Ahhhh....

The difference a day makes.

Depending on the length of the naps- Brody has been taking 2-4 naps a day. (4 when he gets off to a bad start and only sleeps a half hour or so)... Basically, he was up for 2-2 1/2 hours before he lays down again- except in the mornings when he wanted to lay down 1 1/2 hours after he woke up. But apparently that is changing. The last 2 mornings he's been up over 3 hours before he will sleep, but has been getting great naps once he does lay down. So I think he is transitioning to 2 regular naps a day. Perhaps we'll even be able to get on a schedule? Maybe? PLEASE? =)

Boycott

Argh. That's really about all I need to say to sum up how I feel right now. Brody is boycotting sleep. He took two awesome naps yesterday, but ever since has decided that sleep just isn't much fun. He wouldn't go down the last night, he was awake (and SCREAMING) for 2 1/2 hours last night (I tried drugs, I tried rocking, I tried letting him cry, I finally had to feed him, but he wasn't hungry, but at least it got him to calm down...), and now this morning, he wouldn't nap either. He is finally down, and has been asleep for almost an hour.

I can't help but think that his teeth are bugging him, but the Tylenol isn't helping, cold binkies aren't helping... there are no red bumps in his mouth, no indication whatsoever that he's closer to popping a tooth through.

Any advice? Any good reason why he wouldn't be sleeping? He's definitely tired. He's not running a fever.

Argh, indeed.

Silly Quiz

OK... I took this silly little quiz... and here are the results:

What can you expect for your baby? He will be very popular. He will not have any problems making friends. He is fun, optimistic, and full of energy. He may not be the most organized person but he thinks well on his feet. He likes to see everyone get along and may meddle in other people’s relationships in his attempt to keep the peace. He is outgoing and not afraid of meeting new people. In school, he is likely to be in the drama club, on a sports team, or involved in the yearbook committee. He enjoys socializing and he may be everyone’s best bud and confidant. He likes to give out advice even though his advice is not always the best. Even though he is very popular, he is very insecure. He likes to be praised by others and will seek out people that give his attention.

He will likely pursue a career working with people. He would be miserable if he had to work in a cubicle with nobody to talk to. He may be indecisive when picking a career. He may try more than one job before he settles on one he likes. Career choices may include waiter, journalist, teacher, health professional, stockbroker, or sales representative.

Actually, what's funny is that seeing how he reacts to things and people, I have thought many of these same things!

Sleep Changes Everything

So for the most part, we're pretty lucky in the sleep thing. Brody sleeps decently- though he does typically wake up 2-3 times a night looking for the pacifier which has been thrown to the floor, or is in his hand and he can't really figure out that it would solve all of his problems, even if he is capable of finding his mouth with it. But those 2-3 times a night of waking up, plus waking up when Matt feeds him around 6, well, it's hard. It's hard to never get more than 3 hours of sleep at any given time, and it wears on you. So while it's not always the quantity of sleep that's missing when you are a parent, the quality certainly decreases.

But last night? Last night he went to bed around 8, slept until 5:45, and went back to sleep at 6:15 until 8. And me? I slept from 10 until 5:45- WITHOUT. WAKING. UP. Not once, not ever. And it was the best feeling in the world. I even stayed in bed and slept on and off until 7:30. I mean seriously? Is there anything better in life?

Mom's Zoo-rrific Birthday Pics

Brody loves his Auntie Keri!
Brody's First Carousel Ride! Weeeeeeee!

Tuckered Out!

And Party Pics

Another Exciting Saturday Night!

Brody with Cousin Mandi
Brody & Great-Grandma
Brody's First Tractor Ride
Brody's first 4 Wheeler Ride
Brody's first visit to the ocean! BRRRRRRRR...... (Early May isn't the warmest time to visit Cape Cod)

And more pics from the trip....

More Beach Pics

Right before he became a rolling maniac

CONGRATULATIONS!

Brody, Matt, and I want to send our congratulations out to Kate, Dan, Jayden, and new additions (yes, plural) Andie & Allie. Matt and Dan used to work together, and I'm sorry, er, happy to say that we are responsible for his poker addiction. =) We couldn't be happier for you guys, and can't wait to meet the two newest family members! (Oh, you can check out pictures and Dan's blog here.)

