Who traded babies with me?!

Seriously, I feel like I came home from BlogHer to a new baby! Or as Steve says, “he’s getting past the baby cute stage… he’s like an adult now.” Haha. I don’t know about that cute part, because he’s still pretty freaking adorable to me!

I missed Ryan so much while I was gone, I could hardly wait to get back and squeeeeeze him! I was expecting a baby that had missed me just as much and imagined a day full of cuddles and naps. Wow, I was WRONG. He was terrible… like the worst ever. I think he was making me pay for leaving him?! He screamed and screamed and he would not sleep. I felt terrible because I was gone for 4 days and I had already had it – like, get me out of here!! (again!)

The next day was a whole new day. And a whole new baby. Maybe it’s because I was gone for 4 days. Maybe it’s a coincidence and it’s his age, his personality. MAYBE it’s because I didn’t return to work (because I start my new job next week) so I’ve been home all day, every day with him! He hasn’t had a bottle in over a week AND I’m way less stressed and don’t get as frustrated – even my mom noticed a change in me. ANY way you want to view it… I love it!

All of that made me nervous about going back to work next week… new job, new stresses… but my hours out of the house are less – by like half! So I think that will help a lot – much of the work I can do from home (preparing lectures, grading papers).

But Ryan is all smiles, he plays on the floor by himself for what seems like FOREVER and if I get down there and play with him, he’s all giggles. It’s just so adorable.

He mimics when I chew (trying to teach him to eat — baby led weaning style), can pull himself up to stand, “talks” all the time – he’s had mamama down for awhile, but I swear I’m now hearing dadada and kitty! Maybe it’s all in my head though

Still no interest in food… we’ve tried banana, carrot, avocado, and cheerios. Twitter friends reassured me that he doesn’t need rice cereal or anything else – if he was hungry and interested, he’d EAT! We offer it to him almost every day now. He’s just a boob man, what can I say.

We had his first bday party theme narrowed down to 4 (I know, we plan ahead, lol) – safari animals, trains, monsters or dinosaurs. Steve made the final vote and I love it – MONSTERS! Because he is a monster. A stinky monster, a whiny monster, a mobile monster, a biting monster… mama’s lil monster