Some blogworthy pics...

The 5:00 news was really intense

Leyton's New Obsession: Behold, The Ceiling Fan

Fan On

Fan Off

Babble time with Dad:

Babies need social interactions with loving adults who talk with them, listen to their babblings, name objects for them, and give them opportunities to explore their worlds.

-- Sandra Scarr

The countdown is on...

A week from today I will be returning to work, thus joining the "working moms"club. I'm sure there will be much less blogging time, although I will probably find a way. I am actually not dreading this transition too much even though I know I will probably be a wreck the first day, or week (month, maybe). I always thought in a perfect world I would be a stay at home mom, but I honestly don't know if I could do it. I guess that goes to show how much I enjoy my job...and we are lucky b/c our schedules are flexible enough that he will only be with a sitter 2 days a week. In honor of my maternity leave, I thought I would give ode to things I will miss/ not miss about maternity leave

Things I will Miss:

1. Not missing anything: I am still in awe of how much Leyton changes everyday. I can't believe he is the same baby we brought home 2.5 months ago. I feel like something new happens everyday and I am right there to see it all. I hate to think of all the moments I will miss now.

2. Bumming it- I believe this is the longest streak I have gone without fixing my hair, putting on makeup, or caring about what I wear. I still managed to religiously shower every day- though right after drying my hair it goes back up in a careless bun and the sweats and oversized T go back on. Here is a snippet from a convo Jeremy and I had last week when he was home for lunch:

J- "don't you want to go take a shower?"

N- "I already did."

J- (looking confused) "Oh"

3. My morning nap: After a long night of a total of maybe 5 hours  of sleep (not consecutive). Leyton comes in the living room for his morning snack (he refuses to stay in the bedroom past 6:00 am). After that, he usually passes out in his swing for 2-3 hours. (See video below). Thats when I crash on the couch. I don't know how I will function without it. 

4. The Ellen Degeneres Show: I'm serious. She is a riot. The only daytime tv show worth seeing. I may dvr it upon my return to work.

5. Blog Stalking: If you have a blog, I have probably seen it.

Things I will not miss

1. Cabin Fever: I am actually looking forward to re-joining society. Since my child acts like we are trying to poison him when he is put in the carseat or stroller, outings have been few and far between. I have never been one to sit at home all day, so getting out everyday will be refreshing. (Thank you, Jeremy for being super-dad and watching him on Saturdays while I go grocery shopping and etc...truly feels like I am busting out of jail)

2. Daytime tv: I was so disappointed in daytime tv...it's horrible, with the exception of my girl, Ellen. Even my favorite soap, Days of Our Lives has turned to garbage. I love how all of the commercials are geared toward old people and stay at home moms. I can now successfully do The Potty Dance. 

And I can't end the post without this video. Here is the reason why I can't get aggravated that L won't sleep well at night, but crashes in his swing every morning. This is how sweet he is when he wakes up. (taken from the past 2 mornings)

A baby in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.

Martin Fraquhar Tupper

Gloomy Day Outside...

Happy Day Inside...

"If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle."

-Vincent Van Gogh

I like to move it, move it

Its funny how many pictures I have deleted due to Leyton's motion blurs:

A few more recent pics worth sharing:

"please ma, enough with the camera"

"A perfect example of minority rule is a baby in the house."

-Milwaukee Journal

Shots and Babbles

Poor boo had to go have his 2 month shots today. Here is what he is doing now after his long, traumatic day:

Recap of 2 month appt. 

Little Bit is doing great! His dad and I have been playing the guessing game on how much he weighs for the past week (we both guessed 12.) He really hit a big growth spurt a few weeks back. His measurements were 22.75 inches long and...

drumroll please...

13 pounds of preciousness

What?! 13!

I immediately asked the dr. if that meant he was obese. She said "no, that means he is doing great!" Whew. No wonder my shoulders are in a constant state of soreness. She said he was doing wonderful and was amazed at his strength- she said he was as strong as a 6 month old (for a whopping 13 pounder, I should hope so). 

She did seem to think that he may have a little reflux though after we started describing his erratic eating behavior. She prescribed an antacid so hopefully it will help. She also said his always-having-to-be-moving was normal for little boys and may subside in the next month or so. 

Then for his poor little shots. He screamed. Jeremy cried. I didn't look. It didn't take him long to calm down though...and he smiled and cooed in the carseat all the way home. That has never happened. (I also failed to mention that he slept the whole way there). Since we have been home he has been sleeping alot. He has been a trooper!

Now for a little chat:

Eat Your Heart Out Ladies...

Here are the newest photos from my bff Kristen taken when he was about 1 month old. Check her out at http://kristenperreault.com/

hanging out in daddy's shirt

Will you be my Valentine?

I promise I'll be sweet

...please? I'm drooling here

Whew! Thank goodness

TODAY I AM...

...and I am so gosh darn cute I have to pinch my own cheek sometimes

About me now...

some of these things have reversed from a month ago. I like to keep everyone guessing.

LIKES

1. I love bath time!

2. I love my swing and sometimes randomly smile at the mobile above it.

3. I have now found out that I can make sounds other than crying and I love babbling with mom and dad.

4. I am very curious about my surroundings...I love looking around and moving alot. It is a rare occasion to find me being still.

 5. I am also becoming rather fond of this diaper changing business

6. I like to nestle my head into your chest and roll it around when I am trying to wake up...I am quite the snuggle bunny

7. Now that I have better control of my hands, I like to grab what I can. I have already taken out a fistful of mom's hair and gotten a hold of her bottom lip a few times.

