He LOVES basketballs & any ball really- so I wanted a ball pic for his invites. I’ll prob leave this on the fridge for awhile because I love it.

The only sad part about the birthday banner is– I never got a full picture of just how cute it was and it started raining right before the party started and we took it down. I can use it again for years to come though. We had to move things inside at the start but then moved back outside and it actually felt much cooler out after the rain.

I put Glenn and my dad to work.

And here are some more pictures from the day that I love:

I love how happy Peggy (my mother in law) is in this picture.

Our nieces, Giovanna & Sofia

The post Marshman’s First Birthday Party appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

We had a lot of fun with him out at Crown Hill Cemetery over Memorial Day weekend. My grandparents came up and we went to visit great grandparents and great great grandparents and a host of other family Members, some I’ve never heard of. Marshall really enjoyed crawling around the grave stones and playing with the flowers my Grandma brought.

• Video of Marshall hanging out at his Great, Great, Great Grandparents Grave. 

Marshall, Glenn and Grandma Carol (My mom’s mom)

Family pic after the BrewMile last night.

The post Marshall 11 Months appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Marshall is such an easy kid still (I feel like I can’t call him a baby anymore, he’s more of a kid now). BUT the one thing that is difficult almost every time is changing his clothes. He doesn’t have time to sit still and let you change his clothes. pajama’s are a whole other ball game. It’s like he’s desperate to move as much as possible because he knows he’s about to go down for 12 hours.

What he Loves:

• Cadence, Cadence and Cadence

• Food- pretty much anything we give him

• Making noise, babbling

• Going up and down the treadmill 500 times a day

• Butler Basketball is still a BIG favorite

• Walking with his zebra toy

• Pap’s guitar

• Stroller runs 

What he doesn’t Love:

• Old fashioned Oats (he likes small quick oats though)

• Putting clothes on

• Really, that’s all

Watch out, I’m about to show you what’s up with this zebra.

His favorite thing to do, walk with the zebra. He can do it 100 times in a row and it’s just as exciting every single time.

Me as a baby. It’s crazy how much we look alike.

Sometimes climbing all over the treadmill isn’t enough, he wants to climb on the window too. There’s always some kind of dangerous mission he is on.

We started swimming lessons a few weeks ago- he’s not thrilled over it, but does OK. Mostly likes to crawl around in the water after the lesson. He doesn’t realize it gets deep.

First time out on the bikes with him. He did well in here in his too small pants. Fell asleep just like he was in the car. This thing is GREAT. There is so much room to put all kinds of toys and stuff in in it. One big play room, while zipping around Broad Ripple with the other hipster kids. Just kidding our kid is no hipster kid, he was just dressed like one that day.

This was on my last big day at BoMF right when I got home. My Grandma watched him all day. (THANK YOU Grandma!) This is my new job full time job. We’re happy about it.

Special Dad Time. How cute are they.

The kid eats anything. I’ll give him broccoli and he’ll just chew on it for literally an hour. It’s gross.

Look at all of those teeth.

See you at 11 months.

The post 10 Months appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

• Remote Control (one of which is no where to be found)

• Toy Alligator 

• Cadence 

• Tunnel

• Water Bottles

I am more in love with that face more than ever before. His only downfall in my book is that he doesn’t like to snuggle, ever. Maybe if we have another baby, I’ll get a snuggler. 

That’s all, we’ll check in at 10 months. Can’t believe we are approaching a year. 

The post My Wild Child- 9 Months appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Wearing clothes that are too small. #momfail

• Becoming clingy to Mom and Dad- I used to be able to just head out the door when a babysitter came and he just carried on, now he grabs onto me for dear life when I try to leave. I’ve also been paged by the kids club at LA Fitness twice now to come get him. Oh boy.

• Having crazy hair- I’ve mentioned this story to some, but the other day when I dropped him off at kids club at LA Fitness, a little girl looked him over and said “His hair is crazy… my hair is beautiful.” I laughed and laughed. And then I was secretly glad she wasn’t my kid because she wouldn’t stop talking. I’m not ready for that phase yet. 

• Babbling a lot

• Has four teeth

• Sleeping through the night…all the way, we finally got away from the 5:30am feeding business. He definitely didn’t need it anymore. 7pm-7am. Amazing.

Loves hanging out on the treadmill.

The one hand stand thing he’s up to lately.

