musings of Mother Hood

And If You Wanna Hear God Laugh, Tell Him Your Plans

I am sitting here completely and utterly drained. Mentally. I don't even know where to start, I'm just so blah.

I have spent every spare moment of the last month thinking about a business opportunity for myself and two friends. We had so much energy and excitement for this idea, and we were painfully close to sealing the deal. We met with attorneys, we reviewed business plans, we spent countless hours researching and thinking and dreaming. And it all came to a screeching halt today. We thought we had examined all the angles, but we didn't account for people being human.

And after all the momentum we had built up over the last several weeks, today is really deflating. I feel like I've held my breath for a month, and today I was able to let out a big, exhausted sigh. I still believe in our abilities and I believe in us as a team. But it's hard not to be disappointed when things don't work out. And it's hard not to over think it and wonder what could have happened differently. Setbacks are often hard to swallow.

We'll be ok. No one lost a job. No one lost any money. And, really, I learned a lot during this process. And who knows? Maybe all of this is leading to something really wonderful.

I don't have time to get too lost in it -- there is so much else going on in my head. Colt is walking now and approaching his first birthday. Laura is coming home next weekend - having not seen this country for a year and having never met her only nephew. Work is moving at warp speed, with a big project that could make my year, financially. Jeff and I are preparing ourselves to make The Preschool Decision soon.

But everyone's healthy. And happy. And together. How's that for a plan?

Happy Wednesday!

Just a quick note to say hello. And that I've posted new pictures. A new ALBUM, even. Over there on the right -- Nine/Ten Month Photos.

Also. A few friends of mine are new to the blogging world and I want to give them a nod. I'll eventually update my "My Favorite Blogs" list -- it may even need its own page soon... Check them out:

The McClure Family

The Fabulous Life of Mcoonley

 

You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do

We've all but stopped watching commercials at our house. We DVR everything and watch our shows when Colt is either asleep or otherwise distracted. We fast forward through all of the movie trailers and GEICO gems, and we efficiently watch our 30-minute shows in 20 minutes or less. But somehow one commercial fell through the cracks. I was in the kitchen this week when I heard sudden laughter and "Sarah - you have to see this."

What geniuses at Burger King and Nickelodeon thought "Baby Got Back" + "SpongeBob SquarePants" = Kid's Meal Commercial?!?! "Booty is Booty"?!? I know the economy is bad, but geez. Shame on you. All of you.

 

You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

I caught myself saying something very "Mom" today.

There was an event at my office after work today and I took Colt up there to say hello. I sat and visited with my friends Brianne and Lauren, and Lauren's little boy Lawson, and I was telling Lauren about some super cute new little boys' clothes I saw at Target recently (Dwell Studio. Seriously. WAY cute. If you know any little boys under about 9 months old, you MUST check them out.) and "they didn't have cute stuff like that when Colt was little" just fell out of my mouth. And I laughed out loud and thought to myself, "who do you think you are exactly, some sort of old pro?"

I've had baby clothes on the brain lately. And it never ceases to amaze me just how obsessed women can get about them. Seriously obsessed. I have a personal theory that women make the shift from buying themselves cute clothes and shoes to buying cute and often ridiculous and impractical things for their babies because during and immediately after pregnancy their bodies just don't look right in clothes they are used to wearing. But babies ALWAYS look cute. So why not? And when I say impractical, I'm talking about sherpa vests and white pants and anything that needs to be ironed. You'd be surprised at the hassle and expense that moms endure in order for their kids to look good. 

And what makes people hang on to clothes? A month or so ago, I was going through clothes Colt had outgrown, gathering stuff to take to consignment. And it was a lot harder than I thought. I found myself wanting to keep everything he was ever photographed in (which, if you've been following the little guy via the blog, is A LOT) and every freaking thing for which I could think of a completely ridiculous excuse for keeping. And, for the record, I kept several outfits. But had enough stuff to turn in at the consignment sale to prompt the girl to ask me just how many children I have! She smiled knowingly when I sheepishly replied, "just the one".

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In other news - WALKING!

