Crazy Socks & Writer's Block

One thing we've learned from all the doctors appointments is that Aaron's happiest state is when he's just in his diaper. He absolutely loves being naked. He can be screaming at the top of his lungs, but then you take off his outfit and he's totally happy. The first time he ever laughed was when Sammy was taking his clothes off so that he could take a bath.  Of course in these pictures he looks grumpy ha!

It seems like forever ago that they released that Gilette ad about toxic masculinity. I watched as people I'd grown up with freaked out about it, saying that it said that men need to be like women, and that it condemned masculinity altogether, along with other things. I crafted post after post to write on my social media, but in the end didn't bother writing anything. I didn't feel like arguing with people. But I had to share my thoughts somewhere, so here they are.  To me, toxic masculinity is exactly what it says-- ideals of masculinity that are toxic. It's telling your son that he needs to suck it up and not cry. That he can get away with more than girls because 'boys will be boys.' The idea that he can't read or watch certain media because it's "for girls." At the same time, girls are asked to watch things that are "for boys" all of the time. It's the idea that men need to repress their feelings. That they can't be sc...

In January we spent quite a bit of time in the doctor's office. We went to establish care with Aaron's new pediatrician. We really like them. Then we were back two days later because I thought Aaron was spitting up blood. They got me in fifteen minutes after I called and ended up staying two hours after close with us. I can't say how incredibly grateful I am for them. I feel like other doctors would have just sent us to urgent care where we would have waited all night.  Sammy was able to get off work early and be with us which I was so grateful for. At one point they almost sent us to the hospital because they did a blood test that came back really low and might have indicated internal bleeding. They did it again and got a different number that was still low. I was glad to know that I'd put a go bag in the car earlier that week just in case we ever have to stay in the hospital again because holy cow it was awful to wear the same underwear for a few days. Aaron was ...

Sammy got a new job! It's closer to home, he's doing something he's excited about, it has double the vacation time and sick time, and many other benefits. It sort of just fell into his lap and seemed a little  too good to be true. At times I was scared that something was going to fall through and we'd be left with nothing. But so far, so good. I'm so incredibly grateful for it. He's home ten hours more a week, he's so nearby, and a lot happier. I'm so proud of him and thankful that he's such a good provider. I was so, so scared to quit my job and have us live on one income. That first month we had no room in our budget for food. Thankfully we had a lot of food storage, and I did some smart shopping, and that was only one month.  On Sammy's last day at his old job, Aaron and I came to stop by. When we walked up the stairs onto his floor, he was quickly swarmed with fifteen girls all wanting to look at him. They just swooped out of nowhere. I ...

I love getting Aaron dressed on Sundays. He's so stinking cute in his little outfits.   His grandma bought him a flannel onesie for Christmas to match Sammy, but I made sure my outfit matched Aaron's. We were going to do a photoshoot after church, but he was a major grumpy butt because of missed naps so that didn't happen.  We did get one picture with us all wearing flannel which is better than none.  Church is so difficult now. It's at a time that interferes with two of Aaron's naps. He's a little grumpy monster every Sunday afterwards and sometimes it feels like what is the point of even going? We usually sit in the hall anyway since he ends up shrieking. An older lady took him out of my hands at one point when he was fussing saying I was squishing his stomach.  We've had a few nightmare Sundays, but then there are the ones that are worth it and you never know when those are going to be, so we keep on going. 

Aaron started teething in the beginning of January. I was convinced he had an ear infection and had the specialist check. He didn't. Then we looked in his mouth and there was a little bulge on the side. He was eating his hands like crazy, had stopped sleeping as soundly, and was soaking his shirts in drool. He was teething.  I broke out the teething toys and he's slowly figuring out how to use them.  His great grandma sent a teething mitten after seeing me ask for advice on teething. As of this moment he's still figuring out how to put it in his mouth, but I have faith that he'll get there.  He also loves to eat our fingers. He'll pull them into his mouth and gnaw on them like crazy.  He'll have a few rough days and then he'll seem okay, and then he'll start up again. I hope this goes well!

Aaron has started grabbing onto my shirts and holding on possessively. Sometimes he'll do it when he's falling asleep, and other times he'll do it while staring at Sammy. It seems like he's saying this is my momma.  One time Aaron was holding me like this and SAmmy was sitting next to me. Sammy grabbed onto my shirt too and said, "She's my wife, whatcha going to do?" And then Aaron straight up lunged at him. It was the best. I love my two boys:) 

We took Aaron to a new aquarium and it was so much fun. I was so excited to take Aaron because he's noticed fish the few times we've been around them. And, for my own selfish reasons.  The drive to the aquarium was a bit eventful. Sammy told me to turn the map off halfway there, then turn it back on when we got closer. Well, because of that we ended up going west instead of east. We were headed into the mountains when I turned on the map again and we had to turn around and backtrack. Then we missed our exit again because we were chatting and ignored the map. We did make it though! There were about twenty other families waiting in line though with strollers and kids running around. I got to pet some iguanas We brought the stroller into the aquarium but ended up carrying Aaron the whole time so he could see everything. Next time I'm not bringing it in, it was a nightmare to navigate around everyone else and their strollers.  Aaron loved the fish. He stared ...

One of Aaron's favorite things is his monster mobile. I built it for him randomly to see how he fit in it and he's been in love since. At first he just loved sitting up on his own. His feet barely touched the floor. But a week later he figured out how to spin the little candies and now he'll just sit there and spin them and spin them, cooing and shrieking with excitement.  This is my favorite picture ever of Aaron. His feet touch the floor now and he'll randomly kick forward a little.  

 Aaron discovered his hands awhile back and they are his favorite things. We'll be driving and just hear him making out with his hands in the back. They're always in his mouth and they make him so happy. Then he started to learn how to grab things and hold on. It's been so much fun to watch and see all the things he'll hold. He wouldn't let me put his pants back on.  He's starting to try and feed himself which sometimes is helpful, but other times he just keeps moving the bottle away from his mouth. A few weeks later he discovered his feet. He absolutely hates to wear socks, and can entertain himself for quite a while wiggling his toes, putting his feet together, and then grabbing them. When he's sitting up he'll lean forward and try to grab them, folding into a pretzel. He hasn't put his feet in his mouth yet but I know he'll get there. It's so fun watching him discover things