Week 22

Little man. Oh little man. He has yet to meet a food that he doesn't like. Peas, carrots, bananas, pears, apples, green beans, rice, he loves them all. He can't get enough and he can't get them in fast enough. He's an eater. His little thighs are getting chunkier by the minute. As soon as we get those top teeth in we'll be ready for our first trip to Ruths Chris, like father like son.



Work is starting this week, YIKES! I gave Tim and MomMom a few tester days to ease us all into our new schedule. Little man totally knew something was up. He gave them both a holy fit until I returned home. Poor little man is used to being with Mommy everyday, and suddenly Mommy is gone. Heartbreaking (for both of us.) I know it will get easier, but these first few weeks are going to be tough. On top of this I have to work in a pumping schedule. The only problem is 3rd grade doesn't have the same schedule as my TaTa's. The girls keep filling up and I have to wait another hour and a half before I can pump, Ouch! It's going to be tough, but I'm not going to let a silly little thing like work get in the way of our new nursing goal (9 months!) Deep breath, I think I can, and I KNOW I can!

New Look!

We got a makeover!!! I am so excited with the new look, it's just what I wanted. I feel like a real blogger now! Thank so much Designs by Jamie. Jamie was so patient and kind as I bugged her with my every blog wish! (You try designing a blog for a girl with a list of ideas a mile long, ha!) It turned out great, Wooohooo!

Week 21

I remember being pregnant and thinking "I can't wait to have my old clothes back, my other 'babies' have been hanging in the closet helplessly for the past 10 months. I miss my clothes!" I innocently thought the day the baby popped out I'd have my old wardrobe back. Wrong. Not because they didn't fit, not because they were out of style, but because 99% of them don't have easy access to the milk factory. Who would have thought? Why didn't any of the pregnancy prep books fill me in on this little tid-bit? Why didn't anyone let me know that you go straight from maternity clothing to nursing gear (equally unattractive.) Sigh. Well these days I'm rocking a lot of tank tops (thank goodness it's summer!) One day I'll have those old clothes back. One day I'll be able to look forward to putting together my outfit for the day. Until then I've got my tank tops and nursing bras, watch out Vogue.

On a more positive note, we're going on 5 months strong breastfeeding! I had originally made it my goal to make it to 3 months, then 6... At 6 months I would be returning back to work and thought that might be a good time to stop. Well school (and 6 months) is just around the corner and this momma's not ready to throw in the towel. Little man and I have gotten into such a rhythm, it's just part of our days. It's so good and nutritious for our little man, why stop now? So it looks like we'll be dragging out the pump and dusting it off once again. I'm going to be a teaching, pumping mommy. Why mess with a good thing? Our new breastfeeding goal; until Nolen goes to college (I kid, I kid, 9 months.)

Drum Roll Please...

You are now looking at the new 3rd grade teacher at 'E' Elementary school, I GOT THE JOB! I got the phone call Friday afternoon, and have literally been smiling ever since.

Now, have I ever told you that I have the best mom ever? I know, I know, everyone thinks this, but really I have the best mom ever! Job, check, childcare, check...my mom (the best one ever) is temporarily "moving" to Augusta for the school year. She's going to get an apartment close by so she can watch Nolen. Now do you see why she's the best?!? Originally she had planned on moving to Orlando, but when the Astor's moved she had a change of plans. Augusta actually works out nicely because she'll only be a few short hours from home.(PS- Thank you Dad for letting us borrow your wife for awhile, Nolen says "Thanks PopPop,now I won't have to go to Daycare!" :)


As excited as I am to have this job, the thought of leaving little man everyday makes me feel really pukey inside. The last time I had to do this I knew it was only for a few short weeks, this time is the real deal, a whole school year. The only thing helping me through is knowing he'll be in good hands. So until I can stay home with my baby, we have the next best thing. Oh MomMom, we love you!

5 months old!

Nolen, I literally feel as though we have known you forever. It's getting harder and harder to remember life BN (before Nolen.) But just think, 5 short months ago you were still in mommies belly. Crazy!Now I know I've probably said this about every month so far, and I'll probably say is about every month in the future, but I really think this is the best age, your so stinkin' fun!

Here's what you've been up to this month...

• You love to flip and flop all over the place. You go from your belly to your back, from your back to your belly. You love to flip and always looked very pleased with yourself when you realize what you've done.

• You eating! We started with rice cereal (not your favorite.) We've since added in bananas, apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and baby oatmeal. Mommy had been feeding you a whole little bowl of food until she read that a baby your age is only suppose to eat a few teaspoons. Oops!

• We're still exclusively breast feeding (besides your food for dinner) and going on 5 months strong. Mommy thought it would be a good time to stop when she started the new school year, but the new school year is just around the corner. Drag out the pump again, Mommies going to keep breastfeeding!!! Why mess with a good thing?

• You had your longest stretch of sleep yet! You slept from 11pm- 5am without waking! Mommy was awake the whole time though, she had to keep checking on you to make sure you were still breathing. Crazy Mommy, get some sleep.

• You laugh, all the time. Not just little giggles, but big, full belly laughs. Mommy and Daddy are completed addicted to your laugh and will do anything (and we mean anything) to hear it again and again!

• Still not a fan of your car seat or long car rides. When you start to get fussy mommy and daddy have to start singing. Your favorite songs of the moment are 'Skid-a-marinky-dinky-dink Skid-a-marinky-do' and 'The Wheels on the Bus.' They both stop your tears, but must be sang over, and over again until we reach our destination.

