It's all happening too fast!!!

I feel like our little man was just born last week yet it seems like he's been in our lives forever and a day!  I love my job as a Mommy and I cherish every moment and milestone he approaches and concurs!

Currently he has mastered the skill of sitting on his own and I love it!  We have enjoyed putting him in the highchair at restaurants, riding in the front seat of shopping carts, sitting in his stroller without the infant bucket and riding in his big boy backpack carrier.

Also lately he has been trying to crawl like crazy!  Anytime we put him down he instantly rolls to his belly and gets up on all 4s to try and practice crawling.  About a week ago he got up on all 4s and this week he is rocking back and forth.  This morning he even tried to move his arms to lunge and move forward.  Poor little guy fell on his face but luckily it didn't seem to bother him.

I love watching his determination and intensity to learn these new skills.  I sound like a stereotypical mother by saying this, but I can't help but want to take a million pictures and videos of our little man.  I never want to forget these moments!  It's one of the best and worst part of having children!  I love watching him grow and I can't wait for him to crawl, walk and talk but it's all happening too fast!

Where did my baby go???

First Asparagus

So the other day I was making tons of baby food for our little man and I thought, hey, what the heck, let's try asparagus.  I didn't want to assume that he wouldn't like it but as you can see from this video, it's definitely not a fav!

After reading a little bit more in my baby cook book I tried it a few days later mixed with some apples and a little bit of pear juice and he gobbled it up!  So, for now we are mixing asparagus with fruits in hopes that he will learn the taste of it mixed and maybe like it alone a little later on.

Funny side note, after he had a few tablespoons of it we gave him his nightly bath and as J was changing his diaper he said it smelled like rubber boots :)

Cantaloupe!!!

Last week before our cruise Thomas was fussy while I was trying to make dinner.  I was desperate to get the kid to stop fussing/crying while I was trying to cook so I put some cantaloupe that I had from the family party the day before in a baby sieve and waaaalaaaa the kid was happy!  

He was cracking me up with the stinking cantaloupe!  Once I mashed it up a little bit he figured out that he could suck it and get the juice out and he was happy as a clam!  I just kept laughing at him because all I could hear was the intense sucking noises coming from the far left corner of the kitchen where his highchair sits.  

Here are some cute pictures and a video of the little man lounging in his high chair and enjoying his first cantaloupe!  

Baby Electric Slide - POOLSIDE

Here is a cute and funny video of Baby Thomas doing the baby electric slide poolside on our cruise!

Bahamas Cruise April 2010

This past weekend we went on a cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate my Mom's 50th Birthday!  It was a girls weekend getaway with J and Thomas in tow.  Since I'm still breastfeeding Thomas and plan to exclusively do so until he is 1 year old, I dry up or can't get pregnant by the time he's a year I wanted to make sure that I didn't loose any milk on my trip.  Plus, I didn't want to be away from him for 4 days and 3 nights!  I'm simply just not ready for that yet.  Not sure when I will be ready for a night away but it won't be on an international cruise where I cannot call every 5 minutes if I wanted to :)

Anyways, we had a great time!  Thomas did better than expected, way better.  He is such a wonderful little boy.  So easy going.  He just wanted to be held and included in all that we do.  He loved the pool, the beach and even Senor Frogs!  He would get fussy here and there but that's to be expected since he isn't sleeping in his crib, he's sleeping in a 10 by 10 room with his Mommy and Daddy and hundreds of other people within a 100 ft radius.

Every morning J, Thomas and I would eat breakfast together, hang out at the pool/beach then Thomas would take him 45 minute morning nap.  While he napped I would go find the girls and hang out at the pool for a little bit.  After he would wake up I would feed him and on Saturday we all went to the boat's pool deck and Sunday we went to the Island.  I was very proud of myself on Sunday afternoon for letting the little man take a nap on the beach under the tree, in the shade of course.  He only slept for like 30 minutes while J and I took a stroll around the island and Grandma watched over the little man.  Each night I would go up to the buffet with J and Thomas while they would eat dinner.  After Thomas would go down for the night I would pack up and head to my Mom's room to get ready for dinner and dancing/going out with the girls.  I was always back in the room by midnight and we would start the next day over again around 6:30 in the morning when the little man would sound the alarm :)

It was nice to be able to party with the girls knowing that if something went wrong with Thomas, J was right there and I was only a 5 minute walk away.  I couldn't have asked for more!  It was an awesome first cruise for Thomas and everyone on the ship LOVED him!

