For Carson. Eating isn't easy for him. For me? Eating is really, really easy. Feeding Carson is another story. I thought feeding Carson solid food would be really fun and exciting but I was wrong. I pictured a little bird with his mouth wide open and ready for whatever I was offering... not so much.
At first, Carson had no idea what was going on. I'm pretty sure all babies are that way, but I really didn't realize how long it would take him to figure out that food was yummy and to open his mouth when I offered him the spoon. Seems easy, right? No. He's started to catch on though and it's been easier. He's finally figured out to open his mouth for the spoon. Unfortunately, he's also figured out that if he doesn't really like something he shouldn't open his mouth for it again. He should press his little lips shut and turn his head away and totally ignore me. That said, he never turns away at the boob. This is great for me seeing as it's totally easier than preparing food and fighting Carson to actually eat it. However, I realize that it's completely socially unacceptable to have him nursing past the ago of, I don't know, one, two max??? We have to keep trying with the solids. I can't be the lady on the news. Gross.
Lately I've been trying to be an awesome mother and make Carson's baby food. How is that going? Carson thinks I am a terrible cook. Mainly, he hates my green beans. I had to get pretty tricky...
I know, I'm mean. Don't worry he'll catch on eventually and my mean tricks won't work anymore.
What really cracks me up about feeding Carson is that no matter what I'm feeding him he makes a face like he hates it after his first bite. Even if it's absolutely delicious and he ends up eating all of it... bananas with strawberries or peaches for example... he still looks like I'm torturing him after that first bite...
He really does make me laugh. And cry. But mostly laugh.
Woah, it's really been a long time since I've blogged! Lots has happened, obviously, but playing catch up is soooo boring so I'm not going to do it. Sorry.
I actually feel like doing a little rambling, so that's what I'm going to do. More accurately, I feel like doing a little bitching. (I know, I know, I have so much to be thankful for. But do you really want to read a post where I just goosh on and on about my wonderful, awesome life? I didn't think so.)
1. So, first of all, something I don't get- bachelor parties. Maybe it's unAmerican, or maybe I'm a huge, giant prude but I think bachelor parties are total bullshit. First off, groom, you're not really a bachelor. If you're getting married then you're in a pretty serious, committed relationship and you don't really need to go out to a strip club, get totally wasted and act like your fiance doesn't exist for a night. Secondly, all your friends aren't single either. In fact, your married friends are really not single, and I don't think it's cool that they go out to a strip club where they get to oogle at all of the women who haven't gotten fat after having their baby, nor are they tired from taking care of said baby and would be more than happy to put their boobs in your face so that you spend way too much of your money to have them wiggle in your lap instead of spending your money on a new fence for your backyard. Thirdly, if your bachelor party really is just playing golf or fishing with your friends for a couple of days... I take back everything I just said.
2. Can you tell me what one cake decorating class plus one family vacation equals? That's right. 10 extra pounds and pants that don't fit. What gives, people? My mom heard recently that you burn up to 600 calories a day breastfeeding... so that means I must have eaten approximately 10,000 calories a day to gain ten pounds in a matter of two weeks. Right? Or is it just easier to gain weight after your body gets all jacked up from having a baby? Yes, I'm sure that's it. It can't possibly be all the damn cake I've been eating.
3. I think that people who have exactly two children end up there this way... You have one baby and think, "Damn this is crazy! I'm done!" But, everyone keeps telling you that your kid is going to end up the weird only-child and you better give that kid a sibling. You hear this so much, that even though you know it's NOT true, you start to convince yourself of it. So, you have one more baby and then it's snip snip.
4. I think I want to go back to work. I know, slap me! I don't really really for real want to go back... I just miss all the adrenaline and excitement the start of a new school year brings. I miss seeing my girlfriends everyday and getting to bitch about our husbands during lunch. I tell you what, I had those girls rolling with some Sean stories. Gross is pretty entertaining... even adults laugh at stories about farting and boogers. Admit it! So, I won't be going back to work on Monday... but I will be coming up to visit a bunch. I hope it doesn't make anyone mad that I just keep popping in- actually, I don't care if it does. I'm going to do it anyway.
I promise I'm really not this cynical all the time... just one of those days, I guess. If you've actually read all this rambling, I guess you deserve to see a few Carson pictures. I mean, that's why you read this blog, right? (Wink.)
BTW- this is my FAVORITE. Just look at the fatness! I want to nibble his fat little arms and legs right up! Ooooooh those cheeks!!!! Fat! Fat! Fat!!
