What is this thing called a blog?

And this is why I don't have a journal. At least, not a very good one. It has been 4 weeks since I even looked at a blog, let alone write in it.

So much has happened in the past 4 weeks. I'll just touch on the high points. November is a busy birthday month in my family - both sides. My sister Erin and my mother-in-law share a birthday. This year was a special one for both of them. It was 30 for Erin and 60 for Jackie. We had a big surprise party for Jackie. It was a lot of work, but well worth it in the end. Kaden, Erin's son, turned 1 in the beginning of November. Then came David's, my father-in-law's, Thanksgiving Day and finally Katie's b-day.

We went to Erin's for Thanksgiving, which was oh-so-yummy!! The next morning Katie, Erin, David, Jonah, and myself hit the malls at 4:30AM. We had a blast. It was crazy!! But we got some good deals. By noon, we were ready for bed. Too bad there were 7 children to take care of. All in all, Thanksgiving was a memorable time full of fun and delicious food. Not to mention crowds.

More recently, Jonah, took his first steps. We are so proud, but probably not as proud as he was of himself. After he "walked" he couldn't stop jumping around. He has since perfected it to where he can take several steps at a time and he can even stand up and walk all on his own. It's so dear to watch him!! He just fills our lives with so much joy and laughter. I'm pretty sure he said Santa today, too. We were at the store and passing a very large stuffed Santa, so i let him touch the beard and I was saying "This is Santa". I swear he said Santa back to me. TOO CUTE!!!! Of course, he still has not said momma. Figures. I do everything for him and some big jolly guy who comes around once a year gets his name said first. JEEZ!

Now we are preparing for Christmas. The tree is up, the stockings are hung, the presents are unwrapped and some are still at the store (I better get on that, huh?). I love Christmas time and I have even more reason to enjoy it this year. Although, it will be bittersweet. My baby will turn 1 year old on December 27th. I can't believe how fast the year went. I have loved every moment of it and will be ever thankful for the blessing of my dear, sweet Jonah.

Oh I almost forgot... we went to Hershey's Candy Lane this past weekend. We greatly enjoyed watching Jonah enjoy the lights. We went on the Chocolate World ride and he was absolutely enthralled. He had a great time. We didn't go into Hersheypark because it was $9.95 per person to go in. It was 25 degrees out so we were not going to be riding any rides. So it wasn't worth it. We had a fun time anyhow. We all looked like "Nanook of the North" bundled up beyond recognition. Good memories.

Update

As I sit here and blog, my son is screaming from his room. He is desperately in need of a nap. I put him down and he has been voicing his displeasure since. Anyhow, Jonah is really starting to get into things. He, like his older cousin Aubrie, likes the dishwasher. He just climbs right on up when it is open.

We had another haircut today. I think that's 5. His hair grows quite fast. GOODNESS! We almost needed to braid it. Good thing swimming's over - he would have had to wear a baby swimming cap!

We are slowly getting the hang of going to sleep on our own. Albeit reluctantly. It has been a very long 10 days for David and myself. it really breaks your heart. Every fiber of your being wants to go pick him up and rock him to sleep. UGGHHHH! It's SOOO hard.

Cruising the furniture is a new skill, along with going down the step into the family room. He goes down very slowly and carefully. He has also discovered the dogs food, their water bowl - he LOVES water - how to flush the toilet, opening and closing doors and pushing the sliding screen door open if it's not latched. He has even managed to sneak onto the back porch. They are super fast little crawlers. Oh, and we are learning the "if I drop it mommy picks it up" game. Great fun. Especially with the binkie. He keeps me busy all day long. But he's so much fun. I love him to pieces.

All done

I consider myself to be a patriotic person. I love America and am proud to be an American. Having said that - I am soooo glad that election day is here and almost over. I am all done with the robo-calls, signs, and the mailers (my personal favorite; I am glad to know that both parties are firmly in the "going green" camp. No trees were harmed in the mailing of yet ANOTHER flier.) I'm all done with the party bashing and the belief that only one way is going to fix everything. It is comforting to know that we have 4 years before we have to endure this again. Now we just have to wait and see........

