Quality Dad Time

I've been working a lot. More than I signed up for. BUT it is a good thing considering Zach is back in school and only working two days a week. 

Just so we're clear, being poor college students was so much cooler when we didn't have a baby- now it's just a little bit pathetic.

Anyways, like I said, I've been working a lot which means Zach has been getting quality Reefy time. Before he went back to college Zach was working ALL THE TIME. If he wasn't at the scuba shop fixing and selling gear he was in the pool or at the scuba lake teaching classes. Before that he was an army medic and worked way too much in Hawaii. He's finally getting to chill out with our son. AND HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS ITS SO CUTE.

They spent Sunday playing around, shopping at target (Zach got reef one of those ball mower toy things that makes a POP noise every time you push it...reefs completely obsessed with it), leaving me love notes on my car while I was working, and watching Gabba in bed.

Zach is so good with Reef and Reef is more and more into Zach which lightens my load (and if you've read anything about Reef being high needs you know I need a break). Last night Zach bounced Reef while he cried and cried and cried... not to say he doesn't help me but Reef is usually very clear about who he wants at night but Zach stuck with it and got him to calm down...I almost died from ooey gooey wifey-mom love.

This whole family thing, it makes my heart all fluttery.

Xo,

J

Every boy needs a dog.

Seriously. They really, really do.

Yes, my life would be easier on the daily without our hyperactive boxer mix but ummm.... he's awesome.

Diesel is one of the best dogs I've ever had. He's so full of love. That's all he wants. Everyone and every other animal on the planet to love him and play with him all day long. This is why my in-laws' boxers can't stand Diesel. He becomes too much in a matter of minutes. An older dog can only take so much playful ruckus for so long.

BUT Reef thinks he is the most hilarious dog ever.

Reef and Diesel, Diesel and Reef. Best friends forever.

Xo
J

SLEEP HELP PLEASE

You guys, I'm so desperate. Like shootmeintheface desperate.

I need sleep.

&

I need advice.

For three weeks now Reef has been waking up every hour and a half to two hours to nurse at night...let me repeat...EVERY HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO HOURS... I'm going insane. And it is full on nursing not just nibble, resettle, and pass back out. If he doesnt get the boob fast enough he totally flips out and nurses with such a vigorous hunger you'd think I never feed him.

He used to sleep for about four to six hours before nursing. I dont know what happened.

I've been reading everything I can get my hands on. Apparently many high needs babies just have a need to nurse more at night (thanks, universe).

And, when he nurses his eyes dont even open. Yep, he's half asleep just gettin some grub.

Soooo...if you have advice please please please leave it in a comment below or email me at joyceufollis@gmail.com.

Oh and just so we're all on the same page, there's nothing medically wrong, he's healthy as can be according to his doctor. He plays hard all day long and eats and nurses constantly.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I sincerely appreciate it.

Xo,

J

This is seriously what he looks like at 6am, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Hands.

Reef has big chunky hands.

They've been this way since he popped out at birth. These are not my hands, they're definitely Zach's.

On my first ultra sound he shoved his little fist up and I thought I had a giant growing in me because there was no way that was a normal sized hand!

He's now seven months old and his coordination is just getting insane.
He loves to get in a crawling position (alas, he doesn't actually crawl yet) and examine his hands. It's absolutely precious.

Anyone else's cute lil one obsessed with their adorable babeh hands?!

Xo
J

Reef has le flu

It's finally happened. Reef got the flu.

I feel terrible in a million different ways. I mean, honestly, I should be able to punch a germ in the face so it can't touch Reef. Now that is a super power worth having.

It just reminds me that I can't be too careful...ever.

My doctor has utterly scared the beegeezuz out of me on how bad it could get so I'm sure I won't be sleeping until he's better.

As you can see from the photo below, this kid is miserable. I expected him to be much more fussy and demanding due to him being high needs but he's just gotten more needy in the area of being held...and who doesn't want to be held when they're sick?!

Xo
J

Holy Hiatus: new job, new friends, new life (?)

Reef's REALLY into licking cold air. For the record: his bib says "I eat Noobs for breakfast" we got A LOT of dirty looks in Target for what people thought it said.



I know, holy crap, I know. I. HAVE. BEEN. MIA.

Reef is finally settling down from this last wonder week and his neediness has mellowed out A LOT. It was touch and go there the last two weeks. Just when I think I'm about to keel over and die he calms down...thank god. Unfortunately I had zero energy for anything. It makes me sad when I don't blog but I really just have to roll with the flow and sigh. yea.

Anywho... I have some exciting news.

I just got offered a Swim Coaching postion! I haven't gotten all the juicy details but I'm really excited! Plus, we need the moola and I miss working with kids.

I've also utilized meetup.com and found a group of attachment parenting mamas! I met up with one of them and we hit it off fabulously! Can you say instant friendlove?! So cool!

With all this being said I feel like I'm finally settling into my new pale Texas skin. I've also gotten on the freeway here twice which is quite an accomplishment for me (it's the baby steps people).

I hope everyone has been having a wonderful time.

Xo

J

Puppy lovin

We have the greatest-notthesmartest-extrahyper-escapeartistextrordinnaire of a boxer named Diesel. He was my battle buddy and my first child. Yes, I was once one of those dog loving people. I made all of Diesel's food from scratch, he had epic toys, I took him to the dog beach three times a week, and he cuddled with me on our bed when Zach wasn't home....yea....about that...sorry Zach.

