Rosemary Beach

This summer I had a great idea to take a family beach trip for Fall Break.  Reese loves the beach and was admittedly disappointed that we didn't get to go this summer.  October at the beach is my absolute favorite so I booked a place in Rosemary Beach without a second thought.

 And I'm so glad I did.

It was the perfect trip and at just the right time.  The weather was amazing-- hot enough for Reese to swim but not so hot that Jack couldn't be on the beach.  We rented an umbrella both days and doll baby napped like a champ.  We stayed in a one bedroom carriage house that was maybe a 1/4 mile from the beach.  It was a great set-up for us as we don't need a lot of room.  The living room had a pull out couch but Reese preferred sleeping in the king size bed with us.  Of course.

We made one quick grocery trip for necessities and then didn't need the car again.  We were able to walk everywhere-- the beach, dinner, the pool-- pushing Jack in the bob stroller.  It really was such a relaxing and enjoyable vacation.  Lofton and I were a little unsure of what to expect with an almost four month old, but he did great.  Reese is always a champ about rolling with Jack's schedule, but he really got ample time playing in the sand and had no complaints when it was time to head back to the house for lunch or a nap.

Lofton and I are already thinking of a time we can go back.

JLB {four months}

A little late... 

Just like that another month zoomed by.  The gap between our children has made me to forget how rapidly the milestones and days fly past.

Jack is becoming sweeter and more laid back.  Is that possible?  He's developing his laugh and loves to use it.  He primarily laughs at Reese and Lofton, but I'm trying to up my game.  His voice doesn't seem to surprise him anymore and he squeals when he wants us to pay attention to him.  It's his "hey second child over here being neglected" squeal.

Our daily routine has stayed pretty consistent.  Both of my children do best on a schedule.  Wonder who they get that from?   I feed him at 6:00am, then he eats at school between 9:30-10:30 and again around 2:00.  We have a bottle around 5:00pm {although he doesn't always finish it} and then our bedtime bottle around 7:15.  He sleeps through the night most nights. We are going to introduce some rice cereal soon.  I'm hoping the introduction of solid food helps with the reflux.  It's still raging.

We had our first cold this month and it threw a wrench in our sleep.  Jack was so congested at night we were having to hold him upright to sleep.  It's taken a a week or so to get him back to his all night snooze routine but we are almost there.  We don't let him cry at night, but have let him fussed it out some.  He usually soothes himself back to sleep without needing us.

Jack discovered his hands this month.  More specifically, sucking on his fingers.  He has a tepid relationship with the pacifier.  If someone holds it in his mouth for him he likes it,  but the kid isn't holding it in on his own.  That's where the fingers have come into play. We can hear him on the monitor at night sucking on them.  He also does it in the car.  Unfortunately he gags himself more often than not.

His head control has improved and if we would practice tummy time more he'd probably be rolling all over.  The benefit for me of him being able to hold his head up is I can change the position I carry him in.  I love a hip baby and I swear the child would be perfectly content to perch there all day.  I'm enjoying these days of semi-imobility.  Jack tracks Reese's every move around the room and as soon as he can roll/crawl/move to follow him, I know he will.

A few notable events this month:  Jack was christened on October 5th by our friend, and pastor, Scott Bowen.   It was Scott's last service before leaving to lead a church in Tennessee.  Jack was under the weather but it was a special day nonetheless.  Additionally, we took a family trip to Rosemary Beach for Fall break.  It was amazing.

Stats:

Weight-- 17 pounds, six ounces {on Nov. 5}
Length-- 26 and 1/2 inches long

Wearing-- primarily 9 month clothes, he can still wear a few six month things depending on the stride // 6-12 month onesies//size 3 diapers

catching up

Life is busy and there are days we have a hard time catching our breath.  I don't foresee the pace slowing down anytime soon, though, so we're doing our best to enjoy this season we're in.

Lofton and I hit the ground running at five each morning.  There's dressing for work, bottles to make, lunches to pack, and children to wake and feed.  It's a carefully choreographed dance that we've perfected over the last month.  Lofton drops the boys at school and I'm responsible for pick up.

I make my race across town as soon as I can each afternoon.  I've become even more efficient in my classroom than before.  I will not take work home-- time with my kiddos is too precious-- and so I jam every bit of planning and paper grading into my mornings before the bell rings.  Jack is first on the pick up list and Reese is second.  It takes me about an hour to get from work to both kiddos schools and home.

Afternoons are a blur of homework, snacks, bottles, an occasional baby that needs to be rocked, and preparation for soccer practice.  Lofton swoops in for Reese when he gets off work and they are out the door.  Jack has held firm to his sevenish bedtime so I'm usually rocking him to sleep when the big boys return.  Lofton takes care of feeding Reese and getting him to bed.  Then we try to have an adult conversation before we go to bed and start anew.

It's rough and we're tired.  But we know it's a season.  And we wouldn't trade these hard days for anything.

Fall break starts Friday and we are headed to the beach.  A short vacation for just the four of us.  It's much needed time away to catch our breath.  The days are long, but these moments are short.  When Reese turned six a few weeks ago I found myself constantly thinking "did we do enough to enjoy the time we've had with him as our little boy?"  I know we did.  It was a silly question, but the sentiment remains.  Even in the busyness I want to enjoy this time.