The worst feeling

So today was a bit of a challenge. Okay, so was last night. Jonah was up 5 times. I don't know why, so please don't ask. Once he was up for the day he was up. And I mean up. He slept for a total of 10 minutes. Let me add that it was very cold and extremely windy today, so I couldn't take him outside for a walk. David didn't get home until 7 PM. I was dog sitting for my mom's new puppy, Darby (who is adorable). It was a very LONG day. Jonah falls asleep at 8 PM. He wakes up at 8:30. Nurse and back to sleep. Wakes up at 9:20. Nurse, but not back to sleep. I ask Dave to walk him because I am all done for the day. You know that feeling of uter frustration because you don't know what else to do? Yep, I was there.

You know that feeling of being the worst parent on the world because your son cries himself to sleep. Yep, I AM there. He did FINALLY fall asleep, but it was h*#@!!!!!! He is now making the saddest little sobs. It breaks my heart. Every other night he has lovingly been held and rocked until he fell asleep. I hate that he was miserable as he ended the day. I want to go and pick him up and let him know that I love him and that I am sorry that the last 45 minutes happened. I feel sick to my stomach. I know that he wasn't hurting and that he was just mad, but it really doesn't make it any easier. So now I have to try to go to sleep feeling like a horrible person. My poor baby!!!!! :(

Who knows, tonight may be an even worse night - for me!!

WE DID IT!!!!!

Jonah slept in his OWN room last night. He will be 10 months on Monday. I have had him in our room every night since he was born. He has been sleeping in his pack-n-play for a couple months now, so we just moved it to his room. He slept pretty well. He still woke up 3 times, but he went back to sleep quickly and without any problems. I was apprehensive about letting him go, but I knew that it was time. He had started to wake up when we would get up to use the bathroom or let the dogs out. Surprisingly I slept really well. I thought it would be the other way around. I felt so much more rested all day today.

Baby steps!! Now to get him to go to bed when he's awake. Hmmmm!!!! OR let him cry himself to sleep. That may be the hardest one yet. :(

Off to bed. After I check on my sweet Jonah, that is!!! NIGHT!

Happenings

Not much is happening here in our neck of the woods. Jonah is crawling ALOT and boy is he fast!! I tried to crawl like him, but I was much slower. :) Probably didn't look as cute either. Oh well. Jonah's swimming class ends this Wednesday. It was a 6 week class and he LOVES it. He splashes from the moment we get into the water. The next Michael Phelps, perhaps? Who knows. It is so cute to see those babies in the water.

My sister, Katie came up for a quick weekend visit this past Saturday. It was SOOOO good to see her and 3 of her kids. Hi Kyle, missed you!! I was telling her that I just finished one of Karen Kingsbury's books - Someday - (awesome books by the way!!!) and I was jealous of the Baxter family - the main family in the book. You see the family has several brothers and sisters, and they all live in the same town. They have the same kind of relationship that my sisters and I do. I was coveting a family out of a fiction book. I just miss my sisters and brother-in-laws and all 6 of my nieces and nephews. How awesome would it be to all live near each other and go to church together, hang out whenever, and just be there for each other. It is my prayer that someday (like the book title) we will all live near each other. Nearer than 2 hours. My best friends are too far away!!!!!!

Poor Jonah has to go get a flu shot so I gotta run. :(

How big is Jonah? SOOOOO BIG!!!!

Today Jonah had his 9 month check up. I cannot believe it. I swear I was just there for his new baby appointment. Where does the time go???? ANYHOW... sorry, weepy mom moment! Jonah weighed in today at 19 lbs. 8 oz and he is 28 inches. (They measured his head too, but I don't remember that one. I just know that his head is proportionate to his body.) OKAY, not that I don't believe the scales, but... Jonah is a bit of a chunk. He looks huge!! There was a baby in the waiting room who was Jonah's size - HE WAS 14 MONTHS. I was expecting him to be much heavier than that. He certainly feels it!!

