Bottoms up.

Wyatt has reached an adventurous stage in life... between crawling, cruising, and pulling himself up he can get into just about anything. Though fun to watch, it has turned me into a mad woman chasing him around, baby proofing the house, and re-proofing only after discovering he can reach a new level or open a new drawer. He is definitely a boy... doesn't mind being dirty (though it drives me crazy!), likes crawling on Bentley, and should he ever catch one of the cats, would love to pull a tail.

Just when it seems like things start to settle down... he will discover something new and it brings a whole new joy to our day. He recently started clapping, signing 'more', and walking behind something. I told Bryan we really need to get him a walker (Merry Christmas!) because he is currently pushing his sit n' spin around the house and I can tell it just isn't doing the trick.

He is also addicted to his bike that I bought him, thinking he wouldn't use it for at least a few more months, if not longer. I set in the living room to be stored away until he was big enough for it, but apparently size is not a problem and once he saw it there was no taking it away. Now when he sees it he will climb up to the handle bars and squeal, "Eee, eee, eee!" until someone takes him for a spin around the living room. The only way to get him off is to quickly dismantle him and hide the bike.

Wyatt's favorite activity is making messes, wherever he may be. Pulling DVD's off the shelf has been the current choice of disaster, but today he discovered how fun it is to take all the toys out of his toy box... right after mom has picked them all up. I have found this to be a losing battle and now wait (though there still is really no point, besides keeping my sanity) until he goes to bed to clean up. Today I was able to capture him getting a little 'high centered' while trying to get one of his books out from the bottom.

So here's to my little man... cheers. Or should I say, "Bottoms up!"

If you've got to stand for something.

They say that the average infant learns more during the first 2 years of their life then we do in an entire lifetime. As we casually glide our way through the milestones of the first year, I am reminded of how quickly the time goes and how every day Wyatt moves one step closer to being a toddler and two steps away from being the little newborn I still see him as. Since we are cruising (quite literally) along so quickly I thought I would write a quick update on all the progress we are making in becoming... a big boy.

Wyatt went from crawling to 'cruising' (the term used to maneuver around furniture while standing) in a matter of days. We think he is going to be an early walker, but you can never really tell. He is steady on his feet though and should he take a fall, we yell 'Safe!' with a big smile which usually leads to him standing back up and trying again, skipping the tears altogether. I read a book about a mom who said she couldn't help but gasp when her son would tip over or fall. It wasn't until he heard her do this though, that he would start crying. Sometimes its not the pain that gets them, but your reaction to it. Smart little buggers.

Like father (er, mother?), like son. Wyatt is currently going through a bit of a rebellious stage and thinks the word "No!" is as funny as watching Bentley chase his tail. His favorite pastime is pulling things off of shelves, whether it be DVDs or books, nothing is more entertaining then making a mess. He smiles an evil little smirk when I tell him to sit down in the bathtub, and then proceeds to jump up and down... all the while shrieking with the joy of defiance. And so it begins...

We (yes, I say we) got our first tooth on Tuesday, 11/31. At 2:30 in the morning I was woken by a shrill cry and went running downstairs. After trying everything to get him to go back to sleep, I had the thought that maybe, after all these months of waiting, his tooth had finally came in. Sure enough, with the quick swipe of a finger I was able to confirm that his first little razor-like shark tooth had arrived. A bit of Oragel and a few minutes of vigorous rocking did the trick and he was back in dream land in no time.

Much to Bentley's dismay, Wyatt is the equivalent of a garbage disposal, letting no morsel of food get away from his grasp. He is eating everything now, from tasty turkey on Thanksgiving to chunks of cheese and crackers for lunch. Occasionally Wyatt will have a change of heart and toss Bentley, who is sitting loyally by his side, a piece of meat loaf that he decided he could part with. I love watching them together, knowing that when Wyatt gets older he will always have a buddy... even if he is furry and rather annoying; Wyatt doesn't seem to mind.

Unless you have had kids, you can't really understand the excitement that comes with every new discovery. Maybe it is just a case of 1st-child syndrome. Bryan says I am setting myself up for disaster because I have done so much for Wyatt, between baby books and blogs I have a lot to live up to when baby #2 comes along.

But for now, I am loving every minute and I can't help but want to share our new discoveries and the fun I have everyday with the rest of the world... or at least with my 2 readers in Australia, whomever they may be.

Whats with the cape?

The other day I was talking with my mom on the phone and as I pulled Wyatt away from the brick hearth for the umpteenth time I asked her why it was that your kids are drawn to all the things you specifically don't want them to get into? She told me that is a question I will be asking myself for the next 18 years and should I find the answer, my blog will be an instant success.

Unfortunately, I don't have the answer. Nor do I have the answer to the thousand other questions that I will be approached with as Wyatt gets older. I think it is easy for people to read my blog and think that I am under the impression that I have it all figured out. Far from it! I question myself every day. I constantly wonder if I am doing it right. And what is right for me and my family, might be totally wrong for another. I don't think you can be a parent and not question every decision. To sleep with us or not? Demand or schedule feed? Cry it out or over comfort? It never ends... and we are only in month 6. See me in 18 years to see if I have any more figured out. My guess is I will be that much more frazzled and confused.

You see, we are all Super Moms (and Super Dads too!) in our own way. My girlfriend told me that all of the kids were going to want to come to my house to play because I would always have something fun or crafty for them to do. I told her that her house is going to be the favorite, thanks to the array of animals she and her husband continue to accumulate. Currently, its only 2 goats... but I'm sure as their family grows their farm will too. The point is that we all have our strengths and weaknesses and figuring out what that is, that is what makes you Super.

