18 MONTHS

last week AJ turned 18 months old!!!! we have both grown so much in the last 18 months...it's hard to imagine a time when we weren't together. from the very beginning his presence was known in all of our lives. i remember the first time i felt him partying in my belly, the first time he gave me a good kick, him pushing me with his elbows and knees...and we all couldn't wait to be BLESSED with his presence. he is truly AMAZING, and according to my dad...HE SAVED MY LIFE ( i wouldn't go that far, but he certainly got it under control for me!!!)

OUR new LOVE for READING

anyone who really knows me, knows the last thing i would do in my spare time is READ. after charlotte's web, tales of a 4th grade nothing and island of the blue dolphins, i had little to no interest in any of the required reading that came along with my education (come to think of it, i didn't have much interest in much of anything that had to do with my education) i most certainly didn't MAKE TIME for anything more than teen and seventeen in my younger years and graduated to cosmo, vogue and in style. within the last couple years, mostly since i was pg, i started reading. i read several books while i was pg and once aj came i didnt really have the time. recently with him being able to entertain himself and my looking for a new form of relaxtion i've picked up reading again.

aj too has had a recent increase in his reading (i mostly blame aunt dani) interest. he had tons of books before he even came home from the hospital, but never took any real interest in them. he would look at the cover, but everytime you'd dare to open the book he'd practically have a nervous breakdown (being sick and twisted, i took great pleasure in opening the books)...he now reads to everyday. and if we're LUCKY, he'll read us more than one book instead of the same one over and over.

LEAPS AND BOUNDS...

since our last check-in...we've definitely made MAJOR improvements.

aj has been successfully sleeping in his BIG-BOY BED for TWO WEEKS!!!! and it's AMAZING. i'd like to call it a 'small MIRACLE'. it's great for BOTH OF US. he knows his schedule and knows when he is ready for bed. like his mother, it becomes VERY OBVIOUS when he wants something...we'll say borderline OBSESSIVE (imagine that) and his behaviors are extreme around that time too. he has really gotten used to the whole idea and is even comfortable with me sitting at a distance...(we'll tackle him doing it alone another time). i too have made MAJOR leaps and bounds...making time for ME.