Kickin' the habit

24 years now I have been biting my nails. Its a disgusting habit I just can't seem to kick. Yes, I have tried everything. Even the "bite no more" gross clear polish that everyone swear by. They say once you taste it you will never bite your nail. Yea, not me. I chew right through it.

For my birthday this year I was given a pedicure and manicure. I have incredibly short nails so I got a full set of acrylics put on. No sense in getting my nails done when I don't really have any. I love my acrylics, but they are a lot of maintenance that I just can't keep up with so I took them off on Saturday. My real nails were semi long. Really long in my eyes and very tempting to bite. I don't know what it is about them I find so appealing but I decided that if I filed them and painted them maybe I would find them attractive and not want to bite them? So I went to the store and bought a couple colors of dollar store nail polish and some files and went to it. Wait, I don't even know how to paint my nails. I have never had my nails painted in my life. I have always had them so short since I bite them, that there was no point in painting them. So I called on my neighbor, Emily to paint them for me. Its been almost 48 hours and I haven't even attempted to bite them. So far so good. The polish was cheap and starting to chip off, and the part of my nail that was showing was tempting me so I went and splurged and bought a little more expensive polish to put on tonight so I wouldn't want to bite them. I just really want to stop.. plus I think I made a deal with Steve that we could go on a cruise if I could break this habit. I say I THINK I made that deal because basically I said to him " we are going on a cruise if I break this habit" he said OK.. but he was watching basketball... so not sure if he knows what he agreed to. Cross your fingers that I can continue this. 2 days down... 2 million (give or take a few) more to go.

My how time flies! I sure have neglected my blog, but I guess working full time and being a Mom gives me some what of an excuse, right? And isn't he a cute excuse?

Every day I look at my blog and think "today is the day. Im going to do it. A new blog will be written." but then I look at all that has happend since last time I wrote and it overwhelms me and I say I'll do it it tomorrow. Well, tomorrow has finally come. Lucky you, my 1 maybe 2 readers out there.

Let's get down to business. First of all, My adorable little man is 6 months old now. I can't believe it. He was such a hard baby at first and I prayed every day for it to go by fast. It really didn't go by quickly until I started back at work. Now its flying by. It's so much fun watching him grow and learn new things. It seems like he is doing something new every day now. He is pretty much sitting up on his own now. He falls over ever now and then, but is getting the hang of it. He still hates tummy time. Saying he hates it, is putting it nicely. I'm not sure he will ever like being on his tummy. He has 4 teeth. 3 on bottom and 1 on top. I am pretty sure another one is coming in on top though. He loves to sit in his highchair that we recently bought and loves even more, eating bananas in the highchair. He can't get enough of apples and bananas. Its pretty adorable. But pretty much everything he does is adorable. its a given. He is starting to copy me when I clap my hands, shake my head and stick out my tongue (that he has been doing for a month now) when he gets excited, you know it because he flails (sp?) his arms all over the place. Its hillarious and I love it. Especially when its when I walk in the door or the room and he sees me. It melts my heart. 6 months is my favorite age so far! Im loving it!!

I started back to work on February 28th working for IHC at the Memorial Clinic in Sugarhouse. I love it. I get to work with patients and as crazy as some of them are, they make my day. It can be a very rewarding job. You may ask, "How can you go to work full time and leave that cute boy of yours?" well, this lady right here makes it so much easier for me. Becky Noel is an incredible sister in-law. When I told her I would have to go back to work, without hesitation she offered to watch McKay for us. I can't even tell you the weight that was lifted off my shoulders knowing I would have someone I trusted so much to watch my Son. He adores her and her children and I know they love him too. If he could talk right now he would go on and on about the fun he has with them every day. I am so thankful for their love and support and feel bad for all of you out there who don't have her as your sister in-law. So, because I have someone amazing to watch McKay going to work is much easier for me. I have at least once a week where I feel horrible and just want to quit and stay home with him, but I know this is just temporary and it is what is best for McKay's future. So thank you, Becky!!

And yes, my blog apparently turned into a shout out/thank you to Becky but hey, she deserves it!

HELP!!

Being a Mom is a tough job. We don't get sick days and we don't get much time to ourselves. We are never off duty. Our job is 24 ours a day, 7 days a week. It's so easy for us to put everyone elses needs first and forget about our own. Luckily, I have a great husband who is aware of how hard it is sometimes and is always willing to let me have my much needed "mommy break."
Today is one of those days. I had to wake McKay up a little bit early today to go visiting teaching. I thought it would be no big deal. He was very good until the second I got him in the car to go back home. He was screaming so hard that I thought his head was going to pop off. I got home within minutes and he let me have it. He was so mad at me that he hasn't stopped screaming all day long( and I not exageratting one bit) I finally got him to wear himself out that he went to sleep about 10 minutes ago. Maybe a nap will be just what he needed. It sure would help me.

I know everyone says that if you are upset or tense, the baby can sense that and it makes them more upset or tense. On days like today, I just can't help but cry I try to set him down and go to another room when I am upset but I can't always do that. What do you do to help calm yourself down when your baby is screaming at the TOP of their lungs and there is nothing you can do to soothe them? Any advice would be helpful.. probably would have been helpful for me earlier today because I'm about ready to run away.

