For Little Scarlett

You tagged me, Cute One, so here are my answers:

Top 3 blogs
Although I never have time to read blogs anymore, I do enjoy all my friends' blogs. I don't follow any generic blogs, except to enter giveaways.

Any weird pet peeves?
I hate when people chew gum; I think it's gross and juvenile. It irks me when people use double superlatives ("most stupidest") or use apostrophes for plural nouns ("3 dog's" instead of "3 dogs").

One thing you would change about yourself and why
Being more disciplined, as in not procrastinating or being lazy and controlling my thoughts and actions. I would get a lot more good things done instead of wasting time on bad things.

Three things you love about yourself and why
1. I am compassionate: it makes me a caring friend and an understanding person.
2. I'm a fast learner: I've picked up many skills over the years (though all at a beginner/intermediate level).
3. I am genuine: my sincerity and honesty has gotten me a lot of opportunities and blessings, especially in the workplace.

If you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Rice! "It is the breakfast of champions. It is the lunch of champions. It is the dinner of champions." (A million points if you know who said that.)

I tag Francine, Mary, and Rachel--the only ones who I think will do it--though anyone else is welcome to respond.

My questions:
1. What do you fear most?
2. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
3. What do you like to do to make yourself happy when you're feeling down?
4. What is the most wonderful sound in the world? The worst? The funniest?
5. What is your most disgusting or annoying habit?

Much Needed Update about Me

Mommy has been too busy to blog about me, so I decided to just do it myself:

• From the moment I came out of the womb, the first thing people say about me--besides how undeniably cute I am, of course--is how alert I am. I am so curious to see everything there is to see in this world. I am afraid of missing something funny or important or interesting, which means I fight sleep a lot.

• I like the sound of the vacuum. In fact, I get fussy once it's turned off. I also like the sound of water running, the toilet flushing, and Mommy drying her hair.
• Sneezes scare me. Except my own.
• A few weeks ago I discovered my hands and have been sucking on them all the time ever since. This gives my parents' pinkies a break since I don't like pacifiers.

• I've also been really slobbery, and I like to blow spit bubbles.
• I am Muscles Baby: powerful legs (ever since the womb, Mommy says), great head control for my age (which started about a week after birth), strong abs (I'm already starting to sit up). I just have no desire to pump up my arms like Daddy's. During tummy time, I just lie there and suck on my fingers and then cry when I am done.
• I talk and coo a lot. Mommy likes to have conversations with me. I laugh at her interpretations of what I'm saying. She's not even close!
• I like to play copycat: I make noises and Mommy imitates them. It's so funny!
• I am getting so big. At my two-month appointment, I weighed 9 1/2 lbs. I'm probably 10 or more by now. You can tell by the little rolls on my thighs and knees and the chub on my arms and cheeks.
• I like watching the animals go round and round on my bouncer. I also like to chill in the swing our friends let me borrow.

• Since birth, my left sock has never stayed on. I somehow always kick it off. The right one eventually follows.
• I love bath time!
• Mommy says I look like a mouse when I eat because I put my hands by my nose and wiggle my fingers.
• Remember that post I wrote about all the names my parents call me? Well, now they just call me "Bugs," short for "Bugaboo." Interesting that Mommy calls what she loves most after something she hates most.

Mother Mode

Becoming a new mom brings with it a lot of changes affecting everything: the phsyical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. (Hence all the posts about motherhood. I have a lot of stuff to write about and feelings to sort out!). Here are some of them.

Physical

• My feet grew bigger and now half of my shoes don't fit. On the one hand, I get to go shoe shopping. On the other, I have no money for shoe shopping and I really like the shoes I can't wear anymore.
• When I was pregnant, I didn't remember what it was like having a normal body. Now I can't remember what it was like to be pregnant.
• Nor do I remember what it feels like to get a full night's rest. And I thought it was bad when I was pregnant!
• All the bending, lifting, and sitting has tweaked my back. I need to see a chiropractor.

Mental

• My perspective of things has altered. Stories, events, and other things now have new meaning for me. For example, one day I thought about when King Herod ordered all male babies to be killed after Jesus was born and I started bawling and hugging Caden. I also thought how crazy it was that Hitler was once a cute little baby, pure and innocent.
• On a similar note, the words to Primary songs affect me more as well. I sing to Caden a lot--and end up crying a lot. One time I sang some Mother's Day songs and teared up at the thought of Caden one day singing those songs to me.

