The World According to Micah

Since that first little word "Dada" (fyi...it still bothers me that he didn't say mama first) Micah has simply amazed me at what he says.  Now that we can get more than a word or two out at the same time life has become funny!  For a short time all you would hear at our house was "Mommy, Daddy" "a apple" "a book" and I found the humor in that (mainly because he would try to feed his father the apple, and for anyone that knows Chuck you know this did not end well!). 

We have been working on the 3-4 word sentences and also working on MANNERS!  The funniest thing with this, is that he repeats you, so if you want him to say Please, you say PLEASE, if you give something and you would like him to say thank you, you need to say THANK YOU!  Well last night I got the best gift.  I put Micah's dinner down in front of him, and sat down to eat.  Before I could even begin he looked at me and said "Thank you mommy".  Melt my heart <3

Some of my other favorite phrases right now are "that bunny" (that's funny), "no, daddy bed" (yes, this is where he believes daddy is everytime he wakes up from bed or a nap), "no way" and "a manny" (fruit snacks).  However, the phrase that we hear the most is "OWEN".....

While I've been gone....

So it's been awhile...sorry! Life is crazy and when the summer hit and Micah and I had our husband/daddy back we took it and enjoyed each other. Since the last time I wrote Micah has grown and changes so much. He's now 18 months old, talking up a storm and what I like to call Mr. Independent.

Micah has had his 1st and 2nd sleep over....mommy doesn't like them but Micah does!! He helps to get himself dressed, walks up and down the stairs, helps get his bath ready and picks out what he wants to buy/ wear!!!

We just had Micah's teacher conference and he's right on track if not ahead of others his age. His teacher believes we will be holding conversations (that make sense) by January. Each day we get more and more 2-3 word sentences! It's so exciting to finally start to understand what he's thinking.

Life is getting more exciting by the day and now that the school year has started again (which means lots of night time meetings for my other half) I will have plenty of time to keep up on the life of Micah!!!

Get ready to laugh, cry and just be amazed!!

Work & Daycare.....

Never did I imagine that it would be time to go back to work.  After being home for over a month before having Micah and then being home with him for the next 3 months, I couldn't believe it was July and time to go back to work. As a parent, one of the hardest things is finding someone you feel comfortable leaving your child with. I have been blessed to find just that place.

I have to say that my situation is the best one any new mom could ask for!  Since my husband and I work and live on a college campus (yes I said LIVE! My husband is a full time professional for the Office of Housing and Residence Life) we were very, VERY fortunate to be able to get Micah into the on campus day care.  What does this mean? It means, no driving, no waiting in traffic and I get to see him anytime I want!

I have to say, that although I would LOVE to stay home everyday with Micah, he has learned and done so much that I know he wouldn't if he was home just with me.  He LOVES people, plays so well with other kids, and has learned and been socialized.  He is ok if I have to leave him with other people (granted to this day, and he's a year old) he has NEVER had a babysitter other than family, and I can honestly say that has only been 2-3 times!  I leave him to go to work, so I enjoy and want to spend all my other time with him.

The people at the Child Development Center are wonderful and I can tell that they really love Micah.  . Each monring Chuck and I would go and drop him off, everyday got a bit easier, and every afternoon we'd pick him up. It was great!  I knew that I could walk over and see him all the time, I also knew that if he needed me I was seconds away from him.  Micah gets excited when he sees his school (yes I call it school) and his friends.  He loves everyone (expecially Mary-Liz...she's a student here at ODU that works in his classroom, and Micah LOVES her!) 

Now that Micah is one, it's time to start thinking about him moving up to the next classroom. I do not like to think about this, nor do I want to talk about it.  I want him to stay in the Infant Room forever!  I love the Mrs. Joann and the girls.  They have helped and loved my baby since he was 3 months old....I can't image him not being in that room. However, I know that he needs to grow and learn new things....but if they ever want to steal him back I'm OK with that!!

So to my CDC ladies....thank you for loving, caring for and all you have done for Micah! We love you!!!!

It's time to turn ONE

So I've been trying to catch up and write my posts in order, but as I sit here an hour and a half away from my babies first birthday I'm overcome with so many emotions. Tonight I was wrapping presents and putting toys together and just started remembering how a year ago I was in the hospital wondering when I was going to have my baby (and really still thinking labor wasn't that bad. Lets be serious LABOR hadn't really started!) I still can not believe, or don't want to believe, that Micah is turning one. Where did the year go? How did time pass so quickly? Where did my little baby go?
The year- it passed way to quickly. Days started, and days ended. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months. Before I knew it Micah was crawling, talking, walking, getting teeth and finding his personality.

Time passed quickly- because we were living life, but enjoying every minute. Bath time, the zoo, aquarium, trips to New Hampshire, California, and so much more. Time passes quickly when you're having fun and let me tell you this year has been full of fun and excitement.
My little baby- he's grown into a little man. He's funny, sweet, caring, crazy, wild and absolutely PERFECT!!

 While I'm not ready for Micah to turn one (or really grow at all) I've loved watching him accomplish some many things. He's so proud of himself and we encourage everything he does (even what some others might find small or trivial). I'm excited to see what he learns next, and to see what kind of person he becomes. He will always be my baby, but already he has times where he wants to be independent, and I'm NOT ok with that!!! (really I am....I just want him to always want me).

