Another Month, Still Adorable

My sweet little cub is 10 months old! How did this happen? I can hardly believe that he's this kid that sits up, crawls, has teeth and says "cat!" He's a funny little kid too. When we go out, he'll stare at ladies until they look over and coo and make a fuss about how cute he is. Then he breaks out his toothy grin and give them his flirty eyes. It's so hilarious to watch. He really is so awesome and I'm so proud of him.

Book Love

We are almost done with our unpacking, yet there are still tons of boxes in our spare room. They contain very precious cargo, one of my favorite things...books. Pages filled with adventure, mystery, horror, romance, drama. Words overflowing about musicians crazy life's, how to clean almost anything, what to expect when you're expecting. Tales of drug abuse, shopping abuse, life abuse. Tutorials teaching gardening, cooking, beautifying. I could get lost among the adventures and escapades. I have a severe addiction to these little beauties. Paperbacks, coffee table, how to's...all of them. And wouldn't you know it, I fell in love with a fellow bookworm. So between the two of us, we have mounds and mounds of books. And it pains me that they are sitting in cardboard caves when they should be broken free and displayed.

And here lies our problem. We have no bookshelves to put them on. I think we may have found some that will work in the little room where they live, so I'm excited to bust them out and see them in all their glory once again.

Do I have time to read all these books? No. Do I have time to even read one book? Um, no. I'm still trying to get through the first chapter of the book Lanie gave me about 3 months ago ("Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity." Like I said, I love all kinds of books and am always into reading the story of all types of different people, even promiscuous ones.) The problem isn't that it's not interesting, intriguing and riveting. No, the problem is that I just haven't found a spare second to settle into the couch, tuck my feet up underneath me and read for a good hour. I used to do it all the time, pre baby. I would start a book and be so sucked into it that I'd be done and picking up a new one within the week.

But Rob and I have big dreams. Once the house is unpacked and everything is where it belongs, we hope to find our way back to the lands of make believe, gritty truths and a place where anything can happen.

Checking in with me

Hi, it's me. You're faithful blogger. It's been a while since a self potrait so I thought I'd humor you. Thank goodness for make up, they're hiding my dark circles. I can't believe it's already May. I mean, seriously, where did the time go? Never has time flown by like it is these days. Dominic will be one in two months! Whaaaaa? How?!! It just blows my mind!

We're all moved into our house and settling in quite nicely. We had a goal of being unpacked within 30 days, and we came close. But between a weekend trip to Las Vegas, a crawling baby that you can't take your eyes off, even for a second) and life in general...we fell just short. but that's ok. We far surpassed our progress from our last move. When we moved out a year later, we still had unpacked boxes. This time, there are just a few here. But it feels so good to have almost everything put away. I love where we live and I'm so glad this is the place we call home.

In January, I began the long journey known as losing weight. It's a journey I am all too familiar with, I've been here many times. The last time I did this, I was successful and lost about 25 lbs and was really happy with the results. I was in shape, felt good and was the most comfortable in my skin then I have ever been. And then I got pregnant. I gained 26 lbs though out my 9 months and it was worth every pound. I had Dominic in July and it wasn't until January that I was ready to get back on the horse and lose the weight. I was nervous about it but after talking to my BFF Lanie, I felt ready to give it a shot. That was four months ago and so far I've lost 15 lbs. That may not sound like a whole lot, but one thing I've learned is slow and steady wins the race. I wish I could work out more, right now it's just one night a week. Last time I did this I was working out 3-4 times a week and it paid off. I saw my legs change shape, my waist defined and just felt stronger. Life is pretty hectic these days and Rob is working long hours at work, so even though I wish it was more, I'll take the one night.

One thing that is different about this go round is what i will loving call the "baby pouch." It's so weird, it's just there. Sitting on my tummy. While I am getting smaller (slowly) that baby pouch seems to be staying put. Almost taunting me. It is a thousand times more difficult to lose the actual weight this time around. It's in totally different place, more stubborn, just really making me work for it. Well, I guess it took me 9 months to get it so I can't expect for it to just disappear. I see a lot of sit ups in my future.

