9 Months

Expressing myself

Before Daniel makes 10 months. Had to quickly post his 9 month shots that we took a few weeks ago. :)

Daniel's monthly Winnedo (our Teddy Bear) shot

"I'm outta here!"

Winners vs. Losers

Though most of you (save my Sister) figured it out, Daniel "won". After 3 nights of crying, short soothing, crying, crying, short soothing, repeat exponentially and add tears of my own, on Tuesday night we decided the Ferber method was not meant for us. Daniel fell asleep sitting up on the first two nights that we attempted to Ferber-ize him, completely spent, but upright, swaying back and forth as he caught himself from falling even fast asleep. Our 3rd night as I stood outside the door in tears, and then later sitting with my head in my hands listening to his wails Ryan finally said what I think I knew, "Pick him up, this isn't right." And after carrying and comforting him and calming him down, as we put him in our bed (honestly, under usual circumstance he's not in our bed) he completely EXUDED happiness, it was just streaming out of his pores, he was wiggly, laughing, giggling, flapping his arms, touching me, touching Ryan, kicking his legs and could NOT stop smiling...and brought Ryan and I both to tears.

I know we thought that bearing with his sadness and tears was something that we could handle as parents, and something that we were hoping in the end would be better for him. But sometimes it's important to be flexible...and know what your limits are. :) Not to mention your baby's.

We'll have to teach him to sleep in his crib on his own soon. But for now we're enjoying the extra time to snuggle, and calm and soothe...and are loving every minute.

It's not all tears-standing and hanging out. 20 min.

Poor Daniel and mommy. Here we go again.

How I amuse myself in the car.

Recovered from last night. Look at my new big boy car seat!

40 minutes in. Complaining and playing with his pacifier.

I can do this. I can do this. 2 more minutes.

Oh dear. Already beginning. So sad.

Ferber-izing begins 10 minutes in

We love Aunty Pat's fish

Big boy at Cole academy

3:40. Thank heavens. Sleeping baby. Now mommy can sleep!

3:30. Omg. Someone help me. Who's stubborn genes are these?!

3:20. Holey schmoley. The will power of this kid.

3:10. Eyes closed but not giving up. Save me Aunty Cecily!

3 am. Silence. Not sleeping. Standing and playing in bed.

2:45. Still going.

Oh dear. 2 am. Someone doesn't want to sleep

Time to sleep? I don't think so.

Daniel's friends

truthchild shared an Instagram photo with you

Hi there,

truthchild just shared an Instagram photo with you:

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"Sunday afternoon "hike" with Daniel. "

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Nice way to wake up on a Sunday Morning.

2013-01-09 11:06

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Recorded with Audio Memos.

love

you know it's love when you can hold your baby as he's straining and whimpering because he doesn't know how to poop yet...

and you know it's love when you can hold your baby as he vomits down your back, and then 10 minutes later vomits down your front because you'd rather be able to comfort and console him then put him down.

being a mommy is special. :)

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Sad little sick boy pouting in his sleep after throwing up 4 times
in one hour.

Sunday Afternoon in the yard

New Years Eve

Peek-a-boo!

Tried to catch this several times over past couple days, but of course someone stops performing as soon as the camera comes out. :) It's cuter when he does it with Ryan's boxers that he pulls out of the (clean) laundry basket...and cuter when he laughs in between...but a diaper pad and little smile will have to do.

Here's Daniel's latest trick. :)

Meant to post last month

Happy New Year

It's the evening of January 2nd, and I'm lying in bed with my 2 boys as they take a late nap, listening to Ryan softly snore and Daniel's breathing...and this unfamiliar feeling fills me briefly and I can identify it before it's gone. It's happiness. It's that light shiny feeling you get inside...that I used to get so often...but haven't felt since we lost Andrew...and before the sadness crept back in... I smiled to myself and realized that this is a good thing, and this is a good way to start the year... and then tears came to my eyes, because it's hard to be really happy without Andrew...but then you look at my sweet little boy sleeping beside me and you think, well how can I not be?

We made it through the Holidays, and that's a big step. It was hard to feel not entirely joyful like the Holidays normally are for us, but we made it through and though there were tears (lots of them) there were also lots of smiles and even laughter.

I refuse to say that 2012 was a bad year, because despite the incredible challenges we faced, we were also graced with such infinite joy for 4 months...but I think it's okay to wish for us and for those of you reading our blog that 2013 be a little better...be filled with peace, be filled with happiness, be filled with love, with hope and a little more stability.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

With Love,

Stacy, Ryan & Daniel















PS...one of my New Years Resolution is to be better at blogging particularly about Daniel so our mainland family and friends can be kept up to date more. ;)