Abel Christopher | 5 months

FIVE

Woah, this month you have grown so much and I know I have said this before but it STILL amazes me how you are literally growing right before my eyes. You have learned so much this past month. You finally rolled over from stomach to back, hallelujah! You are our little noise maker constantly telling us stories and letting us know what's going on. You have discovered your m's and b's and enjoy letting the world know that you are here to have some fun.You are still reaching for everything and straight to the mouth it goes. I think we can officially say that you are teething because we have drool everywhere. Outside is still your favorite. You love going for walks and trying to take in all your surroundings, you hardly ever hold still. Always squirming around trying to get the best view. You love singing along to songs in the back seat of the car & gnawing away on Sophie the Giraffe. You LOVE your toes. As long as you can reach your toes you will be forever entertained. 

We visited a local Pumpkin Patch this past month to enjoy the lovely east coast Fall. Even though you are still a little young for things like that it still makes me so excited to experience it with you. We fed the ducks and you were amazed by how the ducks surrounded daddy and then you snoozed on me while daddy & I went apple picking. It was a pretty fantastic day and I look forward to so many more with you. 

You demand all of our attention and I'm completely okay with that. You really don't like to lay down but prefer that someone stands you up and you are really getting the hang of sitting and hanging out in your bumbo. I'm a little nervous about going home for the upcoming Holidays because you will have your first plane ride and you really haven't been held by too many other people. I'm so excited for your first Christmas and you seeing all the snow and lights. I am ready to go home so everyone can see how much you have grown and you can spend time with family. Not having family around has been difficult and I am so ready for a few weeks at home. I was thinking about it a few days ago and I really don't think you have been held by anyone else besides your father and I since you were a month old. 

I really feel like I'm getting the hang of this whole mom thing as well. When you were first born I was scared out of my mind of this little being that I constantly had to take care of and couldn't go anywhere without but now you are my  best friend that I love spending my days with. You are a pretty chill baby, perfectly content hanging out at home. We rock out to music and  you help me bake up yummy things and by helping I mean watching with a very concerned eye on how much of a mess that mommy is making. 

You are such a happy baby boy filling our home with so much love & giggles. Your daddy and I can't get enough of you. Your personality is developing so much with your little snorts and crazy face making and I am always in awe of watching you learn new things. You give my life a purpose that I have spent the last 27 years of my life looking for. All the ups and down of life has brought me to you my sweet baby boy. You bring a warm, never ending love to my heart that is so pure and joyous. 

xoxo, 

Weight: 15.5 pounds

Loves: Singing along to music, toes & our daily night time stories.

Dislikes: getting your nails clipped & tummy time

Sleeping: About 9 hours straight at night, waking up to eat and then sleeping a couple more hours. You are the king of 20 minute naps.

Wearing: Size 2 in diapers & 3-6 clothing

Abel Christopher | 3 & 4 month update

THREE | FOUR

Oh my darling baby boy,

You keep me so busy that it's hard to find the time to sit down and type up your monthly updates so your three and four month are going to be combined.

It's crazy to me how much you grow overnight. As much as I love watching you sleep I dislike it just the same because it seems that every time you fall asleep at night you wake up the next morning a little bit bigger. Every time I have to raise your straps on your car seat or widen them on your high chair it amazes me that you have grown right before my eyes over night. As much as I want you stay my little boy I love watching you grow and learn new things.

You love grabbing everything in arms distance and it instantly goes to your mouth and if you can't get your chubby little hand on anything you have those fingers in your mouth, nom nom nom.

You still haven't rolled over since you did it when you were two months but we are working on it. You like to roll up on your side but don't like to nudge yourself all the way over yet.

You love having books read to you. Your current favorite is the Very Hungry Caterpillar. The pictures make you giggle and smile.

 I love singing to you and Wheels on the Bus is a current favorite because I do the hand motions with you.

