Six Months Old

Can you believe my baby is six months old? Unreal. He is so good at so many things: sitting, standing with support for balance (not strength--he is STRONG), smiling, laughing, crying, staring, spitting, reaching for toys and picking them up, eating oatmeal cereal (not green beans so much), and so many things I can't possibly count. He is the sweetest boy to ever live.





See?

Four Months Old Today

I can't believe Rock is four months old--I really can't believe that, today, he sat up by himself for the first time!

How sweet is he? He's getting so big. At first, I didn't have my camera and didn't think I would get a picture of it today, but, lo and behold, he can just do this whenever. I can't wait for him to get really good at it!







He is just too sweet for words. He's grabbing everything and putting it in his mouth--what a smart, sweet, loving, chivalrous baby I have!

Saying Goodbye to Size 1 Diapers

This morning, I put my baby in the very last size 1 diaper he will ever wear in his life. I can't believe how big he's getting. I probably should have moved him up a size over a week ago, but I just couldn't bring myself to admit that he's so big.

Watching Rock grow has been the highlight of my life for the past 16 1/2 weeks. I can't believe it's been than long! Who would have thought that time would pass so quickly. I was afraid he wouldn't even resemble a baby when he was 4 months old, but now that it's only a week and a half away, I am happy to say that he still will be a baby (just don't tell him that).

In the past weeks, Rock has learned to:

Suck his thumb (since he was about 2 weeks old)
Stick his tongue out
Blow raspberries
Grab toys and put them in his mouth
Stand on his own two feet (with help, and since he was about 7 weeks old, maybe a little younger, even)
Coo and scream, even--he's a good yeller
Do some serious mini pushups
Hold an excellent flying Superman pose
Sleep through the night (every night since he was about 7 weeks old)
Understand and love praise--and getting his picture taken
Smile and laugh
Grin mischievously after he poops

And a million other things, and he only gets better and better at them as time goes on. What a sweet, adorable baby. He's brilliant and he is the best thing that ever happened to me--with the sole exception of marrying Michael.

After 4 Years

Four years ago (yesterday), I married Michael--it was not easy to resist using the lame cliche, but he is my best friend and he will be forever.
I can't believe it's been four years, and I can't believe it's only been four years--it feels like four seconds and eternity at the same time; strange how that happens.

We had a fun anniversary--we even went to Sonic and got a cream slush and onion rings, just like we did on our wedding night. That was so fun.

Knitting Again!

It's true, after an almost-six-month hiatus, I am able to knit again. I'm working on a couple of little projects (actually pretty ambitious projects, but I was just so excited to jump right in). The gestational carpal tunnel was the least of my worries during my pregnancy, but I am just SO happy that I am able to knit again. I have a million projects to work on--and I decided to make everyone's Christmas gifts again this year, if I can finish in time.

Here is the coolest wearable thing I've ever made in my life:






A flapper-style dress and matching hat for my new niece, Eliza. It won't fit for a little while, obviously, but it's just so cute and I'm really proud of it. The ruffles are just so sweet. And the little medallions are the perfect finishing touch.
I made it with KnitPicks comfy yarn in flamingo and fedora (the vintage pink is just too beautiful). The patterns are from Tot Toppers--she's got lots of cute stuff, but this set is by far my favorite.


I can't believe I finished it already. And, since then, I've moved on to Christmas again. This time, I'm making something for my own baby:





It totally looks like I made it, obviously, but it's okay. It'll be fun for Rock to play with when he can grab things and play with them. This is just the first piece in a whole transportation set. I still haven't embroidered the spokes on, but, really, whoever thought of making the horrible, slow-going, tedious part last was an imbecile.

But, for the time-being, I have set aside this fun transportation set and am working on some fun socks. I have a ton of sock yarn (maybe not an actual ton, but a significant number of boxes of the stuff) that I have decided I will use before I do anything else. I'm going to start making ankle socks--I, personally, wear those way more than long socks, and they are faster, and they are cheaper to make, so they are just better all-around.

I am currently making a great pair of socks with a cable-needle-less cable pattern for my new sister-in-law. Pictures will follow (if I ever finish this project). Then I am on to my ankle socks! Yipee!

Introducing Rock Layne Walbridge

Oh, because I never posted it, here is the 38-week picture, taken three days before Rock was born.




So, obviously, Rock is here now.
After an emergency induction on my birthday, almost 30 hours of labor, an emergency c-section, a day-and-a-half stay in the NICU and a more-than-5-day hospital stay for me, Rock is here and we're home.

He is the sweetest baby ever, and he does a great job with eating, playing, sleeping, and pooping. I'm happy that the playing part is lasting longer and longer every day. He's super strong for his age and he has the most adorable smile I've ever seen. He is so happy and fun.


Right after he was born--before I was even conscious or coherent


Just a few hours old


Having a little moment with Daddy


Big yawns


What a sweet baby


He's so alert, even when he's only a couple days old


Did I mention he's a thumb sucker? And he has been from birth. He only gets better and better at it


He hated getting his shots


And here he is today--10 weeks old! What a big kid.


I can't wait to make the trip out to see my family so they can all meet him.

Week 37

So, now the baby is full-term. What an exciting and scary thing!

We've had a total of four baby showers--all so much fun and one a complete surprise! We still have to order the changing table and the crib (which can wait, as the cradle will work for at least a couple of months) and some sheets and stuff, but, other than that, we are totally ready for him to come. Plenty of clothes and blankets and even some bath stuff.

I am ready for him to stop squishing me and I'm ready to lose some of this weight (or all of it). I'm tired of being so huge and achy and tired.

I tried really hard to pack my hospital bag, but I just can't seem to get more than a couple things in it before I freak out and have to stop. I don't want it to be that real. But I do. Things will be easier when I don't have to go to work every day anymore. Just three more days of work--and that is if I decide to not call in sick on Thursday as is my plan.

The non-stress test went really well on Monday--I'm hoping for more good news next Monday. But I'm also hoping for them to induce before the new date of May 8th. I'm thinking May 1st works for me. Everything is coming so fast, though, and it's kind of unbelievable. I'm so excited for everyone to meet this sweet little baby. He's such a good baby.