6 Months and Counting

6 months ago today, I received the greatest gift EVER! I knew that my life would be changing, but HOW it would change...well, that was unfathomable!!! My, my...how time does fly!




February 3, 2009...I woke up to what seemed to be Niagara Falls entering my bed at about 2am. I jumped out of bed with a, "Dennis, MY WATER JUST BROKE!!!" I've never seen someone (Dennis) shoot out of bed so fast in my life. We got ready - trying to be calm, but knowing that this little man was coming WAY too soon...he had 6 weeks of cooking left to be done. He couldn't be coming THAT early...but he was.

A few short hours later, following me begging for an epidural, an "uh-oh, let me get the doctor" from my nurse (that was her realizing that she was feeling a foot instead of a head when 'checking me'), and a talk from an OBGYN about what could go wrong with him being born so early (and pretty much scaring the begeezus out of me); Lachlan Grey Menefee was born via c-section at 6:16am. I remember laying there on the table say ing over and over again, "PLEASE let me hear him cry...PLEASE let me hear him cry..." It was my little mantra, because I knew that if I heard him cry - just a little, that his lungs were working and there was a good chance that everything would be okay.

Well, let me just say that my little 'preemie' son outdid himself! As soon as we heard the doctor suction him, we heard a scream of which any full-term baby would be proud...and he continued the screaming while the nurse from Children's man-handled him (okay - so sh e was checking him and cleaning him up). Let's just say that there was NOTHING wrong with those lungs! They made him spend a few hours in 'observation', and then the FINALLY brought him to me. THAT'S when life as we now know it began!



Since then, it has been a whirlwind 6 months, and I've loved every minute of it...okay, so there have been times that I've wanted some more sleep, but other than that - I wouldn't change it for the world!

Some highlights of the past 6 months:

• His rolley, poley ears that did n't have quite enough cartilage (that's what happens when you don't finish cooking)
• The little squeaks and gurgles that newborns make
• The way he smells
• Watching his Daddy change that first "tar poo-poo" diaper
• Watching his Daddy with him PERIOD
• Listening to the songs his Daddy makes up for him
  
• The way he stares at us and studies our face when he's eating his bottle
  
• First smiles - even if there wer e due to gas :)
  
• First smiles that were on purpose
• First laughs that sounded more like Beavis or Butthead than a baby laugh
• First REAL baby giggles
• Watching him take his first bites of cereal - how it looks like he's sucked on a HUGE, SOUR lemon - it sends shivers all through his body from his head to his little toes...and how it STILL happens more often than not...
• Speaking of toes...nibbling on them...which now makes him laugh
• Listening to him babble in the morning (telling us ALL about his dreams)
  
• Watching him learn to roll from his back to his tummy...and then getting mad because he HATED tummy time
• Watching him learn to roll from his tummy to his back, which made life ALL better in his eyes...and ironically, turned the page on his dislike for tummy time - now he sleeps on his tummy every night...but only if it's his idea
• Going into his room first thing in the morning, all sleepy eyed...and seeing the biggest, cutest grin spread over his face when he sees me.
  
• Listening to his baby 'zerberts' and kissy noises
  
• His run of being sick...what an initiation for this new Mommy!
• Seeing him trying to learn to sit up and holding himself up in the 'tripod' position
• Watching our family with him
• Watching Bosley so gently try to befriend him
• Watching Gatsby come to terms with him...and even allow a pet or two every now and then
  
• Discovering his hands
• Discovering his feet...and trying to eat them!
• Late night snuggle sessions in his rocking chair
• Early morning snuggle sessions in the bed
  
• BATH TIME...from screaming like we were killing him in the beginning, to getting drenched by splash time now!
• And, most recently...how he has started staring at me again when I feed him...but now, he gently tries to rub my face...it just melts my heart every time.
  

Well, I could go on and on... I just love watching him grow and explore his new world! It all happens so very fast...almost too fast.

