Striding

As I have talked about before, I attend Stroller Strides, and I love it. Its great being with other moms, while doing something good for your body. However, there is a problem. When we go to Stroller Strides the peanut misses a nap. Normally he spends part of the time at Stroller Strides very upset, and then he is super cranky for the rest of the day because he missed that nap. Sadly I decided that I could no longer put myself and my peanut through this every week.

Then I got this in the mail.

The teacher send me a note telling me how great it is that I come, and how it sent a great example for the peanut. I swear she knew I did not want to come back! Now I feel guilty if I don’t go back!

Pictures

I am a photo snob. I know it’s horrible, but I’m very particular about pictures that I’m paying someone to take. I think this is because I love taking pictures, and I think some of them come out somewhat decent. In fact there is only one person I would pay to take the peanuts picture, and that would be our wedding photographer.

Here is the problem. My mom (and many others) think that the peanut should be taken to studios (like Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, JC Penny, etc) to have his picture taken. I’m very against this, because of me being a photo snob. The funny thing about this is that I get coupons from these places ALL the time in the mail. Each add confirms my feelings against these places. Take this example.

It looks fine from far away, but if you look closer the big brother is sleeping on the baby! Who wants a picture of the big brother suffocating the baby? I will be taking pictures of the peanut, thank you very much.

The Joy of Vaseline

I have found a cure for all of the peanuts skin problems. Vaseline! I use it for cradle cap, diaper rash, chapped skin and lips. It has gotten to the point that if the peanut has any red mark on his skin the Vaseline goes on it! Remember the Windex cure from My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Vaseline has become my Windex!

Worry

I have discovered that I worry about the peanut, a lot. Well...maybe not a lot, but more than I should. My current concern is his sleeping. He sleeps a lot. I looked in my books and for his age he should be sleeping about 15 hours a day. But not our peanut, he sleeps a good 20 hours a day. We do try to keep him up longer, but he will get super cranky and then we put him down and he is asleep right away. So I keep telling myself that all kids are different. That calms me down for me bit. :-)

Update

I know, I have not posted in almost a week. How sad. :-) Donnie's been working 10-12 hour days for the past 12 days, so things have been a bit different! However, today he is not working. Yeah! That means that I can go to the library, and a birthday party alone! :-) I do love the peanut, but it is nice to have some time off!

We have a bumper!

I never registered for a crib bumper because some people said that they can cause SIDS. However, in the past month or so, the peanut had been getting him arms and legs stuck in the bars. Once again my mom came to the rescue! She bought him a breathable bumper, and now his arms and legs stay nicely in the crib!

Lost

Hi, my name is Stacey and I’m addicted to Lost. Seeing that we do not have internet anymore, I have been watching a lot more TV. Every week I want to watch lost, but I know that if I start watching now I will have no idea what is going on. So my mom came to the rescue! She went to her library, and rented most of the first season for me. I have to say I’m hooked! Sadly the rest of the season is checked out, so I have to wait till someone returns it.

I have so many questions! And sadly from what I hear, many questions never get answered. Is any one else addicted to lost?

Octomom

I’m sure everyone has heard about the mom who just had 8 kids, with 6 more at home. How crazy is that? I listened to some of her interviews and she said that she was an only child growing up. That made her want to have lots of kids, so they would have playmates.

Now Donnie and I are both only children. And surprisingly, (or maybe not surprisingly) the VAST majority of our friends are only children. And know what I think? Being an only child can be a great thing! As of right now, we are planning on the peanut being an only child.

What do you think? Is being an only child a good thing, or bad?

Happy (late) Valenties Day!

I have to say the peanuts first Valentines Day was very exciting. It started on Friday when our neighbor Mark Anthony, brought over a huge raccoon for the peanut. Its great for the peanut to practice sitting up on. That was so nice of him!
On Saturday the Peanut got to open his Valentines present from my mom. He did a really good job opening everything, and then promptly putting it in his mouth. It was very cute.
My mom got him two new books. He LOVES books, and is starting to try and turn the pages. Well, that is when he is not chewing on them!
I hope everyone had a great Valentines Day!

