Independent Baby

Baby Brady has not only discovered his hands, but he's slowly realizing they can hold onto things. Case in point: he tries to hold his own bottle when we're feeding him. There's a great picture here of Brady showing off this new skill! But it also means that he's become a bit more demanding; when he can't grasp the bottle, he gets a bit irritated and tries to knock it out of his mouth. I can't imagine where he's gotten this stubborn gene from................................So, feeding him takes a little longer than it used to since we're battling to keep his hands away, but it's so amazing to watch him take on a little personality! He's also starting to wear his feelings on his face, much the way his Mommy and Daddy do. He keeps us laughing with all of his grimaces, smiles, and looks of confusion.

He's also started trying to reach his feet while he's lying down. This is all well and good except for the fact that he bucks around like a bronco and would have bucked himself right off of the change table had I not been standing there with my hand on him while disposing of his diaper. He's definitely putting all of that kicking he practiced in my belly to good use. Zach is just praying he doesn't play soccer because "no one likes to watch soccer!" I'm just hoping he doesn't have red hair. I mean no disrespect to those who have it or love it, I just happen to be one of those people who doesn't care for red hair. That's really an understatement to say I don't "care" for it; let's just say that my son will be bald until he can argue otherwise should his hair turn red. Because I have a natural red tint to my hair, I should brace myself for the realty that my worst fear could be realized. Ick.

Random: I had a dream that I was pregnant again and this time it was DEFINITELY a girl. Maybe there will be a little Mia Rose in our future after all!!

I really just wanted to share the new pics with ya, so enjoy! The next post will have some Halloween fun, so stay tuned!

3 Month-iversary!

Today marks the third month of Baby Brady! We took the monthly picture in his chair with his bear and I was amazed at the difference just a few weeks makes! He's a different person every day and I can't bear to miss a second so that's why I've officially given notice to my school that I'm extending my maternity leave until the next school year. I am so excited to watch this little guy grow and change, I can't even explain how happy it makes my heart!

Back to Brady: he loves sitting up these days, in our lap or in his Bumbo seat. He's also realizing that he has hands and feet, and while he can't quite reach his toes yet, his little fingers are constantly in his mouth. He's drooling all over the place, but he's so happy that we just wipe his face and he goes about his business. He has a new laugh that is so high-pitched it frightened the dogs the first time they heard it; it's more of a squeal than a laugh. When he's super excited, he squeals! He doesn't quite giggle yet, but he's talking non-stop and is still full of smiles...and gas. He belches like a little man and his toots are loud enough to embarrass me in Giant Eagle--I know people think it's me!! He's noticing what's around him more and more, and he's also recognizing different textures. His new favorite game is pulling his soft blankets over his head when he's sleepy. While this game is good fun for Brady, we have to make sure the blanket doesn't stay over his head while he dozes! He's swaddled at night which helps keep his new game at bay, but during the day-time naps, he almost refuses to close his eyes unless he has something soft up against his face! He had been sleeping through the night for a couple of weeks, but for the past four or five nights, he's been waking again. Last night was about 2 am, then again at 5 am. He goes back down pretty easily, though, but normally he talks to himself for a while before nodding off. His little eyes follow everything--he's very observant. He still cries to let us know he's hungry, sleepy, or wet, but normally, that's the only time he's unhappy. He is honestly a wonderful baby.

Gram and Pap Scalzott just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary (yay!!), so me, Zach, Derek, and Kim took them to Michael A's in Oakmont for dinner tonight. (Even though it was Brady's day, he stayed home with Pappy and, from what I'm told, laughed the whole time.) It seems so far away that Zach and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, but I know just from watching Brady how fast life is going to come at us now. It's so important to really cherish every minute and enjoy the wonderful people in our lives. I've been reflecting on how incredibly fortunate Zach and I are to have such kind, generous, loving people in our lives; we are truly blessed. I look at Brady and can't imagine what life would be like without him. It's true that some days I would like to sleep in a little later, but waking to the sound of his voice and watching the smile explode on his face when he sees me makes the lack of sleep so worth it. Even though my shoe collection is now extinct because my feet have forever changed shape and size, and even though there is an extra layer of fat on my wider-than-ever hips, having a healthy, happy baby makes me appreciate my different body rather than hate it. Although, I have started an exercise regime in the "Jankowski Fitness Center" in hopes that I'll get back to my pre-baby weight and hopefully fit into some of my pants again! But overall, there is no better job in this world than to be a Mom. Here's to 3 months and many more!

So Much to Celebrate!