Emotional

• I am torn between wanting Caden to stay a tiny newborn forever and wanting him to hurry up and grow so we can do more stuff together. I need to remember to cherish each day and all the happiness it brings.
• I now totally understand two things my friend told me about. First of all, I am amazed at the amount of patience I have with Caden. It's true I have more patience with him than with other children. I didn't understand that before because I thought it takes more patience to be kind to other kids since you can't discipline them or upset their parents. Wrong! I always remember Caden is just a baby and nothing he does is his fault.
• Second, I understand a mother's need for moral support. I used to go to my friend's house all the time and help her with housework. She would always tell me to relax. I couldn't. I felt like I had to be doing something to help her when all she wanted was my company so she wasn't alone. My being there gave her the moral support to get through the day. I understood this need quickly after taking Caden home and hated when Justin would leave me alone for a long time. It's not even that I needed his help with Caden. I just felt better knowing he was there in case I did need him. Now he is working again, but having had him home for so many weeks helped me prepare for that.
• Everyone talks about motherly instincts kicking in, but I feel like I am still figuring things out. My instinct to love and care for Caden is certain; everything else is not. I feel very frustrated when I do not know what Caden wants and can't console him, or when Justin is able to comfort him after my efforts didn't work (aren't kids supposed to want their mama?). Also, I am still very selfish. I foolishly thought it would miraculously go away by virtue of being a mom, but no. I am working on it though.
• Yesterday Caden showed me he wanted me and it made me happy. I got a pump because we are traveling a lot soon for my brother-in-law's wedding. I tried it out yesterday since we were having dinner with some out-of-town relatives. Caden took the bottle at first and drank most of it, but later would not take it again and cried until he fell asleep in the car on the way home. Once home I nursed him for a long time. Although this makes me nervous for the upcoming trip, I am secretly happy he prefers me to the bottle.

Spiritual

• The spiritual aspects are connected to all the above. I definitely feel my responsibility to raise my baby to be a righteous priesthood holder, and it is sometimes intimidating. However, I also feel most certain and prepared for this change over all the others, perhaps because the gospel is so certain and unchanging, unlike the rest.

What were/are/will be your feelings about becoming a mother?

What's in a Name?

My mommy says she and Daddy debated over my name the whole time I was in her tummy and even after I came out. What for? They never use my name anyway! Daddy calls me Bugaboo. Mommy has a whole assortment of names for me. Apparently she likes to make up nicknames for people. Her old college buddies were The Melanator, The Hollister, The Kelsifier, and Karalicious. I also have an aunt named Francini-weanie-beanie. Mommy's names for me include Little Bugger, Cadenators, Mommy's Babies (uh, Mom, there's only one of me!), Little Stinkers, Stinkerbug, Snuggly Saurus, and other random one timers. Her favorite: Stinky McStinkers. She even sings this silly song about stinky poop when she changes my diaper. It's to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman," sometimes to "Mr. Grinch." Maybe one day I'll learn the real lyrics to the songs.

You will in a few months. Besides, you are a stinker. As noted on Facebook, yesterday I changed your diaper 5 times in one hour! Granted, 4 of them were only wet, but still. One little tinkle and you start crying!

Well, do you like sitting in something wet?

Why doesn't poop bother you? You could sleep in it all day without a second thought, unless you peed too, of course. Or if you still have more to come out. Then you wait until I just put a fresh diaper on and pbbb! you finish.

Yeah, well, do you like using a dirty toilet, Mommy? Didn't think so.

Good point. At least you don't hate having your diaper changed anymore. Now you're calm.

True. When Daddy changes my diaper he says something about Free Willy. What does a movie about a whale have to do with anything?

Haha, don't worry about it. It's the reason why we think you're so calm.

Oh. Anyway, can I finish? This was supposed to be my post.

Excuse me.

When I'm having a crying fit--red face, wide-open mouth, pumping fists, kicking legs--she calls me Babyzilla and makes me stomp around. And Daddy mimics my cry when I cry to confuse me. Talk about adding insult to injury! (Yes, I already have great command of the English language. After all, I am my mother's son. Except, Mommy talks to me in a goofy baby voice, pluralizing everything and using incorrect grammar. First she insults my feelings, then my intelligence. But it makes her happy, so I'll amuse her.)

Thanks. [Rolls eyes]

Daddy likes to hold me up in the air and call me Super Baby. I think it's really fun! I feel like I'm flying, like I'm on top of the world, which at my size is a rare feeling.

Well, you may not be on top of the world, but the world does revolve around you! At least, our world does.

I know. [Sigh of satisfaction] And Grandma's, as much as it can being so far away. Grandpa says she's always asking about "my baby" or "Juju" (short for Junior). I can't wait to see her again!

Now back to my main point. Why did you name me Caden anyway?

Daddy and I looked at baby names ever since we were married. Our favorites changed over the years. Once you were in my tummy, and especially when we found out you were a boy, we got serious about it. One day we found the name "Caden," Gaelic (Irish) for "little battle." And let me tell ya, it fits! You are stubborn, feisty, and determined like your mama when you want to be (sometimes you're laid back like your dad). One day you will be a great leader and warrior for the Lord.

Thanks, Mommy! I love you!

I love you too, Stinky McStinkers.

Nap Time

 The progression of our nap a week and half ago:

Cuddled together on the couch.

Caden rolls into me because the cushion is slanted.

Dreaming about nursing? (Can't get the photo to upload correctly!)

I move him so he can breathe.

He cuddles up to me again. :0)

I love cuddling with my baby! (By the way, I am not faking sleep as some people think in all our sleeping photos. Justin took these.)