The Goings

We have been busy!

Greg

Greg started his new job two weeks ago. We are really NOT fans of his current schedule, which is basically getting up at 5 and getting home at 7. We understand that it is what most OTHER people do, but its been tough for us to adjust and we are finding that even though there are many challenges to his regular 24-on and 48-off schedule, we miss it.

His first week was mostly paperwork and getting to meet everyone, being a probationary firefighter is hard and the name of the game is sucking up, which Greg isn't a fan of, though he seems to be good at it. He was invited to play in a big softball tournament the first weekend on the job and ended up playing ALL DAY, which was great for the whole team morale thing, especially since they made it into the championship game, but he started fire academy on Monday and was very sore for the three hours of being yelled at while holding all of his equipment in the air that came with the first day. Despite all that he is loving it. He is learning a lot and says that the very worst part is not being able to spend time with Ben since he is already asleep when he gets home at night. Even when Ben is still up, Greg has to study every night, so there isn't much play time anyway...for now.

Ben
Ben got into the lovely habit of waking up every hour or so to play the same week that Greg started his new job. We were sure he was on to the fact that we were in a weakened state and therefore more willing to give in to his demands.
After a few sleepless nights for me I came up with a brilliant plan. Don't judge...we moved Ben into the laundry room/pantry.
I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
I only feel a little guilty about him sleeping with the diaper pail and the trash can. But I felt really guilty about him being so cold, since he is sleeping right next to an outside door. Greg found a space heater upstairs and I don't feel guilty anymore. And we are all sleeping well.
Ben even slept for about 8 hours last night!!!!!!! Of course, after 6 Greg and I couldn't sleep because we were worried he had died and the kid rolled out of the totally awesome video monitors range.
I fixed that this morning.

So Ben sits up on his own now.

He loves hockey.
And Notre Dame Football.
And his DADDY!
He loves his vegetables (as long as they are chunky).
He enjoys gardening.
But large squash terrifies him.
And oh yeah, is almost 6 months old!
He loves his snowman (Snowflake) and won't sleep without him.
And is on the verge of Crawling.

He has also recently figured out peek-a-boo and overcome his first cold.
He has had all the signs of teething for months with no teeth. Such a joy!

He loves solid foods, though nothing runny or anywhere close to normal for babies. He enjoys bread, crackers, peeled and seeded tomatoes, mashed potatoes, carrots, etc. He doesn't enjoy fruit or fruit juice, which I guess it okay since he seems to enjoy vegetables still.

Proof I am a good mother.

Me
I bought fabric to make Greg a new quilt for the firehouse, canned my first batch of my mom's relish, have managed to keep baking all of our own bread and take great joy in sending Greg to work with sandwiches made with homemade bread, taught Ben peek-a-boo, and can't wait until we are able to teach him things like handwriting and basic math!

We
Have been looking at rentals and have recently thought a little bit about buying a home, GULP!
Have been preparing for a wedding we are both standing up in that is taking entirely too much energy.
Been enjoying the cool Fall weather.
Were grateful Greg got paid his first week at work!
And are counting down the days until Greg graduates fire academy.