1 Month... well 5 Weeks

Little Beau Man-

  I can't believe you are 5 weeks old! The time has gone too fast, but there are moments when the time freezes and I could relish in that moment forever.  I absolutely love how much you love to cuddle.  It makes my heart melt when I pick you up and you stop fussing... (Sure there are still the times that you fuss and I have no idea what is wrong! BUT, I love the times that your momma can comfort you!)
So just a little update on your life the past 5 weeks:

• I took you in at your two week appointment and you were at 7 lbs. 7 oz.  Which means that you weren't near your birth weight.  (You were 7.15 at birth). This concerned your mom a little but the doctor didn't seem too concerned.  He told us to come back in two weeks to make sure you were gaining weight. At the month appointment you were up to 7 lbs. 14 oz. (so any genius can see that you were still under your birthweight!)  Now you had one concerned and sad momma on your hands!  It upset me to think that I couldn't give you enough to chunk you up- so the doctor recommended that I feed you and then give you 2 oz. of formula.  We started that last week and if my methods of weighing you are correct, you are up to 9 lbs. 3 oz in just 4 days!  In all honesty, I'm sad and feel defeated that I can't give you everything you need straight from me, but I'm so glad that you are able to get what you need with me and some formula.  I am trying my hardest to build up my milk supply- so hopefully one day we can go back to just me! (Although having a bottle and formula around every once in awhile is SO nice!)
• Your poor little face has broken out so bad with baby acne- Apparently my hormones are going crazy in your little body! I've started wiping your face with a Norwex cloth two to three times a day and then wiping some breast milk on it- and your face is clearing right on up! (I post this more for my future needs than for yours, Beau!)
• You still have one thick head of hair and it kills me! I styled it with gel last week for the first time and I loved it! We will definitely make sure we do that more often! 
• One of my favorite things that you do is when you have been sucking on your soother and you spit it out while you are sleeping.  Then you continue to move your mouth like you have it in- suck, suck, suck- maybe you have found your tongue at that moment! It is so cute! 
• I LOVE the sound of you sucking your soother! Your Dad recorded it the other day so we can continue to listen to it even as you get older! It seriously makes me so happy to hear that little sound! (Oh the little things... )
• One of the sweetest moments I share with you is when I am feeding you and you take your small little hand and wrap it tightly around my finger.  You just hold on tight while you fill your belly.  Melt. My. Heart. 
• I also love when I'm feeding you and you're wide awake and study your surroundings.  I just wonder what you are making of this whole situation and I also wonder who you are able to see! Today I had just finished feeding you and you sat back on the Boppy and just stared out the window and over my shoulder and just started smiling so big! Now this is a different smile than your "milk coma" smile, so I just have to assume that someone from the other side was pulling faces at you over my shoulder! 
• You are starting to smile at your dad and me more often and we get so excited each and every time! I walked in the room the other day while you were laying on the floor and you looked up and gave me a huge smile! Whether you had just passed gas or you truly are starting to recognize me, it doesn't matter!  I will take whatever I can get!
• Sleeping at night is getting better and better- you usually go 5 hours between feedings at night, which is GA-REAT for your momma! We started a bedtime routine so hopefully as you get more used to that, you will continue to sleep better and better! 
• We went and checked out the Viewmont DayCare where you will be going in November and I felt so at piece with it.  I feel like there is such a negative view with day care (Just like there is a negative view with minivans!) so sometimes I get nervous to tell people that that is where you will be going.  But, on the other hand, I feel like that whole situation fell into place and I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason.  Both your dad and I are sad that we will have to leave you for part of the day, but we are happy that God has opened up a way for you to be watched my such caring, loving women.  
• Your cousins all love you so dearly! Little Emery is a little jealous whenever Nanna or Papa hold you, but she is always excited to see you! You are still known by all the little kiddos as "Baby Beau" and I wonder how long that will stick! I love it so much! Your cousin Troy is obsessed with you and wants to hold you every chance he can get... until he gets distracted by the other kids and is then done with you! Can't blame the kid! There is always so much going on at our house!
• You are my little work buddy- You just lay between me, the boppy, and the desk while I do work.  Like right now- you are Zonked out.  Thanks little buddy for letting me get some stuff done! :) 
• I love your loooong, skinny legs right now.  You may be slow with gaining weight, but you were 22 1/2 inches long at your last appointment - in the 87% percentile! Long and skinny- that's just how your momma was when she was your age.  Then I Chubbed right on up- so I hope you follow in my footsteps! 
• Your dad and I went and filmed our last wedding for awhile last week- that meant that we left you with our cousin Teya and her kids and then your Grammie- You did great which calmed my heart while I was away! Teya would send me pictures and it made me miss you so much- but I was glad that we could be out providing for our family!
• One last thing- Since you have gotten pretty accustomed to the daily routine, I know whenever you will be tired and need a nap.  Whenever possible I try to set up camp and let you sleep on my chest while I work or read a book.  Oh. I never want that to end! You fall asleep within a matter of seconds and it is the greatest thing ever! So keep it up little Beau!