Happy Birthday!

Today the Peanut turns 5 months old! He is growing up so fast! hehehe He is officially putting everything in his mouth now. His favorite thing to chew on is his fathers fingers.

I'm also happy to report that he is sleeping so much better now a days. Over the past few weeks, he was not sleeping well during the day at all. But now, we put him down and within a couple of minutes he is asleep! Yeah! The good Lord answers the prayers of his people!

Baby Love

Does anyone out there watch the baby story on TLC? I have seen the show many times, and every time the new mom goes on and on about how much she loves her new baby. Many mom’s comment that they could never imagine loving anything as much as they love their new baby.

However, I read in “What to Expect When Your Expecting” that that is not always the case, and it was not the case when I had the peanut. After hard pushing for three hours, the first thing I felt was relief, not love when I met him. Then after having no sleep for 30 hours, I was expected to help care for him. Love was not the first word that came to mind.

The weeks that followed were equally as hard. No sleep, and the constant demands of a baby did not add to loving feelings. But then I realized something. Love is a choice. And as I choose to love him, loving feelings soon came.

So what about you mom’s out there? Was it love at first sight with you and your baby? Or like me, did it take awhile?

New Love

I have a new love. Not really a new love, but a renewed love. In college I developed a fondness for avocado’s. However, seeing that I only shop at Aldi’s avocado’s was not something that I could buy. But things have changed! Aldi now sells avocados! How cool is that? So this is what I do with them, I cut up the avocado, add some tomatoes, onion, and enjoy! Yummmmy. Does anyone else out there love avocado as much as I do?

Weekend Fun

Our family had a very busy weekend! On Saturday we attended a very fun surprise party for our friend Steve, and then Sunday was the dedication for Josiah.

My mom and I planned on bringing some food for the dedication, so on Friday my mom and I baked about 7 dozen muffins! Let me tell you, that's a lot of muffins! My mom also brought fruit, bagels and juice to church, so everyone was well fed. (I'm very upset that I did not get a picture of all the food.)

I was very nervous about Josiah during the dedication. He enjoys screaming during church, and we prayed and prayed that this would not happy. And you know what? He did really great! Sure he was a bit cranky, but no screaming!

So during church we were asked to come up front, and vow that we would raise the peanut in a Christan home. My parents also got to go up with us to vow that they would help us in raising him as a Christan. And then Pastor Chris took the peanut and the whole church prayed over us. It was a really cool thing! The church gave him a bible with his name on it, and a letter from the church for him to open on his 12th birthday! What a cool idea!

The Shack

My mom loaned me the book "The Shack" to read. I know its on the New York Times bestseller list, but I had not heard of it.

I always enjoy a good book, so I did read it. However, I'm not sure really what I think. I did enjoy it, and I have been pondering on it a lot. However, I don't think it shows the whole picture of Jesus, or what he did on the cross.

Has anyone else read it? You have to let me know what you think!

Change of Pace

I'm so sad I have not got to blog for almost a week! What is the world coming to?

In that time the Peanut has started using his ultra-saucer. It all started at grandma's house. She had a little wheelie chair for him, and he really enjoyed it.

So when we got home, we knew it was time to get out the ultra-saucer. I thought he was too little for it, but Donnie said he was alright. And you know what? He LOVES it.

I love taking pictures of him in it!

He Has Hope!

The peanut has high hopes for the Lions now that they have a new coach!

New Toys

I had come to the conclusion that because of the teething, the peanut needed a teething ring. As many of you know I’m not fond of things made in China, and I’m also concerned with plastics in general. My mom knows this, and went looking for me.
As it turns out, there is a store called the Green Baby downtown Rochester that was perfect. My mom found a teething ring there made in France with safe (well…safer) plastic. The only problem is that everything is in French! I did have three years of French in high school, but sadly that was not very helpful, so I had to full out my French dictionary! Now I know to not put it in the dishwasher (not that we have one) and not to put it in the freezer!

