Sweet Baby

There are some days when you feel like the world is raining down on you and you can't see through the storm but I just looked down and saw this sweet face and it makes everything go away. It is a wonderful feeling to look at a baby's sweet face and know this little person is so pure and perfect and only full of love. That something so small can make your heart feel so big.

I feel so blessed to have a little bundle of love! If anyone else is having a rotten day you are welcome to borrow him for a minute.

Holy moly I'm 1 month old!

This is me looking totally baffled by the fact that I am already 1 month old, practically ready for potty training and big wheels. Where did the time go?? I guess between mommy staring at me and daddy kissing me, I was distracted as the days flew by. Here are a few highlights of my life so far. I have started smiling a lot and it pretty much melts the heart of anyone watching. I also was born with an amazing internal clock. I can wake up from a dead sleep on the minute that it's time to eat to remind momma I'm ready to nurse. I have grown 2 inches this month and Grandpa Steve is already guessing at what college I will play basketball. I'm already wearing some of my 0-3 month outfits that were way too big for me a few weeks ago...in fact I laugh looking at this picture of myself the day I came home from the hospital because my diapers used to swallow me and now I fill them out (and fill them up) quite nicely.

Lately I have been following things with my eyes and today I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realized that I am indeed loosing some of the baby fat on my face but gaining a little milk belly.

Well, I'm off to celebrate my big 1st month birthday with a nightcap and a relaxing swaddle. I have to brag on my daddy who has one mean swaddle....it's awesome and it puts me right to sleep when he puts me in my crib at night.

I think I got the hang of this...

A wise woman and fabulous new mother once told me what her first few months of motherhood were like. She told me that it doesn't come easily and it definitely doesn't happen overnight but instead it's a daily progression and some days you find yourself saying, "oh I got this" followed by a day here and there where you gasp, "what the hell am I doing??". Then the next day you say to yourself, "man, I got this!" And so on and so forth. This morning as I was breast-feeding Austin in one arm and putting his clothes away with the other, I found myself saying out loud, "oh I got this"! haha. Becky was right. Some days are harder than others and then days like today when you have fed the baby 3 times, bathed the baby, gotten you and the baby dressed, gone shopping downtown with your mom, and fixed lunch for you and your husband all by 11am..... you want to climb to the top of a mountain wearing a SuperMom cape and shout, "I GOT THIS!"

This week Austin brought so much joy to our lives. He has been smiling quite often and although it might be 100% gas, we like to think it's our hilarious banter and silly faces. He is very wide-eyed and alert and we finally are getting to see a lot more of those dark blue eyes. He's really strong and fights hard with his big ole head to hold it up. Looks like we lucked out with a very happy baby and he spends most of the day staring at fans, discovering his hands and fingers, hiccuping and sleeping. He has taken to breast-feeding really well and sleeps from 11-5am at night, wakes up to feed and than goes right back to sleep even if you lay him in the crib awake he will close his eyes after a few minutes and go to sleep as long as he has his paci to soothe him. This makes for one happy mommy!!!! Ever since we got into a good routine I have been getting a lot more sleep and have stopped napping (and started scrapbooking). He has made it through 2 church services and many meals at restaurants like a champ... sleeping the entire time. He loves walks in his stroller, listening to his daddy play the guitar, walking in his Baby Bjorn, and baths! We are still trying to figure out who he favors but we have decided for now he will just have to "look like Austin" since he is not a dead ringer for either of us... but you can be the judge.

Happy Birthday Nana Nell!!

I went in to get Austin this morning and he was playing Go Fish with Mr. Teddy wearing this adorable number in honor of his NaNa's Birthday. Happy Birthday Nana Nell! She has been a saving grace since Austin arrived, coming over to relieve me so I can shower, going to the pediatrician with me, babysitting while I grocery shop and to let Z and I go on a date. We love her for so many reasons and if you know her, you can't help but feel the same way. We are meeting her at Mammie's for lunch to celebrate and Austin said he couldn't be more thrilled about his first trip to the big mammie, he's most excited about the chocolate icebox pie!

Zach caught Austin and I napping yesterday in the guestroom. I finally figured out those moms that said "sleep when he sleeps" were totally right. So Austin and I have started napping together after his 2pm feeding. This is one of my favorite times of the day!

But another favorite time is after his 8pm feeding- he just chills in the bed with us and is the sweetest little snuggle bug! Last night he was sporting his mohawk after his bath. Okay, I'm not gonna lie...I have about 100 "favorite" times of the day. Like right now for instance, we watch the Nate Berkus show every morning together, Austin just loves his design style and says he and Nate share personal style as well... neither of them like wearing socks and they both have great hair!

AAJ: Two Weeks

Here is Austin, 2 weeks old doing his best Air Jordan!