My Birthday

I am 31 years old today. Unbelievable, if you ask me. I have no clue where the last year went. Everything is a blur! The picture was one year ago today...what a happy time in my life. I was big and pregnant, but well past the sick part and prior to the super huge uncomfortable stage. That was when my every waking moment was wrapped up in Colin preparation. From the nursery to clothes to blankets and towels and diapers...it was my whole world. For the first time in my life, I was not worrying about sucking in and enjoying wearing all my fun maternity clothes. I was so excited to meet Colin that I found it hard to sleep at night thinking about it. I could finally feel him moving and playing inside me and I was getting to know him. It was spring and I was pregnant with my first child...what more could you ask for out of your 30th birthday?? I remember before I was pregnant and thinking about my 30th...I wanted a huge party...maybe even a trip to the beach...lots of friends and lots of margarita's. I had this picture in my mind of saying goodbye to my twenties in high style. But I can safely say that spending that birthday with just my family, eating cake, taking turns feeling Colin kick...it was the best birthday of my life.

Jeremy and Colin gave me a wonderful present today...the James Avery necklace that I have been dying for. It is a Mommy and Me heart pendant where the heart makes the abstract shape of a mommy and baby. I love it SO MUCH and I am so impressed with Jer and Mr. Colin for getting me exactly what I wanted! Colin was up for the better part of the night last night...another one of those random nights where he starts screaming and can't be consoled for some time. The funny thing is that I am pretty sure it is because Jer lowered his bed last night. I have been putting it off because I am well aware how finicky my baby is when it comes to sleep and I just knew it was going to be a problem. It sounds like such a small thing, but Colin is the ultimate creature of habit when it comes to bedtime and any variation throws him for a loop. It got so bad that I finally threw in the towel and we watched Teletubbies together on the couch at 1:00am. Is that a way to ring in your birthday or what?!? ;-) Needless to say, I am sitting here in my same pj pants that I always have on waiting for Colin's first nap so that I can get some sleep myself. This is certainly not a glamorous birthday by any stretch of the imagination, but I know that one day I will look back on this day and be melancholy about how old Colin has gotten and how I miss the days of sitting in my pj's with my little baby. So Future Chalna, if you are reading this, know that you were really REALLY tired on your 31st birthday and that Colin is the most precious 9 month old in the whole world. You would give just about anything for a full night of uninterrupted sleep, but every single time Colin smiles at you, you know you can hang in there another night. (I am well aware that the fact that I am talking to my future self means I need to go to bed right now.) :-)

Just A Swingin'

Today was back to the regular grind...all the guests are gone and Jer had to go back to work. Colin went back to his 2 hour morning nap today and I was beyond thrilled. He also took a good hour and fifteen minute nap this afternoon, so he was in great spirits all day. I am pretty sure that Colin was probably not taking good naps last week because he wanted to hang out with his grandparents instead! :-) After an afternoon excursion to Central Market with the little man, I made chicken with mushroom cream sauce for dinner and it turned out really nicely. Afterwards we decided to take a walk with Colin over to our neighborhood park. Last week they installed a new swing set and we were excited to let Colin try it out. He LOVED it!! We got some really cute pictures to boot! How awesome are those?!?! I swear I could just eat him up!!

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Today was randomly very cool in North Texas...it never really got too far out of the 50's. Tomorrow goes back to sunny and 80, so the cold front was pretty short lived. Jer's other set of parents who live locally came over to see Colin and took us all out to lunch for my birthday, which is rolling up on Tuesday. Jer's family is always amazing to me on my birthday...the entire family sends me cards and well wishes...even his grandparents. Since I come from such a tiny family, I just love how much they all make me feel like one of them. A couple of days ago I got a card from Jer's grandfather and one yesterday from his grandmother...I just love them! We went to one of our favorite little Italian places today and Colin managed not to cry for the most part, which was good. His mood was slightly better today than it was yesterday, but he is still obviously in pain and not his normal happy self. Again today he napped twice for only about 40 minutes each time. I really hope that this stage passes quickly because I know the rough afternoons are partly because he is exhausted and needs more sleep. Damn teeth! Who knew?! :-)