He had a good appt. and he was very pleasant. He had 3 shots :( but he only cried for like 3 seconds. He is such a sweet baby, and I love him so very much!! The Dr. said that he is very healthy and that he is doing very well. He is right on track with his development and he is starting to be very busy. Yes, I added the busy part. I am following him around saying danger, gentle (poor Pip and Ike), let's go this way, and so on. Things are starting to get interesting and a lot of fun.

Yesterday we ordered gates for the stairs. Our house now becomes an obstacle course - at least for the boys. I'm not to sure they are enjoying Jonah as much as Dave and I are. He is becoming unpredictable and he moves. They liked him better when he just sat there. There are times when I feel the same way, I must admit.

Loving my big baby boy,
Amy T

Moving

No, I'm not moving. Jonah is!!!! He started crawling on Monday and he is now off to wherever he can go. No more running into the other room to do, well... anything. He even crawled over to Dave, who was in the kitchen. No big deal you think? The family room is a step down from the kitchen. Dave provided the stability for him, but he managed to get up the step on his own. STINKER!!!!! He is also pulling himself up on things. He is fascinated with the time display on our Comcast box and on the DVD player, which is behind glass - pesky fingerprints. I LOVE IT!!

I cannot believe how fast he is growing and changing. He is almost 9 months. I swore I would cherish every moment, and I think I did, but it still went by in a blur.

Jonah had his very first class this past Wednesday. He is in a "swim" class at our local YMCA. It's a 6 week class that is all about getting the child comfortable with the water. Jonah loved the class and immediately started splashing. Dave took him in the water so I videotaped. (You know, one of those tapes that only a parent can tolerate - cause it's so boring. Plus, I often found that I was taping just the water or the wrong child. OOPS!!!! IT's hard to stay focused on a moving target.)

SO, anyhow, we are doing well and are loving our son. This has been an amazing journey so far. Now it's time to go to bed because I'm worn out.

My hero

Last evening, David, Jonah, and I head out to run a few quick errands. Quick, was the plan.

We are living in a neighborhood that is still being developed and there are many homes going up around us. For anyone not familiar with construction, it's dirty and messy. Often times random debris rolls across our lawn and down our street. That is harmless. However, the debris we ran into last night was not harmless. And perhaps I should say, the debris we ran OVER.

We arrive at the mall and I let David out so he can just run in and get what he needs. When he opened the door we heard a loud hissing sound. He asked me if my car had started making noise. I said not really. HUH! he said and runs into the mall. I'm curious so I put down my window and am appalled at how loud my car is. I drive to a parking spot and park. I figured the car would only make noise if it was on, so I turned it off. Yea, that didn't help. After watching a fellow mall patron stare at my noisy car as he walked by, I decided to get out and check things out. My side checked out fine, but rounding the front of the car... not so fine.

There goes my beautiful, recently purchased (of course) tire. It was going flat in front of my eyes. I just stood there and watched not knowing what else to do. David comes out of the mall to find me standing in the parking lot staring at my deflated tire. I immediately think of AAA. MY awesome hubby calmly goes to the back of the car and proceeds to get out the spare tire and jack. It took him longer the the NASCAR guys, but I am now the "proud" owner of a front right spare tire. He got at least 2 punches on his man-card for changing a tire. I love him and am so thankful for him. HONEY, YOU ROCK!!!!!!

Moral of the story: roofing nails belong on the roof and not in your tire!!!!

The best laid plans...

