Confessions

I confess...

I am that mom. You know her. The one that only posts pictures of her adorable baby on Instagram. It's not that there isn't anything else fantastic in my life right now, but none of it is pure sweetness crossed with beautiful toothless grins and complete with a scrunched up nose wrinkle. I remember thinking I'd never be this bad about taking pictures of my baby.  I'd never take so many pictures of my baby for social media. Ahhh...young grasshopper... How could I have known that she would be this stinkin cute? I mean, really and truly, she makes the filters look good. I don't care if anyone hates that I'm that mom. Those people probably hate ice cream, rainbows, kittens, and all things good in this world. My baby is presh.

I confess...

You probably wouldn't want me for your child's teacher this year. Ugh. There. I've said it. I'm really ashamed of this one. With not having slept a full night in several weeks and being a slave to the boob, I wouldn't describe myself as the most patient human being when it comes to 5th grade silliness...scratch that...hormones. Your tears over the tear on your math homework will most surely get an eye roll and deep sigh from me. Your girl drama trifecta will each get the "You are being a pot-stirrer and need to mind your own business. You need to be nice. And YOU need to toughen up!"  And don't even dare tell me "You never told us that," or I may just tell you something else complete with unpredictable sentence structure and creative word choice. Boom!  There's your writing lesson, kid.  Like I said, you don't want me teaching your kid this year. 

I confess...

I am still rocking maternity pants. My poor husband doesn't know how to answer when I ask, "Do I look pregnant in this outfit?" Uhhhh...well...you have a giant band of elastic stretching up to your bra; but no, you're all good. I'm sure that's what he has to be thinking. He would never dare say it out loud though. I never planned on sporting these amazingly forgiving britches for this long. I think I must have figured that my hips would pull back towards one another like long lost loves. But no, apparently, they are content on keeping their distance.  I'm holding out hope for them though and encouraging them as often as physically possible. For now, a big thank you goes out to all elastic in my closet. And for all you pants with buttons, I haven't forgotten you. 

Truth be told, I'd like nothing more than to snuggle my little sweetness all day, snap countless photos, and watch her learn new things about her world- all from the comfort of my yoga pants. But unfortunately, I haven't found a way to get paid for that yet. For now, I'll continue to strap on my stretchy pants, smile, and tape up this homework on long division while I mediate girl troubles.  And I'll keep on being that mom with the adorable artsy pics and the witty hashtags; because let's face it, my babe is just too cute not to share.

5 Months New

5 months.  Really?  What a big month you have had!

We spent a weekend with friends at Lake Wateree. 

Mommy's girlfriends, their husbands, and their babies all drove up to Aunt Boogie's house. I laughed about how far I've come from packing my pillow, one bag, and a case of beer.

The weather was delicious, the laughs were infectious, and the food was to die for.  When I am with those girls and their families, I never have a bad time.  My heart is so full, and my confidence becomes unbreakable.  I pray that you find friends like these in your life.  It's hard to make it through anything without them.  I have always said that if you put the 5 of us girls together, you would make a super woman.  This weekend made me realize that you don't need to put us together for a super woman.  Each of them already are rock stars in their own way, and I am so incredibly blessed to call them "my girls".

You found your feet this month and have mastered the happy baby pose. Needless to say, you are quite the happy baby.

We made a trek up to Chapin to Nettie and Papa's.  You hadn't snuggled with your Papa since the 4th of July, so this was a much needed trip.  You got some great snuggles in to hopefully hold you over until our next visit.  Even Yancey got some lovin.

We've added some apples to that rice cereal you love.  You have hardly seemed to even notice. I can't believe we are starting solids. Pretty soon I'm going to look over and you're going to be cutting up a steak. This is crazy.

This past week you gave your first real giggles.  O.M.G.  It has to be the most adorable sound I have ever heard in my life.  Seriously.  It's cuter than puppy whines and kitten purrs.

I'll be honest with you...Going back to work hasn't gotten any easier. 

