Merrrry Christmas!

I am getting in the mood for the holidays...now if I could just get the time to do what I need to do...

Actually, I do have the time. But I have a little buddy that makes it a whole lot different (a.k.a. harder) this year! I don't know how or when I will do my shopping. And I really wanted to get the Christmas decorating done today, but he is a little fuss-bucket, and won't let me leave him. I don't necessarily have to hold him, but if I walk out of the room he starts crying. Besides all that, he had a terrible night last night, so I am a walking zombie...

It will get done, but I'd like it to be sooner than later!

We had a nice Thanksgiving. Dustin and Mandy were home from Monday to Saturday. I kind of liked that, because they were home before all the family things started so we could have a few "normal" days. Next time we see them will be for Christmas. It's getting easier adjusting to them being out in Indiana, but some days I just ache for them to be home! I'm sure the holidays will make it a little harder, too.

Thursday we had church in the morning and then went to Mom and Dad's for lunch. We ate light so we could store up for supper :) Hodel's was at Boni's this year. It was a nice evening, accompanied by Dustin throwing a huge green ball onto the table, spilling hot coffee onto Jamie's sisters...boys will never grow up!
That night, Abel started sleeping badly. He slept until 3:30 and would not go back to sleep until 5.

Friday I had to work. At 7:15. It was a bear! That night was Aeschleman Thanksgiving at the park building. It was a little depressing to say the least. If everyone in the area can attend, we have about 40 people (including kids). Friday night we had around 30. 10 people might not seem like a lot, but it seemed really small and sad.
Friday night, Abel had another bad night. He fell asleep about 10-10:30. Then he was up: 12, 1, 2, 4, 6:30. And I had to be at work at 7:15 again. MISERABLE.

Saturday after work, I came home and Robey was just at his wit's end with Abel. He was fussy all morning and he didn't know what to do with him. Well, the minute I picked him up, I could tell he had fever. And so I came to the very smart conclusion that he is teething. OH JOY.
Then I left and went to meet the J.U.G.S. for our yearly trip! Which now consists of going out to eat and a stop at WalMart...but still loads of fun. Alecia picked restaurants this year, and decided on Monical's. It was delish, as always. I had a ton of fun this year...highlight was singing loudly and offkey with Alecia and Sarah in the back seat on the way home. :)
That was my Thanksgiving weekend. Blessed with wonderful family!

Now to think about that Christmas shopping...

New things

Actually, not a whole lot is new. The newest is that Abel has started eating fruits and veggies. He really enjoys eating, which is obvious if you look at him. :) I think he is even weaning himself a little. He nurses in the morning, but not as much as he used to. Then he gets oatmeal and fruit mixed. Then he barely nurses for lunch time. I feed him one fruit and one veggie, no cereal. Then he's usually hungry 3-4 hrs later, and he nurses very good then. Then supper time (which is usally 6 or 7). He nurses pretty good and then gets rice and a veggie mixed together. Then he nurses right before he goes to bed.
It was very obvious the other day that he preferred his solids over me. I usually try to plan my lunches at work around when he eats. My mom just calls me and says he's ready and then I go. Thursday, she called and I went to feed him. He nursed for maybe a couple minutes and then WOULD NOT nurse any more. But he was still fussy! I knew he was hungry so I kept trying and trying...finally I ran home, got some sweet potatoes and fed him those. It was like he hit the jackpot! He was mmm mmm and ohhhhh...and all about it! I was a little sad that he didn't want me, but in the end it will be nicer for me because my lunchtime is fully consisting of him right now. If I eat at my mom's, I am late back to work. If I don't eat, I take something and then I'm eating on the job. So I think it will be a good thing, but it's like, "My baby doesn't want me anymore!" :(

He is laying on the floor right now under his playmat/gym and screaming/laughing/talking. He gets cuter and cuter each day. He is still an infant, but sometimes he just looks like a little boy to me! My favorite times with him are cuddle Fridays. Monday is usually an awful day because Sunday is the day before that...I work Tuesday...Wednesday I usually get up and go with errands or cleaning... Thursday I work...but Friday is a relaxation day. And when he wakes up, I go get him and bring him into my bed and we cuddle. I love it so much. And he is a very cuddly little boy, so it's such a joy!

