10 months old... SOO BIG!

Yesterday, Matthew turned 10 months old. He's officially been on the outside longer than he was in the inside. It's crazy how quickly this time has gone, and yet, I can't seem to remember life before him.

I was discussing this phenomenon just the other day with my good friend, another new mom. We couldn't figure out how, before kids, we managed our time. Between work, family and friends and household chores, I felt like I was always pretty busy. But now? I can't seem to find a minute to myself, let alone get all the things I want to finished before the next day, spend quality time with family and friends, have quiet time with the husband and take care of the baby. I must have grown super human powers when I became a mom, because even though life has drastically changed, I wouldn't trade it in for my old life in a million years. I'd gladly take changing diapers, nightly baths, soothing baby to sleep at all hours of the night and kissing boo boos over nights out at bars, fancy dinners and shopping sprees.

At 10 months old, Matthew is a crawling pro and standing on his own unassisted for short periods of time. Some days, he even looks as though he's going to take off running, which I anticipate will happen any day now. He is a great eater and wants whatever mommy has on her plate - so long spicy food and added salt. He says mama and dada and I think he's finally starting to associate what those two words actually mean. Marley is his best friend. He feeds her cheerios every morning from his high chair and likes to play games with Marley's crate. He's a cuddle bug, and, although he's shy at first, he opens up pretty quickly in new surroundings.

When and if to have baby #2

When and if I am ready for baby # 2 has been a major topic of conversation among my mommy friends lately. Not just my online group, but my personal and coworker friends as well. I guess when you're gearing up for the first birthday, it becomes pretty commonplace to start hearing, "so when is baby number 2 coming along?"

For me, I am really enjoying my time with Matthew, so unless a miracle oops occurs, sorry folks, I am in no rush to become pregnant again. Do I want more kids? Of course. But right now? Not so much. I was really sick my whole pregnancy with Matthew, and although I know that symptoms can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy, I can't imagine chasing my almost 10 month old around, and at the same time trying anything and everything to prevent myself from puking my guts out every other hour. I am sure it's doable, but call me crazy, it doesn't sound all that appealing to me.

It feels like just yesterday that I was trying everything I could to get pregnant though and it seems selfish and hypocritical to now, just two years later, hear the words come out of my mouth that I am in no rush to try for another one. Maybe it's because I remember so vividly the disappointment, heartache and emotional toll that TTC took on me. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat for Matthew, but at this moment in time, I am in no rush to get back to that dark place before pregnancy.  I hope my struggles with infertility are a thing of the past, but if they are not, then I'll deal with it when the time comes. In the meantime, I am going to love my little guy to pieces and enjoy spending my one-on-one time with him, after all, he's the only child I'll be able to have one-on-one time with.

I have such sadness for my friends that are still awaiting their miracle babies. Everything we go through to get these precious babies are so worth it, but somedays, I look back and wonder how I got up and functioned every day? Some of my fellow infertiles are trying new treatments, others are moving onto adoption and some are just trying to grasp the concept of being childless or having an only child. I am thankful that I don't have to make that decision today or even tomorrow. But these are amazing women, who I admire so much. In fact, one of my friends started a new venture that will help parents of IVF children donate their extra embryos to other women in need. Her website is https://www.wombswaitingandwombswanted.com/home.html

There is a give away for five free profiles for embryo donor recipients. If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in it, send them to the website to enter the drawing.

First Family Vacation

Eric, Matthew and I just returned home from a much-needed Florida vacation with my side of the family. We had a great time. It was relaxing and quiet. We spent our days at the beach or by the pool and we took turns putting the baby down for his nap and getting him out of the sun when the time came. Vacationing with a little one is much different than vacationing without children.  It's not necessarily a worse time, it's just different and you have to plan things much differently.

Before Matthew, Eric and I would try to do as many excursions and try as many new restaurants and foods as we could when we went away, although I admit, I wish we had gone away on more vacations pre-parenthood as opposed to me being a frugal workaholic. Now, vacationing revolves around nap times, feedings and how long Matthew's been out in the sun.

Matthew did great on the airplane both to Florida and back home. He didn't fuss much and blessed mommy by falling asleep during take off and landing, so he didn't seem bothered by the change in air pressure. I on the other hand couldn't hear very well the first day there and the first day home. But enough about me, back to the baby.

