Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Reality Check!

Reality Number One:
Our baby is going to be BIG! Like we didn't assume this before, but reality is setting in this week. Rolls are developing in places we can't imagine, which makes areas a little harder to clean. Anna Kampman who was born almost 2 1/2 months before Zander weighed more than him at birth, but now they are almost the same size! He turns 2 months next week, but is wearing clothes that are 3-6 months, even some 6-9 month clothes! I'm so curious to see how much he will weigh at his 2 month appointment and see how long he is. This reality is double-sided. Most moms want to make sure there baby is thriving in the growth department. I do want this, however, I can't help but imagine Zander in his Junior High years already. I remember what it was like to be the "biggest" in the class. Both Andy and I had the nickname "Amazon" I'm already imagining having the talks with Zander about the "Bullies" at school calling him names, and him leaving a mall all upset because no clothes will fit him right... But maybe it's just us big girls that get upset with that stuff?!? So I hope Zander falls in love 20-30 years from now with another "Amazon" like me :) Until then, he's Daddy's little man. And he has BIG shoes to fill!
Be aware- x rated picture..... (but it shows some of those rolls I was talking about!)

Reality Number two:
I've always been a little scatter brained but whoa, I took it to another level. I don't know if it's hormones, or being a stay at home mom or what it is. But I swear I have about 5 different To Do lists around the house, and I don't know if I get to any of them during the day. You know what it's like to say I'm going to do the laundry, well on your way to get the laundry, you notice a book that's laying out so you pick it up to put that away, but it catches your eye, so you open it up and start reading it, well as your reading it, you can't go any further until you get a cup of coffee, so you go make some coffee, as you are making coffee you realize that you should do the dishes, then you finally get your cup of coffee and realize you don't have any coffee cream so you go to the store, and on your way out the door you realized you haven't even started laundry yet.... well yeah, that's the story of my time when Zander is napping. I think I will get to this to-do list today and then the cycle starts again... Whoa, any suggestions on how to solve this problem?

Reality Number Three:

Babies that are used to nursing prefer that over bottles. We have been trying to give Zander a bottle pry everyother day or so. Somedays it's rough going! Especially if I'm close by. (They are smarter than I thought :) ) We're working on it! and we learned that a bib is neccessary!

Reality Number Four:
I don't know what's going on! I think I got things figured out. As far as naps, sleeping, feeding, and stuff, but then... whopps, guess not! Although, I've been trying to figure this out (and I won't give up!) but I realize it does NO GOOD, getting worked up over it! Sometimes things just don't go as planned. For example this morning.... Usually, I go to playgroup on Tuesday mornings at Missy Isbells at 10. Well we are trading our car in for.. dun dun dun.... a MINIVAN!!!! (more on this later bc this topic will be an entire post! Anyway... we washed our car yesterday and Andy said if it is raining tomorrow don't take it out... Well what do you know, it's been raining ALL day here. So Z and I are just hanging out, usually he takes a nap in the morning, but not this morning because I think his poor little tummy had to be bothering him. When I was feeding him, I heard this big juicy you know what, and next thing I knew, YEP, all over his clothes! How does this happen. Will some company please invent a diaper that does not allow this?!?! Thanks to Erin Thomas who gave me Fels-Naptha (get it at Hy-Vee I guess) it seriously does wonders! and has gotten out all of his stains! Anway... do you see where my reality number 2 is coming in.. scatter brained! I was talking about no knowing what's going on, on a day to day basis! Kinda like this picture is he yawning, crying, gagging, trying to sing a high note....???? WHO KNOWS!!!!

Reality Number Five:
I COULD NOT DO THIS ALONE! There has been a couple times when Andy get's home from work that he leaves shortly after to go play guitar with some of his buddies, or with the band from Grace. These days are super hard for me. I told Andy it reminds me of Parent Teacher conferences! I work all day teaching at school, then I turn around and have PT conferences all night. This is what most teachers dislike about their job. It's a super long day with no breaks, and you just have to turn around the next morning and do it all over again! That's how I feel on the nights when Andy isn't around. It has made me appreciate the times he is here though, and how thankful I am to have a husband who loves to be involved in raising our little man!or according to reality number 1 "Big" man... (see the rolls!) :)
I write this post in complete humility and transparency... Sometimes life isn't always a day at the beach.. sometimes it's staying home on a raining day! But there's always something to look forward to like tomorrow... I get my minivan!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Last 2 Weeks!

  • Love is in the air! Andy and I celebrated our 4th year anniversary on June 25th! Baumhovers offered to babysit Zander while we had a great night together. We ate at Tuscan Moon in Kalona! Amazing! Then went to this small town ice cream shop. Then ended the night at the Java House where we brought back some memories by looking at some old cards/letters that we wrote each other while dating and in the last 4 years of marriage. It was a great night, and we heard Zander behaved himself!
  • Play dates! (Not sure why the picture of Dax and Zander is sideways?) Anyway, Zander has been much more alert lately which mates play dates more fun. We are really blessed to know so many moms around Iowa City to get together with. Last week, was a special treat because my sis, Katie, came with to our Wed. playdate which was really fun. We also got to meet Will (picture below) They will for sure be friends. Both boys and he is only 3 weeks older than Zander.
  • WEDDINGS! Our last of 3 weddings in a row was last weekend! Each wedding Zander wore the same outfit and with each week he filled it out more and more! I have a feeling last weekend was the last one with our $4 tie outfit :(
  • Big YAWNS!
    Getting STRONGER! It's been great to see how Zanders neck is getting stronger! He can hold his head up much better this last week. It won't be long till he'll be watching the Bears play with Daddy, raising his arms yelling TOUCHDOWN!

  • SMILES! Zander is smiling more and more every day!
    Working on a Schedule- I've been trying to figure out what kind of schedule would be best for Zander as far as wakeup/bedtime/naps etc. Since he is consistently sleeping 7-9 hours. (Praise God for this, I do know how fortunate we are for this!) But his nap times are very inconsistent. So I've been waking him up between 8:15-8:45 everyday to try and figure this out. Here he is getting woke up. Grunts and Toots! Hilarious!

  • Once again here's our online Picasa Album for all the pics from last two weeks!
  • http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsbishop/ZanderWeek4And5#