a few updates

     The first is I started finally reading Harry Potter. The craze of those books came out at least 10 years ago, before I was in college. I read then, but definitely wasn't into reading that type of book at that time.  And I kinda was a rebel without a cause, so anything that was popular, I was a bit against in my teenage angst. I'm only a few chapters into the first book, but as of now I can say its better written than the Twilight series. Prior to this I read The Phantom Tollbooth, which is a really good book too, and I recommend it to child who is over-stimulated from media, as it brings out the imagination in you once again.

     Ben has been gaining baby skill points, as my husband would call it, as of late.  He's getting the hang of sititng up.  He still topples over a bit, but I can leave him sitting and do something small and about 75% of the time he's still sitting and playing with something.  Here's a pic from an adventure earlier in the week as semi-evidence.

We are trying to use less ac in our house, and thus build up our heat tolerance.  Apparently, if you are in constant ac then you no longer can deal with heat.  Sadly for most, this is the way we are becoming, especially since most work environments are kept at 72 degrees or lower.  So our plan right now is to set the daytime temp to 80 degrees and the night time temp to 74, and these are on days when the temps outside are greater than 85, because our house is good at staying cool and we have a basement.  So thus when its 85 or less outside no ac for us. Today it is 90, so its on, but not really, since its 77 inside still and it hasnt gone on since last night.  What are your philosophies on ac usage?

Well, I should play with the little smiler some more before his nap and thesis writing begins again. Hope this finds you well.

sleepless nights biting me in the butt

So as I stated as a facebook status.  That one should never say that your baby is letting you get sleep at night, because inevitably you will have a sleepless night immediately after.  I don't think its a karma thing.  But rather to keep you humble as a parent.  Because for some reason sleeping thru the night is something that parents get smug about.  And really its not that the little one sleeps thru the night, as in 8 or 10 hours or something like that.  But he usally does a steady 5 or 6 hour stretch and then usually wakes up to feed but then goes back to sleep until official waking up. More times then not there is a second waking time, but I move the little guy and he sleeps again.

But then there are the nights of the endless kicking from 3am on.  And these I have adjusted to zoning out a good amount of the time.  Because he's no longer kicking me but the crib beside me. I still do a bit of actual co-sleeping particularly when I fall asleep admist a feeding in the middle of the night.  But I've learned that I sleep better for the first bit of the night and so does baby when he's in his crib beside me and I am in the bed without him. And then when I have fallen asleep admist feeding and the kicking starts, well he gets put back in the crib to kick the crib and not me.

So once in a good while there is a night, like the last, where there is a ton of crying mid early morning. And last night from about 4am on there was tossing and turning and then crying from 5ish on. Inevitably ending in a 5:45 full out cry that made us all get up sleep deprived a bit to get him settled down.  About by 6:45 or 7, he did get back to sleep, for which i am thankful cause we both then slept till about 9am.  Yes, this means I'm a lazy mama sleeping in till 9am, but he lets me do it and I am so not a morning person if I don't have to be.

So I'm not looking for advice here, just wanted to say that I'm reminded that these hard bits of being a parent are reminders to lean on God, and to be patient with the little one.  To also be thankful for the good nights, and I welcome those good nights greatly! But that is where we are at.  We just went for a stroller ride mid post because these days that seems to put the little one out for a nap, so I can have some morning writing time.  So now on to the thesis writing. Chapter 3 here we come!

Parenting

Since being a parent things that have changed perspective

1. Sleep
2. Rest Stops
3. Late Nights
4. Loud Noises
5. Germs
6. Car Trips
7. Vacations

I could probably go on, but won't.

Instead I leave you with an article about how kids apparently don't bring happiness. I think this incorrect, but maybe so far I have a different mindset about it. Yes somedays are hard, but its different. And its done out of love.  It's not a job but a vocation. And since the little one is waking up. Here is the Link
Why Parents Hate Parenting

events of note

1. My younger brother is engaged!  His fiance is a wonderful girl and I couldn't have wished for anyone better for him.

2. Baby Esther is here, and her mama is recovering due to having to have a cesarian section.

3. My parents are back from their world trip to South Korea.

4. I finished a first draft of chapter 1 of my thesis (36 pages), and now I am on to chapter 2.

5. My baby boy is now 4 months and 1 week old, and he's 15.5 lbs and 25.5 inches long.

6. Next wednesday is my husband's and my 3rd anniversary.

7. We made our first long, long car trip to Wilkes-Barre, PA and survived.

Vote for Ben

Voting is open now till the end of July 2010.

So vote for Ben in Fox 8's Beautiful Baby 2010 contest.
By clicking here. Fox 8 2010 Beautiful Baby Contest

Your vote is much appreciated.

Thanks.

bits of randomness. yeah.

1. I am back to really writing my thesis instead of reading and writing down tons of notes.  This means I am up to a little over 18 pages written so far, which is good.

2. Since the US is out.  Who should I root for?  I am picking Uruguay, since they are slightly underdogish compared to the soccer powerhouses that are left.

3. England getting out in the same round as the US makes me feel like the US is actually starting to play better.  Or is England just becoming worse?

4. Its hot here for Cleveland.  I think the high for today is 95, and for us up here that are not used to the heat, this is very uncomfortable.  We would rather have our snow, at least I would.  Luckily its supposed to be back to 70 in two days.

5. Ben is enjoying grabbing at things.  Especially when I sit him on my lap.  He will grab at anything including breakable things, so I have to watch him like a hawk or we will have many a broken glasses or at least spilled beverages.

6. I think Keith and I are going to try to podcast again.  It should be interesting if we actually keep with it.

7. I finally got sleep last night, and it felt great!

8. We are headed to Wilkes-Barre, PA this week for the holiday to visit family, which is a 6.5 hour trip, normally.  So prayers will be much appreciated as we take this adventure with the little one, especially with his car crying record.

7 quick takes lazy Saturday edition

1. Ben is now ticklish and its so much fun.

2. Discovered a new podcast called Catholic Family Journal that is super fun.

3. Been having sleep issues this week. And not Ben, but me not being able to sleep. So pray those resolve themselves.

4. World Cup frenzy is full fledge in this house and its super fun.  The US seems to have put together a pretty good team too.

5. I'm excited for a future event for a family member of mine, and that is all I am saying cause I don't know who reads this.

6. My parents are on a world adventure. They went to San Francisco, and are presently in Hawaii, and are soon to be if not already in South Korea.  They are going to visit the family of the exchange student that they have been hosting for the last 2 years and will host for another year till she graduates.

7. My brother had another world adventure to Ecuador and Columbia. The guy's first plane trip ever was to Japan, and since then has been to Brazil and Germany and now these two countries.  Odd thing was as bad of a rep as Columbia and Ecuador have for being unsafe, it wasn't till he was back in the US in Miami, that he hit trouble.  He had his car rear ended and totalled and then his digital camera stolen by the tow truck company that his insurance recommended.  But the good news is that he is totally safe and fine, and he gets to pick out a new car.  Car shopping is always fun, its like house shopping except smaller.

Ok.  Attempt for nap time now.

Take care all.