I admit, I used to think it was so weird when friends of mine, or even just acquaintances, would indicate that the highlight of their day was doing mundane things with their kids. Feeding them. Bathing them. Holding them. Changing their diapers. Putting them to bed. Doing nothing with them.
I remember thinking how bored I would be doing those tasks (I knew I'd love doing fun things like taking them to the zoo, cuddling with them and playing...). But damnit all, I LOVE my "routine" nights now! I am bummed if I miss his bedtime. I don't mind changing his diapers (in most cases!). HECK, I even LOVE folding his laundry. I really do. And to top it off, one of my favorite things to do is choosing what clothes to put him in....even If I'm the only one who is going to see him!
His personality is really starting to come out. He's a flirt, through and through. He's also playful and laidback, but easily excitable. He's curious and worried he's going to miss out on something. And he's a chatterbox and a half when he's in a good mood.
When he is sleeping, it doesn't matter that I know he needs it. I want to go wake him up to play. And by "play" .... what I mean is interact with him since he is still just 3.5 months old. One of my favorite days with him was two Sundays ago when I laid on my bed with him for an hour, and honest to goodness, I did pretty much the same thing over and over. I tickled his face with my hair. I was hooked so long because of the squeals of joy and other sounds that erupted from his tiny lil' mouth. Here are two videos, most likely not interesting at all to anyone but me. And the grandparents.
I'm a girl who loves having things to look forward to. I have a calendar in my mind's eye, and usually there is one thing a week that I am anticipating with excitement. One thing a month where I'm even more eager to get to. But now, I look forward to the end of the day like I never have before. Every day. When I can go pick up my lil' worm and bring him home to just stare at and see which funny noises make him bust with excitement.
I tend to cut out of work a bit early on days I don't have a late shoot or a pressing deadline so I can go pick him up from daycare by 430. That gives me about 45 minutes of time with him before I need to make dinner. I do the same thing with him every day this early pick up works out. It's now our routine. I get him out of his carseat and lie him down on the chaise lounge. Or sometimes sit him up. Or lie him in my lap. But the goal is to get him as happy as possible because there is less chance of him spitting up at that time in his feeding cycle. haha
AND HE'S SO EASY TO MAKE HAPPY! Or I am just really good at it. And that sort of mommy power is addicting.
When I was leaving the other evening for a photo shoot, Weston was on the chaise lounge and I told Neil that he should take advantage of this time while Weston was in a good mood. Neil did for a few minutes and then when he got up to do something else, I looked at him in disbelief. He was like "What? Was I supposed to do that all night?" I laughed because my answer was... "YES! Why wouldn't you want to?" hahaha
Here are two videos from today.
Naked or clothed, he had some things to say today. I do hope you at least watch one so you can maybe understand why I'm so smitten with my offspring.
When he cries, I don't even care. Well, I care that he's crying, but it doesn't bother me to HEAR him cry. First off, I really do think he has a cute cry. And no, I'm not biased. I have a few friends who admit their kids' cries make them cringe. But Weston's are endearing. Whether it's his whimper that follows the slow protrusion of his bottom lip, or his all out wail when his face turns bright red and his little fists clench by his cheeks, I find myself turning to mush. He still is a sucker for the softie on his face...if the pacifier is used too, he turns to putty...sleepy putty, too. I find myself saying over and over to him, "mama loves you." And I've never spoken truer words.
EVeryone said before Weston was born that he will change my life. And that's a big duh. I haven't been shocked by anything as far as THAT goes. But one unexpected change in myself has occurred. He has slowed me down. He has made my to-do list, not matter how long, look trivial. I don't get much free time. And I don't care. My free time is spent with him. And I'm okay with that. I suppose this will mean that I don't ever get to play that CSI Wii game I got for Xmas. Or that I probably won't be reorganizing all the recipes we have collected through the years like I intended to. And that desire to get back in shape? Yeah, not happening just yet.
