Happy 6 Months!

Happy 6 Months Collin!

This by far as being my favorite month yet.  

You are becoming a little person!  

You have starting babbling, sitting up on your own, and starting to try to crawl.

You are starting to play with objects, you are starting splash during bath time, and I think we are getting ready to enter the phase that we throw things.  

In fact, on your 6 month birthday I came home and you reached up for me for the first time.  

This pulled on my heart strings.  

You love your jumper-roo!  

Who even invented this was a genius!

We put away your baby swing, your activity mat, and your bouncer.  

You are out of the snap n go and in your big stroller- this was done because I can not lift you in the snap n go anymore and it was also time.  

We put up a swing outside on the porch which you are loving!

You are also starting to reach for Clemson and will pull on his hair which Clemson tolerated quite well. 

You are so much fun!!!

You are so big!!! 

I am putting most of your 6 month stuff away, and putting you into 9 month clothes.  

Your 6 month appointment will be next week because the nurse practitioner you see is on vacation this week and I like seeing the same provider.  You are in size 3 diapers.  

You are pretty much sleeping thru the night. Going down at 7 pm and waking up between 6-8 pm.  We occassionally have a bad night but by bad I mean you wake up once.  Naps are kind of all over the place- but you take two a day when you are home with me.  One in the morning and one in the afternoon- they last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours but the average is 1 hour.  

Eating- You are eating mostly breast milk with about 35 ounces a day, and having 1 meal of oatmeal.  We tried a couple days of baby food, but felt  you were still learning to eat so went back to oatmeal for three weeks.  This week we have started back trying solids and it is going much better.  We are doing yams which you are showing that you like.  Next up carrots and bannans.  I actually think we are going to start doing oatmeal at your 9 am feeding and then pureed foods at your 5 pm eating in a week or two.  I am most excited about this because it means that I can decrease the amount I am pumping.  I love you- but I HATE pumping.  

You are still doing great at daycare- and you are so happy there.  You love your two teachers and they love you!  

This month, working and being a mom has hit.  Not from the stand point of “oohhh I miss my baby, and no one can take as good as care as his mom.”  I do not believe this- in fact I have learned alot from your daycare providers and love that you are getting socialized.  It is hard because I feel like I am doing two full time job with not enough time to both the way I would like.  That being said I have am learning to let go, especially with work.  When I leave work, I do not check in again until I am back at work.  The days of checking my laptop from home and answering email/labs are over!  Also on my days off, I spend time with you which means stuff around the house may not get done or to the level that I would have done previously.  It also means I am doing more chores after you go to bed- like the grocery store, laundry, etc.   

This month we went on our first family vacation to St. Augustine Florida.   

Your dad and I went in with low expectations because well you are a baby and we have heard horror stories of taking babies on vacation- i.e not sleeping, crying all the whole plane ride, not napping, not adjusting, etc.  WE HAD A BLAST and you were the best baby ever!  You had your bottle on the plane and then feel asleep for most of the flight in my arms.  

When you did wake up all you wanted to do was play with the plastic cup...

Once we got there we headed to the condo and spent the next 5 days on our schedule.  We went to the beach, the pool, out to eat, winery, watched the Clemson game, and actually got some much needed rest, etc.  It was perfect and you slept AMAZING!!! Now traveling with all the stuff- we had to take your car seat, stroller, and pack in play was not fun but it could have been worse and we got around on having to pay to check luggage- which rocked!  The condo was perfect because you had your own room which we set up the pack n play in, it also had a washer/dryer and full kitchen.  We ended going to the grocery store when we got there and purchased enough for a weeks worth of Breakfast and lunches, most nights we ate out or ate left overs.  

We did go up to Jax on day to visit with both set of Great Grandparents- and you were just awesome all around considering it was a very long day.  

We also celebrated your grandfather’s 60th Birthday and your Uncle G and Laura #2 came home so that was a special treat. 

We ended out the month with a groupon that I had been saving...

OMG so cute...

Up next month....

Your 6 month appointment with all your shots

Get together with friends on multiple weekends

Hopefully Cox Farms

Lots of Clemson football watching!

Happy 5 Months!

It is crazy to believe that you are 5 months
and that summer is almost over!

OMG- could you be any more cute?
I know what mommy's new favorite color to dress you in is...

It has been a fun and tiring summer filled with alot of firsts.  

You survived my first month back at work and as I dropped you off this morning at your permanent daycare, I am looking forward to the next month.
Mostly because now with daycare less than 1/4 mile from our house we can establish sort of a routine.  

You have been a pretty good sleeper this month considering you daycare hopped from everyone.  

Going down around 7 pm and sleeping until 5 am- waking up to feed and then going back to bed till 8am.  

We have used the Ferber method a couple nights when you wake up at 10 or 11 pm-  it works pretty well.  Max time was 23 minutes and min time was 7.
You are a stomach sleeper and I totally love in the morning when I go to get you up you are in your turtle position with your neck up and looking around and once you see me it is all smiles-
Seriously the best part of my day!

Your naps are starting to rock.  

We are pretty much down to two a day unless you wake up super early.  

