James Oliver Skeen

One of my dearest friends on this planet, Morgan, had a baby boy just over a month ago. She did such a great job and is doing a great job despite the many challenges and changes of being a new mom. I watch her with her little Oliver and she looks like such a natural: holding him, feeding him, comforting him. She keeps saying "no one told me _____!" It's true. We forget or don't want to worry you or just know that everyone's experience is unique. But still, I wish there was more that was talked about openly instead of a little taboo...like the fact that everyone says I'm crazy or brave or "they could never do that," for not having drugs during labor but to me recovery was waayyyyy harder than labor ever was, and everyone has to go through that in some way or another.

Well congratulations to dear Morgan and her amazing husband Tom, who is taking such good care of both her and baby Oliver!!!

The first time I held him I felt handicapped...it's crazy how I forgot how to hold a newborn! And Freddie was huge compared to him!!! Fred would acknowledge Oliver, but kept leaving and walking around the house. Oliver is such a good baby and so cute. I love him! Not much better than having best friends experience the joys of motherhood. (and sorry...tortures too...) ;)

Double the trouble!!!!

Summer in spring and stroller

We accidentally left our stroller in Florida (we were there mid April for a wonderful week. I still need to blog about it.) for a person with no car who gets out a lot by walking and public transit, it was tough. Especially right now.

I wasnt sure what we were going to do because It was going to be like $200 to ship it back and we paid just less than that for it. Oh bother. And I love my ergo but again, right now that's getting hard to use. I just want to strap Fred in and walk. It was even harder to convince myself to go to LA Ftness (across the street). But I have been still...don't worry. 

By the way, after a couple of months, Fred loves the gym kids club!!!!  He now goes right in, runs and plays with the kids, and is so happy when I get back to him an hour or so later. It's wonderful. Consistency and patience worked!! 

We are still working on nursery but that's getting better too. 

GOOD NEWS!! We got our stroller!!! Yay!! Since, we've been all over. It makes traveling in this 101 degree weather (in may!!!!!!!!!!!!) bearable. We have to get out though because summer days are long and depressing if spent inside everyday. We are hoping to get a membership to the children's museum soon! Ill happily spend time there once-twice a week. Fred would love it. 

We are also spending a ton of time at the pool--we have been swimming for the past month already. Fred has this life vest and he sits in an intertube on top of that so he's happy and I can push him around and still swim myself. I need to get a picture. It's hilarious. We lounge and eat grapes and say hi to all the passin neighbors. Fred is quite friendly. He waves and usually will high five and pretty much always 'knuckles.' Not sure how he learned that one. 

Something's the matter with Freddie....

Mommy milk

It finally happened...Fred asked me to nurse a toy. I'd read about this happening with toddlers...asking to nurse beloved toys, stuffed animals, inanimate objects. I thought it was pretty cute and funny and super sweet. But Fred's toy wasn't a beloved or even well-known toy. It was this random dinosaur head he'd never seen before, hahaha. Oh, Fred.

It's a beautiful day

Trying to get outdoors as much as possible while its only 93!!

Oh, and Fred loves watermelon (we all do!!)

Sneak

Babies are sleeping. Mama is going to sneak out and go swimming.

Skyfall

Seriously one if my favorite movies. Have you seen it? Well I got it for Easter, so you can come to my house and watch it with me. I like seeing Bond films, but the past few have been alright...mostly just action movies to me...but this one!!! From the hauntingly romantic opening by Adele, to the gruesome villain, compelling story, disposable beauties, and gorgeous shots...I love it. See it.

Photos and stories from the past couple weeks

Eating pretzels by the pool. (We've been swimming almost every day. Collin says its way too cold, but Fred and I call it refreshing. It's cools my bones and then we don't have to turn in the a/c. Yeah we turn on the a/c. We hate being hot! And although its insane nice outside, it gets stuffy and hot in our place. we've done it two ways: we've not turned on the a/c unless necessary and scrimped and kept it at a very conservative temp and we've also done it where we blast it as low as we need when we need--and it's seriously a difference of $10-20. We have a tiny apartment!! So we will be comfortable.)

Baby and me yoga at midwives rising! We love it. Fred does poses. He's awesome.

Blasts from the past.

Holding hands w a kitty.

Chalk at the park on another gorgeous day.

Fred at a birthday party with friends.

Frederick riding on his uncles back. Seconds after this photo was taken he fell off and hit his head on the tile fireplace.
:( :( :(

Sleeping beauties.

Compassion

"I've never met a mother who doesn't deserve truckloads of compassion."
-Buddhism for Mothers

I read this today and instantly melted because I have been feeling so emotionally and have been trying hard to let go of things and be positive and forgiving, but find myself sometimes still in the face of frustration and anger and jealousy. When I read this I felt like I wished certain people would extend compassion to me. But then I realized I need to be extending this compassion to all other mothers and future mothers I'm in contact with.

And I need to be extremely grateful for the wonderful, ever compassionate women in my life currently, even if they are far away and I miss them so much.

Eggs, colored

Easter season egg dying. Fred loved it! I love egg salad sandwiches. We work well together.
Also, we finally tried Bosa donuts. Very good but not as good as the Fractured Prune. (R.I.P. Rockville location.) Will anything ever come close to those??
Then an Easter Egg hunt at Encanto Park. Super fun. They did it by age so it was a bunch of 1-y-olds with Fred. So cute. After meeting the Easter Bunny, Fred was VERY nervous and would not let me put him down. So I carried him quickly from egg to egg and bent down so he could reach it and put it in his basket. Hehe. The silliest part was that in all the eggs there were teeny tiny choking hazards. Phoenix.
We went down to my moms house after church Sunday, where Fred got totally spoiled by the Ahwatukee Easter Bunny.
Love my little frog.