6 months old - WHAT?!

My sweet Jacks is 6 months old.
Currently, he is...
- wearing Size 4 diapers and 9 month clothing
- a solid 18 lbs, 14 oz
- in the 50-75% for weight and height, but 90% for head circumference
- rolling over (back to belly and belly to back!)
- smiling all of the time
- eating solids (we've tried applesauce, sweet potato/butternut squash, peas, pears, and yogurt...he loves it all - avocado is next!)
- sleeping from 9:30/10pm until 7:00am (much to our delight!)
- getting his first tooth (bottom front right)
- absolutely the best thing ever

I live for waking up in the morning and seeing his smile--it saddens me that this gummy goofy smile will not be there for long. He seems to be adjusting well to his new tooth. I love picking him up from daycare (need to post about daycare), giving him baths, holding him, hearing him laugh, feeding him.

I adore everything about being a mom. Even the poop.

Jackson Update

Been a while since my last blog. So much has happened - mainly with Jackson!

First, he is five and a half months old. WHAT? How did this happen?

Currently...

- he eats 6 oz of formula in every bottle

- he loves applesauce mixed with oatmeal or rice cereal (we tried butternut squash and sweet potato, but he does not love that as much...unless it's mixed with applesauce).

- he is between 6- and 9-month clothing - right now, my favorite outfit of his is a Christmas onesie with an elf-like hat

- he is starting to sit up on his own - still topples over from being top-heavy, but he is trying

- he LOVES his jungle gym - looking up, giggling, cooing, and interacting with the animals and music

- he kind of blows rasperries at you if you do it to him

- he wears Size 3 diapers

- I am guessing at this time he is around 20 pounds

- We bought him this Swedish gadget called the NoseFrida. It sucks the snot out. Well, I suck the snot out. Gross but effective.

As I've written before, being a mom is so awesome, but I've never been so tired in my life. Jacks is currently teething (?) and he likes to stay awake and be held. We can NOT sit with him - he likes to stand.

Alright - enough for now. More observations later. Heading to Ohio on Saturday for a whirlwind trip - 10+ hours in a car each way with a baby - YAY!

24 Hours to Process

I need 24 hours to process things. 

This means that I should not make any major life decisions without taking 24 hours to let the thought/idea/anger/energy high settle. Maybe my "problem" is that I initially react emotionally (hey, I am a Leo/fire sign!) and then need to cool off. Because too often my intense happiness or extreme anger cloud my good judgement.

In the last week I have found myself really angry one day, but more focused and calm the next day. Maybe my opinion has not changed, but my emotional response has. I also got overly emotional over n issue at school, but the next day I was able to see a more clear image of the bigger picture.

All I know for sure is that sleep helps and that I am still figuring out things about myself.

Jackson found his hands!

In the past few days, my son has found his hands.

It's hysterical.

He looks at one hand while the other encircles his head; during this process, he usually smacks himself in the face. He then mashes both hands on his cheeks and nose until they find each other.

Sometimes one hand hitting his mouth will result in his sucking that hand's thumb; this is usually the right one - is he right-handed?

He continues to smile a whole lot - his eyes sparkle when he does. There is literally no better feeling in the world.

We've moved to Size 2 diapers - 12-18 pounds. Wow!

I love being a mom.

Please do not make my sensitivity wear out...

Please do not make my sensitivity wear out.

This can occur when you continuously do not meet my expectations.

I try my hardest to be kind, polite, clear with my instructions, attentive to details, and aware of the fact that there are things that go on in people's lives that they may not advertise or wear on their sleeve.

But after feeling slighted, mocked, whispered about under one's breath, and ignored, my sensitivity begins to wear out.

And this makes me tired, irritated, and a little sad.

Just BLOG about it!

Having a good day? Just blog about it.

Having a bad day?  Just blog about it.

Need to vent about your parents, classmates, or Creative Writing teacher? Just blog about it.

Tired of reading the same old stuff because you think your own words are more interesting? Just blog about it.

Enjoy cooking and want to post a recipe?  Just blog about it.

Visit NYC and see a celebrity walking down the street?  Just blog about it.

Ever eat something that was so amazing but you were alone and were without your phone so you could not tell anyone about that incredible soy burger with sprouts, wasabi, and chocolate? Just blog about it.

Drop your book on your foot and break your foot resulting in an overnight stay in the hospital where you were on heavy pain meds, had multiple x-rays, and find out you need surgery? Just blog about it.

Change your son's diaper only to realize that in the midst of changing said diaper he has, in fact, urinated all over himself? Just blog about it.

Think your friendly neightborhood librarian is funny, smart, AND cool? Just blog about it.

Have an hour-long conversation with someone only to realize after you are done that you've had spinach in your teeth?  Just blog about it.

Enjoy watching people eat their ice cream, observing moments of pure, unadulterated bliss? Just blog about it.

Tired of reading this blog? Just blog about it!

Pleasure Reading

I need to read more for pleasure.

Bucket List books:

- finish the OUTLANDER series by Diana Gabaldon

- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

- East of Eden (Steinbeck)

- more Sophocles plays

- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

- the Mindy Kahling biography 

That's it for now. Need to finish Gone With the Wind before I start something new...