Absentee Bug

June Bug gets a vacation too! Luckily June Bug is a champion traveler because it was a long flight. I'm happy to report we were not one of those families with a screaming, kicking child the whole way.  Not that I fault any of those families, traveling with kids is HARD. Make no mistake about it. A good friend once warned that having kids would be the end of my carry-on days.  He failed to tell me it would also require a small army to tote the baggage required when traveling with just one small child.  Carseat, stroller, diapers, clothes for mom-dad-baby, toys, food...

What??!! Toys and food you say??  Um yes, one must have an artillery of gear to keep little bugs happy. Inflight, there's nowhere to go ::insert nervous, anxiety ridden grimace:: so bring along the baggage because this Mama Bug was determined to keep June Bug happy.  Zipped pouches packed with foam letters, finger puppets, iPhones stocked with Blues Clues videos...TV too??!!!!

Blues Clue=Fail, apparently my iPhone still looks like a chew toy, even with animation. Toys and food and lovie kept June Bug pleased as punch all the way.  Now if only he would sleep at night...

Are there really birds in there??!!

Best Airport EVER!!!

Snuggles!

Love Thy Neighbor

I think God would have added a footnote to this one if his neighbor had created an elaborate fan system venting the smoke of an illegal substance directly into God's bedroom windows.  Or if  he lived above a man who played his TV at sonic boom decibel levels and then proceeded to have a shouting matches via cell phone. Of course we mustn't forget the resident musician previously mentioned, who frankly should be a much better sax player than he is given all his practice. 

How we always end up next to the crazies is beyond my comprehension. I always thought we were perfect neighbors; no parties, in bed early, low-key... Even June Bug was really quiet as a baby. He didn't cry much, and when he did he easily settled. He's not talking or walking....

And then I remembered the Jumperoo. Perhaps we're not so Mr. Roger-esque in our neighbor status.

Facing Reality

I am a perfectionist to the core. When I do something I must  do the absolutely best job no matter the time, energy or worse the stress.

I would like to meet the person who created the image of the woman in a pristine white dress rocking her newborn on a shaded front porch of a perfect house. Perhaps I don't know the right mommy-friends, but I most certainly didn't look quite so put together in the first weeks postpartum. I looked like hell, sleep deprived, disheveled hair and hardly at peace.  Ten months later, I still don't look all that put together. I'm learning to be OK with that. If there's one thing motherhood is teaching me, it's that perfection is loving the imperfections not lying about them and learning to not take myself so seriously.

There was a lot of irony when I started this blog since I hate to write, especially in English but that's another post. Blogging reminds to enjoy the daily challenges. To laugh when I want to cry, to hug when I want to run.  To enjoy the moment and stop. For once in my life to stop running myself ragged and take in the moment.

This post on beating my perfectionist attitude is really so I can share this post by Single Dad Laughing.  Not the most uplifting Friday post, but I know I'm not the only one who feels the pressure of "perfect".

Luckily I have a little June Bug who reminds me that he thinks I'm perfectly imperfect the way I am. I used to crop myself out of unflattering photos, but here's me, Mama Bug, in all my unwashed hair, tired dishelved glory, feeling beautiful as ever with all the June Bug love.

The Naked Truth...

...is that my kid really loves to be naked.

This is a post he'll hate me for in about 7-8 years.  My mom says it's a boy thing.  I have nothing to compare it to, but I have no doubt that this little boy loves being naked.  He'd happily crawl around post-bath and dry out au naturel if I'd let him.  While we're being honest, sometimes it is easier to plop that slippery infant booty on the bath mat and hope for the best as I scramble to gather up the gazillion foam letters, numbers, the rubber duck, bath mirror and other mass of floating objects.

I'll make a desperate attempt to throw a towel over the scrambling body, making a beeline for something inppropriate. But he's smart enough to know that if he moves fast enough, he can leave the towel in the dust.

Though the first crawling step usually lands a scurrying June Bug splayed out as his wet hands slip, a moment that never fails to make me laugh. June Bug, totally un-phased, picks himself up and plows onward.

I find this to be a risky endeavor. I don't really need June Bug marking his territory and with two cats...I won't go there. But as he gets quicker and I get slower I can only hope he out-grows this stage before he learns to open doors and get outside. 

Realizing he can escape the towel...

Not so pleased by the robe option

Midnight Mileage

It's a good thing this Mama Bug loves pounding the pavement given my love affair with desserts. I've done a lot of running and walking to find my post-baby body, usually with June Bug in the stroller. 
Well apparently he's been taking notes. I'm not the only one putting on the miles and I don't mean via crawling, heck, it's not even while he's awake or at least I don't think it is...

June Bug some how manages to cover every inch of his crib at least twice every night.  That kid really gets around, sometimes making me wonder if he actually sleeps at night. I often think my booty-shaking-bug is really getting his groove on under the bluish-green glow of the humidifier light only to throw himself into some new and ridiculous position when I check on him; positions that I couldn't sleep in if you paid me. An entire sprawling crib and I find June Bug sleeps with his head crammed in the corner, butt up in the air. Well for a short while anyway, until he scoots on to position #17 of 332 for the night.

I did remove his leg from the bars, after a photo.

Even though we have many months until the night, I often ponder how we will ever transition him to a big-boy bed.  If I had to do it tonight, I'd surely find him asleep on the neighbors front lawn.

To all the moms that bed-share, I think you're crazy or made of steel. I'd be beaten, bruised, bleeding...there's a reason this baby sleeps behind bars!

Strapped down for a reason...even at 2 months

Hair Envy

The average observer may think June Bug is sneaking in a glance at his favorite gal pal, but he's really eying those lovely locks.

June Bug is definitely not winning any awards in the hair growing category. He was born with hair, but then it all fell out, which they say is normal.  So, we own a LOT of hats to protect that bald little head from the elements...ok and maybe to hide the male-pattern-balding-a-la-Winston-Churchill that took over about a week after birth.

Bug's hair is a mystery to us.  Both Mama Bug and Daddy Bug are blessed with unmanageable curls. So we often wonder if baby Bug will also be blessed with lovely curling locks.  Even at 10 months we have but a thin layer up top and no clue as to what it might look like. So in the meantime we'll accessorize.

There's a 1 & a 0 somewhere in honor of 10 months. However June Bug is not so cooperative in the modeling of our accessories.

B is for Butler

My baby blog...not at all baby-related today. Though June Bug is already a predestined sports fan and will be rooting for the Butler Bulldogs tonight. Whether they win or lose I'll still be a proud Butler alumni and we will still celebrate their greatness.

So for our apparent love of the letter B, here's Bug's bath time booty, backing (literally) the Butler Bulldogs! (Unfortunately the letters are not blue and white).

You Got Game Kid...

Just a few weeks ago I was relishing in the fact that I had some inkling of a social life post baby, even if it was to chaperone June Bug at his various social engagements.  Well apparently I got a taste of the teenage years to come when Mama Bug's watchful eye is no longer welcome.

June Bug met up with his favorite gal pal to celebrate her birthday and while they reacquainted amongst toys and grass I was clearly tossed a look that said it all.  One cute little girl, and suddenly Mama Bug is chopped liver ::sigh::

Mama Bug: ruining teenage romances everywhere

Too cool for mom...

I know June Bug's aware of my constant watch since our favorite game is to see who can move the quickest to the forbidden play area of the day. But usually these over-the-shoulder glances to see if I'm paying attention are coupled with giggles and smiles.  Not this time.

 Apparently my kid has already realized I ruin his game.