Looks like it was easy to get him to sit in this chair for the 8 months pics… it wasn’t.

Two seconds and he’s coming at you to crawl right off. Way to much to get his hands on to sit still for a picture.

Sweet, innocent, adorable, stay like this forever baby boy.

If you made it this far in the post and want to see some cutie videos, see below:

• Crawling up the stairs

• Excited about the bath

• Giggles

The post Baby with the Wild Hair. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Doesn’t he know mom & dad use Hammer?

Looking all hip and stuff in his homemade hat. (Thanks for the cute new vest from Grandma and Grandpa Hein)

He is eating realish foods these days:

• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Sweet Potatoes
• Carrots
• Green Beans
• Zucchini

Still on some Breast Milk but mostly Formula. I’m holding on for dear life, don’t want to deal with weening off, just doesn’t sound comfortable for me.

Hanging out at the Back on My Feet Super Bowl Party- 27th Floor of the Regions Bank Tower, watch out world here he comes.

Nicknames & who calls him what:

• Marshman– Everyone, no seriously… everyone. Even people who have never met him. This is by far the most popular
• Marsh– Glenn & I and lot’s of others
• Fire Marshall– Glenn & I (and probably Uncle Joey)
• The Terminator– Glenn 
• The Marshinator– Glenn & I
• Marshmellow– Mostly me- but that started when he had the white brace for his hip, it’s pretty much over
• Bub– Glenn & I- it’s embarrassing really, but we started doing it as a joke and now we can’t stop. I always have to remind Glenn to not say it out loud in front of people. 
• Bubinski– Glenn
• Buddy– Glenn, Giovann & I 
• Marshy Moo- Giovanna & I
• Major– Grandpa Greg (Old Pap)

Other things he’s up to:

• Crawling faster than any baby I’ve ever known. (I’ve actually only really known a few though)

• Pulls himself up on absolutely everything. Baths can be hard. And Dangerous.

• He does the one handed hold on now and takes little steps.

• Still loves a good stroller ride- although doesn’t get them too much in this weather. We got out and put some miles in though when it warmed up a few days. Cadence came along too… she’s gotten lazy in her older years… 9 miles just about did her in… I was literally dragging her the last 2 miles, while pushing the stroller into a mad headwind. Teamwork. 

• Watching praise baby DVDs- we only have one, so he just watches the same one usually about once a day. It’s just a lot of worship songs with pictures of animals, babies,weird faces and stuff. 

• Hanging in the exersaucer while I treadmill it. My goal is usually to knock out at least a decent warm up before he falls apart for nap time. The other day though, he lasted 10 miles. He was so tired he just fell asleep sitting up after 20 minutes, so I turned on Kathie Lee & Hoda, watched them, read my kindle (just put it on the 2nd to largest font… it works!) and stared at my adorable sleeping child for 8 more miles. It was awesome.

Intense praise baby watching. The creepy old guy chewing like a goat is probably on the screen.

• Favorite new place: Crawling under the dining room table. Our dining room set has been passed down in my family for years- it was my Great Grandmas. A lot of little crawlers have spent time under this table. My mom said she remembers playing under it. That’s kind of special.

Just exploring

• Favorite new thing to get into: Cabinets, trashcans – and if you open the fridge, he bee lines for it. 

• Favorite things to play with: Tupperware and paper grocery bags

• Favorite Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider

• Favorite Book: Trucks 

• Sleep: Bedtime- 7:00pm, and we are slowly cutting out the third nap… he’s kind of been a monster about getting him in his crib for naps these days. A lot of naps have been happening in mom, dad and babysitter arms. It’s peaceful, but makes it hard to be productive.

With his Best Friend Cadence. He is all over her. She doesn’t really mind and means well, but she’s a dog. We aren’t stupid, we are careful.

Everyone says he looks like his mama.

Look at those arches in his feet. Those are my feet. Sorry buddy.

The post Marshall 7 Month Update appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

I had a few breakdowns to my sister and more than a few breakdowns to Glenn. I had myself so worked up about not being able to sleep that it became my constant obsession. For hours I would just lay there, so tired my mind was crazy and my body so completely physically exhausted. But there I would lay worrying about him and worrying that the second my mind shut off, I would get woken up and the cycle would continue.

I hated it when doctors would tell me to sleep when my baby sleeps. Hey lady, trust me, I’m trying but my brain won’t shut off. I am tired. I want to sleep when he does, but I won’t let myself. 