I guess that's all for now. Just watching my little man continuing to grow!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Superman!

Fall is Here!

I can't believe it's already October. I am not really ready for fall and winter to come. Summer just wasn't summer! Besides the obvious fact that it was a very cool, very rainy summer, I was so occupied with Abel that I wasn't able to really even enjoy the nice days! I am really looking forward to next summer...he will be one and we can go swimming at Grandma's and things like that!

We had quite the adventure when we went out to Dustin and Mandy's last weekend. This was planned a long, long time ago...a potential surprise for my dear sister-in-law. We made it to the week before, and she figured it out! But that was OK, and I was sort of glad for her that she could feel like she could have time to get her house ready for us.
We left on Thursday night, just Mom, Erin, and I. And the little guy, of course. The trip is 5 hours and I was a little worried about traveling with a 4 month old. And rightly so...he was really good until it was time to eat. Then he was so strange! I thought he was hungry, so we pulled off the road, I got him out...and he barely ate. He was so happy to be out of his car seat! It really was kind of cute. He just had this huge grin on his face! So I put him back in the car seat, we drove for a little while longer...then he's fussy again. So we did it again...and again. Finally the 3rd time he actually ate.
After I fed him and put him in his car seat...it was DOWNHILL. He cried for and hour and a half. Straight. He was so mad. I felt so bad for him! He FINALLY fell asleep for the last 15-20 minutes of the drive. Once he was out of his car seat, he was a happy little booger!
Anyway, we got to bed pretty late (their time). And Abel stayed up till 1:30 a.m. But he redeemed himself. He slept till 8 and then fell asleep until 10! I was actually rested!
Friday the rest of the crew showed up. First, Sarah...then Bevy, Lydia, and Maggie...and Jamie and Hayley. Let me just say...it was crowded! We had 8 adults and 6 kids in a 3 bedroom 1.5 bathroom house! There were points of the weekend that were a little crazy and a little stressful, but overall, it was fun. And I really enjoyed seeing D and Mandy's house and where they work. And it is always good to see the kids.

My highlights for the weekend:

1. Cake decorating with the Hickory girls.
Erin showed the girls in Dustin and Mandy's house how to use cake decorating tips. They each decorated their own cupcakes. I really enjoyed seeing the girls and the house.

2. Friday night gym night.
I didn't go...Abel was sleeping or eating or something, I can't remember. Mom and I stayed back and it was a nice, quiet evening! :)

3. Sunday morning.
It was NUTS. Jamie had left by then (they had baptisms in Junction), but it was still PLENTY of girls getting ready in 1.5 bathrooms!

4. Dustin.
I love my brother anyway, but he was so helpful this weekend, taking Abel when I was getting ready, when I wanted to be doing something other than taking care of him, etc. It was so nice!

5. Mandy.
I miss her all the time...enough said.

6. The drive home.
The child was excellent!


OK, so there's the trip.

In new news for our family, Abel is eating baby cereal! He had his first taste of rice last night. He was a little unsure about it, but I think it was just new textures and tastes that he wasn't used to. I think he will like it in the end. :) He is growing so quickly...the other day he rolled over again...but didn't quite get all the way to his stomach and freaked out. He'll get there! We had his baby well check on Friday. He was such a good boy through the whole thing! The doctor even said he wished that all of his baby patients were as good as Abel...made mommy proud! He is a big boy. Head: 44 cm. Weight: 16 lbs 5 oz. Height: 27.5 in. He is in the top percentiles for height and head, weight is a little above average. What a growing boy I have!