I enjoy cooking, therefore mixing up a batch of homemade baby food isn't a big deal to me. I also am a stay at home mom, which allows me the time and freedom to investigate different foods and recipes. For me, this works but that is not to say that its for everyone or that all parents should follow my lead. You have to figure out what works for you and your family. We all have our kryptonite in life... something I can't divulge should an evil nemesis ever try to conquer the world... but trust me, I have my weaknesses. We all do... I just choose to focus on my strengths.

Writing under the pseudonym 'SuperMom' is just a play on words. More of a punch at myself then anything, mocking the idea that I can do it all, allowing nothing to hold me back. But do I really think I am super? You bet I do. But is it because I make my own organic baby food? No. Its because I am a mom, my son is healthy and thriving, and in my spare time I still manage to get some laundry done. How super is that? Wyatt thinks pretty super.

And to this SuperMom... his opinion is the only one that matters.

Food for thought.

Today our pediatrician gave me the green light to give Wyatt snack foods to get his gums moving. As I examined the contents of the Gerber Graduate line I found myself drooling in the aisle. Everything sounded delicious... from the Strawberry Swirl Puffs, to the Banana Yogurt Melts. A mom with a toddler was standing next to me and after swapping age and birth dates (awkward silence after announcing I just turned 24 in August) she told me to check the ingredients before making my snack choice. It wasn't until I turned the package around and read the nutrition contents that I decided that it was too good to be true. Like any food, if it looks and sounds that good- more then likely its not good for you.

Have you ever actually tasted baby food?

When I started Wyatt on rice cereal at 4 months, I told myself that I was going to try everything that he ate, before he ate it. My first thought was that it definitely was lacking something and considered adding a bit of maple syrup and a dash of cinnamon to it. Of course, this is what my overactive taste buds are used to- sugar and salt... 2 things good baby food should be lacking.

I went on to try the peas, green cardboard mush and judging by the look on Wyatt's face, he was as disgusted with these as I was. All of the orange foods were good... squash, carrots, rutabaga, sweet potato. The fruits are always yummy... a milder version of applesauce in a sweet array of flavors. They also have a higher sugar content, making them tastier yet obviously not as nutritious. Now we are at a new stage... out with the prepackaged mash and in with the real food. I have dusted off my Magic Bullet and am prepared to blend our dinner to a choppy pulp. I was under the impression that Wyatt wasn't old enough for this yet, but our doctor said that since his weight is great we can start trying to cut out a milk feeding during the day. Hooray for me!

This of course means healthier eating for Bryan and I. Luckily I enjoy cooking and as I have said before, I love nothing more then finding ways to make healthy food actually taste good. I am far from the organic, granola loving mom shopping solely at Trader Joe's for fear their child should inhale ecoli from processed spinach (if this is you I'm sorry, its just not a lifestyle I can relate too). I am a real mom, on a real budget (something you cant be on if trying to go organic), with a real husband that refuses to eat steak and potatoes less then twice a week. This makes things a little trickier, but knowing that my sons (and okay, husbands) health is a priority makes the task less daunting.

A have a few rules that I live by:

1. Snacks CAN and WILL be nutritious.
2. Hot dogs are meant to be eaten only at birthday parties, if at all.
3. Convenient foods make lazy parents... and unhealthy kids
4. TV dinners are just that... made for kids that eat dinner in front of the TV.
5. The only option given at dinner is peas or carrots. Even that is dependent on moms mood.
6. If the first, second, or third ingredient is sugar, it isn't healthy. No matter what the label says.
7. If they can mash it up, add chemicals and call it baby food- so can I, sans the chemicals.
8. I cant expect my kids to eat spinach if they don't see any on my plate too

Don't get me wrong. I understand that sometimes you just have to do what you can do get by. Some kids are just picky eaters by nature. Myself included! My mom used to have to make me a separate dinner because I demanded chicken with every meal. I would not eat beans and refused to eat spaghetti with sauce. To this day I still wont eat pizza or chocolate. This actually works in my favor, especially in the diet department but seriously- what kid doesn't like pizza?

I'm sure if I drove to some specialty store I could have found Wyatt a healthier snack, but I didn't have the time or the patience to unload Wyatt from the truck again... nor was I going to attempt to make a homemade batch of Cheerios. So, instead I tucked an Organic box of Lil' Vegetable Crunchies into the bottom of my cart, the best choice out of them all and avoided eye contact with the 33 year old mother, born in June.

Half way there.

I glowered at the number staring back at me as I was weighing myself this morning after eating the last slice of apple crisp my mother-in-law insisted I take home (though I didn't put up much of a fight), cursing the 5 lbs. that refuse to shed themselves. It has been 6 months and I am well beyond the "I just had a baby" stage. As I started to give myself a half-time pep talk it suddenly hit me...

my son is 6 months old today.

We somehow have made it halfway through the year, though I still feel like it was just yesterday that we were making the trip home from the hospital. Nothing clarifies how quick time truly flies like watching a baby grow up, day by day. The days turn to months, the months to years and suddenly before you know it you are being guided to your seat by your son, dressed in a suit... waiting for your replacement to walk down the aisle. Ouch.