I had a moment today in the restaurant that was...interesting. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am utterly non-confrontational, but when it comes to Colin, I can see myself changing. I kept my mouth shut today, but it was the first time in a long time that I thought about losing my cool. We had a teenage boy as our waiter today, complete with bad posture and expressionless eyes. (note to self...remind Colin to smile when he is an angst ridden 16 year old!) Anyway, Jer comments almost immediately after we got there about how funny it is to be waited on by people who don't have kids. Everything he sat down on the table had to be moved out of Colin's reach quickly. This happens all the time when we eat out...I don't even think about it anymore. I just absently move everything on the table out of baby reach. Well, when the waiter brought our food out, he sat my Pasta Sampler in front of me and in reach of Colin. This is a dish that is baked in an oven and brought out in the oven hot dish, mind you. It was like slow motion...I was looking at Jer when he sat down my food...I heard him telling me to be careful as the plate was hot, and when I turned my head to look, Colin had his sweet little fingers wrapping themselves around the rim of the oven dish. DEAR GOD!!!!!!!!! It was like time stood still...my heart jumped into my throat and I grabbed his hand as fast as I could, but he had already touched it. He started screaming, of course, and I grabbed him out of his high chair and took him outside. Amid heart palpitations, I checked his fingers and they were fine. He must have scared himself quickly enough that no damage was done. I kissed him all over his face and he recovered quickly. The idiot teenage waiter never blinked over it or even said anything about it. I wanted to kill him. Swiftly. But I held my tongue...I know he did not mean for it to happen and he put the plate in front of me, not Colin exactly. But I really wish that waiters would be more observant for heavens sake!!!!!!!! I waited tables for 5 years, and I can tell you that I NEVER put a dish out of the oven anywhere near a child's grasp. I really think that kids today leave a lot to be desired...that boy today was not paying any attention to what he was doing! And now I sound like my mother....again. :-)

The Battle with Top Teeth Continues....

This has been a long day here in our house...it is always hard to say goodbye to loved ones and we have been a bit melancholy today since Jer's parents left. They headed back East this morning and Colin and I spent the day together missing all the extra love and attention! Poor Colin is having a horrible time with his top teeth...I actually came close to taking him to the ER this afternoon because I started to doubt that teething could cause such intense crying. After trying everything, I loaded Colin into the car and took him to the pharmacy for new infant orajel. Once we started driving he finally got distracted and calmed down, thank goodness. I stocked up on everything related to pain relieving for infants. We literally tried everything today...Tylenol, Motrin, Orajel, teething tablets, frozen rags, teethers in the fridge, water...gracious!! Not much helped, so I spent the day trying to distract him from the pain. I can see that his top front teeth are heading in, so hopefully these are the worst for awhile. I have felt like a bit of a failure today...I hate to see him hurt like that! I wish I could have done more. He had two naps that were all of 30 minutes before he woke up crying. Now it is 10:15 and he has already woken up crying twice since he went down at 8:00. I know he is tired...I have said my prayers that God will help him to get some rest. I think he is the only one who can help us now!! :-)

Jer was forced to attend a BBQ at his bosses house without us today...I hate when Jer has to attend work functions wifeless, but Colin was in no shape for a party. I am heading to bed now with the hopes that my little buddy will get some sleep. Poor angel!!

The Zoo and Top Teeth Don't Mix

My wonderful in-laws have been lucky enough to spend an entire week with a little man who has been cutting his top teeth. You can imagine the fun. :-) He has been sleeping fitfully all week and last night was the worst...he woke up screaming on two different occasions like someone was doing him bodily harm. It was just horrible. Sure enough, this morning we spotted the barely visible tip of white that meant the arrival of his first top tooth. This one must be really painful...he was upset for most of the day today. We attempted to take him to the zoo with his Nana and Papa this afternoon. That lasted all of 30 minutes. He started screaming as soon as we got there and this was after he poured my entire drink into his diaper bag at lunch. Today was a comedy of errors to say the least! :-) The poor little thing drank almost 8 ounces of water at the zoo...it was the only thing that would soothe his mouth. We made it home and he spent the rest of the day eating teething biscuits (and feeding them to Enzo) and playing in the backyard. He was so upset that I was willing to try anything to make him smile and a trip to the backyard seemed to be just the change of scenery he needed. The first picture above is of Jer, Colin, and his Papa at the zoo. The last few are shots I took in the yard. You can probably see in his face that he is sad today. I hope he feels better soon!!!!!!!!!

In other news, we have had so much fun this week with Jer's parents. Colin has loved having them here so much...I think he is going to be really sad when they leave tomorrow!! He has had a whole week with two extra people who adore him to play with all day long...it is going to be mighty boring with just mommy next week! ;-)

Colin loves some Backyardigans

Colin very recently discovered his all time favorite song...the theme music to The Backyardigans. Every single time the show starts, he stops everything to watch the opening. Jeremy caught it on video...enjoy!! :-)

Fun with Nana and Papa

We are having a great time with Jer's parents visiting from PA. Today, we took them to Babe's Chicken Dinner House (a family all-time favorite) and Colin had his first taste of the best food under the sun! He practically ate an entire bowl of the mashed potatoes and flirted basically non-stop with the cute blonde waitress. It was a good time had by all! :-) We just got home and Colin is potato drunk and sound asleep. Here are the pictures...the last one just cracks me up with his arm in the air and the look on his face. So cute!