Laptop Typing

I am posting this blog on Robey's laptop. I really like typing on the laptop. I feel super important.

My in-law's are up for the weekend. Diana had an angiogram in Peoria on Friday, so they came up Thursday night and are staying till tomorrow morning. I was a little dissapointed that they came up this weekend...I forgot that it was this weekend and Dustin and Mandy also are up this weekend. So my time is split in to. Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles. :)

Abel is graduating, as Robey says...he rolled over the other night! He hasn't done it since, but it was so fun to watch! We were hollaring and clapping and saying GOOD BOY GOOD BOY! He could've cared less :) It was just like, NO BIG DEAL, MOM. He is cuter and cuter every day. I am so blessed by him!

It has been so nice to have D and Mandy home, even if I don't get to spend as much time as I would like with them. Going to Chicago was fun, but having them home to do some of the old normal things is great. I love having them home...and it makes me sad when they leave...

Went garage sale-ing with Mandy and Jamie on Friday. I feel like I got quite a bit, so hopefully I'm pretty set for the winter. It's hard to know what I'll need.

Well, I guess that's that. A new update. :)

No news....

So I figured I should post something, but I really have nothing much new to report. Most of you who read this know my news as it happens, anyway :)

Let's see...currently, my son is screaming. I decided to try to let him cry himself to sleep...again...I tried to do it over a month ago, and it just didn't go very well. I'm hoping now that he's a little older he'll be able to do it. I've already accomplished one nap this way. He cried about 15 minutes and then was out for 45 minutes to an hour. I think he's actually going through a growth spurt today (he woke up at 3 a.m. last night...hasn't done that in awhile) so he's been eating more often...I'm not a big fan of growth spurts!

We went to the doctor this past Friday to discover that he had an eye infection. He was born with clogged tear ducts, and I just was used to seeing gunk in his eye. But all of a sudden, it started to get thicker and stickier. I, being the new inexperienced mother I am, chalked it up to the tear ducts. My mom called me one day when she was babysitting and informed me that he needed to get something done for them. So we went to the doctor the next day, and sure enough, he had an infection...what a great mom I am! I've been giving him the eye ointment since then, and it really has cleared up. He's so much cuter with clean eyes! :)

This week Dustin and Mandy come home for the weekend...they will be here Thursday by noon...whoooo hoooo!

Labor Dabor

We had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. We left Thursday night (after waiting for Robey to get home from WalMart...we left an hour and a half later than everyone else). We stayed in Lombard at the Embassy Suites.

Friday we went shopping in the morning/early afternoon and then on to indoor go-kart racing! It was a blast. I, of course, was the slowest. Everyone else went....fast. I was hitting the brake quite a bit! :)
Saturday we went and played laser tag. It was loads of fun. I sat out two of the three rounds...Mom and Mandy had to sit out from go-karting, so I let them go twice at laser tag. It was fun though...
Saturday evening we went to Lucky Strike bowling alley. We ate there (which was surprisingly good) and then bowled. I got one round in before Abel woke up and got hungry. Woot woot...
Sunday everyone but Robey and I and Mom and Dad and the kids went downtown Chicago. It would've been fun, but trying to take care of a three-month-old and walking around on Michigan Ave wouldn't have been so much fun. So we just hung around the hotel all day. I think it was good for Abel to have a "normal" day...the other days we were go go going and I think it messed him up a little.
Monday we came home...too soon, too soon!

I am ill and dying today...not really. But sick. I have the aches, chills, and a sore throat. I haven't checked my fever, so I don't know if I have one or not. It has been a trial taking care of the little duffer today...and he's not been the best child, either. Of all days...

I guess that's it...farwell!

Nobody Comments on my Blog

I know...pity, pity, pity...

A Whole Night's Sleep!

I am happy to announce that Abel slept from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. last night! Mommy was extremely surpised when she woke up! :)
I do know, however, that this does not mean he will do this from now on! But a little taste of the good life is sweet!