I know, I know... they have to grow and you have to let them but sometimes I look at Wyatt and I just want to go back in time. He is already reaching a stage where he doesn't enjoy being cuddled. He wont fall asleep in my arms anymore and I am beginning to think he loves his pacifier just a bit more then me. He is sleeping in his own room now, in his own bed, and all night long. I tried to cuddle him in our bed the other night, but he forcefully resisted, grabbing my eyebrow with his tiny, but Iron man like grip until I cried mercy. He knows what he wants and is slowly learning how to get it.

He is beginning to pick up the sign language. Though he isn't signing himself yet, I can tell that he understands the motions when I sign them. He gets a big smile and starts bouncing around when I sign 'Milk'. Bryan finds this one humorous (the motions imitate milking a cow, squeezing the hands open and closed) and is constantly pestering Wyatt with it. He closes his eyes and relaxes when I sign 'Sleep'. He opens his mouth when I sign 'More' and leans forward. 'O' means cheerios, a new experience he got to share with his cousin, Morgan. Its refreshing and exhilarating to see something that started as a boredom buster for myself is actually turning out to be useful. We have been working on 'Mommy' and 'Daddy'. Bryan insists on changing the sign for 'Daddy' because he thinks the one assigned by the ASL looks stupid (hold hand open and bring thumb to forehead). He instead made up his own, in which you hit yourself in the chest. I tried explaining that more then likely this will backfire and will make Wyatt look like he has a learning disability (imagine a 12 month old hitting himself in the chest repeatedly). I continue to do it the correct way... well see who wins.

We are also working on mastering the sippy cup. I started out giving it to him empty a few weeks ago just so he could get used to holding it. He quickly mastered that and was throwing it around the room in a few hours. One day I put some water in it so he could see that there is something inside of it, not thinking he would get any out, since technically they aren't supposed to have water until 6 months. I looked up from mopping the floors, only to find he had the sippy cup in his mouth properly and was guzzling away. *gulp* I guess that's what I get for underestimating my own son!

I remember thinking when we first brought Wyatt home- "This too shall pass...". He would be awake at midnight and I would remind myself that this will not last forever, someday he will sleep through the night in his own bed, and then someday he will want to spend the night somewhere else, and then someday he will no longer be sleeping in the bedroom downstairs... but instead in a dorm room across the state. The moments pass by too quickly to not enjoy every one of them, even the ones that take place at the wee hours of the night... or the early hours of morning.

Happy halfway baby boy... thank you for making the last 6 months the best 182.5 days of my life. We love you more then anything in this world... even Grandmas apple crisp.

Forever and always my baby you'll be.

To mom and dad.

I was lying in bed the other night when I suddenly became overwhelmed with the need to call my dad and tell him I love him... and I am sorry for my teenage years.

My dad was funny and goofy. Always making up silly things just to get us to laugh ("Waka, waka!"). My mom enjoyed life to the fullest and was constantly finding fun, creative things for my brother and I to do. When we got older, while the rest of the mom's were working on their tan at the beach, she was solemn skiing with us or jumping off the dock. Never worried about her hair or makeup... just enjoying life to the fullest and making the most of the moments she had with us. As I got older, my dad's antics only annoyed me and I wasn't interested in making memories anymore. They still tried, which only made me pull away more. Now that I have Wyatt, I know that for them, I was still a little girl in their eyes. I know that I will always look at Wyatt, no matter how old he is, and still see the baby he is now.

I know that someday Wyatt will no longer find my morning dance routine funny (Yes, we have one and it is awesome!). I know that he won't laugh at my funny faces or value my opinion in what he wears (I am relishing in the fact that he currently has no choice in this matter). I know that he will think I am a total dork and will not want to bring his friends over, for fear that I will still be in my pajama's when he gets home from school. I am accepting this fact now so that hopefully it doesn't hit me like a ton of bricks when he gets older.

How do you know when to stop doing the things that drive your kids crazy? And why should you? So what if I want to the moon walk in the kitchen every morning, much to Wyatt and his friends dismay? My dad used to pick us up from the bus stop and every day on the drive down our road he would ask how our day was. He would always pretend to be distracted, miss the turn in the road, and continue to drive into the field. All the while my brother and I are yelling at him, "DAD! Watch the road!" and he would quickly counter steer the van back onto the gravel... with Danny and I giggling in the back. He did this until I was 15. At the time, I hated it. Now... I love it and I am so thankful that he never stopped. My dad used to play the piano or guitar in the morning before we went to school. I don't really know why this bugged me at the time, but it did. I was a teenager and didn't really need a reason to be annoyed. Now... I want to learn to play the guitar so I can walk into Wyatt's room singing "Good Morning Sunshine" every morning. How cool would that be?

Wyatt, despite what we may lead you to think... you parents were wild and crazy in our younger years. We also at one point in time- were cool... though I know that will be a hard idea for you to comprehend. Your dad raced dirt bikes and even won a few trophies. Your mom was voted Best Dressed in her class and used to race her Honda on the straight stretches. We were fun and crazy and we have so many stories to tell you... when you are much, much older.

I guess the point is, you never feel old. You always feel like that cool, 16 year old that you were in high school. I know that I will embarrass my kids... and I cant wait to do it. Because hopefully someday, they will look back and laugh.

Just like I do now.

I love you mom and dad... and the crazy, fun, embarrassing mom you taught me to be.

Living in the now; eat, crawl, sleep.

Milestones of the first year are a moms best friend and worst enemy. We are constantly checking what our babies are supposed to be doing this week/month and feel a sense of pride if they should start doing them early... and angst when they start lagging behind. One thing I have learned is never to compare, never push, and never say never. I am learning to appreciate the little, every day things rather then continuously look forward to what tomorrow might bring.

