Fills my heart

From the moment I first saw ButterBean's wrinkled little face, I was overwhelmed with love!

I couldn't believe how easy it was to instantly love someone so incredibly much. Gatsby caught me crying one of the first nights after our baby was born. He asked what was wrong and as silly as it sounded I said, "I just love him so much!" But, it's true!!! I love him SO MUCH!

This is about what he looked like when I cried about loving him

Every day when he wakes up in the morning and gives me a big smile, I find myself amazed at how blessed I am to have ButterBean in my life.

 

As complicated as life has been since his arrival, I wouldn't change it for anything! He brings me more joy than I could have imagined. The only way I can think to describe it is that when I look at him, snuggle and kiss him, every nook of my heart gets filled with love and I feel like I'm about to burst! 

I can't get enough of my little love bug!

U2

Let me give you a little background on me: I hate being wet in the rain! When I first met Gatsby he saw me at my worst - in the rain, pouting, and cranky. I've always said that if he liked me when I was in the rain, he must really like me!
That being said, I actually had a good time at U2 despite the fact that I was drenched all the way to my underwear! When we got there it was a "Beautiful Day" with a slight breeze! That didn't last!

Half an hour into the show it came down in buckets. It was such a great show and everyone was so excited, that I didn't mind being soaked. We had our raincoats on, which helped slightly. Bono had such a fantastic attitude about performing in a downpour! He sang "Singing in the Rain" and referenced rain a few other times throughout the show. The drenching didn't slow him down a bit. The bass guitarist, Adam Clayton, took his shirt off for the last part of the show instead of putting up with a soggy shirt. By the end, this is what we looked like

I look a little crazy. Great show! The rain made it all the more memorable.
Thanks Mom and Lil T for watching ButterBean!

Two Weeks of Craziness - Done

Whew! Thank God that's over!
6 tests in 2 weeks - check!
Presentation - check!
2 papers - one down and one to go!
I think the majority of my class was on the brink of losing their minds this week. Waaay too much studying. ButterBean has been getting up every 2 hours, which means I have been running on about 4 hours of sleep a night. I feel like a zombie (I probably look like one too, I just haven't had time to check in the mirror). One lady in my class started crying for no reason during lunch - clear sign that we have been pushing ourselves to the limit this month.
But tonight - celebration time! My parents can't use their U2 tickets for tonight, so Gatsby and I are going instead! Yeah!

 There is 80% chance of thunderstorms, but we are going no matter what and we are going to have a good time! Minnesota weather has been brutal this year: we went from cold and rainy to heat indexes of 110 degrees. On Sunday we were the only place in the Western hemisphere other than the Amazon with a dew point in the 80s! It was horribly sticky. I hate being in the rain, but after this week, NOTHING is going to keep me from having fun!! Hopefully I'll get some good pictures to post later.
Side note: Pretty sure ButterBean is getting a tooth. Either that or his tongue has had a growth spurt!

His tongue has been hanging out like this for 3 days and he's drooling up a storm. He cracks me up every day!

(Not) Studying

Things I did today when I should have been studying

-  Wrote this blog and read other mindless things on the internet
- Organized baby clothes
- Thoroughly cleaned out a mustard bottle so I could put it in the recycling
- Found a delicious snack...or two
- Went to Target just to get one envelope and some new pacifiers

It's a sad, sad state I've fallen into...when you clean out mustard bottles just to take a break from studying...sad. I'm all studied out!
This month has been ridiculous in school. For example, last week: 3 tests. This week: 3 tests, a paper, and a presentation. That of course, is on top of about 20 hours of clinical and other classes. Gaahhh! I can't wait for August to come and to be done with this crazy month!

Ok, I really should study now.
Oh - ButterBean is crying, guess I'll study later ;)

This is why he's crying - he got his latest round of shots today, poor baby! He smiled so sweetly at the nurse before she stuck him. Sweet little ButterBean. He's starting to get a little feverish and it's time for more Tylenol.