Your morning nap is normally 30 min to 1 hour and then after noon nap is longer, one and half hours.  

We now have your nap routine down- I put you in your sleep sack, read you a book, and before I finish, you are already rubbing your eyes.  

You are a moose when it comes to eating-
some days taking in as much as 45 ounces.  

On average is around 40.  

We decided to jump into the whole solid foods-
yes I know the recommendation is for nothing but breastmilk for the first 6 months-
but you were ready- grabbing our food and cups.

You are also showing more interest at holding your own bottle- AMEN!

Your first meal was oatmeal-
you had 1 ounce the first night and did awesome.

I was not looking forward to solids because it was just another thing to worry about.  

But thanks to some friends advice I made homemade baby food and frooze it in an ice tray which each cube is one ounce.  I then each week put it in the fridge in the containers so it is ready for either I or daddy to feed you.  I plan on only giving you 1 ounce at a time at first. 

I was kind of surprised how awesome you did,
which just reinforced that it was time for solids.  

We continued this for about a week when on Saturday night we gave you your first taste of carrots- OMG you love carrots and now you hate oatmeal- such is life.  

Last night you had an ounce of oatmeal and one ounce of carrots.  

Coming up soon is avacado and bananas.  

You continue to be so happy!  

Seriously, thank you!  

It amazes me how you just laugh at me when I am being silly.

We have learned to accessorize- which even though you are a boy is still very important!

You are having more moments that you look like your dad-
which makes him very proud....but I still think you look ALOT like my dad and me.

You have started to notice your dog brother and actually will pet him if he sits next to you.

You are in 6 month clothes which I think will last you at least another month to two months depending on the brand.

You are still putting everything in your mouth and starting to really be able to lift yourself up on your stomach.  I totally think you look like a turtle when you do this.  

You are rolling like crazy and starting to try to use your legs to crawl but you still have alot of work to do.  We put your activity mat away because with rolling so much you were getting frustrated with it.
You are starting to be able to sit up on your own for limited time periods.  

You have switched over to the bigger part of the infant tub because you are so long,
you are too big for it.  

All and all you are pretty awesome.  

This month was pretty busy with mommy going back to work but we filled it with 

visiting with friends, lots of trips to the pool, and a trip to Burke Park which we did not hike like your father thought we were going to!  

Can't wait for 6 months....

Up this month is Vacation to St Augstine Beach!!!! 

WAHOO!!!

Summer of Hats

When we found out that bug was going to be a little boy named Collin, 

I had a moment of sadness when I thought of all the pretty dresses and bows that I would not be able to accessorize with....

But thank god for the baby boy hats.

We started out with the Iplay sunhats.

Collin hates these because he hates anything tied around his neck, so he will wear them only for a very short time or if we do not tie it but it comes off if not tied.... urrrr

Then we actually found this hat that someone left in the yard.  

So I washed it and now it is ours- it has become our favorite pool hat because it stays on and is reversible.  I have no idea who makes it... 

Ahhh then the straw target hat.
I was in the store to get diapers and saw this.

I had a "I have to have that moment!"
something that has not happened with me that much at all because lets face it boy stuff well it leaves much to be desired.

So I picked it up and use a gift card to purchase it.  

It is still a little big so we serve us well in to the fall.

 Then the old daddy gold hat- 

Joe bought this for Collin - again one of the few things we have actually picked out because we had so many generous friends with gifts.  

Totally love it!

Such a cutie...

It also helps cover his white boy bald head!

Happy Summer of Hats!

Happy 4 Months!

Bug...

It is still amazing to me how much you have grown in 4 months.

I sat down this morning and placed A LOT of your three month clothing away because you are so big.

I look back at your new born pictures and wonder where the last 4 months have gone.

You need to stop growing- mostly because you are becoming so heavy for me to pick you up.

I can't even carry you in your carrier anymore- BIG BOY!

You have been amazing!

I will refer to this month as the month that everything goes in the mouth!!!

Hence the pictures...

Your eyes are still blue- please please stay blue!

Your hair is coming in more and I think it is going to be a strawberry blond which I still totally love.

You are a white boy!  Yes white like your daddy!  No Oliveria olive skin color for you!

You are pretty much sleeping thru the night consistently, going down at 7- 8 pm and sleeping until 4-6 am, and then waking up to feed and going back till 8-9 am.  You are starting to fight going down and the witching hour between 6-7pm has become great fun- NOT.  Basically you are tired and want to nap but we will not let you.   We basically fill this time with bath time, activity time- really anything that keeps you happy.

You were sleeping in your sleep swaddles, until 2 nights after you turning 4 months you starting rolling all over in your crib.  We were going to wait another week or two to move you to the sleep sack but we had to with you flipping.  Since moving you to the sleep sacks we have had some rough nights because you wake yourself up because you are moving so much, but it is getting better slowly.  This to be honest has been the hardest we have had it with you sleeping- so please improve!!!!

  Goodbye sleep swaddle

You are only taking 2-3 naps now and they are getting longer and more consistent- THANK GOD!

You are becoming better at napping in your crib but we still have our days.

You are starting to take longer naps and only napping twice a day- you thankfully are putting yourself on your schedule!!!

