6 months?

How has 6 months passed already? But at the same time, has it only been 6 months? Its weird how time changes after you have a baby. First the pics, then I'll ramble on about something...

 

He was less than thrilled about laying on the floor this month and having his picture taken.  As you can clearly tell. He had his 6 month check up and shots the day before so I can't blame the guy. Here's where he's at:

weight: 20lbs 3oz

height: 28 1/2"

98% percentile

Pediatrician said he is the size and has the alertness of a 9 month old

Currently, Hazen is the roll over monster version of his former self. Changing his diaper is officially a game, usually ending up with a cute chubby butt in the air. 9834 points Hazen, 12 points momma. I have to admit its kinda funny at work when I causally tell my boss "great, theres balls on my desk again." She has a good sense of humor. He is understanding food quite a bit more lately. Fruit is awesome, veggies are ok. He is right between 9 and 12 month clothing right now. That giant supply of onsies and what not that we got from our baby showers is juuuust about gone. I thought it would have lasted a bit longer. I can tell you that when I decided that big men were my type, I sure wasn't thinking about my future giant babies. Hazen has been working on his crazy vocal sounds and has discovered that he has wrists. He is constantly holding one hand up and twirling it around. Hates the giant scary bath tub, loves the kitchen sink.  So yeah, normal baby stuff.

As for me, the mom of a 6 month old baby boy who is always looking for whatever he doesn't have even if he doesn't know what that is. I'm totally happy. I met my goal of breast feeding for 6 months. Not that I've stopped. Before he was born and I didn't know what to expect, I set myself a goal of 6 months, now that I met that, I'm just waiting for teeth and I'll see how I feel about it after that.

I never would have thought that 4 straight hours of sleep could feel so restful.  Seeing 1:45 on the clock and closing your eyes and opening them again and its light in the room and 6:00 makes me want to give Hazen a high five every time.

Lately I've been thinking about his birth and that day we spent in the hospital. And about those final weeks being pregnant. It's such a unique brief moment, that you can never relive or experience again. You can always revisit a place or eat some wonderful food again, but becoming a first time mom is beyond incredible. Now I understand why all those people asked if it was my first then told me how amazing the first one is. As crazy as giving birth is, especially drug free, I have no bad feelings or negative thoughts about it. Sure, it was the most exhausting experience of my life...but I would relive it over again if I could. Yes, you can and I will have another baby, but I think the unknown is what makes the first such a journey.

I'm so thankful I challenged myself to have him natural, I think for the rest of my life I will have this funny feeling of pride that I did it. That I can push myself that far.  Not in a sense that I won the game and I need a pat on the back and a congratulations, but just for me. I guess its part of what shapes us as women. No matter how you have your babies, just the process that makes you stronger. Can you imagine an unplanned c-section? Now thats got to take some time to process. Looking back on it, I'm really lucky I didn't have to go down that road. The cord was around Hazen's neck, it just never tightened up enough to drop his heart rate and put him into serious danger. But boy oh boy was I lucky!

Ok, I told you I was going to ramble. To end all this giving birth blabber, one thing I would recommend to anyone about to become a mommy for the first time or the sixth. Have someone photograph the experience. Not down in the nitty gritty finally, but the labor. The moments between a husband and wife. The raw emotion. My mom was with us at the hospital while I labored. She stepped out of the room while the messy stuff was going on, but she was right there with Kam and I during the whole thing. Leading up to B day, I asked her to photograph the labor at the hospital (I was 7cm when we got there). I set my camera up for her and told her to just take pictures whenever of whatever. And I'm so glad I did.  Where and when someday my memory fails me, I will always have those photos that captured those incredible moments. Nothing yucky or "private," just the good stuff.  I would love to photograph a labor if some brave momma would let me.

And last thing, if you've managed to read this far, I updated my website. Take a look if you have time...
brennawoody.com.

 I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend and spending time with someone you love. Me, I'm going to go plant a tree with my baby. Its earth day and we were given a tiny cedar tree and the grocery store this morning. And off I go...thanks for reading.

