July...

We are having a wonderful summer!  This is the first summer that I can remember that I haven't left Birmingham at all so we are trying to live it up as much as we can here at home :) 

We started the month off going to Vestavia's I Love America Day - it was lots of fun!  This was my first outing with all three kiddos by myself (Graham was supposed to go but was called out on duty with the Sheriff's office at the last minute).  I was nervous with how it was going to go with all three, but they were great!

Watson went to a Barons game with the Andersons and Dad - he had a blast!  I asked him what his favorite part was and he said the hot dog :)

This squishy face is my favorite :)  Her hair is in a Carol Brady stage right now - Graham and I laugh all the time but she rocks it!

I never know what I'm going to see when I look in the backseat!

We finally made it to the pool!  :)  These sweet kids have been so patient not getting to go to the pool much this summer, so they were thrilled to be here.  I think I may have the two most cautious kids when it comes to being around the pool!  The most they venture out is...up to their knees.. We are putting them in swim lessons next year, though, so hopefully they will begin to feel more comfortable then!

This is a RARE sight around our house, but these two fell asleep one afternoon in my bed and I had to capture it!

We have spent a lot of evenings at the park.  Graham is such an incredible daddy to our three children - I couldn't be more thankful!

Bedtime shenanigans...

First set of pigtails...could she be any cuter?!!

They love each other!

How do we have 8 kids between the three of us?!  Good grief!  :)  These two have been my dear friends for 25 years - there is something so special about life long friends.  I love seeing our kids grow up together now!

We had a spend the night party with this cutie one night.  Caleb's parents, Brad and Brittany, are close friends of ours who happened to be in town for an event one evening.  We lucked up and got to spend time with them and keep their little one for the night!  Emma thought he was just the coolest!

Three Months...

Another month has come and gone and our sweet Mason is growing every day!  I don't have any weight/height stats on him because we won't go back to the doctor until 4 months, but rest assured this boy is getting chunkier by the day!

Size diapers: Size 1

Size clothes: 0-3 months and 3 months 

Eating: Nurses every 2.5-3 hours during the day and every 3-4 hours at night.  He has had a few nights where he will go 5 hours after his bedtime feeding before he wakes up to eat again.  Hopefully this is a sign of some longer stretches to come!  He does okay with a bottle, but doesn't love it.

Sleeping: I am at a loss on how to best get this boy to sleep!  He busts out of all swaddles, he slouches down in the rock n' play, he refuses to sleep flat on his back, the Merlin's Sleepsuit is too hot for him...I just don't know what to do!  I know he would do best on his tummy because that is how he takes all of his naps, but I'm still a little nervous for him to do that at night.  As soon as he starts rolling over I will feel better about that, but for now I'm at a loss....and tired :)  He takes about 3.5 naps a day...three in his crib on tummy, short cat nap in swing in the evening.  Although his crib is where I would love for him to have all of his naps, poor thing naps a lot in his car seat while we are on the go!

Here he is in the Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit...He does okay in it for a few hours, but then gets too hot.  I think it is hilarious though - Graham and I just laugh and laugh anytime we try to put him in it :) 

This little Samford Bulldog coos all day long.  It is the best!

Mason is such a smiley baby - I love how he smiles with his whole face :)

He is starting to make more eye contact and lock in on things - this is a huge thing for us because we were concerned for a little while about his inability to focus on anything or make eye contact!

Sweet baby loves sleeping on his tummy.  There have been several nights that I have let him sleep on his tummy and he really does so well with it!  He gets his longest stretches of sleep during the time that he is on his tummy.

Mason LOVES bath time!  We have started using his bath chair in the sink and he love it.  If he is fussy, this is a sure way to calm him down!

I cannot get him to take a paci for anything.  I know I should be glad that he is not into it, but there are times that it sure would be nice if he would take it!  Watson and Emma were full blown addicted to theirs, so I don't know what to do with a non-paci baby!

So far he is a sweet and sensitive little baby.  He does not like loud noises or when other babies/kids cry - both of these always make him cry! 

It has been so hot here this month and poor Mason has been feeling the effects of it!  Every time I pull him out of his car seat he is so sweaty!

I absolutely love watching these three together.  Watson and Emma fight over who gets to hold Mason or whose bed he is going to lay on during their bedtime routine - they love him so much!

June...

We are surviving the heat this summer!  It has been so incredibly hot this month and my poor kiddos have yet to go to the pool!  I can't have Mason out in this heat so rather than the pool we have been doing lots of water play at our house and at Manna and Poppa's house.