He was mesmerized by the ocean and yelled back at the waves when they rolled in. He neither loved nor hated the sand, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending every day playing with his cousins. He didn't sleep well the entire vacation, and in turn, neither did mommy and daddy. Most nights, he ended up between us in the bed, and for being an 18-pound baby, he sure took up a lot of room.

Here is a snap shot of some of our time in the Sunshine State:

We shopped til we dropped on Monday... literally. When we went out for lunch Matthew took me by surprise and threw his head back and I almost dropped him, although he did fall back onto the table, causing a scene. He wasn't hurt, but screamed loud enough for the entire restaurant to turn and stare at the commotion. I was mortified and it showed on my face, which ensued more tears from my nine month old.

The next day, we laid by the pool and at night Eric and I met up with my college friend who is now living in Miami for cocktails at this trendy bar on the beach.  When we got back we celebrated my brother in law's birthday. Tuesday was a great day.

Wednesday morning we went back to the beach and then took a trip to Boca Raton and shopped with the rich. We spent a good chunk of time in Janey and Jack and bought Matthew the most adorable pants I think I've ever seen. I am pretty sure I could have spent hours in that store, but luckily for my bank account, my husband pulled me back to reality. Our shopping trip was then cut short by a very scary thunder and lightning storm. We then went out to dinner as a whole family and enjoyed delicious food with eachother and my parents' childhood friends. Another great day!

Thursday, Eric's last day there, we went on a boat ride where we saw these gorgeous mansions. We decided that in that area of Florida, you are either really wealthy, very poor or old. There isn't much in between. At least that was the perception I got.

Friday morning my dad and I dropped Eric off at the airport so he could get back in time for our friends' wedding, and I laid by the pool until the family went to Margate for dinner at our family friends' house. They live on a canal that connects to the Everglades and I searched for any signs of alligators to no avail. For those that know me personally, you know that I am fascinated by critters. I don't necessary want to touch or hold them, but I love to see them and observe them in the wild, in their environment - snakes and reptiles are my favorite. Call me weird, but they fascinate me.

Saturday was filled with packing and cleaning and then getting to the airport on time. Matthew flirted with a few girls in the airport while we waited to board the flight and then fell asleep during take off again. When he woke up he fussed a little bit, but not enough to really bother the other passengers. All in all, we had a great time, and I wish we didn't have to come back to reality so soon. Although I do love my own bed and Matthew feels the same way. He's slept straight through the past two nights in a row and has taken several long naps since we've been back home.

Hitting milestones

Matthew amazes me every day, and lately he has been hitting milestones that we haven't even been working on. For example, I walked downstairs this morning and Matthew was playing with a toy on the floor. Out of the blue, he started clapping to himself, because he was proud that he had made the toy do what it was supposed to do. I rarely ever clap for him, I say yay Matty or pat him on the back, but clapping just hasn't been something that I do on a regular basis, and yet, he suddenly knows how to do it? Amazing!

He has also been getting pretty ballsy and will get himself to a standing position and just let go. Nine times out of 10 he falls on his rear end, but sometimes he can let go, stand by himself for a few seconds and then grab a hold of the table or the pack n play again without losing his balance. When he accomplishes this, he starts cheering for himself. His hoots and hollers are just too cute for words.

And finally, he started doing "so big." I'll go how big is Matty, and he'll throw his arms in the air to show me just how big he is. Again, we hadn't been working on this for any significant length of time, but he picked it up nonetheless. These may seem like silly or small feats to you, but to a first time mom, seeing my child accomplish these milestones is just such a blessing. I could literally watch him laugh and play all day long and just smile from ear to ear.

I am so proud of my little guy. Tomorrow is daddy's first time taking Matthew to the doctor's by himself, I can't wait to hear how it goes and how big Matty Matt really is getting.

nine months on the outside

It's crazy to think that Matthew is already nine months old - the same amount of time it took to bake him. When I was nine months pregnant, all I wished for was to go into labor, so that I could finally meet him. What I didn't know was just how much my life would change once he became a full part of it.

When I was on light bed rest the last week leading up to his birth, I'd talk to him and sing to him all day long while I was surfing the net, adding songs to his baby playlist and watching hours upon hours of television. (There wasn't a whole lot I could do, because of my high blood pressure, so sitting my large butt on the couch was pretty much all I did during that time period.) Even then, I'd play this game with him where I would press lightly on one part of my stomach and he'd kick me on the opposite side. Then, I'd press lightly on the side he had just kicked and he'd punch me on the other side. We had already established this undeniable bond even though we hadn't officially met face to face at that point. Heck at nine months pregnant, I didn't even know he was a boy yet.

