10 Things I Don't Want to Forget About Cheeks

1. When he gets tired, he holds his ears, or plays with mine/his mama's ears.

2. When he laughs, he gets the hiccups (just like I did when I was young).

3. He loves his cars and trucks.

4. When I come home from work, no matter how cranky he is, I always get a huge smile.

5. At 9 1/2 months old, he LOVES peek-a-boo.

6. I swear he has said the word book on several occasions - but it could just be him babbling.

7. He gets overly excited when he sees grandma in the box. (The laptop).

8. He is not a fan of getting his nails cut or of having his boogies removed.

9. He gets SO excited and proud when he does something new (i.e. pulling himself up to a stand).

10. When his mama puts him to sleep holding him, they fit perfectly together.

Merry Christmas!!

Cheeks has had a fantastic Christmas so far. He is passed out in his crib now after playing with all his new toys. I love that he loves his new books as much as his new toys (and I'm having just as much fun as he is playing with his new toys!)

This is a rough Christmas for Doc - it's her first without her mother - but she said it best when she said it's the saddest yet happiest Christmas for her. Cheeks allows it to be that way. Here are a few pics that brightened our day :)

The trip from hell with a bit of sunshine

So much happened on this trip, that I will just bullet point it. I'll start with that I had this fabulous idea to fly into Detroit on Spi!rit and then drive 3 hours to Akron. Here is how that went:

• Plane to Detroit was delayed by 3 hours. We were stuck in the airport until 8pm with a 9month old baby who was ready for a nap.
  
• We finally boarded the plane to find that Sp!rit seats do not recline - unless you pay more for a reclining seat! Water and peanuts also cost extra. 3 hours on a plane with no reclining seats and a baby is a lot!!!
  
• Cheeks fell asleep but woke up as soon as we took off. He was fantastic and loved the plane. A perfect little traveler.
  
  


• We landed in Detroit around 11 something at night. We purposely got a hotel room in the terminal because we figured it would be the easiest with Cheeks. Well, the Detroit airport has two terminals - SEVERAL MILES APART!!!


• We had to load a baby, stroller, and 5 pieces of luggage on a shuttle - in the snow - with a baby who wasn't dressed for the cold because we didn't realize we were leaving the terminal. He kept pulling his hat off.


• We get to the hotel, check in, get Cheeks to sleep, and realize there is no where to eat because the hotel doesn't allow you to get to the fast food places in the terminal. We had to order a $26 turkey wrap from room service. Doc and I split it.

• My fantastic parents felt so bad with what we were going through that they said to forget about driving back from Akron to Detroit and they bought us one way tickets from Cleveland to Orlando. YAY!!! However, we now had to get a one-way rental, adding $200 to the rental price. BOO :(
• We get to H*rtz rental car, and they give us a Camry and an infant seat. Well, the infant seat was for a newborn, and the Camry barely fit our stroller and one suitcase. Stress levels raising more at this point.
• They upgrade us to an Imapala - everything fits, and they give us a rear facing toddler seat. Seat takes 45 minutes to install and Doc and I are on the verge of divorce (not really - but you'd have thought it if you didn't know us!!)
• At 2:30 in the afternoon, we were FINALLY on our way to Akron.
• We arrive in Akron and get to spend time with family there. It was my first time meeting Doc's family in 6 years! They were great and made me feel at home. :) It was verrrry cold though - and Cheeks had to be bundled up constantly (don't forget, he is a Florida baby!)

• We took Cheeks sled riding!! He loved it and laughed when we went down the hill (pic of this to follow when it is uploaded).
• While we were there, Cheeks mastered his pulling up to a stand!! Especially during naptime :)

• After a snow and family filled weekend, we packed up and drove 45 minutes to the Cleveland airport. When I return the car, apparently it was 1 hour late and we were charged an additional $60.
• Once there, we were told that we had to pay to check a Pack & Play!! Apparently C0ntinental doesn't believe a crib is a necessity and charges for it. I was fuming, but what could I do?? I plan to call up the company and make a complaint soon.
• We FINALLY made it back to the Orlando airport, after Cheeks napped the whole way back! He woke up a happy camper to a sippy cup of juice.