Anyway it was hard, but here we are, we made it to 5 months. We are almost 100% sleeping through the night. I’m scared to say we are completely there, the minute I say that, I’ll be up for an hour listening to him cry cry cry at 3am.

Thanksgiving in Crown Point with Glenn’s family

.Hey mom- my pants are too small, put me in some 6 months instead of 3, thanks. Love, Marshall

So, the video below is the best way to see what the little man is up to most of his waking hours. 

We’ll call the video: Marshall wants to CRAWL.

What he’s doing at 5 months- Trying to crawl, talking gibberish up a storm, was introduced to formula, we are now probably around 80% BM, 20% formula. He doesn’t seem to notice or mind the difference. As usual, he is always on the move, if he is awake, he is moving. If for some reason he feels like snuggling I stop anything I am doing and embrace the snuggle, because it doesn’t happen often.

He still likes hanging in the stroller for a good run with mom or dad. It’s pretty official he’s out of 3 month clothes- 6-9 here we come. The jeans he has on in the picture are the only jeans he had so that’s why I had him rocking high waters. I’m pretty sure both of our families think we underdress him… but seriously people, this kid likes to wear minimal clothing. I did make a trip to Once Upon a Child yesterday though and picked up some stuff. Wait till you see his cutie new snow suit. Hope he’ll actually need it.

Hey Blue Eyes.

And lastly, it’s embarrassing to even show this picture- but below is a picture of me when I was, oh I don’t know 5. I had cut my own hair and had a great sense of fashion. Rocking the half top at a young age. Regardless of all that good stuff- I really look like Marshall in this picture. Just call me the neighbor boy. Also, do you see the pink and purple pants laying on the bed, those are totally back in style.

Three weeks till Christmas and I feel obligated to send out a cute little Christmas Card starring Marshall, we’ll see what happens.

The post Well, I’ve been a mom for five months. appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

• Mornings
• Getting his clothes & diaper changed – BIG SMILES.
• Discovering hands and feet
• Trying to put feet in his mouth
• Sucking hand/thumb
• CONSTANT MOVEMENT – he is his father’s son, if he is awake he is moving (a little sad for me because I’m a big snuggler and I only get those when he eats or sleeps)
• Bathtime – this is a Glenn and Marshall thing
• Entertaining himself – in crib, on playmat, you name it – AMAZING.
• His new noise machine & projector light (loves looking at the ceiling at the pictures)
• Making all kinds of new noises and trying to talk
• Music – Beatles, My Morning Jacket, you know the good stuff
• Hanging out in the stroller while mom or dad get a run in (he’s done up to 17 miles… but most commonly he does 5 a few times a week)

The post Marshman is 3 Months appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Look at Cadence in the background. I think she knows how much we love Marshall and is really good with him (except when she slyly steals his socks right from his feet)- but let’s be honest she is so jealous.

Two weeks ago, I went back to work. This was a decision Glenn and I had a thousand conversations about. I kind of always thought I would be a stay at home mom when I had kids.

At the beginning of my maternity leave, I was so physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted that I honestly wouldn’t even talk about going back to work or not, because there was no way I could think clearly about it. As the weeks went on, everything, literally everything started getting easier (about weeks 6-8). He was sleeping better, I was sleeping better, breastfeeding wasn’t miserable anymore, I was able to workout for real, life started feeling normal again.

I found myself thinking about work a lot, what was going on with our upcoming race and I wanted to get my hands in everything. But, I couldn’t stand the idea of dropping Marshall off somewhere for 8 hours a day with people who don’t even know him or love him at 12 weeks while I sat in an office.

Thankfully, work has agreed to work out a super flexible schedule for me and we’ve been able to hire two fantastic baby-sitters, college students at Butler University right down the street from us. I get to work from home some days and be in the office some days, I get to spend a lot of time with my Marshman, but also spend time at work and working at home doing what I love. I know a lot of people don’t have this option and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Again, I feel like the luckiest.

So far, the balancing act has been working out pretty well- one things for sure, my hats off to any single parents out there, where the other parent is not in the picture or involved. (and women or men who’s spouse is overseas), I do not know how one person does it all.

While it’s hard to be away from him sometimes, I usually come home feeling refreshed and excited to give him 100 kisses.

Just want to eat this smile up.

The post Me, a Working Woman and Mom? appeared first on Lindsey Hein.