Almost six months old...time sure does fly when you are having fun

Okay, loyal readers: disclaimer at the beginning...I don't have any photos this week.  Our computer has been on the fritz and we got a new hard drive from Apple.  For some reason they didn't put Iphoto back on our computer so right now we don't have a way to work with our photos.  And, actually, now that I think of it...we've been so busy this week, I don't think we have any new photos anyway.  If you're interested in hearing about our week, read on.  If you would rather see pictures, skip to past posts or come back in a few weeks.

This week we got hit by the sickness.  It wasn't as bad as some people have had it, but we got the first taste of what it feels like to take care of a baby when we are feeling under the weather.  Needless to say, Trey has had some very mellow and relaxing days over the past week.  I think he has a little bit of what Randy and I have, but so far it doesn't seem too bad.  Fingers crossed...

I spent four days at work over the past two weeks.  For two days Sandy (and my dad) watched Trey, and for the past two days Randy has been at home.  Both of them have experienced how tricky it can be to get sweet Trey down for a nap.  They also both got to experience how much fun it is to play with Trey all day and spend some quality time together.  I, on the other hand, got to experience the beginning of what it will be like to be a working mom.  Some thoughts that have crossed my mind in no particular order:
How early am I going to have to get up in the morning in order to get to work on time?
How late are we going to have to eat dinner so that I get to hang out with Trey before he goes to bed?
How on earth are we going to keep this house clean?
Women who pump while working should win awards.  Monetary awards would be nice, but Mother of the Year awards would suffice.
Wow, do I hope that my time home with Trey while working part-time will be worth it since my reduced income is going to make the next 9 months pretty damn tight.
Crap, my wardrobe choices are a lot fewer thanks to the baby weight.
When am I going to have time to exercise so I can increase my wardrobe choices?
Facebook is a lot more interesting when I only have time to look at it once or twice a day.

Fun things to share from this past week or so...
On Saturday Randy and I went to a baby sign language class put on by Tiny Talkers.  I think it's great that babies who sign supposedly start speaking earlier and have higher IQs, but the reason I went is so that Trey may be able to communicate some of his needs/wants/feelings to us before he can talk.  I guess we are supposed to start with three signs (the teacher suggested eat, milk, and more).  We haven't started yet...maybe next week?

We also had a babysitter on Saturday night so we could attend Randy's OHSU work party at OMSI.  Normally, Trey goes down pretty easily at night and I assured our sitter that she would literally be able to sit while we were gone since I was leaving after bedtime.  (Insert laugh here)  Saturday was the beginning of Trey's difficulty with bedtime and it's gone downhill since then.  My friend Stacy soothed him until almost 9pm when Trey finally passed out in her arms of fatigue.  Randy and I ended the night sitting at the bar at Breakside Brewery having a beer and some adult conversation.  We have had babysitters before (Aunt Julie) but we have always been out with groups of people.  This may have been the first time since Trey was born that it was just the two of us.  Nice.

Trey laughed for reals for the first time, is almost rolling from his back to his stomach (I'm afraid this may happen for the first time on the changing table) and is doing a nice job of sitting on his own for a few seconds at a time or for longer with minimal support.  He also started eating some rice cereal and that has been a hoot!  He is such a rock star!

Randy's parents get here tomorrow night and I can't wait for them to see Trey!!!  They haven't seen him since the middle of August and he has changed A LOT since he was 8 weeks old.   Also, on Sunday we are having a holiday celebration with my family in Eugene.  I can't wait for Trey to meet more of my cousins!  And Trey will be six months old on Monday...seriously??

 Well, here's a special treat for anyone who kept reading (or maybe you just scrolled down to see the pictures from last week's post).  I guess I can download pics from my phone but still don't have Iphoto.  Anyways, here is Trey from last week...he has begun to explore simple kitchen items as new toys.

And this is what I came home to today...my dear husband reading to my sweet son from his fly fishing book.  God, I love them both so much.

Back to reality

Okay, I admit it.  I thought I was going to be bored.  Antsy.  Stir crazy.  Cabin fever.  You name it.   If you know me, this probably is not much of a shock.  While I was thrilled to have a baby, I was worried that staying home full time would be really hard. I was wrong. I have loved it.

