Family Update

This is a quick update on the whole family. Not that anything life altering is happening, just an update. 

Beckham had his 4 month appointment today. He weighed in at 16.12. Honestly, we thought it would have been more. Heath guessed 19. At the same age Cayden weighed 16.2. Basically, Beckham is just under the 95th percentile on weight and height (26.25 inches) and at the 75th percentile for his head. His allergies are better, but you can definitely tell when I eat something I'm not supposed to. Right now, his eczema has flared up. I'm not perfect. Sometimes I given in to temptation. We did try mixing formula with breast milk to trick him into drinking some...he's no dummy. So we continue to BF and I'm okay with that.

We had family pictures with Amber Lanning a few weeks ago, and we got the proofs back yesterday. I really love them. It's no surprise that I'm a sucker for family and kid pictures, and these did not disappoint. Once we get them, I will have them framed, so that they can hang in our new home in Brazil. 

Speaking of Brazil - Heath and I are making a trip down there to check out places to live. I'm excited to finally see it. Thankfully Heath has made a couple of connections down there, so we get the chance to hang out with people that actually live there. It will be good to ask questions and such. What I am not looking forward to is leaving the boys. I know they are in good hands. I know they will be fine, and that Beckham will not remember me leaving. But it is hard on me. So if you think of it - say a little prayer for those that are watching Beckham and Cayden, and for me!

I'm sure that Cayden will not have any fun whatsoever while we are gone!

Beckham is 4 Months Old

Another month has gone by, can you believe it? This month, especially in the pictures, you can tell that Beckham is starting to have more of a personality. I had a moment the other day where it struck me that this time I have with Beck, I didn't have with Cayden. By the time Cayden was 3 months old, I was back at work. I love getting to spend my days with both boys! (It's not all roses and rainbows, but I wouldn't trade it!)

Beckham's antics: What does a 4 month old do, really? He likes to be held, all the time. He does like the JumperRoo and his play gym on the floor. It's not something he'll stay on or in for a long time. I can usually put him in the jumper for 15-20 minutes. Long enough to get dinner started, eat some lunch, or do some other chore.

He can roll both ways - he just doesn't do it all the time. He is making more of an effort to reach out and grab stuff and he loves to chew his hands all. of. the. time. 

Stats: I have no idea what he weighs. We go to the doctor on Tuesday. I'm thinking 17+. He has moved up to 3-6 month clothes, and 6 months if it's Carters. Let's face it, no one wants to look like a sausage casing, so it was time to move up a size. He's still in size 2 diapers. They seem to be doing the job for now. 

Sleeping: He's a 20-25 minutes catnapper. Maybe once a week do we get a longer nap. However, he is in his crib and doing pretty well at night. He wakes twice, usually around 12 and 4. Yes, I nurse him both times. I probably shouldn't and really it's more of a selfish move on my part. He eats, and goes back to sleep. I'm in and out of his room in about 10-15 minutes. The good thing, and something that never worked for Cayden until he was over a year old, is that you can put Beckham down at night, awake, and he will go to sleep. He might jabber and squirm for a few minutes, he may even cry, but he will go back to sleep! Yeah!  

Here is the man of the hour! When I took his pictures, and the ones with Cayden I took 45, 34 of them were fantastic! It was hard to choose!

I just couldn't get enough of this cute smile! 

There was such a change from month 3 to 4. I know from this point forward he's just going to become more and more of a little man. 

Beck~

What a little ball of light you are! You smile easily, and laugh a lot. It truly is the best sound. You watch my every move, and I know that when I have to leave for an hour or more, you are not a happy camper. We have hardly been apart since you were born and I sort of love that. Not that I don't need a breaky-break every now and then, but it's definitely secured your place as my little man. Beckham we love you so much, and we are so glad that you have become the best - last addition to our family. 

Love, 

Mom and Dad

25 Things - More or Less

My birthday was yesterday. I'm 32. I told Heath that I really don't feel 32, and that from this point forward I was going to be 27. A year can bring about so many changes and 13 years is like a whirlwind. Heath and I will have been together for 13 years this November. We are different today, than we were then. For the better. Older. Wiser. Better looking. 

We also have two kids. That in and of itself is a miracle. 

So this post was inspired by Kristin, who was inspired by Us Weekly (I think).

25 Things You Might not Know about me!

1. I have a tattoo. I got it when I was 18. It's a tramp stamp. I have never once regretted it. In fact, I would probably have two or three more if Heath liked them as much as I did. 

2. I love pineapple orange juice. I prefer it to any other juice.

3. Jeans are a must have, never without them staple to my wardrobe. I try/do wear them year round. I have never been a dress girl. Or a girly girl.

