What's going on around here

It has been a bit hectic around our house lately.....where to start...

Well, I bought a car.  I bought a 2012 Ford Focus...Sedan not Hatchback :(  Hatchbacks are kid friendly due to lack of space in the trunk.  I am however, in LOVE with my car.  I don't even have it yet and I'm loving it!!  It's the "titanium" edition which is a fancy word for "fully loaded".  I'm talking navigation, myford touch, sync, heated leather seats, heated side mirrors, remote start, etc....  I finally bought a car that I totally deserve!  I will have it by Friday due to it coming directly from the factory, but here is a view of what it looks like from the internet.  CLICK HERE to see what I will be driving very soon!  (*note* the video is pretty cheesy but you can see what it looks like)

We have also been giving our backyard a total makeover.  Here is a before photo:

And here is a during photo:

The shed has been taken down and there will be a patio and driveway poured on the right side coming across to where the big square piece of dirt is (the stones were put in the back corner where the tarp is so that we can put a nice shed up).  Where the old shed is (on the left), we are going to put a tent gazebo up with a set of dining chairs and table, and where the square of dirt is in the middle, there will be our long chairs, table and chiminea.  I'll be sure to put some photos up when we make more progress ("we" meaning Ryan and his dad!)

Ethan has been pretty cranky.  As I always say, he is teething but I have a feeling it may be because I have been eating dairy again.  Maybe not, but I can't think of any other reason why he'd be so cranky for a week straight.  He isn't always cranky, just when he is tired (which is pretty much all day - that boy LOVES his naps!).  Here are a few photos from the last few days.

 In Grama & Grampa's Stroller

 Feet photos because I just LOVE them!

 Happy boy in his bouncie chair

Enjoying some tummy time on the bed and sucking on his fingers

In one of his ADORABLE summer outfits.

I guess from these photos you would never know he's been a cranky mess!  He really hasn't been that bad, just here and there - I put him down for a nap and all is good :D

Now for some more exciting stuff to read.... I made these cookies tonight and OH MY WORD are they ever good.  A friend brought one over last week and I couldn't stop thinking of it.  She bought it, I made them.  Thankfully we are going for dinner tomorrow so I will be bringing them for dessert.  (I'll post more on that tomorrow).

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE BROWNIE COOKIES  (click for recipe)

The photo doesn't do them justice, but trust you me, they are to die for.  And SUPER easy to make.  Just 6 ingredients!  Enjoy if you decide to make them!

Perfect Day....

Sometimes my little man will give me the "perfect" day.  This is how it went...

He went to bed last night around 8pm.  He slept until 5am.  Then again until 7:30am.  So I got a solid 6 hours of sleep by the time I went to sleep.

He was happy all morning, had an awesome feed, took an almost 2 hour nap and up again.

We went grocery shopping - quiet as a mouse and content looking at everything.

Came home and had a visit with a friend, then he had another awesome feed and went for another almost 2 hour nap.

Woke up, had a so-so feed, but still enough to satisfy (he also ate before his nap).  We packed up and went to Nona's house.  I went to the gym, came back and happy boy again.

Drove home, fell asleep, came home, woke up, fed, passed out and asleep.

I'm sure we will be back to the way things used to be lol....but that's ok.  Sometimes mom needs these sort of days!

Miserable....

Well, not really, but more than usual Ethan has been miserable.  I am almost positive it's related to teething... poor guy can't keep his fingers or objects out of his mouth.

He has also been all over the place with his naps (he has slept for 3 hours at a time the last couple days) but today he only slept for 40 minute naps so he was waaaay overtired tonight but had a hard time going down.  He wanted lots of cuddles today!

He is definitely loving his jolly jumper though.  As soon as he sees me take it out he is a super happy baby!  Again, I tried to upload a video but unfortunately it just won't work :(  I guess I can upload to You Tube and post a link though :)  Or if you follow me on facebook, you will see his latest rockin' out to Calvin Harris on his jolly - what a kid!

