Top 10 Things About Being a Mommy

1.  Watching them sleep at night, so peaceful and angelic and cute...you forget all the tiredness of chasing them during the day

2.  Tiny arms and hands wrapping around you with full warmth...you forget they also know by now to pull hair

3.  Hearing a baby laugh is literally the most precious sound in the world

4.  You can bask in hearing how beautiful your baby is and you say to yourself "yup I made that"

5.  You get VIP seats to all the stages in their growing life...as you are their biggest fan. Then you don't hesitate to record and share with loved ones what's the newest accomplishment

6.  You have a legitimate reason to relive your childhood; watch sesame street, play with blocks, read Robert Munch, display stuffed animals

7.  It's cool to go to bed at 9

8.  Maternity leave (thank the lord we get a full year because you need it)

9.  You will never be bored...again

10.  No matter how tough it can be, how worried you get, how stressful a stage may be, or how tired you get...you feel absolute glee like never before. No other gig gives that satisfaction

....this is all of course before they start talking...

A few things to catch up on... including sleep

It's been a while hasn't it?

After the 4 month regression period I heard that another one occurs between the 8 to 10 month period,  and that this is the one that is tough to get through.  Boy was that an understatement! 

By 5 months, sure enough Caiden fell back into his fantastic sleeping style (basically falling asleep on own, waking up only once, at most twice,  through the night). All was well,  we were well rested,  then it came...hits you hard and all of a sudden...the sleep regression...again.

Sometime after turning 7.5 months,  just before 8 months,  Caiden started waking up ALL hours of the night and hated being put down...there was no more sleeping on own. It's definitely rattling as you immediately think "what am I doing wrong?  Am I not feeding him enough?  Is he teething?  Is he uncomfortable or in pain?"  There were nights he woke up hourly,  and he would cry if I placed him in crib, the second you put him in; this lasted almost 2 months! During this,  you surely start losing your mind,  Vick and I took turns blaming eachother when we got frustrated due to exhaustion; keep in mind I stopped my afternoon naps at this point because he had reached a stage of basically sleeping through the night prior. I asked other moms and our doctor, and reassuringly found out that this is normal.  Sometimes it's just good to hear others are going through the same thing! 
Here's what happening during this time:
-HUGE development stage (learning to sit, crawl, explore)
-discovering that they are not attached to you,  so separation anxiety even from just leaving the room for a moment.
-may be starting to teeth, even if teeth haven't pushed through,  something is likely occurring below the gums (poor guy)

This was all true in Caiden's case. So because of all this, it's expected to go through this phase of disturbed sleeping. You think it won't end, but it does. It's as  tough as they warned, and you do get worried that he's sleeping enough (even though naps are ok), and you try different things just in case...but it's all ok, this too passes.  Just a few weeks ago we noticed he has started almost sleeping through the night again,  he is starting to sleep in his crib without a fuss again,  and he plays in his play pen without crying if we momentarily step away. It was a phase!

Mind you,  I still put him to bed,  but honestly my baby is only going to be a baby for so long that I really don't mind that. In fact I cherish that moment of reading to him,  then singing and soothing him to sweet sleep.

So what has my little monster (not really a monster,  we lucked out he's a good baby...not a crazy whiner or crier...yet) been up to?
-He learned to sit completely on his own...like a pro. He sits up always,  even during a diaper change.
-He learned to clap his hands, on command and for fun...in fact even when he first learned he wouldn't stop!
-He is officially crawling! He was practicing for a while and would just get angry but surely be figured it out. Though recently he likes to just do the military crawl/slide...funny guy
-He baby talks ALL the time now.  Most of it is discovering sounds but just very recently started saying "momma" then "dadda" and to us!  BEST FEELING EVER!

It's been a busy couple of months, despite less sleep...but amazing!  Now it really feels like time is rushing by, as he is growing and learning these new things which are propelling him to be less dependent on us for movement. It's kind of sad how fast he's growing.  Every day now is literally a new discovery or learning,  there is so much for him to explore and try that it's no surprise why time won't stand still. We are right there watching with excitement and pride and sheer glee...enjoying all these moments is what makes it go all that much more faster.

I'm just trying to capture it, photographically yes, but more in my heart in mind.  It's an indescribable feeling to watch your baby grow.

Ohhhh my bear,  mommy and daddy love you!

Cute cartoon...very true, well so far

Roly Poly Oly

This little guy of mine, well he's not so little, is full of energy and is a super frisky munchkin!  He's not crawling, honestly I'm in no hurry for that,  but moves around like crazy.  This was indicative in my belly however... he was active even then.

Before, diaper changes were a breeze; not anymore folks! Caiden now wants to roll over,  constantly, kick, play, hide under any fabric object,  all while, yes, I try to change him.  As crazy as it gets it's incredibly endearing to see. Wow, he's getting stronger,  bigger and more playful by the day.  My once simple baby is developing not only motor and physical skills,  but a vibrant and enthusiastic personality - to boot!  When you hold him upright,  or if in his exer-saucer, he goes ballistic jumping up and down.  When you give him a blanket,  he plays peek-a-boo.  When you put him on his back and try to put a onesie on, he rolls on to his stomach and giggles.  I love it... though yes it's a bit tougher.