Last night, Jonah fell asleep around 9:30. David and I sat down to watch some Sunday night football. After doing some Sudoku, we decided to head to bed. It's about 11:15. I feel the urgent need to nurse and so I debate should I or shouldn't I. (Of course, you know that if I had decided to just pump, Jonah would have woken up right after I had sealed and labeled the bag and put it in the freezer. ) I decide to go for it. We get Jonah, who was VERY sleepy, and I begin to nurse. All is going well, until he decides to wake up. OK, isn't the nursing supposed to knock them out? Let's just say I wore a path in the upstairs hallway, after having to close all the doors to keep nosy Jonah from peering in. He finally goes to sleep!! YES!!!!!!!

Lay him down in his bed and start to climb into bed. He begins to stir. He isn't quite awake, but he keeps raising his head and looking around. Then he gets an his hands and knees and begins to rock back and forth. A new skill he learned. This continues for about 15 minutes (I am watching from the rocking chair). Finally, with one last look around he drops flat and is asleep. TOO CUTE!!! I continue to sit there and use the time to thank God for the blessing of this special child. Silence in the room at last. Climb into bed convinced that he will sleep until morning. It is now after 1 AM.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ..............

WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm awake. Pick up my very unhappy child and take him downstairs to change him, because I forgot to refill my upstairs supply of diapers. Down comes Ike who will go outside to patrol in any weather at any time. Change Jonah and wait for Ike. Let Ike in and sit down to nurse. Turn on the TV and begin to watch and replay of the Mets and the Phillies ( FYI: the Mets won).
Jonah nurses but decides to NOT go back to sleep. So we sit down and play. Down comes Pippin who wants to go outside. Out go Pip and Ike. In come Pip and Ike. Mommy and Jonah play. Around 5:30 Jonah wants to be held, so I move to the couch where I rock him. He goes back to sleep around 5:50. I take him up to bed. Passing David in the hallway who was headed downstairs for breakfast, I tell him not to wake me for my morning workout - much too sleepy. My head hits the pillow (I think) and I'm asleep.

On a positive note, he did sleep until 9 :40. He is now rolling ALL over the study and even managed to open one of David's cabinets. TIME TO BABYPROOF!!!!!!!!!!! Have to go!

Labor Day

My sweet Jonah is growing and changing every day. Just 3 days ago he pulled himself up for the very first time!! He is learning so many new things. His most recent discovery is how to manage with little to no sleep. I LOVE to sleep, so I am not a big fan of the no sleep approach to life. David faithfully walks him around the family room at bedtime (what's that?) but Jonah somehow manages to stay awake. Even if he does give in and go to sleep, he knows when he is being put down and is immediately alert. Oh bed, I miss you so much!!!!!!!

A "flippin" good time

I had such a fun day today. I got to spend the day with my family!!!! It was so amazing. But it did make me sad that we aren't closer to each other, closer in distance of course, because my family is SUPER CLOSE. The Nannee, AKKRIT, and The SEAKers, along with my loving hubby and Jonah-Balogna, make up this awesome family that I love so very much. The gang decided to meet today to celebrate Rhiannon's (my oldest niece) birthday and to meet for one last time before the hectic school schedules get under way. We met at the White Marsh Mall, in MD, and we spent the day together.

Kudos to Nannee Tink and DAJ Mahal for being the firsts ones there (with the farthest to travel might I add). We hung out in the parking lot (where a poor little birch tree lost its bark - thanks 'G') until Team Thorne (aka SEAKers) arrived where another little birch tree was stripped of its bark (thanks Aubrie). We then proceeded to enter the mall and get a last minute gift for the b-day girl. One quick stop was our intention, but things never work out that way now do they? Three stores and 1 hour later we have the gift. We meet up with AKKRIT and bombard the toy store. Who had more funplaying with the toy. The kids or the men? It's a toss up. The babies got to ride little cars and they looked so grown up. Speaking of grown up, is this where I should mention that my son totally dominates his cousin? Maybe it's payback from the pregnancy when Aunt Emmy, or her belly, dominated us. :)