Catching Up

There is a rumor circulating that Colt is walking. And that is not entirely accurate. He HAS taken several steps this week - but never more than about one and a half in a row - and tonight was noticeably braver, taking 2 and 3 tiny steps between the coffee table and the couch. Progress! That's what you call that! But not technically "walking"... Very soon, I'm sure. Stay tuned.

This last Saturday makes 10 months. Let me say that again. 10. Months. I have a 10 month old little boy. I have to brush his teeth and part his hair and look for preschools -- he is getting so big. Less than two months from today I will be sitting down to write his birthday blog entry. His first of many. And I will probably sob the entire time.

So. 10 months. 10 months marked the beginning of formula - and can I just say that no one told me how badly baby formula stinks? I can't believe he can eat it. But it hasn't really slowed him down. He's still eating like a champ.

We also visited Preschool #2 today. And we couldn't have been more relieved. The moment we walked in we knew that we loved it. The director gave us the grand tour and we just loved it more. We went to lunch afterward and talked about how much we loved it. And how impatient we are that we may have to wait until August to move him there. But it's worth the wait. And it will work out. One way or another.

With a Little Help From My Friends

You really came through for me. Thanks for all the encouraging and helpful words of advice. We're not any closer to deciding on a daycare - yet! - but I am feeling more confident that we're capable of it. When I was pregnant, we use to remind ourselves that "people have babies every day" and that "if millions of people do it every day then so can we!" Perhaps not the best source of confidence, but it worked at the time.

So I'm breathing. And repeating to myself that we don't have to make a decision today. And we'll find a daycare. And it won't be perfect because nothing is. But it will be the right place for Colt. And us.

I know this sounds stupid but I think this is the first "real decision" we've had to make so far for Colt. I had a healthy pregnancy and pleasant birth so we didn't have to make any hard medical decisions, our current nanny all but fell in our laps and has been a great situation so far, we love our pediatrician, Colt eats and sleeps and gains weight well -- and I'm beginning to think we have run out of dumb luck. Time to start thinking a little. Bleh.

We wouldn't even move him yet, but he's the oldest baby at Ms. Barbara's - and the only one crawling and cruising around. He doesn't have any peers and, honestly, I think he's starting to wear her out! So we're hoping to find a place that he can go for daycare and be able to stay for preschool. We'll see. Tour #2 is next week. I'll let you know how it goes.

 P.S. Happy Birthday to Grandma Martin! And happy belated birthday to Crazy Aunt Laura! We love you!

Reading, 'Riting, and... Running Scared!

Jeff and I toured our first preschool today. And we have NO idea what we're doing. Is every single stage of parenthood going to feel like this?

I know it's only the first one we've seen, but I really felt like I knew enough about snacks and naps and the alphabet to easily feel confident in our choice of preschools. Wrong! I feel like I know less now than before we took the tour! Who knew there was so much involved in a freaking preschool? We have another tour scheduled next week at a different school, and after today we both feel like we'll have a much better handle on things after we have two under our belts and we'll be able to compare -- let's hope so! I mean, we really shouldn't be making a preschool decision while our entire database of preschool information revolves around one one-hour tour to one preschool, right? *sigh*

Help! Bring on the advice! Let's hear it! Not advice on which preschool to choose necessarily, rather on how to choose. Open forum starts..... now!

Silly Rabbit, Easter's for Kids.

We went to Granny and Pop's for a cold and rainy First Easter for the little guy. We had to take pictures inside because of the rain, and due to the fact that church competed with naptime (And church WON. Colt braved the church nursery during the service, but wasn't too thrilled about it.) Colt wasn't in the best of moods for pictures and I don't think I have any good ones of his C-U-T-E Easter duds. I may have to stage some this week so you get the full effect.

 

 

(Yes, that's his Easter basket. Yes, it's a carrot. Yes, it's the cutest thing you've ever seen. God bless the people who make such adorable things for babies. They should get a raise.) And here's one more pic - of the Easter present that Grandma Martin sent. It's a bunny that sings "I paint eggs of blue, I paint some green, sometimes I use red, or the colors in-between. You can paint some yourself! With stripes or with swirls. And I think to myself, what a colorful world." -- to the tune of "It's a Wonderful World." It's adorable. And Colt is pretty in love with the eggs - they light up.