4. Jewelry makes me uncomfortable. I feel awkward in it, and like every is looking and judging. Therefore, I don't wear it often.

5. When I was 10 I got a Barbie Fashion Designer toy. I loved it. From that point forward my dream was to design clothes. Obviously, that is not what I do now. But that dream manifests itself in other ways. My obsession with Project Runway. I never miss an episode. I also started watching Million Dollar Shoppers. Again, it as to do with fashion and clothes. 

6. I believe I can do anything. Especially when it is related to crafts. I took up knitting. I quilt. I cut giant letters out with a jigsaw. If there were a way to make money doing some of this stuff, I would totally do it. For now, Pinterest is my idea board. I don't think I will ever doubt my ability to do stuff. It's definitely one of my best attributes.

7. Independent. I like knowing that I can do it myself. This can be a problem when I truly need help. I have a hard time asking for help. 

8. Babysitters make me anxious. I have a hard time leaving small children with someone I barely know. We have hardly ever, maybe once, had someone that wasn't family watch our kids. When Cayden was little it made me have panic attacks thinking that he would have to go to daycare. Moving to Brazil - this fear is heightened. I'm sure that we will need a babysitter. I know that the Brazilian culture loves kids. But the whole process freaks me out. 

9. Books. I love them. Can't live without them. I always have three or four on my nightstand. I have a hard time relating to people who don't read. I even had a book blog for a bit. I'm nerdy like that.

10. Water. I will drink a ton of it, as long as I have a straw. The straw is essential. 

11. I have never broken a bone in my body. Ever. However, I have had two kidney stones which I feel makes up for this right of passage.

12. Hate. Snakes. Hate. Hate. Heath ran over one mowing a few weeks ago. I have yet to walk to that side of the yard. 

13. I'm a blog stalker. Big Time. There have been several situations where I have seen the people I blog stalk in public. I'm not star struck, but I think to myself..Wow, I know a lot about you and you have no idea who I am. 

14. I like to be inspired. A lot of my inspiration or desire to be creative comes from some of these blogs. There are people who can just create beautiful things, and it seems so easy. They have families and busy lives and are still able to carve out time to do these things. That inspires me.

15. I read books to better myself. Not because I think I'm a horrible person, but because we can all be better. A better mom, a better wife. I'm reading, "What's it like to be Married to Me?" It's a bible study about putting your husband first. It's definitely eye opening.

16. I find myself praying little prayers all day. To say thanks for Beckham napping longer than 20 minutes, for the beautiful fall weather, for help when I get frustrated and feel like I'm taking it out on the kids. It helps. A lot.

17. I didn't want kids. When Heath and I first got married, and even before I just knew I didn't want kids. I never really babysat, and didn't really like being around the small ones. But things change. God knows what we need, and I needed those boys. I needed to be a stay at home mom. Like I said, a lot can change in 13 years.

18. I've worn the same make-up since high school. Thankfully it's not blue eyeshadow, but still. 

19. I wish I had straight hair. I used to, until puberty. With both pregnancies I was hopeful that the huge increase in hormones would straighten this mess out. But no. 

20. I hate M&M's. Anything that is mostly chocolate. If it has stuff with it like nougat, caramel, etc. I will eat it. 

21. I love the beach. Love. There is not much that can top sitting on the beach with a good book. Before we had kids, I would pack 3 or 4 books to take with me. And actually read them all. 

22. I have had the same best friend all my life. Literally. We met in preschool. She lives on the other side of the US, and now we are moving even further away. Thankfully we have gotten quite good at keep in touch with each other.

So, I made it to 22. I'm sure there is more. Heath said I should mention that I was a yearbook nerd, or that we met working at the bank. All of that is good too. So another year is here and this year of being 32/27 is a big one, full of lots of changes. Who knows what next years 25 things will look like. 

Pumpkin Patch: What a Difference a Year Makes

Prepare yourself for picture overload. The thing about pumpkin patches is that they provide ample opportunities for photos of the kids. Now, I'm sure that many a wife has convinced her husband that it would be a fun family outing, in order to catch these moments. Heath knew what my game plan was. 

This was our second year to visit the pumpkin patch. Last year gave me one of my favorite pictures of Cayden...ever. And I was hoping for another one today. We met Mills and her family there, because it just wouldn't have been the same without them. 

It's crazy how much difference a year makes. They are getting so big, and I think it's hard sometimes for us to see that until we compare photos. Both Mills and Cayden were a little more willing to sit down for a photo last year...This year they were everywhere. 