Look at those chins!!!! LOVE the chins!!!
My sister-in-law, Joanna, took these pictures for me when we were visiting family in Wisconsin. It was Carson's six-month birthday. Precsh.
Since I've stopped working, I decided it would be really fun to try some things that I always wanted to do, but never had time for. I don't really have an abundance of free time now, I think I just realize now how important it is to make time for yourself. Do something just for you. Not mommy-you, or wife-you, just you-you.
First, I started ballet lessons. I always wanted to take lessons (what five-year-old girl doesn't?); two of my favorite movies are Center Stage and Billy Elliot!! So when I find out that my sister-in-law, Joanna, has taken lessons before and she'll take them again with me and my sisters Jenni and Jackie... well, we all signed up!
Jackie, Joanna, me, and Jenni... all looking like giant kids.
Getting a tip from Jackie.
I quickly learn that Jackie is the last person I should be taking tips from.
All our feet in our spanking-new ballet shoes.
What I've learned about ballet so far is that it's HARD! I also realize that maybe my parents didn't put me in lessons long ago because they realized what I just learned the hard way- I have no natural dance ability. None. Even if I don't learn anything over the next few weeks and if I continue to get pitiful looks from the other girls in class, I'll still be getting a killer butt workout! It turns out there is muscle under all that flab, because I sure was sore the next day!
My next venture is cake decorating class. Now this I can do! I have always had a major sweet tooth, so no surprise I have an interest in cakes and icing. I'm also a little crafty and artsy and so I felt right at home in this class! I LOVED IT! I was so inspired in fact, that I am starting to fantasize about having my own little cake business. I am definitely going to continue these classes and testing recipes, so those of you who live near-by... get ready to do some taste testing!
Here's the two layered pineapple up-side-down cake with pineapple buttercream icing I made for my brother's birthday. It turned out soooo gooood! I am sure I'll be making this again!
Of course, in the midst of all this hobbying, I've been hanging out with my sweet, sweet Carson. I. Love. Him.
Tonight Carson was so sweet and smiley I ended up keeping him awake much longer than I planned on. He started giggling when I was playing fetch with Jet, so I hopped up and grabbed my camera and did a pretty terrible job catching his giggle-fit on video. It's a good thing for Jet that Carson finds him so funny... it really encourages me to play with him more! Poor dog gets so neglected!
After posting this picture and video... and after my brother's friend didn't recognize me tonight... I think it may be time for me to start wearing real clothes and make up and stop wearing my hair up so much. I'm such a slob! Oh. My. Gosh. Is this the beginning of "mom clothes?" Am I going to wake up someday and realize I have lost all sense of personal style and current trends and still look as terrible as I do in this video?!? I might need an intervention! Someone come and rescue me to the Galleria! YIKES!
Carson is growing up so fast it amazes me! Just in the past week he seems to have changed so much!
I've made a few short little videos of Carson for Sean, I thought I'd post them for you too! Please, turn the volume down on your computer because my baby-talk voice is truly awful.
By the way- I weighed Carson at home a couple of days ago. He's 19 pounds. HUGE.
Back in the day, a beach trip for the Hales would have included several cold beverages, lots of SPF 4 sunblock (I like a tan as much as the next white girl), and plenty of fetch with Jet. Fast forward to Memorial Day Weekend 2010... take away those cold beverages (ah, breastfeeding...), add one deliciously fat baby, and you've got a modern day Hale beach trip!
My two favorites... I don't know who to pinch first!
Lounging on Aunt Jackie
With Godmother, Aunt Joanna
Our little family
Daddy and Carson
My mommy, me, and our fat little guy
We had such a fun day! Carson seemed to like the water, and Jet LOVED it! Jet was admired by a family near us whose little boy had been wanting a dog. The father said he didn't really like dogs, but ours was so well trained he thought he just might need to get a black lab! Sean's favorite command for Jet at the beach (and no doubt, one of the reasons this family loved him) is "shake." Sean loves to have Jet shake right next to my sisters as they lay out on their towels! I admit, I think it's pretty funny too!
The lovely photographer for all the beach pictures is my Aunt Nina. She was in town visiting us from Minnesota. Carson fell in love with her right away... just like everyone else! We'll miss you, Nina! Sure wish we lived closer!
We had such a fun weekend celebrating Uncle Jeff's graduation from NYU Business School. We hadn't seen him since Carson was just a few weeks old, so it was really fun to see them play... now that Carson is so much more smiley and fun!
Jeff and Carson. I think his eyes are so weird (Carson, not Jeff) because his Mamo had taken about a zillion pictures and the flashes had to be getting old!
