8 months old and growing

I never really realized how fast time does go by until I had a kid. Before kids, I really had nothing to judge my time with, but now that I do have a son, time seems to fly by.

Yes, Tanner is 8 months old now. For this occassion he decided he no longer wanted to be stationary. He's worked hard for a week to learn how to crawl using both his hands a feet. He's a mobile kid now. He's trying his hardest to sit up from a lying down position. He does a lot of crunches. He'll have strong stomach muscles before he gets it. He gets so frustrated because he can't get himself into that ever elusive sitting position. But if you set him up, he'll stay there for an hour and play. He's also started making motor noises and other noises with his mouth. He's become very vocal lately.

Tanner has become quite independent. He never has been a cuddly kid, but now that he's learning to use his body to get what he wants, it's like he doesn't need mommy much anymore. Hopefully baby brother will be more dependent on me...

I just started putting Tanner in 9-12 month clothes. They make him look so much older than he is. That saddens me just a little.

I'm a continually growing mama. My belly is large and round, and baby brother has learned to hit hard. I'm to the point where I have heartburn every day now. Can't go to sleep without my Tums. I'm uncomfortable most of the time now. That's sad because I still have three months to go!

Nick has passed his first few tests in school. He's decided he wants to become a Dosemitrist. He'll have to explain it. He's foregoing school this next year to finish a few extra classes he needs after graduation to get into Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Then it's back to the grind of more school. But in the end it'll be good for us. Busy, busy, busy.

Valentine's Day, Shmalentine's Day

Okay, I have to admit that, in my opinion, Valentine's Day is such a silly holiday. I've never really enjoyed it, and now that I'm married, I think it's even more of a silly holiday. Why do I need a specified day for which my spouse tells me how much he loves me? I hear every day how much my husband loves me, and that's the way it should be. I don't need a day that focuses on men spending too much money on jewelry, flowers, chocolates, and sappy greeting cards just to make their significant others happy with those material things. If you really love that person, you don't need just one day where they can show you how much they love you. Stupid if you ask me. However, I did get my husband a nice card that did say that I was grateful for all that he does in my life. So I do give in just a little bit to this ridiculous tradition.

Now that I have that off my chest...

Tanner started crawling! Look out world! He's still not so good at it, but he is able to scoot his little body around on his knees to get to what he wants. He hasn't quite figured out how to use his arms in conjuction with his legs. He's doing a lot more face plants than anything, but I did notice yesterday that he is getting the hang of moving his arms a little with his legs. I think the fun is just beginning for me and Nick.

Just venting...

Do you ever feel like there are never enough hours in the day to accomplish all that you feel needs to get done? I have definitely felt that way these past three weeks.

I left my son crying this morning so that I could get to work on time. It breaks my heart to leave him, especially when he does that. I go to work and do much of nothing for 7.5 hours wishing I could be home watching my son learn new things. I wake up before the sun rises to make sure I have enough time to get things in order for the day. I get home after the sun goes down and still have to take care of all the things that need to be done...play with Tanner, make dinner, clean up from dinner, feed Tanner, help Nick study, make sure Nick has all he needs for school the next day, send Nick off to work, change Tanner into pj's, play with him some more, put Tanner to bed, listen to him cry and then play in his crib for 30 minutes before he falls asleep, balance the check book and realize that we have no money, respond to emails, find time to lie down and read a book, prepare myself for the same ritual coming the next morning, then fall asleep only to wake up 2 hours later to pee or to situate myself with an ever-growing belly that seems to be taking over, then not be able to fall back asleep because of heartburn or because baby boy #2 decides he wants to play at 1:30 in the morning using my belly as his boxing ring.

Weekends are no better. It's run to the bank, then to the grocery store or walmart to pick up the necessaries for the following week, drop Nick off someplace or another so that he can help out with moving someone or with some other kind of manual labor, fuss with Tanner to take a nap (he's 7 months old!), run here or there because I don't have time to do it during the week, send Nick off to work earlier in the evening only to tackle the evening duties of dealing with a 7-month-old bedtime rituals. Then on Sunday it's wake up early to get myself and my family dressed and ready for church, sit through 3 hours of church with a wiggly, fussy baby who won't take a nap, then come home, put my wiggly, fussy baby to bed for a 2 hour nap, make dinner, clean up from dinner, or on some occaissions go to the in-laws for an afternoon of enlightenment, come home to put little boy to bed for the night and try to get at least one hour alone with my husband to spend talking about school or his upcoming decisions about where to get a job, where to live, rent or buy, and other questions that are always looming with a career and family. It never seems to end.

I've decided that I need a vacation. Unfortunately, with baby #2 coming in just a few short months, that vacation will have to be put on hold for a while. I need more sleep!

But in the end, I love my life, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my husband, I love my son, and I even enjoy the raucous little baby who reminds me every day that I am still pregnant with what I can only imagine will be another rowdy boy. I'm exhausted!