Accordians and Long Johns

Mr. Hatesthecamera

So yesterday I was trying to get a good mama + baby picture of me and Henry. I like taking those occasionally and storing them on my computer because I know someday I'll want to look back and remember what I looked like as a young mom. While these aren't exactly the pictures I had in mind they are a pretty accurate depiction of his personality these days and I think it's pretty funny how much has changed in just a few months.

Unlike those cute-pictures x10000000 early months when he was so in awe of the camera he'd just stare at it and smile, Henry hates sitting for another picture. He doesn't like to be held for longer than two minutes and he's always grabbing my boobs (see pic below) or arching his back and diving for the floor. I try to get him to look at the camera but he's more interested in the stupid cat or the frames on the wall or ripping my hair out, lalala.

OH, HENRY!

thanks to all of your votes so far, we've just moved up two spots! thanks!

CPS

Sometimes it's just easier to let him play with those baby no-nos. Ya know?

votevoteplease

bits of our weekend in pictures.

Garrison's new tattoo. It's a picture of Deception Pass, the bridge where he asked me to marry him.

(for melissa)

will you puh-lease take a moment and vote for us? two clicks is all it takes!

We Made It!

Before I was a mom, I always imagined those early months being the most challenging for me. Something about all the stress of "Am I doing this right?" and night after night of little/no sleep and trying to recover from giving birth and figuring out how to keep your relationships healthy...it was all almost too much for my mind to handle. Looking back on those first months though I'm laughing. HARD. Because while being a brand new mom was crazy and challenging in all of those ways and more, it ain't got crap on being the mom of a seven month old.

Months 7-9 of Henry's life seriously kicked my butt. They were the longest and hardest days of his life. Right after he turned seven months, it's like something inside me (and him) snapped. I suddenly felt like I had no control, patience, or motivation and it sucked. I went from not minding the early morning feedings to actually rolling over, mumbling, "omg. stopppppp..." and switching off the baby monitor. I started fearing that Henry would be three years old before I'd ever feel even slightly rested again. It was during these months that I felt like I was incapable of being someones mother. I was always thinking, "This is never going to end" and then suddenly (as quickly as it began) it did.

Henry turned ten months on the 19th of November and now? Being a mom rules again. Right around his birthday everything got a million times better, easier, and more fun. He's becoming more independent and starting to communicate and even sleeping through the night (mostly). He's picking up new tricks almost every day and passing milestones like whoa. You know, when they are so so little they do something new like every day and then they reach this point where it all slows down and it's like your enthusiasm fades and you have hella time to focus on the things that really stress you out.

I guess I just wanted to let any other moms that might be going through a hard period with baby know that holy crap, it DOES get better! So much better! And randomly too. I swear one day we all woke up and the storm was over, it was the weirdest (and most awesome) thing.

This one sums it up too.

Henry's First Christmas Tree.

Our tree is up! Although since these photos were taken it's been moved from the floor to the table top because you know, it's probably not good for babies to be chewing on Christmas lights or something right?

Dear Henry

Dear Henry,

You are so sick and miserable and pathetic and it breaks my heart to know that you are so uncomfortable. It seems like every other "Dear Henry" here is written to you when you are sick. I guess it's another way for me to wish out loud that I could stop your nose from running and make your little bones feel less achy.

When you are sick, like really really sick, you turn into this cuddly little thing and that I love. For three days straight you are perfectly content resting on my chest and nestling into my neck while I rub your back and tickle your arms. I love taking care of you when you are not feeling good. It's when you are sick that I really feel like someone's mom and it feels so good.

Yesterday after work, we both put on pajamas and watched YoGabbaGabba and Sesame Street with the lights off. You drank your juice and we snacked on SnapPea Crisps and it was wonderful. You are totally into this video the most and we must have repeated it about fifteen times. I remember watching it when I was little and now I'm sharing it with my own baby bear. You may not understand just how good this feels until you have kids of your own someday but let me just say that it's one of the most amazing feelings I have ever known.

Love,
Mom

Banana Baby

So, you guys take insane amounts of pictures of your kids doing something as stupid as eating a banana too...right? Poor kid can't even enjoy a snack in peace.

Holly Days!