Just love this one. Sigh! Can't get enough of those smiles.
Dinner out on Saturday night to celebrate while Carson spent the evening with Grandma.
Jeff just had to get his picture taken with him wearing Carson after I told him how much the ladies love Sean when he's wearing it. Honestly. I had a woman come up to me one day at the mall and ask me about Carson while Sean was wearing him... she said, "A man wearing a baby is so sexy!" Whoa! So, ladies, what do you think of Jeff? Pretty sexy, right!? Especially with that burp rag on his shoulder! Super hot!
Here Carson and Lila are meeting for the first time. Lila, our friends Matt and Lan's daughter, was SO CUTE! Carson totally blew it with her though. He fussed the entire time! Maybe she'll give him another chance... she did like his toy!
Swimming at Aunt Sheryl's with Uncle Jeff, Aunt Jenni and Aunt Jackie. And Mommy and Daddy. Carson seemed to like it pretty well! I love all his ROLLS in these pictures!!! He is so fat! Yum! Yum!
All in the past two weeks, we have had a birthday party, an engagement party, a crawfish boil, a Cinco de Mayo party, two Mother's Day parties, a wedding shower, and our weekly playdates! And all the while Sean's been working a 12-hour night shift at work! Whew!
Luckily, I've gotten pretty good at handling Carson on my own both at home and when we go out. It seemed like such a juggling act at first, but now I'm pretty impressed at how quickly I can make decisions regarding what to pack, when to feed or pump, and how to make it all happen on time! And this from the world's most indecisive person!
It hasn't been fun feeling like a single parent, but Sean is really doing an important job. He's working on one of the many teams who are trying to stop the oil leak in the gulf. This makes him a little unpopular... unfortunately... but they are working so hard, I am really proud of how they are handling the situation. For the next two weeks, Sean will be back on his regular day shift and then back to nights again. Carson and I are enjoying having him back on his regular shift! Please say a prayer for the men and women who are working so hard to fix this devastating situation... and for the gulf and all its wildlife and the families who depend on it for their incomes. I feel like we're holding our breath until this is all resolved.
And now for some pictures of all the fun we've been having...
From left to right... Karter, Jayce, Carson, Caroline, and Maci at our first playdate! So funny!
I need to take some more pictures at our next playdate because these babies are growing up fast, and our group is expanding! I have said it before, but I just can't say it enough... our Wednesday play group is awesome! I LOVE everything about it! The kids are so cute and so fun, and the mommies are amazing friends. I always look forward to it!
Me and Barbara on her birthday. We had so much yummy wine and cheese, I can't wait for another reason to celebrate... do we even need one?!? Let's just have more wine and cheese!! (By the way, can you tell this woman has twin girls? Check out the bottles and high chairs! Ha!)
At Sarah and Nate's Cinco de Mayo party, I took this video of Carson laughing at my dear friend, Beth. Of course, that's after I stared in disbelief and then wiped the tears from my eyes... precious!
Next up... Mother's Day! Sometimes I still can't believe how blessed I am to have Carson in my life. I find myself saying, "Sean! This is OUR baby!" It was a nice day, I only wish Sean could have been there.
Carson with Mommy and Grandma
Don't look too excited, Carson, really.
A bottle from Grandpa
Playing with Aunt Jenni
Cozy with Uncle Butch
It's a good thing Carson can't see Lisa's tattoo, because he'd be so scared! I'm scared! Ha!
Flying with Uncle Johnny
First dip in the pool!
My fourth grade teammates and I threw a wedding shower for our dear Emily. She hates to be the center of attention, so we threw it "southern style" and didn't make her unwrap her gifts in front of everyone... and we had so much food it was a bit ridiculous! It was so much fun to see all the girls and bring Carson up to school for a visit, even if he was cranky tired!
Meredith, Me, Beth, Melissa, Emily, and Sarah- the BEST team ever! I'm glad summer vacation is only days away because I miss these girls and I'm going to make them hang out with me and Carson all summer long!
Getting a bottle from Miss Suzie. So sweet!
Meredith and me with our babies, Eloise and Carson. They are just two weeks apart! It was so fun to go through our pregnancies together and now to watch our sweet babies grow up together! She is so much fun and such a supportive friend... and so much tanner than I am! I had no idea I was so pale!
I am so lucky to have been able to call all my teammates at school my close friends. They're what I miss most about not teaching anymore. It's a good thing Carson keeps me so busy, or I'd really be upset! Hopefully one day they'll take me back!
