Oh where oh where can we be

Let me just state I had every intention of blogging this week but I was preoccupied by this lovely site of my son enjoying himself non-stop:

We were on vacation.  YAY! 

We got a really cheap two bedroom oceanfront suite in Myrtle Beach (perks of my hubby's job) and skipped out of town on Saturday.  My sister Meg, Charles and their son Jackson came along too!

We have gone to Myrtle Beach before but not for such a long time.  This was our first family vacation and most definitely not our last.

There was plenty of sword fighting

and toy playing (I had to pack most of these toys and they were great to keep the kids entertained)

My sister got practice in case she decides to have another child

Colton smiled a lot

So did his cousin Jackson

And that made Mommy happy too!

More to come later because I am exhausted! Whew laying on a beach, swimming and shopping will do that.  :)

Not a math major...

Going to bed last night Jason and I were talking about our upcoming vacation:

Jason: You have 14 days off soon

Me: Yep

Jason: I only have 9 (sucks to be him, hahaha)

Me: No you have 11 (He is off starting Saturday the 14th and goes back to work on Monday the 23rd)

Jason: How do you figure?

Me: Well you have the weekend and then the 7 days of the week and then the next weekend.

Jason: (laughs so loud I thought he would wake Colton) Since when does a week have 7 days not counting the weekend?

Me: (confused, calculating the math again in my head, realizing my stupity) Oh yah, your right.

Jason: When I say a number to you just trust that I am right.  Remember you were not a math major.

He's Got Junk in His Trunk

TMI Post (I will spare you the pictures)

This post will describe how close and gross my hubby and I are...when you are with someone for almost 10 years nothing is off limits.

When I was on maternity leave and home by myself with the little one I would get bored sometimes.  I only had a little baby to talk to all day. Text messages to my husband while he worked were my only adult talk for the day. Somewhere a long the way the texting got weird.

Colton can poop like no other (told you it was TMI). I swear that sometimes it is more than any adult could ever do in one trip to the bathroom.  I should know since part of my profession is helping to clean up other peoples messes. #2s do not gross me out since I dealt with it many times before having a child. But this kid, ugh!

As a joke one day I sent a text to hubby with a pic of his son's most recent work.  I know...how do I have time to take a picture of it, as he is moving and grooving all round in his mess.  I did though and I started a war.  Now whenever I am at work and Colton has a "blow out" I am now privledge to get a text with a photo of it.  And I do the same to my husband so his day can be blessed with a gross photo. 

We have done this so much now that my phone is full of poop pictures.  Whenever I want to show someone a picture of something on my phone I have to scroll through the "artwork" photos quickly so no one will see them.  Awakward and embrassing but it is part of our daily life sadly.


WE NEED HELP.

Motherhood Monday

I by no means know how to be a mother better than anyone.  I have only been one for a few months.  But the journey I have been on has been amazing.  I love to share stories of how I am surviving as a new mother. 

Today I share the must haves for a new mother.  These are things I have found work wonders in my busy day to day life. 

1.  A drying rack. 

Seriously!  Such a small simple thing is a life saver with all the bottles you go through.  Works great for breast pump supplies, bottles and now sippy cups.


2. A organizer for bathroom. 

We have this over our bathroom door.  Its stores diapers, lotions, washclothes, nail trimmer, comb, etc.  It is great to have everything near by for right after bath time.  I don't have to go to 10 different spots to find what I need. 

3. Multiple diaper changing stations.  You never know when you are going to get into a disastrous mess and where it will be.  We have a changing table in Colt's room, a diaper holder in our room, and his pack and play in the living room.  Makes for changing diapers wherever a breeze.  I do not think I would survive with just one place to change diapers. 

4. A bobby pillow.

 Honestly the best thing ever. Can be used for so much.  When he was little it was great for feeding.  Also when he would wake up early morning we would place he on it between us in bed and he would go back to sleep for a bit.  Awesome for catching a few extra winks. Now that he is older we use it to support him when he is sitting.  This way if he falls back its a "cushioned fall". 

5. A carrier.

We have the Jeep carrier; my husbands choice since he loves all things Jeep. Colton loves riding in this thing and it gives him a break from his stroller.  I have a bad neck and back from some previous car accidents and this carrier actually does not hurt me.  It works to up to 24 pounds or something so totally worth the money spent since you can get a lot of use out of it. (I always thought it looked dorky to use this and it really does but who cares!)

6. Fisher Price's Fish Tank.

 This is in his crib and at bedtime helps to calm him down.  It plays a lot of different songs and has soothing ocean sounds. I think anything like this is helpful for a fussy baby.

7. A great diaper bag.  I knew when I was pregnant that I had to have a stylish diaper bag that I would love since I am a purse hoarder. Jason bought me a Vera Bradley one as a present early on in my pregnancy when I was not feeling well. (Awwww! Yep, my hubby can be sweet)  This is now my purse when I have Colton. Invest in one with lots of room because as the baby grows so does the diaper bag. I can store so much of Coltons stuff and all my purse essentials in mine. We also got Jason a "Man Bag".  Its Eddie Bauer and it stores a lot as well. Both are always stocked so whoever has him for the day is prepared.

There is so much stuff that helps out everyday.  As Colton grows so does the list of things I need to survive the day.  Oh well, its all worth it!

