Here's to you, 2012!

Oh my goodness. I stopped reading all the blogs I follow when we moved because we got so busy trying to adjust to things. I just skimmed over a couple and I can't believe I've made it without them so long! It's so great to read stories from other moms my age who are going through the same things as me.

My 2012 New Years resolutions:
1. Use a budget (the one designed by my wonderful man!)
2. Keep in touch! We value our friends and family so much, but we often neglect them because we're so busy. This year, I'm going to try to turn that around.
3. Blog more. I can't make any specific commitments, but I know that blogging and following others' blogs gives me joy and hope. I have put blogging on the bottom of my priority list while I worked on getting settled in to my new life as a mother of one and a family teacher of seven, but now it's time to get back to writing!
4. Stop over-committing! I keep adding projects to my to do list because they are things I know I can do, and I even want to do. The problem is just because I can and want to do something doesn't mean I have time for it!

As for the first few weeks of January and these resolutions... so far, so good. I'm making slow but sure progress! I have finally caught up with our personal email, we're doing great with our budget, and Joe and I have sketched out the whole years worth of travel plans (when you only have about 10 days to yourself each month, traveling to see your family that is spread out between 6 states gets tricky...not to mention expensive!)

And, with that, I will close, because Brenan just FILLED his diaper while sitting on my lap.

Happy New Year!

Adventures with our growing B

We had a lot of fun today at "Fall for Greenville." It's like a massive taste test of downtown Greenville's restaurants. We paid $15 for 24 tickets, and the tickets worked like money to get food. I had a BBQ pork sandwich for 5 tickets, and Joe had Hibachi shrimp. We also had fried ice cream, gelato, and raspberry tea. It was neat just to walk around and see more of Greenville, too.

Brenan seems to be having a growth spurt again. His 6 month sized onsies are starting to have to stretch to snap at the bottom. He's waking up twice a night again, too. I can't say that's my favorite part of him growing. It gets old really quick!

This morning we couldn't get him to go back to sleep after the second time he nursed unless he was in the swing downstairs. Our monitors are at the cottage (we're at our off-duty apartment right now), so we laid out some blankets and our pillows and spent the rest of the night on the floor. It wasn't the most comfortable arrangement, but we all got to stay together and get our rest. Besides, it's kind of a fun story to tell later!

cherishing silence

Honestly, I can't believe I've let myself go so long without blogging. It really is a stress outlet for me - it's like journaling except with other people in mind. Of couse, some people use their blog as more of a journal than others. I'd say mine is a nice balance of written-for-self vs. written-for-others.

I'm finally sitting down for the first time in a while and focusing on myself. It sounds horribly selfish, but while Joe runs errands and Brenan sleeps in his swing, I'm just going to sit here and blog. The dishes sitting on the end tables and the laundry and baby toys strewn on the floor are just going to have to wait.

I've read so many other mom blogs that talk about days like these - where you get a few minutes to yourself and cherish each second of peace and quiet. I suspect that as Brenan gets older and our family grows bigger those moments will be fewer and farther between. I'm not going to worry about that right now though. For now, I'll just write, and rest.

My poor sick baby

Oh, I miss blogging! Things have been so busy for us lately, and now as things are finally settling down, Brenan has an ear infection... a double ear infection to be more precise.

We went to the doctor two weeks ago for his two-month appointment and found out that he had an ear infection. He was prescribed amoxicillin, which we gave to him faithfully for 10 days as prescribed. He still seemed like he was feeling badly so we took him back yesterday. It turns out that the antibiotic wasn't strong enough, so the infection has spread to both ears.

According to the nurse practitioner, Brenan is really young to have an ear infection. She had to look up what stronger antibiotic would be safe for him to take since he is so small. His first dose was yesterday morning, and today he's been spitting up a lot. It's hard to say whether it's vomiting or just more frequent, but normal, baby spit up. Either way, it does have me a bit concerned.

I called the doctor's office today at 2:30pm and again at 4:30pm. Both times they ASSURED me that they would call me back before the end of the day. Guess what? I haven't heard from them. I'm really frustrated.

Brenan is about the same this evening, so as long as nothing changes we're just going to wait until morning. Then I'll call the doctor's office again, I guess. But I'm also going to be calling another pediatrician so we can transfer care. I don't mess around when it comes to my baby!

Look-a-likes

Well, I don't have much time for blogging because we're currently on shift, but I had to share... My parents emailed me a few of my baby pictures. To all of you who said that my boy looks nothing like me: You were wrong!

Brenan

Jen

Jen

Brenan

HA!