Bennett is 3.5 months old now and it is the best. He was one very fussy baby up until about 8 weeks old. I cut out dairy and tried all sorts of things feeling like there had to be something wrong for him to always be so upset - there was no soothing the boy. But we had a turnaround at around 8 weeks and life with 2 has been on the uphill since then. I can not even describe to you how much I love my littlest boy. I love them both to pieces (obviously) but lately I just want to take in everything about Bennett being so little and squishy and sweet cause I know it will be gone before I know it and soon he will be running around with big brother getting into everything.
Bennett is the smiliest, sweetest thing. All you have to do is look at him and he breaks out into a huge grin. He easily falls asleep when he's put down and swaddled but is not a huge fan of being rocked and cuddled. He prefers to sit up and see everything that is happening. Nursing has gotten to a point where it is so much easier and he takes a bottle without hesitation as well. He loves his paci but also gets along pretty well without it. He's learned to roll over from front to back when he wants and I'm thinking it's about time to break out the bumbo because he is sitting up so well when supported.
He also is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen. I know that most people think that about their own kids but really - its true. He is ridiculously cute with his overgrown toupee-like hair and big brown eyes.
It's funny how you don't remember with the second kid. You would think you would but it all just runs together. But when we go for three - I will look back and know.
Here's to three months. So far - you're my favorite.
husband & wife, mommy & daddy, musicians, travelers, lovers, friends. we are young and in love and on an adventure to live life to its fullest!
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Two.
Grayson,
Tomorrow you will be two and I just need you to know that you are one of my favorite people in the world. You make me smile every time I look at you. Two years ago (and long before) I wanted a baby so badly. You were exactly what I wanted and prayed for but I was so scared of you growing up. I don't really love that many other two-year-olds and I was worried that maybe I wouldn't really like my own two-year-old. But I couldn't have been further from the truth.
You amaze me in everything that you do: the things you say, the conversations we have, the things you remember, the way you love and care for Bennett, the way you get excited when you hear the garage door opening and that means "daddy home," your little dance moves, the way you pick up tiny pieces of fuzz off the floor and make me throw them away, your excitement over watermelon and marshmallows and rice krispies, how you are so particular with doors being closed and things being "put away," how you bump everything just so "mommy kiss it," the way you're learning to squeeze tight when we give you hugs, the way we can bribe you to do about anything for food or a paci, the way you want me to hold you when you're scared, the things and people you pray for at bedtime, the way I can just look at you and get you all excited and nervous that I'm about to chase you. I just love your every smile and giggle. I love your tiny little voice and the sweet way you pronounce every word. You make me so proud. You are already the most incredible brother. We didn't have days of jealousy like I was preparing for - You have just been so patient. You wait when I have to feed Bennett and are totally understanding. Thank you for being you.
I'm sure there will be days when you are two that I won't remember this list. There will be days when you frustrate me and all I want is to run away. There will be moments where I just don't know what to do or if I'm doing a good job. But just know that I love you so much. There will always be one million more things I love about you than things I don't. Here's to getting through two together. I love you.
Mommy
Tomorrow you will be two and I just need you to know that you are one of my favorite people in the world. You make me smile every time I look at you. Two years ago (and long before) I wanted a baby so badly. You were exactly what I wanted and prayed for but I was so scared of you growing up. I don't really love that many other two-year-olds and I was worried that maybe I wouldn't really like my own two-year-old. But I couldn't have been further from the truth.
You amaze me in everything that you do: the things you say, the conversations we have, the things you remember, the way you love and care for Bennett, the way you get excited when you hear the garage door opening and that means "daddy home," your little dance moves, the way you pick up tiny pieces of fuzz off the floor and make me throw them away, your excitement over watermelon and marshmallows and rice krispies, how you are so particular with doors being closed and things being "put away," how you bump everything just so "mommy kiss it," the way you're learning to squeeze tight when we give you hugs, the way we can bribe you to do about anything for food or a paci, the way you want me to hold you when you're scared, the things and people you pray for at bedtime, the way I can just look at you and get you all excited and nervous that I'm about to chase you. I just love your every smile and giggle. I love your tiny little voice and the sweet way you pronounce every word. You make me so proud. You are already the most incredible brother. We didn't have days of jealousy like I was preparing for - You have just been so patient. You wait when I have to feed Bennett and are totally understanding. Thank you for being you.
I'm sure there will be days when you are two that I won't remember this list. There will be days when you frustrate me and all I want is to run away. There will be moments where I just don't know what to do or if I'm doing a good job. But just know that I love you so much. There will always be one million more things I love about you than things I don't. Here's to getting through two together. I love you.
