Every day in Every Way, it's Getting Better and Better....

This is a little bit of a sentimental post, but I was thinking about this today on my ride to work from daycare.

John Lennon wrote a song for his son that I sing to mine all the time. It is called "Beautiful Boy". I played the song all the way to my PT appointment the day I found out that Monkey was a boy. It was the song that I hushed him to sleep with while we were in recovery after he was born. It is a song with many memories. I do change the words a tiny bit to fit a mommy and I take out Lennon's son's name, but the sentiment is the same.

The Lyrics are:

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,

Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,

Yes it's a long way to go,
A hard row to hoe,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Darling,
Darling,
Darling Sean.

I don't know how it happened, but it feels like just a blink and my little guy is growing up. It is true, every sentiment in Lennon's song. I can't wait to see what my little man grows into. If I do my job right, he will be a man who is loving, kind, respectful and understanding of all people.

But for now, I get to watch him grow. I have watched and continue to watch him explore and learn. I have shared his excitement and enthusiasm for life. It is amazing what a baby can teach a grown up. I try to take time to just exist with him and try to take pleasure in the little things. He is incredible and every day he teaches me more.

But every day, he and I are also forming a bond, a close bond, that I hope will continue as he grows from my little boy into a handsome young man. Every time he smiles, every time he cries, everytime he needs me.... he knows I am there from him...

It is the awesomest feeling in the world.

Meeting Thomas the Train

So early on in our bonding, Monkey and I were home alone a lot. I was recovering from my c-section so I was worn out a ton. About 3 weeks in, the doctor encouraged a lot of stories to be told to Monkey. Well I told as many as I could, but sometimes even I needed a break. So knowing my child couldn't see the screen, I put him in his bouncy seat and put on an episode of Thomas the Tank engine.

(I know most parents may crucify me for putting my child down and used the TV as a means to soothe a child, but it was what worked for me. My parents let me watch TV early too and I turned out fine. I refuse to buy into the hype. Too early for Spongebob, definitely. But not Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street or Thomas. Also... I love Sprout TV. )

It is a show that is read like a story, and there have been several narrators. The most notable of the narrators are George Carlin and Alec Baldwin. Monkey loved it, and he loved the train noises. Not only that, but it was a good way to calm down the colic, which seemed to arrive when I was at home and on my own.

As Monkey grew bigger and could see the screen I could tell he loved to watch the trains! At the beginning of every episode they ask "Who's that puffing down the track? It's Thomas", and my son starts beaming and talking to me and looking at the screen as if to say "Look Mommy! Look at the train!"

It was about this time that I heard of the Ediville Railroad Grand Re-Opening. The first two weekends were days when you could "Spend the day with Thomas". The wheels in my head started to turn. My Sister in Law began to make plans to take our kids to see Thomas. That plan was enacted this weekend with much success.

It was a cloudy overcast day Saturday, but the sun managed to peek out from time to time! We met up with my Sister in Law, Brother in Law, the Bean, and the Peanut just inside the gate. We had a little bit until our ride, so we fed the Monkey a bottle and then took him on his first carousel ride.... which he loved. (I think the horses moving up and down plus the lights makes it really fun for him. )

Above: Here is Monkey with Daddy on the Carousel.

Below: The lights just went on.

Then it was time for our Train Ride. We were so excited and ready to go! Although Monkey is not yet sure of what we are doing.

The ride was great! We went around the park and Monkey was super curious at what was going on. After the ride was lunch and then a change and then we went to the playground and tried the swings. Monkey loved his fist... not sure how he feels about the swing though.

The best part... no matter where we were, we could always find Thomas puffing around the property.

Honestly for $40 for two adults (Monkey was free!), the day out with Thomas was perfect! The park was small and we were able to do it in a half a day. (Plenty of time to nap.) The only downside... No ATM's and almost everywhere took cash. So that kind of stunk.

But those family memories... those will last a lifetime.

Has it really been 16 weeks?

It seems like just yesterday, I was feeling my little Monkey kick around in utero.

Now, everyday we reach new Milestones. One day, he was rolling on his side. The next he was rolling on his tummy.... with one hand stuck underneath him.

These days he is rolling over, freeing his arm and raising his whole body to move. He scooted across the floor last night. Not crawling, but scooting.... Away from the saftey of his play mat.

It freaked me out a little. Not so much because he was reaching a milestone, but rather, because he was mobile and out of the newborn stage.

He looked like this just 3 months ago.....

Now he looks like this....

My little guy is growing up... and while I miss my itty bitty baby, I can't wait for everything that is going to come our way!

Next up for Family Nacho..... A ride on Thomas the Tank Engine this weekend!

Happy Fall!

Ok. I know that most people out there love the summer, and technically that doesn't end until next week. However, I love fall. So when mother nature gave us a bunch of fall weather, it was time to dress the boy as such. This was his daycare outfit today....

For the record, I also love overalls on babies... they are a PITA to put on but the end result is fabulous. He looked so cute and seemed to scream "HAPPY FALL WORLD"!

I am so looking forward to showing Mikey fall... I know he will really like the colors and pumpkins. But we are taking him for a train ride on Thomas, apple picking, and his first Halloween! It is all so exciting to me. I am really looking forward to the road ahead.

We have also chosen the fall to baptize him, then there is Thanksgiving. Fall will be busy...

But I wouldn't change a thing.

First illnesses...

First illnesses for the record.... suck pretty badly.

I breastfeed, so the risk is less for some bugs, ear infections and other stuff.

But the common cold... not so much. So as my son is battling congestion and a stuffy nose, I do what I can to make him comfy. This includes steamy bathrooms and lots of cuddles. It turns out that all his little friends at daycare had the cold too, which now I know where it came from.

But for the record, it kills me that he is sick and I really can't do too much for him... I would take it away from him if I could...

But unfortunately all I can do is share it.

Memories!

So the Monkey started school this week. It is daycare, but it is also a school. They learn stuff. And he loves it. I do too, but that is another post for another day.

Today is about excitement... over book orders.

He got a Scholastic Book order today. It still has the book order smell and the thin paper. Remember that?

It brought back all those memories. I wanted every book in the small flier and I always got the new Babysitters club books or some sort of mystery. I devoured the thing four or five times before deciding what to get. And it was like Christmas when they came in. I got caught reading under my desk quite a lot as a kid. I LOVE to read.

Now I get to experience book orders with my son. I went through the fliers a couple of times and carefully picked out some books for the Monkey.

The difference is that now they have online ordering and the classroom gets free books if you order. Huzzah!

Happy School Week!

Monkey started School/Daycare this week on the campus where I went to school. Drop off went fine, although I completely lost it when I went back to my car. I love our day care. It has a pre-school there, so he will be able to go there for years! Even the infants have a curriculum. This month is all about the bugs! (Mikey is the spider! It is like they knew I am afraid of spiders!)

Now I know the teachers, but it still makes me sad having to leave him to have fun with someone else all day. Especially after the weekend!

So to those parents dropping off their kids for their first day of either day care or school today, good luck and may your kids have a wonderful and happy school year!