Never had I thought our life would change THIS much by such a tiny creature. It has brought many days of tears, laughter, amazement, heart-warming smiles and just unexplainable heart-filling emotions. It has TRULY been quite a WILD ride and an awe struck experience. So without further fanfare... a year in the life of Cub:
*WARNING* This will take a few minutes to see every picture :) Grab a coffee, kick your feet up and enjoy!
Although we managed to get our "formal" pictures done for Christmas, we didn't get a chance to get Cub's pic with Santa. I finally realized this on CHRISTMAS EVE when I got home from work early. So, after I got home from work and stuffed my face a little bit, I got the li'l Cub dressed and headed over to the mall. Now, for the SECOND day in a row, I thought this would be a good idea. You know, going to the mall?! Oh boy... luckily, getting there and parked was uneventful and we HIGHTAILED it to Santa.
As soon as I got closer to the end of the line, I saw it. A sign, blocking the entrance. "SANTA IS TAKING A BREAK AT 3:00P". Oh CRAP! I started thinking in my head: "hm, 3pm, it's now 2:30p.. they close at 6pm... what to do, what to do... Cub needs a nap... hm..." Then, as I decided and was just about to walk away, this young girl (way too young to be a mom although she had two boys with her) in front of me said, "I just got in line anyway". Oh! *smacking my forehead* Sure, why not? I mean, this sign isn't the LAW, right? The mall cop isn't going to drive by on his Segway and drag me away in handcuffs are they? So I scooched the sign over a bit and got in line preparing to wait.
Pretty soon, I looked behind me and the line kept getting longer and longer! In only 15 minutes that line DOUBLED! I was relieved I got in line instead of walking away, because I probably would not have came back and missed the opportunity of a lifetime!!! So, to make this long story short - we finally got a pic of the sweet, outgoing Cubby sitting on Santa's lap:
So I finally made the appointment. Yep, the one where I'm supposed to get Cub's one-year photos? Oh, so I'm two months behind and decided, "Let's cram in a family photo and holiday photos too"! WTF was I thinking? We went to the Picture People. This is only our second time. The first time we went there, the girl who did Cub's photos was AWESOME and the pics I thought came out super adorable! When I called hoping to get the same girl, I was informed she no longer worked there! So they gave me an "experienced" photographer this time. Let me just say - I have no idea where her experience came from but it wasn't from posing or taking pictures.
We started off with our "family" photos and was so focused on Cub, she didn't even make note that my necklace clasp was turned around or take note of my head position/body position and whether or not me or my husband were smiling. She kept trying to get him to smile which did not work.
I finally told her it really didn't matter if his hand was in front of his face, if she waited for him to put it down she'd never get a pic! FINALLY she started snapping photos. I was NOT THRILLED with ANY of our family photos. Even Cub's pics were so-so. She had no imagination, offered props but never brought them out and only used two backgrounds the whole time. Some dark colored one and a white background.
THANK GOD I brought my own props for us and Cub or I would have been a sobbing, furious mess. Cub's pics came out OK - he's too cute to NOT want to buy any, but they weren't spectacular. I was very disappointed but at least we got these cute ones, right?
The original was a full color photo - I decided I would test out my amazing Photoshop skills on this one. What do you think?
Monday we actually got SNOW in Sacramento! You can check out what our lawn looked like over at A New Leas on Life. So, T texted me and asked if I wanted to take the boys up to Auburn to check out the snow! Oh, you BET I DID! So off we went. The boys did not have snow clothes, but we bundled them up the best we could! Cub was AMAZED at the whiteness and the snow falling and was making "ooh" noises. Once I go this mittens, hat and jacket on, I let him loose in a parking lot to check it out.
First, I have to rave about how awesome Michelle of RG Natural Babies is. When I was thinking about getting some fleece liners, instead of just trying to sell me what she had - she connected me with a wonderful mama, Jessica of Zing Slings who custom made me some (yes, I know you crafty mamas are going to say "you can just make them yourself" but I'm not that handy)!
Michelle has always given me AWESOME customer service, so much so I keep going back whenever I need something (even if she doesn't have it in stock) or just questions on products! If you don't "know" her yet, you should! You can follow her on Twitter, become a Facebook Fan and even follow her blog Go Green Wisconsin that she writes with Kristin of My Baby Pumpkin (who is by the way, another very awesome, fabulous mama).
