5 whole months!

It does not feel that long since my little bear was born but when I look at him he looks so much bigger than a 5 month old. Today he went to the pedi for two shots and he weighs 18lbs 6oz!

Every week Easton discovers a new talent. He's blowing raspberries, grabbing his feet (and trying to pull his socks off), splashing in the tub, sucking on his index finger, and today he tugged on his own hair. I hope that one doesn't progress because his hair has already been falling out. And the two days he's been babbling "ma!!" We practice mama every.single.day so I don't know if that has anything to do with it but I'm thrilled!

One thing he definitely does is cry when new people are talking to him or holding him. Aunt Shauna and Uncle Sean came to meet Easton for the first time last weekend and it took him a little bit to get used to them. I couldn't be in eyesight when Shauna was holding him or he would cry, LOL.

In other baby news, Easton has tried a few different foods and it's so much fun! I couldn't wait till 6 months and  besides he enjoys eating. I started with oatmeal cereal then pears. Oh by the way, prune juice did nothing to help him go and neither did pears :(  He tried avocado and sweet potatoes and LOVED them! I think those are his favorite right now. Yesterday he tried bananas and he liked but they're not his fave.

Sleeping at night is going fantastic! His bedtime is 7 and he will sleep until 6 but he'll wake at 5 sometimes so I just let him stay in his crib until at least 6.  I'm still trying to get him to take his morning nap after 2 hours of waking but he won't have it unless I'm with him. Not sure what's going on with the naps but they're getting better.

I can't believe we haven't had any snow and this has been the mildest winter since I've lived here! I'm not complaining because the weather has felt amazing. All I'm asking for is one snow though so Easton can wear his north face suit that grandma bought him.

This weekend Easton was invited to his first birthday party so that will be fun and next week we start Babygarten. Easton needs some baby friends so I hope we make some. 4 and now 5 months have been so much fun. They're definitely my favorite months!

I'm a big boy!

"so big"

he's squealing here, haha

buddies just hanging out

 

Eating my words

Big Time!

I said crying it out was not for us and well I guess I was dumb because I just did it twice. The first night, Easton cried on and off up to the hour limit. I think I cried harder. When I went to get him though he smiled so big for me. Little stinker. The second night he cried much less and fell asleep on his own after 54 minutes. He slept from 7:30-5:30.

There are a lot of people that have every opinion under the sun about CIO and I'm not going to say you should do it, but rather know your baby. I know my son and his cries. They were not the I'm scared and I need you mommy cries. It was more of I'm mad and I can't believe you're doing this. He's stubborn like me. I don't let Easton shriek and cry forever. He hardly EVER cries and he is the happiest little boy I know. Lately, his sleep has gone down in the dumps again so I felt like I had to do something. His health and well being are more important to me than me suffering a few nights while he soothes himself. Again, he is not wailing.

I don't know if I'll keep this up but hopefully I don't mess things up for him because going backwards now would be worse.

On other happier topics...Easton is in a calendar for the birth center where he was born. He's February's baby!

It was so great to go back to the center because we haven't been there since he was born. It was nice to see it too when I'm not in labor and having contractions, ha! This picture was taken in the room where he was born. So cool!

Here are some more pictures taken that day.

 

Co-sleeping? Nah, Co-napping? Yes!

I'm in support of co-sleeping if you do it right and safely. We probably co slept a few nights in the beginning, but no one slept comfortably so Easton has for the most part slept in his pack n play and at one month, in his crib. Lately, however, we've been co napping which is the best thing since veggie burgers. In the past he would snuggle up and sleep on top of me but now we sleep side by side sometimes holding hands. :)

We had one great week of napping on schedule but then he didn't want to be swaddled anymore and things sort of fell apart in the nap department. His nights are still awesome and in fact this whole week he's been sleeping until 6am!! And that's with a bedtime of  7 or 8.

So as of last week I nurse him, put him down beside me and get some sleep with my little prince. I highly, highly recommend this too! I love when he wakes up and looks over to see I'm still there and gives me the biggest smile. He'll start to talk to me or "whisper" as I call it. We stay in bed a few more minutes to talk, giggle, and I smother him with kisses.

Right now I'm watching him on the monitor as he sleeps in the big bed. I might just try to sneak in there to get some more sleep myself.

I'm pregnant

Those were the words I uttered to Justin a year ago today.

We bought a pregnancy test the night before but I didn't want to take it at my parent's house so the only other decent place was the gas station's bathroom down the road. Nice right? I felt like a teenage girl in high school when I peed on that stick. I started shaking when the line showed up and quickly looked away pretending it wasn't real. I put in the brown paper bag and walked out. As I approached Justin I just blurted "Yup, I'm pregnant."

He said "You are?" then I think he said "Wow."

We drove on and we were both in total shock. I experienced a lot of emotions on that near 12 hour drive. I even cried, because this was not how I imagined it would be. We were supposed to have a house and I was going to read a lot of books on pregnancy (yes, I'm a nerd). don't recommend taking a pregnancy test before you go on a long car ride. It will be the only.thing.on.your.mind.

We even talked about how it couldn't be right because it was just a cheapy CVS brand test. When we got home Justin went straight to the computer to look up the test and found many people saying it gave false positives. If you know my husband, he researches nearly everything online, lol. I know it sounds like we were hoping it was negative (truthfully we were) but we were scared.

The next night I bought another test, digital this time. We waited for the words to come up and it was agonizing to watch that little hour glass turn and turn.

PREGNANT

Justin was still pretty shocked and inside I was in denial. It took an ultrasound and a picture of that little bean to confirm in my mind that I was pregnant. But I tell you, when I saw him it was instant love, awe, and excitement. Ready or not here we go.

Today as I hold my little smiling, raspberry blowing baby boy, I thank God for every second of my pregnancy, his birth, and now.

Justin did take a few days to come around and get excited about the fact he was becoming a dad before he was ready. But now, he is so so in love and tells me he wouldn't want his life without Easton.

Like the Johnson & Johnson commercial says, "Having a baby changes everything."

Goodbye 2011!!

Momma got a new haircut today! I usually cut my hair twice a year so I was long overdue for one. I took the plunge and cut about 4 inches, whoa!

It feels amazing! If only we were going out for NYE to don my new 'do but there's no place like home with my two favorite boys. 2011 was simply too fantastic for words.

Never in a million years did I think I would have a baby boy who would be a total surprise. Motherhood is my dream come true. Even on the days when I'm exhausted and frustrated with Easton, I LOVE being his mom. No one but my 16lb baby can melt my heart and make me smile when he wakes up for his 3am feeding. Every little burp, coo, smile are what make my world go round. I'm also so so thankful to God that Justin works so hard for us and I can stay home with Easton. My husband has had to make sacrifices too but has never complained. During our hospital stay, I saw a side of my husband that brought new meaning to the word admiration. He's a keeper!

My expectations for 2012 mainly include buying our first home, getting a new car, and being the best mom to my little one. If I could choose one word for 2012 instead of making a resolution it would be family. I just want to create memories and fill our home with love.

This is sad, but I need a nap before I can countdown tonight, LOL.

Happy New Year!!

Hubby is on vacation and I'm really enjoying our family time right now, not to mention it's our 2 year anniversary! I just wanted to shout that we're no longer swaddling!! My baby is growing so fast and it's these little milestones that I love writing about in his journal. I'll be back soon with pictures from his first Christmas!

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in it's place, 

But have not love- I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, 

But have not love- my children learn of cleanliness, not godliness. 

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. 

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. 

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through trials. 

Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.

As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, 

but the greatest of all is.... LOVE.

~Michelle Duggar