Never to compare. I was reading one (of many) toddler development books and a few of them said that around 5 months you might start hearing some familiar words/babbles. This of course put me on babble alert, listening and interrupting every sound. Wyatt has recently started saying, "Ba, ba, ba..." and yesterday on our drive over to Gigi's house he switched to (much to my dismay) "Da, da, da...". I don't know if this qualifies as his first word, but I think it is close enough to count. I don't want to be one of those moms that says her son was talking at 5 months when really he was simply sputtering through slobbery lips, but I will say he is starting to pick up on this thing we call talking. I just shared this bit of news with Bryan (who is over east hunting at the moment) and though he doesn't say much, I could tell by the tone of his voice he is overjoyed. Ahhh... 2 prophecies fulfilled- had a son, first words were dada. 2 gold stars for mom. I think so. (Gold stars magically turn into dollar bills when dad is gone!)

Never push. We are currently working on crawling. He has the pieces to do it, he just cant figure out how to put them all together. He is sitting up now without any hesitation and gets annoyed if you try to lay him down. He rolls over like a fish out of water (and somewhat resembles one too) and can hold himself up with his arms. I have seen parents push their kids to crawl or walk and it just looks miserable. I want crawling and walking to come naturally to Wyatt at his own pace. I want him to discover it on his own, so that he realizes he can do it... with or without me by his side. Someday I will wish he would just sit still, so I may as well enjoy this time while he still does.

Never say never. I had originally said that we weren't going to start baby food until 6 months, but when our pediatrician gave us the green light at 4 months (due to a good weight/height) I decided to go with it. One more fun thing to add to our day. Being a stay at home mommy, adding peas to your day is considered 'spicing things up'. I started with the rice cereal but he quickly got bored with that. Carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are favorites... with peas and green beans coming in last. We recently started making our own food... an endeavor I have been looking forward to for a while and he is in love with avocado (great, the spendiest of them all) and rutabaga. We have also been playing around with a sippy cup and he is starting to get the hang of it. This picture is of Wyatt at Gigi's house, sitting in the same high chair that his mommy and Grandma used. We are so lucky to have such an amazing Great Grandma! We love our Gigi!

So many things and so much time. Most people say so little time, and so did I up until a few weeks ago. I had to stop myself recently because I found that I was just going through the motions of the day, not stopping to really just enjoy Wyatt for the baby he is at this very moment. Every day I was waking up and he was that much bigger. It started to wear on me, the idea that another day had come and gone and it was a day we could never get back. I thought maybe we didn't do as much with that day as we could have. So now I take a moment each morning after Wyatt wakes up and I just sit with him. Its our time, without toys or books or baby food. Just me and him. I can never get these moments back, but I can make sure we make the most of every moment God gives us.

Whats mine is yours... except our bed.

Bryan and I were laying in bed with Wyatt the other night flipping through Bryan's baby book. Filled with milestones and memories, it was fun to compare Bryan's accomplishments and growth to Wyatt's. We reached the page that commemorated his 5th birthday and were both caught off guard by the comment his mom made about him 'sneaking into bed with them that morning, something he still does about 3-4 times a week'. We both looked down at Wyatt and then at each other, knowing that the short lived experience of sharing the 'family bed' had to come to an end... especially if Wyatt ever wanted to have a little sister.

Figuring out the best place for your baby to sleep is one of the toughest decisions to make. When Wyatt was first born, I adamantly put my foot down against co-sleeping. After the initial adrenaline rush that comes with having a newborn baby wore off and fatigue set in, I slowly found myself falling asleep with Wyatt on the couch or in the rocking chair. Once we moved into our new house, Wyatt's bedroom is downstairs below us and I just wasn't ready to be so far away from him just yet. With him getting bigger by the minute, he is quickly outgrowing his pack n' play next to our bed and the inevitable move to his crib awaits us both.

There is nothing I love more then rocking Wyatt to sleep or smelling his warm, milky breath on my face as we fall asleep but I know that with independence comes courage and strength and those are 3 qualities all the best men in my life have, and what better time then the present to start teaching them?

So heres to sweet dreams and happy babies... hopefully.

Watching the clock.

A lot of people get the wrong idea when I tell them that I have Wyatt on a schedule.

They immediately imagine a baby boot camp being run out of Wyatt's nursery, with his Johnny Jump Up being used as a torture device and me yelling across the room, "Drop down and give me 20... minutes of tummy time!". Although Wyatt does look good in camo, I have hardly traded in his footie PJ's for combat boots.

Babies really aren't that different from adults except all of their emotions and needs are magnified. When they are sad they are REALLY sad and while we as adults might just need a hug when we cry, they need to be rocked until the world is well again. When they are happy, they are so happy that their bodies can hardly handle so much joy... so they spit up whatever is in their belly, making room for more giggles. The same goes for schedules and routines. Imagine your morning... you wake up at approximately the same time, you eat the same cereal, you have your coffee and only after all of these things have happened do you even begin to feel prepared to start the day. Now... imagine that you woke up only to find that you are out of coffee. I know from experience this immediately puts me in a bad mood, which usually lasts for a better part of the day. Babies are no different! So for Wyatt, it goes like this...

Wake up at 7 am. Have a quick nip and then back to sleep.
Wake up at 9 am. Full of smiles and ready to start the day.
Diaper change, get dressed, help mom clean the kitchen.
10 am. A bowl of rice cereal, followed by booboo!
11:30 am. Nap time!