As I sit here and write this I still feel like I'm on the ship, rocking with the seas.  I can't wait for the next cruise!  It was a blast and most importantly my Mom had a great 50th Birthday celebration!!!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip:

Ashley and Thomas on the first day

Hanging out at the pool day 2

In our shirts, heading the Nassau on day 2

My Lunch on day 2!  Conch Fritters and a Kalik!!!

The girls at Senor Frogs Day 2

Thomas sleeping under the trees on the beach Day 3

Alli and I before the Quest, Night 3

With our new friend, Vance, our Teammate for the Quest

6 months!!!

Thomas James.  The newest great love in my life!  As Daddy would say, "I love you like a fat kid love cake!"  How have I lived my life without you?!  How in the world have the last 6 months flown by as fast as they have?!  You are the most amazing gift and Mommy and Daddy are so blessed to have such a beautiful baby boy to call ours!

Thank you for the best 6 months of my life and I look forward to all the years to come!  You are our little creation.  Our miracle.  Perfect in every inch of your 27 inches and 17 pounds 15 ounces of exsistance!  

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy <3

6 months old

My big boy bulling the teddy bear :)

Visit to the beach!

J, Thomas and I ventured to Clearwater Beach this past weekend to spend time with J's Brother's Family who was visiting.  

We lucked out and got a beautiful day!  The water was a little chilly but it didn't seem to bother Thomas.  We had a wonderful time!  

Check out this video:

 

A Sneak Peak....

We had pictures taken today by our great friend Julie who is a wonderful photographer!  Here is a sneak peak!

Her website is:  http://juliefletcherphotography.com/

the face-making begins....

Thomas has a new skill/face.  I'm calling it the "Scrunchy Face."

He's been doing it for a few days now and I had to capture it on video!  It cracks me up every time he does it!  I'm in love with this new silly Scrunchy Face and had to share!

I love my Baby Walker :)

Nana Shar and Grandpa Lou got Thomas an adorable Baby walker for Easter.  Currently he isn't using it for his main purpose, only pushing the buttons to listen to the music and look a the flashing lights.  At the beginning of las week I put him up on his feet and had him hold on a little bit and he just wants to chew on the handle.

If J had it his way, Thomas would be mobile NOW!  I on the other hand see the days of me laying him on the ground to run to the bathroom and coming back to a baby on his belly instead of on his back grower fewer and fewer.  I am looking forward to the major milestones of crawling and walking and enjoying watching him develop and grow but I also enjoy lounging around with him for now.  I know that in a matter of weeks/months we could be chasing this little dude around!

Sunday J was playing with the Baby walker with Thomas and was calling for me to take pictures of him standing with no help.  Of course LaLa was right there to partake in the action.  Anything where we are on the ground, she thinks it's her time to play with Mommy and Daddy.

Anyways, here they are, playing with the Baby walker with no help, aka, "no hands!"

BABY POOL PARTY!!!

Thomas, Grandma Lori and I went to our friend's house today and had a BABY POOL PARTY!!!  Most of the girls that I met at the Mommy Baby TEA lactation center were there to share in the fun!  The weather was great and the water was just right.  

Most importantly Thomas had a blast!  He was one of the first babies in and last babies out.  He was splashing about and Mommy even gave him a mohawk with all of the wet hair!  I hope that we get a chance to do it again soon!  

Check out this video that Grandma took of us in the pool with all the babies in their cute swim suits!  We had a photographer come out so pictures are to come :)  

WARNING:  My cleavage is crazy!  These nursing boobs are hard to contain!!  LOL!!!