Motherhood Monday

So I want to try something new.  I would like to post every Monday about the joys of motherhood.  MotherHood Mondays, Mommy Monday, Monday Mayhem or whatever I call it. Maybe I will talk about products I love, all the different kinds of spit-up babies can have, the best way to deal with the blow outs that undoubtedly happen once solids are started, the love of a child, fun things to do to entertain a child and adult, etc. I have only been a mom for 7 months but it has been a wild fantastic ride and I have learned a lot. 

Today I want to share a letter I wrote to my lil man.  (I occasionally write him letters expressing what I am thinking at that time just for him to have later in life. Nothing fancy, just a conversation on paper for him since he can't understand it all right now).

Dear Colton,

Today you are 7 months old. 

7 months ago I brought into this world a little boy who brightens this earth with his presence.

7 months ago I fell in love with you and in love with your father all over again.

7 months ago I found out what it meant when people said that the love of a child is the best thing in the world.

As I write this you are playing in your pack and play.  Every now and then you look up at me and flash your cheesy grin then wiggle your eyebrows and laugh.  That is the look that melts my heart every time. Your laugh is the most joyous sound to my ears. 

I see you growing more each day and that excites me but scares me all at the same time. I am looking forward to what you will become.  I am anxious for all your milestones to occur but I want to keep you small for as long as I can.  This is the only way I can think to protect you.  I want you to experience this world but I need to learn how to let you do that without me going into "panic mommy mode".

I honestly do not remember what it was like not to have you in my life. It feels like you have always been with me.  Maybe you have; maybe you were always a part of me and I just had to wait for you to make your appearance.  Whatever it is I am glad you now are my world.

As the days go by I am amazed at what you have learned and accomplished in such a short time. I know that so much more is to come for you. You can and will be anything you want.  I will be there by your side guiding and supporting you the entire way!

Love

Mommy

Next week I want to talk about all my favorite things I have found a long the way that have helped me out during this first year of mommyhood.

Halloweeny

I know it is still blazing hot out and fall is now where in site but a girl has got to plan.  I have picked out Colt's costume for Halloween. 

His all time favorite show is Blue's Clues.  It is the show that silences him when he is fussy and makes him smile.  I swear I can turn it on and he automatically looks towards the t.v. and laughs.  So he has to be Blue for Halloween. 

And why not make this a family affair. 

Jason will be Steve and me, well I will be Magenta.

The funny thing is in college we use to joke that Jason looked exactly like Steve. He had a shirt that was similar to Steve's and I believe he still has it.  I even gave him a Steve doll as a joke.  He hated it and now he has to dress up like him on purpose.  Oh how the might have fallen. HAHA.

Look who's back, back again

Oh how long has it been?  Let me count the days.  TOO many!

WOW! I never thought I would take such a long break from this.  Opps.  Oh well; time flies when you are busy working, raising a little one, taking care of a husband and house. 

Lets see what has happened over the last few months:

I have been working.  Back to my normal schedule of 3 days a week, 12 plus hours a day.  Long hours with lots of crazy stuff at work going on.  I am not going to talk about that because a lot of it is patient related and it is just frustrating and annoying to talk about work when I am not there.

Colton has occupied a lot of my time!  He is growing like a uncontrollable weed.  He is 7 months old this week and now weighs almost 20 pounds and is over 2 feet tall.  He is in the top percentile for weight.  Jason keeps asking if we need to consider putting him on a "baby weight watchers" plan. HAHA.  He wears a size 4 diaper; the same size as our 1 year old nephew! He definitely got my hips and butt.  BABY GOT BACK

He can now sit up by himself.  This past week he learned how to hold his own bottle and sippy cup.  He does not really drink out of the sippy cup just plays with it.  I only give it to him with water in it and maybe a little bit of apple juice.  I am just trying to get him use to it.  I think the cold water helps his gums too. 

No teeth yet but soon from what I can tell.  He eats a lot now.  On top of his bottles he eats 2-3 meals a day.  These consist of all kinds of fruits and vegetables.  I got lucky because he likes everything, as one can tell by his weight.  The only thing he can not have is pears because he breaks out in hives. 

He loves to play with all kinds of toys.  Beating things is his favorite activity.  A set of drums is in the works for one of his Christmas presents.  Daddy is sooo excited about this since he is a drum player and wants his son to be too.  One of his favorite things (mommy's too) is to be placed in his pack and play with a lot of toys and just grab everything and play till his hearts content. 

We have started stocking up on Christmas and Birthday presents for him. I have found that a lot of stores are placing things on clearance now to "clean house"  for all the toys to be put out for the holidays.  Unfortunately our son has a birthday right after Christmas so I have a feeling he is going to get screwed on presents.  Jason and I are going to try our best to make them separate holidays and make his birthday just as special.  I can't believe that it will be here soon!

Last but not least I have been busy trying to complete the house.  We will have lived for 2 years this December and I am determined to be done decorating before then.  I am almost done painting the entire downstairs.  Any day I have off that Colton can go to daycare I paint.  It is exhausting.  Next house we buy I am hiring painters!  Hopefully by fall I will be starting on the upstairs which is pretty much done besides the hallways and finishing touches. 

Whew! Exhausting times like I am sure everyone else is having.  I hope I do not have to take a break from blogging like that again.  I would love to continue this because I have made so many friends (I promise I am catching up on blogs as I type this) and love to have this record of the things going on in my life.