Because I like to keep it real!

Now we KNOW a baby isn't always puppies and rainbows and I will be the first to admit it. I had a colicky baby, an 'extended beyond the norm of 3 months' colicky baby and I'm not denying it! To deny it would be a dis-service to myself and now (thankfully) we look back on it and laugh. But trust me, during that time...there was no laughing. I believe Lane was picked to be my child to teach me to have the utmost patience, forgiveness, strength and tolerance one person is allowed to have in one lifetime and believe me, I learned!

I treasure his sweetness and easy-going-ness (well most of the time) and smiles and laughter more than anything in the world because you see, we did not have that for the first few months so we know and appreciate what a good baby truly is! I am so thankful for this little boy and for the patience and strength that God provided us to get through one REALLY REALLY tough time (I wish I would have started blogging from the beginning, just to be able to look back). And I also thank our parents who swooped in (on more than one occasion), just when we thought we couldn't handle anymore, to provide us with confidence and uplift our spirits.

It's funny that Matt and I actually talk about having more children...I say that because going through the first few months I remember thinking I could not do this again, but I can, WE can and we will. We have the experience and knowledge to know how to better handle the situation. And we do talk about a bigger family and we will hopefully someday have a bigger family because we realize how truly blessed we are to have (a not-so-good baby turned) the best-baby-we could have!

I started this post to show you outtakes from his photoshoot. And it turned into reminiscing...sorry about the tangent!

But just to show you that babies aren't always puppies and rainbows, even good babies...



Do you like the booger bubbles?

I still can't help but think his sour puss is still so cute!

And I did get some without the sour puss!

But not without the boogers, unfortunately!

And my scholarly baby who LOVES to sit and look at books and especially turn the pages!

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Teething Haze

So I've been in a teething haze these past few days...actually for several months...j/k...haha...sort of. I feel bad for the little guy who is so bothered by the pain of teething. It sometimes disrupts his nighttime sleep, naps, appetite, and he just isn't the same. Thank goodness for Motrin and Humphrey's Teething Pellets, the combination seems to take the edge off.

No really though it seems that since about 3 months of age, right after he stopped being colicky, the teething started and only lets up a week or two here and there. But yesterday I started to see my Laney poo return....for another few weeks at least....until the next white sharp monster decides to poke through his gums. I mean he can still be the ornery type, but this teething stuff is for the birds. So anyway, as of yesterday, I started to see the smiley, babbling little guy that I am so fond of. Well I'm fond of the other Lane too, but he's much harder to deal with and sometimes makes me want to pull out my hair!

It's quite coincidental that every time we are heading to IL or expecting visitors here in SC, I start to see a rosy cheek (depending on which side the tooth he is cutting is on), occasionally a runny nose, drool, and you can bet he chews on anything and everything in sight. It started with Thanksgiving...he got his first tooth when Lace and Ty were visiting...followed by Christmas, then a visit by my parents, another trip back home around Valentine's Day, another visit by Luke and my parents, Spring Break with Lace and I am hoping none decide to show up when Grandma Loret visits which is in 2 weeks, which unfortunately seems to be the "teething schedule." (We'll see what that brings...cross your fingers Loret!) So yes folks, that adds up to about 9 teeth in almost 6 months and actually a lot of nice visits! Luckily they love him just the same. ;-) I'll leave you with some funny pictures. He used to be all confident while holding on to the ottoman and now he is deathly afraid. I don't know why??? He hasn't fallen or anything...but has a death grip and won't even barely look up.


And some video:


He is starting to move forward! (and not just backward)

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Crabby

Ok, let me explain myself before I go around calling people names! My baby, who has a sweet and humorous nature, a smile that melts your heart, and a laugh that makes you weak in the knees, can be a little temperamental at times (gasp!) Now those of you who know him well, have seen both of these sides and love him just the same....right Loret!?!? (I feel like she's seen him in rare form.)

Lane, who pretty much got every feature and characteristic of his Momma, also was "blessed" with my temperament. (I have been told that I scowled the first 9 months of my life. I can just hear my Dad "9 months! try 12 months!") No, Lane couldn't inherit his Daddy's laid back attitude. He once again took after me. So this brings me to the title of my post.....Crabby. At times, I call Lane my little crab, crabby-craberson, crabster, Lane McCrabby....pretty much anything to do with the word crab, he has been called and apparently, I am not the only one that feels this way! See inserted pictures......

These are gifts he received for Christmas.

Baby Gap outfit from Nonie, with a crab on it. Counting crab AND crab sign from Aunt Lacey! Do you think she's trying to tell us something??!! (And the crab sign was actually added inspiration for his room.)


And fittingly, I framed this picture of a Cayman Crab while Lane was still in utero! Who knew?!?!

So from here on out, when I refer to "the crab," please know that I am talking about my sweet baby Lane and that I use it with the utmost affection. ;-)

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