3 Weeks

This week you have been awake a little longer each day and more alert, giving us a chance to enjoy your beautiful blue eyes (while they last, b/c I'm sure they will be turning brown soon!).

Everyone agrees you are the world's most easy-going, content baby. The only time we hear your cry is when you are ready for meal time and when we change your clothes; and you usually sleep through every outing we go on including most of your first visit to Grapeland and the Houston Rodeo.

"SEW" Not Cute

The Christmas before last I decided I wanted a sewing/embroidery machine. I envisioned the creations I could make with my machine: one-of-a-kind outfits for the boys, decor for our house, gifts for friends, and possibly starting a business on the side. I only had one problem to overcome...I have never actually sewn before.

Embarrassingly, I must admit, Brian is WAY more domestic than I am. He can cook better, clean faster, and has actually used a sewing machine. His grandmother taught him the basics when he was younger, so he knows all the parts and how to thread the machine. I am clueless. About a year ago we paid for a private lesson on how to use the machine and my homework had been to sew a pair of pajamas, which has yet to happen.

Instead, we decided today that we would sew the boys Easter shirts. And not just any Easter shirts. FABULOUS Easter shirts. So fabulous that all of my friends would take one look at them and want us to sew shirts for their kids as well.

See for yourself how it turned out...

I found a basic picture of an Easter Bunny off the internet, printed it and traced it on cardstock.

Then traced the bunny on fabric and cut it out.

...and pinned it to the onesie and started sewing.

Get yours today, while there is no wait! lol

I almost put the shirt on Deacon to have him model it for a picture, but I'm thinking that is borderline child abuse...it appears we might need a LITTLE more practice.

Bath Time!!

Deacon now has his bellybutton, which means he is ready to soak in the tub! Tonight was his first bath, and of course we took pictures (and videotaped) to document the occasion (and for future blackmail material...).

Although he shivered a bit, I really think he enjoyed himself!

Initial reaction:
Soaping up:

I think he was ready for me to stop taking pictures and give him his bath!

Baby Burrito!!!:

Look at those chubby arms!! :)

All dressed:

Showing off his nice, clean hair:

Just like his Momma, after a nice soak he is relaxed and ready for bed:

2 Weeks

This week you had your 2 week check-up and now weigh 9lbs. 14oz. and grew an inch, bringing you to 21 inches! It might have something to do with your 6 oz. feedings every 4-5 hours. Although you have been awake more this 2nd week, you still sleep most of the time, leaving mommy & daddy well rested. When awake, you are so easy-going and like to sit quietly looking around the room and especially like have your feet rubbed. Carson has been a big help fetching bottles, pacifiers, and toys to keep you happy, while yelling "Superhero Big Brother to the Rescue!!"

"I'm Gonna Miss This"

I just HAD to share my favorite blog of all time with you. It was written over a month ago by a blogger who is a stay-at-home mom, pregnant with their 5th child! She calls herself "MckMama" and all of her children have nicknames that sound straight from McDonalds.

I swear this blog gave me a whole new perspective on my amazing children and not to take one second for granted, even those seconds that are tough.

"How do you do it? How do you stay so calm with four young children?"

Part of it is just how God made me, I think. I am pretty calm with my children. And, honestly, often I stay calm even in the midst of chaos because, frankly, it's better than the alternative. A shrieking, freaking out mama is not going to make an already stressful situation any better. So, for the most part, I stay calm and try to be in the moment with my children.

But how do I do it?

There is one little bit of inspiration that literally descended upon me almost two years ago, while I was holding Nuggey in the bathroom, that has completely revolutionized my parenting. When I keep this truth in mind, I find it as easy as apple pie to stay calm in the midst of toddler chaos.

I remember that I'm gonna miss this.

It was dark, during the end of bathtime, and Prince Charming was gone. I was doing dinner, baths and bedtime myself those days, as my husband worked late. It had been, undoubtedly, a long day with the kids. Big Mac was three, Nuggey was one and a half and Small Fry was a baby. It is as clear as day still, this memory.

I was sitting on the toilet, drying MckNugget off after his bath. Small Fry, unable to roll, was sprawled on the floor of the bathroom on some towels, wearing nothing but a diaper and a grimace. Big Mac was still in the tub. He was squawking to get out and Small Fry was bellyaching for attention. But I slowly wrapped Nuggey up in his towel, determined to stay calm, and cuddled him in terrycloth. I slowly rocked him back and forth in my arms and sang Rock-a-bye Baby to my second born.

As I wrapped up the song, I prepared to sit Nuggey up and attend to the chaos that was the other children. After all, there were baths to finish, teeth to brush, diapers to put on, jammies to find and beds to tuck children into. But as he sensed me about to right him, Nuggey tossed his wet head back in my arms and looked up at me. "Uh-gain!"

