Time Warp

That's what I feel like I'm in.  I can't believe how quickly time is going.  It seems like yesterday that I found out we were expecting.  Like yesterday, we were going on out 'baby-moon'.  Like yesterday that I was holding our beautiful little newborn in my arms just an hour after my c-section. 

Now I have a wiggly, squirmy, giggly 6 month old boy.

He's raring to go, even when I'm not.  He is by far, the most amazing little human I have ever met.  His smile lights up my world, and makes everything ok.  It astonishes me the things that he can do now.  He rolls all over the place.  From one side of the room to the other.  He giggles and coos and says ma-ma and da-da (when he wants to. Usually when he thinks no one is listening).  He has piercing blue eyes and a smile that is so contagious.  There is no better feeling then walking into his room in the morning to have him look up at you and grin from ear to ear.

Aidan Micah at 6 months:

Knows me, and his daddy, and his grandma. 

Is getting to know his Nana and Grampy and his Aunts and Uncles.

Bounces up and down and giggles and 'talks' when his fur brother or sister come near him.  

Loves his 'turtle time' in his exersaucer

Is starting to hold his own bottle

Loves Cox Communication commercials, and the theme to The Big Bang Theory

Loves his 'big boy' car seat

Still loves to be carried around in the Beco carrier

Loves to play with his toys

Chews on EVERYTHING

Has 2 teeth, with 2 more thisclose to coming in

Sleeps in his crib, and turns over onto his tummy the second you lay him down...always with his little bum up in the air.

Wants to touch everything.  And I do me EVERYTHING

Is a drool factory

Can crawl, but prefers to roll, since he gets there faster that way

Stands up while holding on to something or someone

Will take a step or two while holding on to someone

I'll have to update you on his height and weight after his next well baby visit.

I also need to finally write out all the details of his trip to Hasbro Children's hospital.  I'll get there.  Right now I just want to focus on my happy, healthy, beautiful little man.

Shameless plug

Yup, that's what this post is alllll about.  I'm plugging my new Etsy shop.  My mom and I have created Rhody Mama Designs.  We specialize in baby goods.  My mom makes knit cuddle bunnies (too cute for words!!) and knit bibs.  I make baby blankets, bibs, burp clothes, teddy bears, and anything else I can dream up.  There are only 2 items in the store at the moment, but that's because I'm waiting on my new sewing/embroidery machine to come in.  After that, the sky's the limit.  I'm going to be taking pictures of a ton of new fabric that I'm going to have available.  So, check us out, and be sure to check back often, as listings will change often.

Rhody Mama Designs on Etsy

Late night ramblings

Things have been crazy hectic around here lately.  My mom is here now, which has been a Godsend.  Nick has been working a ton, and just did 10 days between his base, and a base in Michigan in preparation for their upcoming inspection.  Oh, yeah...you do remember that part right?  He's Air National Guard.  That means that one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year however much they tell him to, he puts on his ABU's and heads off to our local Air National Guard base.  Or to Michigan.  Or halfway around the world.  Depends on what kind of mood 'Big' Air Force is in at the time...I'm pretty sure that 'Big' Air Force is female.  You can imagine why I feel this way.

On the other side of that coin is our civilian life.  It's not really all that different, and it's really not all that civilian.  When he's not in ABu's, Blue's or dressed as a giant baked potato (remind me, I have pictures that explain this), he's in 'civilian' fire attire.  He's a civilian fire fighter for the Department of Defense.  More specifically, he's a fire fighter for Sub Base NLON.  (Groton/New London...submarine base).  This comes with it's own set of hours, and overtime, and the like. 

If you know anything about military fire fighting, you know that these guys work a 24 on/24 off schedule.  That means (in our case) that Nick goes in for 7am one day, and is at work until 7 am the next day.  But of course, then there's mandatory overtime, and not so mandatory overtime.  This past week end, we were subject to overtime.  Yay!  Well, kinda.  Overtime is great in that it's good money.  But for a young, new family, like us, it also SUCKS.  I'm sure we've all heard the 'fire fighters are brothers' thing.  True story.  Those guys are my husbands family.  And mine and Aidan's, too.  They are an amazing bunch of men (for the most part) and have been there for us through the last few years.  That was very apparent during the later part of my pregnancy, when I started to have complications, and was in and out of L&D a few times a week.  It was also very apparent a few weeks ago when we went through a health scare with Aidan.  The guys are constantly asking about Aidan, and myself.  It's a great feeling as a fire wife, to know that my husband works with such a great group of guys.  It makes a stressful occupation (for me, not him.  He loves it.  I worry about it.) that much more manageable. 

I digress. 

The morale of the story (I think) is: I'm married, and yet, I do a lot of single parenting.  More often then not, I get a sympathetic look from people once they know our situation, and occasionally I get a "that must me SOOOO hard".  Yeah, it is.  But, at the same time it's not.  It's our life.  It's what we do.  Nick and I have been doing it for over 6 years now.  He's been doing it for 13 years.  When Aidan came along, it was like second nature to slide him into our routine.  Do we miss daddy when he's at work or 'at' Air Force?  Of course!  We always will.  But there is no greater thing in our world then to see that little boys face light up when he sees Daddy.  It doesn't matter if he's been gone over night, or for a week.  That kid LIGHTS UP when he sees his Daddy.  He may only be 6 months old, but he KNOWS his daddy. 