• Doc got our bags and Cheeks and I went to get the car. When we got to the car, it was DEAD.
• 2 hours and $113 later, we had a new battery and were on our way home.

We have NEVER been so happy to just walk into our house. I cannot wait for this weekend - since it is Christmas, we get Friday AND Monday off, and I will be spending every minute of it enjoying my little perfect family :)

On the plane

I just lost my whole post! Ugh!! Cheeks is doing great on the flight...he was sleeping but woke up during take-off. He was fascinated looking out the window. Doc is trying to put him back to sleep and I am blogging while he holds my finger.

While Cheeks is doing good, Doc and I not so much! We will NEVER fly Spirit again. Everything is extra - $3 for a bottle of water..almost $60 to check our bags...and THE SEATS DONT EVEN RECLINE!!! I normally don't recline...but it would have been nice to with a baby. They didn't even give us a chance to preboard...it was insane. I will be writing a letter!

Well I am going to assist on putting Cheeks to sleep..

STRESS

Flying with a baby for the first time is VERY stressful - and we haven't even left the house!!!

A Cause for the Fussiness

Our normally very happy go lucky, non fussy, boy has been overly fussy lately - as my recent posts have explained. Well - last night, the reason has been exposed - not only has he been pulling himself up more and more (in his crib twice) - HE BEGAN CRUISING YESTERDAY!!! He pulled himself up to his leapfrog learning table - and next thing I know, he moved his way around to another side of it!! No wonder he has been fussy - his body has been going through so much getting him ready for these new and improved skills :) So with that, I end with an adorable pic of Cheeks (I know, I'm partial ;))

Mr. Fussy Pants

For the past few days, Cheeks has been overly fussy. Sometimes I feel like he isn't even as smiley as he was a few weeks ago. I think he's just going through a phase/growth spurt/teething/testing his mommies period. I'm hoping these two top teeth pop through and he returns to his normal self.

On happier news, we have a development in Cheeks-World! He has officially pulled himself up in the crib. Doc called me at work today to tell me Cheeks stood up twice! Of course he was SO proud of himself and gave a huge grin both times that he accomplished his feat. Tonight, Doc and I are lowering the crib when I get back from my hair appointment.

I'm constantly pulling my hair back because I just don't want to deal with it. Tonight, I shall chop off a few inches and get my roots fixed up. I really hope Cheeks isn't too fussy for Doc while I'm out. I'll be at work all day, then go straight to my hair appointment, then home - probably won't get home until 8 or so. I don't know why, but I feel bad about that. I feel like taking time for me isn't fair to Cheeks and Doc because I am constantly at work. I just don't know when else to go get my hair cut/colored with us leaving for Ohio in a few days.

Testing out my new app!

I just downloaded Blogpress and wanted to try it out. On a side note - trying to cut Cheeks' nails while he sleeps just woke him up! And now I am off to dreamland - more about the nails tomorrow.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cheeks' Fussiness and Upcoming Trip

Cheeks has been quite fussy the past few days. I'm hoping that it's just a phase and maybe his top teeth are coming through. I hope it is short-lived because we are going on our first plane ride with him on Thursday evening up to Ohio to visit Doc's family. Words cannot express how nervous I am about how this plane thing is going to play out - especially if Cheeks is cranky.

I'm trying to plan it as much as possible - but I don't even know where to begin planning. I guess it is more hoping than anything. I am hoping he isn't cranky. I am hoping he sleeps on the plane. I am hoping it's not ridiculously cramped on the plane. I am hoping that TSA doesn't molest me. I am hoping that we can pack everything in as little bags as possible. And I am hoping that TSA doesn't give us any issues with the formula! I need to research to see if the airport has a children's play area - that would tire him out to crawl around in there. But it could also get him sick. OY. I just need to get my lists together and go with the flow.