So I sang Rock-a-bye Baby one more time, but I told him it would be the last. Yet when I finished, he begged again for more.

I didn't want to do more. I didn't want to sing to him one more time. I was tired. Tired of children, tired of singing, tired of the day. I just wanted it to be over. But then suddenly, as if fairy dust was sprinkled from the heavens right onto my tired head, the entire reality of my future set in.

I'm gonna miss this.

I looked down at little Nuggey, his damp eyelashes long and dark batting at me, his tiny bottom cradled in my hand, his soft, chubby legs thrown over my arm, his body entirely dependent on mine as I held him in my lap, and I could see the future. Nuggey, a grown boy, sporting a football jersey and facial hair, walked out of the bathroom. It was going to happen, and soon. And while I knew there would be joys with that time in my life, when our young children are teenagers and beyond, it struck me like a ton of bricks.

When that time comes, I'm gonna miss this.

When Nuggey comes home from college, barely speaks a word to me and hibernates in his bedroom all summer, I'm gonna miss this. As my mind fast forwarded to the future, I knew that at that moment, I would give anything for 20 year old Nuggey to be a toddler again, just for one more hour, so I could rock him and sing while I stroked his wet head.

And here, years earlier, I was being given my wish. I was able to rock Nuggey, a nearly helpless babe in arms, one more time.

Given a new perspective from which to see, I sang Rock-a-bye Baby as many times as Nuggey would let me that night. Eventually Small Fry found her hands and started admiring them, and Big Mac grabbed a new tub toy. And I relished that time with my son in my arms, knowing that soon enough he would be all grown, and my arms would ache to hold him like a baby again.

I'm gonna miss this.

My mind cannot help but wander to those parents who have lost children. What on earth would they not give to hold their children again, even for a moment. I bet they would not complain about having to sing Rock-a-bye Baby one more time. Rather, they would probably give their right arm to sing it ten million times until their voice was hoarse and their eyelids closed in slumber.

And women with empty wombs who long and pray and ache for children? What honor am I doing them if I take for granted the fact that I have children, young children who are begging me to cuddle them, sing to them. I will love those women who long for a baby by loving my babies and not taking them for granted.

So, I determined right there and then in the bathroom to try to be ever thankful for the moments I do have with my children. I will not wish away their young years, always hoping to get more laundry done or other children dried off. I will relish each kiss, hug and song. I will leave their childhood behind with no regrets, no "I love you" unsaid, no cheek unkissed, no request to "Cuddle wif' me!" turned down. Even as the macaroni flies and the Sharpie stains my table, even when there are midnight wailers and globs of Desitin under my fingernails, I know...

...I know I'm gonna miss this.

1 Week

We did so well keeping up with Carson's weekly pictures for the first year (you can view a few here), that I thought we would try again with Deacon. I was committing myself to at least take his monthly picture with a little blurb about what he is up to that month, but as his 7th day approached it felt weird not to do his weekly pic as well. I'll try my very best to keep up with it, but I'm not making any promises!

I can't wait to take his first month picture with the onesies that I blogged about here, that my wonderful friend Brandi bought for him:

Just a Walk in the Park

I was so oblivious when I had Carson. Throughout my pregnancy with him I envisioned our maternity leave together to be days where we both got dressed up and took trips to the park.

hah.

First of all he was born in December, not really a month for park weather. Second, he was a baby...one who couldn't lift his own head, let alone enjoy sliding or swings or even stay awake long enough to enjoy being outside, had the weather allowed. Gosh I was clueless!

Instead, we spent those first few weeks together staying in our pj's all day, sleeping, and watching Ellen. He was waking every 2-3 hours to be fed, so I was a sleepless zombie and so nervous and stressed every time he cried.

Oh, how different things are this time around. I feel so much calmer and have a little experience under my belt to know things like he won't die if I can't get to him in 30 seconds when the crying starts, or not to wake a sleeping baby to eat every 3 hours like the hospital tells you; they will let you know when they are hungry. I think God has also rewarded us with a big boy that can eat a little more which allows him to sleep in longer intervals. Which has left us rested and ready to take on the days!

Today brought us GORGEOUS weather!! A perfect day for a trip to the park. And we have a child old enough to actually enjoy it! (Although I think Deacon enjoyed himself as well.)

After getting loaded up in the car, we headed to our local park, which also sports a lovely pond with ducks to feed.
For some reason we had tons of stale bread at our house, and I think the ducks could smell it through the bag the way they were following Carson.

My boys! :)

The ducks were happy:

As you can see, Deacon was having a BLAST! (He is SO stinkin' cute!)

Next, we made our way over to the playground.

And the boys played some football:

...then back to the playground:

Do I really have to go back to work in a few short weeks??? I think we need to hit the lottery...