Another small inclination I am having regarding fussyness is that I have been eating a small amount of dairy again..... I am hoping this isn't the case, we will see over the next couple days, but it's SO HARD to completely give it up - dairy is pretty much in EVERYTHING that isn't wholesome.... and although we pretty much eat only whole foods and cook from scratch, there IS the odd thing (like a piece of freekin' bread) that has either dairy or soy in it lol.  He is almost at the six month mark, and I am pretty sure he is reacting better with the dairy as opposed to when he was 2 months old, but still....there is a small tinge of guilt when I put that nice piece of sharp cheddar cheese in my mouth and sigh as it melts in my mouth :)

I haven't really been posting, I know, but I have been so exhausted trying to put him down at night for this week....it's taken about an hour each night.  Granted, I don't rock him or hold him, I let him talk and roll and scream (not because he is mad - he has found his voice) in his crib, and I read a book until he whines to go to sleep....then it takes a whole 3 minutes for him to fall asleep on my shoulder .... so sweet <3

And now that he is asleep....I think I am going to go to sleep as well!! :D

I am amazed....

I am amazed that every day Ethan gets more involved and does so much more every day.  For example, on his exersaucer, he used to just look at things, now he spins around, grabs items, moves items, pushes buttons to play music and really knows what to do.

In his Jolly Jumper, he used to just kinda stand there and tap his feet - now he jumps!  I feel bad taking him out of there he has so much fun but we have a 15 minute limit on that for now :) He doesn't realize it at the time, but he gets very tired from it and we end up with some cranky time (I'm sure it works out his legs with the way he jumps).

He is rolling over like crazy now too.  He is so funny in his crib, he rolls around and ends up on the opposite side of the crib facing the opposite way I put him!  He is doing so well.

We have a count down going on - 18 days until we can start solids!  He is reeeealllly getting interested in food now.  If I am eating something (because usually I'm grabbing something/anything I can while he is up), he is just staring and watching my mouth and watching me put food in my mouth.

I tried to upload videos but it didn't seem to work :(  There were some cute ones too!  I'll try again later and hope that they come up so check back again!

It's been awhile...

I know it's been awhile...I've just been busy doing my spring cleaning and scrapbooking... oh and taking care of a sick little bum :(  He just can't kick the last of it - all plugged up from 5am on.   Thankfully the runny nose is gone and today seemed better than yesterday, so I think we are on the right direction.  Good little man for fighting through it and not getting mom worried to bring back to the doctors for a possible dose of "eeeeek" antibiotics.  (If you know me, you know I'm totally against those buggers unless it is ABSOLUTELY needed).  As you can see - he's doing well.  This was us on our walk yesterday and then at home.  Look how cute he is!

 He has a new thing..throwing stuff... but look where it landed, on his head - silly boy!!!

Scrapbooking is going well.  I am getting my ideas from the internet but obviously using my own photos and embellishments.  Here is the first and second page I did.

This is also what I am doing month by month.  You can see last months below.  I thought it was a cute idea and cuts down on the many pages I would have to do to explain all of his "likes" and "firsts".

I had most of his scrapbook done, but to be honest, I hated it from the start.  It was thrown together (I was doing it when he was first born, running on zero sleep and did it because I had to do it).  Now I'm making it smaller and making it more memorable so he can keep it and look back on it when he has his children!

I am excited to celebrate my first Mother's Day tomorrow :)  We are not doing much, going to see both of our moms during the day and then Ryan is making me his wonderful, yummy, meatballs to go in my Mother's Day Spaghetti & Meatballs dinner.  He is also making me breakfast so I am quite excited!  For my gift, I got a pair of Toms - boy do I LOVE these shoes!  I also got this Pure Vida Bracelet.  I am using it for a "nursing marker" so I know which side to switch the hungry monster to lol.  But it's also really cute and fashion friendly.... better than an elastic band or cheap bead bracelet.

And so he rolled....

I'm a few days late with this post, but I must share a milestone - he rolled from back to belly!  The funny thing is, now he can't roll from belly to back.... seems as though he "forgets" and will hang out on his belly until I roll him over lol.  I don't think he really forgets, I just think he's stunned that he actually did it.  So proud of him!  Look at this proud face!  (and below is where he's trying to roll back lol)

He is still sick....and I am now sick along with Nona (my mom).  He seems to be getting better but from 3am on, that's the roughest part of the day.  Needless to say, both of us have not been getting the sleep that we need in order to recover. I have not had a cold in over a year (before I was pregnant with him), and now, this little baby gives me a full blown cold (which now I'm thinking allergies)!  Bugger :D

I did some maternity photos for a friend.  I'm finally getting back into photography and am offering discounted sessions.  Here are a few from the shoot.

Have a great night all.  I'm heading to bed shortly myself.

Happy 5 Months!

Happy 5 months little man!  Boy does time fly!

