Sleeping with a Cold

Andrew has been sick with a cold for about a week now. He has a deep cough and a very runny nose. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday he would only sleep if he was being held while Patrick or I were holding him sitting upright. Since Patrick works I did the night holding, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from about 4 am on. Needless to say by Saturday morning all of us were sick. I have learned that a 9 month old can have a cold and still be just as active as ever, while adults on the other hand are miserable and don't have much energy. So during a two day period Andrew had pulled piles of books off the bookcases, torn up toilet paper around the apartment, scattered his toys everywhere, and pulled many of the pots, pans, and Tupperware containers out of the kitchen cupboards. Meanwhile, Patrick and I just let him, only stopping him if he could possibly get hurt. Now that we are starting to feel better, I wonder where I am going to get the motivation to clean.

Last night as I was going to bed, I looked down at the navy blue shirt I was wearing and saw it had been covered with snot stains from Andrew rubbing his face across my chest as he got comfortable enough to sleep. It was also still slightly damp from his sweaty little head. I thought back to nine months ago when we brought him home and how he would only sleep on our chests. He was so small and now his arms wrap around my arms, his head lies on my shoulders, his legs wrap around my hips or hang down almost touching my knees. He rubs my arm or face usually gently and sort of sings/hums along with me as I sing him to sleep. I found myself, though tired, enjoying holding him at night, as I realize that he will only continue to get bigger and in time holding and sleeping with him on my chest will no longer be possible.

I love being a mom. I love watching his personality develop as he plays with me. This past week he has been very playful. Taking his spoon while I am feeding him, turning his body and holding the spoon over the edge of the high chair as if he was going to drop it. Then he looks at me and laughs, and I tug at the spoon to get it back from him. I would give him another bite and he takes the spoon, turns and laughs, and holds the spoon over the edge. We played this almost his whole feeding. He also loves to take my phone, laugh as he raises it to his mouth wide open, and then pauses for me to say no and move the phone away from his mouth. He then starts over, occasionally chewing and slobbering on my phone a bit, before I pull it away.

If the bathroom door gets left open he will crawl to the door and often wait until I notice and follow after him as he laughs and crawls in. He growls as he chases his basketball, and makes car noises with everything that has wheels. He hears the keys at the door and will stop whatever he is doing and head to the door to greet his Dad with a smile.

He kisses me with his mouth wide open. Hits at my breasts when he wants to nurse and face plants into my chest. He puts his fingers in my mouth and when possible my nose while he is nursing, then smiles(still nursing) when I take his hand and kiss it. He climbs up my legs to stand and holds on while I am doing dishes or cooking. He is even standing in his high chair when ever possible, which scares me.

It amazes me how independent and strong minded/willed he is getting and how quick he is. I am so grateful that Patrick has made it possible for me to stay home and care for Andrew as he grows. I won't pretend that it is easy, that I never feel unappreciated or like I should be working toward a career of some sort. I know very few moms, if any, who have never felt those down feelings, but I find those feelings slip away with every slobbery kiss, and big smile Andrew gives me, even his sad faces as he crawls on his hands and feet like a little bear cub toward me for comfort help me to realize that there is no job in the world that would or could make me give up this time I have to be "just" Andy's mom, and Patrick's wife. I love them both so much. I write this so that I don't forget to appreciate every moment I have with them.

North East!

Patrick finished his 11 week internal medicine rotation on Friday August 28th. We relaxed that weekend and hopped in the car on Monday for our road trip. We drove to Rhode Island, and stayed the night at the Navy Lodge in Newport, RI. I really like this Navy Lodge, it has a nice view and a trail to run on. Unfortunately it was the only time I ran the whole vacation.



When we woke up on Tuesday we checked out and went on a tour at the Breakers (one of the Vanderbilt Mansions). I am pretty sure that it helped define the gilded age. It was beautiful! If only I was about 100 billion dollars richer. Andy made it about half way through the tour when he just had enough. I stopped on the balcony and worked really hard to get him to sleep, it felt like forever, but he finally went to sleep long enough to finish the tour anyway.



The view from the balcony was beautiful!



Patrick wished it was his home.




Andy was glad to get out of the house and on to the grass. He attracted a whole group of Chinese tourists who wanted to take a picture with him as well as have Patrick take a picture for them.



After grabbing a bite to eat we headed to Maine, where we stayed at another Navy Lodge (not as good of view but still a nice place to stay.) On Wednesday we went to Portland, Maine and toured the Headland Light house. Definitely worth the drive. It was a beautiful and clear day.

We then drove through Scarborough, Maine, for obvious reasons. There wasn't much to see, except for the signs below.

We then set on our way to Bennington, Vermont. As we drove through New Hampshire we realized that the rest stops no longer had McDonald's like in Connect or Burger Kings like Massachusetts; instead they had a State Safety Rest Stop next to the State Liquor store (I wonder if the drinking and driving laws are more relaxed in New Hampshire...if they exist.)

Andy hoped that the legal driving age was lower too, but we still didn't let him drive.

The drive was breathtaking I hadn't seen so many mountains and green trees in a long time. We stayed the night in Bennington. On Thursday we walked around the town but Andy stayed pleasant just long enough to take a picture next to one of the many Moosefest moose, buy a moose book and the 7th Harry Potter, and some chocolates from a chocolate store which had two chocolate moose that weighed about 88 lbs. Then we drove to Ithaca, New York, to visit our friends Josh, Jenny, and their two sons Evan and Breydan (and they have two more on the way!)

On our way to Josh and Jenny's we stopped at Brooks BBQ...Yummy! Another place worth the drive. We also had some ice cream and sat in the Brooks playground. Andy wanted my ice cream so bad that I finally gave in.

Jenny was a great hostess, she took us around Ithica on Friday. We saw two waterfalls and the campus of Cornell, where Josh is working on his PhD. Jenny stayed in the van while Andy slept and we took Evan and Breydan to see one of the water falls. I was taking pictures of Patrick and the boys when someone offered to take a picture of all of us; I decided why not? Aren't they cute little boys!? Thanks Jenny for the tour, the yummy meals and for letting us stay with you!!!

On Saturday we drove to Palmyra, NY. We were hoping to meet up with Patrick's old roomate, Morgan, and his wife, Keara, but it didn't work out. We took the tour around the Smith's family farm. And then walked through the Sacred Grove. Andy needed a power nap again, and then he was good to go for another half hour or so. Then we headed home.

We finished Patrick's time off with a trip to on Labor Day to see Crystal and Joel Ross. Andy was able to try some corn on the cob, as well as some watermelon. We had a great time, and Andy had alot of fun with Robert and Rebekkah.

Well, that's it for now. We'll try to post a bit more often in the future. Stay tuned!