Before I had McKay I worked. I worked a lot. In fact, this is the first time I have not worked since I was 15 years old. I really do enjoying working, but have loved staying home with McKay these past 4 months. When we made the decision that we were going to try to make it work so I could stay home I decided that I needed to do something still for me, that would help me not go crazy. I decided on service. I don't think there is anything out there that makes me more happy then serving others. I wasn't sure exactly how or what I would do but I knew that once McKay was born, I really need to bring more service into our lives since I wouldn't be working. I would love to attend the temple more, but that really is not much of an option for me. Its hard to find time ( I know, terrible excuse) when I have this little boy to take care of. So, I decided I would use my skills to serve others. I love to cook/bake. It relaxes me. I have made it a personal goal of mine to provide a meal, or a treat, or somethng for a neighbor or a friend at least 2 times a week. Nothing big or fancy, but just something that would help them out. I might as well, I have to make dinner for my family anyways.

I think service is such an important thing. Even if it's something as little as making cookies for your neighbor, just because. But can you do too much? I have started to feel that some people may get annoyed with me offering to help them with things. For me, even just offers of help make me feel better but maybe I am doing too much. I don't know... maybe I am crazy

Recently we decided it would be best for our family to have me work part time again. It would be temporary until we get a few things worked out. I have mixed feelings about it. I have LOVED staying home with McKay. Its been so fun to watch him grow and learn new things, but I have missed working. I was offered a job yesterday with IHC. I would work part-time and it feels right. I know this is what I am supposed to do. So maybe this is the solution to my feelings about serving people "too much" Now that I am will be working, I might not have as much time. We'll see how it goes

If McKay could talk, he would probably be singing the primary song " I'm so glad when Daddy comes home" I don't think anything makes this little boy happier, than seeing his Daddy. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my two favorite boys, smiling together

4 Months

McKay had his 4 month dr. apt last Friday. The stat's are in. Drum roll please..........

16 and 1/2 lbs

27 Inches long ( but his leg wasn't stretched out all the way, so I think he is taller than that)

The Dr. showed us a chart at which he was at the average height and weight of a 7 month old. Its weird to me because he doesn't look that big, unless he is by another baby his age. Then I can tell how much bigger he really is.

He is really starting to chunk up, and I am lovin' it. He's still sporting the double chin (possibly tripple chin?) and his things and arms are getting rolls. I love chunky thighs, and so does Steve. hence why he married me ;)

Anyways..accomplishments this month?

he has OFFICIALLY found his voice, and lets us know it. He loves to scream and then smile right after to see what your reaction was. and if you scream back at him he think's it is a competition and screams even louder, accompanied by and even bigger smile. That is my favorite thing during the day when he wont nap.

Yes, on to naps. Not going to well. He is starting to not even want to nap on me, so instead when he is tired he just screams and cries. And not the good scream I was just talking about. No, this is the ear drum bursting, heart wrenching scream. That is NOT my favorite. Oh, but he is just so cute.

As of this morning, he has 2 bottom teeth. They haven't just poked their way through, they are fully emerging into the world. So now I know why he had such a runny nose, slight fever, and his sleep patterns have been messed up. Teething. At least I know he wasn't sick then. That was a worry of mine. Now that those 2 teeth are in, it's like it stopped the never ending drool fountain that flowed constantly from him. Now, I know that is only temporary, but at least I know that when it starts up again it means more teeth. I've been told that getting teeth at 4 months is pretty early. Usually they get them starting around 6 months. I guess McKay wants to speed through this baby time, just as quickly as his Momma does.

The poor thing is still battling with Acid Reflux, but its being maintained a lot better this month. we had him switched to Prevacid and added Rice Ceral to his bottles. Who knew that Rice Cereal could do so much for a baby with AR. I know that when I don't add the Rice, he throws up 10 times worse. we learned that the hard way.

This week he started holding his bottle when I feed him. He has a tight hold on it and pulls it in and out of his mouth... once it's completely out, he can't figure out the coordination to get it back in there, but he will soon, I'm sure of it. Along with holding the bottle he can hold pretty much any toy and then it is instantly in his mouth, if he can fit it in. If he can't he gets mad and throws it. How do I know he get's mad? Cause he is just like me, and has a certain " mad" look that you just can't hide.

The Dr. says we can start feeding him cereal and some baby food. I'm excited for this. I think he will really love eating other foods than formula. he already knows how to handle the spoon well becuase I was having to give him medicine from a spoon. Anytime one is even near him, you will find him with his mouth wide open. Runs in the family I guess.

It's been a rollercoaster 4 months, but I feeling it getting better each month. Which is fantastic news for me!

**Pictures to come of him at 4 months. I just need to locate my camera. **

McKay is napping right now. Napping in his crib.. not on his Mommy. This is amazing. I mean, it's only been 45 minutes so far, but that is still amazing. It only took us 5 days of screaming for him to learn that he had to soothe himself to sleep. So since the last part of last week and today he goes down barely fussing at all. I'm lovin' it! I was able to clean, get stuff ready for dinner tonight, schedule my church bldg for my calling, and now blog. What a perfect Monday. And since I am feeling good today, I thought I would make your Monday a little more perfect too just by sharing pictures of McKay. He is just so adorable!!

He tried a Bumbo at our friends house and seemed to really like it. (bottom picture) so we found one for him to keep on KSL and it sure is a life saver. I can get so much done now that he will sit up in that. I think it makes him feel more like us, adults.

he is old enough to be playing in a toy like this? Wow! Love it! Maybe this week he will stay in it longer than 10 minutes :)

My little Newsie! This is my favorite outfit of his right now. I just wish the hat fit him a little better.

Finally, I caught his smile on camera. It's a little blurry, but still melts my heart