Last week I wrote a post patting myself on the back for having completed the 100 Mile Challenge. That was nothing.   Yesterday, Gage was able to participate in a Grandpa milestone.

My dad had a heart attack and bypass surgery when he was 37.  That’s two years younger than I am now.  I’m not sure he changed much about his lifestyle, still smoked and ate the same stuff, until he was 53.  Then he decided to quit smoking and his doctor said he’d have to keep himself busy.  Well, he did.  In May of 2000 he walked 34 miles and on September 24th he completed his 30,000th mile.  He only remembers about 4 days in those years where he didn’t walk at all, when he had stents put in his heart years ago. I don’t know how many tennis shoes, socks or umbrellas he’s gone through, but let’s just say a lot.

If we do the math that means he averaged over 221 miles per month for 136 months straight.

Gage ‘s Grandpa showed him that it’s never too late to take charge of your health and that completing a goal is often as easy as having a streak of stubbornness.  My dad walked the first half of the momentous mile with my cousin Bill and then drove up here so he could finish the mile with Gage.  Someday soon Gage will be able to take walks with his Grandpa where I’m sure lots of grandfatherly wisdom will be passed on.  He is lucky to have such a great grandfather.

I remember a friend telling me when I first told her I was pregnant that I would get used to the uncomfortable doctor visits and by the time the baby arrived that I would have no shame and wouldn’t care who was looking or poking and prodding or where.  She was mostly right.  And I know that last illusion of privacy, the bathroom, is one that I will probably not get to appreciate again for many years.  But, if someone were to watch me sleep I am sure I would be appalled.  I am a light sleeper, which is great now that Gage is here.  I am never still for very long (I’m guessing) and I  know I snore occasionally (yuck).

Now that we’ve started watching Gage’s video monitor like it’s reality tv I feel a little guilty.  When he wasn’t moving around much it was great to see that he was okay, but now that he’s moving around more I see that he sleeps a lot like his mother. Poor kid. But he’s also bendy like his dad, yay 🙂   A few shots will show you just how much fun it can be to watch him from the comfort of your own bed.  These were taken over the course of one night.

Do you think he’s got the camera figured out?  The video monitor is a wonderful thing for parents but I’ve also come to rely on it and feel nervous when I can’t see him.  What did you all do before monitors?  I think sometimes that I might get a better night’s sleep!

When you are a brand new parent you look at those parenting guides like the law.  They tell you when your baby is supposed to do this or do that and are supposed to be helpful.  Well, they are, at least until your perfect baby is late for one.  Then panic ensues and your husband has to listen to you obsess over every little thing.  And at only a month or two old there isn’t a lot going on so it is easy to put unnecessary pressure on yourself and your baby.

Milestones are important.  At the beginning of each new month I look at the What to Expect book and the Baby 411 book for new tricks Gage should be learning, but I don’t obsess anymore.  Those first three months I drove myself and Jason crazy.  Some milestones he was early for (raising his head, bearing weight on his legs), some he was right on time (sitting up), and others he was late for (smiling).  But somehow if you wait a month or two you’ll find that your baby will do things on his own time.  As my pediatrician told me, “the baby doesn’t read those books.”

All of the obsessing doesn’t make it happen any faster and you lose happy time just enjoying your baby.  Having said all that Gage did reach a very important and scary milestone this week.  He is crawling!  All others to this point pale in comparison to this life changer.  He is fast and I’ll admit that we are a little late in baby proofing the house.  It’s so much fun to watch him cruise around on his own.  See?

But with this freedom comes stressful moments like these…

He falls down.  A lot.  But at least not off this step so far 🙂  Welcome to the crazy train.  I’ve had a lot less time at the computer this week for very good reason !

Thanks for all of the advice on the napping last week.  I confess I have not been very successful this week, but I’m okay with that.

During my 10 months as a mother I’ve learned many things, but some of the most important lessons are labeled, tried this-big mistake  We snuggle Gage to sleep in our bed.  Always have.  At first because we loved the special time and then because it was good for his acid reflux to at least fall asleep elevated, on a pillow.  We have stuck with this because it works and we do enjoy the time together.  At night we sneak him into his crib within an hour with about 90% success.  Sometimes we repeat the process after he cries for an hour in the crib.  This can lead to a few long nights for me, but mostly he sleeps through the night like a champ.

The problem is the napping.  The only way he’ll nap is if he stays in our bed.  I try to move him to the crib he starts crying just before his accusing eyes pop open.  How dare I disturb his nap.  On the rare occasion he doesn’t wake up right away he might last 20 minutes in the crib.  So, for the most part I’ve been letting him nap in our bed as I read or put away laundry or whatever.  I’m a sucker.  I’m being played by a 10 month old!

So, this weekend I asked Jason to help me get him to sleep in the crib because I thought between the two of us we could manage it.  This photo is what happened on our way him from church today (bottle included).  Painless naptime. in the afternoon Jason did manage to get him to sleep in the crib for a little while after about an hour and a half of wearing him out.

My goal is to get him into his crib for naps by the end of the week.  I’m not feeling confident but it must be done.  Is there a child rearing lesson that you learned the hard way?

