So this is the preview. Here are the fabrics for her room. The bedding and the glider will be in a rose toile. The wallpaper is a really nice flower that is more rosey than pink. I am doing the drapes in a toile and that other rose fabric, which will be the valiance. Then we are using the trim for lining the valiance fabric. Ok. I said all of that. I am really excited about the fabrics as well as the furniture.

We bought the furniture from Bellini and this is the crib. I was not making the same mistake with this baby. Meaning that I had bought a crib that converted into a bed, which was a good move, but the front did not go down and I am not tall. I am sure if I would have put him to sleep awake then it would be no issue but I always rocked him to sleep and then laid him down. Yeah this never worked unless I was leaned over with my ass in the air trying to lay him down. I was so frustrated because I would rock him and then transitioning him to the crib was tough. Maybe I did not rock him long enough. Who knows. At that time, it all seemed so new and I mean even when he was 9 months old-it still felt so new. It was not too bad before we lowered the mattress but once we did that-it wall all over.

I felt so bad about Max not having fancy drapes that we are going over to Calico Corners and ordering draperies for his room. AND THEN MY HOUSE WILL BE DONE. Don’t get me wrong-Max’s room is really nice but he just has a valiance that matched his bedding and so now it is time to take it up a notch. I will have to post pics of Max’s room when it is done as well.

I am truly hoping that I will be better at getting this little girl to sleep in her crib but I am not sure if I would do anything different than with Max. So yes, why am I even doing her room? Well I guess it is more for show and hopefully she will learn to love it as Max loves his-now that he has a full size bed in it. LOL.

Max and I went to Children’s Hospital today. Wow-what a fricken wake up call for me and my life. Max needed to get his follow up check up for the tubes in his ears. He did great. I have been saying for the past few days that we needed to go to the doctor to check his ears. He sat on my lap and let the nice woman check his ears. I was so proud of him. I answered all of her questions which boiled down to-MAX HAS NOT HAD ONE EAR INFECTION SINCE THE SURGERY.

So then we needed to get his hearing checked. he was playing with a bunch of kids at this one toy they had in the waiting area. One of the moms started talking to me saying that her kid is deaf in one ear and then it came back and then switched to the other ear and the doctors have no idea why. She has been in and out of this hospital since he was born. Then another mom was talking to me about her child who is totally deaf and does not play with many kids. She was saying sorry since her child kept lightly moving other kids hands away from the toys. I told her that even though Max plays with kids all of the time-well kids just do that stuff. After talking to those moms, I felt so grateful. As we were walking to the elevator-there were signs everywhere with babies and kids names saying they were fighting and beating the cancer. It sent chills up my spine.

As we were leaving the hospital, there was a mom and dad holding a baby crying in this waiting room. I started to cry for them as well. I touched Max’s head and touched my stomach and said a prayer to myself. We are lucky.

I think my higher power gives me moments like these to wake me up. I am grateful for moments like these and grateful for my life. It is so sad that babies and kids get sick in these ways. So sad. I am sorry for the sad post but in a way that sadness brought me to a new place of understanding and gratitude. But still I hate suffering.

Max is one of those spirited kids. He does not like to be tied down to anything. He wants to do things when He wants to do them and this means eating too. Max goes through food phases. He used to eat nitrate free lunch meat -like turkey and chicken and then one day he stopped. Then it was nitrate free hot dogs-chicken, turkey and beef and then he stopped. Then it was eggs and then he stopped. Then it was burgers and then he stopped. Then it was brown rice and then he stopped. Well that may not be true-he eats eggs, burgers and brown rice when he feels like it.

Daphne Goldberg , his pediatrician, said that babies will go to the foods that their body needs and so I guess Max stops when he does not need it anymore. It is interesting that he never craves yogurt or most milk products. Max eats very healthy for a little guy but he is so selective.

However, if it is on the run-well he will eat. He will eat in the stroller, car seat and on the run (yes walking and eating). I have never forced him to sit and eat snacks but always eat his meals. He used to be fine eating meals in his chair at the table but lately, he does not even want to do that. Tonight I actually put his high chair in front of Sesame Street on the TV and let him eat. I told him we were having special TV dinner since daddy was not home but after I did it, I regretted my Mommy Parenting Decision. I know just once will take a week to turn around but I want him to eat. I know if he is hungry then he will eat but still-I think he will go to bed hungry and wake up. UGH-what to do? 

Am I being a bad MOM? Will my kid ever learn to sit and eat? Is this just a phase? Help! Any suggestions?

Dear Max, 

Each month I write about so much. Each month I swear you cannot be any cuter, any funnier, any smarter but still you are.

This month you have just grown up in so many ways. You never really threw a ton of tantrums but when you did they were tough but this month, except for the days where the teething was so bad, you have been able to work them out with me talking to you. I feel like you are able to calm yourself and regroup in ways that you were not before.

This month we started going to “Jewish School” for Mommy and Me Magic Moments. It is 2 hours long and you have teachers and designated play times and story time and arts and crafts. It is the first time you have been in scheduled play. I am watching you interact with the world and it is a delight. You love arts and crafts. You immediately go right to the table and wait quietly for the teacher. You spend a long time on your project and the teachers always comment how focussed you are.

You look more like a little man. Even when you were born you looked like a little man but now you do not look like a baby any more.

You have stepped out of your comfort  zone in so many ways. Even with the kids in the neighborhood, you are playing with them and trying to get over being shy. I have always supported you with these types of things. I know you do things when you are ready and I always let you know that we support you.

You adore your father and you mimic everything he does. You live to snuggle with your Dad and hug him. You guys watch Sesame street in the mornings while I am in the shower. You love to hold your dad’s hand and you love to just be near your dad.

You are still the sweetest boy and still the kindest. Even though you are figuring out how to navigate your way in the world with other kids-you still do not hit. You may push from time to time but not hit.

We have been talking a lot about your new sister coming in December. I tell you how you will always be my little special guy and that Mommy has enough love for you and the new baby. I tell you that in my eyes you will always be the little baby that I held the first moment after you were born in the hospital. I love you so much Max.

Now this video is of you picking apples the other day and I just loved watching you so much in action that I decided to post this in your letter. You did some picking but mainly you did apple organizing.