:: Baby Judah Musings ::

Over the last two weeks:

1. Judah's been laughing in his sleep. Its a deep, airy chuckle that shakes his whole belly and gives us a glimpse of the laughter that will fill our future. He's always 100% sleeping when it happens and it melts my heart.

2. Boobie dreams. Last week, as Jody lay him in the bassinet, he started nursing in his sleep and then broke out into a huge smile. It happened three times in a row. This also melted my heart.

3. Judah's discovered his hands and its so amazing to watch his wonder as he discovers them and his ability to grasp toys. He constantly holds the right one straight out, Superman style. It randomly gets tired and bonks him in the forhead. That makes me laugh.

Captain Blast Off

I'm a sucker.

I thought this "Wee Blocker" was hilarious & would be handy for 'naked time'. It completely doesn't work; it just falls off as soon as he starts squirming. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Unless Judah's baby bits aren't exactly *ahem* large enough yet...

For now, this is what 'naked time' looks like.

I love that fat little buddha belly.

I read an interesting article on another blog this week and it really hit home for me. To say my relationship with my mom has been turbulent would be putting it lightly. When I was young, there was a lot of mental and emotional abuse in our family. When I was pregnant, I came face-to-face with the struggle of sheltering my unborn son or allowing a relationship to develop. Now, seeing my mom with Judah and the unconditional adoration she has for him, I'm glad they know each other. Judah has also helped mend old wounds between my mom and I.

On a lighter note, some fun facts about my mom:

1. She once tried to super glue on a pair of false eye-lashes. It seemed like a good, time-saving idea at the time.

2. Without her glasses, she applied 'leave-in conditioner'. Luckily, my brother knew from the smell something was wrong... it was really Nair. Miraculously, no hairs were hurt.

3. She once dismembered a entire wooden bunk bed using only a hammer & and pure anger.

Except from the article:

Three Ways to Forgive our Parents
1. Be a Screen Door
Like the wind blows through a screen door, let blustry comments, stormy blasts just blow right past. Incidents can only hit hard if you have your front door closed. But having a screen door policy allows all the pain to blow by....

2. Only Believe the Best
When you believe that everyone is always just doing their best, that we never war against flesh and blood but against the principalities, that in light of their own limitations, they truly are doing their best... this changes everything. Love bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things and whatever is good and pure and lovely, think on these things.

3. Tell the Thankful Truth
The truth is, there is always something, a lot, to give thanks for and that is the truth about every single parent. Consider offering a father, a mother, the gift of a jar full of slips of paper with your gratitude and thankful memories jotted down. This kind of grateful truth-telling heals the old wounds.

The whole article, including the author's own story:
http://www.incourage.me/2010/06/why-we-all-need-to-forgive-our-parents-.html

Tonight, while lying on his playmat, Judah ROLLED OVER!

Who knew one little roll could be so exciting?!

It was a special moment.

Picture of Judah staring at himself...

currently his favorite mat activity.

Baby Legs

I'm having trouble convincing Jody that Baby Legs are acceptable for little boys. Jody's usually the more fashionable one between the two of us (yes, I know I should be concerned), so I've been questioning my decision to buy Jubs a pair. But I really do love them, especially now that summer's finally arrived - they are perfect with a little undershirt. Especially a bulldog undershirt.

But am I wrong? Are they too girly?

Please help me decide.

So in 15 years, when my son looks at this picture, I don't have to take all the blame.

Letters to Daddy

:: On Your First Father's Day ::

Every morning we start our day with you. Cuddles for Judah, a precious extra half hour of sleep for mommy.

You protect us and provide for us. You always make sure the doors are locked before the night begins. You kill the giant spiders that sometimes find their way indoors, which makes mommy scream. You fix our house to make it our dream.

You make us smile more than any other person on earth. You can effortlessly lull the baby to sleep. You make us laugh at your jokes and funny antics. You find us cool outfits to wear and tell us we are beautiful.

