Where to Begin...?

Has it really been over a YEAR since I have last written a post for my blog?  W-O-W!!!

As you can see, I gave my blog a little makeover - changed the look, changed the title - mainly because our lives have changed A LOT over this past year and I felt like jumping right into writing a post to my old blog didn't quite feel right.  Obviously, we are still journeying our way through life (The Johnson's Journey), and infertility will always carry a heavy weight in my heart and mind, but I want to redirect and refocus myself and changing my blog felt necessary in doing so.

So, here is a very brief surmise of what the past year has contained...

1.  We sold our home in California and now live in Salem, Oregon.

2.  My husband and I found fulfilling jobs in Oregon - Aaron as a teacher, myself a paralegal.

3.  Ella excelled through first grade and is now *gulp* gearing up for second grade.

4.  Tristan celebrated being one and is now rockin' his second year of life while wearing glasses.  Shortly after his first birthday, we discovered he is very far-sighted, and just look how adorably he pulls off these glasses!

I won't be able to recap on all of the details of the past year, but I hope to write about some fun family times and experiences.  I just wanted to get this first post out of the way and "put myself out there" again.  And, I gotta say...I'm excited to be blogging again! :)

What I Want to Remember (6 Months)

Holy cow, Tristan! You are 6 months old! Half a year old. I don't know how this is possible, but this is the reality I'm faced with. Fastest 6 months of my life. No joke.

You had your 6-month check-up and shots today. As you age, it gets harder and harder to watch you get shots. You just stared at me with your big blue eyes, wanting to be held, and after the first prick, you were just so upset. The second I picked you up, you calmed down, though. And, Sister was comforting you as well, telling you that the next time she gets a shot, she will be brave to show you how to not cry.

So, what have you been up to this month?

Well, you are talking. A lot. You screech so loud, all the time! You have an opinion about everything, and you especially love talking on your changing table. Oh, and after we feed you a bottle and burp you, you just lean on our shoulder and loudly tell us in our ear what's on your mind.

You are pretty good at sleeping. While teething (which you're going through right now), you are up three to four times a night. Nothing a binky can't fix, though. Typically, though, you wake up between 3:00 and 4:00 wanting a bottle. Then, you pretty easily go back to sleep. However, if you wake up around 5:00 for this feeding, it's tricky, because you are starting to wake up for the day, so getting you back to sleep takes more effort.

Then, like clock work, you take your morning nap exactly two hours after you wake up. On the dot. Your other naps throughout the day aren't as consistent. You get at least three naps in, and they vary in length and time. I'm just letting you tell me when you need to sleep. I can count on you to fall asleep in the car, though. Car rides are not nearly as painful as they once were.

You despise tummy time, which is likely why you are not rolling over very well yet. You've only managed to roll from your tummy to back a handful of times. The doctor wants to see you rolling over, though, since the back of your head is supposedly getting flat from laying on your back so much. I think you were born that way, but I'm not gonna argue because I do agree. You need to start rolling. Come on, baby boy!!!

Part of the reason why you're not too mobile yet is because you are quite the chunky monkey. You weigh 20 pounds, 14 ounces (75th to 90th percentile) and you are 28 inches long (90th percentile). You have Popeye arms and Arnold thighs. LOL! Daddy likes you call you a beast, and I think that suits you just fine. :)

You love your sister so much. You think she's the greatest thing in the world and everything she does is just so wonderful. You just watch her all the time. If she's in the room, your eyes are on her. And, more times than not, you have your silly little smile on your face. She makes you smile and laugh so much.

Daddy also makes you laugh so hard when he rubs his head on your tummy. Wow! Your laughter usually comes out in loud screeches. You also make funny coughing noises when you're excited. Those noises usually match the typical Tristan look that says, "I'm so happy!"

You love to bang toys now, and throw them! It seems like you may be left-handed like Daddy and Sister, because most toys end up on the left side of you. You throw with your left hand and bang with your left hand. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Your hair is coming in thicker now, and it looks to be staying blondish. Sometimes it looks golden blonde, sometimes more brown. Either way, it's much lighter than my hair. And your eyes! Oh, your eyes! They are blue and they are going to stay that way. Deep, royal, sky blue. I could stare into your eyes all day long. (And just between you and me, I do spend a lot of my day doing just that! Shhh!). :)

It's been a wonderful six months, Tristan Nathaniel. You make me smile so much. You truly are a happy, vocal, caring baby. You love to cuddle, you love to touch our faces when we talk to you, you're patient when we don't quickly meet your needs, you give Sister confidence because you are always encouraging her with your stares and smiles, and you have just filled this family with so much joy.