We did hit a bit of a bump a couple of weeks ago when we learned that the daycare that we just started in late March was closing. Financial troubles. At first I felt like I was socked in the tummy. But honestly, part of me was relieved to HAVE to find another daycare because sometimes, I did wonder about the quality of care he was getting. Nothing major....but it was disconcerting that one day, one of the caregivers told me, "he doesn't smile that much." It's like hearing when someone doesn't like to drink something with their meal. It just didn't make sense. ABSURD. He doesn't smile much? You've got to be kidding me. That boy smiles aLL. The. Time. All you have to do is look at him and talk to him and smile at him and sing to him or tickle his neck. So what this meant to me, this red flag of an observation, was that they weren't giving him attention. He would come home smelling like another woman (haha), but I'm pretty sure that was from being held while they fed him. Other than that, I think they leaned a bit too much on swings and bouncers. Two times I went to pick him up and he was alone in a bouncer and two toddlers were hanging all over him with their drool and snotty noses. (No wonder he got sick in the first three days!!) He also was scratched by a lil' girl who apparently tried to play with him. And I'm no fool. I know these things will happen. But I think it was indicative of the fact that he wasn't receiving the TLC he needed.
So we have him in a new daycare now. It's quite a bit more expensive, and a bit out of our way and farther away...but I feel so much better with it. And every day when I show up, the ladies tell me something new about why they adore him. One day it's because he's the cuddliest baby there (he really DOES like to cuddle!!). Another is that he's incredibly social and happy. And another said he's the easiest kid they have to put down to sleep since he soothes himself. And the cool thing is, they didn't have to say any of that.
Proud mama, right here!
Also, Neil and I took two dates in one week the last week of April. (Bad parents!! GASP!) It just happened to fall like it... we had tix to see one of our mutually favorite bands, SNOW PATROL. So we were ever-so-grateful that one of Neil's coworkers and her boyfriend (also Neil's coworker) willingly watched el bambino. And a few nights later, we went to a fundraiser for inner-city children and hired my friend's son's girlfriend. Both nights were a success. Mommy and daddy had fun. Weston was a charmer and super easy for the sitters. Hooray!Must do again soon!
So let's see...other notables and milestones:
He laughs now, as I said above. Here is one audio file of a giggle. (Just audio)
He can easily hold his head up. We've started him in a bumbo chair and a jumperoo, though his feet don't hit the floor, so he can't jump. He tires after 10 minutes, but it's good for a change.
He still sleeps 830 till 530 or 6 every night. We will probably start feeding him oatmeal cereal in a couple of weeks. Kinda excited to try something new!
He isn't rolling over yet, though he rolled over on our bed one morning. I think it was accidental. I have to admit though, I'm not eager for him to learn this. haha
We no longer swaddle him as of last week. We do use a zip-up blanket though. Since his congestion has improved after a 2nd ear infection and a strong antibiotic, we have begun putting him in his crib again and he seems to be just fine with it. I love peeking in on him because his fists are always in teh funniest, adult-like places.
He is getting way better at grabbing things with conviction. And when there is nothing to grab, he oftentimes will be seen holding his fists up in a boxer-like fashion and it makes me giggle, especially if there is a look of concentration on his face that the same time. I can't help but say, "Put 'em up, put 'em up..."
He loves this toy, which we've nicknamed Miguel...(and I must say, we are a bit appalled athe placement of the banana, if you catch my drift.)
He can read. Well, just kidding. But he really seems to pay attention to books. I should note, that most children books we own are stupid. Like...boring. Not great pictures. all the same. I just roll my eyes as I'm reading them and it's going to be hard to feign any sort of interest or engage the kid as he gets older if I'm literally wanting to NOT read it as much as I already do. SO....I did some research and had WEston give his daddy 10 cool books for Neil's b-day.... (wink, wink) and we are enjoying them thus far. Highly recommend them!! The ones we've read and LOVE (we only will read one a night) are:
Aliens in Underpants Save the World
The Pout Pout Fish
Pig Kahuna
If the rest are just as cool, I'll post them. :)
He is awake a lot more during the day, which is so fun (as I said at the top of the post.) He will even stay awake through service at our UU church and we get all the ladies coming up at the end commenting on how good he was through it all. And they also say he's cute. That feels nice. :) We've taken him to several places, like nice restaurants, parks and grocery shopping. We think it's better to expose him early because life goes on and we want him to be a part of it.
All in all, I'd say I LOVE this parenting thing. More than I thought I would. Definitely the most challenging, but rewarding experience of my life. Neil is a wonderful father and I hope I am a wonderful mother. I will share some pics in the next post. This is too long already. I'm telling you though, I could go on and on once I get going because again, I am obsessed!!!!
