And away we go

This is Piglet's new favorite toy.  It has crinkly paper in the pages (I call it baby crack)
and has nice rubber corners for chewing.

Piglet picked it out himself when he went
shopping with Grandpa.

I can put him in front of him and he'll be distracted for a good ten minutes play happily with it.

Hey, wait a minute Mister... where did you go?

Oh, there you are!

And with that, Piglet is mobile and life just got a little more complicated.

"Look mom, no hands!"

A very merry un-birthday to you!

I can't believe it but today you are 6 months old. 

Sniff, sniff, that went too fast. 

You've made so many changes this month, Piglet. 

First, you are are eating solid foods, and we've experimented with a few different things.  You love rice cereal, but only if it's made with Mama's milk.

If we make it with formula you look at us like we are trying to poison you. 

So far, you've tried parsnips and avacado, but you weren't crazy about either.  Apparently your thumb tastes better.

Squash, on the other hand, seems to be a favorite.

"What's the big deal?"

(the squash you are eating was grown by Grandpa Mike,

 by the way)

You love bath time still, and we have a new bath tub to enjoy!  It has a blow-up winne-the-pooh head, and you love to lay back in the tub and kick him--which is funny since we've nicknamed you piglet.

...rubber ducky you're the one...

Piglet, you roll both directions now,

you still grunt and snort when you eat,

and you give your mama lots of kisses

by opening your mouth wide

and planting a mouthfull of baby slober

a sweet smooch on my cheek.

You keep yourself occupied in your jumper and exersaucer, and you still think Papa is hilarious.  You have a couple of toys that get on your nerves, and you are not afraid to let them know...by growling and yelling at them!  I really is pretty funny, even if you don't think so. 

You think raspberry sounds are really funny, especially when we blow them on your belly.  You love being suprised, you jump, your eyes get really big, then you crack up.

You are also starting to show a bit stubborness, howling your displeasure when you don't get what you want fast enough.  And sleep--well we'll leave that for another post.

Being your mom has been the most joyful and meaningful thing I've ever done.  You make me laugh on a daily basis with your silly antics.  While I miss the little baby you were, I love watching you turn into the boy you'll become. 

I love you little guy!

Piglet in the neighborhood

Would you belive that for the first time in as long as I can remember we've had NO SNOW in the month of March?!

I know, crazy!

We've been taking advantage of it.

Auntie has taken Piglet on a couple of walks, including one down to the Mississippi River.  Papa and I have taken him around the neighborhood and we all went to the St. Patrick's day parade in DT Mpls.

I thought Piglet would dig the parade-but for the most part he was much more interested in watching his little feet kicking out from under him in the carrier.  Except for the marching band.  He liked the marching band.

One of "those" moms

Someone (well, actually a few someones) recently pointed out that I have become one of "those" moms.

You know the kind-- talks obsessively about her baby,

writes one of those "mommy blogs"

thinks her baby is so wonderful, adorable, smart and facinating

that even his dirty diapers merit discussion...

Well I am, he is, and it does.

I mean seriously, look at him!

But how did I get here? 

I can think of several prior versions of my self

who would roll their eyes at the obsessive at times a bit silly

and over-the-top mom I've become.

I think its because I work full time.  I've written a bit about this recently so I'm sorry to go here again but its true.  I was talking with my cousin recently and she quipped "what are we working for?"  The obvious answer is that we are working to support our families but the sentiment merits some discussion.  As I've said before, I can't believe how fast Piglet is growing and changing and learning new things and I fell like I'm missing so much of it.

By the time I get home from work it is after 7:00 pm.  We have some rice cereal, play a little or take a bath.  Then it is story time and lights out.

Five. days. in. a. row.

Then its the glorious weekend and I get nothing done.  Well, no house work, but lots of the important, sacred, joyful work of parenting. 

We play, we cuddle, we take pictures and go on outings--much of which is what you see on this blog.

I am one of those moms, and proud of it.

drink plenty of flu-ids

It started when Andy became a teacher,

teachers do a lot of wonderful and amazing things

but this is not a post about those things. 
This is a post about the germs teachers bring home.

I blame Andy, you see, because he was the first to come down with the stomach flu. That was Friday.  Then Saturday was my turn.  

We tried our best to keep it from Piglet--I kept him away from Andy when he wasn't feeling well.  Auntie and Grandpa were nice enough to take Piglet on a field trip Saturday, then Grandpa Tom and Grandma Sherri took Piglet overnight Saturday and most of the day Sunday.

I'll spare you the gory details but at 9:00 pm Sunday, it hit the fan.  Well, that is not entirely true, it hit me.  And the new chair.  I was definately more traumatized than Oliver by the whole ordeal.  I mean, have you ever tried feeding a breastfed baby a half an ounce at a time every ten minutes?  It does not make for a happy Piglet or Mama.  And less than 24 hours later my sweet boy was... well...all better.

And back to his smiley, silly self.

I heart books

I decided to participate in O My Book Week

sponsored by Allison at O My Family

We have a lot of books, some tucked away in every room

Piglet's favorites are the cloth books Grandma Sherry made,

or board books (especially Brown Bear, Brow Bear

and The Very Hungry Catterpillar) which he mostly

chews on-- er--I mean gums

My favorite one to read is this

The little mouse finds a beautify strawberry, which he decides to pick.

The Mouse trys to find a way to protect

his freshly picked strawberry from the big hungry bear;

without any help from the narrator...

In the end, someone has played a trick on the little mouse!

You'll have to read the book to find out who!

And, here is the next book I hope to read

Bouncing Baby Boy

Piglet absolutely loves the jumper at daycare.  The jumper at our house?  Not so much.  The jumper we have is more of a spinner than a jumper.  So, Andy and I went to the local baby super store and got a new one.  This is his inaugural jump, check it out.