Let's see, let's see....what else... oh, I could use a night out. I know we just went to Vegas at the beginning of the month, but it felt like we spent more time on the road then having time to chill. Don't get me wrong, it was a blast, but I'm just craving some Mommy and Daddy time. A night out, drinks, friends, good times. I need to recharge my batteries and blow of some steam. Hopefully we'll get a chance to do that soon.

All in all, things are great. Life is moving right along and we are keeping up and still smiling. Even though I could use some sleep, I can't complain. I love spending every day with my beautiful son and handsome man. Yep, life is good.

Going to the Chapel

On Saturday Dominic and I went with Alexia to find bridesmaid dresses and a dress for me, the Maid of Honor (MOH.) We had a very successful day and found both! Dom was a really good boy and just kinda rolled with the punches, flirting with whatever ladies looked over at him,

I'm still kind of in shock that my baby sister is getting married. I mean, I know Luciano proposed. I know she said yes. I know the date of the wedding is October 23rd, 2010. But it's just all a bit surreal.

It seems like just yesterday she was this little kid in school, learning how to drive, deciding what she was going to be when she grows up. And now all of a sudden, she's a beautiful woman, with an amazing job, a great place to live, her head on straight and about to get married!


I am so excited for her and Luciano because they really and truly are meant to be together. They're that couple that are just so perfect together, so easy and relaxed, so themselves. They are smoking hot and stop people in their tracks but what they have on the inside is so much more. I know that sounds so cheesy, but it really is true. They are both the sweetest, kindest, most loving people you'll ever meet. When you're hanging out with them, you just feel cool. They have cool clothes, cool friends, cool everything. He treats my sister with such love and respect, and even turned her onto what great music is all about. I never thought I'd see the day that my Sisiter is singing along to Queen or Bruce Springsteen, but she does and word for word at that. They have such generous and geninue spirits and instantly make you feel comfortable and important to them. Their wedding is going to be so amazing. I'm going to be crying without a doubt, and I know everyone else will be too. My baby sister is all grown up and about to embark on her own journey with Luciano. I can't wait to witness them become husband and wife, and start the rest of their lives together.

As individuals, they are amazing and beautiful people. Together, they are magic.

Who's That Kid?

Can someone please tell me who this who this kid is? I swear, when I went to sleep he was a little baby, and this morning he's practically drinking coffee. I just can't believe how much he's grown up. I remember when Laurie gave him this outfit, I thought "wow, it will be a really long time before he can wear that, it's huge." but all of a sudden, here we are. He's wearing it and is looking like a little man in the process. It seems everything about him is changing. His face looks different, older. His hands are bigger, his two little teeth are even bigger. He's more aware of what we're saying now. For example, if I tell him "no" he looks at me with a sly smile and tries to get away with whatever he's doing. He is understanding that he's not supposed to be doing it, and that's something new. Something else new is he says "cat" now whenever he sees cuddles. It's kind of funny because he says it in an english accent so it sounds more like "caught." I'm not sure why he says it that way since I don't, but it's totally adorable.


His favorite shows on TV are "Yo Gabba Gabba," "Wonder Pets" and "Wow Wow Wuzby." He gets so excited when they come on and now interacts with them by waving his hands, clapping and shrieking with glee. I love this photo of him sitting crossed legged on the pillow. He just looks so grown up! Maybe it's the track pants....or maybe it's just him.

This sweet face brings me so much joy. I love watching him learn and grow, sometimes it feels like it's all happening so fast. We're struggling with the night time thing and I'm hoping it gets easier soon. He still cries when he goes to bed, sometimes taking me an hour of going in there before he goes to sleep. He's still not sleeping through the night, and that's something that I hope he grows out of sooner than later. It's tough on us to hardly ever get a full night of rest but we're doing the best that we can.

Harder then the not enough sleep thing is the emotional thing. Every night my heart breaks as he cries to be picked up and comforted, and it just doesn't get any easier. It's been 45 minutes since I took him to bed, and he's still crying. After I have gone in there a bunch of times, Rob gives it a shot, and sometimes that does the trick. And if Rob is the one to put him into bed, same thing. It's as if he wants to see us both to make sure we're both still here before he gives in and calls it a night.