All this new activity is kind of scary though.  Scary in the sense that he will be mobile soon, after which come the inevitable falls,  bumps,  and bangs. I can't picture myself being gracefully accepting of that...he's too precious.  Ok, yes I may be a little attached,  but whatever.  I realize there's nothing you can do... as he grows he will explore,  which is fantastic.  He is becoming an actual person wanting to do things himself and it's officially a stage he's entering where the ball will be rolling faster and faster,  as he grows exponentially fast and becomes less dependent on us for movement.

I kind of like him still needing mommy, but I know that stage is nearing its expiration  in a sense (more realized as I know my maternity leave will be up in a few months).  Feels like I'm not ready, wasn't he just born?  Well I guess that's how every mother feels.  Instead of looking at my list of things to do, I think I will just make the most of every day I get to spend with Caiden before we both have to do our own things.

Ahhh my baby is growing so fast,  not to be corny but seriously where does the fricking time go???

My little Valentine... the sweetest candy

I'm not big on celebrating Valentine's day, honestly I'm not just saying that.  It's not a cynical thing,  I just feel that flowers and candy on unexpected days mean more.  That and,  ok, I get mad when Vick spends triple the value on flowers.  But it's a cute day nonetheless.  It usually falls on a weekday,  so you go to work, come home and go for dinner and what not. However,  this year I got to spend the whole day with my jellybean.  We went to dispute a speeding ticket and won...so made a mini day of it and went for lunch,  got Valentines from the cousins, and I had to and pick up a little keepsake for him also.  I came home and snapped a few pics to commemorate my baby's first V day (though it was with mommy) and realized I didn't get my husband anything...well except a text message.  Ooops...what's supposed to be the purpose again?  I told you I'm no good at Valentine's Day! 

Seems as I've turned it into another "Caiden's firsts". Well I love my sugar...and here's a collage for my love of his loves. 

Dedicated to my husband,  we missed you! 

An Amazing Photographer: Cathy Kam

We decided to get Caiden's 6 month portraits done.  It's such a fun and interactive stage to remember. It also is considered a milestone in the sense it's, quite literally,  the halfway point between newborn and toddler.  I really wanted to memorize him at this point,  as he's growing so fast!

While searching and contacting photographers, I came across the work of Cathy Kam. I loved her work and quickly got in touch and booked a session.  I'm so happy with her shots!  Caiden is a spunky,  happy,  fun baby...she captured that charm in his photos! 

The whole experience was a breeze with her, and I truly loved the results.

Here is a link to her blog where she features Caiden.   I highly recommend Cathy for any baby/child/family photos!  Just visit:  cathykamphotography.com

Click here to view Caiden's 6 month photos by Cathy Kam.

What's for Dinner Ma??

Ok so he's not quite there yet...but my little muffin has officially started eating!   On his 6 month birthday we started introducing him to cereal and since then he's also tried a number of different fruits and veggies.  I was so excited (food is my thing) that I started snapping videos and pics...check him out!

As exciting as this milestone is,  it's definitely a bit of an apprehensive step, being a first time mom.  You have all these ideas of what he will eat (I personally have a list of what he won't), but you have no idea how he will take to eating, given for the past half year he's been drinking all his meals.  Also,  introducing babies to food rules have COMPLETELY changed from when we were growing up.   There is now baby led weaning (BLW)... where you actually give small pieces of food and allow him to feed himself as opposed to just pureed.  Furthermore,  no need to wait to introduce protein foods... meats and egg yolks are allowed much earlier (should still wait on high allergen foods like cow's milk,  nuts,  egg whites,  etc.)  Basically it's up to you and baby.  I honestly was just expecting to be given a strict guideline and month chart of when to give what,  but no... if he's ready,  go for it!  What???....eeeeks...I don't want to screw up!!!...What should I start with??? What if he doesn't eat and spits up... should I keep going???

After my mini- inside anxiety rant was done with, I went grocery shopping for Caiden for the first time!   I've been making him purees at home and also trying the baby led weaning.   Honestly he prefers purees and even has taken the spoon and put it in his mouth!  I allow him to "play" with his foods since it took him a while to learn how to eat...as opposed to just watching and mimicking us (it's ok to be messy I think because it's a learning experience for him mainly). But as days go on, surely Caiden takes to it.  Now I look forward to trying something new while following his cues of course. 

The biggest learning, though, is to not worry so much about what you are supposed to do and really pay more attention to just him,  what he's ready for and trust yourself.  He will show you what he likes and doesn't,  you will learn what agrees with him and what  doesn't,  you will know what you want to try next and what you're not ready to.  If something new comes up (like constipation, which I now know is normal at the beginning), you will figure it out and it will be fine. 

So trust yourself,  let baby be your guide, and have fun!  I decided I want to expose him to variety and definitely evoke healthy choices,  but lose the stress because this too is an enjoyable stage.  It has come up so fast and before you know it it will be a distant memory; as one day he will be a big boy and he will be literally asking you "what's for dinner Ma?"

Bon apetit!