Little bug- you are the highlight of my life so far.  I can't think of life without you and I am so grateful that we get to spend eternity with you.  Thanks for helping me feel like my purpose on Earth is being fulfilled.  You are the cutest little bug in the world.  Thanks for being my little buddy! 

Love Momma

xoxoxoxo

One Week

 

Baby Beau-

  You have been apart of our lives for a week now and you have completely captivated our hearts!  I stare at you now as you are in your swing and I can't believe you are mine.  I can't believe that a week and 1 day ago, you were in my belly and we were wondering who you would look like, what you would sound like, what kind of joy you would bring into our lives.  Now that you are here, my life has purpose as a mommy and I know your dad feels the same way.

  On the way home from the hospital last week, we were talking about how wonderful you are and your dad said, "I feel like my life has a whole new meaning now.  I need him to make me a better father, husband, and person, and he needs me in this life just as much." We are a family and we couldn't be happier!

  Some things that I have noticed about you in this first week:

• I LOVE when you are "rooting" and looking for food.  It doesn't matter who is holding you, when you are hungry, you will start sucking! My favorite is when you land on my arm and just start sucking away.  Makes me chuckle every time!
• The last few days you smile after almost every feeding.  I set you back for a second and stare at you waiting for that big grin... and it usually comes... and it always melts my heart. 
• You are the biggest cuddle bug! This makes it difficult at night when you only want to be held in order to sleep.  We are working on that and the last two nights you have slept in your crib for an uninterrupted 3-4 hours of sleep! Good work Beau- We will keep taking one day at a time!
• You are such a good eater! From the moment you came into this world, you have had an appetite! This has made things easier for your momma because I haven't had to fight you on it! 
• You have the biggest hands and feet- Grammie Claire keeps saying that's how Craig's hands and feet were so we might have another tall boy in our family! It is so exciting to think of how you will look as you grow up, etc.  I feel so blessed to be able to witness it all!
• That head of hair of yours makes everyone "swoon"! That is the first thing that everyone notices and I take lots of pride in your little cap of hair!  I can't get over the hair myself and I love how sometimes it makes you look like you are 10 years old!  
• You made labor and delivery so easy for me, and you have made the recovery process great as well.  I am tired and sore sometimes, but I feel very blessed for having such an easy time with the recovery.  Thanks little buddy!
• You are a great errand companion! I have taken you out several times since we got home last week and you just sit in your car seat content with life.  (That is usually after a fight to get you in your carseat... you aren't too fond of that whole "buckling up" process). I can't wait for all of our mommy/son adventures that will come over the years! 
• Your daddy loves you so very much.  From the moment you entered this world, he can't get enough of you.  He is a natural father and it melts my heart to see him "hang out" with you.  I know the two of you will be best buddies forever- he is already planning the hunting and fishing trips that he will take with you.  Your childhood will be one of adventure with your dad by your side. 
• You are so loved by all of your family members! It has been so neat to see all your little cousins stare in amazement at your little body!  They love taking their turns in holding you, and your little cousin Kaden loves pointing out your little hands, feet, nose, eyes, etc.  It never gets old for him and he gets such a kick out of how little you are!  At the splash pad yesterday he kept saying, "I See!" if his mom would move you out of his sight.  I know you will be loved by all your cousins throughout your life and I can't wait to see that friendship grow. 