I have been lucky enough to stay home full time with Trey for five and a half months.  In two days I go back to work and am able to work part-time for the rest of this school year.  I'm lucky.  It will be fine.  Everything will be okay.  I need to relax.  (Can you hear Randy's voice in there?  He hasn't told me to relax - that would be mean - but I'm sure it's crossed his mind.)  While I am sort of looking forward to going back to my job and having something else to think about besides napping and pooping (his, not mine), I am absolutely dreading leaving Trey.

Here are some of the things I have loved about being home with him:
- Seeing him all the time
- Having him smile at me when he sees my face
- Being able to meet every one of his needs (that I can figure out)
whenever he needs it
- Being able to feed him all day long whenever he needs or wants it
- Watching him grow, change, learn new things, develop new skills
- Watching how he reacts to certain things with either delight or discomfort.  For example, he LOVES his farm animal book with the fold out pictures.  He smiles every time I read it.  He LOVES the Eentsy-Weentsy Spider song and calms down whenever I sing it.  He LOVES to be bounced on my lap when I sing one of the songs from Music Together.
- Our relaxing mornings which include coffee, the Today Show if he is napping, reading books (both his and mine), staying in our comfy clothes all morning long, and cuddling on the couch or the bed.
- Taking him to music class and Book Babies at the library and watching him react to the songs and watch the other babies.
- Going on walks, meeting for coffee, or just hanging out with girlfriends and often their babies.
- Seeing him all the time

Randy, Trey, and I decided to spend Thanksgiving with good friends this year.  Our friends, Steve and Jen, are moving back to Wisconsin next week after ten years in Portland, so we wanted to spend some time with them.  Sarah and Neil Kopplin were kind enough to host dinner at their house and it was awesome!  The only downside of not having Thanksgiving at your house (or wherever you are sleeping since we are usually at my dad and Sandy's)??  No leftovers!!!

Randy and Trey hanging out at the Kopplins before dinner

Zander and Zoe, friends forever

Trey did a great job on Thanksgiving but started to fuss
right when we sat down to eat.
I put him in the Ergo and ate standing next to Sarah's new beautiful buffet.

On Saturday my family came over to our house for a second dinner.
Randy grilled the steelhead he caught (see previous post) and we also had some steaks from our cow.

Julie was sick so she hunkered down in the corner and stayed away from Trey.

Tango finds himself very interested in Trey.  When Trey is on the floor, Tango wants to be right next to him.  He also tries to lick him all over.  I let him lick his feet and the back of his head, but not his face or hands because Tango eats cat shit from the yard all of the time.  Call me a worried mom, but that is just gross.  

Some closely supervised dog and baby time.  Lately Tango has been eating Trey's toys.  He only chews on the parts that Trey has sucked on.  This infuriates me and causes me to have to do a sweep of the house looking for stray items before we go anywhere.  Yesterday everything seemed to be picked up, so Tango decided to eat one of Trey's burp rags.  SO ANNOYING.

Picking out our Christmas tree at the local ghetto neighborhood tree lot

Trey in his warm fleece suit 

Our visit with Santa last week.

The professional picture that they took is even cuter because he is smiling in it. 

It kind of trips me out a little bit that I have a son sitting on Santa's lap. 

 In this picture, I think Trey looks like he has more hair than he actually does.

This picture is from the going away party Sarah and I hosted on Saturday night for Steve and Jen.  We have been friends for a long time and they have been a big part of my post-college life.  I can't believe they are going.  Girls night out won't be the same without Jen.  

Maybe the blog will get more interesting with better stories as I transition from stay-at-home mom to working mom and Randy and I try to adjust to this new chapter.  Stay tuned...should be fun.

So very thankful

Last year on Thanksgiving I wrote in my journal about hearing the heartbeat of our growing baby for the first time.  This year I am so proud to celebrate my first Thanksgiving with my son and husband.  I feel so blessed to have a healthy and happy son who I am raising with my loyal and supportive husband.  Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to burst with love for Trey.  I had no idea being a mother would be this amazing.

