Christmas 2008

I really want to write about Christmas...and I will, but my head is swimming with randomness and I'm not sure I can focus. Of course, now that I'm finally sitting down...I've gone blank. Attached below is one of our First Christmas photos. I'll be posting some more...eventually.
I love my blog. Mostly because it's just a place to blabber on about whatever and I'm not being graded on it. Although last night a few of my cousins told me they enjoy reading it, so now I feel pressured to perform. Not really. But it did motivate me to at least make a better effort at making updates.

Let me recap last week. I think bullet points might have to do for this...

• I started back to work on Monday and it went really well. I consider myself very lucky to enjoy my job, but even more importantly, I work with a great group of people. As I left the house, I informed David that under no circumstances was he permitted to email me, text me, call me or send me pictures of the baby unless otherwise notified. Self preservation took over and I made it through the day.
• On a very sad note, my first day back at work ended with the confirmation that my friend (who I have posted about below) did indeed lose her pregnancy. Damn it to hell, that just sucks. There really is no other way to say it. It is unfair, and a ba-zillion times more so that it is during such a joyous time of year. Please keep her and her husband in your thoughts and pray that next Christmas they will have a new family member to celebrate the holiday with.
• On Tuesday, my team went out for our holiday breakfast and had a white elephant exchange. Apparently, I suck at the gift giving part because my white elephant was a gift card to the Olive Garden. I'm not really creative in that capacity. My one team member gave me the most hilarious gift. It's a giant wooden hand. So much more fun and entertaining then a gift card.
• Christmas Eve we went to 4:00pm Mass. What possessed me to go to the children's Mass, I don't know. I am that person that always resolve to go to church more often....but as with other resolutions, I don't necessarily do. But when I do go to church, I like to enjoy it...and kids at church make me nuts. I mean really, why bother if you are going to sit there and entertain your kid the whole time stuffing Cheerios down their throats and giving them endless toys and coloring books to play with. Seriously, when they cry...walk them out! And when they are old enough to SIT STILL and QUIETLY give them the mom pinch.
• The benefit of having written that bullet above is the joy it will bring me in a few years when I AM THAT PERSON.
• Christmas Day was very enjoyable. Dave and I had a nice time opening our gifts, but really, it was so much more special to have a baby to share the day with. I bought each of my loves a Willow Tree figurine this year. David received "New Dad" because it is a beautiful image of a father with child and it made me think of him. Danny received "Guardian Angel" from Angela. This is a little boy being lead by an Angel. And finally, Angela received "Remember". The line that goes with this is "Always, I will remember..." and I thought that said everything.
• Since I was going back to work, the time was right to try and establish a good routine with Danny. Fortunately, with David home for two weeks before Danny starts daycare, this was as good as time as any. We seem to have gotten into the swing of it. It hasn't been easy, but each day is getting better and really, the credit goes to David. I'm kind of a pushover, which is why previous attempts were less successful. I am so excited to share that I am getting between 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night! Amen to that.

That's a long enough entry. From now on, I might just post one or two liners. And then go back and fill them in a bit more.

Happy New Year! (in case I don't post again before then).

My Christmas Wish...

Last year on Christmas I wished that Santa and his helpers (and especially God) would give us the most wonderful Christmas gift in 2009.

This morning has been joyous as we hold our little one close to our hearts and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, family.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

I think I might fall apart

Back to work tomorrow. My heart is killing me. I knew this would suck, but I didn't know it would hurt so badly. I love my little guy more then anything, and even though I know I'm not cut out to be a stay at home mom, the thought of not being with him all the time is enough to make me just want to die.

The tears have already started, which super sucks because crying makes me exhausted. I'm going to look like ass-hat for my first day back.

Thankfully, it's a short week.

Holiday Cheer....or Not :)

Santa's lil' homie
Holy cow Mom! Stop taking my picture!

Seriously, who do I call when the Mom-arazzi won't stop?