(I'll share my favorite picture of my labor with you, maybe to inspire another momma. I framed it and hung it in my bedroom. I catch myself staring at it all the time. I love this picture. I was about 8cm.)

Hope everybunny has a happy Easter!

5 months

Talk about a day late. I took this picture of him in the evening on March 14th and then the next morning at 4am woke up and took the 6 hour drive home to see lots of family and friends.  My dear sisterfriend Mandee Jo had her sweet baby girl and I was lucky enough to get to take her two week photos.  They came out absolutely perfect. I might just have to share one. So, here is my growing boy's 5 month picture and some info about him to follow...

 

 

So Mr Hazen is now getting solid foods. His favorite by far is apples. He is a roll over champ and in the past few days has finally figured out how to flip his cute little chubby butt back over. So not so much screeching anymore because he hates being on his tummy.  He still LOVES his Johnny Jump Up.  Oh thank you for the Johnny Jump Up.  It's just about the only things he loves to hang out in other than being packed around by his momma.  He loves dogs.  Dexter is constantly being screamed at and I seemed to be having to clean dog hair out of very damp little fingers more and more these days.  Last night I saw the first signs of a tooth. Top one, which I thought was weird.  But when we got up today, it went back into hiding. I'm sure he'll be returning very soon. That's all the important stuff I can thing of off the top of my head.  He's just a growing, smiley, hungry squawk box. And I love every inch of him.

My thoughts on being a mom? Sure. He's napping at the moment so I'd better fit in as much as I can into this post, because it might be another month before I get back here. There is definitely such as thing as biting off more than you can chew. Thinking I could work 40 hours a week and be a full time momma was a little ambitious. I'm getting it done, but poor Kam has to deal with a strung out wife by the end of the week. 

I'm slowly learning that it can't all be perfect. If I've got to let him watch that Baby Einstein and stare at the TV for 30 minutes so I can get some work done, than that's just what I have to do. It's better that he's with me than with a stranger 8 hours a day. (It's a funny thing for me because I used to be that stranger that took people's babies 8 hours a day. I look back on it and am blown away by it all. For those of you that don't know me too well, I worked from ages 16-20 in a home daycare). 

I'm learning that mom's need their time too. Most days I get about 20 minutes to myself about 9pm for a quick shower...and the whole time I can usually hear Hazen screaming for momma in the other room. I used to cook, blog almost every day, paint my nails and drink hot coffee too. All you mom's out there are probably chuckling at me right now and agreeing at the same time. But for all the things I used to do, I wouldn't trade Hazen for any of them.  He is the sweetest blue eyed bundle of love. But I do so appreciate that 20 minutes a day to let my mind be blank.

Breast feeding, pumping, working and being a full time mom is an insane but rewarding challenge. 

When I'm feeling overwhelmed, like I'm doing everything wrong and I'm losing touch with my own reality... to pause and take a breath and think of all the things that are so right. The fact that I get to work and be a momma full time. That Hazen is chubby and happy. That he doesn't have to be scared and cry all day because he is with a stranger and can't be held because they have 8 other children to care for. That I have just enough time to make all his food at home and how much more he loves that homemade food. That Kameron is an amazing husband to a new momma. That I am a mom.

Having a baby is the best thing I've done so far in my life. With a few close seconds.

And now that blue eyed love bug is squirming and staring at me so this post has officially come to and end. I hope it didn't sound like a rant. I just needed to get my thoughts out for a moment. Thank you for listening.

Ps. I love my mom.

Here is a pic of sweet baby Natalee and her beautiful momma... I hope you don't mind Jo.

 

Ok, maybe to. 5 months vs 2 weeks.

