Flying Pigs in Blankets

Holden is almost sitting up all by himself!  We were concerned that he would forever push his forehead across the floor, so this is welcome news!  And yes, Holden just may be the palest human on the planet ... I wonder who he gets that from.

Now it's storytime......

Jordan is a mellow man.  Not especially talkative or forthcoming with emotion.  He is in his space ... and you can be there, too ... just over there .... So twice a year my dearest hubby surprises me.  (He also opens my car door once a year, on my birthday.)  Jordan is very calculating and he needs time to work out the details, weigh the pros and cons, and research.

We are nearing the end of June so I knew a surprise had to be coming my way.

I woke up early Saturday morning a few times to soothe junior (me thinks he is preparing for teething.)  By 7am or so, I was so tired I really couldn't hear him anymore.  Jordan got up to take over.  (Saturday is usually my sleep until 8am day.)

I glanced at the clock repeatedly and chanted ... you know the one ... get up, get up, GET UP!  Five more minutes mom.

A little after 8am the door to our bedroom blows open and pigs began flying about the room ... ok so I may have been somewhere between awake and asleep.  I bolted up from beneath my blanket and started to yell, "I'm up!  I'll get the baby!"  Jordan interjected with, "Good morning ... breakfast in bed?"  and he placed a warm plate of doctored scrambled eggs and biscuits on my lap.  I was confused.  Where am I?  Am I dead?  

I muttered, "I've never had breakfast in bed before," as I rubbed my eyes to see if it was really Jordan standing before me.

Jordan leaned in to kiss my cheek.  "Enjoy!  The baby is screaming, so I've got to go."

I mumbled with a mouth full of eggs, "no don't .... well ok ... " as I took a mighty bite of biscuit.

So I sat peacefully in my most favorite place in the whole world, turned off the baby monitor, and savored every morsel of food and quiet.

This was truly a wonderful surprise.

I have the best husband.

-Carmen

22 Days

I was watching one of those real estate shows where this guy lives more than a 2 hour drive from his work ... that is ONE way .... for a JOB!  He had to get a place in the city where he stays during the week and then drives home to spend time with his wife and kids on the weekends.  They were looking for a new house closer to where he works. 

So I did a little math ......

I spend an average of 22, twenty-four hour days, each year in my car going to and from work.  

I'm not whining or complaining ... I just find it fascinating.  

Add it up, you might be surprised how much time (and gas) you devote to your daily commute.

Seems like we could do a lot of "important" things in 22 days.  

If I chose to spend that time differently, I'd do something selfish like workout!  

I think I'm causing global warming......

So how many days do you spend going to and from work each year?  If you could trade it in, what would you do with the time?  I'd like to hear from you.  Post a comment!

Happy driving!

-Carmen

The Swaddle Monster

I think we have created a monster!

On average a baby prefers to be swaddled for the first 3 months before left to their own devices.  Many like to be swaddled for 4 months.  A few enjoy the comfy cocoon until they are 5 months.  And then there is Holden.

I have tried periodically during the last few months to go swaddle-free at night.  Alas, he has a terrible time falling asleep and staying asleep.

Tonight was no exception.

He grunted, punched, rolled, and squealed in disapproval for a good fifteen minutes before mommy swooped in to rescue him from his arms.  "HELP ME!  My arms are attacking me!"

As I begrudgingly straightened the only blanket still big enough to barely contain him, I had flashes of a thirty-year old son of mine tossing in bed .... wearing footy PJs of course.  

Then his dear wife says, "Hold still.  If you don't put your arms down I can't wrap the blanket tight enough."  Holden, the spitting image of his father, is sticking out his bottom lip and pouting as she tugs the flannel covered in teddy bears around his inherited barrel of a chest.

I can hear her thoughts .... "I'm going to strangle your mother."

Oh, did I mention he has to have his pacifier too?

-Carmen

Holden in a Red Hat

I promise we haven't dropped off the planet ... just oh so busy!

Here is baby boy in his kicky new red hat.

-Carmen

Poo Happens…

… and sometimes it happens in the bathtub.

So much of daily life now revolves around …. hmmm… well … you know. Have I packed enough diapers? Will there be a changing table? Is Holden going to be fussy if we don’t wait for an “event?” Everyone is staring … it was the baby!

I’m the girl with the sensitive gag reflex. The item in question doesn’t even have to be particularly disgusting …. to most people. Refried beans … buh-lah!

I am fascinated that what is considered rude and inappropriate in polite ADULT society is perfectly reasonable in baby world. And now for the first time in my life I just shrug my shoulders and deal with it … no hand over my mouth, no turning of my head, no running and screeching in horror.

I did not have a contingency plan for such an incident in the bathtub, though … I do NOW!

All I could think was, “I am so glad this happened on mommy’s watch!” I’m quite certain if daddy was faced with this unexpected scenario, someone would owe me some new fancy guest towels.

To all the mommies and daddies out there that have been wrangling nature with style and grace much, much longer than I have … I take my hat off to you, bravo, good show, splendid work!

PS
Bless the individual who created the DVR. I didn't miss my favorite show, SYTYCD in spite of Holden's valiant attempts.  Four of the finalists are from Texas!

-Carmen

Rain Rain Come My Way

I was looking for some photos at work and came across this one, and I wanted to share.  I was shooting the cover for our seasonal catalog way back in 2005 and these precious cutey pies were splashing around in the mud at the end of our session.  This picture always makes a bad day better for me.  

I miss playing in the mud.

-Carmen

Happy 5 Months!

My favorite thing about life with Holden this month is how interactive he is. When he is laying near me on the couch, he will scoot himself over so we can cuddle. He reaches out for your hand (or hair), "talks" and laughs almost constantly, and has started playing with small toys like rattles.

You see some of his new blonde hair in this photo.

-Carmen