Reflection

Tonight Andy and I attended a viewing in support of one of his co-workers that he plays basketball with several times a week. I actually heard about this from my grandma since it was in her neck of the woods and Monday Andy called and told me it was his co-workers little boy. I had met the family this summer at a picnic. So sad. You can imagine all the thoughts that are bouncing around in my head. I have such a hard time articulating my thoughts so I won't even try. To sum it up my mind always jumps to the worst case scenario. We could have Dane for a very short time or he could live to be an old man or somewhere in between. We have know idea what God has in store for our lives. We can't hold on to tightly, but need to give our worries to God and trust that He knows what is best for us. Life is so short. You never know how long you may have someone as a part of your life.

Photos of Festivus

I am having writers block. So here are pictures to chronicle the events of our Christmas week.

3rd Annual Christmas Eve drive through the old Waterbury neighborhood.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Day lunch over at Aunt Tammy and Uncle Terry's house

Grandma Julie - (my mom)

Great-grandma Velva (my dad's side)

Surrounded by many great people - great aunts, great uncles and a great grandma
Aunt Melissa is back - we love her pictures!

Favorite Things

Some of my favorite things as a mom...

1. I love it when I am nursing and we make eye contact and I get this big cheesy grin from the little guy.

2. I love watching other people hold him and play with him. It's fun to see how he interacts with other people.

3. I love watching hubby read him a goodnight story. And baby just watches him so close and smiles when he isn't looking.

And of course another picture.

Getting ready to go out in the -20 windchill weather.

7 weeks

Time goes fast. He was so tired by the time I got him dressed he was so relaxed and ready to go to sleep. I guess the bath did what I was hoping it would. I know same pose different outfit- I will try to work on the creativity

This one is for the sneaky mommy!

"It's like waiting for the cable guy"

I am feeling good and feeling like getting out and finishing some Christmas shopping and I find myself waiting at home for the Dish guy to come anywhere between noon and 5 pm. It's like being stung by a million bees or be stuck on an airplane on the tarmac for days.

wordless.wednesday

Tuesday Musings

What is it about the 'Phantom Cry'? I hear it everywhere. Like when I turn the shower on. I turn it off and go to check and all is silent. I hear it while I am getting my hair cut. I hear it when the music is on. I heard about this phantom cry before he was born and it really truly exists. So weird. I just want to comfort this phantom baby and keep it from crying.

Why am I entertained watching HS kids slip and slide up the steep snowy road in front of our house?
Does the girl with slip on shoes really think she is going to be able to push the car up hill on a snow covered road?
How many high schoolers does it take to push a car up hill on a snow covered road? 3? Nope 4 might do the trick.
How many are going to get stuck all in the same place? 5? 6? every which way.
Amateurs.

Why do all the cars get stuck right in front of the dining room window?
Hope no one crashes in the yard.
Why is my "Why" highlighted in yellow? Can't get it off.

I am so happy my baby slept 6 hours straight again last night. He did it Saturday night. The next night, not so good, last night we may be getting the hang of this. Maybe...

I hear a cry, is it the Phantom baby? Nope it's the real one. Better go give some hugs and snuggles.

Finally caught it on camera

So brief
yet so sweet
it's hard to capture the moment.

Glazed Cinnamon Cake

I tried this recipe out on the gals from work. They came over during their lunch for a quick visit. It turned out to be delicious. It would be perfect for a brunch or with coffee.

Cake
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp maple flavoring
1 1/2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp salt
1/2 c buttermilk

Preheat Oven to 350.
Cream butter and sugar well. Add eggs and flavoring and beat well. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to butter mixture in 3 batches alternating with buttermilk. Don't over mix. Pour into greased 9" cake pan and bake 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan and drizzle with glaze.

Glaze
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
3 T milk
1/4 tsp maple flavoring

Hilarious

Maybe I have a weird sense of humor but this pic cracks me up. Have you seen the TLC special on this lady? Not trying to mock her situation, just think this pic of me is funny.

"I'm a happy elf"

Thursday Trivia

Why won't a 5 week old baby take a morning nap? Aren't they supposed to sleep a lot?

Answer: Because they are happily cooing for an hour in a poop covered onesie. Yes another onesie covered in poo. This one is new, so I am scrubbing it clean wouldn't you? Sorry for the rhyme; girl can't help it.

(I did change him before I laid him down, I am not that bad of a mom.)

Trivia # 2
Why does newborn baby wake up 20 min into a nap crying like he's hurt?

Answer: The sun found a tiny crack to shine in on his face. That's right folks he has been awake since 9 am. It is 2 pm now. At least he has been happy but it's wearing off...

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I am starting this a little late but I thought it would be fun to do the classic growth picture. All I had around here was a large stuffed bunny I got for HS graduation. It makes for a good body pillow if you must know. So here it is, the 1 month picture.

Staying warm

I have had the luxury of not having to go out in the cold weather much this last month. We were welcomed back to Iowa with a big snow storm, bad roads and 5 or so inches of snow. It snowed again this morning. I haven't even gotten the mail the last 2 days because the front porch isn't shoveled and I don't want to step out in the snow- lazy I know.

We got 4-6 inches of snow one night while we were in Colorado. The best part was it was all melted by evening and I didn't need more than a fleece jacket to run around and go shopping.

We did have to run to an appointment today. Here is Dane staying warm. I changed his outfit 3 times this morning. First because I realized too late he had outgrown the one I started with and it looked funny, then I found something else only to realize as soon as I gotten it on, it was soaked clear up the back. Leaky diaper I guess. So by the time I got this on him needless to say he was exhausted and slept the entire trip.

Sorry my life maybe boring to most right now, but I am enjoying every minute with my not tiny for long little boy. Hope no one minds all the baby pictures. It seems like I quit my job ages ago, but really if I was going back I would still be on maternity leave at least another week.

Did I really just do that?

Yeah, I did. I threw away a onesie coated in baby poop. I was just too tired to try and wash it and I have plenty in that size. I think it was used anyway and he was about to outgrow it. So there's my justification. I feel so wasteful, but glad I saved the energy. If it was a cute outfit I would have tried harder to salvage it.

So I think we should be able to start sleeping through the night. Probably could have a week ago, but with a cold and low fever, I worry to much and check on him when he stirs and wakes up choking on drainage. He can go for about a 5 hour stretch at times what's just a little longer, he has plenty of reserves and I am pretty sure he doesn't have a growth problem, if anything he is growing too fast. The only problem is he prefers his long stretch in the evening, not during the night. Last night he slept from 7ish to 11:45 I was going to let him keep sleeping but I hadn't taken his temp recently, since he has been running a low fever off and on the last week or two, when he stirred at 11:45 I got him up to take his temp and attempted to feed him. He was too tired to eat. Of course every 3-4 hours after that he was up and starving. At least last night I fell asleep before he did:o) Thanks Andy!!

Road Trip

Dane's first road trip. Check out some of the 500 tumbleweeds we hit on the way home. We went to Colorado for Thanksgiving to visit my family and for Grandpa and my siblings to meet Dane for the first time. The trip went well, Dane did fantastic in the car! I think everyone enjoyed all his baby sweetness. We have much to be thankful this year!

I honestly can't believe how fast time has gone. November? Is it over already? Wasn't I just in the hospital? Dane is already a month old. I am so not even ready for Christmas yet. Maybe if I take some time to decorate that would help the Christmas spirit along.