Every day I'm thinking of ways I can stay at home with you.  As my sweet friend, Meg, put it- I pull in to work on 2 wheels and I get out on 2 wheels.  I think about you all of the time in between.  The only thing that makes it easier is knowing you are in a place where you are loved on.  This month you started going to Miss Christina's in the morning.  You've made some friends there and I'm pretty sure you've stolen Miss Christina's heart. Panda remains your BFF. You are a doll, my sweet.

4 Months New

I can't believe you've already been in our world for 4 months. Time, please slow down. This mama can't keep up. Sweet Girl, you continue to make our days brighter and our smiles wider. We can't get enough of you.

This month you have turned into quite the chatterbox weighing in at a whopping 11 pounds. You are learning so much every day!  You gurgle and coo all of the time. Your Nettie says you sound like a raccoon.Your constant smile still melts me.

You still love your hands- your right one in particular mesmerizes you.

You still love your bath, too. You are quite the splasher these days. You began eating cereal last week and you actually seem to like it. The first few times you wore more of it than you ate, but that's okay because you were cute doing it. You are starting to get the hang of it now.

You like to stand and look around, because you hate to miss any of the action. 

 

You are still working on rolling over.  You've got tummy to back down pat, and you are so close to rolling from back to tummy.

You spent an entire weekend with your daddy while your mama and your aunts went off to celebrate Nettie turning 60. We had a blast and I knew you were in the best hands.

Your Daddy did a great job with you even though many doubted him. You watched football and learned all of the Clemson Tigers' cheers. Okay, maybe not all of them. But I know your daddy was busy explaining to you what all the special teams needed to work on for this season. Nonetheless you've got yourself a good Daddy. You are his sunshine and he loves you ridiculously. But I mean, who wouldn't? You're crazy cute. 

This weekend your cousins came to visit. I think SAS is finally warming up to the idea of you.

 

 

 

 

I love you, sweet pea, and I'm so very thankful for you. 

Your Nursery

A girlfriend of mine is getting her nursery ready for her little love muffin due in October.  She's had several questions in preparing his room, and it made me realize yesterday that I never shared your nursery.  It is my favorite part of our house.  It is the most peaceful room and I love every part of it.  At night when I sneak in your room for your Dreamfeed, I look around your room and try to remember every single memory I have of putting it together.  I think back to when the room was Aunt Molly's, to it being our guest room and me having maternity clothes from your Aunt Laura strung all over the place, to the 2 "snow" days in February when your Daddy and I painted the sweet grey on the walls.  Yes, I have a lot of memories of that room becoming yours.
 After painting, your crib was the first thing that went up. I LOVE your crib.  It took some searching, but it is exactly what I wanted for you.

 The opening weekend of turkey season (March 15th- this is a date you will have to know as a member of this family.  It is like Christmas Day to your Daddy, Papa, uncles, and Luke) I spent some of my time making your sweet mobile.

Your bookcase and changing table belonged to Lukey and Lula.  Your sweet cousin Lula was kind enough to part with it for you.  Your book shelf holds all of your little treasures.

  

Cricket helped me sort through your many books, even though your Daddy was adamant that she NOT be allowed in your room.  

 Your bedding was from your sweet aunts.  I ended up also ordering the crib skirt to match.

 

  The week of my spring break in April, your Nettie came in town and helped your Daddy and me get your nursery all put together.  I was so afraid of hanging these pictures, but your Daddy and your Nettie did an amazing job of making sure they were perfect!  We also hung your curtains...this was quite the ordeal, but your Daddy was a good sport and your Nettie was a problem solver.

 

 And then we waited for your glider that we had ordered in March. When it arrived, we hung your mobile over it and your room was complete.  Well, almost complete...we needed YOU.

 

 

 The day your room finally became complete is a day I will never forget for as long as I live.  Pardon my greasy ponytail.  I had just had a beautiful baby.

Crib: Bratt Decor
Rug: Target
Curtains: World Market
Bedding: Carousel Designs
Mirror: Target
Glider: Stuckey Furniture (local)
Lamp with Pink Shade: Target
Lamb, Bunnies, and Tiger Prints: Animal Print Shop
Paint Color: Knitting Needles by Sherwin Williams

Bad kitty.

