Two Months with Our Little Liam Babe

Sweet Liam babe is two months old!!

Weighing in at 8 pounds 10 ounces and measuring 21 inches long most people that go a few days without seeing him comment on how big he's getting! He's too long for newborn pajamas so we just made the switch to 0-3 months for length. He's still wearing newborn onesies, shirts and newborn pants still have lots of room in the waist. He moved up to size one diapers, too!

Our little man took his first road trips this month! He traveled to Grammy and Grandpap's in Pennsylvania for his cousin's first birthday party and went to Pop Pop and Mimi's in Maryland for his first Apple Fest. We also took him to the pumpkin patch for the first time! He slept through most of it, but it's a memory we'll always cherish. Londyn Grace even picked out a pumpkin for her little brother!

This month he met a lot of our extended family! He was introduced to his great grandparents, Oma and Opa, and to his great Aunt Crystal and Uncle Bert on Daddy's side. On Mama's side, Aunt Brenda, Cousin Becki and Aunt Janni all got to snuggle him for the first time. Cousins Jordan and Matthew met him, too!  He also got to meet one of Mama's fellow teachers from her old school and lots of other friends at the Apple Festival.

notice the extra hand in the corner?! Someone loves her brother!

This little man loves to nurse and still nurses every two hours most days. He loves to hold mama's fingers or onto my shirt  while he eats! If we're out and about, there are times when he'll go three hours if he falls asleep in his carseat. {Speaking of his carseat, if he's awake, he pretty much hates it and isn't shy about letting us know it!} He took his first bottle of mama's milk like a champ a few weeks ago. Some days he's the king of the cluster feed and wants to nurse and nurse and not take a single nap! Other days, he naps well in his rock and play or in the Solly wrap. At night, he settles around 11 and usually sleeps until 2:30 before waking to eat but he went the longest he's ever gone the other night sleeping until 4:30; in the morning! When he wakes, he snuggles in Daddy and Mama's bed until its time to get up for the day.

Last month, I had suspected acid reflux being a problem for him, but a lot of those issues have subsided and our pediatrician doesn't think we have anything to worry about! 

His biggest and sweetest accomplishment was showing us his precious smile for the first time! He's quick to do it for Mimi, Grammy and his big sister, but it takes a little more work for mama to get one! I was thrilled when I caught one on camera! He's cooing now, too!

It's been such a wonderful month cuddling and cherishing our sweet boy! We are soaking up all the snuggles knowing he will outgrow them all too soon!

A Letter to my Two Year Old

Sweet Londyn Grace,

        It's October third. Today, you are two, Lovey Lou!

        I vividly recall typing your letter last year and I can hardly believe that it was 365 nights ago that

I sat on the couch in tears recounting the first twelve months with you. It's even harder to believe that it was another two whole years ago, that I sat cradling all six pounds of you in my arms, in awe of what of the gift we had been given.

        Yes. It was your birth day, but we, your Daddy and I, got the present. We were given the best when God gave us you!

       The past twelve months have been nothing short of amazing. The first year was such a blur of constant feedings and just trying to figure out motherhood in general, but in your second year, I have truly been able to just watch as you transformed from a baby to a little girl right before my eyes. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when it happened, but somehow it just did.

        You have the sweetest heart and I pray that the Lord uses that to draw you to Himself sooner rather than later. Your concern for others at such a young age simply humbles me. Tonight, I stubbed my toe and when you heard me say "Ow!" you promptly left the book you were looking at to come over and give it a "tiss!" and rub it so gently. I hope that you will always be so kind and compassionate.

You've done so many "Big Girl" things this year. Sleeping in a big girl bed, potty training, going to class at church by yourself. You definitely aren't a baby anymore and while I will always miss my itty bitty babe and wish I could nurse you to sleep just one more time, I am just so privileged to watch you grow.
   

One of the biggest changes in your little life has been the addition of your baby brother to our family. I worried so much about how you would respond to him, but you have done an amazing job in your

big sister role! You love your brother so much! You are forever wanting to say "Hi to the boy!" or asking to "Hold, Miam!" It thrills my heart!

      Goosey, you are so smart and have an incredible memory. You speak so well, communicating with hundreds of words. You know your alphabet, your colors, the words to your favorite songs. Speaking of singing, you seem to have a constant song in your heart. I hope you never lose that.

    There is so much about you that I wish I could bottle up and keep forever. The way you call for me each morning asking "Where's Daddy?" from your bed before you walk, arms full of your books and babies, into my room and climb into bed with me. The way your wrap your arms around me and start singing "My Girl" when I pick you up to carry you down the stairs. The way you answer "Otay!" after I tell you something. I could go on and on.

  Your bright blue eyes and golden curls catch the attention of so many. We are constantly told how beautiful you are, and we couldn't agree more!

I always feel like the words don't convey how much you truly mean to me. Please know what a treasure you are!

You continue to bring sunshine to our home just as your did on that rainy Wednesday two Octobers ago when you made your grand entrance after just over three hours of labor.

You certainly bring warmth to our cloudy days! You are our month of May! :) 

I should get to sleep so I will have the energy to keep up with you when you wake in a few hours!

Happy TWO to you, my girl!

Mama loves you! More and more and more!

Londyn Grace Turns Two ~ Her Party

Londyn Grace turns two this Friday! Her second year went so much faster than her first! I'm scared to see how quickly time will fly this year!

We celebrated with our sweet family and some friends from church yesterday. It was a much smaller party than last year's bash, but still wonderful. Things are so busy here with church and Daniel has visitation on Saturday mornings so we decided it was best to have the party at home instead of traveling back to Maryland like we did last year. It was hard not to have all of our extended family here, but most of them couldn't make the trip to Jersey, but most of Londyn Grace's grandparents and aunts and uncles along with her baby cousin came so she was thrilled!