I know if I sit here long enough, I could write a novel of all the things we love or have noticed in this first week.   The one thing I do want to leave with is how much I love your eyes.  It is always so much fun to see you with your eyes open exploring the world, but there is something special deep inside of those eyes.  Yesterday I sat in our rocker about to feed you and we locked eyes for about 30 seconds.  I could feel your strong little spirit and the magnitude of what being your mother means came down on me all at once.  The tears started to stream and I still can't get that strong spiritual feeling out of my mind or heart.  I feel so blessed to have been given such a sweet spirit to take care of in this world.  I wonder where your spirit has been, who you can still see through the Veil, what you already know about your father and me.  The Plan of Salvation truly is amazing to me to think that you have had a whole spiritual life before this worldly life.  And that we will be able to be together forever after this life forever! It truly is amazing!  I can't get enough of your little eyes- they really are the window to your soul and I feel so grateful that I was able to get that little glimpse inside yesterday afternoon.  I promise I will never forget that feeling. 

Beau- I can't wait to see where this life will take us.  I can't wait to see where it will take you! I know that we will have many adventures and please know that you will always be loved.  We are so in love with you already and can't get enough of our little "bug". 

Love you to the moon and back!

Love 

Your mommy and daddy 

One month until D-Day



35 Weeks- the toes are slowly disappearing!


I have one more month!!! One more month until I get to meet my little bug! Let's give a little re-cap on the last couple of weeks:

- I'm 99% sure that he has moved to the correct "birthing" position, because all I feel now-a-days are his little feet kicking my lungs and ribs and diaphram and stomach over and over and over again. I have to sit in a reclined position most of the day because otherwise it hurts too bad to sit a little "scrunched" up.  So if you see me driving my Subaru with the seat leaned back like the gangsta I am, that is why. It is the babe.

- My pelvis bone is softening and adjusting and killing me. :)  I feel like everytime I get up from sitting down or laying down for a while, it always takes me a couple minutes to adjust to the pain.  My body is just getting ready! (tack this on to the things I never knew about pregnancy...)

- I was naseous the first part of the 3rd trimester, but now it just comes and goes.  Which is nice that I'm not super sick. I'm just SUPER tired!  Everyone I talk to tells me to make sure I take time for myself right now and rest my body.  Um... I can't! I don't have time to rest! This baby gets here so soon and there is SO much to do before he arrives! So I just keep pushing through the tiredness! but I know it will all be worth it! (the tiredness will just continue... I know, i know!)

- I *think* I am getting to be more comfortable with my pregnant body.  Sure, I still have those moments where I try on every piece of clothing convinced that I'm getting fatter and fatter with each shirt I pull over my head, but I am slowly learning to be okay with it! SLOOOOOOWLY.  Luckily I have Maxi Skirts to cover the junk in my trunk otherwise I think I would die. A slow and fat death. (dramatic much?)

- Munchkins room is slowly coming together! The other night I expressed to Andrew how overwhelmed I felt with everything I have to get done.  Our nursery/office was a disaster and it gave me anxiety to even go in there.  So after a long hot shower and brushing my teeth, Andrew came and got me and lead me upstairs.  Told me to close my eyes.  And then took me into the nursery.  When I opened my eyes I just started bawling! haha.  He had been upstairs while I had been pouting downstairs, cleaning and moving everything out of the nursery so we could have a fresh "slate" to work with!  Oh, now I love the nursery! Sure there still isn't anything on the walls, and we still have so much to do, but atleast I want to be in there now and work on it!  Babies clothes are washed, hung up/folded, and everything is coming together! Yay for awesome husbands that put up with their hormonal wives!

- My internal "heater" is finally on and I'm loving/hating it! I was always, ALWAYS so cold before, so it's kind of nice to not have popsicles for feet! Now I have a fan that blows on me at night while Andrew is cold on the other side! I thought this day would never come!

- So much is happening in our lives right now, but I can't wait for the quiet moments that are shortly upon us where I can just cuddle with my little one while he sleeps.  That is what I look forward to the most.  Cherishing those quiet, calm times.  They will be here before we know it!

- Oh, and we still don't have a name for him. :)  It will be decided in the hospital... and I am 100% okay with that.

Cheers
Elise