Not only am I a SAHM, but I now have the minivan to prove it. Complete with the little family sticker on the back window. Dad and Mom and baby and two dogs. So cute! My one girlfriend nearly spit when she saw it, until she realized that, of course, I LIKE it, or I wouldn't have put it on there. Have to love your friends, who swallow their comments so you can enjoy yourself.
It's been a nice month of being a slacker (other parents get this is a joke, but sometimes you have to point this out). A busy month. Not a lot of extra sleep lately, and lots of errands. I haven't yet come to terms with the fact that although I make no money, I still am technically working. If I didn't stay home with the boy, then we'd be paying someone else to stay with him. Which means, technically I am doing the 'job'. And my job includes a lot of hours some days. Baby Daddy will come home sometimes after a long day and I think 'poor him! He must be tired, hungry, needing a break!'. Then I think, yeah, me too! But since I have no money behind my workaday, I feel more for him than for me. Hard to reconcile that one still in my mind.
We had our MotherCare group today, and I went even though it was the boy's nap time. I skipped it last week due to his new nap time and decided that Mommy needed to go see people more than baby needed to sleep. We didn't last the whole visit before having to come home so he could crash, but it was worthwhile. One of the public health nurses that pops in there once in a while said she recognized Calvin's face but couldn't believe it was him because he is so long now. I wonder if he's grown (even) longer and I just haven't noticed this time around. Will try to remember to measure him up when the Dad gets home. After coming home and fighting him to finally give in to sleep, I put him in his crib for a nap. He laid on his back, legs crossed at the ankles of course, arms flung to the sides and I thought 'he's so big now.' I can already see the future version of him, tall and grown up, flung across his bed, quiet and peaceful face in sleep. It makes my heart ache to think of him growing up and leaving me, and he's only 11 months old (on Thursday). I want to remember to enjoy every day, to kiss his sweet face and remember how small it is, how much he needs and loves me, before he gets big and turns to find his own life away from us.
Speaking of growing up babies...since the teething hell of last week has slowed down, he's started to wake up happy again instead of screaming. Which makes for a happy household. However! After a certain amount of talking to himself upon waking, we go in and get him normally. This has been the routine. Now I move a bit faster because if you don't hurry, you could miss while he's busy snacking on his crib. I think the colour is called cappuccino or cherry, and I hope it tastes that good too. Thanks Grandma for the crib - it tastes great and is less filling!
Speaking of tasting great. I learned today that your brain can only function power wise from the energy it gets from carbs. YAY CARBS! I always thought pasta was bad for you, but it turns out it is fantastic for you, but in moderation. The serving size that is recommended is so small as to be laughable, but there you have it. I've been avoiding giving a lot of grains to the boy, but I realize this is a bias of my own in thinking they are bad for you, when in reality, grains are super important, but in moderation. Learn something new every day.
Comparison photos below - him in his chair as a newborn and him now, with his giant foot in your face.