Turner - 8 months

February 2, 2014

8 months...WWWHHHAAATT!?!?!

Baby Stats:

Weight

19.4 lbs
(I'm not sure our accurate this is since it was on the home scale and it's not much different than 7 months...but he did start crawling right after 7 months so I guess being more active will slow down the weight gain).

Length
28" (92nd percentile) @ his 6 month check up

Sleep
Turner is still sleeping good. I'm afraid I will jinx it if I say anything...but I don't remember the last time we had to get up in the middle of the night for him [knock on wood]. This is especially nice since I'm working long days and really don't feel like I can function on my limited sleep that I am getting, imagine throwing in a waking baby - I don't even want to think of that!

Daily Routine
Not much change here. What we have going is working for us and our lil' man so I don't want to change anything up. Wakes at 7 - Bed at 8:30 (that actual time he is put down into his crib, bedtime routine starts at 8). 2 naps during the day + 2 little ones in the car to and from daycare. Sometimes he only takes one long nap during the day that will last 2-3 hours.

Feeding
This is another area that is working for us that I don't want to change. Turner gets a total of 35 ounces during the day in 6 feedings. Since it's tax season, I usually only get to nurse him 2x a day vs 3. On Wed & Friday it is 3x.  We've tried stretching him to 4 hours between feedings thinking he was ready and boy was he not. He goes 3 hours between, sometimes it stretches out to 4 (especially if he's napping), but otherwise it's still 3 and it's OK with us. I tell Tate he eats like his mama...6 small meals during the day! He is also getting 3 solid meals a day. A little breakfast after his 9 o'clock bottle...usually a fruit. Then lunch is at noon after his bottle and is usually rice or oatmeal. Dinner is a veggie (or mixed veggies).

Diaper Size
We still cloth diaper. I think I need to strip the diapers, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Turner has yet to get a diaper rash (once again, knocking on wood). If he shows any start of redness, we slather on some coconut oil and it goes away in a day. We did increase the snap size on his diapers. Mostly using the BumGenius brand as we have the best luck with those.

Clothes Size
Turner wears 6 month and 9 month sleepers. He is growing out of many of his 6 month clothes, so we is currently wearing the remaining ones that fit and 9 month clothing.

Hair Color
Blonde with hints of brown. I feel like it's getting darker as he gets older.

Eye Color
Blue eyes with long lashes just like his daddy!!!

Milestones/Likes/Dislikes
Learning to give (open mouth) kisses when we ask for them. It's the best!!!

CRAWLING FORWARD. This one was huge! About a week after he turned 7 months he learned to crawl forward and there has been no stopping him.



Not only is he crawling, but he's also standing. He loves to crawl up to something, get on his knees and then to try to stand. It is the cutest thing to see how determined he is to try all these new things.

Mama's lil' helper with laundry!!!

Turner is now officially obsessed with Mya. He is ALWAYS looking for her and want her to pay attention to him. She still really doesn't want anything to do with him unless he has food on his face. When he is in his bouncer, he will jump, scream and constantly try to get her attention. It is the cutest thing ever.

Turner also loves everything except his toys. Wants to get into everything...including tupperware. I sometimes wonder why we even have kid toys. All he really wants is everything he can't have or that is not his.

Has fun at daycare (Angie's) with his friend Colton. Colton has had a hard time adjusting to starting daycare...he would just cry all day. Once Turner learned to crawl, he would crawl over to Colton while he was crying and would try to console him (at least that is what Angie took it as...we will go with it).

Turner still dislikes being his high chair without food...so we started to give him a mum mum to keep him occupied until we have his food ready.

Still doesn't like to be in his crib if he's ready to be up for the day.

Can you tell it's tax season...here is his monthly photo, taken 2 weeks late...with socks on and not lined up on the rug how I would like...and I'm lucky to get a picture without his arms flying all over! Oh...and it was taken with the phone...not the nice camera! #monthlyupdatefail

Turner,

What was life like before you...I seriously don't remember and really don't care to. I say this every month...but being your mom is the best thing ever! Even though life is crazier with you...it is so worth it! Your smile melts my heart and your giggles make me cry! We hear constantly how cute you are and our daycare lady, Angie gets told all the time that she is so lucky to watch you...which she knows she is! Love you so much...like more than you will ever know!

xoxo...mama

  

It's the big LOVE day!!!

And Turner's pretty dang excited about it...

and if he's excited...the WHOLE house is excited because this little person has everyone wrapped around his tiny little fingers and we all don't mind!

I ALWAYS tell Tate to NOT buy me flowers for Valentines Day. I'm actually not really a flower/plant type of person. I just can't enjoy them because I know they will die. I'm frugal and would be annoyed he spent so much money on flowers that will die than enjoy them! We usually exchange cards and have a nice dinner @ home. He has bought me flowers in prior years for Valentines Day...but they were grocery store flowers, which is totally OK with me because they were priced just right and lived just as long as the people that received flowers that were triple the cost of mine!