I really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments about where they live from last week’s Gage post 🙂

Being a stay at home mom has many advantages.  The one that comes to mind this week is the fact that I don’t miss many firsts.  First smile, check.  First laugh, check.  First da-da, check.  But yesterday during the one hour he was at My Gym with Jason I missed a first.  His first crush.  Apparently, Gage made his big boy moves by taking the hand of the girl next to him, Mallory, and the two of them stared into each other’s eyes for few minutes.  Aww.  At nine months that’s like a first date!

I do need the few hours I get for myself, but then I miss some fun moments.

So, do you remember the first ‘first’ you missed?  Or do you remember your first baby crush?

Who says you have to be 21 to go bar hopping?  My cousin, Bill, turned 40 last week and his wife and parents threw him a surprise party at one of his favorite haunts, Weasel Boy Brewing Company in Zanesville.

Gage wasn’t a big fan. I think the live music was too loud for his little ears and all the people just made too much noise.  And the air conditioning was off, so it was hot.  We were in a big private room, but it was connected to the bar.

Gage toughed it out for an hour or so before he headed home with the grandparents so the parents could enjoy a little more time out.  We arrived home at 12:00 on the dot, so we made curfew 😉

Gage at his first bar and birthday party with Bill.

(and yes, Gage’s grandparents were against this being on Sundays with Gage)

My weight didn’t become a real issue until we moved to the Cleveland area in 2000.  I had never had a real problem with my weight.  So, when we moved here for Jason’s job and I decided not to transfer with Barnes & Noble and became unemployed for the first time, it is no big surprise that the pounds found their way on to my short body.  I took on several part-time jobs over the years but none of them kept me on my feet and away from the refrigerator like B&N did.  I gained weight.  And then I joined Weight Watchers online and lost 20 pounds.  I still wanted to lose a little more but I was happy.  Who knew that those 20 less pounds would provide fertile ground for a pregnancy.

And then I gained 42-45 pounds and a baby.  And stress, due to colic and his health, had me not caring what went into my body as long as it made me feel better.  This usually involved chocolate and wine on weekends.  And lots and lots of easy to pick up junk food.

Then one day I saw a few pictures and was horrified. No, really.  I turn 40 in October.  (Wow, that was quite a confession ;))  And I want to be at pre-pregnancy weight.  Which means I have to lose about 26 pounds. This picture from last weekend will serve as my before picture.

I will probably try to use Weight Watchers because it works for me and I will be joining the .  I committed to 100 miles from July 1-Sept 30, but I’m hoping to walk lots more than that.

Being a mother has not been easy, but the extra weight is not making it any easier or me any healthier.  I will not be giving you regular updates, but I will provide an after picture on my birthday.  I’ll have to see what I can get done in the next 15 weeks.

Any tips for losing pregnancy weight?  Except for the boring eat less, move more?

Here’s a picture I took of Gage (and Max) an hours ago…

It’s nice to know that no matter how much I weigh, Gage still loves me 🙂

There are lots of dads in the world, but not nearly as many good ones.  I have been blessed in my life with two great dads, my own and Jason.  My dad was strict but fun and let me know he loved me a lot of different ways.  I grew up knowing that a good father makes a real difference in your life.  Gage saves his best smiles for grandpa.

I have also been lucky enough to marry a guy who is an awesome dad.  Different than the one I grew up with, but just as wonderful.  He changes diapers, feeds him and sings to him when that’s the only thing that will do.  I love parenting with him and can’t imagine a better dad for Gage.

I have every confidence that Gage will grow into a great man.  He’s got two perfect examples in his dad and grandpa.

My aunt Betty retired this week after serving as an elementary school librarian for over 23 years.  The family threw her a surprise retirement party on Monday night and Gage and I decided to take our first solo road trip so we could be there.

My aunt Betty was a huge influence on me when I was growing up.  Before I could stay at home by myself I spent my summer days with her.  She is fun and energetic and I know from experience that the kids in her school were lucky to have her.  She was always there to throw slumber parties for the 8 of us grandchildren and it because of these parties and other outings that I am as close to my cousins as I am.  Thank you, Betty!

My family lives 2-2 1/2 hours away and on the way down I waited til Gage was ready for a nap and we were off.  He woke up with about 25 minutes to go and didn’t get angry until the last 10 minutes, so I think it was a success.  On the way back, we had the flip side. He napped for the first 25 minutes and then was NOT HAPPY.  We stopped and walked around a hunting store (having never been in one before I was just as interested in all the new stuff as Gage :)) and then got back in the car.  He lasted about 5 minutes before he was NOT HAPPY.  We tried walking around again at the next rest stop.  He seemed happy again…until we actually got back on the highway.  The next 20 minutes were spent with me trying to go to my happy place and still drive safely.  Blessedly, Gage wore himself out and finally fell asleep.

The moral of the story?  None.  I’m sure I’ll make the trip again and I’m sure that it will have mixed success.  Do any of you moms have any good advice for our next trip?

And a bonus picture just to show that he recovered from our trip.