Yea...we dig cereal.

Being a new mom has been quite the adventure. I find myself blocking the crazy advice of peers, instead trying to go with my instincts. So far, so good...well, I guess. My little man has for the most part been healthy. He's a whopping 19lbs at just 18 weeks of age. He smiles, hysterically laughs, rolls over, loves his swing and play mat...a perfect little boy.

Well, at his three month doctor's appointment, the pediatrician informed me that as he approached four months of age, I could begin giving him rice cereal. I was thrilled at the idea of giving him 'real' food. He was extra fussy one night, so I decided to give it a shot. I went to my cabinet and grabbed the box of Rice Krispies...rice cereal, right? I did think this out a bit. I waited until the cereal was extra soggy. He LOVED it!!! For about two weeks, Benji and I bonded over rice cereal. I ate my bowl, he ate the breast milk version. Things were great...until I informed a friend of this milestone. I instantly, blurted "my pediatrician told me it was fine", knowing I somehow goofed.

My husband and I laughed for a good hour after the discovery of powder cereal. I guess no one is perfect and moments like this will make for great stories when Ben is older. I've discovered that babies are pretty resilient and I love learning with him.

So in love...

It has been awhile since I've had an opportunity to post something. I started to write a blog about childbirth, but after three attempts to complete it, I simply gave up. Now, it's all a blur. I vaguely remember telling people the day after Ben was born how horrifying and painful it was. Now, I shrug it off an say "yea, it wasn't so bad." Today I am a firm believer in 'mommy amnesia.'

Mommyhood has been amazing. The first month was insane. This little creature just popped into our lives...it was crazy. I've never been much of a 'baby person.' Even now, I wouldn't go out of my way to stop a mom and ask questions about her child. But I can tell you, I am head over heels insanely in love with this little boy. Despite the initial lack of sleep, non-stop diaper changes, chapped nursing nipples, and at one point, never ending cries, this child is the best thing that has ever happened to us.

I'm back at work now; I have been for a little over a month. It was tough, but not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I'm not thrilled with my job, but it is nice to have something else to do during the day. The fact that he's with my husband during the day is also comforting...Mike is super dad.

Finally, I can say we're at a point where we are back in control of our lives and sort of know what we are doing. Ben's on a sleep schedule and for the most part sleeping through the night. I differentiate between his cries and know when he's suffering from gas, annoyed, over tired, or bored. I find enjoyment and happiness in the funniest things now. When he farts, I feel relieved knowing all that gas is going somewhere. When he sits there with a string of drool hanging from his face, it cracks me up. I'm amazed at how quickly he is growing (4 months and already 19lbs!), and by every new skill he learns. The first time he belted out a full blown chuckle, my heart melted and we sat there laughing together.

My little boy is the greatest gift God has ever given me and I never imagined how much better my life would be. I joked during pregnancy that all I wanted was to hit up the bar and drink a margarita. Now, I could really care less. I can't promise I will be posting blogs regularly, but I'll make an effort. The swing usually buys me 20 minutes, and nap times are typically used for dishes and laundry.