Summer Days

Today is our last "real" day of summer together.  You are snuggled in for your morning nap as I stare at you through the monitor.  Again, #babyfreak.  It is no secret that I am less than thrilled about my return as Mrs. E, 5th grade teacher in room 239.  Everyone tells me it will get better.  I know, I know.  But no matter how many wise moms tell that to me, it doesn't make it any easier right now.  This summer we finally found a routine, and I'm going to miss every bit of our days together- even if I didn't get to shower as often as I probably should have.  I feel like I need to document how our days have flowed.

7:00 a.m. Our day begins...Wake up and eat.
You holler until I pop over the side of your crib and then you go to kicking and grunting.  After you eat you spend about 20 minutes on your activity mat talking to your friends.  I lay on your fluffy rug with you and drink my coffee.

8:30 a.m. Nap in swing, generally.

10:00 a.m. Wake up and eat.
After you finish eating, we may run some errands.  You are a fabulous shopper and I thank you for it.  It's so nice to have someone that loves Target like I do.

11:30 a.m. Nap on Mama, in swing, in crib, or in car seat if we are out.

1:00 p.m. Wake up and eat.

2:30 p.m. Your big nap of the day.  You generally sleep in crib, but I've been bad this week knowing it was my last week with you.  You've slept on Mama a lot this week.  I'm sorry I'm not sorry.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wake up and eat.  Often times, I have to be the one to wake you up here.  I worry you won't want to sleep so well at night.

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. If we are lucky, you snag a cat nap in here somewhere.  Again, if we are lucky.

7:00 or 7:30 p.m. Eat.

7:30 or 8:00 p.m. Bath and getting ready for bed.
You're favorite time of day.  Knock on wood, you have never once cried in the bath tub.  In fact, it is what calms you down at this hour of the night. We sing and you kick your legs.  Afterward, you love getting all slathered up in some Johnson and Johnson Bedtime Lotion.

8:30 or 9:00 Bedtime.
Bedtime has been a real struggle in our house over the last month.  Your daddy and I were trying to make you more independent and to get you to go to sleep on your own.  We tried the Pick Up Put Down method by The Baby Whisperer.  Yeah, it's a load of crock.  This lasted 1 week.  I now rock you to sleep and very carefully lay you down in your crib once your arms are like spaghetti.  I will probably pay for this later in life when you can't fall asleep on your own, but I don't care.  One day you won't want me to hold you, and so I'm not going to waste these moments.

Now I see you stirring in the  monitor.  You are right on schedule...

3 Months New

Whoops.  I didn't write anything for a month.  Well, in truth, I didn't have any time to waste at a computer.  I've been doing nothing, but loving on you sweet girl.

Today you are 3 months new and in less than a week's time I will have to return to work.  Our endless lazy week days of cuddling and The Good Wife episodes are coming to a close.  I can't begin to tell you how much this kills me.  I've been dreading this all summer.  There is so much I will miss.  I'm not going to harp on it, because quite frankly it's depressing and I can't waste a single moment we have left.

You have had a busy month growing, learning, and becoming a 3 month old.  I keep trying to soak up every.single.second.  We can't get enough of your coos.  You love to suck on your hands, and you think your feet are by far the craziest thing you have seen yet.  You are a bit of a mommy freak, and let's be honest I'm a bit of a baby freak. 

This month you met your future husband.  Call us old fashioned, but we already arranged your marriage.  You'll thank me later.  I'm getting you the most AMAZING mother-in-law out of the deal. 

You are finally getting big enough to wear some of your adorable clothes; and you let me play dress up.  I've dreamed of doing this for as long as I can remember.  You are wearing my dress here, by the way.

You continue to be such a great sleeper, and I still love to watch you sleep.  I mean, REALLY love to watch you sleep.  You're the most peaceful angel.  I would do it your whole nap, except I'm afraid you'll wake up and I'll scare the living mess out of you.  So, I'll admit, a lot of times I just go in the other room and stare at you through the monitor. #babyfreak

 

 

Okay, a bit excessive, I know, but I just can't stand it.

You love your activity mat and this tacky mobile that your Aunt Laura was right about.

 

Someone else loves your activity mat, too.

 

You are the greatest part of our lives, Sweet Girl.  Happy 3 months!