Today, Matty and I still have a strong bond, and I could still sit my butt on the couch for hours and sing and talk to him if life allowed me to do that. Although, nowadays, getting him to sit still for more than 5 minutes is a challenge. This kid wants to go, go, go. He's crawling and getting into EVERYTHING, and now that he can pull himself up to a standing position, it's only a matter of time until he takes off walking. As it is, my little daredevil tries to let go, unsuccessfully, countless times a day.

He's growing up so fast. I just wish time would slow down just a bit. 

Mr. Personality

Matthew seems to have grown at laser light speed intellectually over the past few weeks. Since the start of June, he started feeding himself food, crawling with his belly off the floor, standing for a few seconds by himself and focusing more intently on objects. It's been incredible to watch him explore new things and become more aware of his surroundings.

Since June 1, he's also been extra clingy to mommy and began expressing his discontent through the form of screaming, kicking, and throwing himself into a backward arch position if I tell him no or try to put him down or give him to daddy so that I can get a few house chores done. This has been an eye opening experience, because how do you handle a not-quite nine month old who's getting a mind of his own? It's a little too early for time outs, but it's very trying at times when I can't seem to take 5 minutes to clean up the inch of dust that has been accumulating around the house. My allergies are telling me it's time to put the baby down and do my chores!

If you read my blog regularly, you may notice that I have a slight, irrational fear of the unknown, and my latest flash of anxiety is that I am parenting wrong. I love that my Matthew is a mama's boy, and I am thrilled that I am his favorite person, because quite frankly, he's my favorite person... (sorry Eric, Matthew edges you out ever so slightly) However, what if my actions now affect him long term? For example, if Matthew doesn't want to play on the floor and would rather be carried around, I pick him up and finish the vacuuming with him attached to my hip - literally. There's a small part of me that worries this behavior will only get worse as he grows older into his toddler years and then everyone will be talking behind my back, or to my face, about how my two year old runs the roost. 

My thought process now is that he is only this age for so long, and I want him to know that no matter what I will always be there for him. But on the other hand, I want him to grow up to be independent with a mind of his own, but with love and respect for others.

I guess, for now, I am going to continue to plug along and do what I feel is best. These phases are short lived and it won't be long before he decides he's too cool for mommy, so I am just soaking up the love and adoration... hopefully it lasts into his adult years.

Everybody's puking, everybody's pooping!!

Yesterday morning, I felt a little sluggish, so I decided that instead of bringing my Labradoodle Marley's crate in from the trunk of my car, I'd block off the back room and let her roam free while we were at work. My bags, that I also did not feel like putting away, were "securely" placed in an area that I thought the dog wouldn't be able to get into nor would she be able to open the bag.

I should never underestimate the smarts of a poodle and the determination of a Labrador. That troublemaker not only got into my overnight bag, she took out all of my jewelry - thankfully didn't eat any of my valuables - ingested a Benadryl and licked clean my new container of skin cream. I knew I didn't need to call the vet, because the skin cream was all organic and made from natural ingredients, but I also knew that the result of her boredom and my stupidity would not leave me unpunished.

At about 6 p.m., Marley started puking, and shortly after that she had the runs. At roughly the same time, Matthew decided that he was going to poop up his back, get it into his hair, and then roll around so that it would seep through his clothes, onto the floor and all over mommy's white t-shirt. I put Eric on dog duty, and brought Matthew straight upstairs and into the bathtub.

When he decided he was done with the bath, he reached up and climbed into my arms soaking wet. I'm so glad I had just minutes before changed my shirt. He still needed his hair washed, so instead of making him upset by putting him back into the tub to finish up, I thought it'd be a brilliant idea to wash his hair in the sink. It would have worked out perfectly, except  I forgot to move a glass from the counter and Matthew promptly picked it up and threw it on the floor, shattering it into teeny tiny little pieces. I then moved my foot a fraction of a centimeter and stepped on the tiniest piece I could find so it embedded into my big toe and disappeared. It's only remnants was the stabbing pain that shot through my foot with each step I took. 

The remainder of the night consisted of a whiny 8 month old, a sick dog and a very cranky mommy. I'd like to thank my husband who cleaned up the glass and the rugs, and then put the baby to bed so that mommy could get some much-needed peace and quiet.