you) or both (sometimes me, too) of us would drift back to sleep curled up & cuddled into the couch. Rarely did we have any kind of agenda. Mostly, sweet little YOU were my agenda. And I was quite happy to spend my days just like that for nearly three months, until the cold reality of work set in. (Mommy cried for three days prior to my return to work. Leaving you to go back to work seemed like such an insurmountable feat. I could scarcely wrap my head around how I would get myself together & out the door on time, let alone LEAVE my precious tiny BabyLady! Augh, just recalling that time makes my heart ache. And now, you are 2 1/2 years old. Beautiful, vivacious, gregarious, precocious, perceptive, & downright hilarious. You make me smile a million times every day. Back to my leave for a moment, what I always want to hold onto is the closeness, the cuddling, & how I had the privilege of just pouring all of myself into you. Just you. Already it is difficult to recall how your little face looked at that time of our lives, though I stared at you constantly & vigilantly. Maybe it is MommyBrain, maybe it is just the passage of time, but it scares me & makes me really sad that it is already this difficult for me to recall. (INSERT PIX OF ME HOLDING & CUDDLING A VERY YOUNG Q)
BabyTait, it was you who brought these memories rushing back to me tonight as we sat together in the rocker in your nursery, your warm little body pressed against me, your little hand opening & closing into a half-fist stroking my stomach & side so sweetly & lovingly. I never want to forget your face as it is today (& was as a smaller baby) either. (Thank goodness we take a lot of photos ... Now if I could only find the time to edit them ... ). On my leave with you, I didn't really have the "luxury" of getting to sit around & cuddle all day. I had a toddler to mother, too!!! We had more of an agenda this time around. Every morning, we'd get up, nurse you, get Quinn her "oat-me-meal" & fruit & milk. After that we'd just hang out & play & cuddle & read for a bit until I got us all dressed for the day. Mommy would try to get you guys (& Dexter) out for walks & to the park & sometimes to meet friends out. Our quiet time was when Quinn was down for her afternoon nap. It was then that you & I would sneak away into Mommy's room & curl up together to nurse & snooze on my bed (for at least half of Q's nap ... until my never-ending to do list tapped me on the shoulder). That was sort of our time, just like Q's time with just me was when you napped. I try really hard to have one on one time with each of you, but it's not easy. Whatever child I am NOT with, I feel guilty about leaving - even if I am leaving you with your Daddy!! Most of all, I want to always remember & cherish our Maternity Leave as a time of love, adjustment to being a family of 4, & endless cuddles & kisses & all of the things that you & Quinn do that Mommy's heart just soar. [INSERT SOME MAT LEAVE SHOTS OF US ALL - LIKE IN JAMMIES TOGETHER & SITTING ON COUCH, MY FAVE PLACE TO NURSE)
You two make me grin ear to ear with love, with pride, & with wonder that God somehow deemed Mommy worthy of not one, but TWO, beautiful, healthy, & amazing babies. I still have not wrapped my head around that. You two are the biggest & best blessing I could ever imagine.
All my love to both of you for always,
Mommy
I was nursing you to sleep tonight, as I always do BabyTait, & thinking back to our glory days: maternity leave. It was the cuddling & closeness that brought that time to mind. My leave with you was quite different than my leave with your sister, just because I had both of you to keep up with! It's really hard being a SAWM. I never truly feel like I am giving either of you enough of me, no matter what I do. I constantly crave more time, more affection, more attention to you. I often actually physically crave you guys - that is how much I love & how much I miss you when I am at work.
Oh how I miss our days of maternity leave ...