I also wrote in my journal last year about the excitement and anticipation of celebrating holiday traditions with Trey and Randy.  My mom created so many special memories for me and my sister , and I can't wait to carry over some of those traditions as well as start some of our own.   I've been looking for a Baby's First Christmas tree ornament because my mom bought us special ornaments each year so we would have our own collection when we were adults.  You'd be surprised how difficult it is to find an ornament celebrating the baby's first year...maybe I am looking in the wrong stores.

This past week has been pretty damn cold in Portland.  We even had a light sprinkling of snow; I can't remember the last time that has happened in November.  Of course, it shut down most of the area schools and freaked everyone out.  I have to admit that I stayed in the cave for a few days...I wasn't as worried about the driving, but I didn't really want Trey out in the cold.  The past three days have been very lazy and cozy for Mama and Baby.  It has actually felt really special since I am already starting the mental countdown to my return to work (two weeks from today).  Cuddling on the couch, lounging on our bed, reading stories, singing songs, dancing, snuggling in the rocking chair...it has been a really nice Arctic Freeze.

 Patiently waiting for Randy to come home from work after
a long, yet wonderful, day at home

Some daddy bonding time before bed

Last weekend we celebrated Trey's five month birthday by going to a few wine events with Kris and John.  It was a great time and we came home with some good wine.  We visited Archery Summit, Barking Frog, Vidon, and Crowley Wines.  Crowley Wines is owned in part by a friend of mine; the wines were delicious and I will now be looking for them in the stores.

Tasting some expensive wines at Archery Summit

Happy family in wine country

Trey's first time wearing shoes 

At Vidon - Trey was such a trooper.

John, Kris, Randy, and Trey

At the end of our day at Crowley Wines.  

Trey wore his Rush hat in honor of one of their wines named Entre Nous.

The other woman in Randy's life...

I feel lucky to have a husband who has such passion for the important things in his life. Sometimes I tease him that if he had to choose between me and the Deschutes River, he might choose her.  Now that Trey is in our life, I think I might win.

Yesterday Randy went fishing with a new friend, Russ, who is a professional photographer and newbie fly fisherman.  Russ is the one I mentioned before who biked across the country and writes Path Less Pedaled.  It sounds like they had a great time, and Randy even came home with a steelhead trout!

Circuit Training

The weather is changing and it's time to bundle up!  We have not been outside as much as before but Trey has a new (used) coat to keep him warm.  Big discoveries this week include finding his feet (as well as other parts he has found during diaper changes making the poopy changes VERY challenging for Mama...his life as a male will never be the same!).

A friend of mine called spending a day with the baby circuit training and so did my pediatrician.  It is so true!  Trey and I spend our days rotating from activity to activity.  We also get out of the house at least once if not twice a day, so I will include those in our rotation.

Trey in his exersaucer

He is always trying to get anything and everything in his mouth.

Tango and Trey have started to become more interested in each other.  So far the physical contact has been one sided.  We shall see how Tango reacts when it starts going both ways.

Trey on his playmat.  This usually is where he goes for some "chill out" or quiet time.  It also seems to be a place that he often poops.  Weird.

An action shot of Trey in his Johnny Jumper

Tango seeing how close he can get without Mama intervening

Closer

Contact!  Tango loves licking Trey and also loves licking feet.  

What a great combination! 

Playing with toys in his Bumbo seat

Randy's new discovery - Trey loves watching the fish in the aquarium.

Getting ready to head out for a walk

Hanging out at Kjersten's house...actually, this was a quick pit stop so I could feed Trey inbetween social outings.  Thanks to Kjersten for letting us drop by!

Other activities on the circuit include reading books (right now Mama's favorites include Mouse Paint and Who Said Coo?), quiet time in the swing, and playing with toys.  It's a busy life in the Clark house!

My mind is totally blank for a blog title this week.

4.5 months old and all bundled up to meet Aunt Julie and Uncle Tim

 at the Moon and Sixpence

Trey and I just got home from music class, and I just love the effect that music seems to have on him.  It is amazing to me that at four months of age, he already recognizes and responds to songs.  When he is crying, I can often sing Eensty Weentsy Spider to him and he will calm almost immediately.  Twinkle Twinkle Little Star does it too.  When he hears Hello Everybody (a song from music class), he always gets a huge grin on his face.  When he is crying in the car, we can turn on the cd from class and he stops crying almost every time.

