One Month

Wow...A month has passed already! I can't believe how quickly time is going with the little man. Xavier is such a great gift. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Life this past month has been very different than prior life. For example, whenever I think that I might have a minute to accomplish something (like posting this blog), X has his own opinion. I don't even remember what 8 straight hours of sleep feels like. I am no longer disgusted by poop (even when this morning X actually pooped right on my hand while changing his diaper). To get out the door to go anywhere takes at least an hour and a half. But even with all of these maybe not so pleasant changes, I wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world. :-)

Christmas with a Baby

This Christmas season has been very different for me because of X.

Usually I am antsy with anticipation and counting down the days until Christmas. This year I didn't even realize how close we were getting until I saw a story on the news about the busiest shipping day of the year. I would have completely forgotten to ship out the gifts I have for my family (luckily I made them long before X came along, otherwise I probably would have forgotten to even get/make them anything!). I haven't finished my shopping yet - ok, actually I haven't started my shopping yet!

I have always loved Christmas music and have listened to it nonstop from the day after Thanksgiving untill New Year's Eve (my own personal rule for appropriate length). This year as I listen to the songs about the Baby, I can't help but look at my own baby. It is so hard to imagine the King of the Universe so tiny and fragile; so dependent on his mother and father; having a dirty diaper and a fussy time. I am so thankful that Christ willingly gave up Heaven for a period of time to be on Earth and live like us.

Xavier is fascinated by lights. Any lights will do really. He has a toy that lights up that he loves watching, but even just the room lamps are enough for him. One of his favorites, though, is the Christmas tree. I look forward to decorating for Christmas each year. This year, my mom helped me since I was still too sore to do the stairs up and down from the basement to bring all the decorations out of storage. I debated a little about putting up the tree. I love having a Christmas tree and looking through all the ornaments and the memories that go along with them, but wasn't sure if it was worth the hassle this year. I am so glad that I decided to put it up because X stares at the lights and it is so precious.

I know Christmas day will be drastically different with him here too. And this year he doesn't even know what's going on! I can't wait for the coming Christmases where he will wake us up super early (well, he already does this!) and run down stairs to see what Santa put in his stocking.

I have already received the best gift ever this year in my healthy, happy baby boy!

A day in the Life...

I haven't written in a little while because I am adjusting to my new life. It's true...'a baby changes everything'...

Here's what my days have started to look like. Note that X is not on any sort of a schedule yet, so this is just what yesterday looked like, not necessarily at all what today will look like!

4 am - feed
4:30 am - change diaper
7:45 - feed
8:00 - change diaper
9:30 - mom's time to get ready
11:30 - feed
12:00 noon - play time for about 30 minutes
12:30 pm - mom's lunch time
1:00 - decorate house for Christmas!
4:30 - change very dirty and wet diaper :-(
4:30 - feed
5:45 - company begins arriving (in-laws, neighbors, and work friends)
6:15 - feed
6:30 - change diaper
7:00 - mom eats dinner
8:30 - feed
9:00 - change diaper
9:45 - feed
10:00 - change diaper
10:30 - say prayers with X and give him a "wake-up time goal". Believe it or not, he actually seems to respond pretty well to the goals. This morning he had bypassed the goal we had set of 2:45. Tonight we set a goal of 2:45 again (he made it to 2).

He is really a very good, content baby. I just never imagined how much time they take!!! I love every minute that I get to spend caring for him though :-)