1 pm. Booboo!
1-4pm. Go for a walk, followed by booboo!
4-5:30 pm. Nap time!
7 pm. A bowl of rice cereal, with a nip off the boob afterwards.
Bath time, Pajamas, then story time with mom or dad.
9:30 pm. Little snack before going off to bed.

Next day... repeat.

For us, this works. It doesn't mean I am counting down the minutes in between breakfast and lunch. If it is 9:45 and I can tell Wyatt is getting hungry, I feed him. If I lay him down for a nap and he is just not having it, I get him up and read another book, then try again. I can already tell that Wyatt has adjusted to his schedule and actually enjoys it! Did you know that a baby should not wake up crying? If they do, it means they aren't getting enough sleep or they aren't fully awake and you need to let them lay down longer. There is no better feeling then knowing that you understand your baby.

Schedules don't work for everyone. But humans, by nature, are creatures of pattern and predictability. Though our daily routines might be boring, beyond changing cereals or buying a different flavor of creamer now and then, we like boring and wouldn't have it any other way!

So before you question it... try it out. Change just one part of your morning routine and see if it throws off the rest of your day. Bryan has learned over time that if he leaves me an empty pot of coffee in the morning... more then likely he will be having Top Ramen for dinner.

But that's just us...

Now... off to see how Wyatt is progressing on reassembling his .22 Chipmunk.

Priorities. And Rice Cereal.

You never know just how much having a child will change you. I look back at who I was a year ago (when we found out our little miracle/big surprise was on the way) and while I can still look in the mirror and manage to recognize myself underneath the dark circles and 20 post pregnancy pounds I have left to lose, I know that I am an entirely different person.

I remember my mom telling me that to save time, sometimes she would only shave up to her knee... since that is all that anyone ever really saw anyways. At the time I thought she was crazy, but this morning as I shaved my ankle and jumped out of the shower to get Wyatt as he woke up (mornings together are our favorite) I began to think maybe she wasn't so crazy after all. It is the simple sacrifices we make for our children that they will remember most.

Though what some might view as a 'sacrifice', I look at as prioritizing my life. So while shaving my legs obviously is low on the list (Sorry babe!) by moving it in the #12 spot, I was able to bump 'Waking up with Wyatt' to spot #11. Spots #1-10 change daily, depending on Wyatt's mood, what time dad gets home for dinner, and if mom has enough energy left after it all to go for a jog.

Anyone who says that raising kids isn't a job in itself, has obviously never done so for any length of time. The difference between working 40 hour weeks in an office versus being a stay at home mom (or dad!) is that while the person in the office actually eats during their lunch break, we are doing laundry and chipping away at dried Cheerios plastered to the floor. While a lunch break in an office is scheduled around meetings, mine is scheduled around nap time. This is where the prioritizing really comes into play. I get 2 hours during the day to do with as I please. Do I choose to play on Facebook the entire time? Or should I get the dishes done and laundry folded? The bathroom needs to be cleaned, garbage taken out, floors mopped, beds made, lunch eaten... the list goes on. Like I said, prioritizing and deciding what is important is the key to success. Sometimes Facebook wins... sometimes the laundry gets put away. Everyday is different.

Speaking of eating lunch (we usually drink ours!) Wyatt started on Rice Cereal this morning. He seemed to enjoy it, the bit that got into his mouth anyway. I am really excited to get him eating new foods. Before Wyatt was even a thought in my mind, I used to say that I was excited to 'have children so I could find ways to inconspicuously add spinach to every meal'. Now is my chance... and I am anxious to get started. They say not to start the rice cereal until 4 months but I thought since my son is so advanced (have I mentioned that?) I may as well give 'er a go now. He will be 4 months old next week and something tells me 7 days isn't going to hurt him... hopefully.

Sorry Wyatt... your mom is a bit of a rebel when it comes to infancy guidelines.

So that's it in our world. Getting started on rice cereal and finding time this evening to take a long shower are todays priorties. Who knows what tomorrow might bring...

Just rolling with the punches.

Its amazing how quickly babies change.

Wyatt has definitely put life into perspective, making me cherish every moment and not take a second for granted. Because in that second, everything can change.

Yesterday we met up with Auntie Amanda and 3 of our favorite cousins to go for a walk. While stopping at a crosswalk, Amanda told the kids to stop and to always make sure that you wait until the car has completely stopped before stepping into the street. Right as Logan and I made our way across... with Amanda, Sofia and the jogger stroller holding Avery and Wyatt right behind us, a car slammed into the back of the motorcycle that had stopped for us, causing it to slide onto its side stopping a few feet in front of us.

After the initial shock, Amanda jumped into action as I stood on the sidelines with the kids. As I stood there watching the aftermath, the driver inspected the damage and the motorcycle driver got up unharmed, I began to go over the 'what-ifs' that can haunt a mother's dreams.

What if I had taken my own stroller rather then doubling up with Amanda? My stroller could have stuck out into the motorcycles path. What if Amanda had been in front of me with the stroller? What if Logan was on his big bike rather then his scooter and wasn't able to stop in time? What if... what if... what if...?

But alas, I looked around... realized that everyone was fine and listened to Amanda use this as a learning lesson for Logan, as to why he always has to look both ways. We weren't lucky that no one was hurt and that the ending turned out the way it did. Someone was watching over us, making sure we lingered on the sidewalk just a little longer then necessary.