I often wonder what he's thinking. I wonder what's going through his mind at times like these. Does he really thing we've left him or is he just trying to get us to pick him up? Either way, I think it sucks for both of us. I'm just thankful he still loves me in the morning.

Hand in Hand

It's been a crazy, bizarre, beautiful, tough, tiring, thrilling, eye opening, wonderful, emotional journey so far and no matter what is thrown at us, we find a way to make it to the other side. In one piece. Together. Our hearts full of love and promises to try our best. I don't know what lies ahead, I just know that as long as we're standing there together, it will be ok.

Sleepless Nights

Daycare is going better. Dominic still cries when I leave, but not for long. He's eating more through out the day and is still taking his two naps. The crazy thing is he's so tired by the time he comes home that we wants to sleep. His bedtime is 8pm but I think we're going to have to move it to 7 or 730pm. He spends all day crawling around and playing so by the time I go pick him up he's dunzo.

We're still working on the "cry it out" thing. He does great (for the most part) with going to sleep but he just won't sleep through the night. There is the odd night here and there where he will, but it's not consistent. Most of the time i repeat the process of letting him cry, waiting five minutes, going in to comfort him and then repeating. But when it's 2 in the morning and I've been doing that for an hour, it can be frustrating. I find myself torn between keep going through the process or just bring him into bed with us. Rob has to get up early for work, and it keeps him up. Not that he complains about it, but it's just hard. Plus, when I'm up in the middle of the night going back and forth into his room, trying to get him back to sleep, I'm exhausted. Part of wants to just to bring him in with us so we can all get some asleep and my heart is shattered after hearing him cry for so long. But then I worry about not staying consistent with him and breaking the pattern we're trying to teach him. It's a very confusing and tiring place to be. I thought he'd be adjusted by now, but 2 weeks in and we're still struggling. I suppose it's all part of the process and we'll find a way that works for us.

Daycare Bound

Yesterday was a huge milestone for us. It was Dominic's first day of daycare! I had mixed feelings about the whole situation. I was super excited for Dom because I knew he'd love interacting with other kids, playing with new toys and having fun all day. but part of me was a little uneasy. I would be leaving him with a stranger. Someone that I had only met once. Yes, she is licenced, insured and has been doing this for over 30 years, but still she was a stranger to me. I'm sure this is something all new Moms go through the first time, but that didn't make me feel any better. Although I was a little nervous about the whole things, I still was pumped for Dom. It would be great for him to play all day and it would be great for me because I'd have a couple hours after I dropped him off and picked him up to myself. I could get laundry done, run errands or, ahem, update my blog.

Connie runs the daycare out of her home and she's a grandma type of lady that loves all her kids. When we went to interview there, Dom had a great time. He went straight to her, let her hold him and crawled all around, playing with the toys. I had no doubts that we would drop him off on his first day he'd have no problem saying goodbye, probably wouldn't even notice us leaving because he'd be too busy playing. Some people told me to be strong and that I would cry, and I thought they were nuts. I was stoked for Cub and had no qualms about the whole thing.

Ok, so first morning scenario. We get up, get dressed, take our family photo (see above) and hit the road. Five minutes later, we arrive at Nonnie's Daycare (cute right?) So far, so good. We walk in and there are 3 kids there, one of them 7 months old...she's she's wailing. Crying, tears, the whole bit. Uh oh. This instantly makes Cub on edge and he just kind of stares at her. Connie comes over and welcomes us and Cub's grip on my arm gets stronger. It's time to leave so I put him on the floor with some toys, and he starts to panic. He looks at me like "Mom, where you going? Dad, what's happening?" My heart starts breaking and I pick him up to comfort him. "I love you baby, try to have some fun today." Ok, it's time to go. Connie reassures me that he'll be ok so I put him down again and he cries harder. Wow, ok, this is much tougher than I thought it would be. I look at Rob and make a beeline for the door. The faster I can get out of there, the faster I won't hear my baby crying for me. Sitting in the car, I tried to fight the tears, but they were stronger that me. Yes, I admit it. I let some tears fall. Rob comforted me but I still just felt like I left my baby somewhere where he knows no one.

