Thanksgiving.. So very late!!

Ok, recap from Thanksgiving!! 

   A few years ago, we would have been running around going to 4 different thanksgivings (T's dads, T's moms, T ex step dad.. very much a father figure to T and my parents...).. (the joys of divorced  in laws)  But that was too  much stress for me without a baby, I couldn't stand running nonstop, cooking meals for each place.. feeling exhausted before the day started!  Plus there would have been a fight b/c of all the stress.. so we stopped doing that. At that point, my wonderful parents just invited T's dad to theirs.. and that is how the one Thankgiving happened.  I'm so grateful for it.  I hate stressing over silly non important things.  .. Back to my story.. lol
We slept in (well as much as one can with a baby.. )  Then go up, played for a while, watch the Macy Day parade.. Z waved at some of the floats.. it was super cute.  I cooked the only thing I needed to make (yep.. just one thing!)  Delicious corn casserole!  Then we packed up and headed to my parents.  T's dad, my parents, my grandma (and her boyfriend..lol) my brother and us, all ate a yummy meal!  It was a good time!  I LOVE thanksgiving.  I love the family, food, and the whole idea of thinking about the good in your life.  In case you don't know, I'm a big optimist-so I like when others think about the good too!  And the food... yum!  Worst time to  be trying to shed the LBS.. but oh well!  So I'm going to take a moment and get sappy and write some of what I'm thankful for
To start w/ my son.  I am so blessed to have him in my life.  I'm a better person because of him, and I didn't know how much I could love someone until him.  He is my joy and my light.  He makes everything worth it!
Also my husband.  He is such a great man.  Hardworking, family man.  I'm so glad we started dating so long ago.. lol (ten years ago)  The person he has become never stops amazing me and he is such a great example for Z to have.  If Z is anything like his father, he will be such a good (and a handful.. ) of a boy/man.  I look forward to growing old with my best friend.
My parents...  They are so helpful with Z and really with everything.  I know if I needed anything, all I have to do is call and they would drop what they were doing (unless it was a blues game.. then they'd think about it..lol)  and do whatever they could! 
My father-in-law-T would not have turned out the way he did without him.  He is a wonderful grandpa and father.. and I know he also has our backs no matter what.
I'm thankful for the events that got us to where we are now.  If you didn't know, about a week after I told my old work that I was expecting, I got fired.  (It wasn't just b/c I was preg.. but I'm sure it had a part to do with it.. afterall the girl I replaced was also preg..Not a good record w/ Preg employees)  But I was thinking about going back to work at that time.  They made the choice easy.  And if I had got back to work, I won't have been able to spend this time w/ Z.  I know that God has a plan for us, even if we don't see it at the time..
Nursing.. Seems like a funny thing to be thankful for, but I am.  I'm thankful I've been able to nurse Z his whole life so far.  I'm thankful for the ladies who have supported me and been a great example, and I'm thankful for those ladies that milk share. 
There are SOO many things I'm thankful for this year, but that was just some of the main ones.. :)  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! 

Always on the go!!

Yummy, Turkey..

His Thanksgiving outfit!  Thanks Nana and Papa!

Bath time.. in the sink!

Been SOO busy!

Ok, first Z is 20.3lbs and 28 3/4 in.. A tall boy still.. He is wearing 12-18 month for the  most part.  Size 4 diapers-but I'm going to start using 5s this week.  (a note, we Cloth diaper about 90% of the time.. but sometimes disables are easier.. like at night, and if we have a "travel" day)   And doing great!  He is 9  months old now and I can't believe it!  He says dada, mama (sometimes.. ) and has started saying nana.  He is crawling and standing ALL the time!  He is So much fun right now!!  I love watching him explore his toys.  He picks them up.. looks at them, and puts them in this mouth.. Then turns them over.. looks some more.  Its really the cutest thing ever.  I have a hard time doing anything around the house, b/c I have too much fun playing w/ him!  During the day, I try to keep the TV off, but I have the radio going or pandora-so we dance and sing.  I'll give you a glimpse into a "normal" day...
anywhere between lets say 1-4 wake up.. either T or myself goes upstairs and get the baby..
Bring him down to our room.. Nurse on and off normally around 6 he falls back sleep.
8:00ish-wake up
Play in bed/ nurse some more.  Then we get out of bed around 8:30-9.
Make breakfast, let Z eat/feed himself.  That normally goes for about 45 mins.. Then its time for a bath!
Bathtime.. and play time in bath..  Then around an hour later, we get out of the bath tub, nurse /eat lunch.  After lunch normally nap time.
Naps are usually only about 45 mins.. but sometimes (very rare) can last 2 hours!
Nap time I use to shower, eat, clean and work on homework...
Baby wakes up, we play, read.  The second nap really depends on what else is going on that day..
So that is how a day goes, but life w/ a baby is never by schedule and never the same!  Night time is always different.  Somenights I have class to Z is w/ grandma or w/ daddy, Somenights T works late, somenights I have Mary Kay stuff, and so on.  I'm looking forward this week.  I have a few faces to put Mary kay on (trying to get my 30 faces in 30 days goal)  But I'm excited about Thanksgiving and T have a few days off.  And me too.. I could use some days of no school and no mary kay...
Well I will take some pictures this week ( I need to do his 9 month pic..& get some for Christmas cards.. etc) and post them soon!

