7 months

Weight: I'm not really sure how much you weigh since you won't go back to the Dr. until your 9 month well check, but if I had to guess you would probably be around 18 or so pounds. You look really skinny but your fat is all in your cheeks and double chin!

Health: You are a perfectly healthy little boy. In fact, other than a small fever you had when you were around 3 months old, you haven't been sick at all since you were born. I know it is because you are mostly around me all day everyday and not at a daycare where germs multiply.

Sleep: We started off the month thinking that nap times were going to be a struggle from here on out... since you have learned to pull up. I would put you in your crib and you would immediately use the rails to stand and there you would stay and cry. Luckily you learned how to sit back down and now you go to sleep after playing around in your crib for a good 15 minutes.

This is the first time I saw you standing on your own. You were fussing at the end of a nap and I happened to look at the monitor and this is what I saw. I may have freaked out a little bit... but you know, managed to get this picture before running in to save you!

Social: You got to go to bible study with us this month and meet all of the babies in the group. You were the only mobile one so you basically terrorized and crawled over all the poor babies that were just laying on the floor. You didn't mean it though :) You don't mind strangers or when other people hold you, which I secretly love. I don't want you to be shy like me.

Diet: You are taking 4 bottles a day and then eating pureed foods 3 times a day. You have tried butternut squash, plums, and broccoli this month. You actually loved the broccoli but I think only because I mixed it with apples. You LOVE apples.

Clothes: I've been packing away more clothes lately. Since you wear cloth diapers and they are more bulky, you are starting to stretch out your 6 month onsies. It will probably be time to move up to 9 months soon. 

Loves the most: You love your mom and dad of course. And you love your Poppy (my dad). You seriously smile so big when he walks in the door. I hope you all are best buds. You also still love your lady bug toy.

Milestones: Well, you are growing fast bud because when you turned 7 months you decided that was the day you would stand up. And now you stand up all. the. time. It's funny because you barely play with your toys these days because you are so busy trying to stand and walk. You will pull up on the couch for a second, then go to the window, then the TV stand. Shew, it's exhausting just watching you. A toy may catch your eye when you are passing from one place to the next, but mostly you want those little legs to work.

It is so cute when you stand at the window because you throw the curtain back to look out. Oh and the grey thing is a foam tube we put on the window because someone was gnawing at the sill and would get pulled away with paint chips on his face... but I won't name names or anything. 

You are getting so big so fast. Sometimes I want time to stop so you will be little forever. Dad asked me the other night when you aren't considered a "baby" anymore. And even though that will probably be when you reach a year old and become a toddler, you will always be my little baby. My first born baby. My baby that made me a momma.
I love you.

XOXOXO

6 Months

Half a year? Are you serious? I can't even believe that Sam turned 6 months on the 1st. I know this is a tad bit late... but better late than never, right? Said every mom in the history of the universe.

December was a crazy month for us as a family. We had individual friend parties, work parties, birthday parties, trips to Nashville, 7 family Christmases, and even a Christmas out of town at my aunt and uncle's house. Whew. I am just now rested up.

So, now you can see why I am a bit late. Here are a few of the things that Sam is up to this month!

Weight: You officially weighs in at 17 lbs. Dude, you are heavy. It is seriously a workout to carry you and a bag of laundry up from the basement. But I shouldn't complain about burning those extra calories :)

Health: No reports here. We are hoping to stay away from this dreaded flu bug that is going around. I'm guessing that staying inside and away from people in general might help in that department. Basically we are hermits until we can come out and play. You just got the flu shot at your 6 month appt. and we have to go back for another at the beginning of February.

Sleep: Still sleeping from about 7:45-8:00 until 7 in the morning. Thank the Lord for Moms on Call!!

Social: I have loved seeing your personality come out more and more as you get older. You are much more smiley and talkative now then even a month ago. However, you are still serious sometimes especially when you see something new and are trying to figure it out.

Diet: You are now eating pureed baby foods. I am making all of your foods and so far you have had sweet potatoes, bananas, peas, apples, and carrots. You loved the sweet potatoes and the apples... everything else... not so much. I have to mix different combos so you don't make these awful faces. Feeding you is seriously the funniest time ever. Hopefully I am going to introduce avocados, plums, broccoli, and pears soon.

This was after introducing carrots. There was a lot of gagging and ugly faces going on.

Clothes: We packed away all of your 3 month outfits this month. You fit well into 6 month pants but could probably do bigger onsies. You also need to move up to 9 month pj's too! 

Loves the most: Sam got a Baby Einstein bouncer for Christmas and he LOVES it! He also loves this musical activity table that lights up. He got so many new toys over Christmas that he just scoots around the floor to play with them all.