Every year I avoid Black Friday like the plague. I dislike people being rude, shoving and not to mention I'm so NOT a morning person to be up super early to catch some deal. Really? I prefer to shop from the comfort of my living room in my jammies with my Starbuck's in my hand :) This year, I have the chance to offer YOU, two of my readers a very special deal from one awesome retailer, RG Natural Babies!
So stick around and look for my post on Friday! Good luck and Happy Shopping!
Just thought I'd pop in here and let ya'll know how the Cub did while I was gone. A couple of small little "incidences" but other than that, he definitely missed his Mamma and Pappa Bear got him sleeping through the night (8ish p.m. to 7ish a.m.)!! Previously he was waking up between 1 & 3 a.m. in addition to between 5 & 6 a.m. Kudos to Pappa Bear for taking care of the Cub and for everyone who pitched in and provided him some support while I was gone! Now, I'm dealing with crying/whining (separation anxiety) but thankfully I have four FULL days with him before I head back to work!
Dear Cub,
As I sit here and type this letter to you, I am getting all choked up and tears are welling up in my eyes. It is so hard for me to believe that a year ago tomorrow at 7:15pm, you entered the world and forever changed our lives. So many emotions happen when a baby arrives, but especially one as special as you. I have always been a planner and had planned everything out for your arrival. Little did I know that you were going to wreak havoc on my plans and forever change my life.
You were due to arrive on November 3rd and your Auntie Lena was keeping her fingers crossed that you were going to arrive on her birthday. I was PLANNING on working until October 24th and then have a week or so before you arrived... But nope. You were already in the womb, working your way out and throwing a monkey wrench in my plans. Two weeks early, you arrived. Six pounds, 13 ounces and 19 1/4 inches long. Here you were:
At ONE YEAR, you've done so much. You're walking and starting to talk (Mamma, Mum, DaDa, Duh (dog), Hi, Hey). You make Mamma's scrunchie face. You clap, laugh, giggle, love to be thrown up in the air. With only 4 teeth, you munch on food like there's no tomorrow, especially anything that Grandma makes for you. :)
Maybe just a little too early? Pappa Bear absolutely LOVES Starbuck's. So much so that I know getting him one almost always cheers him up. So now I guess he's got the Cub on it. (What do they put in those drinks???) Here's Cub NOT sharing his Starbuck's with DaDa. :)
Ay yai yai! I am seriously at my wit's end about this whole sleeping/CIO/nursing situation we have at home. I. AM. LOSING. MY. MIND.
WHERE DID MY SWEET SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT BABY GO???
It takes a HUGE amount of willpower to go against my Mommy instinct and let the Cub CIO. It drives both me and the hubs bonkers. But we've been told it's the best thing for him, he needs to learn to soothe himself, blah blah blah. That's great and I don't disagree but IT'S NOT WORKING - and IT'S NOT WORKING FOR US.
I hear the wonderful stories about some parents letting their kids CIO and two days later - sleeping through the night. Of course, this isn't happening in our house. EVERY night for the umpteenth day in a row, he has woken up crying. Sometimes, he'd fall back to sleep but lately he's getting more and more hysterical.
So last night, I gave up. Or shall I say, I gave in.
He was just HYSTERICALLY screaming/crying so I went and got him. 
He was wet. We're trying out some new nighttime diapers so unfortunately, it happens. It just BREAKS my heart when he's crying like that, tears and all. So I was able to calm him down and at HIS insistence, I nursed him. If this is what he needs to feel safe and comforted, who am I to really tell him no? Especially at 10 months. I mean, c'mon - seriously? He's not going to be 13 begging to be nursed, right?
That was at 1 o'clock this morning. At 1:30a, I crawled back into bed until my alarm went off around 5:20a. Then I got up, headed into Cub's room and as soon as I opened his door his head popped up off his pillow and he immediately sat up. I nursed him for a good 20 minutes, then he was back asleep... hopefully he slept in a little bit for Pappa, but I'm DONE with the screaming and crying.
Over at Domestic Dork on Sunday is Good News, Bad News! So, the point? Just list your good news and bad news and then link up your post over at Domestic Dork to share your news and see others!
The Good News: Cub has started to walk on his own randomly. Don't try to get him to do it or he won't. Just watch him out of the corner of your eye...
The Bad News: We have yet to baby-proof the house and he LOVES getting into the cupboards and trash cans. Yuck!