You are getting stronger every day and weighed a whole 15 pounds at your last appointment. Being able to hang out at home with you everyday is such a blessing and I wouldn't want it any other way. We love hanging out in the kitchen dancing to your girlfriend, Taylor Swift while I clean or bake.

You don't nap very well during the day but you do sleep about 8 hours straight every night and that I very much appreciate.

  

Motherhood was nothing like I expected at all. Motherhood is exhausting. Motherhood is overwhelming. Motherhood is messy. Motherhood is not showering for 3 days but your child is dressed to impress. Motherhood is having To Do things on your list for 3 weeks before they get done. Motherhood is middle of the night feedings. Motherhood is early mornings full of smiles and giggles. Motherhood is by far the best thing that has happened to me because you little man fill my heart with an overwhelming love and joy that I couldn't imagine my life without now. You fill the void that has ached my soul. You complete this family and I wouldn't want my life any other way.  

XOXO, 

Abel Christopher | 2 months

TWO

oh little man,

You have grown so much this past month! You seem so big to me and I can't get over your chunky little thighs! You have started cooing more and are discovering more things around you. You have started chewing on your hands and trying to grab for things.Your eyesight has improved and you love watching the TV and taking in everything in around you. You love the sunshine and love being outside. It is so much fun being your mamma and being able to watch you learn new things. You are growing so fast I can't stand it.

With us moving we are still trying to settle in and you have been a champ about it. You had so much fun in Iowa visiting family. You also rolled over for the first time while we were home! I have yet to catch it on camera though or your smile. You are extra sneaky and make sure to stop doing it as soon as I get my camera ready.

Being able to spend time with family and having to leave and come out to Maryland has been a struggle. It sucked before but now it sucks even worse with our little man. We dislike having him so far away from family and our family not being able to spend time with him. It's hard to not have any help as well. 

We love Maryland though. There is so much to do here and the weather is much better than Texas. It's gorgeous here and there are so many opportunities for us. They have tons of programs to get us involved with the community and meet new people. Did I say how much we love this place and how much better it is than Texas?

You love your monkey swing! You will lay there and smile and coo at those monkeys all day long if you could. I usually put you in your swing so I can get something done around the house but I end up sitting and watching you.You finally enjoy your bath time now too, no tears! 

You slept a whole 8 hours of  straight the other night but it was only because you didn't have a very good afternoon nap. You usually sleep about 5 hours straight and then wake up at 3 to nurse then back to sleep till about 5:30-6:30am. It's a good thing your mamma is a morning person ;)

 People get such a kick over your hair. It is definitely going to go blonde and is always crazy and sticking up. Something else you get from your mamma. We are thinking that you will go blonde and curly but time will tell. Your eyes are starting to look more grey as well. It's crazy how much you have changed in such a short amount of time. It pulls at my mamma heart strings. Being your mom is the greatest thing I will ever do in my life and I am so happy. 

I left you for the first time to get my haircut while I was at home in Iowa. I was gone for about 3 hours but man I didn't like it. It was so hard to be away from you. We are doing much better this month. We are both learning and growing together. Parenthood is not what I expected at all. They don't lie when they say you can never prepare for a child. All the books & articles I read didn't prepare me for all this love and fear. The scary/overwhelming part has subsided and now I am overtaken more by my every ending love for you. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much so deeply. I have two sunshines in my life now and I am so blessed. 

(Excuse the blurry photo but he is just so adorable!)

Breastfeeding is going better and I'm trying to work on upping my supply. We still supplement with formula about 2-3 times a day and that's okay because you are still getting feed and you still have those darling chubby cheeks. 

Weight: I'm not for sure since we haven't had our two month appointment but I'm guessing close to 11 pounds by now.

Length: Dad is guessing about 23 inches.

Loves: You love hanging out with your monkeys on your swing and love having books read to you.

Dislikes: You really aren't a big fan of tummy time.

Wearing: Your 0-3 month clothing and some of your 3 month stuff, though it is a little baggy

Sleeping: You are sleeping about 5 hours then waking up to nurse and then another 3 and 1/2.