These two have done such an amazing job at transitioning to life as a family of 5 with a newborn.  They play well together 90% of the time and have been such great sports when Mommy has been feeding Mason all.day.every.day :)

This month we had VBS, which the kids LOVED!  Watson went to VBS at Dawson and Emma went to Valleydale, both in the same week.  They had so much fun!  I wasn't able to work at VBS this year since I have Mason with me all the time, so I didn't think my kids would be able to go to ours (preschoolers can only go at Valleydale if their mom is volunteering) so that's why I signed Watson up to go to Dawson.  Our preschool director told me that she had reserved two spots for my kids, though, so I was still able to send Emma to our VBS!  I really missed working at it, though!  I'm already looking forward to next year :)

This sweet girl had her recital this month.  I love watching her timid self light up and shine on stage!  She is a wonderful dancer...I'm biased, but it's the truth! 

Emma loving some kickball at VBS

These two have a special bond - always have!

For months we have been looking forward to our best friends coming and staying with us for a week.  I could not wait to have Briana here and let our kids spend time together!  Our time together didn't go quite as expected, though.  Poor Truett ended up in the hospital with broncolitis after just a couple days here :(  I was so sad on so many levels!!  We are going to reschedule our time together and pray that nothing happens...so far every time we have traveled to see each other something has happened!!  This is the only picture I took while they were here!

When everyone is going stir crazy we head to the carwash - Watson and Emma think it's just the greatest!

Two Months...

I can't believe another month has passed!  Our sweet boy is two months old and we could not be more in love.  He is seriously the sweetest, most laid back baby ever.  Everyone told me their third baby just goes with the flow, and so far Mason seems to fit the typical third child mold in that way!

Weight: 12.4 lbs

Height: 23"

Size diaper: Size 1

Size clothes: 0-3 month

Eating: Nurses every 2-3 hours during the day and typically every 2-4 hours at night.  He still has to be held up for a good while after eating due to reflux.   Nursing is going really well!  I did get mastitis this month when he went a 5 hour stretch one night, but thankfully the medicine worked quickly and I was feeling better in a couple of days.  I had reduced the amount of lecithin I was taking as well so I have bumped that back up to two in the morning and two at night - that stuff is seriously a miracle supplement for me!  I recommend it to everyone who struggles with clogged ducts and mastitis. 

Sleeping:  He is sleeping in his rock n play at night, swaddled in the Miracle Blanket or his velcro swaddle.  He is already managing to bust out of swaddles many nights - he's a strong boy!  For naps he sleeps on his tummy in the bassinet or in someone's arms :)  This mama is tired though - sleep is few and far between for me.  I keep reminding myself that sleep will come one day but boy does that day seem far away right now!

Poor baby is super gassy and grunts all day long.  We have started him on some reflux meds to see if that will help with the grunting and fussy squirming.  I really don't like for him to be on the meds, but it is pretty bad and he is so uncomfortable that I decided to try it.  He will cry and scream until he spits up - it makes me sad!

He has an umbilical hernia that scared me at first - I had no idea what was going on!  Dr. Wilson assures us that it does not bother him and will more than likely go away on its own within the next year.

Mason loves a good cuddle.  He would be perfectly content being held all day long...and between all of us that is generally what happens!

We have seen a couple of real smiles, but nothing consistent yet. 

Mason does really well in the car, thankfully!  He gets fussy if we sit still for a while, but as long as the car is moving he seems content and sleeps most of the time.

Here is is getting his first bath in the sink (we have been bathing him on the towels and he loves it, but we tried the sink and he was so happy!)

He has started cooing - my favorite little noises ever!

Mason LOVES his big brother.  Watson has a special way of calming Mason down when he is fussy - it is very helpful and sweet :)

Tummy time is going well - he likes his mirror and looking at his handsome self!  He does not fall asleep every time we try tummy time so we are making improvement!

This tongue is always hanging out!  I have never seen a baby do this but he sure does!  Of course I looked it up online and everything said this is a typical sign for children with Down Syndrome.  We talked with Dr. Wilson about it and she did a thorough check over him and said he definitely does not have Down Syndrome, but his tongue just may be a little big for his mouth right now.  She said as he grows his mouth will too and that little tongue will fit just fine!

Sweet cuddles - I am trying to soak up these days as much as I can.  There are definitely moments that are overwhelming and I find myself wondering how in the world am I going to manage a household of three children, but the Lord is so faithful and sweet in giving me these moments of pure joy with my boy. 

Emma loves her brother and is beginning to give him a little more of her time.  She shows him the most attention in the evenings before bed - we can't decide if this is out of wanting to spend time with Mason or if she is just stalling bedtime :)  I have a feeling it's the latter...

This sweet face gets more kisses than you can imagine!  There's one thing for sure Mason, you are on loved little boy!

In The Message version of the Bible, Psalm 127:3 says "Children are God's best gift" - oh how beautiful this truth is!  The Lord has blessed me and Graham with three beautiful, healthy children.  We could not be more thankful.  Thank you, Jesus!