I hope my child looks back on today, and remembers a Mum who had time to play There will be years for cleaning and cooking, but children grow up when we are not looking Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow, cause babies grow fast, much to our sorrow So settle down cobwebs, dust go to sleep, I'm cuddling my baby, and babies don't keep (Song for a Fifth Child)
Yes, it was impossibly hard to drag my past-due butt up that hill. But desperate times called for desperate measures. I would do it again in another 5 days. No, it did not bring on labor.
Memorial Day 2011,
June Bug is 11 months, 3 weeks and 1 day. This was shockingly easier than the above expedition.
Not so shocking, the weather is exactly the same. If I weren't 30 lbs lighter with a nearly 1 year old, you might think it was the same day. This is where I tell you I think SoCal has the most boring weather ::ducks to avoid tomatoes::
With a mere two weeks until toddlerhood, I can't help but think where we were one year ago:
1. I was still pregnant, 5 days from my due date.
2. I really had 15 days until June Bug would actually join us---->
3. Publicity decided it was a good time to take photos in my room
4. I convinced Daddy Bug to watch the Bachelorette I had DVR'd
Publicity shot....2 days from my due date
I had long since shunned the show after a few bad seasons. But with 5 days to my due date and no desire to be productive I parked my tank-sized-self on the couch and got sucked into Ali's season.
Why is this relevant to my baby blog? Because this is what I would watch while in labor. Trust me when I tell you that the show is NOT intriguing enough to distract from a quickly worsening labor. The Bachelor/Bachelorette series is pretty painful at times to watch, add labor and well, you don't exactly have a party.
But since I had stuck out a 2 hour episode (seriously, why are they 2-hours???) with 90 second contractions on top of each other, I obviously had to finish the season. I'm convinced it was the Bachelorette that sent my labor into full force. It was shortly after the episode that I requested the anesthesiologist.
And as we attempted to watch Ashley's season this week, I'm wishing I still had that anesthesiologist at my disposal.
Current June Bug, with his lovely Turkey and Veggie Dinner
Now, one year later, Daddy Bug is a stay-at-home-dad to this cute little June Bug--------->
But he's decided he wants a job, Chris Harrison's to be exact. Here's why...
So we've had a mobile June Bug since January 15th, to be exact. He took off crawling and hasn't slowed down since. Walking is in the none-too-distant future. June Bug has definitely realized he can stand sans a crutch and that running with Stride-to-Ride dino is an okay activity. We have a slight turning problem, aka we run across the room, slam into the wall and then scream until someone comes to turn dino around for another round of race-across-the-room.
So we figured we'd spare the hardwood floors and our walls and take dino to the park. I mean who doesn't love a walk around the park with a singing dinosaur?
Ok, so he loved it for all of 30 seconds and then cried until I scooped him up. Apparently we're not quite yet confident enough for outdoor dino-romping.
So instead we played on the swings and slides to make up for the scary walk. Meanwhile a nearby 3-year-old sat plotting a way to steal Bug's dino...luckily said 3-year old's dad was onto his scheming.
Yeah, that's an oxymoron when you're a working mom. I don't know what typical means anymore!
But since I had the privilege of guest blogging for PDX Momma about what our day looks like, I tried to hash out some semblance of a normal day. I'm still learning how to be a working mom, but here's a peak into a typical day with Mama Bug and June Bug.
She's doing a whole series on working moms and I've already learned several great tips! Thanks Jenn!
A Day in the Life of Mama Bug and her June Bug Baby... Click Here =)
Arched back, suddenly limp 20 pounds of dead weight, flailing fists and sharp shriek... I thought tantrums came with toddler-hood. I am wrong. Very wrong.
Um, no, sticking your fingers and other objects into the now-unprotected-outlet because you-pried-off-the-cover is not a good idea on many levels, electric shortage, fire hazard oh and might I add: your personal safety. Most of our tantrums involve me attempting to ward off a dangerous situation resulting in a very frustrated June Bug.
You have lots of toys, LOTS of toys. Why the power cords, the toilet, the not-anchored-down nightstand? Your book shelf and toy bin are colorful and inviting and SAFE. The nightstand is old, dusty and might I add dangerous!!
There's all this preaching that you shouldn't use the word "no" too much at an early age and you should use the words that corresponds with why they shouldn't be doing what their doing, ie. dangerous, heavy, sharp.... I'm 100% sure all June Bug hears is: blah blah blah blah blah as he carries on with the dangerous activity of the day. He doesn't care which word I chose to use.