                                          xoxo, 

                                             

What's in my diaper bag// traveling with a newborn

After traveling through 10 states in the past 3 weeks I have learned a few things about traveling with an infant and the essentials needed to make the trip easier. 

Traveling with an infant is a lot easier than traveling with older kids that constantly need to be entertained but there are some things that make the trip smoother and more enjoyable. Our son does great on the first day but struggles on the second leg of the trip. He is more fussy and I think just gets to the point that he is tired of being in his car seat. Really who can blame him because honestly after the first couple of hours I was done with the road trip as well. 

1. My diaper bag of choice is a Lily Jade. Honestly I never dreamed of snagging one of these beauties. To me they are the top notch diaper bag to have, I had dreams about this bag. However with the price tag I was for sure I would have to settle for a cheaper one. I was fortunate enough that I found a slightly used one on Instagram that someone was parting with for less than half the cost of a new one. Score. It was exactly the one I wanted as well, the Sarah Grace in silver.  

This bag can easily transition from baby bag to your own purse even after baby has grown and with the quality of the purse it will definitely last that long. Now the bag comes with the baby bag insert but if you hit up there website you can purchase the baby bag separately. This gem has so many pocket and helps keep everything organized that I would suggest investing in if nothing else. I plan on purchasing one in the future for the extra bag I keep in the car.

2. My Logan + Lenora wet & dry diaper clutch has been very handy on this road trip. This bag has a bigger zippered pocket that is lined with plastic that I keep wipes in and a smaller zipper pocket that I keep diapers in. It makes it so easy when we stop somewhere to just grab my clutch and Lily Jade changing mat and head to the restroom with little man. The wet pocket was super handy when we had a diaper blow out and I ended up washing Abel's onesie in the Cracker Barrel's restroom. All I had to do was throw it in the plastic lined compartment and not worry about it getting anything else wet in my bag. 

3. My Baby Mamma Sew Shop clutch is my newest edition to my diaper bag and also my favorite. I traded in my bulky wallet for this gorgeous clutch & there is no turning back. I love shopping small and supporting hardworking mamma's. This mamma's work is superb. She has an amazing selection of fun fabrics & buttery smooth leather to create gorgeous clutches & zippys that you will easily become addicted to. I highly suggest checking out her Etsy shop.

4. I love reading to Abel and like to keep a book in his bag. I'll pull it out and read it randomly to him even though he doesn't understand what's going on. His eyes always locks on with the book and he will sit and intently listen to mamma's voice. This is one of my new favorites for him in our ever expanding library. Can't go wrong with ninjas. I am also always looking for new favorites if anyone has any suggestions! I am bound and determined to make this kid a reader. 

5. I am a breastfeeding mamma but unfortunately don't produce enough to keep up with my little so we keep a bottle and formula in our bag. It has been very handy though because I sit in back next to our son and when he gets fussy and hungry I can fix him a bottle and feed him without us stopping. During the first part of our trip we were using liquid formula and then switched to powder on the second half which then we picked up this handy guy. 

6. My Native Wilds nest is by far the most versatile item in my diaper bag. It is made

of soft breathable bamboo fabric and we use it for everything! I use it for covering up while nursing the most. I prefer to keep myself covered because well I've always been a modest person when it came to what I wear and frankly I'm just not comfortable nursing without being covered. We use it as a blanket to snuggle with after falling asleep while nursing and I've also used it for stretching over his car seat when we go into a store. I plan on using it as my cart cover when he is old enough as well. Hopefully that won't be too soon cause this kid is growing up way too fast!

7. This blanket is by far our most used. It's perfect for hot summer weather and our furnace of a baby, a trait he picked up from daddy. Our son heats up pretty quickly and this fabric is moisture wicking which makes it ideal to swaddle him in. The fabric is so soft and lightweight and it's the perfect size to shove in our diaper bag. I own a few of Rad & Happy blankets and love them all. I'm hoping to eventually add one of her amazing quilts to complete my collection. 