Quinn, you & I would wake up, get some coffee (for me, that is =p ), & head downstairs for the news & a marathon nursing session. One (always you) or both (sometimes me, too) of us would drift back to sleep curled up & cuddled into the couch. Rarely did we have any kind of agenda. Mostly, sweet little YOU were my agenda. And I was quite happy to spend my days just like that for nearly three months, until the cold reality of work set in. (Mommy cried for three days prior to my return to work. Leaving you to go back to work seemed like such an insurmountable feat. I could scarcely wrap my head around how I would get myself together & out the door on time, let alone LEAVE my precious tiny BabyLady! Augh, just recalling that time makes my heart ache. And now, you are 2 1/2 years old. Beautiful, vivacious, gregarious, precocious, perceptive, & downright hilarious. You make me smile a million times every day. Back to my leave for a moment, what I always want to hold onto is the closeness, the cuddling, & how I had the privilege of just pouring all of myself into you. Just you. Already it is difficult to recall how your little face looked at that time of our lives, though I stared at you constantly & vigilantly. Maybe it is MommyBrain, maybe it is just the passage of time, but it scares me & makes me really sad that it is already this difficult for me to recall. (INSERT PIX OF ME HOLDING & CUDDLING A VERY YOUNG Q)
BabyTait, it was you who brought these memories rushing back to me tonight as we sat together in the rocker in your nursery, your warm little body pressed against me, your little hand opening & closing into a half-fist stroking my stomach & side so sweetly & lovingly. I never want to forget your face as it is today (& was as a smaller baby) either. (Thank goodness we take a lot of photos ... Now if I could only find the time to edit them ... ). On my leave with you, I didn't really have the "luxury" of getting to sit around & cuddle all day. I had a toddler to mother, too!!! We had more of an agenda this time around. Every morning, we'd get up, nurse you, get Quinn her "oat-me-meal" & fruit & milk. After that we'd just hang out & play & cuddle & read for a bit until I got us all dressed for the day. Mommy would try to get you guys (& Dexter) out for walks & to the park & sometimes to meet friends out. Our quiet time was when Quinn was down for her afternoon nap. It was then that you & I would sneak away into Mommy's room & curl up together to nurse & snooze on my bed (for at least half of Q's nap ... until my never-ending to do list tapped me on the shoulder). That was sort of our time, just like Q's time with just me was when you napped. I try really hard to have one on one time with each of you, but it's not easy. Whatever child I am NOT with, I feel guilty about leaving - even if I am leaving you with your Daddy!! Most of all, I want to always remember & cherish our Maternity Leave as a time of love, adjustment to being a family of 4, & endless cuddles & kisses & all of the things that you & Quinn do that Mommy's heart just soar. [INSERT SOME MAT LEAVE SHOTS OF US ALL - LIKE IN JAMMIES TOGETHER & SITTING ON COUCH, MY FAVE PLACE TO NURSE)
You two make me grin ear to ear with love, with pride, & with wonder that God somehow deemed Mommy worthy of not one, but TWO, beautiful, healthy, & amazing babies. I still have not wrapped my head around that. You two are the biggest & best blessing I could ever imagine.
All my love to both of you for always,
Mommy
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
IttyBittyBabyTait is almost 8MO!!
This begs the rhetorical question: where has the time gone ? But seriously, where?? I can scarcely wrap my head around the idea that you are approaching 8 months ... I have also been meaning to write this post since you were 6MO. Time has clearly gotten away from me.
What can I say about you ? Where do I even begin ? You are one amazing little baby guy. You are very smiley, giggley, & are you ever a flirt!!! We quite often describe you as a flirt & a stinker. You kind of have your own agenda. You are very, very curious. When we hold you in our arms, you attempt to get your cute, chubby little mits on whatever we are holding. You like to "help". Anything is fair game from the craft beer we are sipping in to your medicine (Prevacid for reflux) to food to toys to mommy's coffee. Anything within arm's reach you go after. You really keep us on our toes!
You are an independent sitter, too! You sit so well all by yourself! Every so often you might topple over , particularly if you lean over too far or if you fall victim to your sister's efforts to push you over (hmm, I think she is a stinker , too!)
You are beginning to become mobile, too. When you are on the floor you are able to rotate around in a circle with your belly as the axis. You are trying soooo hard to push yourself forward on your tummy!! You can easily slide backward, pushing with your arms on your belly. But that isn't what my guy wants, he wants to go forward in pursuit of his toys ... & his sister ... & the cats ... & Dexter ... (there are so many interesting things in our house for an 8 month old!!)
Yesterday you demonstrated that you can clap ... For real & not just coincidentally! Oh my goodness, it was just sooooo sweet how innocently proud of yourself you were as Grandma Deuby, Daddy, Grandpa Deuby, & Mommy & Quinn cheered you on & clapped with you ! Such fun ! I just can't get over how sweet & innocent & lovable & cuddly & amazing you are!!
What else about you at this age ... Baby Taitadactyl. You can make lots of noise!! & you love to get our attention by doing so. So fun & so silly! ... You have quite the arm, too. Beyond grabbing after everything in your swath, you can toss a toy like nobody's business ! & far!
I can scarcely believe you are 8 MO. I want you to stop getting older & growing ... But I also love each new & stage for a multitude of reasons. Bittersweet is the best way to describe my feelings!
All my love for always ,
Mommy
What can I say about you ? Where do I even begin ? You are one amazing little baby guy. You are very smiley, giggley, & are you ever a flirt!!! We quite often describe you as a flirt & a stinker. You kind of have your own agenda. You are very, very curious. When we hold you in our arms, you attempt to get your cute, chubby little mits on whatever we are holding. You like to "help". Anything is fair game from the craft beer we are sipping in to your medicine (Prevacid for reflux) to food to toys to mommy's coffee. Anything within arm's reach you go after. You really keep us on our toes!