You are still a crazy eater- eating about 42 ounces a day.

Seriously dude!  This is something that I have every intention of talking to the peditrican about.

In someways I am looking forward to starting solids in the next couple months and in some way I am dreading it because we kind of have a routine now.

You are loving your activity centers and are getting better and better with tummy time.  You are rolling everywhere now!

You are starting to sit by yourself for like 15 seconds....

Your hands are you new favorite thing- so much that it has replaced the wubba so I think in another month the wubba will go into hiding and I will not have to break you of a pacifier.  This was something that I was worried about.

You are really a happy boy and have started to love playing peak-a-boo!  You laugh all the time and are so mello! You have started to stick out your tongue- seriously your mother's son.

You are so awesome!

You have done well with me going back to work as I knew you would, and I should say I have done well going back to work.  I think because I knew you were going to be with different people- Joe, my mom, Joe's emergency day care, I just took the attitude of go with the flow which you have done great with.  Yes this can be a little hard because I like schedules but it is what it is and as long as your are happy and healthy then that is all that matters.

We survived your first day care day with flying colors.  

Your daycare does not start till August but daddy's work offers 25 days of emergency day care which we are using.  Daddy dropped you off the first day, I checked in on you, they sent me a picture of you smiling, and I picked you up and you were happy and slept amazing that night- so I was happy and so was your daddy.  Yes it is hard because I know no one will take as good of care of you as us but I am finding that working makes me appreciate my time more with you and also makes me happier!

You love being around people and seeing new things.

Weight  16 pounds 14 ounces-  75%

Length  26 7/8 inches-  90%

Things you did this month

Starting bring your toys to your mouth

Holding on to your Wubba

Sticking your tongue out

Sucking on your thumb and hand

Rolling all over the place.....

Your month was packed with visiting friends and family!

We had a couple of weekends of down time which we mostly spent at the pool... 

More of that on Month 5...

Goodbye...Well Kind Of...

I started this blog two and half years ago as something to challenge me 

but also after being encouraged by my husband to do so for personal reasons.  

Well it has been a crazy 2 1/2 years and this is something that I am glad that I have done, 

and I am glad that I will have the opportunity to look back on.  

That being said, I decided that I wanted to stop blogging.  

When I told this to my husband, Joe, he because very upset- 

 "But I love your Blog- How else am I suppose to keep up with you and Collin?"

It kind of made me laugh, because while this was something I did for myself, it turned into something that my husband love's especially lately because I am home with Collin while he is at work.  

After some thinking and debating, Joe talked me in to continuing to blog but it will only be occassionally and mostly about Collin.

So stay tuned for Collin updates...

Thank you...

It is crazy to think this time last year- I was waiting to find out if I was pregnant!  

Actually, I was tell Joe that there was no way I was pregnant =0)

What a difference a year has made- especially for me. 

Yes our lives have changed but I too also have changed!

I went thru ZPL, and really have tried to continue embracing this new more relaxed me! 

That being said- I need to send out a very very big THANK YOU!

Last week I went back to work.  

I am working 2-3 days until August when Bug will start daycare at which point I will be working 3 days a week.  As I got into my car last week to drive to work I was excited.  Yes, I was leaving Collin but it was with Joe and then on Friday it was with my mom.  Over the next month and a half when I go to work I will be leaving Collin with people I love and trust and that to me makes a huge difference.  

So my first days back were not spent worrying about Collin because I knew he would be just fine. 

Instead I could dive right into patient care and dealing with unlocking all my accounts.  

I went in last Wednesday morning, with it in my head that the day was going to suck- therefore I should just go with the flow.  I basically use 3-4 different systems a day and figured all of them would be locked because I was gone so long.  I gave myself extra time to get to work, part, get to my office, unlock my computer and get up to Labor and Delivery.  To my surprise only one system would not let me in, something that took me all of two minutes to fix- seriously am I this lucky!  My day just continued to get better as seeing all faces and recieving emails from patients welcoming me back.  

Friday I was in the clinic and it was booked- but booked with patients that I had missed and seen for their other pregnancies, it was good to see them and catch up and of course show baby pictures.  

It is funny how excited my patient's were for me to be pregnant and to see pictures- I think it because we kind of share a closer bond now.  

My co-workers are amazing, especially Jen who covered for me in my absense and basically made sure that I came back to nothing!  YOU ROCK! 

They have supported me in working part time and even gave me the schedule back!

Love just jumping right back into it. 

My husband is amazing and has stepped up to the plate.

Though he has learned a little bit in his times alone with Collin- like when you use the extra outfit in the diaper bag- you need to replace it- it doesn't magically happen itself.  

He has totally made me laugh out loud a couple times at work and I know has enjoyed his one on one time with Collin.  

My parents are so supportive and I could not have asked for anything more.

They are there when we need them and also so respectful of Joe's and my wishes when it comes to Collin.  It has been so fun to see them with Collin.  

Our friends and family are crazy!  

I got so many texts last week from friends and family members just to check to see how I was doing

and wish me luck on my first week back!

And then there is this little guy-

Seriously, sometimes I do think I am the luckies girl in the world!

Thank you everyone for everything!