Happy Half Birthday!

Hello, world...I'm 0!

Right now, all I love to do is sleep and eat!

Hello, world...I'm half a year!

Right now all I love to do is smile and eat!

two cute and drooly brothers

Today is Leo's half birthday. Wow, six whole months have flown by! It seems both possible and impossible! It surely doesn't seem like half a year when I was anxiously awaiting his arrival, welcoming guests at the early morning hour into the hospital room. It surely doesn't seem like half a year ago when Sophia turned 2 and met her brother for the first time...but now, life rolls along with two kids and Sophia and her brother are in love! On the other hand, it seems like this time couldn't have come soon enough with all of his sleep battles, strange and mysterious rashes, and his continuing food issues!

Leo is doing really well with sitting up. Yesterday and today especially have been good days where he has both sat for longer period and when he did topple...there were no tears! Hooray! We seem to have his nighttime sleeping on a fairly routine schedule, although his RSV did throw things off and we're just now seeming to recover completely on the sleep front. His nap times are still a challenge. Well, not so much a challenge for him, but for me. This is the time where I know I need to be home and offering him naps in his crib, but it is so hard. I know it's selfish, but it's hard for me to do it. I'm hoping that he'll become slightly more flexible with this and maybe learn to sleep in the stroller or where ever, but my dreams may be dashed! Although the answer may seem obvious, I am torn between going out to do things for myself (gym, grocery store, errands, etc.), for Sophia (playdates, park, story time, etc.) or coming home for Leo so he can nap in the crib. I know he needs good sleep, and I can be a stickler about bed times and naps, but it's hard to give up so much of the freedom that Sophia and I now have. I am trying to find a happy medium, but it is definitely a transition period for the three of us!

On the subject of the gym however, Leo spent his first moments in the gym day care yesterday! Oh how it was so lovely to enjoy the elliptical once again! Most of you that I speak with regularly know my particular saga with our local community center, but to sum it up for the others...

• I had been putting Leo in his car seat next to me on the treadmill or elliptical and they told me I couldn't. This "rule" was no where in writing and was basically just something they thought was a good idea...long story short, I went to the top of the administrative food chain and voiced my concerns. He and I had some lovely chats and I compromised on some of my issues and regained a working relationship with the community center.

That being said, they were very nice when I dropped him off yesterday, even though it was technically one day early! I seriously expected them to not let me do it, and in fact, I was planning on taking him with me into the track, where he rides in the stroller, but she offered to let him stay. That made me happy. So, the past week I have really tried to dedicate myself to setting up a work out schedule because sadly, I'm still in the big girl pants I was once so happy about! I'm not so happy anymore and am ready to back in my "normal" clothes because besides that initial drop down, I don't think I've lost any weight at all and it's starting to wear on my self esteem. Now that both kids are old enough for the day care, and Leo is on a more consistent waking up and eating schedule, I'm confident I can be more on track. It also helps that Jodie is willing to be my work out partner, we both need motivation, and Isabelle loves going to the day care and can encourage Sophia to go, because Sophia really hates it because I leave her behind. Now that Leo is in there too, I'm hoping it will give her even more motivation to enjoy her time there.

Other than that, Leo seems to be on track for making his milestones as they come. He also continues to be off the charts in both height and weight, but we're rolling with it. He is now in 12-18 months clothing, and although his other clothes do still fit, there is no point in me buying any thing in a size smaller than 12-18 because it most definitely won't last through spring. He has his 6 month check-up on Monday, so I'll be sure to post more on him then.

PS...Happy whole birthday to my dear, dear Jill whose birthday was yesterday, and of course we clinked our ice cream cones in your honor! ;)