April is National Autism Month...

and this hits close to home for me as my nephew Donovan has Aspergers. I have always felt a super special bond with this little man, perhaps because he is my first nephew (the first to born of all me and my siblings kids) and he is just so special to me.

We thought he was just a rowdy little boy and naughty like most kids are, don't listen well ec...But as the behaviors became more and more, "obsessive" might be the right word, the more the thought of perhaps there was something else going on. Well there was and he was offically diagnosed with Aspergers..he is pre-school now and from what I am told doing very well, which makes me very happy because I do worry about him, he may not be my child, but I love him so much and just want him to be happy.

Thankfully Aspergers from what I read and understand is a very high functioning form of Autism, and that is one positive that we can focus on. And I have high hopes that he will do just fine. He is soooo creative and artistic, I mean the kid can draw better than me, and well his writing even trumps my 24 year old husbands chicken scratches. And I think he will definitely end up doing something very artisitic and creative when he grows up, perhaps you will see his name on the big screen or in the creation of a video game or on a famous painting. No matter what he does, I love this little man very much, and no matter what "title" is put on him in his life he will always have a special place in my heart.

"Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes." Hopefully with further discussion and openess on this issue more schools and peopel will have a better understanding of all forms of autism and hopefully it will be a good world for my nephew to live his life in.

For more info on Autism go to: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

One Month Old

I just can not believe my baby is a month old! Its so bittersweet, I have absolutely adored every moment I have had with her, but it has gone so so so fast. She has gotten so much bigger but is still such a little pumpkin, I just adore her.

Everyday brings me a little closer to going back to work, and while I truly don't mind my job, its means less time with her and that my friends breaks my heart. She will be with her Grandma, and that I am so thankful for, its the only thing that makes it a little more bareable.

She is almost holding her head up on her own, she has almost rolled over on her own so many times, she hates tummy time unless she is laying on mommy's chest, she adores her daddy and always has good burps for him (hehe), she loves her Grandma's voice (she lights up every time she hears her), she loves to snuggle with mommy after her morning feeding, she "talks" in her sleep, she is simply the most amazing little creature!!!!

3 years and 11 months till she turns 1 ;)

I got my hair did!

In celebration of motherhood I chopped my hair today. Here is a kind of before picture, it isn't right before the hair cut, but gives an idea of what my hair was...

And this is it now, about 8-10 inches later........

So yeah, the new me, "Mommy"...My hubby said "you look like a Mom, a cute Mom" hehehe, I heart him :) It was really nice to have some me time, while Grandma watched baby, and I think Grandma enjoyed it to, just a guess.

Baby and I had 3 visitors yesterday, that was nice, we like visitors, and she was of course a good girl the whole time! I am still in the midst of organizing my closet, brining out all my pre-preggo clothes and putting away the maternity clothes. I fit into almost all my pre-preggo clothes, so that is a good feeling! I have 12 more pounds to go to get to my goal weight, I gained 15 in my pregnancy and have lost 18, 12 more to go. Then I am going to work on toning and getting rid of this saggy skin belly, hahahha. In conclusion life is good, and I am soaking up every minute I can.

This, that and the Other

Today was a busy day for baby and I, well mainly me, baby just kind of slept and ate along the ride, what a life!

I accomplished ALOT at home, my to do is list is down to just simply a few things, go me! We went to Cub Foods to visit Trish (my sister in law and babies aunt), she was fantastic and helped us print some very cute birth announcements on the kodak machine, and holy cheap batman! I am very impressed and will be printing many a more pictures there.

We also went to the bank and met Daddy for lunch, that was nice.

Everday I realize more and more how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of my baby!

Also on the way to the bank I came across many a grumpy people, and I did something I haven't done before and it actually worked, when I got home I just gave a very nice genuine smile to myself in the mirror and it actually perked me back up, at least I know there is one person who still smiles me...

Well you can choose what part of this was This, that and the other...good night folks.

Behind the name

One more thing, "Raising a Pumpkin", I chose this name because I call Gwendolyn "pumpkin", just thought I would give a simple FYI on the blog name, ok I am going to bed now, for real this time.

Midnight Showers

Being a new Mom I am discovering so many things, one being how you never knew how much you would come to appreciate things that are so simple. One for me being showers! I am a at least one a day shower girl, in the summer usually two a day, I like to be fresh ("so fresh and so clean clean"). Well now the hubby goes to work and I am at home with baby all day, when hubby gets home that is my time to get things done that I didn't have time to do, if I want a shower, I have to get up before hubby and baby and take one...well tonight for some unknown reason I have some energy! So after hubby and baby were in bed, I decided it was some me time.

Let me tell you, I had the most amazing shower I have ever had, probably because of how much I am able to appreciate it. I got a full hour to focus on me, not only did I get a shower, but I got to shave my legs, use my fancy body lotion, do a face mask, a deep conditioning treatment on my hair and simply just relax and let the hot water soothe my achey shoulders and back, let me tell you people it was fantastic!! I was in there so long I got prunie, prunie! Do you know how long it has been since I have had a chance to be in the shower so long I get prunie!?!?! I then got to take my time brushing my teeth and hair, use nice smelly lotion and body spray & put on my PJ's.

Its like I have a key to a secret garden, a secret place no one knows about, a place were my mind is free and my body is relaxed. I can't wait to go there again tonight, although this is going to mean less sleep, I really think is worth it.

Now I am going to go stare at my sleeping baby, and just take in how amazing she is and how motherhood is such a special gift and one I will try to never take for granted.

Sweet Dreams........

In the begining

This is a blog to talk about my baby and life, but mainly my baby girl since she is the light of my life right now and I want to document my journey, I am sure there will be some random rants about other things as well....

Well just a little background, my baby girl (Gwendolyn Elizabeth) was born on Leap Day (2/29/08) @ 4:34pm, she was 5lbs 14oz and 18 1/4 inches, little, but totally healthy, she got a 9/9 on her Apgar scores. She is a great baby and I am totally and completely in love...

She is such a good girl...seriously I fear the thought of having another one because I am afraid that he/she wouldn't be as good, I know that sounds bad, but she has us spoiled :) I love the days I have with her before I go back to work, and the thought of leaving her breaks my heart (a post for another day, perhaps my second post, lol).

Well that is it for now, if anyone is actually reading this!