Milestones: You. Are. Mobile. As in crawling. Not so much the crawling on your hands and knees... it's definitely a modified version but trust me, you can get anywhere you want to go. Especially if that place includes the remote control, and if that's the case you are there in 2.5 seconds. Gone are the days that I can walk out of the room with you on the floor. So now I just have to stick you in your bouncer so you don't get into something you shouldn't. You are also babbling up a storm these days saying things like "Bababababa," and even some "Mamamama," in there. I know you don't know that what you are saying means "Mom" but I like to pretend you are talking to me.
Also, you have 2 bottom teeth! They have broken through and are growing bigger everyday. I love seeing your teeffes when you grin. 

It is such a joy to watch you grow. Everyday I look at you and am in awe that you are you and you are mine (and your daddy's). I love you something fierce, kid.

xoxox,
Mom

5 Months

Weight: At his 4 month well check he was almost 15 pds so I would assume he is probably 15.5 or 16 by now. This boy loves food and it shows.

Health: He is generally really healthy as far as sickness is concerned. Nothing to report there. He does have a deep hemangioma on his left shoulder that we have to get looked at by a plastic surgeon. We will know more options then on whether he needs surgery or if we can wait it out.

Sleep: No complaints here. Whatsoever. I think we might have been blessed with the best sleeper ever. This kid loves to sleep and he has slept through the night since he was 6 weeks old. Even if he wakes up in the middle of the night he doesn't cry; he just talks and plays in his crib until he goes back to sleep. Win.

Social: Sam is much more reserved around new people or large groups of people. I have a feeling he is going to be shy like his mommy and daddy were when they were little. He did great at Thanksgiving with both sides of the family but I did keep him as close as possible to his napping and eating schedule.

Diet: Sam is eating about 7 oz of formula every 3 to 4 hours. We tried oatmeal after his 4 month well check but he started breaking out. We didn't know if it was from that or his detergent so we stopped both and are adding it back in. We will probably try again this weekend.

Clothes: He can fit into some of his 3 month onesies but he wears 6 month clothes the best and even 6-9 month sleepers fit best.

Loves the most: Me and daddy of course! But also anything that he can get a hold of and put in his mouth. This kid thinks everything is edible. But he does love his keys most of all and his monkey lovie. 

Milestones: He has managed the squeal. I hear he gets it honest because Nonna and Poppy said mom used to be able to almost shatter glass with her squeals as a baby.  You aren't really "mobile" yet but you can scoot backwards and around in a circle in order to get what you need to. You can also roll over several times in a row in order to get to a new place but you don't do this as often. You are officially a mover. You do NOT want to lay still on your back for a clothing change or a diaper change... which makes it difficult because momma only has 2 hands (I swear I need 4). AND, you are also starting to hold your own bottle! 

Overall you are the most relaxed and calm baby. You are interested in everything and you love to give me a shy smile all the time. I just love you so much and you amaze me everyday.

Happy 5 months lil' bud. 

Sam's Birth Story

I've been meaning to write this ever since we got home from the hospital, but with all the crazy that has been going on here since we got home, this post is a little late.
I want to write this down, to keep it and have it for myself and my husband. That day was so special but such a blur that I want to keep it here to always remember. So, if you don't want to hear about Sam's arrival, I suggest you stop reading here.
I was due on June 26th and when that day came and went, I didn't think I was ever going to have this baby. I had been disappointed at each doctor's appointment when I would hear that I wasn't really progressing past a 1/2 centimeter or a "tight 1"... whatever that means. I literally was having no contractions, not really any braxton hicks, and no sign that this little guy was going to make his debut on his own. I was more that disappointed and anxious.
On Saturday June 30th, I knew I was no longer going to have a June baby. I wasn't feeling anything and mostly just laid around the house all day long because I was so swollen and puffy that I wasn't subjecting the world to my face... or my feet. Nick and I went to bed around 10:00pm and at around 12:30 I had a contraction that woke me up from my sleep. It hurt. Like whoa. So I got up and went to the bathroom and had another one on the way back to bed. Then another when I got to the bed. I stood there in the dark wondering if I should wake Nick up or not. I thought about just standing there and timing the contractions myself but then thought that might be creepy if Nick woke up with me standing over him!
I woke him up and we timed as my contractions went from 10 minutes apart to 5 minutes apart in about 30 minutes. It was happening fast... and contractions are no joke. I was literally shaking. Since they were coming so close together we went ahead and went to the hospital. I wasn't worried about them sending me back home since I was already 4 days past my due date anyway.
When we arrived at the hospital, I was checked at about a 2 or a 3 and was 80% effaced. I immediately got an epidural and HELLO! Those things are wonderful! From about 2am until about 10am I just rested on and off. The nurse came back in to check my progress and I was at an 8. They had to break my water and I was hoping the last two centimeters would go by quick... I was wrong.
I didn't want pitocin so those last 2 centimeters took about 4 hours. Around 2:45 the Dr. told me we were ready to push. I pushed 3 sets and he was here!!
It was an amazing experience and such a wonderful moment when I heard his first cry and saw him for the first time. I will never be able to put that into words so I'm not even going to try.
My baby is here and I love him more and more each day. It truly is amazing the love you have for your baby. He is precious and beautiful and I could just stare at him all day!