I have big cheeks.

I warned you lady!

My Last Week At Home

Next Monday marks my first day back to work. While I love my job and the people I work with, I'm still very sad. I know I couldn't hack it as a stay at home mom, especially in the winter. With the cold weather and cold and flu season, I really haven't taken him out much.

Last Tuesday, David and I visited the Day Care Center he'll be starting at on January 5th. For the last two weeks of the year, David will be home taking care of him. I'm really grateful for that time to transition back to work, and know that he is home with David. The morning will be chaotic, I'm sure, but at least we don't have to get him out the door some where just yet. This will help me figure out a morning routine and work out some kinks before we start at daycare. Or it will all go to hell in a hand basket and maybe a routine with an infant is too much to ask for right now? I don't know. I think we'll be able to figure it out.

My little guy is getting so big. As I type this, he is in his bouncer playing with the animals that swing before him. It's amazing how many changes are taking place. Things that did not interest him at all are captivating him now.

He smiles big and responds to us when we try to get him to smile. He has such a great dimple when you can get a good one out of him. He gives the best smiles to David. Dave will get home from work, and still have his winter hat on, and Danny doesn't seem to recognize him. As soon as he takes his hat off, he starts to give Dave huge smiles that could light up a room. He's also cooing a lot and talking to us.

Saturday night we had a family Christmas party that kept us out late and was a lot of fun. Sunday, we were lumps on a log and agreed that we would all have a pajama day. We slept late and Dave made some yummy pancakes. Not long after that, monkey started to fuss. As we played on my bed, I picked him up and snuggled with him. He conked out and I was in heaven. Dave turned out the lights and Danny and I took a long nap. It was the best. Dave took a few pictures of us cuddled that I haven't seen yet.

What makes napping and waking up even better is that he is always smiling. He is such a happy baby when he wakes up. Right away he's smiling. When David went in to get him this morning around 6:30, I knew we were up for the day because Monkey was smiling and talking to Dave.

This week, I need to do two things. Organize my clothes for back to work, and organize Danny's. I have avoided trying on a lot of work clothes and pretty much lived in my jeans while I've been off. I guess I can't avoid that much longer. Ugh. I also need to go through Danny's stuff because he's already popping out of some of his clothes! I couldn't believe it last week when I had to transition him into 6-month pajamas! He's not even 3-months yet!

I'm off to change Monkey's diaper...who knew that one little boy could make so much music in his pants!

Pray for a Miracle! There was a HEARTBEAT!

My friend, who I wrote the post about before, may have a little MIRACLE on her hands. Yesterday was her follow-up appointment at the doctor to ultimately confirm her miscarriage and schedule her for the next step to take place today, Friday.

Well low and behold, THERE WAS A HEARTBEAT!

Yes, you read that correctly. There was an embryo with a beautiful white flashing light (heartbeat). She sent me a text when I was doing some shopping last night and I just about started to cry at the return counter of Babies R Us. I immediately called her, and I could tell she was still stunned. Who wouldn't be?

At this point, they pregnancy could still go either way, but their doctor was positive and said he has seen a lot of amazing miracles come out of this same situation. Her next appointment is on December 22nd. Please Please say some extra prayers for her and her husband.

Daniel's Baptism.

Wow. This has been a chaotic week. Daniel's Baptism was on Sunday, and it was beautiful. Between getting ready for that, and then subsequently putting everything away, I was exhausted! He did wonderful on Sunday, and we have some great pictures to remember the special day.

I started this post earlier in the week and just kept getting distracted. Plus, I had a bit of cold and my head just wasn't into it. For all of the advantages of breastfeeding, being unable to take cold medicine does not fall under that. Ugh.

Here are a few pictures...



Grandparents, parents and Father Gary.

Godparents Jodi & John.

I highly recommend having a white pacifier with you! Holy cow, this was such luck that it was in my diaper bag!

The proud parents.

Great Grandma Mary