Hump day

When my alarm didn’t go off, I should have just stayed in bed.

When the shower smelled like dead fish, I should have gone back to bed.

When I made coffee, but failed to plug in the coffee maker, I should have gone back to bed.

When I couldn’t find the emergency back-up child care center, I should have gone home.

When I called the emergency back –up child care for more specific directions I should have called in sick and not gone to work.

When I finally got ahold of emergency back-up child care, and they told me they did not open until after my scheduled drop-off time, I should have called in sick to work, gone home and spent the day with my baby.

But I did not say in bed. I did not go back to bed. I did not go home. I did not call in sick.

I did go to work.

Because I am a working mom, and that’s what working moms do.

The times they are a changin'

I would like to let you in on a conversation I had while visiting my mom last weekend.

Me: "can you trade spots with me"

Mom: "sure, why"

Me: "because I need to pump"

Mom: blank stare

Me: "there is no outlet here, and there is one behind you"

Mom: "you have an electric pump!?!"

When I feel overwhelmed and stressed thinking about how hard it is to be a full time working mom, I will try to remember the many gadgets and whats-its I have that make raising a baby easier for me than it was for my mom.

My boys

This morning, as I was (very) groggily getting Piglet ready to go to daycare I noticed him, gazing at Andy, with rapt attention.  It might have been the bowl of cereal Andy was eating, ever since we started feeding Piglet rice cereal he is extra facinated by anything we put in our mouths.  But I think it was love--Piglet adores his Papa.

The way piglet's eyes light up when he sees Andy, and the smile that crosses his face when Andy looks back at him

The way no one can make Piglet laugh as consistently or as hard as his Papa

The way Piglet, who at 26 inches and 16 pounds, feels big to me, but still looks like my little baby when he's in his Papa's arms.

I love witnessing their relationship grow.

Tongue and toes

Piglet is still teething--and when there is not a teething toy within reach he chews on his tongue like its bubble gum.

chomp chomp chomp

he really goes to town

If he had any teeth in there I'd worry that he'd hurt himself!

When he does have a teething toy handy he basically has two strategies. 

1. chew so hard he makes a squeaking noise, and when he gets tired of that;

2. he holds the toy in place and moves his head back and forth, rubbing his gums across it.

Piglet still isn't rolling over consistently.  He's been too distracted with his new favorite toy:

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, Piglet has found his toes, and he thinks they're pretty neat.  Especially without socks.

Even more fun with Papa!

This video is a couple weeks old at this point, but it took me that long to convince Andy to let me post it.  The video speaks for itself, suffice it to say, I've never heard Piglet laugh that hard.

A post from the road

We are traveling now, in Bemidji to visit Grandma Betsy.  I wanted share something cute that Piglet did last night. Neither of us slept very well.  A couple of times when he woke up I brought him into the bed with me.  As we cuddled, he sucked his thumb, then stuck the other one in my mouth.  "Here mom, this will make you feel better."  My sweet boy.

Rice cereal: round 1

The fastest five months ever

Five months ago I became a mom.

Well, that is not entirely true, I became a mom fourteen months ago when I found out I was pregnant, but five months ago I held Piglet for the first time.

One of the most amazing thing about being a mom is watching the changes Piglet makes as he grows and learns to navigate the world around him.  It starts during pregnancy as you track your babys growth starting smaller than a poppy seed, to a grape, to an apple then into a melon with flailing limbs!

(Anyone else think the fruit comparisons are wierd?)

Here are some of the things that Piglet has mastered this month, and some more that he is working on every day.

Piglet no longer hates his carseat, which makes my day, Piglet's day (and especially Papa's day since he takes Piglet to childcare) much more pleasant.

Piglet enjoys his tummy time and he is even rolling over! 

Even though Piglet can roll-over, he hasn't mastered it yet.  He needs a bit of a boost to roll back to tummy, and really likes to practice his rolls in his crib, using the bars to help him roll both ways.

He thinks it is really funny to roll over when we try to change his diaper. 

He waits until we lift his feet up to put the new diper under him and--heave-ho over he goes.  While Piglet thinks its funny, Papa and I don't always get the joke.

Piglet is also starting to scoot, motivated by his just out of reach toys (sorry about that buddy!) but at this point the scoot is usually just a tummy pivot and all that work just to be facing the other direction makes Piglet a little cranky.  The kid is in constant motion, and I'm trying to enjoy the last of the if-I-put-him-here-he-will-stay-here stage.

Piglet still babbles and coos, but not as much as before.  I like to think he is waiting until he has something important to say.

Jumping in his jumper is one of his favorites, and he likes jumping on our laps too, it is a good work-out for both of us.

Piglet tried rice cereal for the first time and isn't so sure what to think (more on this to come).  He has also discovered these neat toys at the end of his legs, we keep telling them they are his feet!

(see, constant motion)

I'm sure I have forgotten some of his accomplishments but if you are still reading this thanks for hanging in there.  One more picture for good measure.

The latest trend in baby fashion

I took a page out of Allison O's book from O My Family and attempted some DYI babylegs.  Overall I'd have to say it was a great success--and it was as easy as she said it would be. 

I went to target and bought a 3-pack of knee-highs (on clearance, thank you very much), then I cut off the feet and using a needle and tread ran a seam about a half inch from the bottom. 

Voila!

DIY babylegs: $4

Coordinating your babylegs, diaper and handmade sweater from grandma: priceless

Baby feet

How I love baby feet.

Let me count the ways.

1.  they are so tiny

2.  teeny-tiny baby toenails

3. no stinkin'

4. they are so stinkin' cute

5.  this little piggy...

6.  baby shoes

7.  baby toe lint

8.  baby toe-sucking

9.  grippy toes

10.  baby feet exploring the world around them