The Story on Morning Glory

I can tell.  It's just about the time when I can clearly verbalize what Jack's daily schedule looks like that things change.  He likes to keep me on my toes. 

Jack's schedule for pretty much the past month has been clear cut, concise, easy to predict...he wakes up around 7, has a bottle, plays for about an hour, naps for 1.5 to 2 hours, wake up, eats his cereal and fruit, plays for a few hours, naps for 2-3 hours, wakes up, has a bottle, plays, eats cereal and veggies, plays, has a bottle and then bed.  Like clockwork.

Not anymore.  I can feel the change coming.  He's been fighting the predictability lately. 

Like not wanting to go down for his naps, sleeping for only half of the time he usually does, but whining like he's super tired...is it teething?  That's what everyone asks any time my baby seems a little fussy...but this time I'm actually thinking, "Could this be it?"  I've done some investigating in those gums, and I mean, I might see where some teeth are getting ready to pop up, but there's no clear cut evidence for it. 

He still eats like a champ, acts like he could eat my entire dinner after he's finished his, so maybe it's a growth spurt.  I hope not!  My 5 month old is already in 9 month clothes!

He's a complete wiggle worm when he's trying to go to sleep lately.  Like twisting around, putting his face in the mattress...kinda being a freak.  So I thought that it might be a good idea that he not nap in his swing anymore, with all of his twisting and turning...I could see him popping out of that thing!  So we tried to nap in the crib this week...big time fail.  Like not having any of it.  Like talking to himself for an hour and a half, ending up in crying fit, but not sleeping...at...all.  Um, we can't have that.  So we're back to the swing, hoping he won't fly out of it, and trying a slow transitional approach to the "motionless nap".  Thankfully, the crazy night playing is a thing of the past...I say this and he'll probably be up all night tonight.  He's tricky. 

These transition times are always interesting.  It really makes me look at Jack and see what he needs and when he needs it!  It's not about doing what we've done because it's working...it's not working anymore.  Sooooooo, time to re-evaluate and see where that takes us!  Wish me luck!

if I like this new design.  I'm just saying...

And my kitchen is DONE!!  I love it.  It is AMAZING what new lights, paint, and cabinet fixtures can do to a place.  It's so much brighter in here.  The time I notice it the most is a night, when I walk in and it's not like I'm entering a cave for a glass of water...I can actually see what I'm doing! 

So, all of you need to come see my kitchen and be excited with me. It took me quite a while to put all of those cabinet doors back on. I was also in charge of putting on the new door pulls. Would have been super easy if I could have used the holes from the old door pulls...but no. The only pulls that come in that size are the same exact ones. Um, no. Not for my kitchen makeover! So, lots of drilling, lots of hanging, and not too much cussing...voila!

So, remember back when I was bragging on how well Jack slept?  I was so proud that he was such a great sleeper, rarely woke up at night, and when he did, he just went right back to sleep? 


Well, I guess we're making up for lost time. 


Here's what our over night looks like lately:
8:00 - last bottle, and he literally falls asleep while I'm burping him and goes right to bed.  He's obviously tired.
1:00 - Awake!  Not awake and crying, just awake.  Talking, scooching around in his crib...and this goes on for about an hour.  Every once in a while he'll fuss, but pretty much just talking.  When I go in to put his paci in (remember, that used to do the trick!) he just smiles kicks his legs in excitement to see me, and tries his best to tell me what's goin' on!  He's so happy to see me...
2:30 - Back to sleep.  FINALLY!  And that's after probably 5 trips into his room to cross my fingers and pop the paci in. 
3:30 - Back awake.  Again, not too fussy, just awake!!  And a trip into his room every 15 minutes to try the paci. 
4:15 - Back asleep. 
5:00 - Back awake.  This time he had a sleep transfer into the swing...which I try really hard not to use as a crutch!  He sleeps so well in that swing...I don't know what we'll do when he's too big for it.  Selfishly, I would love to plop him in that thing at 1am and head back to bed for a good solid night's sleep, but I know that in the long run, it's best to just forge through this crazy sleepless time, teaching him to fall back asleep on his own, in his own time, and not try to solve it with something like the swing that will work for such a short time, teaching him to rely on something to soothe him back to sleep. 

As with everything with Jack so far, I know that this is a phase, and will not last forever (thankgoodness) so that's what I chant to myself as I trudge back and forth through the night.

Honestly, I love him so much, that I might be slightly annoyed as I walk the short distance to his room, but when I peek over the rail of that crib and see his sweet smile and excited kick of the legs, I can't be annoyed anymore!

It's hard to eat healthy when your kitchen consists of a microwave on the living room floor.  Needless to say, last week wasn't a good one...eating out every night is not good for the new lifestyle!  I usually do ok when I can plan what to order ahead of time, but chips and salsa are my eternal downfall.  I could eat them all day every day.  No joke.  So, lots of chips and salsa, too many dinners out, and not enough time at the gym.  That summarizes my week. 

I need to get back on the wagon...

Even though my kitchen is still in crazy disarray, tonight I dug out everything I needed to cook a healthy dinner, so hopefully this will be the start to a better week! 

I'm so excited.  It's actually happening!  My kitchen is coming out of the 1950's! 

Friday we had Steve the electrician come to do the lights.  Of course, it would be too easy for the lights to just be perfect fit.  Not a big deal, but we had to take the lights we'd gotten back to Home Depot and exchange them for some slighely different, so the electrician guys came back on Saturday to finish...and I love it!  The lighting alone has made a HUGE difference in the kitchen!  Aren't the grey tinged boxes on the ceiling pretty?  :)

Oh, gym, why do you elude me so?

I made it once last week.  It was a good workout, filled with old people in showercaps and speedos!  Hoping for more this week...we'll see. 

Eating was really good!  I told Jeff, Monday I'm great!  Tuesday and Wednesday, still really good.  Thursday...willing to fudge a little bit.  Friday?  I still have somewhat of a conscience on Friday during the day, but it's dinner out!  So there's that!  Saturday and Sunday are pretty much "Oh well"  days with a touch of "Oh, I better not eat that" here and there.  Monday, it's back on track big time! 

But...it seems like it's working!  7lb lost!  Woo hoo!!! 

That just truly lets me know how much crap I was eating prior to January 1...