Taking a page out of his mother's book

My child is STUBBORN! He wants his way, he wants it now, and by god, he's going to scream his head off until he gets it. Anyone who has been around when he's been hungry has an idea what I am talking about. Now we also have that scream when he wants to get somewhere and there is, say, a pillow in the way. Or if he wants to play with the kitties and they would prefer anything else. Or if he gets laid down on his tummy, and that. is. the. LAST. place. he wants. to. be. And don't you DARE forget it! Geesh! Don't for a minute go thinking that just because he will roll himself onto the tummy, does it mean that it is in any way ok to lay him down on the floor that way.

BM201

For those of you who have access (or those of you who would still like to request it)... there is a new post up at Baby Making 201. (I figured I would let you know since it doens't work with Bloglines or anything...)

A day full of emotion

My first mother's day was far from one full of flowers and pampering. Though to be fair, there was some of that. The "boys" made the "girls" breakfast this morning and we had a lot of fun. Brody even got some of the eggs, pancakes, and strawberries- and he loved them all!

Then we had the not so fun job of moving my grandpa from his assisted living apartment into a skilled nursing facility. He didn't seem to mind much, but he also didn't fully understand. He kept asking if he was staying there for the night, while the woman in the hall kept muttering "Barbara Ann" over and over. I doubt I need to tell anyone how hard it is to see the people you love suffer- I think sometimes it hurts more than being the one who is suffering.

All I know, is that it's days like today that I am especially grateful for the blessing of my son. Not because I finally get to be a mom (which is wonderful in and of itself), but that it truly brings home to me just how precious life is. Just how precious health is. And it reminds me all over again, just how lucky I am. I don't think there is anything I could give my son that can ever compare to what he gives me on a daily basis.

Happy Birthday to Mommy!

My boys definitely spoil me! Not only did I get a new cell phone (courtesy of the fact that I sent Matt's through the washer & dryer, so he got mine, and I got a sparkly new one... yes spoiled, I know.) But my boys got me a grandfather clock too! It is just about the best present EVER. And it came wrapped in paper decorated with my little boy! Perfect. =)

So thank you Brody & Daddy... I love you!

(And thanks to Erin for the night out yesterday... it was just what I needed, and my toes are very pretty!)

And for those of you wondering... I'm now the big 3-0. Scary, eh? So today we're off to the zoo & a bbq at MeMa & PapPap's.

Safe and Sound!

We are back safe and sound. Brody is adjusting to being home fabulously... though I could stand for a few less middle of the night re-plugging's. Luckily I have a marvelous husband who took over last night, as I felt like I had gotten run over by a tractor trailer. But he seems to be back in the right time zone, so that's a start.

A couple of quick cool things- Brody can scoot backwards... a pseudo backwards crawl, though he doesn't really lift his belly off the ground much. He is also starting to realize that he can make it all the way across a room with the rolling. Apparently it is time for baby proofing and baby gates! I think that will be on the agenda for tomorrow... along with picking up the Pack N Play that we left at the airport. OOPS!

This weekend will be busy, so pictures from the trip will have to wait until Monday probably... sorry!

Long Distance Blogging

This post is brought to you from Bellingham, Massachusetts's. The past 7 days have been BUSY! Brody, Pap Pap, and I put in over 1000 miles in the car in 3 days after flying across the country. But now we have been here since Friday afternoon, and are staying put until Wednesday. Probably a little too long for my financial well being, since I am having an affair with New England gift shops. I always get so many cute things when I am out here, and am now finally getting in the mood to start decorating our place.

Brody has been The. Best. Baby. EVER. throughout the week. He is an old pro at flying, and barely batted an eyelash at 7 hours a day in the car. And now that we are settled, he's just been having a ball. He is madly in love with Sophie- she has gorgeous blong hair, and loves to kiss him all over. (I'll post pictures later, I'm not sure if Matt brought the cord to upload pictures.)

Brody has also learned that rolling isn't really the horrible thing that he thought it was. In fact, he likes it so much that he is boycotting sitting. He stiffens up and doesn't let you sit him down, preferring to stand or lay down. If you manage him to wrangle him into a sitting position, he doesn't like to stay that way, and has hit his head a few times while we have been here.

But he has also gotten better about eating. He has eaten Shoefly Cake, Pancakes, and Bananas- and even manages to get them chewed and swallowed.

Ok- pictures later... I'm going to search through Pam's recipes for something yummy to make when we get home.