About half an hour goes by and I'm feeling sad. I think the crying baby left me uneasy also. The scene was a little chaotic for our first time and I wasn't feeling totally at peace with the whole thing. I just kept imagining Dom looking around for his Mommy and Daddy, crying and feeling abandoned. I had to make sure he was ok. I called up Connie and she said he was doing fine. Phew! i felt so much better.

When I picked him up he was definitely happy to see me:) Connie said he did pretty good. He didn't eat a whole lot and cried a couple times through out the day. But he did take his two naps and played for a bit. Not bad for his first day.

Taking him this morning I was a little worried because at this point, he's onto me. He knows I'm going to leave him there and I had a feeling he might just cry even more then yesterday. When we walked in, something was different. It was quiet! only one other kid was there, and she was sitting quietly playing on the floor. I instantly felt better. When Dom saw Connie, or "Nonnie" as the kids call her, he broke out into a smile. Ok, ok, this is good. She extended her arms to him and he went to her. In mid lean, he suddenly looked over at me and then her as if to say "wait a second, this feels like a trap..." Connie told me he'd be fine and to get going, so I gave him a kiss and told him to have a good day and headed for the door. I could hear him kind of crying, but not screaming, so off I went.

I feel 100 times better this morning. I don't know if it's because the atmosphere was much calmer or maybe it's because Dom didn't scream and wail when I left. Maybe I'm just getting used to the idea of him being safe and ok in someone elses care for the whole day. Hopefully there will come a day, soon, that Dominic is excited to go to Nonnie's and will eat and play and have a blast. Until then, baby steps.

Name Change

I think it's interesting that people just assume I got married, and not divorced. When I call someone that asks for my name I say "Gina Cretikos," and if what they have on file is Gina Kincaid, they ask if my name has changed to Cretikos. When I tell them yes, they say "congratulations!" I have never corrected them because that would just be an awkward conversation to have.

Great Cub Progress

Success! After being restless last night, Dominic finally settled down around 10:30pm and slept through the night! Yahoo! He woke up at 6:00am and I brought him into our bed to snuggle, because there's nothing better then that. Oh wait, yes there is....he went back to sleep for another 2 hours! That's what I like to call a great night. I hope we can have a repeat performance tonight. So far, so good. He went to bed at 8pm, cried for about 5 minutes and then went to sleep. It's almost 10pm now and not a peep. Come on baby, you can do it!



He's growing up so fast. I had been a little worried about his eating because when it was meal time, he wouldn't eat a whole lot. A couple bites of baby food, some "lil crunchies" snacks, maybe a few bits of apple. But over the past couple of days he is doing so much better. He eats a whole jar of baby food, a good helping of apples, some Jello pudding. It's so cute to see him mash his food up with this two front teeth!

It was so nice out today, so we went down to Shiffer Park to have some fun. He absolutely loves the swings. Every time I'd push him, he'd break out into the giggles with his little toothy grin on display. We went on the slide and cruised about the climbing stuff. I think once he starts walking, he's going to love going to the park. Rob and I are keeping an eye out on Craigslist for a little jungle gym to in the backyard for him. We now have the space and it would be awesome for Dominic to be able to play out there. Plus, his cousins would have a blast when they came over too.

Tomorrow is Cub's first day of daycare. I'm really excited for him because I think he's going to love playing with the other kids and checking out all new toys. I have a strong feeling he will jump right in and not cry when I leave, and I'm hoping that's true. I have to admit that I'm a tiny bit nervous about leaving him with, well, strangers. I mean, the ladies there are great, and have been doing this for over 30 years, so I know he's in good hands. But at the end of the day, they are strangers. Kind of nerve racking, but that's just the Mom in me. People do this every day, and I just need to trust in our choice of daycare and roll with the punches. All in all, I'm excited for him and can't wait to see how it goes.