You are an independent sitter, too! You sit so well all by yourself! Every so often you might topple over , particularly if you lean over too far or if you fall victim to your sister's efforts to push you over (hmm, I think she is a stinker , too!)
You are beginning to become mobile, too. When you are on the floor you are able to rotate around in a circle with your belly as the axis. You are trying soooo hard to push yourself forward on your tummy!! You can easily slide backward, pushing with your arms on your belly. But that isn't what my guy wants, he wants to go forward in pursuit of his toys ... & his sister ... & the cats ... & Dexter ... (there are so many interesting things in our house for an 8 month old!!)
Yesterday you demonstrated that you can clap ... For real & not just coincidentally! Oh my goodness, it was just sooooo sweet how innocently proud of yourself you were as Grandma Deuby, Daddy, Grandpa Deuby, & Mommy & Quinn cheered you on & clapped with you ! Such fun ! I just can't get over how sweet & innocent & lovable & cuddly & amazing you are!!
What else about you at this age ... Baby Taitadactyl. You can make lots of noise!! & you love to get our attention by doing so. So fun & so silly! ... You have quite the arm, too. Beyond grabbing after everything in your swath, you can toss a toy like nobody's business ! & far!
I can scarcely believe you are 8 MO. I want you to stop getting older & growing ... But I also love each new & stage for a multitude of reasons. Bittersweet is the best way to describe my feelings!
All my love for always ,
Mommy
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Tait says Mama!!!
Dearest IttyBittyBabyTait -
I can't stop beaming. You know why?? You can say "Mama"!!!! At first, early this week, I thought it was a fluke. But, then you said it again each morning while Mommy was changing your diaper. And then yesterday when I came home from the gym ... & then when you were eating ... you get the idea. =) Mommy loves it!!!! Not even 8MO & saying "Mamamamama" already!! ... I love you SO much & I am SO proud to be your mama!!
All my love,
Mommy
I can't stop beaming. You know why?? You can say "Mama"!!!! At first, early this week, I thought it was a fluke. But, then you said it again each morning while Mommy was changing your diaper. And then yesterday when I came home from the gym ... & then when you were eating ... you get the idea. =) Mommy loves it!!!! Not even 8MO & saying "Mamamamama" already!! ... I love you SO much & I am SO proud to be your mama!!
Mommy
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Seven Months Old ...
& your personality is really shining through! You are extremely curious, attempting to get your hands on whatever looks interesting in about a 2foot radius. [insert pic fr doc where eating
Slept.All.Night.Long ... Wait, wha??!!!!
Nine-thirtyPM to 6AM. That's 9:30PM - 6AM. 8.5 HOURS!!!! In the event the title of this post wasn't a dead give-away, IttyBittyBabyTait, you slept all night long!!! ... And for 8+ hours!! Woo-hoo!! Can I get a woot-woot up in here!??? So proud of you!! ... A bit of background is in order, I feel. This was the very first time you ever slept all night. In fact, you managed to develop a sleep association with nursing that had you up at least 3, if not 6, times per night. For the past 7.5 months (you are 7.5MO ... yawn). Mommy was at my breaking point of exhaustion, frustration, lacking ingenuity & stick-to-itiveness in the middle of the night (resulting in me nursing you each & every time you woke up, thus perpetuating the sleep association of Mommy as Human Pacifier). I physically, emotionally, & mentally could not take the drain of sleep deprivation any longer. It was time to heed the advice of the pediatrician (advice your stubborn should have taken when it was offered, BUT I didn't want you to cry!).
So Mommy read up in Ferber's book on the Ferber Method of prolonged waiting to check & console the baby. It goes a little something like this:
So Mommy read up in Ferber's book on the Ferber Method of prolonged waiting to check & console the baby. It goes a little something like this:
- Put the baby down to sleep drowsy, but awake, leave the room
- If baby cries/protests, let the baby cry for 5 mins.
- Check on Baby & hang out for 1-2 mins.
- check, console w/o picking up, & get to new kids on the calendar.
Let me be the very first to say that the crying was AWFUL. That was the whole reason I didn't want to start sleep training you! First night = cried for 1.5 hours, second night = cried for 1 hour, third night= cried for 2 hours, fourth night = cried for 1 hour ... & then slept through!!! You were JUST full of it this morning after all that consecutive sleep. So silly, flirty, & crazy guy in your exersaucer.
We are ALL very excited & happy for you (& me ... Us). It will be very interesting to see what tonight brings. I will pump before bed just in case you sleep all night again!! Mmmmhhhhmm, & you have popped back up, you little stinker.
Mommy loves you so SO so much, IttyBitty!!!
Proud of my BabyGuy,
love,
Mommy
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