The Good News: Cub is a growing, happy baby!
The Bad News: We just spent another $100 on clothes for the next 6 months or so... :(
The Good News: He now has two teeth coming in on top!
The Bad News: He's teething and it's no fun for ANYONE.
Every day I try to think of things I'm grateful for and I know as hard as life seems at times, someone else has it worse and someone else has it better. So I try to focus on what's important to me and the things that matter:
1, 2, 3! On Cub's 10 month birthday (21st) he took his first THREE steps! He was so proud of himself as we looked on.
Today, he took 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 steps!! I cannot believe that our little Cub will be walking soon! He's so excited and proud of himself. We cheer him on but I think he's decided he doesn't like all the attention. Ha!
I thought I would start participating in these fun daily blog events - so my first ever Wordless Wednesday (the pic I assume doesn't have to be recent, right?)
My original blog was created as a way for me to get out what was in my head. For me. Not for anything else really - so really - that one was created as sort of my outlook/views on how I see things. Lately, it has been peppered with giveway links and very little updates on the Cub. So, I'm creating this one to be the Cub/Mama/Family related blog. Here you'll find updates on the Cub, cloth diapering information, giveaway links and reviews of all things Cub related. I hope you enjoy it!
I'm not sure how many of you mommies are having this problem but my kid now does NOT sleep through the night (STTN). He sleeps at best, 4 hour stretches. He used to be SUCH a good sleeper and I had NO complaints! Now, he wakes up every 2-3 hours and one night it was every hour! Holy ca-schmoly... It is driving both me and E insane. It started right around 5 months and now that he's 7.5 months, there is no sign of it getting any better. I'm so reluctant to let him cry it out (CIO) because I cannot STAND the crying. It grates my nerves, it breaks my heart. Although I'm sure if I did let him CIO, he'd probably STTN because he'd wear himself out! LOL!!! Anyway, just had to vent - if any of you mommies have any tips, please share! :)))
Here's what he should be doing at night... LOL!!!
For those of you who follow me, I have been absent via blog lately. Except for blogging about fabulous contests! I'm totally in love with cloth diapers and have recently branched out and purchased my first set to try on our own. If it all works out, we'll be canceling our diaper service and buying more! Woo hoo!!! I guess I'm turning into a 'crunchy' kind of Mamma! LOL!!! Who knew I had it in me?? :)
Anyway, I don't have much to say but here's some pics of the Cub!!
E took this pic my first day back at work...
Cub managing his own bottle of Mamma's milk!
Our first family trip to the park with Pappa Bear luvin' on the Cub!
Cub eating his foot!
Cub trying out some lettuce on Mother's Day!
Cub has been such a cutie pie today... E was feeding him dinner of carrots and apples in his high chair while I was making dinner and then all of a sudden... he fell asleep!!!
... to six months. Holy ca-schmoly! My boy is now 6 months old! I'm in utter shock at how FAST the time flew. It seems like just yesterday we just brought him home and we were struggling with learning to breastfeed. Today he's wearing the next size up in diapers and diaper covers. Once again, his bottom looks bigger than the rest of his body thanks to the cloth diapers.
He had has well baby checkup on Tuesday and everything was great! He weighed in at 15lbs 11.5oz and measured 25.5 inches. He got half of his vaccinations and then is when the fun started... he started to feel a little warm Tuesday evening and finally about 9pm I gave him some Tylenol. His underarm temp was about 99 and he still seemed to be in good spirits. Yesterday morning he was doing about the same so I gave him more Tylenol. Then, early afternoon he started in on the whining and he felt even warmer so I finally took a rectal temp - it was 104!
I called the advice nurse and gave him a dose of Motrin and his temp went down a little but it's now settled at about 101. It was a rough night last night... there is nothing worse than seeing your son's pouty lip and tears because he doesn't feel well and there's nothing you can do about it. It just breaks your heart. He finally went to sleep around midnight-ish and woke up a few times during the night to moan/cry a little bit and then back to sleep.
I feel like I barely slept - I kept getting up to check on him, feel his head and make sure he wasn't too warm or too cold. This morning he still has a temperature of about 101 but he seems to be in good spirits and nursing fine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed his temperature will come down today and that he'll be back to his normal self soon.
Anyway, Happy 6 Months my baby boy! Mamma loves you sooo much!
© Blogger templates 'Sunshine' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