Heart Ache for Momma

The whole "cry it out" thing went so well at the beginning of the week. Right now, not so much. He goes to bed with almost no hiccups. I lay him in his crib at 8pm, he cried for about 5 minutes and then goes to sleep. The problem is, he wakes up around midnight and I have to repeat the whole process over again, but he always puts up more of a fight. Last night it was from midnight to 2am that he cried with me going in there every five minutes and I admit it....I gave in. I KNOW! I'm WEAK! But in my defense, Rob was in Phoenix and I heard a weird noise outside my window. I felt much better with him snuggled up in our bed where i could see him and the bedroom door locked.

Tonight started well. He went to bed at 8pm and only cried for a few minutes. But then he woke up at 10pm and has been crying on and off for the past 40 minutes. I'm listening to my baby scream and cry and it's killing me. I'm heart broken and just want to go swoop him into my arms and hold him tight. But I can't. I have to let him cry. I can go back in and let him know every thing's ok in five minutes. but then I have to leave him again, and that's when he really starts wailing. Brutal.

Time's A Flying

Someone please tell me who this kid is? He can't possible be my little Cub, because this kid is obviously all grown up and at least 23 years old.

Time is flying by. It seems like just yesterday we brought Dominic home from the hospital, tiny and new, and felt a tiny bit panicked because we realized that he's in our care now. We are totally responsible for this young pup, and it's our job to protect him and raise him right, Everything was a learning experience and even though we soon got into the swing of things, it was still hard to believe that this perfect little angel is our son.


He was totally dependent on us for everything. Eating, sitting, sleeping....we had to gently hold him in one arm and hold his bottle with the other. Now he holds his own bottle and sits in high chair, picking up his food from his tray and feeds himself. Bath time meant one of us lowering him into his little tiny tub and holding him while the other washed his hair and got him all nice and clean. Now he can't wait to jump in and splash away, trying to eat the bubbles. We used to have to hold his little head up so it didn't get all wonky. Now he sits up by himself, crawls all over the place and is climbing onto anything that he can get a leg up on.

All this progress and it's only been 9 months. I'm in awe of Dominic and all that he has accomplished so far. It seems like every day is something new and I can't wait to see what's next.

Refreshing!

Daddy and son enjoying a nice cold one after a long day at work:)

One tough cookie

Dominic is really such a great little kid. he always has a smile on his face and loves to play with his toys. You'd never know it, but he has an ear infection in both ears and an eye infection in both eyes. It's just one of those things that baby's have the no so lucky pleasure of getting. But even though he's not feeling so great, his disposition is still cheery. His doctor said he has a huge tolerance for pain because most kids would be screaming non stop. What a brave boy. Just like his Momma. Well, I thought I had a high tolerance until I went into labor. That was something that I can't even begin to describe. Luckily, Dom won't have to deal with that haha.

He's a curious little boy and likes to test his boundaries, so not crying after every little bump and spill is a good thing. He usually just picks himself up, dusts himself off and moves on to his next adventure. right now he loves to climb. Boxes, couches, on us, on the cat. He also LOVES to crawl under things. If there is a way to get under something, he'll find it. He crawls under his chair, his stroller, the dining room chairs. He loves tunnels and forts and is pretty much a typical little boy:)

Cry It Out

For the most part, Dominic has set his own bedtime. We let him stay up as long as he liked until he was tired. This would usually be around 11 at night. Hey, what can I say? he's a night owl like his Momma:) I would rock him to sleep and gently place him in his crib. Everyone told me not to do this because he would get used to it. But try telling that to a first time Mom that loves nothing more then holding her baby as nuzzles up to her and drifts off to la la land. I loved glancing down and seeing his sweet little mouth, his eyes closed and long eye lashes fanned out. His little tiny fingers curled around mine. It would be in those moments, sitting in the rocking chair in the darkness of his room, that I would thank God for this incredible gift. I would breathe deeply and hold him close, realizing that this is my life now. I would feel incredibly humbled and grateful for the blessing that is my son.