I thank God every day for allowing me to be your Mommy, Lachlan! You remind me to enjoy the simple joys of every day. I can't wait to see what the next 6 months...and forever holds for the Menefee Menagerie. I know that we may not always do the right thing, Lach, but know that we do everything out of love for you...wanting nothing more than the best for you. Daddy and I love you more than you will ever know. Here's to watching you learn and grow over the next 6 months...and forever!

Here are some pictures from Lachlan's "Half Birthday!" I know that I'm just a teeny bit biased, but I think that he's about the cutest thing ever!

Out of the shoot...

Hello there! Well, this is my very first blog! Why blog, you ask??? I never thought I would be a "blogger", but there's a good reason. You see, I'm TERRIBLE at keeping up with scrapbooks and such, but would LOVE to chronicle the goings on of my little family. I thought this would be the perfect solution! I can add updates, share pictures and videos...and have something for Little Lachlan to go back and check when he gets bigger...he's not reading quite yet, you know.

Besides, with our closest family members being 5 hours away and numerous friends living in far-away places, what better way to keep up...and they can do it their own leisure too!

Hmmm...guess I should start with the basics. The "Menefee Menagerie"...the name just popped in my head when I was prompted to come up with something. It's not very witty, but it does have a nice ring to it. AND, we do have quite the family...

Dennis - he's Mr. Wonderful wrapped up in a nice, dorky package that I love to pieces. He's the yin to my yang...or is it the other way around??? He's also pretty much the best dad ever!

Bosley - the world's nicest, most loving, big, black dog - he's a 'labradane' a cross between a Great Dane and Labrador Retriever. He's pretty much the heart of our house...an old, wise soul he is...









Gatsby - probably the craziest, most personality filled dog...correction: "4-legged, furry, person" you could imagine. She's the entertainment...always providing us with a good story, and ALWAYS costing us lots of dough! But, we wouldn't trade her for the world!




And, last but certainly not least...there's Lachlan...the newest addition to our little family. He's just about the neatest thing ever. He's 20 weeks old tomorrow and growing like a weed! I just look at him every day with new eyes. I'm continually amazed by everything: the way he bends his toes when he eats, the way he smiles real big and laughs his little laughs when we are "eating his tummy", and the way you can watch him start to figure things out. I wake up each day anxious to see what he's going to teach me...:).

So, that's our little clan. My lunch hour is just about over, so I better wrap it up. I think I should add our latest developments. Yesterday was Dennis' first Father's Day. He is really, truly the most awesome Dad. I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime...err...life :). We didn't do a lot for Father's Day, because we received some sad news about a friend. But, I do plan to have a more thorough celebration with him at a later date...namely Labor Day weekend at Atlanta Dragon Con (it's a comic convention...I did mention before that he is a dork, right???)

Lachlan is currently 15lbs4ozs....he's gained nearly 10 lbs in 20 weeks...CRAZY!!!! He's been battling a lower respiratory thingy, but doing much better. Besides that, he's smiling and laughing and rolling (but apparently only on Sundays, as he rolled the Sunday before last and then yesterday but not in between). He is also sitting up very well with assistance, and I'm convinced he will be reading War and Peace in no time :).

Bosley is doing well after having a 3.5lb spleen removed a few weeks ago. He's adding weight and has stopped the moaning and groaning that comes with having a spleen the size of a small baby in you (he had turned into quite a talker for a while there). I think he just can't wait for Lachlan to get big enough to play! And, Gatsby...well, she's growing more accustomed to not being the center of attention all the time. Although, I swear that she's just waiting to give Lach and BIG "talkin to" about his place in the family as soon as he's capable of understanding. She also has been having a lot of concerns about the near daily thunderstorms we have been having. They cause her to spend a lot of time "pretending" to be non-chalantly hanging out in the half bath downstairs...or all-out shivering like a chihuahua in somebody's lap if it's really bad. Talk about a funny sight for a Great Dane.

Alrighty, then...signing off...oh...forgot to add me. I'm just fine - still trying to learn how to be the best Mommy I can be...that's about it! More to come later!!!