JRB {six}

Reese,

You are my first born, the baby who made me a Mama. And today you are six.  If I really think hard about it, I fear I'll start crying and never stop.  We've officially turned the corner to little boy land. It's exhausting and amazing all at once.

You are such a boy these days.  Our lives are consumed with Legos and Ninja Turtles and soccer and football.  You come home from school sweaty and dirty.  Full of silly stories about lunch and friends and recess.  You're chatty-- maybe too chatty-- at school, but I'm learning to let go and not worry about it.  If talking is the worst of your problems, we'll be okay.

This year has brought with it homework and learning to read.  You continue to love books and are picking up more and more words you can read independently.  We still read Jack and Annie {Magic Tree House} books daily.

Each afternoon we race home to watch WildKrats on PBS.  It's about two brothers whom are scientists.  You have become a walking encyclopedia of information on habitats and exotic animals.  Currently you want to be a football playing scientist when you grow up.

In addition to reading, you have developed a love for writing.  I bought you a few notepads at Target and we now find notes all over the house.  After one particularly sassy evening, I went to bed and found a love note from you on my bedside table.  That's so you, though.  Strong willed and full of sass, but with such a heart of gold.  You love so deeply and always have.

In the last month your love for Jack has exploded.  You ask to hold him all the time. Watching you with your brother melts my heart.

God knew what he was doing when he gave me you.  You are my best little friend, my favorite errand runner, my heart.  You challenge me, but it's because we are so similar.  I have prayed this verse over you since you were born and now more than ever it rings true-- Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

I pray for you.  I pray you stay the same funny, kind hearted, science loving kiddo you are right now.  You are a good friend, a great brother, and the most amazing son.  Your daddy and I are so incredibly proud of you.

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.

JLB {two months}

Our Jack is two months old.  The days fly by and life with him as a piece of our puzzle just keeps getting better.  We all agree he is the sweetest addition to our family.

Month two has brought lots of changes and adventures.

We have continued to try and follow a daily schedule.  I've found that it helps Jack sleep more consistently at night-- always a plus.  I use Mom's on Call {with the exception of the swaddling component} and if I follow the schedule they've laid out he does wonderfully.  Currently we are using the 8-16 week schedule. Our days begin with a 6:30 feeding.  He then eats 5-6 ounces every three hours or so with two good naps thrown in.  There's usually a cat nap or two in there as well, but they aren't nearly as consistent.  In the afternoon, he gets a bottle around 4:00, a snack at 6:00, and then bath and a bedtime bottle around 7:30.  We've followed this schedule for three days now with relative success.  Friday night he slept from 8:00-6:20, Saturday night he woke up at 4:00 for a snack but then easily went back to sleep, and Sunday night he slept from 8:00- 6:30.  He woke up fussy around 2:00 but a little patting {and reinserting the pacifier} and we were good to go.  Lofton would say I'm obsessive about the following the schedule, but as I tell him the schedule works.

Emo came at the beginning of August to keep the boys so I could work in my classroom.  It was the first time I left Jack for any length of time.  He did great, I cried on the way to work.  We also had a visit this month from Aunt Linda and then an overnight visit with Cassie and Penelope.  Before Reese started school, he worked as my assistant and we practiced getting out a few times without Lofton.  I try to work our errands around Jack's feeding and nap times so no outing lasts too long.  We've been to Target, Publix, and the post office.  I wear him in the baby wrap every time.  My cuddly baby loves to snuggle up and more often than not snoozes.  Our favorite errand to run is a daily one; picking up big brother from school.  We've also been out to eat a few times this month.  Jack either sleeps or just contently looks around.

Jack also went to church for the first time this month.  He stays with me, not in the nursery, but basically just sleeps like a champ right on through service.  Dream baby.  Jack also took two car trips this month.  One to Buck and Emo's house and the other to Atlanta.  Both trips he slept almost the entire time.  Reese was a horrible car rider, so I was prepared for the worst, but aside from a few fussy moments right around nap time Jack was perfect.

Our reflux is improving and with the combination of Similac Sensitive for Spit Up and Zantac we seem to have it under control. I'm hoping sometime between twelve and sixteen weeks he'll outgrow it, but with the stomach issues both my other boys have I'm not holding my breath.

My favorite part of month two has been Jack cooing and talking.  His voice still surprises him sometimes, but it is sweet music to this mama's ears.  Big brother likes to chat with him, too.  In addition to the baby coos, Jack has started smiling.  He smiles out of the side of his mouth like a certain five year old used to do.  I melt. He's started kicking his legs and waving his arms around when he gets excited, can hold his head up for extended periods of time, and has really started focusing on objects and people.  I call him my deep thinker because when he's really staring at someone his brow furrows.  He continues to be such a laid back baby and a complete mama's boy.

I would say with confidence that month two is where we hit our stride.  I know there is lots of change coming our way {hello going back to work in two weeks}, but for now we've hit a sweet spot.

Stats:
Weight-- 13 lbs, 8 ozs. {94%}
Height-- 23 and 3/4 inches {85%}
Head Circumference: 16 and 1/2 inches {95%}
Wearing-- 3 to 6 month clothes //plus a few 6 month onsies, size 2 diapers