Thank you Micah for coming into the world. You truly are the BEST thing that I have ever done. A year ago (almost) my life became complete, because you entered it. While somethings have been trying this year, I wouldn't trade a sleepless night, a moment of worry or frustration, or any second of the last year for ANYTHING!!!!

Happy Birthday Micah Jace!

"I'll love you forever
         I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living,
         My baby you'll be!"

What would I have done without Erin?!

For anyone who knows my sister and I, you have known us to always have a love/hate relationship (as most siblings do).  So it may come as a shock when I say "Thank you Erin, and I love you for being there for me, Chuck and Micah whenever you are needed.  You are a great Aunt!!"

Erin and my dad arrived hours after we got home from the hospital.  The plan was that they were going to stay with my Aunt and Uncle in Virginia Beach that night, but then Erin was going to come stay with us, she said that she wanted to do nighttime with Micah and let Chuck and I sleep, but I couldn't understand how she thought that was going to happen, I wasn't going to let ANYONE take care of my baby.

Our first night went well. Micah slept great (I was waking up every 4 hrs to feed him...and he was still asleep), and while I slept, I didn't at the same time.  I watch him breath, stared at his face, and just sat their in awe of it all.  He was the perfect baby.  He only cried when he was really hungry or really tired...he was PERFECT!

The next day, Erin and my dad came back over.  I enjoyed visiting with them and having them spend time with Micah.  We ended up going to visit with some of my family and it was great to show off Micah.  As we were leaving my aunts, I was told to let Erin help me, and if she wanted to get up at night let her.  I was reminded that she was only here for a few days, and I should take the help while I had it available.

That night, I said OK!   I was going to let Erin do the nighttime feedings.  She of course was wonderful. She listen to all my neurosis...I mean she wasn't me so I had to tell her exactly how to do it all, right?  I went to bed that night not sure if I could really do it.  He wasn't a week old yet and already someone else was taking care of him.  Like clock work, I woke up every 4 hours, I would peek in and she'd tell me how much he had eaten, diaper changes and everything.  She let me be crazy and over protective.

For the next couple nights, I let Erin do all she wanted with Micah.  Chuck and I were able to get some sleep, and by the time Erin and my dad had to leave, I felt great.  BUT, I didn't want them to go.  I had enjoyed them being with me, and now I was on my own.

I am truly blessed and thankful for all Erin has done for and with Micah.  They already have such a wonderful relationship and such a strong bond.  His face lights up whenever he sees her or hears her voice. He loves her and you can tell just by the way he looks at her.  While I don't always enjoy the high pitch squeals she teaches him, I couldn't ask for a better Aunt for my son.  To this day when she visits, she sleeps in his room and WANTS nighttime duty, and even though she is on vacation (you know the thing you go on to relax), she wants to spend her time with him.

I've joked many times, but I think it's true....he is the #1 man in her life, and he's happy to have to role (and I don't think he'll give it up to ANYONE!) Auntie, Micah J loves you  (Erin thank you for all you do for him!)

Bringing Home Baby

After spending days in the hospital it was finally time to head home. Yes, I said HOME. It was admitted on Monday morning and by Friday afternoon I was finally FREE!!!! To this day I don't know how I did it, but I climbed in the back of our 2 door Civic and sat next to Micah the whole way home (now just a recap...I had a c-section and thought this was a good idea), well needless to say getting out to a bit of work but I made it.

That trip home was the scariest, most exhilarating trip of my life. Every car that passed made me cringe and as we got closer to home, I kept thinking finally. It didn't help that I knew my dad and Erin would be getting to my house just hours after we got home.  I was so excited to show off my baby to my family, and I knew they were excited to meet him.  At the same time I knew how hard this was going to be without my mom there....but that is sometimes how life goes (and a whole other post all on its own!)

Upon arriving home I was overcome as we walked in the door, just us three for the first time.  It really is a feeling that you can't explain unless you've experienced it yourself. There are so many emotions that run through you.  Happy, scared, excited, nervous, relieved, anxious, energetic & tired...all at the same time!!!   We had just a few guests once we got home, and I of course changed Micah into some cute pjs (ok, let me be serious. I was told I was having jumbo baby so I bought a 0-3 month outfit to wear home.  Well, I had peanut baby so he was SWIMMING in it.  Needless to say he was wearing newborn clothes, so yes I had to change him into something that fit.) 

While waiting for my dad and Erin, Chuck and I enjoyed our first moments home together.  We feed him, burped and changed diapers.  I was on cloud nine (I think Chuck could have done without the diapers!!)  Then I got the phone call "we're here!"  I jumped up (as fast as someone who just had a c-section could) and waited...here they came.  Now, for you who don't know me, my dad NEVER had boys....he was the lucky father to 3 girls and a beautiful granddaughter, Micah was the first boy!!  My dad finally had his fishing buddy, and they were friends from the start.  

My first couple hours at home were going great....and they were only getting better!

Pictures of the most handsome boy in the world....

Our first days together...

The hospital was full of busy days and crazy nights.  Micah was a good baby, he slept through the night and loved to snuggle.  My world was finally the way it should be.