How the? What the?

So I suck at this blogging thing. I was so good at it when I was writing about infertility. Was it because I had more time? Or because I needed to talk about it? Now I seem to struggle to find a second in my day to take a breath let alone form a coherent thought long enough to be worthy of a blog post! 

I'm not complaining though. Not a single bit. I love my life right now. It's not perfect. Not even close. Kyle is a toddler with full blow temper tantrums eleventy times a day. Steve and I argue about stupid stuff because we are tired and stressed.  I worry about anything and everything. But I'm guessing most of this is pretty normal. 

Let me catch you up. My last post was in January. Kyle was 14 1/2 months, I think? 

Well, now he's 19 months. A ton of development has happened in this 4 1/2 months. First of all, his language acquisition has taken flight! He says anything and everything. Not everything is super clear but he says what he means and means what he says. He's got some really sweet "adaptations" for things. "Anu" for air conditioner. "Oona" for our dog Luna. Pup-pah for Puppy. Mimi for Grammy. Then there are other things he says clear as day. Like "no" "me" "my" those can go as far as I'm concerned. Ugh. Another fresh one (that I secretly think is adorable) is "no way".  I must say this phrase but on Sat when I asked him if he wanted breakfast and he replied "no way", which by the way usually means yes, I about fell off my chair. No way. Who says that? We do I guess. 

It's funny how a toddler will make you check yourself. Like when he always tells "Oona" to "go (lie) down" or when he points to a beer bottle and says "Momma's". It really makes you reflect on yourself. For the record, everything is Momma's, not just beer. Because Momma is way cooler than Daddy. Most of the time. 

Kyle goes to daycare still. Although summer is starting in just 6 1/2 days. So I'm excited to get some quality time with my guy at home. I'm anxious to get into a routine.  Daycare has been great. I feel that is where most of his learning happens. So many big kids to show him so many things. He eats it all up. We are blessed. There were some touch-and-go moments when the director left and a new director bought the daycare but it all netted out ok.  

I am truly blessed with such a wonderful little man. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if either of my other pregnancies had worked out, but he's obviously "the right one". I am so happy "it's him". 

I know. I know. You're ready for the pictures. 

Being silly with Mommy

His own chair

It was like he never left it! 

Easter 

Mustache of course. 

He's so beautiful. 

He thinks he's hot stuff in one of these! Don't worry. I only take one if there are lots of others. I live in a very rural town where stores are never crowded. Besides, they don't make singleton versions. Why should my kid miss out? (Never at the expense of not have 10,000 more available and at the ready)

My Shammy

Rescued him from the chlorine pool

Don't ever buy this elephant. Unless you like torture. Or you're hard of hearing. This thing is awful. I keep hiding it but he keeps finding it!! I need to hide it in the trash can. 

I always struggle with ending these posts. How do you end something that is not over? Maybe I don't. Maybe I just end with a ............

Quick Check In

Time is flying at warp speed. It's just delightful. There will never be enough time. I will always want one more kiss. One more snuggle. He's amazing. I am enjoying every bit of him. Love his whole soul. 

He's still a peanut. 15 months (almost) and only weighs 22 pounds. He's a shorty too. He was born a peanut and he's continued to be one. I love that he fits in my lap all snuggled up. He's delicious. 

His hair! It's so curly. I love it. 

Sometimes it's a little wild and he's already in need of a second haircut but it's precious! I hope he loves it as he grows up.  

He's a total silly boy. 

Who hates snow......

Can you blame him? Haha. 

Dear Santa

Oh hey there big fella! I'll be back with more soon......

(Second) Halloween

RRRAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRR!!!

Really his first, seeing that last year he was a bitty one day old baby. Yes. You read that right. He was here this time last year. That makes him ...... ONE!! I can't even.  We had a low key birthday. We didn't plan a party. We just had a weekend long celebration. Friday was his actual birthday. His daycare was having a Halloween celebration so we sent him. I tossed around the idea of taking the day off and finally decided that he would have the most fun with his 'big' friends and we would celebrate on Saturday with a trip to the aquarium. I did end up feeling guilty all day on Friday that I didn't take the day off. A mom's life is filled with guilt.  (I'm not alone on this am I?) 

We've been busy. A few weeks ago we had a blast at the apple orchard with our friend Owen and his parents. 

Kyle kept trying to hug or tackle Owen. I'm not sure which, I didn't let him get far enough to find out. My guy is a bruiser!

Kyle has been fighting naps with us, so this Saturday, after two hours of crying and fighting sleep, we cried it out. He cried for 20 minutes. Then he fell right to sleep. It was hard. I worried if we did the right thing. Until Sunday. He started fussing again so we put him in his crib. Kissed him. Told him we lived him.  He cried for two minutes! Yup! TWO! It was great. He slept for two hours and woke up happy. Happier than he's been in a long time! Cry it out for the win!! 