So today... we awoke and thanked the good Lord to be alive. While singing the "Baby Bumble Bee" song we set out onto the floor for some tummy time. Wyatt can hold his head up with such might now that it still startles me sometimes to see his head in such an awkward position. Bobbing along like a bobber on a fishing pole, he smiles happily from his new point of view. It was during one of these fits of delight that Wyatt also discovered this morning...

that he can roll over.

He did it once without realizing it. At my screams of astonishment he started laughing (another new accomplishment) and I called for Bryan to grab the video camera. I rolled him back over onto his tummy, thinking maybe it was an accident and he wouldn't be able to do it again. Before I could even yell at Bryan ("CAMERA-NOW!!!") he had rolled back onto his back, confirming that he could indeed roll over on his own. Finally, on the third time the record button was pushed and the cameras were rolling... capturing the moment.

So here we are... celebrating this newest milestone. After thinking about the 'what-ifs' all night I have decided to put them behind me and focus on all of the 'what-will-bes' that lie ahead of us.

Amen.

2 months, 3 weeks, 1 day... an update.

The problem with a blog is that it requires Internet.

Something that up until today, we have been without for the last month. Not having the Internet is almost like going to the store and realizing you left your cell phone at home. Even though more then likely no one is going to call you, you still feel like you should go back and get it... just in case. Since he has already changed so much since I last wrote, I will go ahead and give you the last month of Wyatt's life in a nutshell.

Poop, Eat, Sleep... x 30.

Kidding. Though maybe that is what all those normal, run-of-the-mill, babies are doing... our extraordinary son is far beyond the normal standards of infancy.

Kidding again.... but isn't it funny how you always think your little one can do anything? Not only can he do anything, he can do it 1000 times better, cuter, faster then anyone else? I think its just bred into us to think our kids are the best... or else when they get older and the cuteness wears off and the awkward, moody stage of the teenage years kick in, we might end up leaving them on the corner. Luckily I have a few more years to figure out a better way to deal with that...

So anyways, Wyatt- or Einstein reincarnate- is smiling now which is amazing. He has been for awhile and now we are quickly approaching a possible giggle. I can see it in there and I can almost hear it, but its like he can't figure out how to get it out. He is drooling all over the place which makes me think teeth might be on the way. He is holding toys and bringing them to his mouth, where he attempts to gum the life out of them. Bentley is beginning to discover the similarities between his and Wyatt's toys and it is all I can do to keep Wyatt from sharing them with him. He can almost roll over but depending on what jammies he has on, his leg tends to get caught and he can't quite get it out from behind him. So close though... so close. He is sleeping through the night... or what I consider a night. I put him to bed at 10 and he wakes up around 6 wanting to eat. I am trying to push him to wait until 7, a more reasonable wake-up time for me, but alas I have realized this is his world and I am just living in it. He is sleeping in his own bed again after a quick dabble into the world of co-sleeping. I loved having him there, which I knew I would, but Bryan was more leery of the situation and anxious to get him back on his own. As soon as I put him back he started sleeping through the night again... so I guess it works out for the good of all.

Bryan and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary on July 11th. Bryan's sister, Amber, watched him for us while we made our way to Cannon beach. It was so nice to be able to get out, just the two of us. You don't realize how much a baby consumes your life until he is out of it for a bit. But after a few hours we were ready to return to our little one. Amber was rather surprised we were back as early as we were, but I was to get our little family together again.

So that's life as it is for the moment... the thing about babies is that they change every day, which means you have to change too. I am still trying to figure out what it means to be a mom and a wife... and a friend... and a daughter... and all the other roles I play in this world. Its not an easy balance, but one I think I am managing to maintain. My family always comes first and as long as I remember that and keep Wyatt and Bryan in the forefront of all other things I know we will get by.

So here's to tomorrow and the changes it will surely bring... like crawling? Oh dear.

Happy Bath= Happy Mom

Since coming home from the hospital I have heard Wyatt bellow a newborn wail only once...


and it was during his first bath.

I wanted everything to be perfect. Matching turtle towel and washcloth: check. Tiny bottle of Aveno ultra-expensive oatmeal baby shampoo: check. Frog shaped water bucket to not only effectively but cutely get the suds off his head: check. I was as prepared as a new mother could be for this momentous occasion in my son's life. With Bryan by my side, camera in hand... I slowly lowered Wyatt into his bath.

Now one of the things I did not have is one of those great little rubber duckies that tell you when the water is too hot. In our case though, the duck would have turned blue. I had read so many baby books that I had scared myself into thinking that I would make Wyatt soup during bath time if the water was too hot. So instead I made the water a little bit warmer then say... a kiddie pool that one, maybe two just to be fair, little kids had peed in. Bryan tried to tell me it was cold but I wouldn't listen. I am mom... mom knows best. Duh.

So of course, upon entry Wyatt screamed for his life... afraid I was trying to make him into a Whale shaped ice cube. I yelled at Bryan to take pictures to which he responded "Why would you want to remember this??". Before the plastic frog cup even knew what hit him he was being flung for through the air. I grabbed Wyatt out of the tub handed him off to Bryan, who was proudly holding his turtle towel and gave up. I walked out to the dining table, stuck the 'First Bath' sticker on May 12th and retreated to my bedroom.

When I failed, rather then take the high road and 'try, try again' I decided to put an end to bath time altogether. Yes, I still washed Wyatt down every few days but did it instead while he was on the changing table rather then in the whale shaped newborn bather I desperately had to have. Finally I decided I had to do it. I am mom... mom does not know best BUT she does not give up.