4 Months

Another month down.  This is flying by!  Hazen turned 4 months on Valentine's Day. He also had his 4 month check up that day. Here are is stats:

Weight: 17.8lbs

Hight: 26 1/2"

95 - 97th percentile

He's talking and giggling more and more. Still learning how to use his Johnny Jump Up and becoming more interested in his toys. He still doesn't see the point in rolling over... laying on his side is just fine.  I love being his mamma.  His Grandma and Grandpa Anderson are here right now, so I've got to make this short.  Snuck away to pump pump pump for a few minutes.  Happy weekend ya'll.

Tiny bubbles...

The time has finally come to an end.  We are retiring the Puj. What is a Puj you ask? Only the best infant bath tub ever for people with tiny apartments and little storage. And probably for people with huge houses and lots of storage too.  My Aunt Karen and cousin Jenny sent us the Puj for a baby gift and I have to say it is in my top five baby products so far. But all good things must come to an end and Hazen has just about out grown it.  So I took some pictures of one of his last tubs in the Puj. I thought I'd also share some of my other favorite baby products in this post as well.

Favorite baby stuff so far...

1. Puj Tub

2. Infantino Sash - Mei Tai Carrier. We tried the Moby, but Hazen HATES having his arms covered or restricted, so he would just flip out every time I put him into the Moby.  So I bought this carrier on a whim because it seemed to give them a little more room to more and I still liked the wrap style carrier. Now, I'm pretty sure we couldn't survive with out it.  Hazen takes a 3 hour nap in it every day, which makes my life so much easier at work. Just pop him in there around 10 and he wakes up just before we zip home at 1 for lunch. Just make sure you don't skip that nap on weekends. I learned my lesson yesterday!

3. Footless, One Piece Body Suits. Like this, this and this. These are mostly all Hazen wears. They are my favorite baby clothes for him by far. Not that he doesn't wear all the other awesome clothes that friends and family have given us. Everything gets some love!

4. Teething Monkey and Giraffe. He loves his monkey that is just like the Giraffe, but made for Target.  They don't seem to have it online though.

5. Nasal Spray. Life saver.

...and of course the Bumbo, boppy and Johny Jump up among other things.

We go for his 4 month check up Thursday. Can't wait to find out how big this little guy is. Everyone who asks how old our little one is always gives us these bug eyes and says "oh, he's big." And I always respond, "do you see his dad?" 

an all american holiday

It's the Super Bowl! What a fantastic american unofficial holiday! I think everyone loves Super Bowl Sunday for their own reason.  Some for the game, some for the commercials, some for the food and I'm sure there are 100 other reason that someone could love this day.  I have a new love for the Super Bowl.  Last year we found out that a little bundle of love was going to join our family a few hours before the game.  In fact, we made a mad dash to the store to buy another pregnancy test before the game started, just to double check. And here we are today, a year later, with our happy little football. I hope everyone has a wonderful time and enjoys whatever they love the most about this day.  I sure will be enjoying my favorite thing! 

Who can resist baby smiles?

Not this momma. As I type this post, Hazen is crashed in his carrier and I have done just about everything thing around the house that I can do while wearing a baby.  So, I thought I would put together a post of all the cute little shots of his sweet smile that I've captured over the last couple of months. 

And sense he's still sleeping, I thought I'd include some links to recipes I've tried out over that last few months that I thought were most delicious...(no pictures)

Stuffed Flank Steak

Brussel Sprouts

Cranberry Chutney (this was amazing at Thanksgiving!)

Gooey Brownies (with homemade mocha ice cream for my mom's birthday.  You had to forget your calories for a day with this one!)

Taco Soup

Spaetzle (Kam got me a spaetzle maker for christmas after we tried German food trying to coax Hazen outta my tummy.  We tried all types of different foods that week to see if some nationality's cuisine would get him excited.  At the moment we are boiling a chicken to make spaetzle chicken soup.)

Cabbage Rolls (I loosely followed this recipe.)

And my latest cooking obsession is homemade granola bars.  I don't have a recipe to share for that one. I've been just making it up as I go.  On my third batch...I'm getting pretty good.

Oh, and Hazen is waking up.  Thanks for hanging out with me while he slept :)