You know you are a parent when...

I'm stealing this from 2 people actually.. One I saw in on my friend/cousin's facebook page, also from one my favorite blogs.. But I loved the idea of it..  So here are mine:

You know you are a parent when:
*You talk and are willing to make a fool out of yourself anywhere.. just to hear the sweet giggle..
*Your heart aches when your child hurts and you would give anything to take the pain from them, and feel it yourself...
*You never knew fear until you had kids...
*Your living room is filled w/ toys, some that make noises, some that don't and every room has some set of toys in them.. including your car
*You leave the house with at least 3 bags full of stuff that you MIGHT need...
*You would spend hours sitting in parking lots.. just b/c your child finally fell asleep for nap.. and there is NO way you'd wake them up.
*Their joy and happiness brings you even more joy and happiness..
*Even if you are having the worst of all days.. the sound of their laugh, the site of their smile, or just seeing them, makes everything else not matter at all...

I ended w/ that one, b/c on Sat I felt that way.. I had a headache, I was cooking a mini Thanksgiving dinner, (means lots of dishes..) I was just at the end of my rope.. So I went it to my bed room and pulled the covers over my head.  I just wanted a little time alone.. Then I hear T & Z playing.. and Z is cracking up.  His laugh is soo toxic!  I felt my heart warm and my head clear.  I had to get up and see what game they were playing and see both my boys smiling and enjoying each other.  Even as I type this, it brings a smile on my face!  Just wanted to share that little story!  :)

Watching the Bears win against the Lions.. but it was a long, exhausting game.. :) Sorry its so dark

Fall

Finally I've had a some time to sit down and relax and write in my neglected blog!  We have been busy busy this week.. barely spent time at home- inbetween play dates, music class, school, shopping, Mary Kay stuff, etc etc, I've tried to keep the house from falling apart!  Yesterday, it was pretty nice out.. a little windy, but overall not bad!  So we (Z , the pup, & I.. daddy was working) went outside and played in the leaves!  It was alot of fun.. but I love taking pictures of my little guy!  I will do a bigger post on the 15th, when Z is 9 months old.. crazy!

 

Homework day

All afternoon I've been working hard on homeworking.. getting caught up on stats.. ugh.. its exhausting!  My head hurts!  Mom took Zman to her house to give me some time to focus... and T is working at a friends.  And I just finished what I needed to get done!  So I thought I'd update all of you and then shower.. uninterpreted shower.. lovely!
Zman: He is almost 9 months old!!  I can't believe it!  He is talking away these days.. saying Dada.. and lots of other noises.. we are working on mama.. but he might not say mama.. but when he is hurt or tired, he wants mama.. He is starting to stand without help!  So big!  He is cruising around with help (tables, or the pushing toys).. Still no teeth.. but I know we are getting close (coming from the lady that said that when he was 3 months.. so maybe not.. lol)  He is sleeping pretty well!! YAY!!  Last night we were going to keep him in our room.. b/c he has been kinda not feeling well.. but he won't be still and sleep.. so we went up to his room, I put him in his crib.. he cried for like 1 min, while I ran down to get the humidifier.  Then he was out.. until 3!  It was great!!  He is so much fun!  He loves exploring and seeing new things.
I love being a mom so much.. Z is really the light of my life and I wouldn't trade a moment of this for anything!  But I do have some regrets.  I was posting pics from Z's being birth on a board I'm on, and it reminded me of that heartbreaking week in the hospital.  Not being able to have med free natural birth, having him away from me for 2 days.. not being able to hold or nurse him... It all went against everything we knew was right.  If I had the straight I have now, I would have scooped him up in my arms and nursed him right as soon as I saw him.  I know in my heart he was fine the whole time.  I won't have sent him back to the nursery that first night he was in our room (which still bring me to tears when I think about it).  Let me just say next time.. none of that will happen.  I'm going to have my baby the right way, and I'm going to trust my instincts.  And we will have a doula (I really thing everyone should hire a doula!!)  But the next one is a ways off.. I want to finish my associates first and go from there.  Plus I've always said I want to nurse Z a full year, not to say if I got preg, that nursing would stop.. but alot of times babys wean themselves when your preg.

Anyway.. here is some cute for you!  Sorry if this post is alittle scattered.. my mind is overheating due to stats...

Cousin Halloween :)

At the hockey game..

Our little zoo.. we were the keepers.. (

Action shot.. when I get my good camera we'll have better pix..

"Look ma.. no hands!!"

Such a sweet face to wake up to every morning! :)

Click on it and you'll see it better

Can I get an AMEN??

That is all.. 

Sick... ugh

I'm sick.. I have some cold (T got it first.. and now I have it.. Z has alittle bit of it.. )  On top of that I'm not sleeping.. I think its from stress.  School, Mary Kay, the holidays, being sick, and trying to get Z to sleep.. all taking a troll on me.  Plus when I am sleeping, it never feels restful.. Like I'm 1/2 awake.. I'm so tired! 
But enough whining.. Z said Dada last week!  Yep he is talking much more these days.. its pretty cute!  I can't get over how big he is getting!!

Well kids that is all for now..  sorry for it being so short today..