then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is 41 weeks old

Dear littlest Russell,

Today you have been out for exactly how long you were in. Yes I'm going to be "that" Mom. How fast this time in my life has gone. And look how fast my hair has grown-just kidding (kinda)!

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then mommy is going crazy

Dear littlest Russell,

I've really noticed that there are a lot of articles and blogs posts being shared about the first few months home with your baby. Most of them talk about how hard and exhausting it is taking care of a newborn and how life gets easier and better. It makes me feel sad. I realize that for a lot of new moms those first few months can suck...really badly, but for us is was wonderful. I see now that I had it way beyond easy. You slept well, ate really well and overall you were a very happy content little boy. Dare I say you were "Easy". I rocked those first few months I mean you basically did the eat, sleep, poop cycle on repeat like clockwork. 

Then things slowly changed. You started to get teeth and that I hear is quite painful. Also I'm having to watch you like a hawk these days. You are very mobile-constantly pulling yourself up and walking all over the place. Getting into things you shouldn't. You have sooooo many bruises from little falls and tumbles it looks like I don't look after you. 

And now there is the business of entertaining you. You are pretty good at playing by yourself when I need you to but I always feel like we should be out doing stuff because before I know it I'm going to have to return to work and our time for doing fun things is soon to be very limited. It's exhausting. I'm exhausted. Where are the blogs that say that this part can suck? Just as it seems like everyone else is getting the hang of this parenting business I'm starting to feel lost. 

You are still a great kid. For the most part you are still that smiley, happy go lucky little dude (especially in front of others). It's just with me you pull out all your emotions. I've read that that is a good sign. It shows you trust me and yada-yada. Can I just say that I'm not a fan of this stage. It sucks and for anyone else who may come across my little blog post who feels the same way please let me know I'm not the only one. I do truly feel like I'm going crazy and that I'm all alone.

The other day you fell asleep on my chest like you did when you were super small and you better believe I snuggled you for that entire nap. I miss my little baby. 

Love & Snuggly Hugs,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then three ways to wake a sleeping baby

Dear littlest Russell,

I have come up with three ways to wake a sleeping baby. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Deside that you yourself would like to take a nap. You settle yourself in and BAM baby is awake. 

2. You deside that you are going to eat something. The baby could be sleeping on a whole different floor and will sleep through most if not all of the time it takes to prepare and cook the food but as soon as you sit down to eat, that right there is the moment the baby will wake up. 

3. This one only applies to breastfeeding mothers. Your baby has desided to sleep in...nice right...except now your boobs are engorged and leaking. You take out your pump and get excited thinking you might actually get a bottle to put away for later use. As soon as you pump just enough to make the pump and bottle dirty but not enough to actually collect anything worth saving that is when the little darling will wake up after all. And the baby will be hungry so after you're finished feeding him make sure you go back and sanitize all the parts to the pump and bottle. 

There you go. Three easy ways to wake a baby. 

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is nine months old

Dear littlest Russell,

At Nine Months Old you:

• Can point and do a pincers grasp. 

• Can sign eat, more, all done and up (you recognize way more like milk, drink, water, dog, mom and dad)

• Have six teeth (two on the bottom and four on top).

• Pull yourself up and walk all over the place so long as you have something to hold onto. 

• Love music and any toys that play music. 

• Don't really nap in the mornings unless it's in the car on the way to something. 

• Can stand by yourself without holding on to anything for a few seconds. 

• Have to sleep in your pack n play until I can figure out how to stop you from trying to climb out of your crib. 

• Gravity fascinates you still. You love to feed the dog even though you know you are not supposed to by dropping food over your high chair tray. 

• Wear size 18 month to 2T clothing, size 12-18 month pants (but we have to roll them up because you're short), size 24-2T shorts, and size 6 diapers. 

• Weigh 20.8 pounds. 

Love & Hugs,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby sign language

Dear littlest Russell,

At eight months old you are starting to sign back to Daddy and I. I find this to be amazing! We started sign language really early with you but we haven't been really consistent so I'm really impressed that for about a week now you have been doing the sign for eat. 

We have registered to take classes starting next week mainly so we can meet other moms and babies and to get out of the house now that all of our other activities have finished. I'm excited to see how much you really understand already and for our future communication skills to grow!

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby has four teeth

Dear littlest Russell,

The past few days have been a bit rough for you. On July 1st you cut your third tooth and on your Grandma's birthday, July 2nd, you cut your fourth. 

You now have two bottom and two top teeth with the two middle top teeth riiiight there. Poor guy. Also it is really hard to get a picture so the above photo is the best I could do. It's hard to see the one on your top left but it's there!

You are growing up so fast. Everyday I feel like there is something new with you. I see the transition from baby into toddler happening much quicker than I ever thought it would. 

Love & Hugs,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is Eight Months Old

At Eight Months Old you:

• Can do high five, clap and wave your hands.

• Have added the "Ba" sound to your vocabulary.

• Love making people laugh by being silly. You will probably be the class clown. 

• Cry when you can't see me.

• Love walking (assisted) all over the place.

• Went on our first mini family vacation to Penticton. 

• Can drink from a straw.

• Have started to play around with the pitch and volume of your voice. I didn't know people could make that high of a sound or have it be so loud. 

• Gravity fascinates you. You constantly drop things just to see what happens. 

• Had your first dentist appointment. 

• Wear size 12-18 month clothing, size 12-18 month pants and shorts (hooray for warm weather), and size 5 diapers. 

• Weigh 20.6 pounds. 

Love & Hugs,

Mom