We go to a Music Together class every Tuesday and it has been great to learn new songs, chants, movements, and dances with the other parents.  I am certainly the student in these classes and Trey is the happy participant.  I love watching Trey respond to the shakers, the drum, and the bells.  We have also met some really nice parents and babies.

Trey and I also try and go to Book Babies at the library every week.  We have found that the Monday afternoon session at the Hollywood branch seems to be the easiest to get to.  Sometimes we meet up with friends there, and it is a great opportunity to "talk shop" with other new moms.

I love checking out books from the library and try to read books with Trey every morning (I find that his attention span before bedtime makes reading books really tricky).  We all have hopes and dreams for our kids, and I just really hope Trey loves books and reading.  It scares me that he may/will/could grow up in a world where schools do not use books anymore and they rely on computers, Ipads, Kindles, electronic textbooks, etc. to get information.  I love choosing new books to read, starting a new book, and marking it with my bookmark each night when I can barely keep my eyes open putting the book away until the  next day.  I enjoy thinking about what I will read next and love talking about books with people.  Trey may not love reading as much as I do, but I hope he likes it a little (okay, let's be honest...more than a little).

Randy and his fishing buddy, Jason, acquainting their sons - future flyfishermen unite!

Saturday Randy and I went for a walk in SE Portland with the idea that we would end up at Coalition Brewing.  I had read in the paper that they had one of the best IPAs around.  It was delicious!  Can't wait to go back!

Trey wore jeans for the first time on Sunday.  We were invited to a brunch at Kellie and Ethan's so Randy could talk shop with Ethan's friend Russ.  Apparently, Russ and his girlfriend Laura just rode 10,000 miles around the country on their bikes.  Russ has taken an interest in flyfishing, so Randy talked to him about some places he could go while he is in Portland.  Their website about their bike trip is pretty cool.  Check it out:  Path Less Pedaled

Trey seems to be in a better mood this past week.  I'm not sure if his sourpuss attitude, frequent tears, and seeming discomfort was from preteething (I got some great advice from friends on Facebook), crappy napping, or what.  This past week we have been working on naps.  It's not going well.

My child has been invaded by a monster...

...and, no, I'm not talking about Halloween.

This past week Trey has seemed somewhat like a different baby.  He's hard to please, tired all of the time, super fussy, cries while eating, and just not himself.  Everyone mentions teething which I suppose it could be.  I asked the pediatrician about it at his appointment a few weeks ago and she said that drooling and chewing on everything in sight is just developmental.  Developmental characteristics for teething perhaps???  All I know is that my sweet baby has put his mother on edge.  I know I'm extra emotional when I get teared up at my much beloved Top Chef marathons.  It feels a little like week 3 or 4 when he cried for no apparent reason and we had trouble soothing him (or when I cried for no apparent reason and Randy had trouble soothing me??).

Trey dressed up by Dad and ready to go on a nap-inducing walk 

while Mom was away at work

Last week Randy and I had a role reversal for two days.  I went to a work conference and Randy stayed home with Trey.  I think it was a great perspective-taking activity for both of us.  I remember vividly coming home on Tuesday to find Randy crashed out in the recliner looking exhausted.  I was so eager and anxious to see Trey and cuddle him for the rest of the night.  Trey proceeded to fuss and cry for most of the evening making it hard to hold him, play with him, and, quite frankly, enjoy him.  I know this is often how Randy feels when he gets home at the end of the day.  For me, being away from Trey was not as difficult as I thought it would be.  It was actually sort of nice to spend some time talking and thinking about something other than the baby or the house.

This is about as Halloween as it got around our house this year.  We stopped by Kellie and Ethan's party for a little bit and then came home, turned out all of the lights, and hid from the trick-or-treaters (to be fair, our ghetto neighborhood doesn't get many trick-or-treaters anyways and I refused to have a bag of leftover candy sitting around to tempt me).

I can't believe it is November already.  Now when people ask me when I'm going back to work, I have to say, "Next month..."  Despite Trey's fussiness, he is such a delight.  Today I actually got teared up looking at him because he is just so freaking precious and had the cutest expression on his face.  Man, I love this baby!