Saturday we went to the Arkansas Derby with some friends. We had a good day, but Papa Clem tried to derail our good fortune by winning the derby... Crazy horse. Here is the gang at the track in Hot Springs. That's Jeff and me at the top, Keith on the right (Keith and Jeff are friends from college), Keith's girlfriend Kathy with him, and his parents, Mike and Brenda, on the left. We had a blast and have plans to meet up again as Keith lives right there in Hot Springs.

Colt stayed home to babysit Granny and Pop - and they had a lot of fun. Thank goodness it was nice out on Saturday, and Grandmother and Colt could take the jogging stroller out for a spin. We had a great weekend visiting.

And because there is a shortage of Easter pics, here are some recent photos from the park in our neighborhood.

 

 

 

Hello My Name Is

When I was pregnant there was a list of questions I answered approximately 6 times a day: When are you due? Is this your first baby? Is it a boy or a girl? What's his name?

That last question was always the kicker. People OBSESS over what to name their babies. I know people who have held heated debates over baby names-- deliberating for months. It's nuts! We were lucky in that we had a girl name and boy name picked out the week we knew we were having a baby -- and we stuck with them throughout. We never strayed from Colt Edmund Hood. But I really don't understand this craze over baby names. There are books of baby names. And I have yet to find a piece of baby equipment or clothing that cannot be personalized. (I am not pointing fingers here, I am totally guilty of wanting everything to say "Colt" on it. It's cute. Don't judge me.)

But there is this massive responsibility that comes with giving something a name. It's an identity. Something you'll be called your entire life. I have always really liked my name. Sarah. Even when I had to use my last initial my entire childhood because there was ALWAYS another Sarah. Sarah M. Sarah Martin. Since 1982.

But for all the effort and energy and thought that goes into naming a baby - that name doesn't actually stick around forever. Even Colt probably thinks his name is Buddy. Or Trouble. And I'm sure his friends will give him another nickname or two somewhere down the line. Two and a half years ago I went from Sarah Martin to Sarah Hood (a.k.a. That crazy girl who married Jeff). But I've also been known at various times as Princess, Hey Waitress!, Tom's Little Sister, and Lovebug. 

Last weekend I went to two baby showers for friends, and while I ate petit fours with little blue booties on them and played "Name the Mystery Baby Food" and chatted with other moms about daycare and nap time and potty training I realized that my most recent name change might be my favorite yet.

Hello. My name is Colt's Mama.

Several excuses are always less convincing than one. --Aldous Huxley

Sarah's List of Excuses for Waiting Nine Whole Days to Update Her Blog:

1. The Little Guy has been sick. The Snot Monster has invaded our house and refuses to leave. It's disgusting, people. The snot that comes out of that beautiful little nose of his is alarming. And we have spent WAY too much time in the last week teaming up to hold him down long enough to wipe his nose and give him Benadryl. It's harder than it looks.
2. I recently stopped trying to convince myself that I need to wait until after I stop breastfeeding to do any kind of exercising. So I joined a gym. And I have been trying to decide whether I'd rather go to the gym at 5am before the rest of the house wakes up or at 8pm after the rest of the house goes to bed. I've tried both over the last week, but haven't yet settled into a routine.
3. I have been quietly and carefully cooking up a plan to take over the world with my friend Nancy. More on that later.
4. Work has been busy. But that is perhaps the lamest excuse of all, seeing as I leave by 5pm everyday. (And periodically spend non-productive time at work debating such riveting topics as "Is James Bond a superhero?" and "Who's your favorite muppet?".)
5. I am a tired and sleep-deprived new mama and blahdy blah blah bad excuse.

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And now that we have THAT out of the way. Hello again! And thanks for hangin' in there with me. Here are a few cute pictures of the baby to distract you from my blog-slacking. I promise a real post soon.