Movie Monday- Ethan in his Gym

Some random pictures

I know, I know. Two posts in one day is totally ridiculous. However, I have some really cute pictures to share and I couldn't wait! These are some pictures I took on my phone that haven't seen the light of day until now.

Proof that Austine was probably as tired as I was

Looking at this, it's hard to believe he was even that small!

Sleepy little boy.

Awww, those pajamas don't fit anymore :(

Been able to do this since day 1!

Hanging out on our couch

Austine, with Ethan and Edie (the girl I used to watch when I was a nanny).

Edie checking out Ethan, when I first met her she was as big as Ethan was!

Seriously funny faces.

Edie checking out my scarf.

Mr. Lion and Mr. Paci

Wearing the shirt Ava gave him!

Whaaat?

New favorite pastime- chewing on burp rags!

Very interested!

Passed out!

Mr. Bear...he just started holding him and chewing on him.

Being Mom, Being Sick.

Ugh. I am horribly sick....like nose stuffed completely, can't breathe, coughing, sore throat, nausea sick. I haven't been this sick since before I got pregnant with my little guy, and now I'm finding out how hard it is to be MOM+SICK.

For one, a 3.5 month old doesn't give you a break. It doesn't matter that I feel like I'm going to puke, or that everytime I rock him to sleep my sniffling nose wakes him up. 3.5 month olds don't listen to reason, which is obviously expected but a really hard thing for me to get used to. Austine really does help, he tries to put him to sleep when he can...but I'm going to have to face the music sometime. He's starting his new job on Monday and he really can't babysit me and Ethan both...it's just not going to work.

I'm going to have to figure this out. Even if means being addicted to Afrin.

The wait is over!

Finally, all of our worries can be dealt with! Austine miraculously got 3 interviews this week, and we hit paydirt! He is now working for a carpeting company near our house, doing what he does best- Graphic Design! We are both INSANELY excitied, it's been a long hard two  years looking for a job for him. We've been horribly stressed with finances, and the extra burden having a child will put on you financially. With this job we will be able to pay my parents the rent we owe them, and buy groceries and pay our bills easily. Life is good!

Job frustrations....a general rant

So yesterday, Austine and I went to his uncles to celebrate his cousins birthday. On the way there we received a call from his friend, who had just gotten wind of the job Austine was offered about 2-3 weeks ago.

The job had no room for growth, and we would have been taking a 500 dollar cut in pay from what Austine is currently making with his dad doing construction and painting. While Austine really does want to be a graphic designer, he had to make the difficult choice between doing what he wants to do in the long run, and providing for our family.

So his friend was apparently very upset, and kept telling him he wasn't going to help him out anymore, and that Austine was going to be stuck in construction forever. I was getting really mad, and just wanted to punch him in the face. I even grabbed the phone from Austine and said so.

I don't get how some people think they can make judgments on the decisions others make in their lives. We did what was best for us. If Austine had been single with no kid, it would have been an easy decision. But, we have this house over our heads, we need to put food on the table for ourselves and Ethan. Now that we've had this discussion with this friend, I keep second guessing our decision. Not that it would change anything but it was steady. I just have no idea how we would have cut 500 in expenses out of our budget.

*sigh* Everyone has an opinion about something don't they?

Noms!

I've been on a sugar kick recently (ok, when am I not?), and I found a great recipe that another blogger had on her page. If you've never heard of Puppy Chow, you are about to be blown away! Here is the recipe:



Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups Rice Chex cereal
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:
1. Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Microwave for one minute then stir to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Stir well.
3. Place the 9 cups of Chex cereal in a very large bowl. (I only had 5 cups, tasted just as good!)
4. Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering.
5. Coat with powdered sugar, sprinkling evenly over the cereal and tossing as you sprinkle to cover each piece well.

*drool*

Holy moly, it's ridiculous how easy and delicious this was. You really have to try it for yourself.

Credit goes to Michelle for introducing me to this recipe!

Being a mom has opened my eyes

Two nights ago, someone on the message boards I frequent lost her son. He choked on his own phlegm, and couldn't be revived for an hour. This really hits home for me, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about this poor mom and her little boy. I had no idea that in becoming a mother, you really open yourself  up and become vulnerable. If I lost Ethan I know I would be a wreck. Life is so precious and I really didn't know that before I became a mom.

It really makes me think of my own mother and the trials she had to go through before she had me. My mother had a stillborn boy 3 years before I was born. I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must have been for her. As a child, I never felt there was something missing but I know now that she must have been painfully aware of his absence. Like I said earlier, becoming a mom has only made me more appreciative of my own mother and other mothers out there.