Photos

Most people know that I am somewhat of a picture fanatic.  I love photographs....I love taking them and looking at them.  Last year Justin and I bought a nice SLR Canon camera.  Since then I've been trying to teach myself how to use the damn thing.  So far it's usually in Auto mode.  I would love to take some photography classes but finding the time to do that right now is, well, not so much!!!

My most favorite people to take pictures of is Carter, Belle and Mee's (as long as they cooperate, Carter usually wants nothing to do with the camera, Belle loves it and Mia could care less).  I'm really hoping that I make it more of a priority to teach myself about my camera.  I think pictures are timeless and so important in capturing the everyday stories of your family!  I want to make sure I do that!!

Mia and her daddy!

Little Man

Old Lady Belle

Diva girl!

Addiction

So, I have acquired a new problem.  Some (Justin) may think it's serious while others (me) might think it's more of a hobby!  I never really participated in this activity much before Mia came along and now thanks to my fabulous friend Tully I can't seem to stop!  She decided that it was a good idea to share with me links to mommy/baby steal websites.  Yeah, not such a great idea for a person who loves a good sale. 
So now, thanks to Tully, I visit around 6 or so of these websites daily just "browsing" the next fabulous, have to have find.  Because somewhere down the road Mia is definitely going to need little baby Klean Kanteen's and a gourmet lunch tote (those were my recent purchases).  I've also gotten into a little the whole organic thing.  Now that I have a child I'm definitely more aware of all the shit they put into everything.  I'm sort of trying to be all green and whatnot.  So along with these sites there are organic sites in which I've purchased the softest most wonderous wash cloths and burp rags (also known now as Mia's chew "toy").  I love these things.  They get softer the more you wash them....go figure that huh?! 

Now the problem with all of this is the fact that Justin already thinks I spend too much money on "shopping" when in reality it is the necessities!!!  Or at least thats what I usually tell him.  Anyway, the other day, the day that I ordered the lunch tote and Kanteen's, was the day that he thought it was necessary to check the balance of our joint account.  BAD TIMING!!!

Conversation goes a little like this:

Justin:  What is this Ecobabybuys stuff on here?
Me:  Not sure what you are talking about.
Justin:  Now what did you order from Babysteals?
Me:  Oh that stuff, well it's like the coolest shit ever!

Not much else said for the time being except that I can see him thinking and contemplating really hard at the computer.  I decide to not say much else.

Conversation about 10 minutes later:

Justin:  Hey Nik, do you think "we" could maybe cut down on this whole online ordering thing for a little while?
Me:  Sure, do you think you could cut down on your whole fishing thing for a while then???

End of conversation!!! 

It's so funny how men can go and spend hundreds of dollars on fishing and hunting trips and licenses and ice shacks and hauling fees and gas and beer and all the other shit that goes along with it but when I spend $30 fucking dollars on some wash cloths and sippy cups you'd think I'd gone and spent our last penny.  Because now I'm pretty sure we are going to end up living in a nice big appliance box somewhere in my parents back yard!!!  I just need to ever so nicely remind him of this (above conversation) and then it's all good again.  Because it is necessary for Mia to have all the bargains that I can find!!!!

Goals

I'm trying to figure out a way to get myself to write more. So far, I haven't yet figured it out!!  I read all of these other "mom" blogs and am jealous of their ability to share their family and their life with such familiarity, ease and humor.  Why can't I write like that?  Why is it that it is so hard to find the words when I have so many?  I talk all the time and yet when I sit to write I draw a blank.  It's so much easier sometimes to "tell" a story instead of "write" a story or a feeling or a thought.  I'm thinking I should have paid a little closer attention to all my english/writing classes.  Which, funny enough, I did very well in.  Then again I need to remember that that was close to ten years ago. ( Holy shit that means I'm almost 30!!) 

My goal is to try to write a few times a week....whether it's me going on and on about my fantastically wonderful daughter that I know everyone can't wait to hear about or my crazy ass family or just stupid ass holes that piss me off!  I want to get better at this whole blogging/writing thing.  I want people to want to read my posts and not just read them because I email them the link! (How sad am I??  I'm almost begging people to "like" me).  Oh well....hopefully someone someday will relate to or laugh at something that I write.  I'm hoping that the more I write the more confidence I get in myself and the better my posts become.  I want people to enjoy The Westbrock Family because I most definitely do!!!!

The 5th Month

Today Mia, you are 5 months old already going on 13!!  I didn't think that was possible yet at this young age but you have proved your father and I wrong.  You are quite good at getting what you want by using those wonderful little set of lungs you have.  It's not so a much a cry now as it is pure screaming and yelling.  It's important that we remember that you are only 5 months old and not 13!!! 

This past month has been fun watching you grow and try new things.  The beginning of it was not so much fun with the continuous visits to the doctor ( I really think they should have given us some kind of discount for being there every other day) and the medicines and the RSV and the ear infection and the thrush!  I'm hoping I'm not forgetting anything!! As of now though I think we are on the up and up.  And hoping we don't have to go back anytime soon.  Not fun for you and not fun for mom and dad.  We just want you to be a healthy happy little girl.

