JLB {three months}

Three months old.  I wrote tonight on Instagram that I was going to stop blinking because the months keep flying by.  It's oh so true.  I have a three month old.  

This little boy has captured our hearts.  He has the sweetest disposition--  just so relaxed and calm.  I never felt like anything was absent from our lives, but somehow he fills in all the missing pieces.

Month three has brought changes.  Foremost my return to work and Jack's start at school.  He's handled it well considering. Naps at school are hit or miss.  There are days he takes a few good naps, and then days he hardly naps at all.  He's content, though, and has fallen madly in love with Ms. Traycee.  She is beloved by Reese, as well, and we are so thankful to have her loving on our Jack.

The benefit of daytime exhaustion is nighttime sleep.  Our babe is sleeping a good ten hours at night.  We take a bath around 6:50 then it's right to the rocking chair for a bottle and snuggles.  He remains the slowest eater ever, but is usually fast asleep in his crib by 7:45.  I take care of the bedtime feeding while Lofton handles bedtime for number one.  It's the perfect chance for me to recharge my mama batteries.  I miss my flock so much during the day.  We wake him most mornings between 5:45-6:00 to eat and get ready for the morning hustle.

Jack takes five six ounce bottles per day.  We still follow the Mom's on Call schedule, although with the hit or miss napping I have to be a bit more flexible.  We always have a 5:00 pm bottle, though, and then bedtime is firm.  Again, this sweet kiddo just rolls with it. He still takes medication for reflux and struggled this month with a nasty flare up.  We added a bit of rice cereal to a few of his bottles and things seem to have leveled out.  I'm not rushing to start solids, but also hope when we start those the reflux will hit the road.

This month has also brought with it newly acquired skills.  Jack is blowing bubbles, smiling unprompted {my favorite time being when I walk into his classroom}, grabbing for objects {although it is still hit or miss}, and on Wednesday {September 24} he rolled over from his tummy to his back.  It surprised us both.  I had just been telling someone at school that the second child syndrome had struck.  With your first you devote so much time to practicing every trick and encouraging every milestone.  With number two you're just content to ride the wave.  While Jack sleeps on his tummy we have been neglectful in practicing tummy time.  Between soccer and kindergarten homework, he's lucky to get a bath.

I'm still struggling to adequately express my feelings for this little guy.  Admittedly, my obsession with my children runs deep.  As with Reese my love for Jack grows with each day.

Stats:

Weight-- guessing between 15-16 pounds

Wearing-- 6 month clothes //plus a few 6-9 or 6-12 month onsies, size 2 diapers {barely} 

working mama

Four months.  That's how long I've been home.  It has been such a hard and special time.  The weeks leading up to Jack's birth were tough.  I felt awful and was so emotional about Reese's end as an only child.  It was sweet, sweet time with him, although our activities were limited.  This last month with only Jack at home has been equally as sweet.  Getting to know this baby of mine without anyone else here has been precious time well spent.

It's a month I chose to take, knowing someone else would be starting the school year in my place.  I've worked from home, an hour here and there, to write lesson plans and enter grades.  Tasks that don't go away even when you're on leave.  That's the job of a teacher, especially an elementary school teacher.  It doesn't stop and it's often exhausting.  But it's a job I love.  It's been strange to imagine someone else getting to know my kids and living in my second home, but so worth it to be with Jack.

Lofton and I talk often about God's calling in our lives.  Without a doubt he has called me to a wife to Lofton and a mama to our babies, but I know for certain that he's also called me to be a teacher.  What a blessing it is to be a part of these extra kiddo's lives.

Monday, I return to work.  I'm sad that our time at home is ending, but really my thankfulness that I've had these weeks outweighs anything else.  Am I going to cry?  Absolutely {a lot and often}.  But Jack is going to be loved on everyday by the sweet ladies who loved on Reese.  I have no doubts that he will be well taken care of. And we will all settle into a new routine.  The mornings will be hectic, as will the nights, and our weekend time as a family will become even more precious and protected.  I'll again be rushing from work at 3:30 to pick up my favorite five year old and then he'll travel with me to Auburn to scoop up our favorite baby.  And then I'll take a big, deep sigh of happiness because my chickadees are once again under my wing.