Deeply madly in love

Motherhood....I am not really crazy about motherhood...I really never have been... I never dreamed of having a big family or really any children....I have always felt complete in my life without children...I have always believed that having a child should be all about the child...that having a child should be all about giving a child the best life possible...I have always believed that if done correctly that having a child and raising a child would be the most rewarding life experience possible....Once Collin entered my life...it truly was the first time in my entire life that I was open to the idea and excited about starting a family...there was no doubt that he would be a wonderful loving father and husband and for the first time in my life I felt I was in a place where I could bring a child into this world....it has been a amazing journey so far..... I must say I am deeply madly in love with Dylan and so proud to be his mom...in my eyes he can do no wrong....in my eyes he is absolute perfection...his poop is perfect since he never complains about it...and it is odorless as far as I can tell...when he is up all night...no worries...we can sleep tomorrow....he is enjoying life so much he doesn't want to miss anything...since the only time he cries is when he wants to be nursed or held...he is my darling angel...it is amazing that how this little man is bigger and more important than anything else in the world....life as we know it has been changed forever....in a awesome and powerful way....we can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.......

Lifes little pleasures

Ahhhh life has been full of little pleasures the last couple of days...Dylan's smiles, our flowers blooming, a hot summer day and a cool house ahhhhh this is a big won, a nice hot bath after a long day, Mr Mooks stretched out on his back in the sun, Winston not having to share any treats and stealing Dylan's toys...Collin going on walks with Dylan snuggled up on his chest, Dylan loving bath time, warm chocolate chip cookies out of the oven, a beer last night as we watched the ribs cook on the bbq, winning cribbage by one point, Ricky and Lucy finally coming to the top of the pond when we feed them....long naps on the couch cuddled up with Dylan next to me...We are going to enjoy the rest of the day today as a family since the rest of the week is full with lots of work for both of us....hopefully when times get hectic this week I can recall all of lifes little pleasures....

Dylan's is 4 weeks old today

Dylan is 4 weeks old today...wow how time flies....it has been a great first month for the whole family...with lots of first...last night being one of them...the first night I really didn't get to sleep...little Dylan was pretty much hungry all night and woke up every hour or so to eat...he wasn't fussy...just hungry...he really has been a very content and happy baby...so today has been filled with lots of naps and cuddling...and pretty much whatever Dylan might want...after all it is his 4 week old birthday....so he should have what he wants...we will be celebrating his first year of life with a celebration for every month older he turns....today was a day filled with simple pleasures of watching him eat....he loves to eat....sleep...I love to sleep with Dylan...sleeping is a very special time for the two of us...when we snuggle close....there is a internal peace and comfort for both of us that words cannot describe...play time...he is very alert now for good periods of time...he loves to watch as we play with his feet and his hands....we will end the evening with a stroll outside as the day time temperatures cool....snuggle into bed...and look forward to Daddy coming home in the morning...

Dylan's first trip to South Dakota

We headed to Rapid City on Tuesday morning...I had pretty low expectations for traveling with Dylan....boy did he prove me wrong...he was really good the whole trip...I think travel time took only a extra 30 minutes going to Rapid City and on the way home he slept the whole way except the last 10 minutes so we made great time on our trip....It was great seeing Grandma and Grandpa and got to see a couple of friends while we were in town....it was a real joy staying at Grandma's and Grandpa's especially after the first night we stayed in a Motel...yuck....I am not sure what we were thinking but once we got to Grandma and Grandpa's we really enjoyed our time...they live in such a beautiful area in the Black Hills...their home is nestled up in the pine trees with all kinds of nature right out your window...it really felt like we were staying at a quaint chalet in the woods...I guess we did stay at a quaint chalet in the woods....we came home Thursday and Friday Dylan had his first birthday party to attend....our neighbor has a 1 year old son...so it's pretty exciting that Dylan already has a neighborhood friend once he gets big enough to play...I was under the weather yesterday...I was running a fever, chills, aches, and a annoying cough, I am thinking I had a mild case of sun poisoning which I have had several times in the last 5 years or so...but I am feeling good today....Collin is off mowing lawns today...and I am home with Dylan enjoying our time and trying to get small projects done here and there when I can...this afternoon we are going to head to the mall to pick up some extra sheet sets..and to use my 50% off coupon at Gymboree....I went thru Dylan's closet today to see what he might need.......I am going to buy him a couple of more hats...and look at some clothes from 6 to 12 months....up to 6 months he has a ton of new clothes not to mention all of the pre loved clothes that have been given to him...we haven't even dug into those yet...because Dylan is such a big boy...he has completely out grown all of his newborn clothes infact he has 3 or 4 sleepers and like 4 onesie that are brand new that he never got a chance to wear...well with that I need to go...I am on borrowed time as it is....and I am still hoping to get cookies made before Collin gets home.............fyi...Collin will be downloading pictures of our trip some time tonight or tomorrow on our blog.......