We tried starting you on cereal this past month.....that was a treat!  Trying to get you to eat is like trying to get a two year old to sit through church service.  You were not having it.  I'm not sure if it's the taste or the texture or just that you didn't want to have anything to do with it but I actually felt a little bad because it made you gag and yes I kind of laughed!!  So instead of cereal we tried pears.  You are slowly getting the hang of what to do with your tongue and how to keep the food in your mouth and not spit it out all over the place.  It has definitely been fun feeding you without a bottle and watching the wonderfully funny faces that you make when eating. 

You have become so much more animated in your everyday little life!  Your dad and I can't get enough of it.  You have found your voice and the noises that come out of your mouth are hilarious.  If I could record all of it and play it for everyone I know I would.  Because yes, I am one of those mothers who probably shows too many pictures and tells too many stories about you but you want to know what I have to say about that.....I don't care.  I'm going to continue to show pictures and tell stories until I'm blue in the face and if people don't like it well then they can suck it!!! 
Your laugh is absolutely contagious and your smile can make the shittiest day the best day in an instant!  With that being said I often wonder if it is possible for infants to have some form of bipolar disorder??  You can be laughing and smiling and playing one minute and in a blink of an eye you turn into beast.  A pure terrorist!!!  I'm pretty sure this might be because you are a little spoiled and this is something that your father and I argue about and I'm sure it will be something we argue about until the day we die.  He's ok with letting you cry it out sometimes (not all the time but he's ok to leave you be for a short while to see if you can calm yourself down) whereas mom here would rather pick you up and give you everything you need right in that instant because god forbid you cry more than a few seconds if you don't have too. (On a side note, this exact scenerio played out this morning.  I ever so nicely asked your dad to pick you up because obviously something must be wrong because you were screaming.  He picked you up, you looked at me, stopped crying and smiled!  At this point I knew I had been had and just laughed and tried not to let your father get a 'I told you so' in there.).  Yes I know this is going to come back and bite me in the ass, I realize this, but I don't care right now! 

You have also decided that you are a big girl now and don't think it's necessary to sit....ANYWHERE...for extended periods of time.  You need to be standing or us standing holding you because you're nosey and if we don't do this you stiffen your entire body and do that whole yelling and screaming thing that I was talking about earlier.  On the flip side of this you are holding your self up so much better and wanting to know whats going on in the world around you.  And with this whole sitting up thing comes the "I want to shove everything I can get my pudgy little hands on in my mouth" stage.  Which in turn leads to an overabundance of drool and laundry for mom. 

Lucky for us you love your crib.  We are able to lay you down in there awake now for naps and bedtime and you fall asleep all on your own.  This is a surprise to me since you slept with your dad and I for the first 6 weeks of your life and after that we would snuggle with you until you were sleeping and then put you to bed.  It does make me sad though because you are at a time right now where you like your space and don't necessarily want to snuggle much anymore.  You want your bottle and then you like to spread out and do your own thing.  I wish you would want to snuggle just a little more.  You are getting too big too fast and it would be nice for mommy if you could just slow down a little bit. 
It's very cute though now because in the morning which is your best time we are awakened not by screaming but by you talking and playing in your crib.  It puts a smile on face every morning and I can't help but smile and laugh.

You are becoming so aware of the people around you now.  You have started reaching for people which completely melts there heart.  You love your two most best friends in the whole world...Carter and Ella....and they love you!  The two of them are so anxious for you to get bigger so they can play with you more.  I can and can't wait to see what kind of trouble the three of you get into. 

I know I say this all the time but you continue to amaze me with what you do and I can't wait to see what this next month will bring us!  Hopefully more cute and less Diva!!!!  I think I'm already starting to get grey hair!  I love you Lou Lou!!

Month Four

This last Sunday on the 7th you turned four months old.  I have no idea where the hell these last 4 months have gone.  You are this whole little 4 month old person.  And I think it's safe to say that you are the cutest little 4 month old person I've ever known!!!
Unfortunately on Sunday we spent a good portion of our day in Urgent care.  You, at this point, have a little thing called RSV.  I have no idea what it is really but it's definitely not cool.  I refuse to look on web md or any other web site for fear that I will diagnose you with multiple ailments.  I don't want to put you or your father through my narotic tendencies.  They sent you home with a neb after the third time that I brought you in.  It seems to be working so we are praying that you kick this thing quick because you are all out of sorts and we want our little munchkin back. 

This last month has been exciting as usual.  You amaze us every day and we are pretty sure that you are already border line genius!  Thats just me though!
*  The drooling has not stopped and maybe has gotten worse.  If we could figure out something that it could be used for we could make a ton of money!!
*  Your love when your dad tickles you on your face with his beard.  The laughter that comes out of your mouth melts my heart.  And I'm pretty sure each time you do that you get your dad wrapped just a little tighter around your finger!
*  You love to sit up.  You are starting to play in your exersaucer and sitting in the bumbo.  It's not for long periods of time but it's a start. 
*  You have actually started to take a Nuk once in a while.  I'm glad that you don't rely on it but sometimes it works to calm you down.
*  You are a FLIRT.  You love boys, you always smile at your dad and grandpa's and uncles.  Again I'm hoping that this is not a trend.
*  You are grabbing at everything and shoving everything in your mouth.
*  You are becoming attached to your blankie.....I'm pretty sure if they made a big person version I would be attached too!
*  You've discovered your voice and love to hear yourself talk.  We love to hear you talk!! 