Mommy
Saturday, July 11, 2015
27 gets a whole week of celebrating.
This birthday has been amazing. I'm sure the other ones were too but this year I just wasn't expecting much. Not in a bad way but it's just been crazy around here and Grayson's birthday is soon and that just seems so much more important. I'm ok with grownup birthdays and taking a backseat to my kids but that wasn't the case. Brandon went above and beyond to give me not only a great birthday but pretty much an amazing birthweek.
Tuesday night (my birthday eve) we went to the pool together as a family. B hasn't been able to come with us this year and it was exactly what I wanted for us to get to go. G loved having daddy there and was all about daddy the whole time. I did get him to let me take him down the slide though and he loved it. Bennett was a sweetie pie and slept through most of it. 6:30 pm is kind of the perfect time to go. Hardly anyone was there and the sun wasn't scorching. It ended up being a little chilly towards the end of our time there though - mostly when we got out. But all in all - a really fun evening.
Then when we got home I got to open presents. I had three real presents - wrapped and everything. I expected to maybe order something for myself around my birthday but not to have presents already ready! (Thanks mom for wrapping them) B let me open them on my birthday eve since he had to be up and at work early. I got a Fitbit Charge HR (so excited about this one), a can opener from Grayson - which was perfect because ours is terrible and I always get so frustrated, and a giftcard to stickboy from Bennett. My husband is the sweetest.
My actual Birthday (Wednesday) began with almost 8 hours of sleep!!! It was amazing - Bennett slept for almost 5 hours and then woke up to eat and down for almost another 3. Hallelujah! Now if we could just do that every night ;) Then I had a shower, put on makeup and even did my hair! Then the boys and I met up with friends at the park for a walk and some play time. Then I took the boys to my mom's work so she could show them off and then she took me to lunch. It really was a perfect morning. Then I opened my present from her (clothes I had picked out and a starbucks giftcard) and then we headed home. Then the boys both took a nap (winning).
Later that evening mom and dad watched both boys so Brandon and I could go to eat at Cafe Portofino. Then we got in the hot tub for a few minutes (not very long because the bromine was high and I couldn't enjoy it cause I was worried) and then had cheesecake at my parents when we picked the boys up. I'm telling you - this birthday has been full of wonderful moments.
Thursday afternoon I took both boys to the pool. It was fun but the joy was a little hampered by Grayson breaking out into hives. I still don't know what triggered it - no new foods, it happened before the pool water or the sunscreen - it maybe could have been the antibiotic or the virus. I am convinced that being a mommy means moving from one worry to the next. It's a constant battle to choose prayer and faith rather than fear. Anyways - we pushed through the hives and played at the pool for a couple hours before heading home to get ready for our night out. We went to Town Tavern in Blowing Rock with a few friends for dinner and then to the park for their outdoor movie. The first one was Angels in the Outfield. It was advertised to start at 8 or 8:30 but it didn't actually start until 9. It made for a later night than I had planned but Grayson hung until close to the end and although we could've used a couple more blankets - it was the perfect night. I can't wait for the next one!
My birthday week ended with a big finale on Friday night at our traditional Hall fire. There is nothing I love more than people gathered around our fire, sitting on my outdoor bed swing Brandon made me last year, and eating s'mores with friends. Summer fires at our house are a funny thing. You never know if it will just be five people sitting around the fire or twenty. We usually text a bunch of people but some are always traveling or have plans but this time the stars aligned and almost EVERYONE made it to the fire. Brandon and I just couldn't stop talking about the turnout and how this was probably the best fire we have had yet. It meant so much to me to have all these people come out to celebrate and hang out. It truly was the best night - clear with tons of stars. Bennett just hung out on the swing all night either in someone's arms or just snuggled up in some pillows and blankets and Grayson stayed up until after 9:00 before we took him up to bed. Then we continued to enjoy the night until 11:30! Whew. I'm gonna need all next week to catch up on sleep but it was so worth it.
Thanks to my sweet husband and all my friends for making turning 27 better than I could've imagined.
Tuesday night (my birthday eve) we went to the pool together as a family. B hasn't been able to come with us this year and it was exactly what I wanted for us to get to go. G loved having daddy there and was all about daddy the whole time. I did get him to let me take him down the slide though and he loved it. Bennett was a sweetie pie and slept through most of it. 6:30 pm is kind of the perfect time to go. Hardly anyone was there and the sun wasn't scorching. It ended up being a little chilly towards the end of our time there though - mostly when we got out. But all in all - a really fun evening.