Even before Brady was born, Zach and I had begun contacting the "proper authorities" to have Brady baptized. Unfortunately, no one returned our call in July, August, or September. This left me enraged to the point where I was about to check out every church in the tri-state to baptize my baby!! After much deliberation, and a very adamant husband, we decided to contact the priest who married us. At first, I wasn't too thrilled with this decision for several different reasons (namely the fact that our non-Catholic family and friends were insulted and pretty much left out of our entire ceremony), but it's working out now. Sir Brady (he's been busy; he was knighted by his Mommy...), will be baptized on Sunday, November 8th, the day before his Daddy's birthday. Zach's good friend Nevada will be Brady's Godfather and my friend Lisa will be his Godmother. We chose these two people not just because they're our good pals, but because we think they'll be great role models for Brady. Nevada is a hard worker, loves kids, and has faced adversity many times but never complained about it or gave up. Lisa is one of the kindest, most giving people we know; Zach is still impressed that she's been to Venezuela to help build churches! All in all, we're super happy with our choices and even happier that our friends have obliged us. We're really looking forward to celebrating Brady with them.

In the coming weeks, we have birthdays and anniversaries and, of course, Halloween to celebrate, too! While we're not crazy about Halloween, we do enjoy dressing up and going to Lisa and Andrew's annual costume party. Zach and I are never creative enough to win a prize, but we always have a good time. We went as Sarah Palin and Bin Laden last year (even though some kept confusing Zach for Jesus...), but we're not sure what to do this year. Whenever we figure it out, we'll be sure to post pictures! Courtesy of our good friend Beth, Brady will be a glow-in-the-dark skeleton. I wanted to dress him as a cuddly lion cub or something like that, but Zach said he should be something "manly." A (cute!) skeleton will have to do!

Brady's sleeping has just gotten better and better! Last night, he slept from 9 - 7:30!! I actually find myself waking up wondering when I'll hear him, and then I immediately fall back asleep because I CAN!! He's just so wonderful! His 3-monthiversary and Gram Scalzott's birthday are all coming up, so I'll post those pics later this week. Until then, you'll just have to feast your eyes upon some random shots of the most handsome boy in the world :o)

Exciting News!

Since I've last written, Brady has blessed us with a full night's sleep! That's the first bit of exciting news! I surveyed my Mommy pals and they gave me some great advice about how to transition Brady into his nighttime habits. What worked best for us was Trish's suggestion--thank you, Mrs. Kovall! Brady is always falling asleep between 7 and 7:30, so we're maintaining that as his bedtime. He gets his bath, we do our nightly routine, and then he's down for the count. But to help him (and us!) sleep through the night, we wake him for a last changing and feeding before we got to bed, usually around 10. He's up around 5 or 5:30 am, so that's a huge chunk of time for the Jankowski Clan! This has worked for five straight nights in a row, so we're hoping that's how it'll stay. Unless, of course, Brady wants to sleep from 7 - 7, then that would be even better!

In addition to his improved sleep habits, he's been all smiles lately. It's safe to say that Brady is a very happy baby! He's also been "talking;" he really has a lot to say! When he wakes up, he rarely cries; he just starts to chat and in his mind is probably saying, "I'm ready! Come get me!" On a strange note, Brady has a pretty discerning sense of smell. When a smoker tries to hold him, he struggles against them. Just today, when Zach came home from the Elks smelling like his smoker friends, Brady went nuts when Daddy tried to give him his bottle! He wouldn't eat, he kept gagging, he started yelling. The only other time he's done this is when my mom, who's a smoker, tried to feed him before she took off her "smoking jacket." (Yes, we ask her to wear a jacket when she smokes and then take it off before she holds the baby. We're Nazis.) My hope is that everyone will learn a valuable lesson from Mr. Brady and QUIT SMOKING!

More exciting news is that Zach and I have taken a look at our family budget and concluded that we can swing a full year of maternity leave! So, I get to stay home the entire year with baby Brady! I am so grateful that we saved the money we did AND that Zach is the hard worker that he is. He would seriously take on five extra jobs if he had to, and that just means so much to me. But even though he's willing, Brady and I agree we like it best when he's home with us.

Until next time, enjoy the latest and greatest Brady Jankowski photos :o)

Random Mommy Thoughts...

This is what happens when Zach works the Friday night football games and leaves me alone with my thoughts!!

1. I fear my hips are forever wider, but I'm grateful that they carried Brady so well!

2. I never realized how hilarious babies are until mine started smiling and yelling and running in place while lying on his back.....okay, let's be honest: these things are probably hilarious to just me and a few other people, namely the grandparents!

3. I used to think teaching was my calling in life; I now know otherwise. I love teaching, but I live for mommy-ing.

4. Having dogs before a baby actually did help prepare me for motherhood. I don't know if that's good or normal, but it's true.

5. I am incredibly thankful for and appreciative of my parents and my in-laws. They are beyond helpful and I never knew how much we would need them or how often they'd come through for us. THANK YOU!

6. I have a sick obsession with dressing Brady up and taking millions of pictures of him. Generally, they're all the same shot every single time, but I keep on snapping!

7. Some days when I'm home with the baby, I want a break. When I get my break, I want my baby. Will this vicious cycle never end? :o)

8. I've decided that Brady will never have a girlfriend. I'm clearly the only woman he'll ever love.

9. Watching Zach with Brady makes me not only love him more, but I also like him as a person more. I think baby Brady has made us all better people.

10. Still worried about those hips. Must...start...exercising...(I feel it only fair to share that I'm eating a Frosty as I type this...)