Show Us Your Fridge!

So I've been brainstorming, trying to come up with some kind of new idea for my blog.  Something different.  Something that hasn't been done before.  Honestly, is there anything new under the sun??

I think I might have found it.  It's a little strange, I'll admit, but the other day I was staring into the fridge (waiting for something delicious to appear, no doubt) and this idea took root.

So without further ado, Show Us Your Fridge!

This is how it works.  Snap a photo of some part of your refrigerator.  Door, main part, freezer, whatever.  Then give a little description of what you've got going on in there.  Link up at the bottom of this post so everyone can snoop around in your fridge!!  :)

Here's a nice big photo of the inside of my fridge.  That hasn't been deep cleaned in a loooong time.  There's some prune juice in the back left from when JJ was constipated.  CoffeeMate is a must-have for me.  The big water jug is Zoe's.  We're weird like that.

The middle shelf has some Chobani, my breakfast of choice.  Also some leftoever Pasta Alfredo that may or may not still be good.  Cool Whip is leftover from making dirt cake.

Those eggs on the third shelf down should be in the egg-holder in the door...but they're not.  JJ's Easter eggs (that I actually decorated...) are in the egg carton on the left.  And need to be thrown out.  That Ricotta cheese is going to make some yummy baked ziti. 

Honesty time?  That box of clementines in the left-hand drawer has been there since before I had JJ.  I promise they're not fuzzy yet.  And in the right-hand drawer there's some scallions and parsley.

So here's the fun part!  Go open your fridge and take a picture, then write your own blog post and link it up here!  I think this has the potential to be fun...or maybe I'm the only one who thinks it's entertaining to snoop in other's fridges.  :)

Working Mom

Working Mom.  For real?

While battling my way in the door tonight with JJ in his carseat, his massive diaper bag, my purse, water bottle and breast pump, I realized something.  I am a working Mom.

Granted, I'm only working 2 days a week.  But I think it still counts.

A few weeks before I was scheduled to head back to work from maternity leave, I woke up in the middle of the night.  I was about to have a panic attack thinking about going to work and leaving my baby.  I made my way to the living room (so as not to disturb my sleeping baby and hubby) and had myself a good cry.  A really good cry.

Things looked a little better in the morning, but I still worried myself almost sick about going back to work.

Truth be told, I'm very torn about working.  I told John yesterday that if I didn't like my job, I would not want to be working.  But I do.  I love my job and all the people there. If JJ wasn't around, it's exactly the place I'd like to be.  But I miss that boy so much when I'm not with him!

I mean, come on...who wouldn't want to spend every waking moment with this cutie?!

This has given me a whole new perspective on all those working mothers who left their babies with me over the years.  Many of them didn't even know me the morning they first dropped their child off in my room.  Many of them had never left their child for any period of time.  I'm so blessed to be able to leave JJ with my parens, where I know he's getting all the snuggles and kisses he'd be getting from me.

Well this working Mom has been up for far too many hours.  It's bedtime.  :)

Three Month Old Baby!

Our sweet little baby is getting so big!!

JJ is still sleeping so amazingly well.  We moved him to his crib and there were no issues whatsoever.  We do have a video monitor, so that helps.  Sometimes he'll go 10 hours, eat, then sleep another 2.  Sometimes he'll go 12 hours, and then he's up for the day.  (Well, until his nap, that is!)  His naps vary between 1 and 2 hours, but he usually naps anywhere from 3-4.5 total during the day.  He's eating well and taking bottles well from my parents.  He seems a little less interested in eating during the morning (atleast with me) and very demanding in the evening!  Sometimes I feel like he doesn't eat as much as he should, but he's happy so I'm happy.  Really it's hard to tell how much he's getting anyway.

At his 3-month mark, JJ is becoming so content (most of the time)!  He still (sometimes) has fussy times, especially in the evenings, or when he's too tired.  But when he's full and rested, he'll lay for long periods on his play mat, or on his boppy on the floor, or on our bed.  He's been rolling over (belly to back) quite often, and it's difficult to get tummy time in because he keeps flipping over!  He does a little better in his jolly jumper, but still only for short periods, and with blankets supporting him.  I'm anxious to get his exer-saucer type thing out and put it together...but I know he's not ready for it yet.  :)  He still loves to be carried, and when he's cranky, taking him outside will always calm him down.

JJ's smiles have become constant!  When I go to get him out of his crib in the morning, even if he's been crying, as soon as he sees me I get a huge grin out of him.  I love that!!!  And all day long he just loves to smile.  His tongue is always going too.  He sticks it out, rolls it and chews on it.  His little giggle is just the best thing ever.

Diapers are still size 2.  Clothes are fully 3-6 months, and I think I need to start going through the 6-9 month stuff now.  This kid is growing like a weed!  I wanted to weigh him (by weighing myself with and without him) but he's napping right now, so that'll have to wait.  He doesn't go back to the doctor for another month.

JJ loves TV.  A better parent might not embrace that so much, but I love it.  :)  TV, of course, should be limited for kids.  But it's nice to be able to plop them down for a few minutes when you need to get something done!  He especially seems to like baseball, which Daddy loves. 

I'm trying to think of what's new this past month.  He's started grabbing at toys!  He also likes his taggy blanket and lots of times has the ribbons in his mouth.  He is sucking his thumb more and more!  Especially in the bath, for some reason.  JJ went through a time where he really didn't like the car, but he seems to be doing better now.  He loves to go for walks, and I love that too!  Whenever the weather is ok, we go. 

Uhoh, naptime is over, so I guess this update is as well.  Happy 3 months buddy!  We love you!!

and here's my opinion...

