Thankful

Thankful, that's what November is all about, being thankful. I haven't been able to go to sleep lately, and I find myself awake thinking of the things I am thankful for, and every night it's the same thing, my little family. We might be small in numbers but we have a love that I wouldn't trade for the world. The best part is I have them for eternity. Best Friends Forever is really going to happen. I am married to my best friend and I get to be with him for forever and I couldn't be happier. Even listening to him snore right now, and Carter is starting to fuss and it's 1:30 in the morning, I am grateful for both of them. 

Families Are Together Forever 

Med School Life

 Justin is in his 3rd year of Med School, and I feel like we just moved to Florida! We did move from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf Coast almost 5 months ago, so that could be why I feel like we have just moved here.  Year 3 of medical school is called rotations, where Justin gets to spend 1 month in each specialty of the medical field. The first couple moths were really hard on me, they were all long hours and only having one car and being a brand new mom didn't help.  Most of my human interaction was with a little infant who would just cry, poop, eat and sleep.  Not much for interaction for a social butterfly like me.  Most of my days were spent in tears, longing for my friends I left behind in Utah.

Justin's first rotation was OB/GYN and it wasn't too bad because I had my sister in law for most of the month and then my mom came to visit for a week.  Then in August he had internal medicine at the hospital.  that wasn't too bad but most night Justin didn't get home till 7 o'clock or later.  But at least we had the weekends and I also went to Utah for 2 weeks.  Then along came September, or the month of HELL, is what I like to call it.  September Justin started his surgery rotation... I hardly saw him! His first day on surgery was a 21 hour day, not fun for me.  Then for the rest of the month it continued to be 15 hour or more days.  One day he left at 6:30 a.m. and then didn't get home till 7 a.m. the next morning.  He got a 3 hour nap in then was back at the hospital for another 10 hours.  He has decided surgery, not matter how much money they make, is not for him.

It was really hard on me because I still didn't have any friends yet.  People would talk to me at church but that was about it.  Then, what I call the grace month, October happened!!!!! Justin was working a mile from home, went in a 9 a.m. got a 3 hour lunch then was home by 4. I was in heaven.  You might be wondering what rotation he was on, Geriatrics, God Bless The Old People!  I really needed human interaction and was very grateful for this rotation where I was able to see my husband a lot more!

We are enjoying where we are living now in Clearwater, FL and I am finally making friends.  Minus are small apartment and only having one car, we some how manage, even if that means Carter and I take Justin to work then we can at least get out for the day.  Carter is getting more fun, watching him interact with us is the best.  He is also getting much better at car rides!!!! One of us has to sit in back with him but he no longer screams bloody murder while in the car!!!!  I can't believe that Justin only has a year and half left of school, time is going by so quickly!

I am a Dope

Back in April my mother, sister and two sister in laws all signed up to do the Dopey Challenge in Disney World January 2015. The Dopey Challenge consists of 4 races, 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and a Full Marathon in 4 days for a total of 48.6 "magical miles". Am I crazy, yes, I think I am, but at least I am not alone! 

When I signed up I was 7 month pregnant and figured this would motivate me to get the baby  weight off. Well, we are almost 2 months away from the race and the farthest I have wogged (walk/jog) is 7 miles. But I have noticed a major improvement in 4 months! When I first started I was doing a 15 minute mile, I use to be able to do a 10 minute mile, I  was a little depressed about it. Taking that long to run was definitely not fun. But I stuck with it and today I did 3 miles and my average pace was 12:10. I was so proud of myself! I love seeing improvements! It also helped that a cold front came in and so the weather was perfect for a run. 

Random side note:

I was complaining tonight about it being cold and Justin told me I have been spoiled with warm weather. Yes I have and I love my warm weather! It will be a sad day when we move away from Florida! 

Sweet but a Handful

Don't let these baby blues deceive you

He looks all cute and innocent but once darkness falls, the crying starts! It's not just before bed either, he will wake up every 2 hours some nights! He was so good until he hit 3 months. What happened, you ask? Good question, if you figure it out let me know! This mamma needs/loves her sleep. I am also a cranky  sleeper, I tend to snap at Justin in the middle of the night. Example Friday night, early Saturday morning (3 a.m.) Justin was being nice and took Carter out to try to get him back to sleep. I could still hear the boy crying, so, annoyed at this point, I get out of bed and try to take Carter back, Justin  won't give Carter up and I mumble under my breath, "it's not like you get up or hear him when he cries multiple times through out the night. So just go back and sleep through all of this like you normally do." Not my shiniest of moments. I felt really bad in the morning, but I tend to snap in the middle of the night. We have been trying everything, rice cereal in his bottle, feeding him more than normal, letting him sleep in our bed, letting him cry (he can and will cry for an hour straight) you name it, we've tried it. I am praying this is going to come to an end soon. I am also hoping that my this means he will be an angel of a child when he is older! I deserve something for going a month with no sleep! 

Sunset at Indian Rocks Beach

Pic Update

Being a photographer you would think I would have millions upon millions of pictures of Carter, sadly just on my phone! So I have started to break out the good camera so I can have some nice quality pics to put on my wall.  If I could I would just have my friend Suzana take pics for me, but sadly I left her 4 hours behind in Ft. Lauderdale. The good thing is it has pushed me to take more photos.  Here are just some random ones I took tonight.

 Justin is the one who can get him to fall asleep

I wish I would have gotten a picture of Justin reading his anesthesiology book to him while he was screaming bloody murder!  

 I believe he gets this face from me and of course the only thing

I can claim that this boy got from me are his eyes!

 This is one of my favorites, Carter's face says it all!

I love when babies play with their feet and Carter has finally found his feet!

Confessions

Mommyhood has been great so far, but I have a confession, I was not a huge fan of motherhood in the very beginning. Carter will be 3 months this week and I feel like the first 2 3/4 months were really hard for me. Carter was not the easiest baby but was not a horrible on either, I think it was me adjusting to motherhood. 

I don't think the doing everything for this child just to watch him eat, sleep and poop helped at all. But he has started to respond to us when we play with him. He had his first laugh over labor day weekend and my heart just melted! He smiles all the time now and will take naps without me holding him (by far the best thing he has out grown) although he still would if I let him. I am loving being his mom right now and seeing the changes in him from month to month! 

He enjoys tummy time now as well