Thursday, December 30, 2010

Baby BOOM!!!

For that past year, all I've been hearing (as well as saying) is..."man, how did everyone end up getting pregnant at the same time???!" It beats the hell out of me. I always say it must've been something in the water. But I honestly have no idea. This baby boom is nuts! And we're not done yet either! I'm still waiting for a couple more to pop early next year. It's been so crazy...swapping pregnancy and motherhood nightmares (I mean, stories). It was definitely in God's plan to have so many of us start families around the same time. I can't wait to see W and all his new friends grow up together! All of us parents can hang out and not worry so much about our kids being different ages. How blessed are we?!

Why do I have a feeling these three will be doing the same thing in 30 years? Beers in hand, watching Monday Night football. Sigh. W already has a beer belly.

This one is more interesting, no? M and W made a dozen different faces during our little photo session. B, on the other hand, stayed pretty much the same with the exception of one yawn. I guess he's just too cool for school.

Here's W, hanging out with his OC gal pal. She's pretty much the new kid on the block, so she don't have much to say just yet. But soon they'll be chattin' it up, just like their mommas.

Just a taste of what our future gatherings will be like when I see my high school friends. The middle one's father is paranoid one of our little boys will date her in the future. Shotgun dad. I think she'd be lucky to end up with any of these little guys! We're missing one member though. (Don't worry, I've got Tylenol)


And finally, here's W with sweet little A. Why is he naked? He was hot!!! I think most babies are cold when they come into this world, but not my baby. He's just like his momma, always hot. He's a little embarrassed about it, I think.

Though it isn't easy, I think having these playdates are soooo important for W on so many levels. Luckily, he's surrounded by lots of babies his age and I doubt he'll have problems filling up his social calendar.

Naughty or Nice?

W's first Christmas was....fast. It's fast every year, but this year....I need to see pictures to even believe it ever happened. For Christmas Eve, we went to mass in the OC with Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie C. It would've great, only I was super cranky from lack of sleep, what else. And the mother's room at the church...wasn't really a room and the speakers were super loud. It kept upsetting W. Then he was unable to fall asleep in the carrier like he usually does, so I had to walk around in a dark room on the other side of the building and sing lullabies to him. I'm not sure how long I was walking but my already half-size-larger feet hurt so bad, I had to take my shoes off to continue. It was freezing as well and W and I weren't dressed appropriately either. Go mom.

The next morning...we opened presents! P and I haven't exchanged Christmas gifts for several years now. I figure if we want to give each other something...we do it anyway all year long. But I just had to get W something, even though he won't be aware of what it is for a couple of years. I think it's perfect. Passing on the tradition of Star Wars fandom to our son. I love it! And it comes with sandwich cutters on the inside in the shape of the Millenium Falcon and TieFighter. I can't wait to make him PB and Js! W actually got more gifts from strangers than he did from family. I don't know if that makes me sad or relieved. But money is tight these days, so I guess I should be happy that a lot wasn't spent. Besides, I think W liked the Christmas tree the most anyway. He would just stare and stare at those pretty white lights.





Monday, December 20, 2010

100 Large!

Why do Koreans celebrate a baby's 100th day of life? Because back in the day...waaaaay back in the day, many babies never made it to this landmark in time. Perhaps it was before hospitals or advanced medicine existed. Maybe it was the poor nutrition and poverty. I'm always being told by my parents how people were so poor and never had meat to eat, so I should lick my plate clean whenever possible. Whatever the reason, when a baby lived for 100 days, it was a reason to celebrate. Obviously, I would use any excuse to celebrate W. If I could throw a party for every cute thing he did, it would be Mardi Gras 24/7 at my house. Without the boob flashing, of course.


P's mom was in charge of organizing the whole thing. And she did a fabulous job! We had a great family gathering at Uncle E's house for a delicious lunch buffet. She really outdid herself.
It was also really nice to see the family since we missed out on the annual Hahn Thanksgiving feast.


Everything looked so good and so pretty! Thank you, Grandma!!

This is W's OTHER great grandparent. Can you believe it?! He has two! So lucky :)

Both grandmas looked very happy.


Gettin some giggles in before his nap.

All this partying can really wear you out. Isn't he precious?

Man of the hour. Looking so serious.

Auntie C was lovin his H & M outfit. She buys clothes for W from there all the time!

I think he had a good time. Keke.


Oh hello.

I know...what the heck are they doing at the party!? We all took turns being Kristen Stewart. It was hilarious! I suggested they take this cardboard of fun to the next wedding they attend. I think it'll be a hit!




This is my favorite! Notice she has four hands. LOL!! LOVE IT!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Wiser or Otherwise

My birthday had a great start. I woke up and went to W's room as usual. These days, I've been having to wake him to keep him on his schedule. I turned on the light and went up to his crib. There he was...lying there, still swaddled and completely awake. He turned his head towards me and gave me the biggest smile!! You know the kind of smile that is so big and wide, your eyes disappear? I wish lightening had struck me then and there because I don't think I'll ever feel as happy as I did at that moment. But it doesn't end there. He let out a super long "cooooooo" and ended it with a yelp. Then proceeded to smile at me again. I know this is silly, but I honestly think he was singing happy birthday to me. Trust me, you had to be there. I knew no matter what happened the rest of that day, I was going to have a great birthday.

