Three months old

I can't believe he's already 3 months old. It really feels like it's been a few weeks since I brought him home. We are finally getting into a routine and I am just so, so filled with love for him.

Stats

Height: About 26 inches

Weight: 18.8 pounds

Diaper size: Moved to a 2 last week

Clothing size: 6 and 9 months, occasionally 12 months

Likes: Laying on his play mat and looking at the toys hanging, being outside, bath time, sucking on his paci

Dislikes: Getting out of the bath, being left alone for too long, napping in his bed, when his paci falls out

Special notes: He pretty consistently sleeps through the night. We have had one night of 7:30-7, but most mornings he wakes at about 4 or 5 to nurse, then goes back to sleep until 7 or 7:30. This month he started giggling and is so over ticklish, it couldn't be more adorable! I also anticipate that rolling over won't be too far off, since he is already getting on his side, little roly poly bug! We are spending our first full weekend away from our house right now for Easter, and he is finally meeting Adrian's side of the family.

I  realize that some of these stats and photos may be boring, but I'm trying really hard to document as much as I can, since I didn't do it as well with Gabriel. These are all of the questions I find myself asking about him, and not really remembering.

Apparently tummy time isn't as fun as mommy thinks it is!

I really do love him more and more every single day.

One month old.

Two months old.

Parenting, the second time around

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I've learned a few things about a few things since having Jonas. One thing I've learned is that there are things that are out of my control and there are things in my control. I can't control his or Gabriel's emotions, but I can control how I react to them. Get it?

Here are some other things I've learned...

• The second baby is hard.
Harder than I thought and harder than anyone told me. I just thank the high heavens that my boys are the age difference that they are. I would much rather have a tantrum-y toddler + infant than an infant + infant. That sounds worse than...well I'm too tired to think of a comparison. But it sounds awful. 

• I must, must, must get out of the house. As in at least once a day. I didn't do this enough when Gabriel was little and have since learned my lesson. Cooping up a toddler is not cool. You will go crazy and so will they. And then you'll lose your ish and it won't be pretty.


• All of those rules I had or tried to enforce with the first child...out. the. window. Never say never. Even if it worked with the first one, it might not work with the second. Gabriel knows I'm easy now. Sometimes he gets to watch an extra show because I need a little break. Okay, sometimes I let him have a drink of soda because I just don't want to deal with the meltdown. And yes, they both can sleep in our bed if they want because sometimes it's not even worth the fight. Rules are meant to be broken, especially when there's a crying baby/crazy toddler in the mix.


• Jonas will live if he has to have a bottle every now and then and gasp! formula! I never gave Gabriel formula. He was exclusively breastfed, and rarely bottlefed, for 12 looong months. That's not to say I didn't want to, but by the time I convinced myself to offer him both the bottle and formula, it was already too late. Now, if I want to have a little fun or take a couple of hours away from him, it's all good in the hood. And I don't feel guilty. Mostly.


• I'm not so great at coordinating the whole stay at home mom/stay at home wife thing. I'm kind of a shoddy housekeeper, especially with two kids now. I'm not really sure how my mom does it, but she puts me to shame with the way she spoils my dad and she had FOUR. Maybe it's because she spoiled me. What she really did was spoil any chance of Adrian having breakfast, an ironed shirt, underwear and socks waiting for him every morning. 

What have you second-time-arounders learned? 

What things scare you, you no-kids-yet-ers? 

Believe me, I've learned a little more about this whole thing. 
To be continued...

Sounds like a perfect night to me

My husband went to Sacramento last night for a job walk. We had another cereal night, because frankly I see no point in putting in the effort to make us dinner when he's not home. Gabriel is a pastafarian and could live on noodles alone, which is why I keep a large bag of it cooked in my fridge.

I'm totally fine with eating whatever, because you know, whatever.

So, I've told you guys about our napping issues lately. Well I hadn't really been following through with letting Gabriel stay up all day because most days he'll be exhausted by about 4pm, so I started doing what Shannon suggested and have been laying him down earlier, at about 11:30-12. It mostly works.

But today he was in a good mood and didn't want to nap, so I let him stay up.

And then a miracle happened...

Gabriel fell asleep at 7pm. Like, before Jonas. And then Jonas went to sleep at 7:30pm. So I had this for dessert because what better opportunity do I have to imbibe a little, right??

A new gig

I'm pretty excited, guys.

When I left my job last year, I said goodbye to some pretty awesome peeps and some even awesome-er projects. What I really enjoyed, though, was feeling useful, learning new skills and feeling like I had my own identity other mom or wife. Being those things are great and all, but to feel like myself, I know that I need more.

Several months ago, I approached one of my managers from work and asked if I could use her as a reference for a job I was thinking about bidding for the IID (which I'm majorly kicking myself for not doing because it was worth $250,000 and would have been split between myself and my sister, ouch). She of course said yes to the reference and also mentioned that she might have some work for me in the future. I knew she had been thinking about starting a consulting firm with another woman I know, but thought maybe she was just mentioned it to be nice, since she'd mentioned it to me when I was leaving my job.

To my surprise, about two weeks ago she approached me again to see if I would be interested in working for them on a regular basis. The compensation would be per project, but I'd be doing some design work, coordination and whatever else came my way. Obviously I jumped at the opportunity, it's just what I've been needing!

It feels so good to be working again, especially with these two women. They are both free-thinking and open-minded, very encouraging and willing to let me take creative liberties in all that I do. They are familiar with my work style and know that I am both responsible and dependable.

Even if it just brings in an extra hundred or so bucks a month, it's completely worth it because even though I'm now busier, it is one more thing that helps to keep me sane. It does get a little tricky, though, when I have to do something for work and the kids won't take a nap.

I already joked with Adrian that I need a nanny. HAH!

The best part about it? 

I can work in these:

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Too bad I don't actually look like that!

Tell me about it Tuesday #5

What is your fave TV show (or shows, if you're like me who has 2,532 different shows recorded on your DVR)?


Well, asking me what my favorite TV show is might kind of be like asking me which is my favorite child (Gabriel)...I kid, I kid. Adrian and I watch a lot of TV. It didn't used to be this way, because we spent evenings playing around, doing things college students do, but after Gabriel was born we didn't really leave the house. We tried new shows. I decided to break this down into a couple of categories because I truly don't have one favorite, though I do have several "can't miss-ers" (just like Gabriel really isn't my only favorite).

Favorite new show - I love Storage Wars. This kind of crept up on me but Adrian really does pick good shows and this is one that he started watching, that I love. Also, I could totally see Adrian and I being Jarrod and Brandi...just might be our life in five years, who knows.

Favorite because I have been watching forever and I have to see how it ends someday - Grey's Anatomy. It has had highs and lows, good seasons and bad, but I will watch it until the end because I have to see what happens to Carev and if they ever explain has relationship with Izzy, what will happen to Cristina and will she ever get her shit right?, and will Mer and Der end up ever getting pregnant?

Favorite overall show - Biggest Loser. I started watching this in the last few weeks of my pregnancy with Gabriel, when I was too large to move unless it involved my fingers using the remote control. I don't care for the host, Allison, but I generally like the contestants' stories and I loooove seeing their makeovers.

Runners up - DEXTER, Homeland (new show, check it out), Up All Night, and Project Runway.

What are your can't-miss shows??

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