Sometimes, when I watch you go about your day, I wonder what l ever did to deserve you as my husband. The way you care for us, the way you love us, the way you look at us, the way you honor us.

You are what it means to be a husband, a best friend, a father.

We love you more each day.

Melissa & Judah

(your wife and your little dude)

How cute is this?

I've rebelled against getting a 'baby on board' sign since having Judah, mostly because I don't like them. And, truthfully, I don't actually get the point.

But, for $9, I just ordered this. Just in case there actually is a point.

And the adorable packing. I couldn't resist.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/septemberlily?section_id=5737900

In my adventures as a new stay-at-home mom, I'm attempted to expand my baking experience (without expanding my post-baby waistline any farther). Although I'd like to pretend I made this recipe for Jody, I was actually craving something deliciously bad for me. And, now that I've cut out chocolate, peanut butter was the next best thing. *smile*

I found this recipe in the Martha Stewart magazine and would definitely make it again.

The cupcakes are a.m.a.z.i.n.g!

Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

Yup, that's right. I'll say it again - Peanut Butter Frosting. YUM

The three mixtures.

Note: Its good to pre-read a recipe, so you don't have to transfer mixtures to bigger bowls because you've run out of room. FYI: I never remember to do this, as you can see from the flour bowl.

At this stage, it taste like the inside of a Purdy's Peanut Butter bar. Honestly, I'm surprised I had any left to bake with. I virtually licked the bowl clean.

It was declared a husband-approved recipe!

Um, yum!

This was one of the best cupcake recipe that I've ever tried. Luckily, Jody gobbled them down fast or I might have needed to drag out my maternity pants again.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 1/3 cups sugar

2/3 cups natural, creamy peanut butter

3 large eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degree.

Line muffin tins.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Combine all dry ingredients.

Combine sour cream & vanilla (wet ingredients).

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time.

Alternate dry ingredients and wet ingredients with the butter mixture, alternating.

Fill tins 2/3 full.

Peanut Butter Frosting

6 oz cream cheese

1/3 icing sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup creamy peanut butter (not natural)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream

Beat cream cheese and icing sugar. Add salt, then p.b., then vanilla.

Whisk cream until soft peaks form and then fold into icing mixture.

My two babies.

Judah has started to notice Minnow and follows her around with his eyes. Its not too difficult, considering she spends most of her time motionless & suntanning. Minnow is still pretending not to notice Jubs.

Sometimes I think I can see you growing right before my eyes.

Your eyelashes have gotten thick and curly, just like your daddy's. I need two arms to hold you because you've gotten so long. You can control your giant smiles, flashing them often now, and in one instant make me forget the late groggy nights, every diaper change.

Daddy & I will always be the first people who fell madly in love with you.

Love your mom

Minnow is happy. Really.

The Witching Hour

When Judah was 3 1/2 weeks old, the witching hour began. Up until this point, I thought Jody and I had made the most perfect baby ever. Then the crying started. I've been hesitant to write about it because it was too difficult and, on some level, made me question my mothering abilities. And not in the stroller-starting-to-roll-down-the-hill and left-a-dirty-diaper-in-the-sleeper kinda way. In the real, do-I-know-what-I'm-doing kinda way. Thankfully, some of my wiser, more experience mother friends told me the evening crying and inability to console your newborn is normal and appropriately termed "The Witching Hour".

After searching the internet for answers, harassing my friends with constant phone calls, and grilling the doctor for tips, I decided to cut out all dairy and caffeine, as well as start the nursing diet, which cuts out anything babies might be sensitive to (broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, etc). I also started giving him probiotic drops, BioGaia, daily. I was willing to try anything and although I officially sacrificed my three favorite food groups (dairy, coffee and chocolate), it really wasn't a sacrifice. I was willing to do anything to help alleviate the crying.

