Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Six Months

March 31, 2010

Dear J,

Well, you’ve passed the six month mark already, and I can’t believe it. It’s amazing because so much seems to have happened since my last letter. At five months, you started sleeping on your side, but not long after that, you started rolling over all the way onto your belly. This happened right around the time you started eating fruits and veggies, so I’m not sure if it was the rolling over or the food that made the difference in your sleeping habits. But – drumroll – you sleep through the night now, too. Woohooo! You’ve even slept up to 13 hours, but generally it’s 10-12 hours at a clip. Of course, when you don’t feel good, we’re back to waking up around 2 or 3am, but, boy are those mornings when you stay asleep while I’m getting ready for work a revelation.

For a couple days there, you did this insane squeal thing. It’s like you discovered a new part of your voice. (I think you picked it up from one of the six (!) girls in your class. You are totally spoiled, so don’t get used to not having other boys around and enjoy this while it lasts.) I let you know that you had two days of that squealing before it became not cute, and I couldn’t believe it, but you stopped after two days (ok, maybe three).

You have been chewing everything in site and drooling like a bulldog for the last two months, and finally, your bottom gums split on the 20th, and two little front teeth peaked through a couple days later. I do miss your gummy grin, but your toothy grin is pretty darn cute, too.

Did I mention that you LOVE your food – cereal, fruits, veggies, whatever. You can’t get enough. The only food you really haven’t liked so far are the homemade green beans.

There are a couple things to look forward to in the next few months, too. A new playmate is arriving in July, and we can’t wait to meet him! He’s going to be born a long way away in Wisconsin, but he’ll be moving down here with his parents in August or September. We’re all so excited!

You’re also starting swim lessons on June 5th. There are 10 lessons, so you’ll practically be a fish by the time the summer is over.

Your dad and I have realized something in the last couple of months, too. We live for the weekends. I used to think that I loved weekends before you came along, but now there is no comparison. We work from home on Fridays, so they’re like an early weekend “lite”, and then Saturday and Sunday are wonderful because we get to spend all day with you in some way or another. No wonder people hate Mondays. I miss you most on Mondays.

Love,
Mom

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Rules

It seems that the key to a great blog is a great theme. I guess that leaves me out of the running.

Someone on facebook posted a link to this site, and I became completely addicted today until I had read every one. Walker Lamond started writing out quick little rules for his unborn son on his blog, and it's a great list. Good for grown men and really for just about everyone. A few of my favorites:

410. Sometimes your best bet is to bet on her.
405. No one wants to watch you practice the guitar.
358. If you have to make more than one substitution, order something else.
269. If you've made your point, stop talking.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

There's been a show on Food Network lately, asking famous chefs, hosts and food writers about their favorite foods. I've been inspired to create my own list using their categories.

Guilty Pleasures:
onion rings - The Varsity (only the original location truly counts)

Wake Up Call:
breakfast sandwich (eggs, cheese and bacon) with a side of hash browns scattered, smothered and covered - Waffle House

Hometown Favorites:
loose meat hamburger - The Pool Room, Thomaston, GA

Sugar Rush:
praline basket filled with ice cream, fresh berries, chocolate syrup and caramel - Ray's on the River

Chocolate:
I'm not generally a chocolate dessert person, so this is a candy bar, instead - Escazu dark chocolate with cocoa nibs

Cheesy:
Unfortunately, my favorite cheesy dish is no longer available, but the memory of lasagna at the Ram's Head Rathskeller in Chapel Hill, NC, will remain forever.

Hot and Spicy: spicy tuna roll - Circle Sushi, Sandy Springs, GA

The Classics:
macaroni and cheese - Swallow at the Hollow, Roswell, GA

Crunchy: Mom's homemade ginger cookies

Totally Fried:
all-you-can-eat whole fried catfish - Riverbend Restaurant, Thomaston, GA

Bar-B-Que:
family-style plate of brisket, sausage, and pork ribs at the Salt Lick - Driftwood, TX

With Bacon: "Piglickers" - chocolate covered bacon - Famous Dave's, Minnesota State Fair

Pizza: deep dish sausage, mushroom and pepperoni - Giordano's, Chicago

Obsessions: Banana Pudding - Fiery Ron's Hometeam BBQ, West Ashley and Sullivan's Island, SC

Between Bread: the original Chick-fil-A sandwich

With My Hands:
fried peach pie - Relish, Roswell, GA

Holiday: my mother-in-law's deviled eggs

Salty Goodness: grilled grouper platter - Apalachicola Grill, Apalachicola, FL

Meat Fest: mustard seed crusted lamb chop - 212 Market Restaurant, Chattanooga, TN

Snack Attack:
Fries with Feta - The Grill, Athens, GA

Totally Unexpected: Peanut Butter Bacon Burger - Clocks, Athens, GA

Served Cold: cole slaw - Piggie Park curbside, Thomaston, GA

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

5 Month Letter

February 24, 2010

Dear J,

You’re asleep in your bouncy seat, just wiped out from the day. You only took one nap today because you’ve been really good the last couple nights about getting yourself back to sleep when you wake up in the middle of the night.

You had a horrible cold last week and something called bronchiolitis that forced you to struggle for breath. It was so excruciating to watch. The illness did have one awesome side effect, though. You couldn’t sleep flat on your back because of the cough, so I got to snuggle with you on the couch, keeping you upright, for three nights. And we didn’t want you to go to daycare, so you got to spend all week with your Gigi.

You’ve been so adorable this last month. If it’s possible, you’re getting even more animated. You just smile and laugh all the time (except when you’re sick), and you’ve even started reaching out to people when they walk up to you and you want to be picked up or held.

“Solid” foods have been treating you very well. So far you’ve like rice and oatmeal cereal. Tonight we even tried some green beans, and you seemed to like those too.

Even when I’m exhausted, every day with you is a wonder. Your smile stops me in my tracks every time. And I love that you still love to snuggle. I hope that lasts.

Love,
Mom


P.S. Since it’s March 3, and I'm just getting around to posting this, I have a few more things to add …
You are now grabbing for your bottle whenever you see it – even if it’s three feet away. And you open your mouth so wide when you see the veggies coming your way. You love the new foods you’re getting at night.
You’ve started rolling over onto your side, which you love. You have even managed to get your bottom arm out and lie flat on your belly, but you are not a fan of this position at all.
You have full head control these days and seem to love to turn your head to look at things – especially people. When you sit in my lap while I read your story at night, you are constantly looking from the book, back up to me and back to the book.
You love to grab our faces, especially my bottom lip and Daddy’s beard.
And for the last week, you have been sleeping through the night. For the first five days, you would wake up to cry but get yourself back to sleep in less than 10 minutes. Last night, for the first time, you didn’t even wake up to cry. After getting a two-ounce top-off at 11, you made until just after 6. Woohoo!