This next month should be fun and exciting.  The start of cereal and fruits.  We'll see how that goes!  I love you Lou Lou!!!

Diva Girl

A long time ago my wonderous parents would always say to me "Nik, when you have a child, I hope he or she is exactly like you".  I never really understood this because as far as I was concerned I was a fricken angel!!!  Why wouldn't I want a child just like me?!  Now as an adult I look back and ask why my parents didn't beat me?!  You all know the whole teenage girl issues. 
Some years later in the year 2009 I gave birth to a beautiful little girl.  Now almost 4 months later I understand the statements that my parents made.  I have a daughter just...like....me!  And god help my husband.  At the tender age of only 4 months old she is a total diva girl and already knows how to work her parents.  If she wasn't my child I would give her a big high five and congratulate her on being a total and utter genious!  But she is my child and so I can only sigh and curse my parents what they wished upon me. 
So the other night she fell asleep with me like she usually does around 7:30 or so.  Thats my time to snuggle with her.  I'm sure some might think it's bad that I don't put her to bed awake so she learns but I don't really care.  She's getting so big already and pretty soon she is not going to want to have anything to do with me.  So we snuggle!!! 
I put her in her crib around 8:30.  We heard her around 9:30 so Justin got up unwillingly (only because I asked him to switch nights with me and he wasn't real happy with that request.....I was tired and had a headache!) and went to feed her.  He came back to bed and we could still hear her stirring around so I decided that I would go get her and bring her to bed with us to try to get her to sleep because at this point the two of us were exhausted and didn't really care.  So I went and got her brought her to bed.  Got her all situated and snuggled in with me.  At this point she looked directly at me, smiled, closed her eyes and immediately went to sleep....as if to say "HaHa you suckas, I knew you would come get me!"  SHIT!!!!  What the hell did I do?  All Justin could say was this is not good!!!  At this point all I could do was laugh because what else do you do.  So we feel asleep and I got to snuggle with my little munchkin. 

How do you say No to this??!!

3 Months

It's been quite some time since I've written but I've been trying to prepare myself for getting back to work and leaving my little munchkin.  I started back at work this past Monday after being home with Mia for the last 12 weeks.  I cried most of last week, the entire weekend and on my way into work Monday morning, most of the day at work on Monday (I'm pretty sure I almost quit about 27 times), Tuesday morning, I think you get the picture.  I was/am sad about leaving my little punkers but also sad that I was leaving Nattie, Joe, Cart and Belle.  Mia and I spent everyday over at the Weis household.  It was/is important to me that Mia is close with her cousins plus it saved my sanity being able to be with my sister.  Natalie and I have always been close but being moms together now, I think, has brought us much closer.  We bonded in a way that only sisters are able to do.  I wouldn't have made it through the first months of being a new mom if it wasn't for her.  She is a wonderful mother and I look to her for so much advice and guidance.  She truley is my best friend!!!  We had a slumber party all weekend because neither of us wanted to let the other one go....sounds a little sad but we've come to rely on each other being there every day.  It's definitely going to be another adjustment.  I write as though we never see each other...which we do almost every weekend and quite a bit during the week.  It's just different now. 
Alright enough with the mushy shit!!

My beautiful little girl is 3 months old today.  You are becoming quite the little diva lady.  I could go on and on about all the cute little things you do but I'll just touch on a few:
* You have started smiling at everything....we love it!!!  It's not just some involuntary reflexes anymore but actual little person smiles because you are excited or happy to see one of us. 
* The drool has commenced!!!  It's a new favorite thing to spit and blow bubbles at us...so we just do it back minus the spitting.
* You recognize mommy and daddy and like to punish us now that we have upset your daily routine.  Again your little divaness is starting to show.  But you are just so damn cute that we can't get mad.
* You have found your hands.  Your father nicknamed you chocolate fingers because they are constantly in your mouth and they must taste something good!!
* The hair grabbing as also commenced.  Gotta love the long hair.  Thank god I didn't loose much while I was pregnant because it's definitely getting pulled out now. 
* Still a fabulous cuddler.  It's still hard for me to put you in your crib at night (some nights we accidently fall asleep in the big bed).
* You are starting to grab at things and stay focused for so much longer.  It's fun to see you under your play gym going to town on the rattles and whatever other hangy things are there. 
* You love bath time and being naked!!!  It instantly makes you happy when we change you or begin to take your clothes off.  Your father and I are hoping that this doesn't carry into your teenage years.....we'll need to have that conversation.  You might not be allowed out of the house until you are at least 25.
* You love to lay on your back and have us tell you how pretty you are!!!  You might get that from your mommy!!!! 

You amaze me every day!!  It's so exciting to see you grow (wish you would slow down just a little though).  Can't wait to see what this next month brings us!!!  Love you Lou Lou!!!