Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

First, let me say I give up using initials. This is my blog and I've decided to use first names hence forth. I'm not all that exciting so I doubt I'm stalker worthy.

Ethan has discovered the log roll is a great way to get around a room to obtain something that looks interesting to him. Interesting equals something tasty for the mouth. This morning we were in the living room, I was sipping my coffee and he was rolling about, which was brought to an abrupt end by rolling into our oak coffee table. Poor little E. Bear bumped his forehead. We snuggled on the couch with a bag of peas on his forehead for a bit. He's going to have a bruise. First of many Josh said, but I still felt badly that I couldn't protect him from hurting himself. I know accidents will happen, but as a Mommy I feel so responsible for every little bump. I want to be his great protector, which I know is an unreasonable expectation. It must come with being a Mom.

8 year wedding anniversary

Eight years ago today J and I stood in front of our families and friends and declared our love and dedication to each other. I barely recognize the baby faced couple in our wedding pictures. For our one year anniversary we went hiking in Scotland, one anniversary Josh cooked dinner (he picked up the ingredients and bouquet of flowers on his bicycle), for our fifth year anniversary we stayed at a B&B, and last year we went out for a fancy dinner in downtown Beverly. This year was completely different. I made dinner, mulled apple cider, and peach cobbler for dessert all while entertaining E. Bear. I cut the butter into crumbles while holding a crying baby. We ate dinner while J. bounced E. on his lap. We ate our cobbler after E. Bear was fast asleep. No fancy outfits -- PJs for Josh and spit up upon clothing for me. Our life has changed so much since the addition of the baby. It is 9 pm and I'm ready for bed. It is amazing how much having a child changes your lifestyle.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend and love!

Kindermusik and 6 month checkup

Busy week here at Chez Tigermommy. E. bear and I started Kindermusik on Tuesday. It was an enjoyable experience of singing, moving about and seeing other babies. E. bear is the youngest in the class, but I think he will still gain something from the experience. His head was basically on a swivel the whole class taking in the room and all the people. He fell asleep as soon as he was strapped into his carseat afterwards.

On Wednesday we went for his 6 month checkup. It is hard to believe he is 6 months old. He weighed in at 18.5 pounds and 27 inches long. He also had the third round of vaccinations, which created over 24 hours of clingy whinning baby. We all survived and he was back to his happy self on Friday just in time for his Nana S to watch him for the day.

This evening we are going out for fondue which might be a dangerous proposition with a baby. Hot cheese and attached baby don't mix. We shall see how this works.

Cleaning

When I found out I was pregnant back in July 2006, I didn't feel comfortable using our cleaning supplies to scrub the bathroom and kitchen. I didn't want to inhale the fumes from the clorox soft scrub and mildew fighter. So the ever helpful Hubby took over the cleaning of the bathrooms and kitchen. Eventually, I became to pregnant to get down on my hands and knees to scrub floors etc. After the c-section we hired a cleaning service to come every other week to clean the house, and we kept the service until after my boards. Well, my life of luxury has ended, and I am back to cleaning. It is nice to do it the way I like it, but it is exhausting! I cleaned both bathrooms and scrubbed the kitchen floor, and tried to tidy up the garage this weekend. I also fixed the garage door opener. Woo hoo! No more backbreaking hoisiting of a heavy door. So many things haven't been cleaned for quite awhile. My next goal is to vacuum the cellar stairs and sweep down there. I might also tackle the cat peed futon mattress while the weather is still nice enough to drag it outside.

E. bear is as cute as ever. I'm slowly packing up the 3-6 month clothing and bringing out his fall and winter wardrobe. Needless to say his bedroom is in transition with all the clothing piles. He had peas for the first time this morning. They smelled awful, but he didn't seem to mind at all. He rubbed them around his highchair tray and gobbled up the spoonfuls. I think we will try avocado next.

Blueberry picking

Nana, Bogie, E. bear and I went blueberry picking yesterday up in NH. I had wanted to use my back carrier for E. bear. I thought if I wore him in the front he'd have a faceful of blueberry bush and I might fall over into the bush as I was picking. We had a dry run at home, where I got all the straps just right and showed him in the full length mirror what we looked like. I walked about the house and he did seem to enjoy it.

Well, the love of the carrier didn't extend to the fields. We got our buckets and walked out to blueberry fields and he was enjoying himself, bouncing and making noise. But as soon as I stopped to pick blueberries, there was tears and crying. I took the pack off and had him just sitting in it on the ground, but that wasn't good enough. So I carried him and picked blueberries. Eventually, he wanted to nurse, so we sat in between the rows of blueberries and nursed in the grass. It was very idyllic sitting in the grass in the sun surrounded by yummy blueberries. After awhile my arm was getting really tired from carrying him. After conferring with my Mom that the farm is organic and doesn't spray pesticides, I laid him down in the grass between the rows. He happily talked to himself and pulled at the grass while I continued to pic. At one point I looked down to check on him and he had sprigs of clover and grass coming out of his mouth, which I promptly removed.

I picked 3.14 pounds. I froze most of it and I'm going to make a bluebery crumble for dessert tonight.

Labor Day at Cranes Beach

I took E. bear to the beach for the first time today. We went with his Nana and Papa. The water was very warm, but at 60 degrees still too cool for the little guy to go in. We did stick his feet in though, and he cried. My parents took me to the beach for the first time when I was his age (about 6 months) and I screamed and cried too. I think it is fairly common to be scared and overwhelmed at the sight of the ocean. I can't imagine what it must be like to be that little and to see this immense body of water and have it rolling towards you. Mom and I did go all the way in and we went swimming. E. bear checked out the sand with his toes, nursed a bit, and took a nap. It was a very pleasant day.

For dinner we went to Nana and Grumpa's. I went swimming in the pool and E. bear had his feet dipped in the pool. More crying. Poor little guy! He had a good time sitting on his grandparents' laps and trying to grab the whip cream container. We forgot to bring cereal and veggie for E. though, and he had to go without tonight. We are beginner parents and we didn't even think to bring his dinner. He'll survive, but I feel badly.

Learning how to be a parent is quite the learning experience. By the time we get it all figured out he will be leaving for college. Or maybe you never get it all figured out and keep learning things as your child gets older and your relationship with each other gets redefined.

E. bear's Dad gave him a bath solo for the first time tonight. I had to shower to wash all the salt and chlorine off, which left his Dad with the job of washing baby. They both survived, and all the splashed water was easily cleaned up.