Going Solo Part 2

All went well on going solo....all got accomplished...only one problem the whole time...I once again washed my cell phone in the washer machine....this is the 2nd time in the last 6 months....thank goodness for cell phone insurance...and a understanding husband...

Going solo

Today is my first day at going solo....Collin had his first day back to work today...so 24 hours on our own...so far so good...I have managed to shower...go to the bakery...take lunch to Collin...the rest of the day...I still need to water the flowers....go to work for a couple of hours and get packed and the car packed for our trip to Rapid City tomorrow...a couple loads of laundry...and just tidy up the house...well with that I need to do some computer work for work......keep your fingers crossed for me that all goes well today.......until next time

Winston still rules..........

Winston our most wonderful darling bulldog....still rules...even after the birth of our child Dylan...I had concerns about whether our not my love and attention would diminish towards our wonderful Winston....I hoped our relationship would not change...but most people said that you just wait...once Dylan is here...Winston will be well just a dog...well Winston has never been just a dog...in our home he has been our baby with fur...well Winston still is our baby with fur...of course there has been some minor changes...Winston can no longer just jump on me whenever he wants since there is a good chance he might land right on Dylan...otherwise he still gets his special time with mom at the office...he gets alot more treats....and since Winston shares his mom's love with Dylan..it is only right that Dylan shares his toys with Winston...Winston loves toys so much...and baby toys...make pretty good dog toys...so whenever Dylan gets a bunch of toys....I sneak one out of the package for Winston....I think this is a win win for both...Winston gets a new toy...and Dylan has already learned how to share.....

Pictures....not exactly what mom pictured....

We went and took Dylan's first baby pictures this evening....for some reason I had these grand ideas in my head...that we would have all of these wonderful poses and pictures to choose from...that Dylan was a born baby model...well those grand ideas came to a screeching halt....Visions of cute little round butts and angelic smiles were over taken by a first class 3week old baby melt down....Dylan was having none of this picture taken stuff...no propping his little butt in the air...no curling him up in a cute basket...it was all screams...kicks...tight fist...and lots of tears...it really was quite unbearable for all of us....as our photo session finished...rather quickly may I add...the young photographer did her very best to turn a sows ear into a silk purse.....Dylan really didn't give her much to work with this evening....as he slept angelically in his car seat...we waited impatiently to see the results....out of all the pictures we managed to pick one that would work...perhaps out of guilt...for all of her hard work...we felt we had to buy something...so you will all be getting a card with Dylan's best of the worst pictures...I am not sure why we felt such a need to get a baby picture for him at such a young age...we are going to attempt it again at 3 and 6 months.....perhaps once he is a little older we can get the famous baby in the basket shot...and by then his little skinny bum will be round and full.......until then we will work on our best poses...skinny bum and all.......