Another obvious difference is the addition of Sydney and Beckham. We had to snap this photo quick because Cayden wasn't too jazzed about having Beck sit next to him. The pumpkin was strategically placed in order to prop Beckham up. 

They did have a fine time throwing the baby pumpkins. The whole time I kept thinking, "If you break it, you buy it." and whether or not it applied to the pumpkin patch.

It rained hard that morning, and luckily the Tractor Supply still had rain boots. They became essential today. Especially when these two found the puddles. 

Remember: It's all about the photo opp. We wrangled some pumpkins to create a seat for Beck.

Millie is much braver than Cayden. He would only ride if either Heath or I were with him. I think that if we had allowed him to go a second time, he might have gone on his own. Kristin was in front of Millie in another horse.

Never did they want to look at the camera and smile. Too busy.

Once the boots were purchased, the tickets bought, and the pumpkins paid for, it really became an expensive outing. That's okay. Cayden and Millie had a great time and it was worth it!

It's Time

When I say the words, "It's Time" - I do it the way the do in Steel Magnolias. "It's Tiiiiime." 

I've been dreading putting Beckham in the crib. Not because he was such an amazing sleeper in the swing. He wasn't bad, don't get me wrong, but it's not like he slept all night without waking, and took three long restful naps during the day in that thing. He didn't. Sunday night I finally bit the bullet and readied his room. This included setting up our new monitors (been in the box since his birth), putting bolster pillows under his sheet (to create a cozy, snug place to lay), and relocating the sound machine from our room to his. Once all the elements were in their place, I gave him a bath, put him in jammies, and fed him. He went to sleep, I put him in his bed, and shut the door. 

Thirty minutes later he was awake. Screaming. I stuck to my guns. I will only let my kids cry for 15 minutes at a time. He cried for 9, and was back asleep. Until 12:45. Then he ate, and was back to sleep. Until 4, more eating, and back to sleep until 7:15. I think it was a success. I had fully expected for him to wake every 30 minutes, only for me to let him cry for 15, then go in an console, and put him back down. Rinse and repeat. 

Thankfully that didn't happen. Tonight may be a different story. He is moving around. A LOT.

Last night. No, it really isn't 77 degrees in there. 

Now napping is a different story. I put him in his crib for all of his naps today. The longest one lasting 30 minutes. Yikes! He really didn't nap longer in the swing, and I am hoping that he will eventually figure out how to sleep longer in the crib. I need to get him a blackout curtain, and I do let him lay there if he does wake. I even let him cry. 23-30 minutes is the longest he'll go. 

It makes for a long day. Not that what I do day in and day out is incredibly difficult, but it's nice to have a break. From both kids. At the same time.

So here's tomorrow. More attempts at naps and all of them in the crib. 

Update: It's 10:26 and Beck is screaming and flailing. 

More about Beck

I feel like the last post about Beck was rushed. I gave you the basics without going into any fun details. 

Things He Likes: BreastMilk (No bottles), definitely no formula. Chewing on his hands. He likes it so much, he sometimes gets overzealous and gags himself. He likes being held, sleeping in the swing, or in our bed. He's not one to lay around by himself, he wants to be in full view of anything exciting that may be happening. He likes being naked, at least when you change his diaper. He squeals and starts jabbering. 

Dislikes: Alone time. Sleeping in the pack n play. The bouncy seat. 

Beckham moved up to size two diapers, and I think he will be here for a bit. Although the box says 18 pounds...and we aren't far from it. He is in between 0-3 and 3-6 month clothes. He is really starting to laugh a giggle quite a bit. We brought out the JumperRoo last weekend, and he seems to like it okay. It's not like he can jump too much, so he sits there and drools. He does really well with Tummy Time. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you will have noticed some of his pictures. 

He had a rough day today. He didn't really nap at all, and he was beyond overtired. I was getting frustrated because I had a headache and wasn't feeling to well either. I try really hard to keep how I'm feeling in mind, so that I don't take it out on the kids. Let's face it, it's easy to do. 

We talk a lot about how things are different with Beck. He likes to eat every. two. hours. on. the. dot. Cayden was better. However, Cayden would sleep for 5 hours at night, and then wake and eat every two hours after. Beckham will normally eat once, maybe twice at night. So, I'm thankful for that. He has also rolled over front to back and back to front already. Now, he doesn't do it all the time. But it has happened. He also started playing with his feet. There is definitely something to be said for experience when it comes to the second one.  I'm a little more patient, a little more laid back, and just not as stressed. Just one more thing to be thankful for. 

Here are some pictures I shot last week. I will try to get the ones I shot of Cayden at this age up in the next few days.