So last night, while Bryan was gone I filled up the bath, got all my things ready- this time trading in the tiny turtle towel for a big soft, fluffy one- cranked the heat in the bathroom and stripped Wyatt down. I slowly lowered Wyatt into the water making sure not to lose eye contact and tada- we had bath time success. Not a single tear was shed as I washed him down... he even cooed a bit as I scrubbed one of his chins. He loved it... which made me love it. Even after we were all done I let him sit in it for a bit, just to get used to the water. It was perfect.

So here is what I learned. I am mom. Duh. I do not always know what is best BUT in trying to figure it out I am giving the best I can give which in the end... is the best there is.

Nursery blues.

Were moving.

I knew the day would come when we would have to say goodbye to this little rental that has been so good to us, but I didn't think that day would come only 3 short weeks after the birth of our son. Bryan and I have so many memories here. He proposed to me in the kitchen, in his underwear, while I attempted to make the perfect potato soup. This is the home we came back to as husband and wife after our honeymoon. This is where, if our memory serves us, we started our little family. This is the where we brought our son home to. So many wonderful memories. I thought that there would be many more to come... which is why I didn't think twice about painting an elaborate nursery for Wyatt when I was a mere 22 weeks pregnant.

I knew I wanted to do a nature theme, hoping to instill a love for the outdoors in him as early as possible. Calming greens with hints of browns and reds. Perfection. I looked online for ideas until finally deciding on a simple tree with branches and leaves flowing across the walls. I resanded the crib that we bought for him, getting rid of the teeth marks the previous owner had left in the railings. I found the matching changing table and Grammy gave us the perfect rocking chair to complete the set. Grandma Juanita had a beautiful quilt made for him, covered with deer and bear prints. All of this together made for the perfect nursery to bring our son home to... and that is exactly what we did.

Now will Wyatt remember this nursery? Unless I ever manage to print the pictures out that I took of it, probably not. Has he slept in his crib while looking up at the flowing branches of the tree that mommy painstakingly painted for him while her sciatica flared up? Once, but only while I quickly swapped out the poo covered changing table cover for a clean one. Will he know that I love him and want nothing but the best for him in life and will do anything to give him that even if it means inhaling paint fumes while 22 weeks pregnant only to have to do it all again less then a year later? You bet he will.

So am I sad that I have to leave the nursery behind? Yes, of course I am. I had envisioned many memories that would take place there. But rather then focus on what would have been I am looking forward to what will be. Wyatt will have a new room, one that I get to decorate and paint... again. Luckily my dream job is an interior designer so I have no problem doing this. He will have a house that he can call his own. He will have a big yard that he and Bentley can play in... woods to roam around in... trees to make forts in. Bryan and I are giving him the childhood that we both had. I don't remember my first room. I doubt that Bryan does either. But I do remember our barn and all the neat stuff I had stashed away there. I do remember our tree fort and the memories my brother and I made there. I remember summers at the river, marshmallow roasts at night, snowball fights in the pond. Those are the things I remember. I can only hope that even if Wyatt has to leave his first nursery behind, he will know that I tried to give him the best... and in doing so we hopefully gave him something better.

To our new adventures on Noakes Road and the memories to be made... and the nurseries to be painted while were there.

Happy Mother's Day

My first Mother's day has come and gone.

I am officially part of the club. My membership pass came in the form of an 8.6 lb baby.

I think I set myself up for disaster from the beginning. I am one of those people who imagine something in their heads and when it doesn't go according to your vision, which it almost never does, you feel a sense of disappointment. Add this with a massive dose of hormones and a slight case of postpartum depression and you get unexplainable tears and a very confused husband.

So we headed off to lunch at Camp 18, where I got a sandwich that was only so-so delicious (remember in my head I imagined myself eating caviar off a diamond encrusted gold plate) followed by a trip to the beach where the sun was only peeking through the clouds, rather then then hot, tropical golden rays I had envisioned for Wyatt's first beach trip. As I sat in the backseat of the truck feeding Wyatt, crying because they misread his name during his debut announcement at church and because Bryan decided to go fishing on my first Mother's day morning rather then lay in bed with me (though I told him to go he should have known that decision would haunt him later), I gave up on my perfect Mother's day. All of this among a list of other things that had gone wrong made for a horrible, hectic Mother's day.

But then we arrived home. I had fallen asleep, thankfully, on the drive back and came inside to find Bryan changing Wyatt and getting him ready for bed. After some high quality and much needed snuggle time on the couch the 3 of us got into bed together and watched a movie, though we were more intrigued with the beautiful little guy lying between us.

It was at that moment that I realized that all day I had been focusing on what had gone wrong, rather then realizing all the things that went right.

Wyatt woke up at 7:30 that morning, allowing me an extra hour of sleep. That in itself is the best Mother's day present I could have asked for... though caviar and diamonds still take a close second. He also didn't cry all day... not once. Not during church, not on the ride to lunch, not during lunch, not on the way to the beach, nor at the beach, not at Dairy Queen, or on the overly long drive home due to all the men taking a detour because they wanted to see some elk. Which by the way, besides two raghorns, weren't there making the extra hour of driving somewhat pointless. But still Wyatt was perfect... all day long.

And then of course there is Bryan, who tried his best to make me happy and didn't give up when all hope seemed lost. I am so lucky to have him and even if he didn't manage to bring me breakfast in bed he gave me our son... the best gift I could have asked for. He is also a hands on dad, which may even take the number one spot away from that extra hour of sleep. He got Wyatt ready for bed without me having to ask. He changed what I can only imagine was a very icky diaper. He stepped up... when I had checked out.