Baby Info

We went to Dylan's 3 week appointment today. He is doing great. He is now 9lbs 8oz and is 22 inches long. He's in the 90% for his length and 50% for his weight. He is still very lanky with not a lot of baby fat, but is putting on a good amount of weight. As I type this message he is nursing and loving his mom. His favorite thing to do is to fall asleep after 5 minutes of nursing. He will sleep for hours in Denise's arms, but as soon as I try and hold him he seem's to wake up and want to nurse again. The bond between a mother and child is very strong. The only way I am able to get him to fall asleep is in the baby bjorn. It sometimes takes just a couple minutes for him to fall asleep. I must have walked 2 miles last night with him. Here is a video of Dad with Dylan.

Pictures of Grandpa and Dylan

It was great to see Dad. He finally was able to see the house that Joy and he bought last fall. We are looking forward to having them there for a couple months a year. I was a great feeling seeing my dad with my son. Can't wait to see their relationship grow in the following years.

Dylan ...Grandpa...and all that wisdom

Grandpa Moody made his way to Cheyenne this last couple of days to meet his grandson Dylan....we have had a wonderful visit...filled with games...more games....afternoon bbq's....lots of baby holding...and Grandpa sharing his wisdom with Dylan...like all good Grandpa's should do....Grandpa and Collin enjoyed a bike ride...and even made there way to the park for a walk with Dylan and Winston in tow....it has been a wonderful visit and is so fun to see Grandfather,Son, and grandson spend time together...I love to watch Collin and his dad together... I often wonder where Collin gets some of his ideas....and when I see the two of them together it becomes clear...very endearing....it will be pretty awesome to watch how these ideas were Bruce ideas...now Collin's ideas that will be shared with Dylan...and will become Dylan's idea's....for the first time I am feeling a little out numbered....at least Winston shares my ideas.........we have really enjoyed Grandpa's visit..wisdom...ideas...and all

A day filled with events.........

Today was filled with a couple of errands that needed to be done outside the home...what was once as simple as jumping in the car....completing the errand...and running home...is now a baby obstacle course....timing is everything during these events....events is a much better word than errand...it truly is a daily event to get from location a to location b without any crying or any other baby obstacle that might occur to keep you from finishing the event....today we attempted quite a lofty goal of events....2 bank stops...stop at Collins administration building...lunch...Target for returns...Wal-mart and Sams Club....as we entered the obstacle course...as new parents we were not as prepared as we should be...time management was our downfall today...we started with the bank stops and then the administrations office which really set us up for failure since that took almost 30 minutes...with Dylan and I waiting in the car...Dylan did well until Collin came back from the Administration office then the crying started....had we been thinking we would have saved the Administration office for one of our last stops...where I could have fed Dylan in the car while waiting for Collin...we fed and changed Dylan before we left...but in Baby World that really means nothing....you can change a diaper and 5 minutes later its dirty again...and Dylan....with food...please...this child loves food...loves nursing...loves the snuggling close to the chest....if it was up to Dylan I would be tied to the bed 24 hours a day....with him right next to me nursing or sleeping on me the entire time....the truth be told I love it also but maybe only 20 hours a day....so with a crying baby....lessons were learned....the good news is we made it thru the entire course...maybe a little slow...a couple of stops to feed or soothe Dylan....but 2hours later we made it thru both banks...returns and shopping at Target....lunch to go....Wal-mart and Sam's Club...Dylan managed...we managed...back at home and now a clear understanding why parents grocery shop once a week.........

Lawns and Dylan withdrawals......

Collin's part time business of mowing lawns has gotten quite busy...he is picking up new clients it seems weekly...he has close to 20 different clients...some are just one time jobs others are weekly....today he mowed 7 lawns....that means me and Dylan were left at home to our own devices....Dylan's first 2 weeks of life have been filled with constant holding whether he is a sleep or awake...he has been a very content baby...today was a good day for me to get use to having to take care of Dylan on my own without Collin's help...since here in the next week Collin will be going back to work...that means 24 hours at a time with just me and Dylan...so this week we are going to work on putting him down in his crib or his swing once he falls asleep for his nap....and I am going to start wearing a baby carrier around...so I have a little more freedom once Collin goes back to work...Dylan did well today and ....nursing is pretty awesome...but there are moments when you realize that you are tied to this little person pretty much 24 hours a day...since dad can't feed him....you kind of need to be there....Dylan will start day care in the beginning of August and he will be taking a bottle with him for day care....he will be at day care 3 hours a day....which I am dreading...but I know it will be good for all of us.....but until day care starts we really don't want him to be having any bottles...with that I am having Dylan withdrawals and feel a need to hold my son...until next time