He is just getting sweeter and more fun each day. He loves to talk to things. Mostly his skunk, Stinky. Stinky is actually mine...he's a beanie baby that my mom and dad got me in high school...for not very attractive reasons...but he LOVES the black and white design on his back. I flip the beanie baby upside down over his play gym thing and he just stares at Stinky and talks and talks!

We just read one of our first books today...I know...I am a bad mom. I didn't realize that you should start reading to them from birth...so he's a little behind...poor bud! Anyway, he just LOVED it. We looked through one of those big "First Words" books. He was just so excited! He talked and talked to each page.

Nap time is going a little better. He seems to enjoy his swing during the day to sleep. Usually when he wakes up he is rested, now. This morning after he woke up at 7, he went back to sleep at 8. He then woke up at 9 and was peachy and happy until 10 when it was time to eat. I am just fine with that!

Nothing new in my department...I keep doing the same things each day...either go to work or take care of Abel. I am really enjoying being a mom. There are still moments when I want to hand him off to anybody that will accept...but all in all, I am surely blessed!

I am anxiously awaiting Labor Day Weekend...can't wait to see my favorite little kids...it's been since July 4th, and I am getting extremely depressed! Miss you Mandy and Dustin!

2 Months

Abel is 2 months old as of Sunday :) It is amazing to me how time flies! My summer is almost completely gone...all taken up by this wonderful little man.

Monday we had his 2 month check-up at the doctor's. He was a little trouper! He had just fallen asleep when we left the house, so he had to be woken up to get measured, poked, and prodded. So he wasn't in the greatest of moods. He now weighs 13 lbs and is a little over 24 inches long. That makes him in the 75th percentile for weight and 90th for heighth! I have such a little big man! :)

We still have thrush (that comment reminded me to give him his medicine!) and I just can't get rid of it! It will go away for awhile and then come back. Hopefully this time we can completely say farwell to the patchy white mouth and shooting pain!

And then came the shots.

He had to get 4 vaccinations at two months, but only 3 of them were shots. The other one was for rotovirus and it was given orally. He sucked that medicine right down! Pretty much anything that can go down his throat and fill his belly is good to him :) The shots were for pnemonia, polio, diptheria, tetanus, partussis, and hepatitis B. Thankfully, they combined those into three shots instead of one for each! He got two in his left leg and one in his right. They did the first two simultaniously, and saved the worst for last by itself. As I said before, he was awake from a nap and shouldn't have been, so he was crabby. So then he gets hurt...and he was not a happy camper! I hated it. I didn't cry, but I was pretty close, I assure you! He really calmed down pretty quickly. By the time I got him in the car and gave him his pacifier, he was ok.

He didn't do too bad throughout the rest of the day, either. I kept him pumped up with Tylenol, and he didn't seem to be in too much pain. That night was awful, though. He was ok...but I think he was so wiped out during the day that he slept too much. So at night he was up and chipper...and I had to work the next day. I think I maybe got 3 hours of sleep for a full 8 hour work day. Needless to say, I was glad it was a dead day at work. So that's that.

In other news, it was Robey's birthday Monday...and it pretty much stunk for him. I felt so bad. I didn't get him anything, Abel was cranky--so I was trying to deal with him...I fell asleep on the couch at 10 or so and he went to bed without me. Hopefully next year will be a better year for him...but this newborn stuff just didn't work out to his benefit...poor duff!

I am officially back to work...and it's...OK. My first week was awful. I did good during the day on Tuesday, but when I got home Abel was so crabby. I decided it was all my fault since I left him and we just cried and cried together... Then on Friday I had a hard time leaving him...I cried on my drive into work from Bevy's house. Saturday was ok because Robey has him. Now this week so far I've been ok, but I was ready to get rid of him because of his bad sleep the night before! We'll see how tomorrow goes...

I guess that's it for now...happy birthday buddy...and Daddy!

Abel after shots