This kid sure is a fall baby. I love him. I feel blessed everyday to have him. We are a lucky little family. 

And just like that..... A year is almost over

Oh hey! There you are! Long time no see! Damn. I suck. Life just went ahead and got crazy on me. I wish I had something good to tell you too. But I don't. Actually, that's not true.  THIS is amazing......

 

Talk about busy! This guy NEVER stops moving. If his body is still, his hands are all over everything. Tapping things with his play screwdriver or banging his drumstick on a cabinet. That saying "the definition of a boy is noise with dirt on it"...... Spot on! But he's also the sweetest little guy I've ever known. He loves to snuggle. He will crawl up in your lap and bury his face in your neck and wiggle and squirm until he passes out. Then he'll sleep like an angel. I love this kid. He keeps me on my toes. 

Somebody say toes? HA HA HA!!

He loves to play with his "gog's" (dog's) things. 

Nothing gets in his way!

Sometimes you just need a minute. 

Life is good. Life is great. My heart has never been so full and my hands have never been so tender. This little guy brings out the best in me. 

It's not always easy. It's not always fun. But it is always worth it. 

This little angel will be 1 in two weeks. Somebody pinch me. Where did the time go? He's spent the last 6 weeks zooming around at top speed on all fours until a week ago when he decided it was time to give it a try on two feet. And low and behold, we have a walker. It's not always his first choice of movement but he is using it more and more and can stay up for longer and longer. 

Adjusting back to full time work has been tough. I started a new job in September and I've been working long days. It's taking a toll on all of us. But hopefully I can pull back a little at work. My priorities are always my family. Nothing is more important than Kyle's happiness. Blogging is good for my soul. So hopefully I can find myself some time to make his more of a regular thing. I do miss you all!!

My week in pictures

It's been pretty perfect!

I really need to start blogging again

Someday. 

8 days old & 8 months old. Best 8 months of my life!

Blink

I'm I owe you guys a real post. An update. One with real words and not just pictures.  Don't worry, there will still be pictures. My muse is too adorable not to share. 

Time is fleeting. It's all true. What they say about how fast they grow up. Kyle has done so much in the last 6 months it simply blows my mind. 6 months. Yes. 6 months. Wow. 

In honor of such a big milestone, half a year, let's do a quick recap. 

Born

1 month 

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

Weight & Length: his 6 month appointment isn't until next week but I think he's about 16 pounds and 25-26ish inches? 

Food:  He is eating solid food! He's tried; green beans, carrots, pears, bananas, apples, peaches, sweet potatoes,  rice cereal and oatmeal. So far he likes it all, his favorite being carrots and rice cereal. Apples make his cheeks turn red so we stay away from those until I can check with the doctor to make sure it's ok. He drinks three - 6 ounce bottles a day and nurses twice, for probably another 10ish ounces.

Sleep: he started sleeping through the night at 9 weeks but still has yet to do it consistently. It's usually 4 days on then 1 or 2 days off. He goes down at 7 & wakes at 5:30 with my alarm. If he wakes in the night it's usually at 3:00 - 3:30. Steve and I take turns getting up but I seem to get more turns. That's OK.  I love the extra snuggles. He won't be this little forever. We throw around the idea of sleep training but it's just not the right thing for our family at this time. We enjoy the rocking and the cuddles and the love. Maybe in the future. Who knows. Kyle slept in about every place you could imagine for the first 9 weeks of his life then pretty consistently in his RNP until at around 4 1/2 months he decided he was done with it. Then we moved his crib into our room and that is where he sleeps. Again, we toss around the idea of moving him into his room but it's not right for our family just yet. But he still loves his weekend snuggle naps. So do I. 

Likes/dislikes: Kyle is such a happy kid, I'm hard pressed to pick one thing. He likes being naked. He likes bath time a whole lot because of this! He sometimes takes showers with Daddy and doesn't even seem to mind the water in his face. He hates getting out of the bath and getting dressed. He loves to sing. He is equally a fan of hearing you sing as he is a fan of singing to you. I tell him all the time that he "has a beautiful singer that he got from his nana". He loves chewing on rings, Morty the moose, eating solid food, breastfeeding, his puppy. Oh how he loves his puppy. They are best friends. 

Milestones: 

-Rolls both ways, fast!

-Sits up by himself

-Eats solid food

-Says Dada

Kyle is such a happy baby. I feel so lucky to be his Momma on a daily basis. His laugh brightens my day his hugs make my heart swell. We are truely blessed!