My actual Birthday (Wednesday) began with almost 8 hours of sleep!!! It was amazing - Bennett slept for almost 5 hours and then woke up to eat and down for almost another 3. Hallelujah! Now if we could just do that every night ;) Then I had a shower, put on makeup and even did my hair! Then the boys and I met up with friends at the park for a walk and some play time. Then I took the boys to my mom's work so she could show them off and then she took me to lunch. It really was a perfect morning. Then I opened my present from her (clothes I had picked out and a starbucks giftcard) and then we headed home. Then the boys both took a nap (winning).
Later that evening mom and dad watched both boys so Brandon and I could go to eat at Cafe Portofino. Then we got in the hot tub for a few minutes (not very long because the bromine was high and I couldn't enjoy it cause I was worried) and then had cheesecake at my parents when we picked the boys up. I'm telling you - this birthday has been full of wonderful moments.
Thursday afternoon I took both boys to the pool. It was fun but the joy was a little hampered by Grayson breaking out into hives. I still don't know what triggered it - no new foods, it happened before the pool water or the sunscreen - it maybe could have been the antibiotic or the virus. I am convinced that being a mommy means moving from one worry to the next. It's a constant battle to choose prayer and faith rather than fear. Anyways - we pushed through the hives and played at the pool for a couple hours before heading home to get ready for our night out. We went to Town Tavern in Blowing Rock with a few friends for dinner and then to the park for their outdoor movie. The first one was Angels in the Outfield. It was advertised to start at 8 or 8:30 but it didn't actually start until 9. It made for a later night than I had planned but Grayson hung until close to the end and although we could've used a couple more blankets - it was the perfect night. I can't wait for the next one!
My birthday week ended with a big finale on Friday night at our traditional Hall fire. There is nothing I love more than people gathered around our fire, sitting on my outdoor bed swing Brandon made me last year, and eating s'mores with friends. Summer fires at our house are a funny thing. You never know if it will just be five people sitting around the fire or twenty. We usually text a bunch of people but some are always traveling or have plans but this time the stars aligned and almost EVERYONE made it to the fire. Brandon and I just couldn't stop talking about the turnout and how this was probably the best fire we have had yet. It meant so much to me to have all these people come out to celebrate and hang out. It truly was the best night - clear with tons of stars. Bennett just hung out on the swing all night either in someone's arms or just snuggled up in some pillows and blankets and Grayson stayed up until after 9:00 before we took him up to bed. Then we continued to enjoy the night until 11:30! Whew. I'm gonna need all next week to catch up on sleep but it was so worth it.
Thanks to my sweet husband and all my friends for making turning 27 better than I could've imagined.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Life with Two
We've squeezed a lot in during the first 6 weeks of Bennett's life. Life with two is busy. It takes us a while to get anywhere but my type A personality enjoys the challenge of planning ahead, packing the car for every possible scenario and getting out. I can't stay home all day. Grayson has continued to go to Mrs. Sam's and it has been a huge blessing even though it wasn't our original plan. Some days I pick him up early for the pool or keep him home but most days he goes to school and it is so nice to know that he is playing with friends, learning, eating, and sleeping while I get a few things done at home. Some days I rest or get a chance to read (or blog) when Bennett is sleeping but most days I am cleaning Jamie's rental house between feedings, working on embroidery for someone, cleaning our own house or keeping up with laundry. It's amazing how quickly a day can be filled - I don't think I would get anything done if I had them both home all day every day. You mommies that do that are miracle workers.
Bennett has his days where all he wants to do is be held and eat. He is super impatient when he's hungry - but everyone loves him. He is growing so quickly and I had to put away some newborn sleepers because he's just too long for them :( Grayson calls him "Bibbit" and is constantly checking on him and helping me. He loves to give him a paci, cover him up, rock him, and today he even told him to "shh" (finger over his lips and everything) Sometimes if he tries to help Bennett and he keeps crying, he comes to me and says "mommy do it" so that I can try to fix him.
Grayson's vocabulary is off the charts these days. He can say just about anything and is putting words together into sentences so quickly. The things he knows astound me. Recently he is obsessed with my nails and yesterday he noticed my earrings and said "earrings" - how does he even know that word? He's ridiculously smart. I love listening to him babble and repeat. We're also teaching him to say "Two" when we ask him how old he is - we're just practicing for 9 days from now! Eeek.
Here are a few pictures of our boys together and the adventures we've had over the last 6 weeks:
Ice Cream & Music at the Jones House
Hunters Heroes at Blowing Rock Park
G learning to ride his birthday bike a little early
One of his first baths
Fourth of July Parade
Church
My Birthday
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
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