He's a Big Boy!

My little baby is growing up! 

On the 7th he turned 6 months old!  I can hardly believe he has already been here 6 months.  So much has happened but the time is just flying by!

And as he continues to grow, things continue to change.

*He started sitting up when he was just over 5 months old.  He is such a pro at it now and we love watching him learn to balance and reach for things

*At 5 1/2 months we started feeding him some solid foods.  We started with rice cereal.  His actual first solid was sweet potatoes, but since then he has had green beans, carrots, pears, and I have given him a few bites of grapes and watermelon in the mesh feeder!

*Days before he turned six months he got his first tooth.  This has been a change that came with much difficulties.  A little baby in a lot of pain, and two tired parents!  I think he is working on his other bottom tooth now...poor baby!  (i don't have pictures of the tooth because it is still pretty hard to see... but easy to feel!)

*He has started getting crazier with his rolling.  He has been rolling for a long time, but just today I put him on his blanket in his room to play so I could grab something from another room, and this is where I found him when I came back...

*And sometimes I think he is getting ready to crawl!

I get so excited for him with every change, but the mommy part of me gets a little sad.  I want to hold onto every moment of my journey with him, but it gets harder to remember things with everything changing so often.  I see newborn babies and it is hard for me to believe that Tavian was ever that small!

Another thing Tavian has started to do lately (which totally melts my heart) is he has started reaching for me.  When I put him into his crib for naps he gets up on his hands, cries, and lifts one arm out to me.  In this scenario it kind of breaks my heart.  But when we are sitting on the floor together, even when I am right behind him, it just isn't close enough and he throws his whole body into my lap so that I hold him.  L O V E it!  

And another first, one that could very easily turn into a bad habit...

I just couldn't resist.  And even though it isnt' something I plan on making a habit, I have to say our time together was very special. 

I'm so proud of my big boy!!!

A little game with Delilah

This has been a really rough week.  Tavian started teething really badly and got sick...again!  I am seriously getting so frustrated with taking care of a sick baby.  It isn't that he is horrible or anything like that, but I just get really down when I am constantly seeing that he doesn't feel well.
Last night was supposed to be a treat.  I arranged for my dad to come over around 7, and Cole and I could go out once Tavian fell asleep.  We have done this in the past and it has worked perfectly because Tavian never gives us any trouble going to bed at night.  That is until last night!  I know it is because he wasn't feeling well, but my stress level was growing by the second.  It isn't even that Cole and I had huge plans but the opportunity to get out of the house just the two of us doesn't present itself very often anymore.  I was so discouraged that we hadn't even left yet and things were going wrong.
Tavian didn't fall asleep until 8 leaving Cole and I only an hour.  I was somewhat convinced the night was already ruined and I was ready to just tell my dad to forget it and to go home.  Cole convinced me that it would still be nice to go out and have some alone time.  I was pretty emotional and suddenly going to eat at a restaurant in public wasn't something I was looking forward to.  Cole came up with the perfect plan.  We picked up McCalisters (which I love), parked in a remote part of the parking lot, and turned on Cozy 101 (i know, cheesy! lol).  We ate, relaxed, listened to music, and talked.  It was such a reminder of how wonderful the man sitting beside me really is.  My very best friend.
For years my family and I have played "the song game" whenever we  listen to Delilah (Delilah, love someone tonight..)  Cole and I couldn't pass up the fun.  Before hearing what the next song is going to be, you decide who it is going to be about.  Examples:  The next song is going to be about me and my sister.  The next song is going to be about Andrea and Luke. (Much more fun in high school when your crush changes daily!)
Anyway, Cole and I decided the next song would be about us.  The next song that played was "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree.  It actually ended up being more appropriate for me..whatev, you have to be a bit flexible with the song game :)  We had a good laugh listening to the lyrics!

 

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry
You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Herald what your mother said
Readin' the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my heh, hey
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face
Oh oh oh Remember
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
My oh my heh, hey, hey
You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

 

Too funny!  Even though the night didn't go perfectly, it had a perfect ending!  And, love really did save the day!

