Our Little Helper

My son, the kid with a million toys, refuses to play with any of them! Tanner is very in to "real" things that he sees me and his daddy using. Lately, Tanner has been very into cleaning! Yay for me, not so much for the dogs. He has discovered wiping down his tray after he eats, everyone else's face, but his own, and washing Otis's (one of our many dogs) face while Tanner is taking a bath. He is also loves using cleaning tools! The feather duster is the best invention EVER! He like the vacuum until we had a slight mommy running over his finger accident, and I repeat ACCIDENT! (You will be happy to know he got me back for this unfortunate event just keep reading. . .)

This thing is awesome! No more dust!

This bumbo is filthy! Sheesh, mom never cleans!

He loves dusting his toys, but still prefers the dogs! He army crawls on my floors and sweeps for me (such a good boy) and this past week he has discovered the fascinating world of laundry! He "helps" me put clothes in the dryer (more so he pulls them out as soon as I put them in), he loves demolishing folding clothes!

missing the basket

Serious laundry man!

I am not immune to the helping child. He actually loves working with his daddy and it is some of the more tender moments that melt my heart. Before Tan's party we had some home improvement to get done. A few walls needed touch ups and our bathroom door never closed right. As I was  walking down the hall I got a glimpse of Tan and his daddy discussing how to fix the door and snapped one of my favorite pics    

hmmmm. . . . this is hard work I think we need a cold one!

Last night I decided to bake (big no, no when your alone with a crazy one year old in the house). As I was mixing my muffins I turn around to see every skillet I own, spoons, and pans all over the kitchen and Tanner is so cleverly mixing imaginary food for the dogs in Walker's bowl! Cute, but not when he decides to smash your foot with a skillet!

Asking Daisy what she would like for dinner (this was taken before toe smashing incident of 2011)

  Long story short, my muffins sucked (forgot the baking soda, as I was more concerned with my throbbing toe so forgot one key ingredient) so the puppies get muffins for every meal for the next week!

Cleaning is hard work! 

So, I think I am training this boy pretty good, he likes cooking, cleaning, and fixing things. Let's just hope he is this willing to help when he is sixteen!

First Birthday Depression

I don't know if there is a medical term for what I am feeling, but I like to call it first birthday depression! I have been in a funk the last couple of days and I know it is stemming from Tanner's upcoming birthday! I am loving planning his party, but on one hand it makes me so sad to know that my baby is growing up! I have these fears that I will not have another baby, so each little milestone means so much to me and I try to remember every little detail of my pregnancy and my son. I'm scared I will never experience these things again so I am trying to hold on so tight! As I was going through pictures for his slide show it dawned on me how much he has changed in 12 short months! We experienced so many "firsts" and I know that there are many more to come, but it is so bittersweet.

I guess I've just been worried lately. As Tanner gets older the talk of other babies comes up. I want another baby so bad, but after my difficult pregnancy I am so scared of something going wrong. I know I won't have the normal "textbook" pregnancy and the fact that I am high risk really scares me. Who am I to potentially bring a baby into this world too early and to fight an uphill battle. I am so scared, but talking with my husband about it really opened my eyes. He told me I need to stop playing the "what if" game and whatever happens is Gods will. He reminded me how the odds were against us even getting pregnant, again when we found out about my incompetent cervix, the awful statistics about early delivery, but ulimately we have a beautiful, healthy little boy. He reminded me that just getting in your car everyday is a huge risk, but not living your life because of fear is no life to live. With that I am going to TRY to put my fears to rest and let God lead me in the direction of his choice and if that means more babies, then I will embrace that whole heartedly and with excitement!
Here's a glimpse of the last year in pics! Enjoy!

Absolutely loved being pregnant! Best 8.5 months of my life (minus the heartburn)

Around this time last year!

First time I got to hold my baby in the NICU

Failure to thrive? Not anymore look at these guns (rolls)!

My handsome boy!

Tan and mama! 

It's amazing to think that at this time last year I started not feeling well and was thinking what bad gas I had, not knowing that just a few short and painful days later I would be meeting the love of my life! This has been the BEST year of my life and although it will be hard watching my son grow up, it will be the most amazing ride of my life! Tears are pouring as I am writing this and I know the waterworks will probably be bad on Saturday for his party, but they are happy tears and I am going to begin down  a path to no more fear!

