Sleep change

Hunter is officially down to one nap a day! I noticed that his two naps were becoming two "cat naps!"  I could tell that he was weaning himself from his morning nap. He probably could nap at noon, but I do NOT want to be in nap prison during lunch hour. So, I experimented with putting him down at 1:00, and it worked!!!

He naps 1:00-3:30ish. We still put him to sleep around 7:00-7:30pm. More good news...he has also pushed back his wake time!! He now wakes at 8:00am!! I'm loving this new sleep pattern!!

Way to go Hunter! We now have our mornings to go do things, like feed the ducks......

Being a Stay at Home Mom

SOOOOO many reasons that I love being a stay at home mom. I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to just have one job title....mommy! I have the time to simply ENJOY the time!! Does this make sense? Now, I know I have always been pro-schedule, for a routine, and proactive to do all I can do to make my days somewhat predictable...but, I LOVE that we have the time to just be in the moment.

I like knowing when Hunter is going to nap and eat (give or take half an hour). I think this is in both of our best interest ;-) Aside from sleeping and eating....I love being able to just wing it and let Hunter's curiosity run our day! Here are some examples of things I love most:

•  If Hunter wants to hold my hand and "walk" through the entire grocery store....fine, who cares if it doubles the time that I am at HEB!
• I can rewind the theme song to Fresh Beat Band 12 times- in a row!
• I love having Hunter "help" me fold the laundry, even though it turns into a huge mess and it takes much more time
• We can detour on our way home, just to swing at the park
• I love our LONG strolls and talking about every little thing that Hunter points to...tree, bird, cat, stick
• I don't care that I have to wipe down the finger prints 3 times a day...finger prints on your table, windows, appliances and door is simply a sign of a healthy child full of life! I will miss these fingerprints one day!
• We can read the same book over and over. Nothing is better than when he crawls to me holding a book then sits in my lap and "reads" along with me. Then signs "more" when he wants to start over. I can start over as many times as he asks!
• We love laying a blanket outside and just waiting and watching for daddy to pull up in the driveway
• I LOVE just hugging him tightly when I am about to put him in his carseat. I sit on the back seat and hug him and say a short prayer that we get where we are going safely! Sometimes those hugs take a long time...especially when he lays his head on my shoulder and hugs me back!
• When he wakes up from nap, I have the time to "rock him awake!" I sit and rock and rock until he his ready to go...sometimes it takes 1 minute, and others it takes him 30 minutes!!
• He can "help" me go through the mail. This adds a significant amount of time because it usually results in me picking up tiny pieces of paper!
• We can take our time while we eat and have long talks over our lunch

You know the saying, "What's time to a hog?" Well, there should be a saying, "What's time to a stay at home mom?" Something about this little guy makes time freeze and nothing else matters. I know many working mothers that find the balance to do all of the above, but my personality type would get caught up in the "fast pace" of working that I don't think I would ever SLOW down enough to enjoy these little blessings.

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

1 year photo session

 

Goodbye!

Well, not goodbye for good! But, I am done making Hunter's 1st year blog book, which is awesome! That was my goal of starting this blog...to transfer it to a book and dedicate it to Hunter's first year! Success!!! I love it and hope that Hunter, one day, will treasure it!

Going through mail with Daddy

 This means that I am done with my weekly updates! Now I am just going to update when something big or cute happens. I am also going to post pictures when I capture a priceless moment!

Enjoying lunch outside on a gorgeous Saturday

Facebook is GREAT for keeping pictures organized, and they sync to your Walgreens account for fast printing! Amazing! I love knowing that I have that "backup" and I can refer to the chronological albums! I just don't want to maintain both. Sitting behind a computer has never been my strong point. Well, anything that makes me feel like a "student" is not my strong point-hehehe!

 Okay, cheers to completing my goal of the 1st year book!! Weekly updates were more time consuming than you would think, so I am "freeing" myself now that the book is done! To all my aunts, cousins, out of state family and others....keep checking randomly. Love yall!!!

This is what he does when I say, "Show mommy your teeth!!"

 Hunter is a ball player at heart! He holds one in the air and says "baaallll?" Like he's asking if you want to play! I will always remember him doing this....many times, every day!

 Looking cute with friend Connor