Accomplishments

Since summer has come to an end, I thought I would take a moment to recognize some of the things I have accomplished over the past few months.  I meant to write something about it sooner, but I guess I just kept forgetting.  As many of you know from previous posts, I have always wanted to motivate myself to go to daily mass, but before Tavian came along I just could never do it.  After having Tavian I also wanted to get commited to some kind of excercise, for engergy and of course to get rid of the pesky 5 pounds that was keeping me from my pre-pregnancy weight.

  

Well, I am feeling really proud because for close to 4 months I have been attending daily mass.  It has been a wonderful way to start the day with Tavian, and it has also blessed me with the opportunity to meet many wonderful people.  I have gotten to know a lot of the daily mass attendees, and everyone is so kind to me and Tavian.  Most of them are old folks but they always take the time to shower words of love and encouragement onto us.  

I can't say I am an exercising fool by any means, but since June I have walked around 4 miles almost every day (that is up until two weeks ago, but you'll hear about that in a bit).  I know it is just walking, but it is better then nothing, and it has been a great way to keep me moving.  The best part (and the main reason I was able to stick with it) is because my friend Elissa met me every morning for the walk.  I would go to mass, she would meet me in the parking lot after, and then we would walk around a nearby park/neighborhood.  Another great way to start the day..and that way I would get adult interaction and girl talk every day!  Who could pass that up?!?

And, thanks to my small exercise habits (and I'm sure to breastfeeding as well), I have reached my pre-pregnancy weight!  That isn't to say my stomach isn't still a bit stretchy, to say the least, ha!, but I'm still feeling really great about everything!

I think I was partly worried about mentioning something sooner because I didn't know if I would be able to keep it up.  When it comes to mass I am still going strong, which is my primary focus.  But, two weeks ago Elissa went back to work teaching, and I went back to not walking...

I know I could keep going on my own, but it just isn't quite the same.  But don't worry, I got a gym membership at 24 hour fitness and on Sept. 7 Tavian will be 6 months old and I will be able to use the daycare there.  I am hoping to make a stop at the gym part of my daily plan, especially because sooner or later the weather isn't going to be apropriate for outside walking with an infant.  Even though I have currently stopped, I am still really proud of my accomplishments because Elissa and I originally agreed to just making it through the summer...and we did:)  I'm hoping I won't be too freaked out to leave Tavian at the child care center ...but that is another post for another time! 

Here is to making things happen!

Friendly Surprises!

I have such wonderful friends, and in the last week two of them came to visit!  They are both my old roommates and since they live in Denver I don't get to see them very often.  Such a wonderful treat!

Shannon and her husband came last Saturday so she could take me out to lunch for my birthday.  It was so thoughtful of her and I loved having some girl time!!

Then on Friday, once I was back from the Dr. and the ear infection fiasco was taken care of, Breanne stopped by to say hello.  Her and her friend Kelli were making a trip to Fort Collins and they were nice enough to pay me a visit!!!  It was wonderful getting to catch up:)

I love having amazing friends! :)

Garage Sale

I don't remember if I have already posted about my infatuation with garage sales.  I absolutely LOVE them!!  Always have, always will.  Well, about a year ago I told Cole I wanted to start saving some up some of our give away stuff and storing it in our basement so that this summer we could have our very own garage sale.  For some reason I just loved the idea of having my own!!!!
Well, it all finally came to fruition this last Saturday.  It was so so fun!!  We randomly ended up picking the perfect day too because 7 other people had garage sales in our neighborhood so there ended up being a ton of traffic.  We didn't have any big furniture pieces or anything like that, but we still ended up making $125.  Plus I had a ton of fun, which is really the whole point!

We needed a Not For Sale sign next to Tavian!  Everyone took a lot of interest in him!!!!

Of course I had to stop by the other garage sales going on in our neighborhood.  I found a few cute pieces of clothing, but I am mostly excited about this...