So, offer a hug, or words of encouragement to your local military families.  But, please, don't give us that "look" and tell us how hard it must be.  Or that you understand what we're going through.  'Cause chances are, if you haven't been a mile in OUR shoes...you have no idea what it's like.  And besides.  We're a tough breed.  And we take care of our own.

I have something to tell you...

Are you sitting down?  No, I'm not pregnant again.  But it does have to do with children.  Are you ready?  I'm completely, head over heels, in LOVE with being a mommy.  I can't remember my life before Aidan was born.  Don't get me wrong, there are parts of it that I HATE.  I'm not a fan of not getting anything done around the house.  I'm not a fan of seeing my poor little monster in pain from teething.  I was certainly NOT a fan of watching him get sick enough to warrant an ambulance ride from our local ER to Hasbro Children's Hospital a few weeks ago. 

But all it takes is one smile.  One laugh.  All it takes is Aidan grabbing my finger, or giving me a hug, or cuddling in my lap, and it's all worth it.  Every singe bit. 

Can you believe he will be 6 months old tomorrow?  Where has the time gone?  Nick and I were cleaning and organizing Aidan's room the other day, and I came across some of his newborn clothes.  Talk about a shock.  I can't remember him that small.  He was never a 'tiny' baby by any means, but seeing how small his clothes were??  I can't fathom.  I look at him now, all 17 pounds and almost 28 inches of him, and wonder where the time has gone. 

I love where we are now.  He's so interactive, and playful, and just plain fun.  He will play for hours on the floor or in his exersaucer.  His face lights up when you call his name.  He has a smile that lights up the whole room, and is super contagious.  When he smiles, you can't help but smile back.  He giggles, and laughs, and coos.  He's trying really hard to stand, and sit.  He's crawling (albeit using his face instead of hands).  He's so curious about everything.  When one of the cats goes near him, he jumps up and down, and puts his hands out and 'talks' to them.  He's learning to be gentle when he pets them, and they are letting him pet them. 

I knew from the time I was young that I wanted to be a mama.  But over the years, I wondered if I would be a good parent.  If I had what it takes to be a good mama.  I'm not gonna lie...when I got pregnant, even though it was planned, I was scared.  I was petrified that I was going to be a horrible mommy.  I still have times when I think that Aidan would be better off with someone else.  I loose my patience, I get frustrated, I cry right along with my boy when he's hurting or angry.  But all in all, I know that I'm the best mama I can be for my amazing little man. 

Having my mom here has been a huge help.  I can get things done around the house, I can nap on occasion.  I can go to the store without Aidan if he's having a bad day (like yesterday).  She loves on him, and holds him, and helps me out more then I can explain.  She was my life saver while Nick was away for a week training with the Air Force. 

One other things about having a baby...my OCD has come back with a vengeance.  I'm constantly thinking of ways to rearrange the kitchen, living room, craft space, Aidan's room...you name it, I want to 'OCD' it.  It's becoming kind of a joke in the house.  I can't wait for the day when I have the whole house organized and clean, and ready for company.  We're going to be painting mom's room sometime next week.  Once that's done and we get the rest of Aidan's things out of there, we can work more in the living and dinning rooms.  It's only a matter of time before we have everything clean and organized, and I have it all labeled.  I'll be sure to show y'all around the house once it's done. 

In the mean time.  Hugs your kids, and your husbands, and all of your friends and family.  They really are the world!

Happy Easter!

I hope that everyone has a beautiful and blessed Easter. 

I can't believe what a difference a year makes.  Last year at Easter, I was heading to Nick's Auntie Jackie's for dinner.  I was pregnant, and heading there alone, since Nick was at work.  This year, Nick is at work again, but I'm far from alone.  My mom is here with us, and we have a beautiful (almost) 6 month old.  I can't believe that my little Monster will be 6 months old in 4 short days.  It's amazing to see the difference.  Nick and I were working in Aidan's room the other day, going through everything, trying to get it organized, and a proper nursery.  In the process, I was going through Aidan's clothes, packing away clothes that no longer fit.  Not gonna lie...it made me a sad panda.  I can't believe how big he's gotten, and how much he's changed in the last 6 months.  I look at him now, and see his amazing little huge personality coming out.  He's stubborn, and adorable, and just...AMAZING.  I can't even describe how amazing motherhood is.  

He keeps me on my toes, that's for sure.  In other news, my mom and I have started a little business.  Rhody Mama Designs.  We make all kinds of super cute baby items.  So, all around, life is good. 

I really need to get back into blogging more.  And I will...after today.  We have a new design coming up here soon too.  

In the mean time. Enjoy your Easter (or Passover).  Enjoy your family, and hug them tight.