Earlier this week I went searching for a special and nice card for him and found a few I liked. I then looked @ back @ the price (because that is what frugal people do) and they were all over $7 ($6.99 to be exact). $7 FOR A DANG CARD!! I can get 2 different 1/2 price appetizers at Applebee's for that much (Applebee's did not pay me to say that & I honestly don't remember the last time we went to Applebee's to enjoy those appetizers...probably when I was pregnant, now I am hungry)!

So I left without a card because I can't spend that much on a card that he will read and throw in a drawer to collect dust for a few years. So I called him and told him that he shouldn't buy me a card either because they are outrageously priced. I mentioned that we should instead just write love notes to each other. That way it's our own words and meaningful and it doesn't cost a damn penny. So now I need to actually write mine...It's all in my head, just need to put in on paper!

So there you have it...another aspect of my life I am trying to control, what my husband does for me for Valentines Day. He actually has free reign to do whatever he wants for me...but he knows I'm an obsessive frugal freak, so I know that no matter what he does...he will ALWAYS get it right! I just had to tell him about that card thing because he knows I love to get cards...but I am not all about spending that much on a card! So now I guess I am more a 'handwritten love note' kind of person!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

First time...

This Friday marks a few first milestones...

First time that I will ever take a vacation during tax season. So thankful for my work letting me go with my husband to Mexico to celebrate the love of some great friends!

Celebrating the marriage of Matt & Randi Rae!!

First time I will be in a swimsuit since having Turner. Wish me luck as I will be hanging with a bunch of ladies that have never been pregnant and will be rocking there 20 something bodies that I once had! Granted I did work my butt off to get back into shape for this trip, I just wish I my stomach was more toned. Yes, I am so critical of myself...aren't we all?!! I've decided to be proud of how far I have come and that I am very lucky to be back into shape as most women have a difficult time with this.

First time I will be away from Turner for longer than 10 hours...including our first overnight away from him! I know he will be fine as my mom and sister will be @ our house taking care of him, but that doesn't mean I am going to miss him like CRAZY!!

 
Thank gosh for technology...we will be Facetiming twice a day to see this precious face!!

First time we are going on a vacation together since our honeymoon to Cabo in October 2011. It is much needed!!! I look forward to relaxing with my toes in the sand and with a drink in my hand (yes I know I rhymed) ;)

First time I will be drinking more than 2 drinks since finding out I was pregnant in September 2012. I am probably going to be a hot mess more talkative and tell everyone that I love them ;) but this mama plans to take full advantage of the all inclusive resort and that I don't have to wake and take care of Turner!!!

I have big plans to do a recap of our trip on here..so stay tuned. At the rate I am going...I should have it up by this fall considering I have posts yet from last July still in draft form that I haven't posted!

Happy HUMP day my friends :)

Tax Season

Tax season officially started on Monday, January 20th. 

I have a big love/hate relationship with it.

I love my job and I love that the time consuming months are when it's cold and sloppy out. I love helping my clients and I really enjoy my co workers. I love that I feel like I am finally at a job that 'I belong' and that I feel appreciated and needed. I love the family/life balance they allow me to have.

I hate the long days and I hate that it's 4:50 am on Friday morning and I've been up already for over an hour working. I hate that I miss out on so much time with my husband and son.

But that's exactly who I do it for. I do it to provide a good home and life for my son. I do it so he can grow up and learn the importance of work/career, but not lose sight about family. 

I'm working my butt off this tax season not only because the work is there...but I want to show myself and my employer, that even with being a new mom, I can still do the hours and still provide outstanding work all while maintaining a life outside of work that involves spending time with my lil' family and my friends.

Not only am I working 70 hour weeks, I am still making time for the gym 3-4 days a week (over my lunch hour), still pumping/breastfeeding Turner, going to Mexico for a 4 day vacation/friend wedding and making time for friends where time allows.

I have goals...one major goal is I want to be promoted to Manager and I hope by proving myself this tax season that motherhood has not slowed or affected my work, a promotion will result. 

So here is to 81 more days of living in my office (kind of..I'm actually working from home right now) and to a great tax season full of laughter, tears (because I miss my son and husband) and to achieving what I am working so hard for.

Turner - 7 months

January 2, 2014

7 months...Hi, my name is Bridget and I have a 7 month old, what?!!



Baby Stats:
 

Weight

19 lbs 2 oz

Length
28" (92nd percentile) @ his 6 month check up

Sleep
Turner is sleeping in later and later and it is very  much appreciated. We hit a few rough patches when traveling with him since he was teething and sleeping in his pack n play, but back home he sleeps through night and has been waking up later and later.

Daily Routine
His daily routine has not changed at all from 5 months... 
I get up with him every morning to feed him. I get him ready for the day then. Then it's time to wake Daddy up so I can finish getting ready for work. Tate takes Turner to daycare every day. It's on his way to work so it's a good 30 minute drive. Turner naps on they way there. He has a super fun day at daycare which usually consist of a nap around 10 and 2...lasting anywhere from 30-90 minutes each. Some days I go get him, but for the most part, Tate brings him home and Turner usually takes a lil' cat nap on the way home. Once home we play and have family fun. After dinner feeding it's either bath time or play time including reading. Tate gives him his bed time bottle and puts him to bed around 8-8:30.