Cheeks' First Hanukkah Hurrah

Every year, we have our family over for a huge Hanukkah feast. I make appetizers, matzoh ball soup, brisket, noodle kugel, potato latkes, chicken, challah, desserts out the kazoo. We open presents, have a $5 grab bag, and eat all while filling the house with love and laughter. It's a lot of hard work, but I look forward to it every year.

This year was Cheeks' first Hanukkah Hurrah! He was a natural!! We had my mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, niece, aunt, and uncle...plus Doc, Cheeks, and me, 4 cats, and two dogs - it was a houseful for our tiny two bedroom townhome - but everyone fit and everyone had a great time.

Cheeks kept up wonderfully with the conversation. When people would laugh or talk loud, he'd look up from what he was doing, and give everyone a hearty "AHHHHHHHHH" then go back to what he was doing. We bamboozled him with gifts and he made out like a bandit with a Fisher Price Speedway toy from his Aunt and Uncle, a Little People Garage from his Grandma and Grandpa, and a fun 4-in-1 rocker/ride on toy from his Great Aunt and Great Uncle! He had a blast playing with everything. He even participated in the grab bag game by purchasing 5 $1 books from Target's dollar bins! His Aunt picked that gift, but Cheeks was sure to steal it right back from her!

When we ate dinner, he enjoyed chicken, noodle kugel, carrots, potato, challah and matzoh balls! He is a natural when it comes to Matzoh Balls - he couldn't get enough!

After a long day of playing and visiting, Cheeks passed out in his crib and slept allll night. All in all, I'd say he had a fantastic first Hanukkah Hurrah. Can't wait to see him next year when he's walking around at it.

Today's Moments that Made Mommy Smile

Night One

When I got home from work last night, Cheeks was napping. After a quiet dinner with Doc (which was very weird because we are SO used to eating with Cheeks now) the boy woke up and we were ready to celebrate Hanukkah! I carried him downstairs and we twisted the menorah bulbs together. He enjoyed looking at the flickering. Then, I set him in front of his present (which I had basically just laid a piece of wrapping paper over). He touched the paper and then just looked at it. I showed him how to pull off the paper and crinkle it. Once the paper was off, he stared at the chair and reached out to touch it. I picked him up...and put him in it....and.....the lip went down, arms went out, and the cries came!! If he could talk, this would have been his comments:

"What is this?? I got jipped!! I thought you get toys on Hanukkah and all I got was this stinking chair???? I WANT TOYS!!!"

Well, we tried a couple of more times...more tears. We decided to let it be for a bit and Cheeks and I went to the food store. When we got back, Doc took Cheeks inside and I unloaded the car. When I came in, this is what I saw:



Doc was brilliant! She put on Baby Einstein, put Cheeks in the Chair, and voila! no more tears :) Night one turned out to be a success after all. Tonight, we light 2 candles and Cheeks gets his second gift :)

Happy Hanukkah!

Tonight is Cheeks' first night of Hanukkah! I have so many great memories of Hanukkah growing up. My sister and I would wait on the couch in the family room while my Mom and Dad would go into their closet to pick out our gift(s) for the night. We'd light the menorah, and open gifts. The gifts that stick out in my mind from childhood are (in no particular order):

1. Red Schwinn 10-speed
2. Yellow Sony Boom Box
3. NKOTB Christmas Album
4. Amy Grant Album
5. A box of stickers (I don't know why this stands out, but it does - and I remember we had dinner at BagelLand the night I got the box of stickers!)

I am excited for Cheeks to form these same memories and pass them along to his children. Tonight he will get his big boy chair. After he goes to sleep, I will clean the house in prep for the big Hanukkah Hurrah dinner on Saturday, and I will wrap the remainder of his Hanukkah gifts.

HAPPY HANUKKAH TO ALL!! :)