Mom Of The Year...NOT

Well Friday was officially one of the worsts days I have had being a mommy. In a few years I may look back on this day and laugh, but for right now I am still horrified at my obvious lack of parenting skills! Let me first say that  my brain was scattered (probably from the margaritas the night before) and I just wasn't myself that awful day! That morning I went running with the little man and our mommy and baby friends. The whole run I was feeling pretty crappy, but pushed myself to finish (oh, 10k training is actually going really good). After our run Tanner fell asleep for a pretty long nap and when he woke up we decided to meet up with the mom group at the pool! While we were there Tanner and I were just not feeling it. He was teething pretty bad and I had a pretty bad headache. We left before the others and made our way to the car. This is where the story gets really bad. I was trying to be a "good" mom and cool down the car before putting Tan in.I started the car and turned on the air full blast then I started loading the car with the ever mounting pile of stuff that you need for the pool and finally put Tanner in his car seat.  I reached up and hit what I thought was the unlock button on the passenger side door to make sure the car was open, one problem, I hit the damn lock button and slammed the door! Instantly I knew what had happened and I began panicking! I ran around the car pulling on all the doors. If I had found a rock I would've busted the window, but thankfully the sane Melinda came out for a brief moment and decided to run up to the fence enclosing the pool and scare the you know what out of a woman trying to enjoy a book and scream through tears and snot "I locked my baby in the car, I need your phone (cause you guessed it, mine was in the damn car)! I called my mom who lives about 2 minutes from the pool, she called my dad who works for the Village, and he called his police buddy, who called Corrales Fire Dept. In about 5 minutes I was surrounded by an ambulance, 2 cop cars, mom's van, dad's truck, and a few onlookers. It didn't help that I have known most of the cops and EMT's for my entire life, oh and what sucks even worse one of the EMT's was my ex boyfriends brother! Like I didn't feel stupid enough already! Within a few minutes my car door was opened and I grabbed my precious little boy, who was a trooper I might add! The car was very cool because I had the air on full blast (thank God), but the EMT's still wanted to check Tanner's vitals!  Seeing medics working on your kid no matter how minor is an image I will never forget and hope to never have to see again!  He was fine until they tried to check his ears (devil child emerges when ears are checked) and he gave a scream and a flail! He checked out just fine, and the fire chief seemed more worried about the crazy mama here crying and telling them that I really am not that stupid! He gave me strict orders to go to my mom's, put my feet up and calm down!

Later that night my husband went to the Ford dealership and got me a brand new key to keep in a magnetic box under my car so that if stupidity hits again, I will be prepared! I am, however, a nervous wreck every time I have to put Tanner back in the car! I guess I need to chalk this up to a lesson learned and be thankful that it ended the way it did because it could have been a lot worse! It has made me even more appreciative for the beautiful baby boy that God blessed me with! A special thanks to all the people that helped out on Friday: Corrales PD and FD, mom, dad, lady who told me it happens to every mom, lady I probably made shit her pants, my hubby, and most of all my boy for still loving me even though he surely didn't hit the mom jackpot!

My reason for living! Love him so much!

 

Mom's Night Out with Margaritas!!!

Well we were supposed to hit up the pool today with our baby and mommy friends, but my little guy passed out and I won't dare wake him up. So instead I'll tell you all about my fabulous night out with the girls!

Last night we had our first Mommy's Night Out at our local Mexican restruant and totally forgot about counting points endulging in margaritas, tacos, salsa, and everything else that isn't good for the weight watcher diet, but man it was nice! We even talked about things other than our babies *gasp*!  I feel so blessed to have found this group of ladies to hang out with! It seemed like I had a ton of friends while I was single and lost some once I was married and now that I am a mommy those "friends" are pretty non-existent! The best friend who was like a sister that  I thought I would have for life is long gone and maybe that's a good thing. I have grown up and am beginning a new phase in my life and I LOVE it! I feel like the mommy's in my group "get it". They are all first time moms with babies within a month of Tanner, we have the same fears, worries, goals for our kids, and can talk about everything and I really mean everything! I finally feel like I belong and while I love my mom, it's nice not just going to her house every single day and feeling lonely.  Last night was a blast and I can't wait for our next Girls Night and hopefully getting the husband's together too! Here are some of the highlights from last night:

Brittany, Steph, Sarah, and me!

learned that hard way that two margaritas is way too much after not drinking for a year and a half!

 

 

 

 Looking forward to many more MNO's, laughter and watching our kids grow and become great friends! Thanks for an awesome night girls!

