2 Months Old!

Even though it feels like just yesterday I met LB face to face, he turned two months old this past Tuesday, July 15! And I'll just say this to clarify...anytime I say "I can't believe he's this big, or this old, or can do this or that"....I REALLY CAN...now that I am a mom, I truly see how fast they grow and change, and I am here to say it...I believe everything my mom told me about being a MOMMY. I put the post off for a couple days because he had his two month check-up at the Pediatricians office and I wanted to have his new stats. We have some new numbers! At his first well check up visit when he was 4 days old, he weighed 7#10oz, was 18 3/4 inches, and his head circumference was 13 1/2. LB now weighs 13#2oz (79th percentile), is 24 inches (83rd percentile), and has a head circumference of 15.75 (48th percentile). I can't believe he is 2 feet tall!! (See I caught myself saying "I can't believe it" BUT I really CAN!!) What a growing boy. He also had to get 3 shots today, he screamed like you wouldn't imagine. I nursed right after, and he was instantly happy. 

We got home from the doctor and he forgot he had even gotten shots! Thats my boy, all smiles :)

We have said goodbye to ALL the newborn outfits, and MOST of the 0-3 months. He still wears some 0-3, but mainly just 3 months, and some 3-6!! 

And of course I had fun snapping some pictures of him on Tuesday! 

He is smiling so much now, and cooing a lot too! 

I often catch myself thinking, "Where does my day go?" Being at home for 10 weeks already I would have thought I would have a spotless house and my husband would have a meal every night made from scratch, but NO! I love getting to spend all my time with LB; however, I thougt I would be able to get more done! My days now consist of diaper changes, nursing, singing nursery rhymes, nursing, bath time, nursing, baby talk, nursing, capturing his sweet smile on camera, changing diapers, oh and nursing :) This boy is beginning to stay awake a LOT more during the day, which means fewer and fewer naps! I just adore watching him sleep. One minute we talk to each other on the couch, the next we play on the floor on his activity mat, but his favorite is to be outside...just looking around! We sing together, and we smile at each other until our cheeks hurt. I would rather sing "You are my Sunshine" than clean my bathroom or dust our bookshelves. I would rather change a stinky diaper than do a load of laundry! When he does nap, I have the intention of getting so much done, but I can't put him down, I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT STARE AT MY BOY WHILE HE'S SLEEPING.

Some fun adventures during the past month included:

June 21- First Trip to Cabella's

June 28- First Nap in his Crib

June 28- First National Guard Family Day

June 28- First Time Swimming and LOVED IT!

July 6- First Trip to the Zoo- Little Rock 

SOOO MUCH more happened and I will cherish every moment!

We started having him sleep in his crib on July 11 and he actually does better there than in our room in his cradle! He sleeps from about 9pm-2am, then I nurse and he will sleep again from 3am-6am (on a good night). I am tired, I get cranky, I don't get housework done, but I wouldn't have it any other way. This boy is my everything, and I just love him to pieces. Below are some of my favorite pictures over the past month! I could post 4,567,765.543 pictures :)

AND I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LEFT HANDED THUMB SUCKER , JUST LIKE I WAS ;)

Thank you Lord for blessing me with this sweet baby boy!

ONE Month Old!

June 15, 2014...Happy one month birthday to LB and happy first Father's Day to Big Byron! Byron left for AT yesterday so he missed his first Father's Day, but we will celebrate when he gets home in 2 weeks! Well LB is already one month old and that's so hard for me to wrap my brain around. It seems like he was just born...actually it seems like we just found out we were pregnant! I sure do love this little guy. It's crazy to say this, but Byron and I can really tell he's grown...taller for sure! LB is so strong; he is working so hard on holding his head up and also will push up from my body with his legs. I'm loving being home with this little guy everyday! His personality is slowing emerging! These next couple months I will learn so much about my boy! There were many firsts this months and many more firsts to come!  

One month old:

* You wear size one diapers

* You wear size 0-3 month clothes

* You are making eye contact

* You are holding your head up for a couple seconds 

* You snore and I love it!!!

Telling daddy bye before he leaves for AT! So sweet!

Can't wait to see what our little man learns this next month!!! 

We love you sweet boy! 

Love mommy and daddy! 

LB's birthday & first week at home!

On May 14, 2014, the last day as a family of 2, Byron and I spent the day relaxing together and enjoying the day reminiscing about the past 9 months. From now on... We will be a family of 3! Not just the bun in the oven, but 2 full grown people and a BABY! We went to bed fairly early this evening because we had to check into our room at the hospital at 6am May 15! 