Pop Pop, Mimi and Mom Mom arrived Thursday morning and helped us with the party preparations! It was so good to see them! It had been a month since their last visit!

I had been planning to go with a pumpkin/fall theme, but a few weeks ago while rocking LG and reading books, I had a lightbulb moment! Currently one of her favorite books is a vintage book called Splish, Splash and Splush. It's the cutest story about three little ducklings who don't want to be ducks because they're afraid of the water! We had so much fun going to feed the ducks this summer so I knew a ducky/farm theme was the perfect choice!

I felt so behind with planning this year, but thanks to my parents' and my grandmother's help everything came together wonderfully! Auntie M and Uncle Johnny took LG shopping to pick out a few presents while we got ready for the party on Saturday morning.

I found a smocked duckling dress on eBay that was perfect for the theme!

Last year she was too small to really understand what was going on, but seeing her so happy about every little detail this year made this mama's heart so happy! 

Pop Pop painted the pink highchair from last year's party yellow and we hung an old quilt behind it. 

A few hay bales and sweet little vintage duckling figurines I found on Etsy tied things together!

I wanted to display some of her pictures from the past year so I ordered some Instagram prints from Walgreens and clipped them to bakers twine strung across an old pallet. Vintage milk bottles filled sunflowers and yummy fresh baked pies compliments of my Mom Mom completed the display!

An old kitchen scale, chicken feeder and adorable egg cartons brought elements of the farm theme to the food table. We served three different kinds of soup (or pous! as Goosey calls it!) since its one of her favorite foods and had chips and crackers to go along with it. Guests enjoyed the apple and cherry pies for dessert along with cookies and vanilla ice cream. 

This wreath greeted our guests!

'

I recreated the chalkboard from last year with her updated stats!

Londyn Grace had her very own cake covered in "meenles!"  She was so excited about it!

After everyone ate, it was time to sing Happy Birthday to our soon to be two year old!

I thought she'd eat it up since she's been obsessed with the song for months, but she wasn't quite sure what to think when we started singing to her!

It took her a few tries, but she blew out her candles all by herself! After a little coaching from Uncle Johnny, she went face first into the icing!

After we cleaned her up, she was ready to open presents!

She got lots of books, a few outfits, pajamas and a few new toys to play with! When we would tell her that a present was from such and such she would take the gift to that person thinking we meant it was for them! Whenever a card had money in it, she would hand it right to me because she knows she's not supposed to play with the money in my wallet!

She had so much fun at her "Happy to You Party" and is so excited about turning "two in (a few) days!" 

It took her until close to eleven o'clock last night to go to sleep! I think she had way too much cake and ice cream!

She keeps talking about her friends and all of the people who came to celebrate!

We tried to get a picture of the cousins with Grammy and Grandpap, but the girls were too busy wanting to play in the ball pit! 

This was the best one we got!

I hate that I didn't get more pictures of her with all of our guests, but it was hard to host and take pictures, too!

It was a wonderful party celebrating our sweet Londyn Grace! 

Liam...One Month

Happy one month, Liam!

30 days with you, sweet boy, and what a joy you have been to our family!

It's sounds cliche, but we truly can't imagine life without you here now that you've been with us for four weeks!

You are tipping the scales at 7 pounds 2 ounces and measuring 21 inches long.

There has been some debate over how long you really were at birth since Daddy watched the nurse hastily measure you at 20.5 and then Dr. Schlacter measured you at 19. We are pretty sure the hospital's number wasn't quite accurate so you've grown 2 inches this month!

Even though you are still have room to grow in newborn clothes, newborn sleepers are almost too small because you don't have the space you need to stretch out your long legs! We are having trouble finding pants that fit your tiny waist, but newborn onesies and shirts fit pretty well!

You are doing great with nursing, but mama is concerned you may have a little reflux going on so we will ask the doctor about it at your next appointment. I did discover that you seem to have trouble going to the bathroom if I eat diary, particularly ice cream so I've cut out my nightly snack and you haven't had trouble since! You eat every two hours and like to cluster feed in the evenings.

In your first two weeks, we had a lot of visitors and you were held constantly so it seemed you slept constantly! Since we've been on our own, you are still doing pretty well in the sleeping department! You either nap in mama's arms, in your Solly wrap (best purchase ever!), or in your rock and play. The other night you slept in your rock and play for 3 hours straight! You snuggle with mama and daddy in our bed when you need to eat at night.

During your first month, you've been out and about quite a bit. You went to church for the first time when you were one week old. You've been to the pediatrician's office, to the grocery store (and napped in your Solly wrap the entire time!), to the mall and out on visitation with Daddy!

Your big sister is your biggest fan and loves you so much! She's always talking to you and saying, "Hi Me-um! Hi Boy!"' over and over! She likes to tickle your feet and touch your nose. It still amazes her when you have your eyes open! I'm so excited to see your relationship with her grow!

We are so proud of how strong you are in spite of your size! You have great head control and when we are holding you, you love to lift your head and look around. You have really big hands and feet so everyone predicts that you will grow up to be big and tall! You are already rolling around more than Londyn Grace ever did. He prefer your side over your back and always roll to your side when we lay you down.

You are a pretty content baby and don't fuss much at all unless you're getting your diaper changed or being put in your carseat. While you don't cry much, you do make some pretty grumpy looking faces sometimes so Daddy has nicknamed you his Grouchy Old Man! :) Mama calls you her Bubba.

It's been such a wonderful month with you and we're looking forward to watching you grow and change in month two!