The first week is started, the crying lasted from 4 p.m. to about 11 p.m. I thank my lucky stars that Jody was home from work by that time because it was hard, really hard. The inability to comfort or soothe your baby is a horrible feeling; I was heartbroken and frustrated. Over the next few weeks, the time Judah would spend crying slowly decreased by about 15 minutes a day. To comfort him, we tried the stroller, car rides, the baby swing, rocking, cuddling, baths, and pretty much any other trick people told us or we read about. For a week, nothing worked. Until one of my co-workers dropped of a present - the Ergo baby carrier. It was honestly heaven-sent and the only thing that would finally lull our sad baby to sleep. Neighbours would see Jody and I out walking, usually between 9:30 and 10:30, around the neighbourhood, night after night. Some nights were gorgeous, some nights the spring storms poured hard and we wondered if our umbrella would make it. We walked on. Some nights Judah would cry for blocks before succumbing to the Ergo or would wake instantly went we got home, which required another late-night walk. We walked on.

Before walk.

After walk.

Thankfully, his crying has now almost fully stopped and is only a little bit of occasional fussiness. Jody and I have finally been able to go out at night and socialize, something that we desperately missed. Judah has been to two dinner parties and hosted one himself (I got really brave this last weekend!). As nice as the return of our social life has been, seeing my baby fall asleep easily at night is the greatest joy. It may be the BioGaia, the dietary changes, answered prayers or just time. Whatever it is, I am immensely thankful. And I am thankful for a husband who walked and rocked with me every night for the last five weeks.

Is it totally weird that I just want to butter him up and eat him for breakfast every morning?!

I love that little dude.

This Wednesday was my littlest brother, Elliott's, grade 12 graduation. Its hard to believe he's officially done high school. I remember cuddling him as a newborn and changing his diaper when I babysat. For some reason, back then, it was acceptable to leave your 11 year-old in charge of three little boys for an entire summer. Surprisingly, none of them died of malnutrition as the only things I could cook were scrambled eggs or macaroni and cheese. Sometimes, if they were good, I would do a gourmet version of mac and cheese by adding hotdogs. Delish.

Hitting on the principal.

The original Thomlison gang.

I still call them my little brothers, even though they all tower over me.

Elliott & his pseudo brother, Colin.

I don't know why this is underline & its make me very mad...

Judah getting some lovin' from Uncle Noah.

My mom & her husband, Phil.

Noah makes me laugh. A lot.

Recently I stumbled upon Etsy.

Its trouble.

I love going to the mailbox and finding a present in the mail...

Even if I purchased the present myself.

Even though we are in a constant state of renos at our house, the walls are pretty much bare. Now that I'm home full-time, I've been trying to spruce up the place a little bit.

Here's my two most recent Etsy purchases:

A print for Judah's room titled "Heaven Sent"... I couldn't resist.

This one is for the front entrance. I think. I love the bold colors.

Both prints are from dazeychic.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/dazeychic

He may not be a newborn anymore, but my little ten-pound eight weeker can still fit on a pillow.

*Warning: This was almost too embarrassing to post, so I've held onto it

for about a month. Don't judge me.

This will be the last "Mother of a Newborn" posting because Judah is officially a real baby now. He decided that he had enough of being a newborn and turned into a baby overnight, without so much as consulting Jody and me. I say this because newborns don't hold their heads up and look around for minutes at a time. Newborns don't grab handfuls of mommy's hair. Newborns don't knock the playmat toys dangling overhead in an attempt to grab them.

I miss my skinny little newbie. But I'm also fascinated at the baby you are becoming. Your feisty little personality that is pouring out of you a little more everyday. We watch you discover the world with amusement, joy and wonder.

You are engrossed with the black ceiling fan in our room and the wall decals above your bed. They both fascinate you unlike anything else.

I am a lucky momma.

Soooo. Without further stalling...

You know you are the mother of a newborn when...

You go to change a diaper and discover there are two in there!!! Seriously, what's wrong with me?! Sleep deprivation, anyone? Someone taught me to not remove the dirty diaper until I put the new one on. Well, apparently, I just button the sleeper back up and left them both in there. I fell over laughing and called Jody in to take a look. At least I can laugh at myself, right?