I need my man.

I got a really funny email today for my Aunt Lisa.  She is always good for those silly forwarded emails that most times you just delete because you have 101 emails to get through, have a baby attached to you and frankly don't have time to read.  Today as I sit here, showered, hair blow dried and make up applied while Thomas naps in a fairly clean house and no dinner to prepare since we have plans tonight, I read one those funny change forwards.  It had a bunch of pictures of men and women and the not so wonderful ways they treat their wives as well as the following lines:


Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN? MENtal illness
MENstrual cramps 
MENtal breakdown 
MENopause 
GUYnecologist 
AND 
When we have REAL trouble, it's a.. HISterectomy.


Then there was this picture in the email that cracked me right up because it made me thinking of my sweet J and his love for biking although he would never do this to me:

To tell you the truth.  As much as we want to complain about our men and how annoying they can be at times, we need them.  I need my man.  I love him with all that I am.  I love the life that I have because of his tireless efforts and many hours spent away from Thomas and I so that I can be at home with my Son. I could go on and on about how much I love him and all the reasons why but I won't bore you with those details.  

This weekend I was just reminded, again, how much I love my man and how much I LOVE MY LIFE! He let me go out with the girls on Thursday and while I was with the girls doing some shopping while Thomas napped he stayed home.  Then while he was home he even cleaned and did some laundry.  What a sweet heart!  Keep up the good work J :)

Daddy/Baby Photo Shoot

So I'm uploading all the pictures I've taken this past week to my computer and I come along some pretty funny pictures that J took of him and Thomas.  I guess Daddy decided to have a photo shoot with his baby and here is what we have to show for it :)

Mommy Baby TEA weekend get together

Today Thomas and I ventured to a local park to walk around and meet up with some friends that we met at the Mommy Baby TEA.  The was a program that our hospital put together for breastfeeding mothers for babies ages 0-8 weeks.  All of us had our babies in the October/November time of 2009 and met at this wonderful lactation class!  We could go to the class 2-3 times a week and it would last 2-3 hours where we discussed any and all questions we had related to breastfeeding and newborn babies.  Most Mommies that go are first timers but I definitely want to go with my next and subsequent children if I can.

We have been talking about getting together forever and I'm so glad it worked out.  There is probably a group of women that I have connected with from TEA of about 12 and today there was 5 of us.  It's just soooo stinkin hard to get a date where everyone is free at the same time so we just decided on a date and go together since there will never be a perfect time.

We had a very pleasant afternoon of walking around the lake and enjoying some lunch outside with the babies.  We talked about how they are all doing now a days, mostly about sleeping and teething.  I had a wonderful time and am blessed that I have met some wonderful women who happen to have babies either a few weeks older or younger than Thomas!

Here is a cute picture of us with our Mommy Baby TEA friends!  Enjoy :)

Cherries :)

I have been making all of my own baby food for Thomas with the exception of the rice cereal.  The rice cereal you can buy in the stores is fortified with iron and I don't know how to do that, lol, I don't think it's possible to do yourself, so I just buy Earth's Best or Gerber oatmeal and rice cereal.

I made my own homemade baby cherries yesterday after I took a trip to Whole Foods to buy organic cherries.  Unfortunately they didn't have fresh so from everything I've read, frozen is just as good, if not more fresh before they freeze it than fresh.  So I threw the de thawed frozen cherries in my food processor, blended them up and then cooked them for a few minutes to help cook down some of the sugars.  Then I placed them in individual snack bags and labeled them with 4 TBS each, so one bag was good enough for 2 feedings.

Whenever I've been trying a new food with Thomas I have been trying to take a video of the faces he makes for funny memories.  This morning after his morning nap I made his 2 TBS of cereal like I always do but I decided to introduce 2 TBS of a new fruit, CHERRIES!

