Last night we left my stepsister's apartment pretty late. Colby was hungry, tired, teething, and overall just being a bum. He started fussing as we were nearing our freeway exit, so I started singing to him. I could see him smiling in his little baby mirror.

It absolutely MAKES MY DAY when my singing makes my son happy. My out-of-tune, rocky, can't-hit-the-c-note singing voice always gets a smile and his attention.

Thats how motherhood feels.

Amerlee

p.s. I put his 6 mo pics on his website! (www.thecolbster.blogspot.com)

My son is over 6 months old. OMG. Where has the time gone? Pregnancy was 9 very long months, and Colby's first 6 have flown by. Its sad that I'm getting nostalgic thinking of newborn Colby as I play with 6 mo old Colby. But its also amazing how some things just never change. I swear, this little boy is Mr Easy-going. He wakes me up each morning by chatting to himself in his crib. He sits so well, and can be fascinated by nothing. He loves to chat and play with daddy.

You know you're a new mom when: 

...your face hurts from smiling too much. 

... your arm hurts because you're carrying your 18 lb 11 oz chubby baby, but you don't want to stop cuddling with him. 

... you try to take video of each laugh, just so you never forget that wonderful sound. 

... the moment you feel your child's first tooth, you think to yourself "I'm going to cry when that falls out."

... You miss the newborn cry, just because it was so cute!

... you want your child to reach their next milestone, but it kinda scares you, because they're one step closer to growing up. 

I just wish I could freeze time right now. I've never really wished that before, but I am just loving this. 

Amerlee

My friend Wendy tagged me!

A-Attached or Single?- Attached

B-Best Friend?- Grant, Emily, Michelle

C-Cake or Pie?- Pie

D-Day of Choice?- Wednesday! All day with Colbs. Love it!

E-Essential Item?- Mmmm food.

F- Favorite color? Green.

G-Gummy Bears or Worms?- Bears!

H-Hometown?- WVC, UT

I-Favorite Indulgence?- Melting Pot. Love that place.

J-January or July? July. I hate snow.

K-Kids? Colby, 6 mo old

L-Life isn't complete without? friends and family.

M-Marriage Date?- May 19, 2005

N-Number of brothers and sisters? Ugh, this hurts my head. That I consider siblings? 1 full brother, 1 half sister, 3 half brothers, and 3 stepsisters.

O-Oranges or Apples? Oranges

P-Phobia and Fears? losing a loved one, free-falling, my son getting hurt

Q-Quote?- "Hairy legs are your only link to reality." (name the movie!)

R-Reason to smile?- my son's laughter

S-Season of choice?- Autumn

T-Tag ten people?- Kaylene, Emily, Elly, Kim, Alicia, Jenderelly, Hthrncl, Karla, and two other random ppl who come to my blog but never say who they are (this means YOU!)

U-Unknown fact about me?- I hate showering standing up. Yup, I'm a shower-sitter.

V-Vegetable?- Ooooh peppers. Red, green, yellow, orange, I like them!

W-Worst habit?- Horribly addicted to the 'net.

Y-Your favorite food?- I am pretty fond of Cheese Enchiladas from La Frontera.

Z-Zodiac Sign?- Gemini

Ok people, if you do it, leave a comment with a link!

Amerlee

So last post I was talking about my possible re-doing of the kitchen. This is our new project. Our old project was the front room. Well, its still in progress, but I think its looks a lot better! 

 

So we are in the middle of planning. We're going to do a small addition on our house, a much needed closet off of our kitchen. We're also going to get nicer flooring. I am super excited for that. :) We weren't sure how far we were going to go with this. I mean, new countertops, new cupboards, those would all be great, especially since our kitchen is very dated. (think 1970's, blech)

So two nights ago I steamed up some artichokes (nummy!) in my handy dandy steamer I begged my mom for. It was slightly underneath the cupboard, so there was a bit of condensation on the cupboard doors. No prob, I thought, I'll just dry them off when I'm done.

Did you know that steam can take the paint off of 1970 ugly cupboard doors? Did you know my kitchen looks even uglier than before?

Amerlee

Ok, so I am in English 1010, and our rough draft was just due.

I got 44/50.

Excuse me? I thought the point of a draft was NOT to be perfect? Shouldn't I get full credit for doing it?

Should I email the teacher? And how do I not sound rude?

Amerlee

Ok, so we know that I've lost brain cells since having a baby. Its an baby-having, intelligence-losing epidemic. 

But I have another side effect from carrying a baby for 9 months. (not the stretchmarks, I'm avoiding their existence currently)

I have lost my ability to drive. I've lived in Utah all my life. I know how to drive in snow! And rain, I didn't even bother to slow down!

Now, I get paralyzed with fear every time it starts to sprinkle. Seriously, my heart siezes up and my fingers turn white. I start going 13 mph, just in case I hit a puddle of water and hydroplane across the interstate. And I brake 300 feet in front of the red light, just to make sure my brakes are working. 

Sorry guys. I used to be a good driver! And winter's almost over. So be patient with me for just a few more weeks!

