Tears

My friend, Erica, posted about this blog today and curiously I checked it out. And I kept reading and reading... sitting alone on my couch crying lots of tears.

This woman lost her little baby to whooping cough just weeks ago. Her faith is amazing and inspiring, and my heart breaks for her. Only since I have become a mother can I even begin to imagine the pain she must be going through.

One Of Those Days

When the Diaper Genie broke this morning spilling old poopy diapers all over the nursery floor I thought it was going to be one of those days...

...but it wasn't.

It was one of those days where the weather was perfect so we went for a long walk (Beckham's debut sitting in his stroller like a big boy without the car seat attachment) and we marveled at all the cars driving by. One of those days where Beckham took 2 nearly two hour naps and went to bed without any tears. One of those days where I just love being his mommy.

Woodshop

I wish we lived in a home with a woodshop and my talented husband could make all these amazing wood creations for me from this website:

http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com

Wouldn't it be amazing to make all your own furniture?

Daddy's Best Friend

6 Months

Beckham turned six months today and I am shocked that half a year has flown by already! Although I desperately miss the newborn stage, I have to admit that six months is a pretty fun age.

Some of the new things Beckham does:

slaps toys (or lots of things really) with his hands

sits up!

snorts when he laughs

has really fuzzy hair (but at least he has it now...the patchiness filled in)

LOVES to jump on his jumperoo or in your lap

pulls things (blankets/clothes/washcloths) over his face

makes a hilarious snorting/sniffing sound after pulling things over his face

voraciously chews on chins and noses

laughs and giggle (my favorite!)

LOVES to eat (rice cereal, applesauce, sweet potatoes, bananas)

is sleep trained (yay!)

makes the cutest scrunchy nose funny face...usually accompanied with the snorting/sniffing

has the chubbiest legs known to man (this isn't new necessarily...but worth noting)

We abolutely can't get enough of him.

I can't believe he's changed so much from this little guy we brought home from the hospital:

Solids

Beckham got his first taste of rice cereal yesterday. He seemed to like it, but it may take a while to master this swallowing business.

Muchas Gracias

Thanks to everyone for your advice - and mostly for the pep talks. I needed those.

We have been "crying it out" all weekend. We check on him every 10 minutes or so to soothe him. Things are definitely improving - bedtime doesn't involve any tears the last two nights. And he is sleeping the night through in his crib (that's a big step!)

Just wanted to announce that we are making progress for sure.

Confessions Of A Troubled Mother

I am seeking advice from all you mothers out there with more experience than I on this most common baby problem...sleep.

We had Beckham sleeping mostly pretty well before Thanksgiving - he would wake up only once a night and for naps I could just lay him in his crib and he would fall asleep. Now after a month and a half of traveling and craziness he wakes up 2-3 times a night again and needs me to rock him to sleep for naptime.

His naps are only about 45 minutes to an hour (there are 3 per day...and I should mention that naptime and bedtime happen at the same time every day at least). It should also be mentioned that when he is awake he is a very happy baby usually.

I've read Babywise (a few times actually) and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby. I know they say to cry it out - but it kills me. I can't count on all my fingers and toes the number of times I've said to myself "Ok, today is the day - I can do this...I'll just let him cry". Only to run up to his crib 5 minutes later because my heart was breaking.

It seems like people are split down the middle as far as what is best for baby. My biggest concern is not my sleep deprivation, but if I am spoiling him and not doing what is best for him.

But I just don't have the heart to let him cry. Or the willpower. Any tips???

Tough Guy In A Helmet

Beckham is getting so much more expressive lately - and of course we think he is hilarious (and adorable)!

Christmas Morning

Wearing Christmas bows. I think he actually looks kind of like my (Taryn) baby pictures here.
Sitting with Mum and Papa Merkley.
He loves his (cheap) new toys.
Ok...so this one is Christmas Eve. This is the Merkley family posing with our Christmas Eve pinata (the soldier). It felt kind of odd to be beating on a soldier pinata...but it was a tribute to Brendon's two brothers who serve in the military.