Lesson learned: life isn't perfect. When you imagine your perfect day, make sure and throw a few imperfections in there or you are more then likely going to be disappointed. Or learn to roll with the punches... and hope you have a husband and son as amazing as mine that can roll with you.

Happy Mother's Day...

Baby wise... revised.

As some of you may know I was planning on using a sleep system that is referred to as 'Baby Wise' with Wyatt. Its not so much a system as it is a routine for you and the baby- feed, wake, sleep. A rather simple system but for the restless baby it can be a hard pattern to get the hang of. There is more to it then just that- self soothing, no co-sleeping (this is one of the key points) and full feedings rather then little nibbles here and there throughout the day. 15 chapters and 362 pages later I was ready to bring this baby home and start our boot camp training session.

Well so far I haven't had to do anything. From the first night in the hospital, like clockwork, Wyatt woke himself every 3 hours to eat (you usually have to work to get them to 3 hour increments rather then 2) and then went back to sleep. Our nurse informed us this was the 'honeymoon period' for parents and that it would wear off by the time we got home. Lucky for us... our nurse was wrong.

Wyatt has transitioned so well. At first we wondered if his vocal cords or lungs were fully developed because he wouldn't cry. One application of Vaseline to his freshly circumcised manhood quickly confirmed that we had no need to be concerned. He just doesn't cry, unless obviously in need of some sort of attention and even then he usually just lets out a whimper at which mom or dad quickly appear and all is well again. Boob, diaper, book (How do dinosaurs count to 10? is the current favorite), tummy time, sleep. Simple. Of course that's not to say that we haven't had a few hiccups along the way. One night wake time extended itself to 1 o'clock in the morning due to daddy overstimulating him with laughter at his little hiccups. Off to bed daddy went- onto the couch mommy stayed. But that's to be expected... even though I will be the first to admit our son is perfect- the system is not therefore you have to leave some wiggle room and just accept that sometimes derailing from the schedule is okay.

I just love being a mom. Maybe I lucked out... maybe not. I don't really have anything to compare Wyatt's behavior to so for me he is the baseline of my knowledge and know how of newborns. I may have a reality check with our next baby... but in the meantime I am just going to enjoy this bliss, along with my 6-7 hours of nightly sleep.

Thank you Wyatt for being you. Mommy and daddy are so lucky... and I promise we will never let you forget that.

Welcome home Wyatt!

April 27th, 2010- Wyatt Archer Dennis greeted the world at 11:47 pm.

After four and a half long and strenuous hours of pushing, he finally arrived. Dad said the first thing he thought of when he saw him was that he looked like a lobster out of the water, with his big hands flailing around. When they set him on my chest and I looked up and saw Bryan crying tears that only a new father could understand, I didn't know what to think. 1000 thoughts flashed through my head in a moment.

I am a mom.

I have a son.

He has my chin!

Why isn't Bryan taking pictures?
When do I get to eat?

The last one may seem trivial but after almost 30 hours of active labor on an empty stomach it was all I could do to keep myself from asking for a BigMac while Wyatt was crowning.

Both of his grandmas were doing anxious laps around the maternity ward when finally, as they approached Room 330 for the final time, they heard cheers from the nurses and the joyous cry of their new grandson.

Bryan proudly took his napkin with all the details written on it out to the waiting room to fill in our anxiously awaiting family and friends.

8.6 pounds
21 inches long
14.25 head circumference

10 fingers

10 toes

Absolutely perfect

Oh... and mom is doing good too.

Now were home and the fun really begins. So far, Wyatt is doing great at adjusting to life outside the womb. His favorite things are mommy's boobs and sleeping... like father, like son. Bryan is the diaper changing king. He is also the burp master... one thing mom just can't get the hang of. Every day there is something new to be learned... if not by Wyatt, then by us. This is all new to us. Every breath he takes is a miracle. Every poopy diaper brings a sense pride. We watch him sleep and while his chest rises and falls with every breath we realize that we created this. Together, we made something amazing.

So here we go... down the road of parenthood. I have no idea where we are going to end up... all I know is we are going there together as a family... and we couldn't ask for anything more.

April 20th... come and gone.

I had a plan.

That was my first mistake.

You can't have plans when it comes to having children, whether they are here already or still parked in your big basketball of a belly. I guess this might be my first lesson in motherhood. I hate being late. I make a point to be somewhere 5 minutes early no matter where I am going. Dinner, movies, appointments, Walmart. Bryan is just the opposite and apparently his son has already inherited one of his more annoying traits. If Wyatt comes out biting his nails... I will just go ahead and pack my bags now.

Wyatt was supposed to be here April 20th. No later, though earlier would have been acceptable. That day of course came and went... as did the next 6. Not knowing what a contraction should feel like... every bubble and pop made me want to grab the keys and get on the road. But alas, here I remain... with my faithful laptop perched on my ever expanding belly.

So maybe this is the first test. Patience.

But that only goes so far and luckily with today's amazing advances in medical technology they can now put a nice number on how far you have to stretch your patience and mine ends... tomorrow. At 8 pm sharp I will enter the hospital, check into my suite, get hooked up to a constant drip of something close to wonderful and awake in the morning to the sweet coo's of my baby boy. That is how it goes right? Aww the joys of the unknown. Let me linger in my naive world until then.

So here it is...

Lesson #1: Learn to go with the flow... and accept that being 5 minutes (or 7 days) late is okay if means your child is better off because of it.

See you on the other side.