Off to dinner where apparently we need to learn to count. 7 grown ups and 7 children now equals 13. Isn't that amazing!! Well, we got off on the wrong foot with the hostess and her "cupcakes", and were TOLD to put our strollers in their office. Thanks for ASKING, aheem, but no thanks. That really made cupcakes mad and she proceeded to bad mouth us to the wait staff. THEN she gives us highchairs with no straps, so up to the hostess stand go the daddies requesting working highchairs, HOW RUDE!! Cupcakes bouncing, she huffs her way to the stack of highchairs where she has to find working straps - can you believe what her job requires? (Good job to the restaurant for the stellar child friendly highchairs!!) Thankfully the server was pretty decent so we made it through dinner without a throwdown. GET US OUT OF HERE!!!

Outside we go to chill and regroup by the water fountain. We do presents for Rhia :) and avoid creepy old man with not so nice uhmmms. Quickly walking to Barnes and Nobles with several backwards glances and many shudders of disgust - YUCK- we descend upon the children's section where Uncle Jamo takes up post as the gate keeper. 'T' went back to the fountain to watch el-creepo and keep an eye on him. The babies got set up in a corner where Jonah continued to demonstrate his largeness and rock-bottom Kaden. SORRY CUTIE!!!! We have some work to do. Meanwhile, Aubrie (the animal lover) and Iain and Teagan set up a pet shop of stuffed animals spanning the display. Too cute!!

We decide to get ice cream, which should have been a quick decision, and go to where they have the best ice cream around - WENDY'S!! We get frosty's and headed to a grassy spot where the kids can play and be crazy. We end up having a cartwheel-off. The entire family was doing cartwheels in the parking lot of White Marsh Mall. We must have looked hilarious but man did we have fun!! Erin, don't quit your day job to do gymnastics. They say that time makes things better, but... You have many other talents!!

We end the night helping KT clean out her car; funky, rotten apple cores and all. Who says you can't get everything done in one day. We had a really fun day and it created wonderful memories.

I am so blessed to have such a loving, committed, devoted family and I thank God for the gift off each one of them. I love you guys sooo very much!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Amy T

SOOOO sleepy

As most of you know, I'm a night owl and a late morning riser. Jonah has changed that for me and I love him for it. Ok, maybe that's one thing that I'm not so fond of. Yesterday, for the very first time, my adorable baby did not nap. He had fallen asleep, twice, and yet, when I went to lay him down he woke right up. By nighttime he was exhausted. He went to bed at 8:20. Had I been home, I too could have gone to bed early. But David and I were having a "couples night out" with our friends Ryan and June. We went to Amy's Thai for dinner, which was very good - fish sauce and all - and then we went miniature golfing. The boys then enjoyed some go kart racing. We really had a good time!! We got home at 10:40, had a little snack and were headed up to bed when....
Jonah was awake!! So, nurse and change the VERY soggy child (clothes and all) and try again. He fought it, but I won. Go to bed. Can't sleep. Fall asleep at about 1:50. Jonah wakes up at 2:10. Nurse and rock. Go back to sleep. Jonah wakes up at 3:30. Nurse and rock. Go back to bed. Ike, my baby boy of the canine family, stands on my head and licks my face. Take Ike and Pippin out. Get back to sleep (4:45). Jonah is very awake come 6:45. So, here I am, trying hard to not be jealous of my hubby, who sleeps blissfully unaware of all of the overnight activities, and frustrated with my son who can only say "da-da". You'd think that he could at least say ma-ma, since I'm the one getting up with him in the middle of the night and then again in the early morning. Oh well....

Loving my husband and my son,
Amy T

GETTING STARTED!!!!!!

Hello all!! I am trying to get caught up in the 21st century with all of this technology stuff, and thought I'd start by blogging. Both of my sisters blog and have encouraged me to give it a whirl, so....

The DAJ Mahal stands for David, Amy, Jonah. :) We thought it was cute!!!!!