All is well

All has been going well...Parenthood has been quite enjoyable so far...Dylan has made it seem fairly effortless for the most part...we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that this pattern continues...they say that if you are going to have a colicky baby it usually shows up at about 3 weeks of age...so we are holding our breath until then...we had a wonderful 4th of July....and shared good company with good friends the Moreheads and Collins mom Penny....today has been a lazy day watching Dylan....we slept in until 10:00 am this morning....if it was up to Dylan we would have probably slept another hour or so...night time has become my favorite time of the day....Dylan absolutely loves sleeping in the bed.....he loves to snuggle up close and I could lay there for hours watching him sleep...the whole family is so content...its hard to describe what a special time it is...but watching him feel so safe...content...and happy is just pretty darn special...It will be sometime before I am ready to give up sharing our bed...it is going to be interesting to see how our sleeping arrangements play out over the next year...well with that its time for bed........until tomorrow.......sweet dreams

A Good Night

We had a incredible restful night...the whole family slept well again....there is just something about seeing this little baby snuggle next to you at night that is more precious than words can say....so happy...so peaceful...feeling so safe and secure....I am really enjoying this special time that we have together when we sleep...I am blogging from the office this morning...I am on floor duty...all must be well at the Moody household..the nice thing is the office is only like 5 minutes from our home...so if Dylan wakes and needs to be fed...Collin can just bring him in...we are very blessed with my office....I will be back home at noon...we are starting to find ways to get things done with a baby in the house...we have figured out that once Dylan is asleep that we can move him to his swing and that he sleeps well in it...allowing us to get things done while he is sleeping...it is a pretty neat swing....it swings from side to side not front to back...and it hold his car carrier in it....so we can put him in his car seat so that he is safe and then put him in his swing...it also had this great womb sounds that seems to also soothe Dylan....a good purchase....with that I have work to do.......until later

All about Dylan

Todays blog will be all about Dylan...which if I had to guess most of the future blogs will be all about Dylan...Well Dylan has proven not to be the absolute perfect baby after all...he had a good 2 hour stint of off and on crying last night...I guess we are all human after all...it really is a awful feeling not knowing what is wrong and how to console him...after this initially stint he settled down for the rest of the night and has been back to his perfect self today....we are thinking we need to do a better job burping him after he it done eating...the first day or two he was getting colostrum now with my milk in we think he needs a little more help being burped than before....I also managed to go to work today...every Tuesday we have a morning office meeting...unfortunately I did not make the tour of homes but was glad to know that we could figure out how to get me away from Dylan for 2 hours without him crying...it was good....I initially was going to have a bottle for him of breastmilk that I had pumped but we decided against this...and really want to wait 3 to 4 weeks before we introduced breastmilk in a bottle for him....which will work ok....with open houses usually 1 and a half hours and office time at 2 hours I still should be able to be productive at work with clients and do the rest of my work from home or office with Dylan with me....this very moment is the first time that Dylan has not been held by somebody...a person...he is actually swinging in his swing and is sound asleep....Dylan also had his 2nd doctors appointment today...and has gained back all of his original weight he lost after delivery....he has gained 8 ounces in 4 days...that's my boy!!!!!!!! unfortunately he also has a closed eye duct that is slightly infected so we were prescribed some eye drops...and will have to keep a close watch to make sure that it doesn't get any worse.....sorry for such a rambling blog...but I am on borrowed time.....Dylan will be waking any moment and will be very hungry.....tomorrow I am back to work again for 2 hours...so we will see how that goes....wish us luck tonight..........and a good night sleep for Dylan with only sweet dreams and no crying........