J LOVES cherries!  I like them but sometimes they are a little tart.  I wondered how Mr. Man would react to this new, sweet but tangy fruit.  Well the video proves that he's a fan just like his Daddy!  At first he was a little unsure but he kept opening his mouth for more.  Funny boy.

After he finished the cherries he spit up a little bit, which is normal and didn't seem in any pain, etc.  So, I will try them again and see if we have a similar reaction, and if we do then I will probably wait a few more months.  Yeah for Thomas' First Cherries!!!!

Mommy's 1st GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!

Last night my wonderful husband, J got home a little early from work so I could meet my baby-less friends for my 1st GIRLS NIGHT OUT since Thomas has been born!  We have been talking about going to Shari's sushi happy hour for about a year now and the girls finally set it all up a few weeks ago.  We had a wonderful night out filled with glasses of white wine, shakinities, edamame, sushi and great friends.  We all agreed that we need to do it again so we have it penciled in on our calendars for May 22nd!  I am very blessed to have such wonderful women in my life and to have the opportunity to hang out with them without husbands and babies was much needed.

So, here's to my 1st GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!  CHEERS :)))))

Our friend Craig was out downtown eating next door for his bday so he 

stopped by to take a picture with us beautiful ladies!

Splish Splash

This past weekend we had planned to go on the boat and then when the batteries were dead we changed the plan and went in the pool.  We decided to turn on the hot tub for a bit to get the chill off of the water since the pool is still a little cold.  So I covered Thomas in sunscreen and put on his swim shirt and trunks and dove in!

He was a little tired so he wasn't all about it but at least he didn't cry!  He liked when we went on the boogie board and went around in circles.  He started to get a little cranky so we ended up only being in the pool for a few minutes before he went up stairs for his afternoon nap.

For the 10 minutes or so that we were in the pool I had my Mom take a few pictures and a video of Thomas' 1st time in the pool!  I can't wait to take him in again, maybe after his nap next time!  I think once he had a little sleep and some food he would have a ball!  Till then we will look forward to the next time in the hot months ahead!  I'm sure this Summer we will have lots of pool visits :)

Thomas' 1st Easter

Yesterday was Thomas' 1st Easter!  We spent it at my parent's house in Sarasota and then finished the day at Jason's Aunt Patty's house to spend some time with the Francoforte/Amadori families.  We started the day out by waking up at 6am to walk to Siesta Key for the Pine Shores Presbyterian Church sunrise service.  After the service we hung out at the house and cooked/baked food for our Easter lunch out at Sheps Island in the woods of Myakka Park.

Once we got to the woods we had a great time mingling with everyone.  Thomas was passed around to practically every Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent and Cousin.  He never seemed to mind.  LOL!  We all know he loves the attention and it gets Mommy more used to other people taking care of her precious bundle!  We got to see our cousin Tripp and had a mini photo shoot (see below).  We ate lunch and then packed up the car to head back home.  Luckily traffic wasn't bad and we were able to get to Aunt Patty's around 4:30.

We got to Aunt Patty's and ate again.  Yikes!  Thomas got to see his other cousins Gabby, Mia and Frankie along with his grandparents, uncles, aunts and family friends.  The highlight of his visit, eating the sun that was attached to an exerciser.

All in all it was a great day.  We had a lot going on and it was very busy but I wouldn't have it any other way.  We were able to see both families and most importantly everyone got to see the little man!

Sooo Happy Belated Easter!!!  Here are some pictures of our fun family filled day:

Cellulite.

The bumpy lumpy dimpling skin is definitely a heinous sight to most.  Before having a baby I was proud to say that I didn't have much of this feared compliment to most rear ends, thighs, bellies and occasionally arms.  Now, post baby, I have vowed I will never judge a chubby person because I have more cellulite than I ever imagined.  Slowly but surely it is disappearing, thanks to my many 4:40am wakings to go to the gym and struggle through an hour of body pump at Lifestyle.

