teething, scooting, and not sleeping, oh my...

...Pres had his four month check up (and shots) and his stats are as follows:
15.5 lbs
24 inches long
16 inches around for his head!!! (definitely a Dean)

He is cutting four teeth and we are certainly feeling the effects. The constant drool is just disgusting (maybe as a mother I shouldn't say that, but it is), and the only thing worse than the drool is the discomfort he feels. My poor angel will have a good day, then a VERY bad day. On his bad teeth day, he is so uncomfortable that he can't sleep. I've tried chew toys, ice filled washclothes, tylenol, my finger, dishtowels, toothbrush etc, etc...and it all falls short. My motto for these days is "it can only get better!" On his good days, he is tons of fun. He loves to play on his mats and be in his jumper. He'll go for 10-15 min playing by himself now and it gives me some time to sit and relax (really to throw in a load of laundry and sweep)! His favorite activity the past couple of days has been making faces at himself in the mirror. This is hilarious!!!! He finds himself to be just fascinating (again, definitely a Dean)! It amuses me to no end!

The scooting is very amusing as well. He has decided that it is much easier to get around on his back. I will put him on his tummy, and he will roll over onto his back. He will proceed to fling his feet around until he gets enough of a rhythm going to move. Unfortunately for him, this basically only allows him to move around in a cirle much to his displeasure. I am trying to get this on video, but it is hard because as I mentioned earlier he is fascinated with himself and when I am taping him, he can see himself in the lens and then will stop whatever he is doing to smile at his reflection!!!!!

In closing, I would like to send some special thank you's to some special women who have been my saving grace during the past week.

Mom-thank you for coming over and talking with me!!!
Chrissy- can't even put it into words!
Ab- I hope I haven't scared you too much about this baby thing :)
Jax- hugs and kisses
Lydia- thank for letting me know that it is okay to not like motherhood all of the time!!!!

I love and miss you Petard!

Pres & Mommy

Pres & his "friend"

While daddy's away...

...Pres and mommy will play, and play, and play!!!! This "tester" week with Pete being gone has been quite the adventure. It began with my son deciding that he will no longer sleep more than one hour at a time at night, and ended with a very happy wife to see her husband come home (even for only five days) so that I could SLEEP!!!!

Pete came home from Georgia on Friday evening. I don't think I have ever been more happy to see him. I was so excited for bed!!!! My wonderful hubby let me sleep (sort of, he let me stay in bed, but made sure I knew every time he got up) while he got up almost every couple of hours with our son. I'm sure while he was gone this past week, he thought I was exaggerating the whole nighttime situation. Needless to say, he found out the hard way that I was only giving him the cold, hard and very sleepless facts!

Luckily for me, even though Pres was an absolutely terrible sleeper, he was still happy during the day. The two of us had lots of fun this week. I've had to raise the jumper another 4 inches to keep up with his height and he now is really starting to enjoy being in it for longer periods of time. He also likes to be in his swing! We thought that would never happen with the way he screamed for the first three months any time you even went near it! He loves to laugh and will find any excuse to do so. His favorite activity is to sit in his chair and "chat" with me. I'll read books, sing songs, and do his flash cards all the while he is making faces and noises at me. He LOVES music! It's really amazing to me how much he lights up when songs come on. His favorite song is "I've Been Working on the Railroad". It never fails to calm him down when he gets cranky and is an after bath favorite as he hates to get dressed so much. He loves to dance with you as well. I'll put music on and we'll spin around and around the house. He squeals and laughs with delight. It is becoming one of the highlights of my day. He'll hold my hand and we'll "get jiggy wit it". (So glad to be alone during these times as I can NOT dance!) He's also started to follow me around with his eyes and sticks out his lower lip if he can't see me. When Pete came home Friday, Pres went right to him and buried his face in Pete's shoulder. It brought tears to my eyes to see how much he missed his daddy. Those two have such a sweet bond. Pres will sit in Pete's lap (a rarity for him to sit calmly) and listen to Jazz and Big Band music.

Come Thursday, I go back to being a single mom for the next two months. It is sure to be interesting and exhausting all at the same time. Hopefully he will resume his normal sleep schedule soon!!!!!

Pres' new sound!

Hi daddy! I love my walker!

"...make me a bicycle clown."

So...Pres has learned a new trick. You see, he has learned that Pete and I are REALLY green at this baby thing. Therefore, give a little scream, produce a tear, and we come running, certain that something must be wrong. We are, however, beginning to notice that it comes when he has tired with one activity and wants to be picked up. It took us a bit to catch on, but now we are beginning to see. For instance, this morning he is in his baby jumper. He is happily sucking on the front and jumping up and down when all of the sudden he gives an ear piercing scream. I run to get him, flustered and concerned. As I struggle to get him out while simultaneously wondering how he's hurt and looking for a mark, I notice something-he has stopped crying. In fact, he is actually giggling. (Now I'm sure all of you parents reading this are laughing at me right now, but try to think back with your first, and maybe you can sympathize.) It dawns on me quickly (as he is really giggling at this point) that perhaps he is not hurt, he just wanted out and knew the fastest way to get what he wanted was to scream. As I am holding him, mentally kicking myself for falling for it, I begin to laugh. I am laughing because I have realized that my 3 1/2 month old son has just gotten the best of me, and not only do I know it, but so does HE!!!!!

Pics of Pres this morning in the aforementioned jumper!!!

My little Irish angel!

These were all taken after our fun day at the Science Center. He had a lot more fun playing on the floor at home later that evening! Oh well, at least Pete and I enjoyed ourselves!!!

Here we go...

Hello all! This blog is for my friends and family to come and see what we are up to. Since Pete will be gone, it will be much easier to just put it on here, and he can see what we are doing! I am still trying to figure out how it all works, so bare with me.

It will also help me keep an account of how my beautiful baby boy is changing and growing every day! This is the new generations version of a scrapbook!