Thanks, 
Amerlee

This is how I feel today:



For the first time, I've left my son with a complete stranger. It feels like my heart is in my stomach. I know he'll be okay, I'm just so worried. 

Amerlee

Ok, so last September I bought a new car, trading in my perfect but smallish little Aveo, aka Eddy. Eddy was amazing. I could beat anyone off the line at a green light. I could fit into ANY parking spot. And I would go weeks without having to fill it up. I was just worried that I car seat wasn't going to fit easily. So I had to let Eddy go.

So I bought a bigger ride, a bit nicer, and loved it. Soooo preeeeeetty. I found out quickly that the paint was indestructable. So I was pretty proud of my super car! 

I was wrong. Last february I backed it into the side of my garage, and it broke the taillight. The paint, without fail, stayed perfect. Weeeird. But there's a gaping whole in my tailight, and its kinda expensive to fix. Piece of poo. 

And just lately, unbeknownest (is that how you spell that word??? anyways...) to me, it got a deep chip, which slowly cracked the windshield. Its about 8 inches long now. I'm pissed. Windshields aren't cheap either. 

Serves me right for letting Eddy go. :(

Does anyone ever stop and thank their young child for the good that they do? Do you fully appreciate all the consideration they've made on your behalf? My son is almost 6 months, and I've been thanking him since he was in my belly, starting with...

"Thank you so much for kicking me! Mommy was getting worried!"

And then, I was worried that I was going to go late, and that my stepsister would have her babe first. So then it was

"Colby! Thank you so much for coming two weeks early!"

Then it slowly evolved to "thanks for letting mommy get a nap!" and "thanks for containing all the poo to the diaper area!" and "thanks for peeing on daddy, not mommy."

I just found a new one.

As I delivered dessert to a ward member with a new baby, they told me his birth weight. As I headed out to my car, I turned to Colbs and said

"Thanks for not weight 9 lbs 12 oz. I totally owe you one."

Amerlee

Just a random post. I learned how to crack crab legs last night. I HATE crab, just like most things that come out of the ocean. (But I love me some good coconut shrimp!) So honestly, I've never extracted the meat from crab legs. No reason to! Well, last night we went out for seafood for G's birthday. He got crab, and I decided, thats it! I am going to learn how to do it! So I was determined to open all his crab for him. He didn't like having to wait for it. :) He kept trying to grab a leg, and I'd smack his hand away. But at least I learned. :)

Amerlee

I found this on my friend Kaylene's blog and it made me laugh, because it is sooo true! 



And that it. 

Amerlee

Ok, so I work for my dad. I think thats pretty common knowledge. And my dad is a creature of habit. Every day I leave at 11:50 to buy our lunch. Yup, how schweet is that, he buys me lunch! Every day! Ok, well not Wednesdays, now that I'm a SAHOWM (stay at home on wednesdays mom)... Anyways.

So like I said, a creature of habit. Every single friday, we have Chinese food. Every single one. I go in and the employees see me and immediately start working on my meals. After over a YEAR of this, I'm getting pretty darn sick of Chinese. So I'm starting an 'attack'... its a secret though. Its 'no more Chinese food on fridays! (Ok, ok, so I need to work on the name. Get over it.)

So far things that have NOT worked:
pouting.
whining.
crying.
gnashing of teeth.

Ok, that last one I haven't tried, because I'm not quite sure how I would go about 'gnashing my teeth'. Any hints? Anyways...

So instead my plans that HAVE worked:
Last week I bought him a REALLY big breakfast burrito from Beto's for breakfast. I had to buy one for every guy in the shop, but it was worth it! He was too full by lunch time to want Chinese. Score!

And my most brilliant plan. My stepsister, who works for me on wednesday (does that make her a WOHOWM -work outside the home on wednesdays mom? anyways...) she LOVES Chinese. So I have HER beg for Chinese. So they eat it and he's over Chinese by the time Friday comes around. Wednesday, its the new Friday.

I'm sitting here enjoying my greek. :)

Happy non-friday, everyone!

Amerlee

I'm always adding new experiences with a baby, thats for sure.

Yesterday I bought a pregnancy test with my infant son with me. I got it quickly, because I was SURE someone that I knew was going to see me. See, I've been 'wondering' for awhile now. I think every mom to a 5 month old has 'wondered'. I know of at least two who have! So I wanted to make sure, because this maybe, maybe not thing was getting pretty old. Its not like I wanted a positive. Its not like I wanted a negative. I just wanted to know.

I also bought some chocolate (easter candy on clearance!) because I knew I would need it, with whatever result I got.

I really love having just Colby, ya know? He's so wonderful, and I really don't want to have to share right now. Plus I don't want a baby with a one year old! But on the flipside, I don't want to have to Try-to-conceive again. I'd like it, not having to buy fertility pills. I don't want the depression, the mental games. The pain when another friend announces their pregnancy. But then again, I don't want the 'looks'. or the comments. "You do know what causes this?" and WORSE. Ugh.

So I tested.

And I am okay with the results.