A few years ago, I started to see birthdays in a whole new light. I don't think I ever minded getting older. If I ever said..."ugh, another birthday" it was probably because the occasion calls for such cliches and nothing more. I always joke that I'm an old woman on the inside anyway, so really, my age is just trying to catch up with me. Then one day, I realized how lucky I was to be celebrating another birthday. I got to live another year(when so many people don't) and that is truly something that shouldn't be taken for granted. I can dwell on all the awful shit that went down since the last December 15th, but what for? They're all just life lessons after all, right? We may not see God's plan for what it is (let's face it, we're not smart enough), but we should try our best to see how all the pieces fit.

For instance, I gained about 20 lbs. of holiday weight last year. I stopped buttoning my jeans way before the new year began, folks. I could think of that chubby period in my life as depressing, but instead I see it as "harvesting for the winter". Haha! All the nourishment my baby got was from the holiday weight, I'm certain of it. I wasn't eating a thing for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy and was still not eating well until the very end. So it's quite amazing W was able to grow into the 8 1/2 pound baby he came out to be. See! Everything has it's purpose. Under all the shit and grime we face each day, is the shiny polished surface that is just waiting to be revealed again. We just need to use faith and reason to get to it.

There's also my relationship with my dad. It's no secret that we don't really get along. We used to when I was little, until I got older and wise to who he truly was. When I was pregnant, our relationship got even worse. Being sick and pregnant was more of an inconvenience to him than anyone else, including me!! I spent 9 months training myself to be the complete opposite of him as a parent and person. I was practically laying on the couch for most of that time, so I had a lot of time to think. I figured, there must be a reason for the way things are between us. We're both very stubborn (he more than I) and I don't see a resolution in the near future. I have given that man the benefit of the doubt for so many years and it has brought nothing but disappointment in my corner, time and time again. So it was time to take a new approach. If he's not going to change, than I have to. My mom keeps telling me he's too old to change. She's been saying this for 15 years!!! When is this "age" that allows you to use it as an excuse for being a complete asshole? Do we get a notice in the mail saying "Bam! Now you're 50 and you don't have to improve yourself anymore!" What the heck, right? So the lesson to be learned from our awful relationship is this: I'm so much like my dad and history will repeat itself if I don't do something about it now. I think it's so subliminal how we become our parents, no matter how much we fight or deny it. But there are individuals who make a conscious effort to prevent this and I intend to be one of them. I know I'll fail in many ways but at least I'm willing to try to change, unlike SOME people. My baby deserves the effort. So, yeah. I figure God is trying to warn me and teach me to be better, or else I'll have a child who can't stand me either.

Everything happens for a reason.

This year, I'm especially grateful for my birthday because of W, of course. He would not be here if I were not here, so how can I NOT be in a celebratory mood?! I hope I live to be an extremely old woman so I can watch him grow and live an amazing life. I hope I get to see him fall in love and have children of his own. Then I can truly say that I'm a grandma! Inside and out. And I pray that I get to spend many occasions, walking up and down the aisles at Hallmark, picking out birthday cards for him and P.

P got me this beautiful locket. I love LOOOVE lockets!! I have a photo of W and P inside and it's oh so precious. I love holding it and rubbing the smooth surface between my fingers. My two men, with me always. Thank you P!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Overload

I know every parent thinks their baby is the cutest. The truth is...all babies are super cute. I can't wait to hang out with all my mommy friends and their little ones and just be completely overwhelmed with adorableness!! All the pudgy little arms and legs and don't even get me started on the cheeks! I bite W's cheeks at least once a day. I can't resist. I CANNOT!!

These days, everything W does is cute to me. I don't know what has come over me. Perhaps I'm getting used to the sleep deprivation or maybe my hormones are finally balancing out. It might even be that I'm getting the hang of this thing called motherhood. Things aren't exactly easier. They're just...not as stressful. That wheezing noise his nose makes when he sleeps? Used to freak me out and now, I find it adorable. Even when he spits up...adorable. The way he cries when he's tired...adorable! Everything is too freaking adorable!!! I can't handle it. And it's only going to get worse. Wait until he starts laughing and talking. There's only so much cuteness a person can take!!



This is Wesley's going out outfit. Out to the backyard, that is.


Just like his papa, he loves the outdoors.


Look at the progress!! Remember the last tummy time pictures? I can't believe his tiny neck can hold up his big head. All that drool and spit up on our shirts was well worth it.


With a little help, he can hold his head up even higher.


He's a pro at holding his up while sitting upright. It wobbles a bit but it's still impressive, no?


Look how much he's grown since his last bath pictures! Is it possible to lose your baby fat when you're still a baby? I don't know if W enjoys bath time just yet. It seems like he just tolerates it, which is all good to me. As long as he doesn't hate it, I'm happy because he needs his bath. He's my little stinker. And no, it's not a cute nickname. He really does stink at times. Especially his feet. They smell like...like feet. I know what you're thinking. Shouldn't babies smell like fairy dust and all things pure? Apparently not! Cuz my baby can work up a sweat with all his crying and swaddle fighting. And I guess sweat is sweat, no matter who's making it. So thank goodness W lets us bathe him!


So cute! Ahhhhh!!!