The Tortoise and the Hare

I feel like the tortoise from "The Tortoise and the Hare"--I am way behind. I have three important things (hares) to blog about: the trip to Wisconsin for a wedding, Caden's baby blessing, and Thanksgiving. I never have time to do it because Caden only lets me blog in spurts. That's why I've been giving more time and attention to my other blogs instead--less work. Plus, I still have so many photos to upload to the computer, sort through, and post on Facebook. Both grandparents are getting impatient, and rightly so. Well, who knows when those things will get done. For now, I will just write about the little things while Caden is still napping. Just remember, the tortoise does eventually overtake the hare!

Yesterday, we finally put up the tree and decorations. It's not much, but it's nice. Caden really liked the Christmas lights. Caden, by the way, is getting bigger and cuter (is that possible?) every day. He tries to sit up more when I sit him on the couch. He has the strength but not the balance. He likes to suck his thumb when he takes a break from sucking his whole hand, sometimes both hands at once. He loves the songs "La Araña Pequeñita" ("The Eensy-Weensy Spider") and "If You're Happy and You Know It" (half in Spanish, half in English). He's getting better at tummy time and I think will start rolling over soon if we can get him to lie down long enough without crying.

I took him to the doctor a week ago because I thought he might be colicky: he would cry every day around 7 p.m. but only for an hour. The pediatrician checked him out to rule out other possibilities and decided it was colic or acid reflux. I think he does have some acid reflux, but I think I can rule out colic because the last few days he hasn't cried at his normal late evening hour. What was different? He got a long nap that day! I think when he doesn't sleep long enough during the day, he is extremely exhausted and cranky by evening, the time we start getting him ready for bed. He was trying to tell us he already wanted to be in bed and therefore cried until he finally fell asleep. I hope that's the end of that!

First Giveaway!

I started my own baby and giveaway blog and have the first one ready! Check it out: http://babygiveaways.blogspot.com/. Any feedback or giveaway ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

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?