I wouldn't change all that for the world, but now it's time to buckle down and get him onto a schedule. We decided it was time for Dom to get used to a regular bedtime and sleep through the night. I have been dreading this moment because i can't bare the thought of him crying and me not comforting him. I knew it would take a lot of strength for me not to rush in there and scoop him up and rock him to sleep. But he needed to learn how to go to bed when he was still awake. It would be better for him and us.

Our doctor recommended letting him cry for 5 minutes then going in and comforting him, then leaving again and repeating every 5 minutes until he finally goes to sleep. She warned it could take 25 times and not to give up. Monday was the first night we let him "cry it out." Bath, bedtime at 8pm, some snuggles and then in the crib. My poor baby screamed bloody murder and i thought i was going to die. I felt horrible. but I followed the docs suggestion and after the third time, he went to sleep! he woke up at midnight and i repeated the process and it worked! Tues night same thing. Wednesday night he slept all the way through. Tonight, he cried for 2 mins and then went to sleep. I am totally amazed and proud of my boy!

Toughest so far

Being a parent is hard. I mean, I knew it was going to be hard, but you have no idea until you're living through it. Dominic is 9 months old and I have come to learn that this age, while rewarding, is also exhausting. He's crawling up a storm, climbing on everything he can get his hands on and has no fear. This means eyes on him at all times. No exceptions. Gone are the days where I could put him in his bouncy chair and not worry. Now there isn't really anywhere I can put him and leave the room for a second to grab a tissue, or his sippy cup, or pee. It is, by far, the most challenging age so far.

There are tons of things that are awesome, and the totally out weigh the tough parts. He's really curious and loves to touch everything. He's learned how to do peek-a-boo with his blanket and loves playing that game over and over. He's totally into books and will take his time turning the pages, looking at the pictures and squealing in delight.


He's totally obsessed with our cat, Cuddles. Whenever he sees her he claps his hands and makes a mad dash towards her. He pets her...ok..more like pulls at her fur, but Cuddles is actually pretty patient with him. Every time she's around I say "cat!" and now when he sees her he says "Ca Ca Ca." It's amazing that he's trying to say cat!

There is nothing better than when he looks at me with a big smile, crawls into my lap and gives me a big hug. That is the just the best and always makes me feel like a million bucks. So even though I'm wiped out by the end of the night, it's worth every sleepless night and stressful moment. Because those pass and the overwhelming love I feel for my son never will.

Settling In

I'm thankful that packing is behind me and now it's just a matter of unpacking. I love our new home and can't wait to be done with all the boxes and mess. It's the first time I have moved out of Costa Mesa, which is a big step for me. Ok, ok, I know I'm still practically in Costa Mesa, but according to the U.S. Post Office, I now reside in Santa Ana. And I'm happy about it.

It's aweome to have a driveway where we can park three cars in the driveway. And I love that we don't have to cram everything into two small rooms. We have a backyard where Cub can learn to ride his bike and splash in a kiddie pool. Our neighborhood is so nice and quiet. I can take Dominic for walks and not worry about traffic or tons of people. It feels like a grown up home and I guess we are grown ups now, so it's pretty fitting.

Long Awaited Tooth

After months and months of teething, drooling and chewing everything he could get his hands on, Dominic finally got his first tooth! It's amazing to see a little white nub sticking out of his bottom gum. It's tiny and sharp, kind of like a shark tooth. I have to say, he looks so cute with a little tooth in his gummy smile. The one right next to it seems to be coming right behind it, so hopefully it won't be as painful as the first.

My Little Leprecahn

Happy St. Patricks day! I remember when this day was all about drinking green beer, partying it up and having a good time. This year it was a little different. I picked up Dominic from his babysitter, went home, gave him a bath and played together. Then I went to my weight watchers meeting and dinner with Lanie. I have to say, it was a pretty great way to spend St. Paddys day. There was no drinking involved, no drunken toasts, no Irish drinking songs, none of that. But I didn't really miss it. I had a great time with my baby and then a great evening with my best friend. I guess that means I'm content with the way my life is now.