Frankie Update

I posted before that Frankie was itching all the time. Well…for some odd reason he had stopped scratching all together. So who knows why Frankie was itching, but he is better now, so all is good.

We did take him to the vet the other day, and the vet says he is in great shape! Well, everything but his teeth. The vet says that he needs to have a teeth cleaning. I did ask for an estimate of how much this would cost.
Based on this we are saying no to the teeth cleaning. So all you dog owners out there, do you get your dogs teeth cleaned?

The Death Swaddle

I’m sad to say that the death swaddle has backfired. As I posted about before, we had been swaddling the Peanut super tight with his arms in. Well the other morning I went to get him, and he was on his belly. I knew it was time to stop swaddling the arms in.
So now we are not swaddling the peanuts arms in, and he does not like it one bit. Naptime has become screaming time. However, he is still sleeping really well at night, so things are all good.

Cradle Cap

The peanut has these thick flakes of skin all over his scalp. I looked it up in one of my baby books, and I think I have diagnosed it as cradle cap. The book said to rub petroleum jelly into the scalp and then shampoo it out. Donnie and I did this on Saturday, and I really think it has helped. However, I would not like it to come back. Does anyone out there know about cradle cap?

Dream Job

I think I know what my dream job would be. As many of you know, I love to take pictures, and I would love to get paid to do this. However, not in a studio setting where people pay you to take their pictures. I’m thinking more along the lines of a newspaper, or magazine.
So my dream job would be in photojournalism. What about you? What is your dream job?

Snow

I really enjoy shoveling snow. I know that might sound crazy, but I really do. I think because when your done, you can look back and say, wow, look at what I have done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. But there is a problem. I’m running out of places to put the snow. Is anyone else having this problem?

Teeting?

I think the peanut is teething. I know he is really young, but according to “What to Expect the First Year” babies start teething for two or three months before teeth come in. He will spend all day chomping on his fingers, and he drools ALL the time.

I think this is bothering him, because he is not sleeping nearly as well as he did before. And let me tell you, non-sleeping peanut does not make a happy peanut mommy.

So what can I do to help with teething?

TV

As some of you know, Donnie and I do not have cable so awhile back I got a digital converter for the TV. And I have to say, I don’t like this whole digital thing! Here is the problem….we can never get good reception! Every few minutes Donnie and I are jiggling with the antenna. And let me tell you, that is not fun.

We bought our antenna and converter box at Radio Shack, so I headed back over there today to see what they thought. I thought at least they would try to sell me something to make it work better. But that was not the case! They we stumped about why it was not working well, and sent me on my way.

Is anyone else having this problem?

Puggie Problem

Frankie has a problem. For the past few weeks he has been so itchy! We don’t see any fleas, or any thing else that could be the problem. We gave him a bath, thinking that was the problem, but that did not help. So I need your help. How do you make a puggie less itchy?

Bath Time

Many people have told us how much their babies enjoyed bath time. Our peanut does not. I have to say, however, he is getting better. In fact, he no longer screams the whole time. But he still is very unhappy during this time.
So here is the question. What can I do to make bath time more enjoyable for the both of us?

Holy Less Molely

As many of you know, I’m covered in moles. I had been planning on seeing a doctor about this for awhile, and yesterday I went! And you know what? I have two less moles today! They removed two moles in the office that they thought looked a little funny. I had no idea they could cut them off so easily!

So they are going to take a look at them, and call me with the results. The big C word came up,.(that word would be cancer) but I feel it would be highly unlikely. I will let you know when I find out!

Happy 4 Months!

The peanut is four months! Time sure does fly. I have to say he has turned into quite the flirt. And you know what? We were able to capture the smile on the camera! Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

I’m sad to report that last week I was not able to get to a computer to blog. I’m telling you, it was a sad week! I hope I still have people checking the blog to read this!

So we had a GREAT New Years Eve. The peanut was the hit of the party! At 9pm we put the peanut down, and he slept the whole night. I really wanted to wake him up at midnight so he could join in the celebration. However, I was out voted, so he slept.
However, we did have to wake him to go home. So then we got out the camera for the first pictures of the New Year!