Eating Real Food

ButterBean is almost 5 months old, and although it is recommended to introduce solids at 6 months, I think this little guy is ready. Before his first "meal" we wanted to get a high chair. When I should be studying I am very good at wasting time by researching things! I kind of knew that I wanted a wooden highchair because they look nicer. I read plenty of reviews on high chairs and debated for a while about getting the Stokke TrippTrapp, which is rather expensivo! Total when you get all the baby accessories for when they are just learning to sit up is close to $400. The chair is adjustable for all ages, so it lasts, but that's still a lot of moolah!
After more research I came across the Keekaroo high chair. Same concept as the Stokke, in so much as it adjusts from infant to adult, but half the price! I actually like the design better too. The Keekaroo has a dishwasher safe tray, which the Stokke does not.  I found a local store (the Pacifier - great store!) that carried the Keekaroo and we picked up this cute chair:

There are different fun color inserts for the baby seat, but they were back ordered at the Pacifier, and I had no patience, so we ended up with brown.

So far I like it!

And ButterBean does well in it. The first feeding of rice cereal was met with squunched up faces and little enthusiasm, but he is doing much better now! He looooves sweet potatoes - boy after my own heart!

                                                                           Not so sure about this cereal stuff
                                                                                                            

 Getting the hang of eating...kind of!

Close to Eating

ButterBean is so excited about FOOD! Whenever we eat or drink his little mouth opens up and he reaches for it. We will soon be starting him on cereal.
But first...

Marshmallows!

Who doesn't start off with marshmallows as a first food? No? Well he really just licked it and waved it everywhere. He's had a lick of popsicles too and loved it. It's fun to watch him explore new tastes. I didn't get a picture of him sucking on a pickle, but that was a hit too!

The marshmallow quickly turned into a mess. A few wet wipes later and we had a clean baby!

Not meant to be "Single"

So, my husband, Gatsby, has been out of town for almost 2 weeks. It just so happens that my parents' vacation coincided perfectly with those two weeks, leaving me to be the "single mom". We found someone to watch the ButterBean for most of the days, so I could go to class and clinicals, but I did take a couple days off.

We had fun together on the 4th of July at my grandparents' house, but had to get home and go to bed before any fireworks because I had to go to clinical the next morning. The neighbors were lighting fireworks and I think that's what woke ButterBean up at 11, 12 and 3:30. I have to start getting ready for clinical at 4:25ish, so by the time he got back to sleep it was time for me to get up for the day.
Total sleep for the night: a whopping 3 hours!
At the hospital I was, of course, tired. By noon my whole body was aching. When I got home at 3:30, I had a temperature of 100.6
The next day had to be a day off from clinical, but I studied at home while the babysitter watched the babe. With a good night's sleep my fever was gone by lunch time! Apparently my body was telling me, "Whoah! Take it easy, will ya?"

I do NOT recommend going to anesthesia school with a newborn and no spouse or family nearby. It's not doable! It's insane enough going to school with newborn and amazing family support. We couldn't get through it without our fabulous families!

Thankfully, my parents came back on the night of the 6th and I was able to go there and I've been living in the basement the last couple of days until Gatsby comes home. Soooo nice to have my hands free for more than two minutes at a time!

Me!

My first name means "Little Womanly One" and my last name means "Little Happy One". For the most part my name sums me up! I'm petite, girly, and for the most part happy!
My life? Craziness.
In one year I got married, started anesthesia school, finished a basement and bathroom, redecorated 4 rooms, and had a baby! It all has gone by so fast that I think if I don't start documenting some things, I will forget what I've done! School is 27 months straight through, 40 hours a week of class and clinical, and an intense amounts of studying. While I was pregnant my grades were great. After baby? Not so much. But graduating with B's is still graduating! Considering this is how I study:

I'd say it's just fine.

My baby, aka ButterBean is the cutest baby I've ever seen. It's not like I'm biased or anything!




He's four and a half months now and one of the main reasons I consider myself to be a "little happy one". I have so many reasons to be happy: family close by, good health, great husband, a house. I'm very busy/stressed, but also very blessed.