8. I like playtime in the nursery 

9. I am really starting to like my big-boy bed (aka, the bassinet). I have slept very well in the the past few nights. This sleep thing is getting much better since mom and dad have gotten me into a nightly routine. 

10. I sometimes chuckle in my sleep. It is like watching for whales...only a few are lucky enough to see it, but once you do you won't forget it.

11. I Love my daddy...he is my best bud. He steals most of my grins and coos.

DISLIKES

1. I HATE the car. I scream so hard I lose my breath...mommy has had to pull over in many a parking lot to nurse me.  She and dad are very stressed over this.

2. Same goes for the stroller...its the same seat isn't it? Public outings are quite an ordeal.

3. Being still 

4. The pacifier. yuck. 

Here is a pic from my park outing:

I got to be held and swing...what more could you ask for?

Introducing...

Here is the first glimpse of my niece, Baylee Ann. She will be joining us sometime mid-April. I can't wait!! You can compare the two pics and see that she already looks just like her daddy. (And yes, he is my 'whole' brother even though we look nothing alike. I am still bitter that he got the "skinny" genes)

Oh Happy Day

We are off to the park to enjoy the beautiful weather!

A few favorites from the week

Since I can't upload them all, here are a few favorites from the week:

Another playdate with Maddie

From L to R: not interested in each other. Middle Photo: Leyton has a change of heart. Right: Leyton goes in for the kill.

Side note: my mom commented that Leyton looks like a St. Bernard hovering over Maddie in all of their pics. I think she may be right.

Here is a little video. Leyton has been "talking" alot lately. He was having quite the conversation with Jeremy until I showed up with the camera. He doesn't perform on demand. Anyhow, you can catch a few sweet smiles.

25 random things- I caved

For the record, I never do things like this. But I caved...what a failure.

1. I love the Lord and I believe prayer changes things

2. As of December 12, my heart belongs to two boys.

3. I HATE being the center of attention and I am petrified of public speaking. I used to be a total ham who would always volunteer myself for anything until I was in first grade. I was saying the pledge of allegiance on stage at a public event and my girl scout sash fell in the candle and I just about caught fire onstage. The teacher bolted onstage to come help me. Embarrassing. I then tried to redeem myself in 6th grade by playing the marijuana leaf in an anti-drug play. I forgot all of my lines and my teacher had to whisper them to me. You don't come back from that.

4. I won a chili cook-off the first time I made chili (not to brag)

5. The first time I met my husband he didn't give me a second look, and in fact doesn't even recall it.

6. I am a self-proclaimed chocoholic. I could also eat a pomegranate everyday.

7. My grandfather once gave me a horse I named after Reba McEntire. She was a sweet thing until one day she went ballistic when I was riding her and blasted off into the woods with me on her back screaming. I seriously thought I may die in the woods and have to have a search and rescue team come find me. I can still see my mom standing on the fence with a desperate look on her face. I never rode her again.

8. I am a country girl at heart. I grew up with cows in my backyard, and had no neighbors. My dad taught me to shoot a gun when I was 8 and I must say I am a pretty good shot. 

9. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people spell things incorrectly on purpose such as "Bob's Kars" or "Kuntry Kitchen." Really, that does not make me want to buy your cars or your burgers.

10. I used to be a competitive swimmer. To this day I can still swim farther than I can run.

11. When I was in High School I had convinced myself that I was a great singer and that I was going to be the next Jewel. Glynne, being the bff that she was, totally agreed with me and encouraged my aspirations. I mean, have you heard me sing? I could make a freight train take a dirt road

12. I wish more than anything that I could dance. I look like an awkward, overly caucasian, middle school, white boy when I try to dance. Not fair. I really want to learn the Beyonce "Single Ladies" dance. 

13. When I was little I had a cat named Mr. T. I used to eat his cat food. Gross.

14. Despite my white, republican roots, I voted for Barack Obama and I am not ashamed to admit it. All these people that think he is the anti-christ crack me up. Puh-lease.

On that same note, I am so tired of the media making a fuss over his race. He is a person not a crayon, people.

15. I hope to be half the mother that my mom is. 

16. I am a secret rap junkie. I can also recite all of "Ice, Ice Baby" (alright stop, collaborate and listen...)

17. Patrick Swayze is my cousin (distant cousin, but related nonetheless) 

18. I want to live in the mountains one day, but the next time we move it will probably be closer to home.

19. Right now though, I love living in Orlando. I truly believe we are meant to be here. I can't imagine not knowing the people we have met here. 

20. I have an extra vertabrae in my spine

21. My favorite sound as of late is hearing Leyton yawn. It is so cute.

22. I think Tyra Banks, Kathie Lee Gifford and Barry Mannilow are the most annoying celebrities ever. Well actually Barry is just more scary than annoying.

23. I am terrified, terrified, terrified of ghosts. I would rather there be an ax murderer in my house than a ghost. At least you can take an ax murderer out at the knees.

24. I have the best husband ever, he does dishes, vacuums, laundry,  helps with Leyton and is the best father I could ask for. He also makes sure to tell me everyday how much he loves me.

25. My heart melts to the floor when I see my son smile and I can't wait to watch him grow.

Fun with daddy...and more pics

smoochy lips

mommy trips me out

playtime turned to nap time

solid as a tree trunk