Then I got pregnant and he become attached to me. If I was puking at 3am, I puked all nine months by the way, Diesel would come in and sit so I could lean on him and he would lick my arm in a I'm so sorry this is happening and because I love you I won't be gross and lick the puke that is obviously in your hair kind of way.

Since Reef was born he's been desperate for that extra attention he used to get. Well, today I indulged him. It was so warm and cozy in our room and on our bed I just couldn't make him get down. Plus, he was being very careful with Reef.

Xo
J

Things We Love

SUCCESS! Yes, I'm having five minutes of feeling like an accomplished mommy (i know, right?!). I've finally gotten Reef into the sling- THANK GOD. Since we're moving in oh, 3 weeks and 4 days it's a relief that I can finally do things with him attached to me and still use my hands.

Light-On-Shoulder Baby Sling in Nirvana. You can find it HERE.

I ordered a Light-On-Shoulder Baby Sling in Nirvana off of Amazon for the beautiful price of $29.95 + Shipping.

I originally fell in love with the slings from Sakura Bloom they are UH-MAZING but also a little pricey. But..I mean...Just look at it

Finally, the gDiapers are fabulous. I love love love them. After a few days of figuring out a good routine it's easy peasy. Those of you considering cloth diapers I highly suggest gDiapers.

4 more weeks to go!

I don't know if it's because I'm Preggo or everything is deciding to happen all at once but the last few weeks have been ridiculously busy. My mom was back again for another surgery [everythings A-OK], I had one of my best friends [who is also preggo] come visit on her way home from Alaska, we've been short on coaching staff and packed with swim meets [I've got some sexy sunburns that are now peeling], I've been attempting to nest like crazy, & the old friend we were taking care of who was in the hospital for a while recently passed away :( So I've been in the middle of arrangements, his ex-wife and sons, lawyers, social workers, and hunting for his will...not a place I thought I would be at and dealing with right in this moment of my life but we love him and are doing all we can to help; he is by far one of the most interesting people that ever walked into our lives.

On a totally different baby-gushing-note below are some photos of a more organized space for Reef. We've been gifted so much it's been a serious blessing. All I'm waiting on now are our gDiapers, they should be here in a few days and I can't wait, I'm seriously OBSESSED with them.

WARNING CRAPTASTIC CELL PHONE PICS AHEAD [sorry guys]

1) I hung some cute lanterns and lights along with some lightening bolts above the changing table...I needed some soft lighting in our room as well as something for Reef to stare at. 2) We are very limited on space so I used a Munchkin Care Cart with some wrapped boxes to hold his clothing, hats, and towels. 3) this is in our living room: we've got a swing, a jumper that attaches to a door frame, a lil play space, and a pack n play [I also have a bouncer in the pack n play that needs to be set up still...I'll probably force the boys to deal with it]

1) excuse my nasty dirty mirror....my husbands a giant and our sink is so short it constantly gets splattered with water and shaving cream. 2) more of reefs clothes. 3) I attempted to look somewhat cute but I really am just a preggo blob today.

OH AND

I'm completely ready to pop Reef out...seriously people...those of you who have been preggo understand my hugeness and pain...plus I keep getting extreme Braxton Hicks so I'm hoping It'll be soon!

My house is exploding

Yes, exploding...with baby-everything. It's also exploding with laundry, dirty dishes, scuba gear, and everything the army has every issued to my husband (and by god people, that is A LOT of stuff).

I literally spent all of Father's Day cleaning and making dinner for my husband aka soon to be daddy-awesome. He spent the day assisting a PADI Open Water Dive Class as he is now, officially, "Dive Master Candidate" with Aloha Scuba Divers here on Oahu. It's basically an epic internship coupled with book work and water work. At the end he will be able to teach PADI Open Water Diver Refresher Courses and take people who aren't certified out on Discovery Scuba Dives- pretty freaking awesome. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go into labor while he's on a night dive or something....okay, maybe not but it is one of my legitimate fears right now.

The boys have been working hard putting together the stroller and a caddy carrier thing...I went OCD and forced them to do it all in one sitting and STILL am yet to organize and put things in their proper place. I'm having a hard time because much of it my dogs will enjoy eating, so I have to wait until we can send them to Texas (we will later reunite with them there at my in-laws in January)- I feel super guilty about sending them but know it is for the best, at least for right now.

Team Work

how does this open?

wheels

So cute! I'm super excited!

woohooo

ummm yea...this may be why I don't get anything done >.<

Exploding

STUFF EVERYWHERE

Reefs closet..stuffed

This is the life...

I finally took myself to the beach and just chilled out, had lunch, & did some nice calming meditation (I've been a hormonal psycho lately, my poor husband).

The raddest thing happened while I was sitting in the sun..Reef decided to swim up under my belly button and press himself right up against my skin...I mean this kid was trying hard to get the warmth from the sun that was comin' down on my belly. Usually, if he swims up there, he'll be there for a max for 20 seconds and then go hide again but he just chilled there until I got in the ocean- so cool. This kid is already made for the beach.

I love this song. It's by some awesome local artists and well, it's exactly how I feel about my life in Hawai'i Nei.