I don't have any tantrum photos, it's not really worth risking his life for a good shot. So here's the complete opposite. June Bug playing nicely. You'll notice it's a short video...
Pete and his lovely wife (also one of my BFFs) made the trek out to the suburbs (thank you!!) on a recent trip back home and kindly took a TON of pictures of June Bug and family. So I finally got some fabulous shots of our lovely family!! I sort of wish he could follow us around and be our personal photographer. So far he's done our wedding, 3-month shots, and now our 1-year family shots and I never fail to be wowed by his work.
Thank you Thompson {Family} Photography for making us look good and sharing your amazing talent with us!! I had trouble picking one or two to share...
...Everything. True story, everything is edible at this age. I mean everything!
Toys= food
books= food
crib= food
power cords= food
cat food= food
point & case
Ok, so cat food actually is edible, for cats. I most certainly don't want to try it. It doesn't smell good, so I can't imagine it tastes any better. But despite my constant sweeping and blockage of the kitchen, I have still fished out at least 4 pieces of cat food from June Bug's mouth. Gross- both the cat food and the fishing--, it makes me gag too.
June Bug looks more like a dog as of late as he scurries around on all fours with something hanging from his mouth. That something is usually not a toy, not edible, heck it's usually not even his!! My poor, cute, expensive, Coach clutch has most definitely seen better days.
Why don't I just keep it out of reach you ask? Have you ever tried to hide something from an-almost-toddler-on-the-move??!! They're crafty little things and if June Bug wants it, June Bug will find it. The kid is a super sleuth in the making.
::sigh:: Here's to hoping the dry-cleaners can salvage my drool-soaked, teeth-marked little bag.
Oh no, don't worry not this Mama Bug. There is nothing "sweet" about my serenading. But June Bug enjoys it nonetheless so I'll keep on singing as long as he's listening, which I imagine won't be for much longer.
June Bug is definitely a music lover! He received the Leap Frog Groove and Learn Music table as an early birthday present. It's a giant hit as he shakes his booty to the music. It doesn't hurt that it also serves as a walker, making it's way back and forth and back and forth while he hones those walking skills. A third bonus, there's a little compartment that stores the most coveted baby treat in the house, the puff!!!
Our music loving extends to our night time routine where we rock and I sing. As of late, when I start singing June Bug starts talking. My first thought was: he's on to my lack of musical ability and is trying to talk over me!!!
I mean I knew the day would come when he realized that if he had any shot at a musical talent he wasn't going to get it from me... or from Daddy Bug for that matter (we'll see if the hubby actually reads my blog!) When I stopped to let him talk, he stopped. When I started singing, he picked right back up!
So either he's singing with me, or trying to shut me up... I'm going to go with the first for pride-sake. You be the judge. And yes, I did cut off the end of the clip as I get progressively worse. I'd like to maintain some self-respect.
PS. Apparently embedding an audio file into blogger is akin to breaking into the Pentagon. So you're getting a mini-slide show too so I could use YouTube. Technology: 1 Mama Bug: -1 (it was that difficult)
There seem to have been a slew of giggling baby videos that are insanely popular as of late on YouTube. Let's be honest, if a giggling baby doesn't make you smile or brighten your day then...well I guess I shouldn't be judgmental, but I'm judging.
Of course after you watch this video you may be side-eying my parenting since June Bug is riled up over being destructive. Let's hope that's a phase...
Regardless, I say thank goodness for happy baby giggles after what has been an exhausting and frustrating day (and it's only 2:30, yikes!)
Memorial Day 2011,
With a mere two weeks until toddlerhood, I can't help but think where we were one year ago:
Pete and his lovely wife (also one of my BFFs) made the trek out to the suburbs (thank you!!) on a recent trip back home and kindly took a TON of pictures of June Bug and family. So I finally got some fabulous shots of our lovely family!! I sort of wish he could follow us around and be our personal photographer. So far he's done our wedding, 3-month shots, and now our 1-year family shots and I never fail to be wowed by his work.
June Bug looks more like a dog as of late as he scurries around on all fours with something hanging from his mouth. That something is usually not a toy, not edible, heck it's usually not even his!! My poor, cute, expensive, Coach clutch has most definitely seen better days. 
June Bug is definitely a music lover! He received the Leap Frog Groove and Learn Music table as an early birthday present. It's a giant hit as he shakes his booty to the music. It doesn't hurt that it also serves as a walker, making it's way back and forth and back and forth while he hones those walking skills. A third bonus, there's a little compartment that stores the most coveted baby treat in the house, the puff!!!
