Liam is 3 Months Old!

We've been a little MIA around the blog lately, but have a ton of posts that need to be written! So I'll begin with Liam's three month post!

Our little Liam Babe turned three months old on the ninth!

He is still a peanut weighing in at right around 10 pounds, but is heavier than his big sister was at 3 months! He is 21.5 inches long! We are still having a hard time finding clothes that fit right, but his wardrobe is growing! Dressing a boy is as much fun as dressing a girl! There are so many sweet boy outfits! Newsboy hats are my current obsession!

This month we saw a lot of precious smiles from our Bubba Boy! All I have to do is say "Hello, sweet boy!" and he gets a big grin on his face! He melts me every. single. time. A few weeks ago, he was nursing and all of a sudden he pulled off and looked up at me with the sweetest look on his face! It brought tears to my eyes as he laughed and talked for a few minutes before starting to eat again!

He also found his hands! One night, he was sitting in his bouncy seat while we were getting dinner ready and I happened to look over and see him staring intently at his little fist as he moved it all around!

He has also started grabbing things and loves the playmat we bought with a gift card from a sweet church friend!

This month, he helped Mama celebrate her birthday, went to the apple orchard and took another trip back to Maryland/Pennsylvania. Our baby boy made the cutest sheep when he dressed up for his first Halloween!

He still doesn't like his car seat when he's awake, but thankfully he falls asleep in it pretty quickly after fussing a little! He does like bathtime! A big thank you to Pop Pop for suggesting we try the swing with him. Londyn Grace didn't really like it so I just never brought it down from the attic after he was born, but we gave it a go and he enjoys swinging in it and watching the mobile on it.

in mid-sentence :)

We spent A LOT of time nursing this month and at times I was so defeated. I would just sit and look at the mess around me while he ate constantly until I finally called in reinforcements. Pop Pop and Mimi came to the rescue and helped me get caught up of laundry and cleaning. I've been doing better since then! Being able to nurse is such a privilege, but it can be exhausting and leave little time for much else! He still nurses every two hours during the day and cluster feeds a ton, but is sleeping so well at night, usually from 11 until around 4 or 5 in the morning before waking to eat again, so I can't complain much! He decided that he didn't like the Solly wrap this month. I'm hoping he'll change his mind because it sure makes it easier to get things done!

His big sister is still his biggest fan! She loves him so much. You'll often find her laying on his playmat with him or helping me with his diaper changes!

He is such a blessing to our family! We can't wait to see what the next month brings for our sweet boy!

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!

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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!