Not to say that drinking it up means unhappiness. No, not at all. But I remember when I was pregnant, it was really tough for me to not be able to party because I missed that part of my life so much. I wasn't sure how things would go and if I would always feel like I was missing out on a good time. Well, I'm happy to report that I feel good about things. I have a different focus now. Don't get me wrong, I still love to have a night off and hang with Rob and my friends, let loose and go drinking. But I don't miss it as much as I feared I would. I'm in a different place and it feels pretty good. Before the highlight of my night may have been doing shots with my friends, but today, my highlight was that Dom stood on his own, without even realizing it.


He was playing and let go, Rob and I both were looking at each other thinking "oh my gosh!" Once he realized he didn't have anything that was holding him up, he kind of panicked and plopped back down on his butt. Another milestone accomplished!

Home Sweet Home

Moving sucks. I really really hate moving. I'm much more of a stayer. I move somewhere and then stay there for a long period of time. I lived with my parents for 21 years. I lived in my first apartment for 6 years. I lived in my second apartment for 4 years. You get the idea. I'm a total creature of habit, so it's been kind of rough for me to live in 4 different places in two years. Rob and I moved into our place on Pomona Ave (dubbed the Jungle House) in March 2009 and it has been good to us. But now with Cub's toys and realizing we still have boxes unpacked, we have come to grips with the fact that we have run out of room. It made sense to find a new place to live, but we had only been living there for a year, so i wasn't ready to move on. As it turned out, fate intervened. Our landlord raised the rent and it was just too much for our place, so the search began.

We looked at tons of different places, some great, some not so great. But none of them felt right. We were running out of time, and then it happened. Rob found our "diamond in the rough." For the same price and we would have been paying if we renewed our lease, we scored a four bedroom, two bathroom single family house. It's perfect for us, with a huge back yard for the Cub and a two car garage for Rob. It's somewhere that I can see us staying for a long while and setting our roots down. We move on March 20th, and there is a lot of packing to be done before then. Did I mention how much I hate packing?

A Bed For Three

Dominic used to do really well sleeping through the night, but over the past three months, he wakes up in the middle of the night and just won't go back down in his own bed. At the time he was teething pretty badly and so I would bring him into our bed to calm him down. That then turned into him going to sleep in his own bed (around 11pm, after rocking him to sleep) and then every night, making his way into our bed and sleeping there until the morning.

This is something that I never thought I'd do. When I was pregnant, I swore that we would never fall into this pattern because once there, it's hard to break. I have to admit, this turned into a nightly habit more because I was exhausted and just couldn't find it in me to stay up for an hour trying to get him back to sleep and into his own crib. It's hard not to when he snuggles up to me and falls asleep in my arms.

And now we are paying the price. Truth be told, we both like having him in our bed....he loves to snuggle and when he wakes up in the morning he laughs and smiles and just makes the day a great one right from the get go. But this is habit that isn't really benefiting anyone. He needs to learn to sleep in his own bed, and Rob and I need to reclaim our bed.

I know what needs to happen, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to go there yet. The idea of letting him cry breaks my heart so i guess I will need to toughen up. In the meantime, I'm glad we have a king size bed!

I love you because

I saw this on a website today and realized how true it is!! Having a baby changes a mom's life, but the bundle of joy also alters the way she looks at the world and lives each day. Here are some of the purest perks that come with being a mother.

1. You see everything for the first time again through the child's eyes — even ants are amazing.

2. A single gummy smile can save even the biggest wreck of a day.

3. When the infant fusses, your mere presence calms him.

4. If you rest your child on your chest, your hearts beat in unison.

5. When he laughs, he shakes, drools, and almost keels over, but it's the most adorable thing you've ever seen. So you make him do it again and again.

6. You think about the future in bigger and brighter ways. You picture him heading off to kindergarten and graduating from high school.

7. You anticipate and even dream of little things like a cutting tooth, a single step, or a two syllable utterance: "mama."

8. You forget about things you used to care so much about, because they actually don't matter at all.

9. You finally understand what "a mother's instinct" means.

10. Your will to live intensifies because you don't want to miss a moment of your child's spectacular life.

His futures so bright