I am not one to make waves.  I'm the type who avoids confrontation.  If I think something I say will cause controversy, most likely I'll just avoid saying it.  I'll speak my mind, in a group of like-minded people.  But in a group with diverse opinions and ideas?  I'll most likely be quite tight-lipped.  Is this a flaw?  Most likely yes.  But it's just the way I usually am.  Don't like to rock the boat.

However.

I'm tired of having to see everyone else's ideas and opinions plastered all over facebook.  And not say anything.  Because I don't want to lose friends, because I don't want to be thought of as 'intolerant' and because I'm just afraid to start an argument that I might lose.  I'm tired of that.

So here's my opinion.  God created Adam and Eve.  They were the first family, and the family that all families thereafter should be modeled after.  It's sad to me to see the breakdown of basically the first 'institution' God put in place.  I don't have time to be philosophical about this, and I'm not going to quote Bible verses here, because likely anyone who disagrees with me isn't all that interested in what the Bible has to say on the matter. 

I guess I just wanted to kind of get this off my chest...whether anyone actually reads this/cares about this/agrees or disagrees with this.

But now I have a crying baby, so anything else I have to say will have to wait.

I thought...

I thought that he'd be a good husband. 

I never could have known how much he'd make me laugh, roll my eyes, think about something differently and love.

I thought he'd be a good provider.

I never could have known how he'd sacrifice his time, sleep, hobbies and other interests to give me what I want and need.

I thought he'd be a good Daddy.

I never could have known that amazing way he looks at our son, how he talks to him in that silly voice, how he loves JJ more than anything else...

Now I know. 

I'm blessed with an amazing husband, provider and Daddy to my sweet baby boy.  Happy Father's Day John, you're the best!!  I love you!

This is me...

...attempting to be organized and frugal and resourceful. 



We'll see how the next couple weeks go...

Bed Making

Sometimes it's difficult to get things done with an infant around.  When JJ's awake he likes to be entertained by us.  Sometimes just talking to him and making faces at him is enough.  Sometimes the TV being on is enough.  Sometimes he needs to be held.  If he's full and not too tired, he loves to lay on our bed.

This morning I wanted to change our sheets, but it wasn't time for JJ to nap yet and there's really nowhere in our room to lay him down except for the bed.  So I put him on the bed and moved him from place to place while I took off the old sheets and put on the new.

Sorry for the blurry pic, but I was trying to take it without the flash and he wouldn't stay still!

It may have taken a little longer than normal, but I got the sheets changed and JJ stayed happy.

Have I mentioned how JJ loves looking at himself in the mirror?

You

You love to be talked to.

You love when we make silly faces.

You love to lay on the bathroom floor.

You love to look in the mirror.

You love when we make funny sounds.

You love watching TV.

You love to eat.

You love to sleep.

You love going for walks.

You love tubby time.

You love tummy time, but you always flip over!

You love watching Zoe.

You love walking out in the backyard.

You love laying on Mommy's pillow.

You love being held.

You love being swaddled.

You love to cry at dinner time.

You love to suck on your fist.

You love your binky (sometimes).

You love your Mommy & Daddy.

And we love you.

Saturday Morning

There's always this little dilemma in my head.  I wake up anytime between 5 and 7am to feed JJ.  Well, he wakes me up.  So I feed the little man, burp him, change him and put him back to bed.

This is where the dilemma begins.  Should I stay up?  Man, it would be nice to have a little quiet time to myself.  But an hour or 2 of extra sleep sounds pretty nice as well.

Today I made the decision to stay up.  It's Saturday.  It's rainy and dreary.  So I made myself some coffee and I'm spending a little time just relaxing.  Checking facebook.  Watching TV.  Should I be doing chores?  Probably.  Should I be making a grocery list?  Yeah.  Should I be finishing up thank you notes?  Most definitely.

But free time isn't quite what it used to be.  So this morning I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet before JJ gets up for real.  Then he rules my day.  :)

JJ and his cousin Olivia

First Day

The day I'd dreaded.  The day I wasn't ready for.  The day I wished would just be over so I wouldn't have to experience it.

I got up extra early to be sure I had all my stuff, and especially JJ's stuff, ready to go.  Also to be sure I had enough time to feed him and get myself ready.

While getting ready I picked up my tube of mascara.  I looked at it.  Then I decided to skip it.  Best decision of the day.

I dropped the little man off at my parents.  Hung out for awhile, then decided I better get out of there.  I cried all the way to work.  All the way.

Almost broke down a couple times at work when people asked me about JJ or how I was doing or where he was or what the weather was like.  (Almost.  Luckily I held it together.)

There is no longer drive than the drive to pick up your baby!  Fifteen minutes feels like fifteen hours. 

Long story short, I survived.  The second day was even easier.  No tears!  And really, 2 days a week is not that much.  JJ gets spoiled by Grammy and Grampy, I make a little money and have some adult interaction.  :) 

Now I have to figure out how to balance it all...beginning today with house cleaning, dishes and laundry!!

I have a leg to stand on

So I figured I'd give a quick leg update for those wondering.

There's still some numbness in my knee and right below it.  And by some, I mean very little.  I can't believe I'm at the point where I barely even notice the numbness.

As far as walking, I basically have no problem.  I haven't really tried running, I have a feeling I'm not quite there yet.  If I squat down for something it's a little tough getting up, especially if I'm holding JJ!

It's been a long recovery for sure, but I'm just glad the recovery is happening!  I still remember sitting in my hospital bed, wiping away tears with the sheet, thinking I'd never be able to take care of my baby.

The next obstacle to overcome?  Meshing my new Mommy role with my old life working at Pineview.  The collision will occur June 7th.  Pray for me!!