This month, we are focusing on Ethan getting prepared and ready to eat solids.  As you saw before in a post, he sits with us at the table in his high chair.  I try to have him sit on my lap for one meal a day and let him do as he pleases (aside from putting any food in his mouth).  I started a few days ago...
DAY 1 - looked at food, watched me chew
DAY 2 - looked at food, touched plate
DAY 3 - looked at food, and moved plate, put finger inside plate, watched me chew

This photo was from today :)

We still have our strict rule - 6 months until solids, but play is ok as long as it is on our lap.  And of course, his hands get washed when we are finished.

Also today, we watched dad and grampa start to put up a fence.  He played on his mat outside for a good 25 minutes - looking at the trees, laughing at the trees, listening to nature outside.  He absolutely loves it!

Other than that, we've had a pretty boring day.  I came down with what Ethan had (I think).  Today is a sore throat and zero energy.  I have been trying to lay down all day - not easy when your almost better son still needs cuddling (only while standing and holding him!).  I've been trying to put him down for some extra naps (tee hee).  He's been going down fine and it helps me to get some extra rest.

He's not very hungry, and I can see why.  I'm not hungry either and with all the "draining" (ewww I know), food is the last thing on my mind.  We are going for dinner to Grama & Grampa's for nacho's tonight....I am kinda looking forward to that :D  Worst case, I bring my leftovers home and have them a bit soggy tomorrow (better for the throat).

Here's a sneak peak of our fence being build (Yah - just the four corner posts, but still, you can see hard men at work!)

And we're back....

Ethan seems to be feeling better....

Well at least the runny/stuffy nose is gone.  But he slept most of the day (was up for about 7 hours total) and had a complete meltdown at bedtime tonight.  He went to bed early (7pm) because he was up since 2:30pm and missed an afternoon nap.  So that was fine and we did our routine - and he was good.  He wasn't hungry so he didn't nurse (he nursed at 5:30) and then went ballistic.  OF COURSE it's the day that is super hot out and we need windows open! This photo was before the meltdown.  (can you see his eczema - poor guy!  The cream is working though, they look better - and they always look worse after a bath, and he had a bath prior to this photo).

So I got him to sleep, and he was down for half hour then woke up again - whining, not crying..... he did this 3 times and then lost it again.  So I nursed him and he seems to be down now.... but we will see if he wakes up.  Naturally I am alone tonight but surprisingly I'm not really stressed out.

I had my 4th personal training session today and I am L-O-V-I-N-G it!  I haven't felt "workout sore" for quite a long time and I have to say it feels pretty good!  Here's some cute pictures of Ethan from when I came home from the gym - hangin' with Grama outside!

I'm still "spring cleaning".  I have the kitchen, dining room and living room finished (minus floors and windows - that's a weekend project!).

Wellness Checkup - Month 5 (almost)

Ethan is 2 days shy of 5 months.  In one month he gained almost 1 pound (14 ounces) which brings him to 15 lbs 9 oz.  He gained .5 inches in length (so 24.5 inches) and is doing well.  His eczema is a bit out of control so the doctor prescribed a cortisone cream.  I am going to do a bit of research before giving it to him, but I know it's been around long enough and seems to be ok with no harsh side effects....still, I must research!

He is still sick :(  Just look at this face while waiting in the waiting room.  Poor guy - those sad eyes!

Once we got in the room however, he perked right up (probably because, as always, he pooped and then we stripped him down to his diaper).

Too bad we had to wait an hour (we never have to wait so I always schedule them in between naps so he's ready to go down by the time we get home).  So he took a little cat nap.

Then he woke up to nurse, so we got into it about 30 seconds and the doctor walks in.... so of course, all distracted, he no longer wants to continue.  (It was fine, he was happy to see her - as he is happy to see anyone lol).

Once we got home he was super tired.  He finished nursing and passed out as I went to burp him - poor guy.

We had a pretty rough night last night - I mean he slept, but it took a long time for him to get comfortable. And because he didn't nurse as often, I was VERY uncomfortable :S  Luckily dad bought us a warm mist humidifier so we can both hopefully get a more peaceful sleep. (I really didn't sleep the whole night anyway because I was worried he wouldn't be able to breathe!!)

Ryan is on afternoons this week, so my plan is to get the kitchen organized.  I'll probably take before and after photos and post them on here to make me accountable lol.  It is not much work to do but I just don't want to do it.... it's just one of those things.  I was planning on doing it before Ethan was born....that never got done!  So that's my plan for tonight, or tomorrow night, and the night I don't do that, I want to scrapbook.... that's another project that will probably take forever to get done.  I want to do it I just don't have the time really..... all these projects - Oiy!