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