I also have recently accepted the fact that my belly and overall body shape will never be the same as it "used to be."  I have to learn to love my new shape, and it will take some time but I'm getting there.  Girls, love your body now because after having a child, for most, it will never be the same.  Once you loose your baby weight it won't be noticeable with clothes on but once you get into your bathing or birthday suit you are quickly reminded of your newly acquired a**ets!

The other night as I was getting Thomas ready for his nightly bath, around 6:45 I saw the cutest cellulite I've ever seen in my life.  Never in a million years would I ever think that cellulite could be cute!  Really?!  Cute!?!  Cellulite....NEVER!!  But there is was staring me in the face.  The cutest little lumpy bumpy dimples in Thomas' thighs, butt and belly.  He even has matching moobs (aka man boobs)!!!  As I yelled for J to get the camera I whispered in his ear, "Thankfully little man, this is the most cellulite you will ever have in your life!"

So here we are, enjoying in our little man's fat deposits....cellulite has never looked so good :)

Baptism/Easter photo shoot

This past Thursday my little Easter Bunny and I took a trip to visit our friends Drew, Evan and their Mommy Ms. Abby.  Abby used to be our neighbor and Thomas and Drew are a few weeks apart so we are try to get the boys together frequently.  Usually its about once a week at our weekly play date as a part of the SouthWest Mommies Club but this week it was a for a special photo shoot for Thomas' Baptism invitations and Easter pictures.

Abby has taken up photography and takes beautiful pictures of her boys all the time so I asked her if she could take a few pictures of our little man.  She did a wonderful job and I just had to share my favorites!!!!

Didn't she do an awesome job!?!  I'm in love with them :)  

Thanks again Abby for taking these pictures for us to capture these precious moments of our little man on his 1st Easter and for his Baptism invitation pictures!!!  

sleep is my new best friend!

thomas has been sleeping through the night now for about a week.  i don't want to jinx by shouting from the blogging roof tops, but i feel we are here to stay.  well, at least till teething or our next milestone begins.

we have eliminated all night feedings and he goes down at 7:30 and wakes up anytime between 6:30-7:45.  if someone would have told me the night my son was born, at 8 pounds 2 ounces, that he nor i would sleep through the night till he was 5.5 months old, i would have laughed in their face!

when i chose to breastfeed thomas i knew it wouldn't be easy.  actually i was more worried about breastfeeding than i was labor!  turned out we got the hang of it pretty quickly except mr. man wanted to be attached to mommy, and he was for the first two months or so of his life.  anytime he would cry i would just latch him on and he would stop crying.  well soon i learned i was creating a mini monster as he would not fall asleep unless he was nursed.  around 4 months old we had the worst bout of wakefullness we had had to date.  thomas was waking up 4-6 times a night.  he would go down around 8 and would wake up around 11, 1, 3:30, 4:45, 6 and 7:30 for the day.  i was exhausted to say the least!  we did this for about 8 days when i finally took him to the dr. so they could give him the once over to tell me nothing was wrong with him.  the thought it was just his 4 month growth spurt as he was healthy as could be and was having lots of pee and poopy diapers.  it was at this point where i realized i needed to start putting him to bed, awake/drowsy.

so at 4 months old we started rice cereal and sleep training.  the first few nights were the worst!  i think i slept less those couple days/week than i did when he was first born.  i was beside myself!  finally around day 3/4 he started sleeping from 7:30/8 - 2.  i would feed him and he would go back to sleep till about 4:30, i would feed him again and he would sleep till 7.  finally we were on a twice a night schedule again.  wasn't put a few days later when he started sleeping till 3:30/4 for his first feeding.  then one night he didn't wake up till 6:30.  this was when i knew we eliminate the last nightly feeding as he was physically capable, at around 15/16 pounds to "sleep through the night."

so here we are, at a week of officially "sleeping through the night"!!!!  go little man go!!!  your mommy loves you even when you wake her at night but we are definitely liking this new norm!  hello rem sleep, i've missed you soooo :)

here is a cute video of thomas on our first official night together (thomas had to go to transition nursery after he was born and wasn't brought to my room till about 3am) he was about 28 hours old at this point: