Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Last Week.... in a Nutshell

It's been so much easier, for obvious reasons, to leave Kemper with his dad lately. Since he's been weaned I've been out on my own a couple of times. Last Thursday I went to work at my mom's store, "Bake and Bits". I left pretty much as soon as Kevin got home from work. I got a couple of calls that night. One was, "Yeah, so how do you open this diaper genie thing?" The "Diaper Genie" is relatively new to our house, so that was understandable. The next one was Kevin saying, "what's wrong? I got a message from your mom saying, "'Pick up the phone, Kevin,'" and he said she sounded upset. Here's the thing, my mom often sounds upset on the phone.... she swears she's not, but sometimes she worries me! I got home around 9:30 to see the wee man in the kitchen sink... and he gave me a big huge smile. So nice to be welcomed home with a sweet smile. I was worried about him being asleep, but apparently he had a nap so he was a little behind schedule.

Friday was a nice evening in.

Saturday I got crazy stuff done around the house. Cleaned all the nooks and crannies. Tucked in speaker wire here and there. After all, it won't be long and he'll be crawling. He's already motoring around the livingroom backwards. He's got the hardwood floor figured out!

Saturday my cousin Sarah was getting married. I missed the ceremony, but really wanted to get to the reception. I knew Kevin had a long day, so my mom and I had intended on going. My mom ended up having a really busy day at work, too. So, I decided that I would go on my own. I'd never gone to a wedding by myself. I am so glad that I went. I ran into two of my most cherished friends Karla and Mark. I haven't seen them since their wedding back in September '03. We've had brief contact, mostly through the Blogging World, but this is the first time I've got to give them great big hugs since a tradgedy struck their hopes and dreams. Their beautiful daughter, Ava Marie, was born with wings on April 14th, 2005, and after seven short hours with her loving parents and family she flew on up to Heaven.

Ava's mommy and daddy are two of the strongest people I know. Despite what they've been dealt, they are dealing. The best way they know how. Together. They are not sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. They are out there making sure Ava's memory is and forever will be, very much alive. They are making their baby girl proud.

Kemper's mama kissed his head when she got home.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Love ya, love ya!


Our sweet angel, sleeping on a fall walk at Gramma's house.



Every fall, when everyone is heading back to school, I find myself longing for the good ol' days. The care free days of college where it was my decision whether I got up to go to class, and just the wonderful times of new friends, and a new city. Not so much this year. I think it may be because I am now my little man's slave, and not a slave to "the man". It's funny how just a few months off and I have not had a back ache (despite carrying the 18 and a half pounder around all day), a stress migraine, or wanted to completely blow my top! Only a few months left, but I hope to be a different person when I head back to work in March. Enough, about that though...

What's new over here? Kemper is now weaned from his mama. I was indecisive near the end at whether or not to keep the before bed feeding. It was an easy enough decision as I stood in the mirror and saw the breast pads through my T-shirt.... enough of that already! When I was pregnant I told Kevin I would nurse for a month, and then I would return to my selfish ways... I wanted to go back on my acne meds, and I wanted to have a cigarette. Little did I know that when Kemper was placed in my arms my selfishness would subside. All I cared about was Kemper and his health. I have given him everything I could, and I managed to nurse for 6 and a half months. And I will continue to give him the gift of a non-smoking mommy. I think at the beginning of my pregnancy, it was just, like I said before, the selfishness of wanting to be *my own* person again. I don't need cigarettes to be my own person.

Kemper had his first and second over nighter in the same week! Kevin and I were lucky enough to join his brother Shane and his girlfriend Sandra for the Leafs game last Tuesday night. It was nice to be able to leave him and be comfortable with it. When he was brand new, I had a hard time leaving him at all, let alone for the night. I felt good about being out as a couple with my husband, but I did miss the little one. I held back from calling Nana and Papa just to see what he was doing. I was there to pick him up at 7:30am. Corson was more excited to see me then Kemper was! *L*

We went to Kevin's cousin Chris and Carlissa's wedding on Saturday. Again, was 100% comfortable with it, but just missed him. It got a little easier through the night as I was distracted by dancing. We returned to the hotel around midnight, and I told myself that "yes, it is too late to call.... and if they needed me, they'd call!" We had breakfast the next morning at Kevin's Uncle Don and Aunt Linda's with Brain, Amanda, and Grandma and Grandpa Fawcett. It was a very nice visit, and when we said our good-byes, I was ready to be home.
24 hours and he didn't forget who we were!