Feeding
Turner is still getting 6 feedings a day with 2 of them with solids. His noon and dinner feeding have a solid feeding with it.

Diaper Size
Still going strong in the cloth diaper department. We did use disposables when we traveled over the holidays. Turner wears a size 3 diapers in those. He was teething pretty bad during this time which resulted in quite a few explosive diapers...not fun!

Clothes Size
Turner wears 6 month and 9 month sleepers. He is growing out of many of his 6 month clothes, so we is currently wearing the remaining ones that fit and 9 month clothing.

Hair Color
His hair seems to getting darker.

Eye Color
By the looks of it, he will be a blue eye handsome boy!!!

Milestones/Likes/Dislikes
Turner celebrated his first Christmas. He was so spoiled. His favorite this was to open all his presents and stuff the paper in his mouth as fast as possible.



Our first family Christmas!!!

Turner went swimming for the first time also. He had a blast. He wasn't sure what to think @ first, but warmed up to it and even started kicking and screaming in excitement.




Turner has been crawling backwards like it's nobody business!! It's hilarious. Still doesn't understand or know how to go forward yet. He'll be getting before we know it!

Turner dislikes sitting in his high chair if he is not being fed. Seriously...we have to try to wait to put him in it until the food is ready otherwise he sits there and screams. Demanding lil' fella we got!

this diaper is stuff for overnight...hence the extra puffiness :)

And for good comparison in the last few months...

Turner,

The love I have for you is beyond words. I still can't get over that I am so lucky to be your mom. You are seriously the happiest baby and make me laugh so much. I just know it's going to get better and better! Your growing stronger and stronger every day. Mama is going to start tax season here very soon so I want you to remember I work hard to give you the best life possible. I know you and your dad will have the best time while I am at work on those long days! Love you so much...more than you will ever know!

 

xoxo,

Mommy

  

Sharing Turner's birth story

Today I am sharing Turner's birth story over on one of my favorite mama blogs, Mama & Mou!

Not only was it one of the BEST days of my life, it was also one of the scariest! I'm happy to share our story as I love reading other birth stories. There is no 2 birth stories alike, that is what makes them so unique!

Go ahead and enjoy :)

2014 Goals

I'm not a new year resolution type of girl..I'm all about goals! I really really just love setting them and achieving them :)

As I look back at my 2013 goals I feel so great because I met EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM :)

wooohoooo....pat on the back for this girl!!!

It you look back at my 2013 goals, I met them by:

-having NO TIME to really watch TV...a little human took over that time which I am TOTALLY OK with!

-we did fund our emergency fund and we feel great about it!

-we did start paying off our mortgage early! Our finances are in check, we agree and don't fight over money and it's all thanks to a guy named Dave Ramsey!

-making work lunches the night before is so much better than doing morning of. Now that Tate helps since we started our 100 day challenge, life got so much easier :)

-I did meet my pregnancy goal with a few weeks to spare!

-I did become more organized but I still feel like I could become even more organized!

-we did have a healthy baby boy and feel so BEYOND blessed!!!

And now I sit here at the start of 2014 and think what goals I can make to help this year go smoothly and stress free!!! 

ORGANIZATION

-Seriously...since having Turner I feel like I have lost my marbles! I feel so un-organized! I can't wait to spend the first few weekends of this month to organize my office @ home and work so I can have a good start to tax season

HOUSE MONTHLY GOALS

Tate and I decided to take one thing a month with our house and make it a goal for that month. For instance, January is going to be clothes/closet month. Meaning, time to pack up clothes we have not worn in a few years and donate. Pack up Turners clothes that he has outgrown. Organize the closets in our house and get rid of 'junk'. I CAN'T WAIT!!! We are going to take it one month at a time. We will decide February's monthly house goal when it nears.

I decided to go the monthly route vs making a 'house list' because when I see a big long list of items, I get very overwhelmed and sometimes don't know where to start. By having on area to concentrate on for that month, I feel like it will help with me staying anxiety free :)

COMPETE IN ANOTHER SPRINT TRIATHLON

I took a break from my yearly triathlon due to having a baby...but would love to do one this year. I love the feel I get when training for them and when I cross that finish line. I really hope to do one this summer/fall.

 CONTINUE TO LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Tate and I feel great about our 100 day challenge and can see this becoming a lifestyle for us. We would love to continue with it. Along with eating healthy would be working out on a regular basis and being an active family. We are excited for Turner to do things with us!

BLOG MORE

I'm really bummed that I have put blogging on the back burner since Turner's birth. I have so many memories to record from the last 1/2 of 2013 and look forward to finally getting them on here and back dating them all so they fall in the right time frame since I love to look back and read them.

MONTHLY DATE NIGHT

It has been decided that we need to make date night a priority and so we've decided that once a month, we will set a night aside for just us. I'm excited for this 'goal' as it's been categorized per this post!

Did you set goals or resolutions for 2014?