Training For An Early Death

So today was day one of my death training for a 10k, yes 10 (holy moly) in September.  I was talked into this little endeavor by two of the mom's in our mommy group and I can honestly say that I am excited, scared, but really happy that I have other ladies to motivate me! I used to enjoy running and would participate in 5k's with my former company, but that was 3 years pre baby, early 20's, less jiggle, and with many nights of sleeping 8+ hours. Those days are long gone, but I need to do this for me!  I have FINALLY reached my pre prego weight, but still am not happy with my body!  "Things" are not where they "used" to be and I have jiggle in places that really shouldn't jiggle! I really need to get on a path of eating right and getting healthy because my excuse of "well I'm nursing so I need to eat more", for the past 11 months is soon coming to an end! My days of not feeling guilty for downing a milkshake and burger or having 2 servings of dessert are sadly ending too! If I keep eating the way I have been after breast feeding, I will probably gain all the baby weight back in a matter of weeks!  In order to improve my lifestyle I started weight watchers and am hoping that training for the 10k will help me reach my goal of feeling better about myself and not being mortified by putting on my swimsuit! Today was good, and although I was hating running while I was doing it, I feel refreshed and actually had energy today! It was also so nice being able to workout with my little man and not having to find a babysitter while I go to the gym and worry about if he is hungry or missing me! I am actually looking forward to Friday when I get my butt kicked again!

11 Month Inch Worm Pointer and Babbles

11 months has brought so much change in Tanner's world! He went from being my lazy kid totally not interested in crawling or having to move to get the things he wanted, to squirming like an inch worm ALL OVER the house! He has discovered pulling up on furniture, falling, and giving this poor mama multiple heart attacks! He has discovered the doggie door so if I ever can't find him I need to look outside! He thinks the dogs going in and out is HILARIOUS! The dogs aren't liking his new found mobility much so even in this extereme heat the prefer to be outside and Tanner enjoys teasing them through the window!

I'm gonna get you!

Along with the new mobility, Tanner has become very vocal! He is definitely a very curious kid and now enjoys pointing at objects and babbling! The teacher in me worries that he will point forever instead of talk so I make sure to say the word for each object he points at! Today he saw a picture on the wall (that has been there his whole life) of his daddy and our dog Walker. He pointed at the picture and screamed "Dadda"! This is the first time he has related what he is pointing to with an actual word! It melted my heart and all day as we passed the picture he yelled for his "Dadda"! I know I am going to have a "why" kid and the kid who loves to play 20 questions! Not that our house has ever been quiet, but now it never really will be the same!

Pointing and talking with daddy!

Other 11 month highlights:

*Baby food is getting lame and big people food is way cooler!
*Tanner now wears 12 month clothing
*Size 3 diaper
*Has 5 teeth, 3 on bottom, 2 vampire teeth on top!
*Is in love with swimming (and so is mom cause pool day naps are the best!)
*Tanner still DOESN'T sleep! He is usually up 2-3 times to nurse, but has learned to just pull up my shirt and roll back over when he is done
*Has made some really cool baby friends and is working on being nicer to them
*Is really clingy and hates if I walk more than a foot away
*Is a huge flirt and loves older ladies

Hey Baby!

Swimming is cool!

napping at the pool is even better!

getting wet with daddy at the zoo!

11 month picture with mommy!

this is my peach! Stay back!

Taking after mama! Maybe a future teacher, but Daisy isn't the best student!

Over all like I always say, he is the best thing that has ever happened to me! I love being a mommy (even through all of the sleepless nights, stretch marks,and jiggles that didn't used to be there) and would give my life for this boy! I have never been so in love and am having a hard time believing that in one month my baby will be a year old! This has been the best 11 months of my life! Happy 11 months booger! Mama loves you!

Where Have We Been?

Well blogging has definitely taken a back burner lately because of all of the fun and not so fun adventures we have encountered in the month of June! It seems like something is always breaking when you own an older home, but thankfully I have a very handy husband and hopefully our bad luck with the house is almost over!

On a high note, Tanner and I have been having a wonderful summer thus far! Tanner is a very wild active kid who loves being out and about, a lot like his mama! Now that it's summer we have more people to hang around with (most of my friends are teachers and are FINALLY off). We have made some new mommy and baby  friends and are both loving it! I love being able to have conversations with people older than 10 months and Tanner is loving bullying playing with new friends! It is really nice getting out and seeing the world through Tanner's eyes! The following pictures will give you a glimpse of our summer so far! Enjoy!

first driving lesson from daddy!

Nothing like kicking back with a good book!

getting ready to smack poor Braylon with the hat he just stole from him! I so have the chunky bully kid of the bunch!

Been teaching Tan body parts and he learned "head", but likes to put things, especially food up there (pinto bean head)

I'm smart, and dirty!

finger painting fun!

cleaning up, not so fun!

after helping (or trying to kill me) brush my teeth everyday I thought it was time for him to get his own! He loves brushing his crazy vampire teeth!

 

 

Well that's all for now! Hopefully blogging will come easier after our house is back in order! Off to another pool adventure tomorrow!