He's been blowing raspberries for a while now, but now he's trying to do the little indian chant on his own, and to move his fingers up and down on his own lips to make silly sounds.

He still only has the one tooth, but I'm pretty sure there are more on their way shortly. He's constantly gumming on something, usually whatever he can get his mouth on, even his pudgy little toes.

Tonight we begin a new phase, as mommy heads to work at the store when daddy gets home from his day at work. Daddy will be flying solo from dinner until bed time tonight. I might be home on time to say good night, if he's up past 9. If not, I will learn how daddy feels when he is out late and only gets to kiss the sleeping head of our beautiful baby boy.

So, good night Sweet Angel, mama will see you in the morning.

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Six Sweet Months

Here's the K-dog in the kitchen sink. He loves, loves, loves the bath!
This is the little man on his 6 month birthday! Look at me now!

Our First Family Photo


This photo was taken by Gramma B., who was fortunate enough to be at the hospital when we got the wee man back from Orillia the night after he was scooped away from us with low blood sugar.

I can hardly believe he was that small!

PS I know you're probably thinking "enough with the old pics! Let's get some new ones!" I'll do my best to get some on tonight!

Monday, October 03, 2005

Wrapped around his baby finger

Kemper has picked a fine time to start saying mum-mum-mum-mum-mum.

As I lay him down for his morning nap and walk away, ofcourse the tears start. It's kind of a *I'm-not-even-tired-why-are-you-doing-this-please-just-hold-me-and-love-me* cry, but you know how we're trying to break the poor lad of needing us to fall asleep. So I walk back down to check on the teary eyed boy, and to re-insert the Nuk in his mouth, when he looks straight up at me and in a teary voice he says, "mum-mum-mum-mum-mum". Almost like, "see, I know who you are, and I want you to PICK ME UP!" Let me tell you, it takes everything (and I *do* mean everything) not to pick him up and cuddle my wee soldier.

We have been able to have some mommy-baby bonding time through the nights recently. On Saturday night I was awoken by some serious crying. This is quite unusual for Kemper, who usually just wimpers a bit and maybe talks a little. When I went into the nursery he was on all fours crying and rocking back and forth. Something had to be upsetting him... and Sunday, we discovered what that was!

Kemper got his first TOOTH!

Jen and I decided to do something to celebrate the beautiful fall day, so with Kemper in tote we took off to the Collingwood area to get some apples. We had an interesting time with no map or real idea of where we were going, but we found some fresh local apples. Originally we had planned on looking for a U-Pick orchard but ended up being just as satisfied with some already picked ones. We asked the girl at the apple stand if she knew of any good places to eat, and she recommended Piper's in Thorbury. The food was fantastic. Kemper had some yummy beans and rice cereal (no, they don't serve baby food, mama brought it with us). He played in the highchair while we ate. And I'm not really sure how I ended up with my finger in his mouth, but.... that-kinda-feels-like-a-tooth! Holy smokes! So that's what all the fussin' was about! Poor lil dude!

I have come to the conclusion that I am in for itwhen Kemper gets older. Perhaps even just a little bit older. He has been such an incredible baby. I mean, who really deserves a baby *this good*? If Kemper cries, there is something wrong. He's not a "well, I just feel like crying" baby. And I have gotten *countless* comments on what a happy baby he is. And he is. This morning when I went to answer his calls from his crib, he just looked up and smiled in the darkness. What a perfect angel. The most beautiful smile I've ever seen.

I never imagined I would love being a mom this much.