I can't wait to see what the second half of your first year of life holds...

What I Want to Remember (3 to 5 Months)

Because I never got around to posting "What I Want to Remember (3 to 4 Months)," I'm just going to combine his fourth and fifth months of life into one monster post. :)

I'll start this out with your 4-month stats. My, you are a growing boy! You weighed 18 pounds, exactly, and your length was 25-3/4 inches. You are growing so fast. According to Baby Center, you are in the 50th to 75th percentile in length, and the 75th to 90th percentile in weight. I beg to differ, though, because I think your weight should be off the charts. You are a solid boy, but I guess your weight is "normal."

Ella was 3 pounds lighter and 2 inches longer at the same age, so you definitely have a stockier, huskier build that Big Sister. Ella does have a lengthy physique, though. She's not necessarily tall, but she has long, slender arms and legs and a long, slender stomach. You have Popeye arms. No joke. Your forearms are huge!

You have found your voice. Wait, let me rephrase that. You have found your SCREAM! You love to screech. You have such a happy screech.

You have also found your laugh. It is the cutest, happiest sound in the world.

I feel like you are happier than most babies. Of course, I realize I'm biased, but honestly...you are smiling and laughing ALL THE TIME. Ella was never like this. Ella was a much more serious baby. In fact, I went through videos of her during this age, and I only have two videos of her laughing and one of her coo-ing. You, on the other hand, too many to count.

You love to talk, especially when laying on your changing table.

You wake up every morning between 6:00 and 7:00, and you just carry a lengthy conversation with yourself about who knows what. I just lay in bed and listen to you on the monitor, smiling to myself, thanking God for such a happy boy.

You are now eating cereal three times a day. At first, you hated it, but now you eat like a champ. We have you on a pretty good schedule. I feed you at the table when Sister eats her breakfast, and then early afternoon after you wake up from your nap, and then we feed you around 7:00 at night. You drink formula between those meals. I don't know what's "normal" for a baby to be eating at your age, but I just listen to you, and I think you know when food is going to come, so you don't freak out when you're getting hungry because you understand your schedule and know to wait it out.

The only time you fuss/cry is when you're tired, and that's an easy fix. When home, I just lay you in bed, tuck some covers around the lower half of your body, give you the binky and leave. When you're tired enough, you are able to self sooth yourself to sleep. I hardly rock you anymore. I just lay you down when it's time to sleep and you fall asleep.

I think much of this is due to the fact that you are no longer binky-handicapped. It wasn't until you were maybe four months old that you finally began to understand the art of sucking the binky, and ever since, car rides have become much better. I only let you have it when we're driving or when it's time to sleep. When we're just hanging out at home, I don't let you have it. I'd prefer for you not to get too attached to it.

You have two bottom teeth that sprouted around the same time.

You love to gnaw on your thumbs, but you don't really suck.

You LOVE LOVE LOVE to jump in your jumper. That is definitely the best money we've spent on you thus far (other than the thousands of dollars to bring you life!). During the morning, you literally stay in there for an hour straight. You work yourself to exhaustion and then you let me know you're ready for a morning nap.

You typically take three naps a day. Morning, early afternoon and evening. You like to take little cat naps here and there, too.

You love to kick, and still aren't the biggest fan of tummy time. You rolled over from your tummy to your back one time, but that was a fluke deal because you haven't again since. You are just kinda a blob. You don't roll and you don't move from where we put you. But, oh, put you in the jumper, and you go to town! And, you only jump on your right leg. Silly boy! :)

You are just such a joy. You are everything I dreamed of, and more! You and your sister complete me in a way that I cannot describe. God created me to be your guys' mom, and God created you guys to be my children. We're a perfect match! A match made in Heaven. :)

20 Things A Mom Should Tell Her Son

1. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.

2. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.

3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it some day.

5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.

17. Be patriotic.

18. Potty humor isn't the only thing that's humorous.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.

(Courtesy of Werdyab).

I Miss Blogging

I miss my blog.

Period.

I miss my blogging buddies.

I miss the connection my blog gave me with so many people.

I need to re-prioritize my time to allow for some me time, and in that me time, I will blog.

I have so much to blog about, too.

But, that's all you're gonna get for now, because Tristan's waking up from his nap and we soon need to pick Ella up from kindergarten.

The end.