The pic was taken after I already took a lot of the toys and other items off so I could get it cleaned

We got it for $20..which maybe is a lot to spend at a garage sale, but it has barely been used, works perfectly, and is currently selling for $85 at Target.  I think it was a great find..especially since i have been looking for something like this for Tavian!  Unlike the one that Tavian sat in at our garage sale, this one has hinges and he can bounce around in it..along with other fun things ;)

All in all, a success:)

His Ear Ache = My Heart Ache

All last week Tavian wasn't acting like himself.  I remember last weekend telling Cole that something didn't seem right and that he was acting king of crabby.  Tavian is usually such an amazing, happy little boy so him being a little crabby is hardly even noticed by other people.  But I know my son and I was sure something wasn't right, but what?? Was he teething?  Yeah, probably.  I continued to check his temperature but it was always normal.  I told Cole that maybe he was on the verge of getting sick and that he could feel it coming or something.  After days of this, and days of Cole telling me he thought he was fine (Cole constantly reminded me that he was still acting pretty happy), I started to believe it was all in my head.  Maybe he was acting normal.  Maybe I was confused and he didn't used to be happier. 
Then Friday happened.  I can't even tell you how frustrated I was.  Tavian was crying so much more then normal, and nothing seemed to be helping.  He was fighting naps and just being so difficult.  (again, i stress difficult from what I am used to...everyone else continued to tell me what a good boy he was!)  Everything came crashing down that afternoon as he was crying, and I was crying, and I had no idea what else to do.  Then I saw it.  He gave one little tug on his ear, and the mommy instinct in me started to think ear infection.  I really didn't want to go to the Dr. considering I feel like i am already there every other week, but it was Friday and I knew if it was an ear infection that it wouldn't go away on its own.  Part of me wanted to believe that he did have an ear infection so that his behavior could be explained!
It took no time at all for the Dr. to tell me that he had an ear infection.  A really bad ear infection to be exact!  My poor, poor baby.  And all week I had been complaining about how difficult he was being....when in reality, for having a bad ear infection he was actually doing really well!  Now he is on antibiotics as well as motrin for the pain.  Once he took motrin I instantly saw my happy little boy again. 
I cried in the Doctor's office when he told me it was an ear infection.  I immediately felt guilty for being so hard on him and getting so frustrated.  The truth is that on Friday (before the apt.) I wasn't a good mom.  It is easy for others to tell me, "don't be hard on yourself", "you are a great mom", "don't feel guilty", etc.  And that is all very kind...but not necessarily true.  The truth is that I failed him as a mother that day..at least for parts of it.  And it is good for me to recognize that.  It is the same way that sometimes I am a bad friend, or daughter, or a bad sister or wife.  I have failed in all of these categories, and the same goes for motherhood.  I'm not proud of it, but it is true.  I don't need to dwell on it or beat myself up, but it is important for me to recognize so that I can try to improve.  Of course i didn't do it purposefully, but I need to do better.  And hopefully with the ability to recognize it, next time I will do better!  (although I am also sure there will be next times where I fail as well...but hopefully not often!)

I am so happy that I found out what was wrong, and I am so happy he is doing better.  He still gives his ear a tug every now and again and every time it breaks my heart...

I'm sorry I wasn't the mom you deserve, Tavian, but I promise I will try and do better.  Mommy loves you!:)

Faith Day at the Rockies

Last Sunday Cole, Tavian and I went to Denver for the Rockies game because it was Faith Day.  Every year after the game they have a Christian performer and this year it was Jeremy Camp.  I actually don't know Jeremy Camp that well, but Cole and I just thought it would be something fun to do.  My sister Sarah and her family went along with my sister Ellen and her family, my dad, and my cousin and her family.  I am pretty sure there were 11 kiddos including Tavian!  Our seats ended up being hit directly with the sun so we didn't sit to watch the game for long because it was too hot for Tavian.  We didn't stay for much of the concert, but from what we saw it was good!  Mostly we just enjoyed getting out of the house and doing something fun while getting to spend time with family! 

Daddy and Tavey all ready for the game!

A happy family!

I had to cover his body with my Hooter Hider so he wouldn't get burnt!

Getting loves from Aunt Ellen

It was a long day!...