The answer?  It was NEGATIVE.  :)

Amerlee

Watch this video:



Am I the only one who watched this and thought to myself, I could use a free hug?

Feeling kinda depressed.

Amerlee

Ok, so this sounds like the start of a bad joke... "I got my oil changed today" but its really not.

The place where I get my oil changed has a waiting room above the garage. This morning as I climbed the 23 steep steps up the staircase (say that five times fast) I totally drifted back to the last time I got my oil changed, almost six months ago. (Ok I am horrible at car care.) It was the first part of October, and I was very pregnant. I just KNEW that my son was going to be late, and I wanted to help him along. I decided that I'd spend my waiting time going up and down those steps as my oil was being changed. If it got him here ONE day earlier, it'd totally be worth it.

So I started up my Mt Everest of a staircase. It took forever. Steep stairs aren't so fun when you're so pregnant. I didn't even make it up ONCE. I climbed halfway, cursing my tired body. And crumpled down.

I stayed there until my car was ready.

But my son came two weeks early. Coincidence? Probably. But you never know!

Yeah, random post is COMPLETE!

XOXO,
Amerlee

So I've really needed to clean today. I get Wednesdays off to spend with my son, and its also the only day that I really get to clean.

Well I stayed up late last night chatting with a friend. Got to bed at 2 am. Then Colbs woke up at 8, and I was just so tired. So I put him down for an early nap (9am...) and he woke up at 12:30, so I got an extra 3 hrs of sleep. So I get him dressed, make him a bottle, grab some leftover pizza to eat as I feed him.

My temporary crown came off as I'm eating this pizza. I start freaking out, put Colby down, well he starts crying because he wasn't finished with the bottle. Go get my phone to call the dentist, and my phone was being stupid and not letting me call out. I can accept calls, but not send them out. So my tooth is exposed, my baby is crying and my phone is being stupid.

Through emails, I tell my DH to call the dentist. Try to get dressed and work on the phone problems at the same time.

Then Colby messes his diaper.

Grrrrr... its just all adding up. And now my dentist can't even get me in for another hour.

I do not think I am going to get my house cleaned today.

Amy

So there's this lady on one of one of my message boards who is a cake baker lady. She does wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and all sorts of desserts. They look delish, don't they?

And she's doing a contest! If I post this on my blog (oh I love the modern world) she will enter me in a drawing for a free cake! Grant's bday is coming up, and a free cake is JUST in my price range, and it looks so nummy!

So please go here. Her 'official' cake site is here if you want to look at some more of her work. So go, pretty pretty please? And there's no rule that you can't sign up for free cake either. Or if you live far away.... cookies!

She's also doing a wedding cake special, if'n you know anyone who's getting married! 25% off! Where was that when I was getting married???

So yeah, take a gander! They look great!

Amerlee 

Bleh, everything!

So I am a single parent. Ok, I lie. But sometimes it does feel like it. My hubby is often busy at school, with his calling, homework, chores and everything. I feel like I'm constantly complaining, and I am trying really hard not to. But I get baby-burn out pretty quick. But I love how my hubby now takes me on dates each and every single week! It rocks! His parents love to babysit (for free! even better) and so they take Colby and oogle over him and play on the floor and stand in awe when he's drinking out of the bottle. It makes me feel good to hear them say "this baby could not get any cuter!" ok... so that was a random plug for my in-laws and their wonderful grandparenting skillz. Moving on...

And I have a dentist appt today, not looking forward to it! I guess when I got my crown done, there was an exposed ledge or something. So I have to get an entire new crown. I know its not a scam, cuz my dentist is paying for it all. (loooove my dentist. haaaaate dental work.) The thought makes me sick. I don't wanna go. No, no I don't! I do like how after I'm numb, I can practically eat jalapenos whole, and can't feel it. Ya know, until the numbness wears off, and I want to rip my tongue off. True story, I've done it once. :)

Colby is getting cuter by the day. Sorta kinda. LOL I still look at the kid somedays and say "wow, you're funny looking." Like when he gets deep in thought... haha ok assuming my 5 mo old can get deep in thought, I dunno. But he has a two inch indent in his forehead when he concentrates.

Man, I have to go get ready for that blasted Dentist appt.

Amerlee

You know how sometimes, you just feel so down, with no real explanation why? Nothing horrible has happened lately, nothing more bad than normal, and you just have the horrible feeling like you want to curl up in your bed and stay there for a week? Thats me right now.

Its kinda odd, because things really have been going wonderful lately. Colby has been showing his expertise with sleeping, at least 8 1/2 hrs, with absolutely no 'sleep training' or 'cry it out' or 'pull my hair out I'm so frustrated.' Thats been pretty exciting. He's just also getting cuter and cuter by the day. Each and every day I say to myself "wow, this age is by far my favorite so far!"

And then yesterday I got to go on a shopping spree! I didn't buy so much for me, for various reasons, but I got tons of things for Colby! I love shopping for him.

Bleh, ok, I'm done complaining for no reason.

Happy Sunday, all. Loves, all around!

Amerlee