I didn't sleep much the night of May 14! How could I? As Byron drove us to the hospital that morning, we were full of emotions, both scary and excited emotions. We got checked in and everything happened so fast! Once hooked up to all the monitors, the nurse said I was already having contractions about 2-3 minutes apart! Dr. Wood came in the room about 6:45am, and broke my water and started the pitocin. At this point I was dilated to a 3 already. As the pitocin started working immediately, I felt for the first time ever a TRUE LABOR PAIN! As I laid there listening to LB's heartbeat on the monitor, I was scared. I was realizing that this world is a scary place and me and Byron were about to bring a child into it. Am I strong enough to protect him? Will he be bullied ? What about pneumonia or chicken pox? I became worried about so much, but all I wanted at that moment was to hold him tight in my arms. I want my son to excel in life. I want him to find a strong passion in life-- sports, hunting, fishing, music-- and enjoy every bit of it. As I laid there, my active labor started at 7:14 am, and LB's heartbeat was calming, healthy, strong, and real. I'm thinking to myself, I've got this, I'm ready to be a mommy. Contractions became stronger, and closer together. I was already to a 4cm by 9:30, and call me a baby, but that's when I asked for my epidural! Getting the epidural was the most painful part of the whole day. As I sat up in bed, squeezing Byron's hands, tears rolling down my eyes, I saw the first tear of the day from Byron. It was painful for him to see me hurting, but I wouldn't have wanted anyone else by my side during the whole labor. Finally about 10:30am, the epidural started working (my body takes a while to feel the affects of numbing)! So at this point, I'm relaxed, visiting with family and friends who were there to support us and welcome little Byron into the world. My doctor came in about noon, and I was at an 8 cm.... I thought he was kidding! LB wasn't messing around! IT WAS ALMOST TIME TO PUSH! LB was in the perfect birthing position, we were just waiting on one tiny part of my cervix to finish thinning! About 1pm, the epidural was no longer keeping me from feeling some pain.. At the point, I got the shakes... So much adrenalin! Byron and I decided we were going to be the only ones in the room during the actual birth. About 1:30pm, all our family and friends went to the waiting room, after praying over our little family! Finally about 1:45, Dr. Wood came in and checked me and it was go time!!! I started pushing at. 2:00 pm... 6 pushes later at 2:21 pm, i heard the sound we had been waiting on for 9 months.... A strong cry. The doctor immediately placed LB on my chest, and as I began crying uncontrollably, tears were running down Byron's face and he was able to cut the umbilical cord. He was crying, shivering and looking directly into my eyes. He was all ours! We spent the first 20 minutes staring at him, touching his tiny little fingers, and telling him we loved him. He quickly calmed down, and as Byron and I bonded with him,Byron said a prayer right there, thanking God for a healthy delivery and praying for us as we started this new journey as a family of 3! Our little boy weighed 8lbs and 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Pure perfection. A full head of dark brown hair, and the darkest blue eyes! Family and friends swarmed our room the next 24 hours! We got to come home Friday afternoon, just shortly after LB turned one day old. 

LB is a week and one day old now! I feel like I've known him so much longer! How can someone so little have such a big personality already!  He crinkles his whole face while sleeping, he loves reading bedtime stories with his daddy, and he loves being held really tight and close! Oh, and he's just like his daddy...HE'S NOT A MORNING PERSON! We never knew we could have so much love for someone we just met! He had his first pediatrician appt on Monday May 19...he lost 10 ounces since birth and now weighs 7lbs 10 ounces, but doctor said that was normal and we will be coming back for weekly weight checks for one month. He also had shrunk to 18 3/4 inches, nurse said it was because he had a cone head :) At one week old, LB had his first photo shoot! I can't wait to get the pictures back so I can hang them all over the house! 

We love you LB!

39 weeks, due THIS WEEK!!!

Byron Michael, 

Happy birth week! You will be born this week. You will be more loved than you can ever imagine and daddy and I promise you that you will always be taken care of! We will work hard to support you and will always make sure you have what you need, and what you want, most of the time ;) Mommy is officially off work for 12 weeks and daddy is so excited about taking "paternity" leave Thursday- Sunday :))) Your daddy is so silly, funny, loving and he's so ready to meet you! He makes me smile daily and I know watching him love you will make me love him in an incredible way! You, little Byron are the most precious gift we could ever pray for! Thorn, your big brother is also curious about you! He knows something big is about to happen and he's going to be your best pal! Today is my first Mother's Day! Even though you haven't arrived yet, I've been your mommy for 9 months!! You have blessed me already! Although I may get tired and have a messy house soon, I wouldn't trade being your mommy for anything in the world! We love you sweet angel and we will see you THIS WEEK!!! 

Love mommy and daddy

38 weeks, DUE THIS MONTH!!

Dear Little Byron,

On May 4, 2014, mommy was 38 weeks pregnant with you! This means any day, any minute you could decide to come! Every day that goes by, I get more and more emotional! As I sit here and type this, im crying... This may be the last post I make before you are born ;) but don't worry, I'm going to continue to blog monthly (if I have time)! I'm so eager for that second when I get to lay my eyes on you for the very first time. I know it will be a feeling and a special moment that me and your daddy will NEVER forget! It will only last a split second, but with each passing second, our bond will grow stronger! I still can't believe I'm about to meet you; seems like yesterday we were just finding out about being pregnant! Mommy and daddy's hospital bags are packed and ready to go! I have packed and repacked your diaper bag probably 5 times...just making sure everything is perfect! Your daddy loves when you kick, loves when he can feel you hiccup, loves to talk about taking you fishing and hunting and loves to pray for our soon to be family of THREE! Mommy has two days of work left, then I'll be off for 12 weeks! Mommy saw the doctor today, and I was at a 2.5 centimeter! That means you could come tonight, or you could wait 3 weeks! The doctor has decided to induce mommy on May 15 if you haven't come yet! He let us pick between a couple dates, but daddy's birthday is March 15, so we chose May 15 (but hopefully you will come sooner)! I would love for you to surprise me any day! The doctor said its 110% safe for mommy to be induced any day! Here are some pictures from week 38! 

"Behold, children are a gift of The Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them!" Psalm 127:3-5.

Sweet dreams baby boy! Mommy can't wait to hold you, kiss you and love you forever!

Mommy and daddy