8. My Solly Wrap has been awesome to have while road-tripping. When we stop to eat I can wrap him up and still have my hands free to eat while giving my son a break from sitting in his car seat. The fabric is light and breathable for my hot son and I love having him close. It's perfect for soothing him cause he is wrapped up nice and tight and can rest his head on my chest and hear my heartbeat. You really can't beat all the benefits to baby wearing. 

9. We introduced his monkey WubbaNub at 2 weeks as a suggestion from his Pediatrician. Apparently it's supposed to help an infants breathing? I haven't done too much research but man, pacis are handy. Especially when you have a cute little stuffed animal attached to it. Abel loves hanging on to the monkey and it's harder to loose.   

I also keep a thirty one tote in the back seat with us that includes extra onesies, diapers, wipes and so forth. This is a bag I keep in the car all the time just in case I forget to grab something when heading out the door. I hope to purchase a Lily Jade baby bag to add to my thirty one bag to organize it better.

I adore shopping small and supporting small shops. To me you find the best stuff and better quality than big box store items. I hope you get a chance to check out some of these amazing shops!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer, I'm personally ready for Autumn and it can't come soon enough now that we are on the gorgeous East coast!

 xoxo, 

P.S. Excuse the crappy photos. I was on the road while writing this entry and decided to just use my iPhone instead of digging out my camera. 

Abel Christopher | 1 month

ONE

My Darling Son,

 It is truly hard to believe you are already a month old already, though at the same time it's hard to believe that it's only been such a short amount of time. I feel so blessed to be able to take the time to soak up so many moments with you. I love having you curled up on my chest, soaking in your baby smell and memorizing every small detail of you. I hate moving after you have fallen asleep on me. I don't know how mama's get anything done.

To be honest the first couple of weeks with you were hard. Adjusting to motherhood was very overwhelming. I had emotions that I was completely unprepared for and it left me a little more scared than I wanted to be. Nursing has been such a challenge that had me feeling insufficient as a mother. I was crying just as much as you were. Now I feel like we are kind of-sort of getting the hang of it. Kind of. My momma meltdowns have officially slowed down at least. I find myself constantly wishing I knew what you were thinking to make our rough days a little smoother.

You have gained 2 pounds though and weigh a whole 9 pounds and have grown an inch and a half. You are finally fitting into your 0-3 month clothing which I'm super excited about. I was warned that you were going to be a big baby so I skipped on buying a lot of newborn clothes turns out you weren't as big as they thought. Your hair is starting to lighten up and has a slight curl to it after a bath. You have changed so much already.

When you are on your changing table you become startled and throw your little fists up in the air and do this horrible whimper with the most heartbreaking unhappy face that makes me feel like a horrible person for changing your diaper. Bath time is pretty much the same. You positively hate it and I really hope that changes in the near future. You absolutely love being outside though.It always amazes me when we settle you into your car seat fussing and as soon as we are out the door you instantly stop. You are already so curious, it's such a wonder to watch you look around and try to take everything in. You also love music. Anytime I start playing music your eyes get huge and you listen so intently. 

My heart aches with so much love for you my darling boy. You are perfect, more than I could have ever imagined. I love you so much baby boy and I'm so excited about all the adventures we will have together.

Thank you for making me a mama. 

Bind My Wandering Heart to Thee

My darling boy,

I carried you inside me for 38 weeks. You grew from this little peanut into our rock and roller that constantly had the hiccups and loved kicking my ribs. I unceasingly worried about you, prayed for you and dreamed of what you would look like. Its hard to believe you are finally here. 

 Holding you in my arms is the greatest joy I have ever known.  I love kissing your wrinkled little forehead when you look up at me and having your long little fingers wrap around mine. Your feet with your sweet little toes are my favorite, I can't get enough of you. When I look at you I see this little person that we created. You are all ours and we are all yours. 

You are our greatest adventure. 

Welcome to our family, Abel Christopher.

Photos taken by Deirdre Lewis from Pictures of Prose 

xoxo,