• Your now wearing anywhere from a 3-6 month- 6-9 month in clothing. Still size 2 diapers and size 2 shoes.

• You get SO excited when you see your daddy! He's gone at work a lot of the day so it's treat when you get to see him. Everything is good in the world again when your with your Daddy.

• You love blowing raspberries. Once you get started there's no stopping you, you just keep going, and going, and going...brrrrrrrrrrr (slobber, slobber.)

• You went in a park swing for the first time. Loved!

• Your our little social butterfly. Everywhere we go you flash that 2-toothed smile. People are always telling you just how cute you are.

• You've joined Mommy on 2 of her recent teaching interviews. You knew exactly how to turn on the charm for all the ladies.

• Your favorite toys are Monkey, your soft colors book, Elephant, and Sophie the giraffe.

• You're just such a loveable, sweet, adorable little man. We love you SO MUCH. We're so grateful to have you in our lives!

Week 20

We're making major progress with our sleep! I think little mans sleep had gotten so bad the past few weeks (months) that anything more then 1 hour is praise worthy. In fact he's been sleeping for 3-5 hour stretches at a time! Woohoo, I can see the light again (that's because my eyelids aren't so heavy.) I have to hand it to Mr. Ferber, Dr. Feber. The man knows what he's talking about. Now when little one wakes between feedings he puts himself back to sleep in a matter of minutes, before it's even time for me to go in and soothe him. Yippee Skipee!

The only problem I'm still having with Ferber is that my little genius has figured out this whole baby monitor deal. He seems to give me the "stink eye" every time he realizes I'm not coming in. He knows all about the baby monitor. He knows that the camera is above his bed, the screen is in mommy and daddies room, and that I can see his every move. He knows to look DIRECTLY into the camera so that he's eye to eye with me. He gives me that look. That "I can't believe your not going to come feed my belly" look, then rolls over back to sleep (he's a side sleeper.) I can't seem to find the Ferber chapter on Guilt Trip by Baby. All is well in the morning though, despite my Ferber fears, my little man still loves me and greets me with a smile every morning. Love.


We also have a Rollin' Nolen these days. He's learned to flip from belly to back and back to belly. He's a man on a mission. As PopPop would sing, "Rollin', Rollin' Nolen, get that doggy rollin'." I think it's only a matter of time before this little doggy is moving, and quickly!

I had another interview for the same position on Wednesday (this makes 3.) I really hope this all works out. I keep arranging my new classroom in my head and then I have to stop myself. It's not yet my classroom. There are 90 other applicants whose classroom it could be. Oh my, oh my, oh please let this be. (enter crossed fingers and prayers.) Until then I'm keeping myself busy making the boy these adorable, made with love, onesies.
(PS. Don't forget to check out our new Fan Page on facebook and find us on Twitter!)

Home updates...

Our new home is feeling more like home everyday. I've been busy decorating and adding in those "homey" touches. It's been a challenge because I'm still officially unemployed. I've been decorating on a budget, getting crafty, and playing Trading Spaces. Design on a Dime.

My first project (and favorite) is our master bedroom furniture. It was still nice furniture, just a bit dated. We needed to spruce it up a bit and bring it into 2010. I decided that the blond wood would look much better black! (The bed is yet to be painted so you can see what color it was.) I also removed the old, attached, accordion style mirror from the dresser and hung an over sized framed mirror. (Now if painting your furniture isn't trading spaces style...)




Next I decided that little mans room needed some artwork for above his changing station. I bought a few canvas, some black paint and whipped up these little critters for his wall. (I used his favorite flash cards for inspiration.) Aunt Tata made some frames for them and here's the finished product.




Bathroom art was next. Little mans bathroom was just looking drab. It needed some fun, it is after all a babies bathroom. I took his favorite book (Yummy Yucky) and made a few color copies of the pages (Uh, is that legal...shhhh.) Stuck them in some frames, and we have bathroom art.



My mom brought me an apothecary jar we had left over from wedding planning. (We had originally thought we were going to do a candy bar, but then swapped it out for a photo booth.) I filled it with some fake lemons to add a pop of color to our kitchen.



We were so excited to see that our new house had a back deck! (Something you dream about when you live in a condo.) We waited patiently for the after summer sales and got these chairs for a steal! We also took Tim's coffee tables from college, sprayed them with Rustolium, and made them outdoor tables.




Finally, I picked up some flowers (50% off thank you) to add that homey touch to our kitchen table.

Week 19

Good news...on Wednesday I got a call from the principal asking me to come in and meet the 3rd grade chair. With it being last minute ("can you be here in 1 hour") she told me to go ahead and bring little man with me. ISo off we went to Elementary school E. Little man turned on his charm for the ladies. Smiling, batting his eyelashes, and flirting like only Nolen knows how. (Good job little one!) We have one more interview next week and then we should hear an answer (keep those fingers and toes crossed and say a few prayers!!!)

It wasn't until I got home on Wednesday that I realized how bad things could have gone. As soon as we walked through the door we had a poo-plosion. Not just any poo-plosion but the biggest poo-splosion yet!

Definetion Poo-plo·sion [pronounced Poo-plou-shion] verb; : When a babies poopoo preforms a Houdini and magically appears on the outside of the diaper instead of on the inside. Poo-plosions can occur at any time of day. Poo-plosions can result in both Mommy, baby, and anyone/anything within a 5 foot radius becoming covered in poo-poo.

Poo-Poo was everywhere. All over my dress, the boppy, little mans feet, legs, pants, onesie & back. I couldn't help but think, what if this had occured 15 minutes prior. Oh my, we'll just count our blessings on this one.