Stockton- 9 Months

Wow I have dropped the ball with updates on my guy! He is 9 months old and we just love him so much! He is such a sweet baby. 

He usually goes to bed around 6:30, we have tried to push it back a little bit he struggles! He sleep until 5-6, takes an 8oz bottle then usually goes back to sleep for another hour. 

He loves his food and eats all the time! He definitely has to go with the flow being the second child, and sometimes has a 30 minute catnap in the morning since we are on the go. He makes up for it in the afternoon though and naps anywhere from 2-3 hours. 

Stats:

Weight- 21lbs 3oz- 75%

Length- 28.5 in- 53%

Head- 18.25 in- 85%

He is into EVERYTHING already! Puts it all in his mouth, can't take my eyes off of the little guy!

His little buddy, Charlie

Stockton 5 Months

This kid. He is such a sweet refresher in the midst of long days. One look at him smile and I melt. His cheeks are so yummy, and that round head of his! Gets me every time. 

Five months with him have been great. Mothering a baby is not easy...hello sleepless nights!...but so much better this time around. 

He is still waking up once to eat, but I'm sure it's because we put him down so early. He goes to sleep at 7 and sleeps until 6:30, with a wake up call around 2! I looked back at Addie's 5 month update, and she was sleeping through the night but we were also topping her off at 10. The other night, we topped Stockton off late, just to see what would happen, and he went all night! Last night he went down at 7 and woke up at 4! Why don't we do a dream feed? I don't know haha. For some reason, everything seems a little less dramatic the second time around. Maybe we are tired and just want to go to sleep? I don't know. It really isn't a big deal to me. I pretty much just love the fact that he goes down so early and can sleep til 6:30!

We have a pretty good routine going on for him. 

Wake/eat- 6:30

Nap- 8:00

Eat-10:00

Catnap-11:00

Nap (top off with eating so he can take a long nap)- 1:00-2:00

Eat-4:00 (or whenever he wakes up)

Catnap (sometimes)-5:00

Oatmeal-6ish

Bed/eat-7:00

He often takes a 2-3.5 hour afternoon nap, and if that runs long, I'll try to keep him awake until bedtime since he goes down so early. And obviously this changes all the time! We are on the go a lot, so I don't stay at home all day in order to tend to his schedule like I did with Addie. This kids is just going to learn how to go with the flow!

He usually gets his more in and long afternoon naps in his crib. Catnaps often happen in the car seat on our way to play dates or at the pool

He is an active little guy. He loves being on his tummy and rolling around. Puts everything in his mouth (yay), and sometimes puts the fingers of whoever is holding him in his mouth. PLEASE IF YOU ARE HOLDING MY CHILD, do not let him put your fingers in his mouth. This is a pet peeve of mine! Again I repeat, I do not want your fingers in my child's mouth!! :)

Stockton is such a joy and I can't imagine life without him! Love you little buddy!

Addie Update- Almost 3

My girl is almost 3! What?!

Here are a few things I want to remember about this time in her life. 

A couple of weeks ago she potty trained. We did it in 1 day. Really. The trick? 

-don't do it too early

I was dreading the potty, because honestly, it is so much easier to change a diaper. It didn't bother me. It isn't an inconvenience (besides buying the diapers). But a two year old who needs to go to the bathroom while you are in the back of Target and the bathrooms are at the front of the store?? Ugh. Just go in your diaper, please. Especially since I'm juggling two kids now. 

Well, I knew she couldn't be in a diaper forever. So one Saturday morning, we had a conversation. 

" Addie, no more diapers. Here are your panties."

Cue crying and tantrum for the next 3 hours. She begged for her diaper. BEGGED. But we said, nope. No more diaper. She had 1 accident that day. The very first time she had to "go," she started peeing in her panties and Eric ran her to her training potty that we put outside (haha) and she got a tiny drop in the potty. 

SO WE CELEBRATED!! 

And there is the story of her training success. In the past few weeks, she has had an accident maybe 4 or 5 times. It is rare. And she can go by herself. That is amazing. 

She has yet to #2 in the potty yet, and after I have discussed this with a few moms, I realized this is common. She gets a diaper twice a day. Nap time and bedtime. Because I am not waking up in the middle of the night to change sheets. She waits until nap time to go #2. If she really has to go, she will ask to go take a nap, because she knows she gets a diaper. Haha! Smart girl. 

This past year her language has really taken off. It's so fun to carry on conversations with her and be able to communicate. Here are a few Addie"isms" I want to remember:

Basnana-her BFF, Savannah

Tank tou- thank you

Moo me- excuse me

Yoyurt- yogurt

Dapes-grapes

Peetsys-feet

Banket-blanket

Hungey- hungry

A few of her favorite things:

Mickey Mouse

Her baby

Our chickens

Playing mommy

Singing

Coloring

Bubbles

Watering the garden

Going to the Y

A few of her common phrases:

I need my _____ (daddy, mommy, Stockton or whoever)

Watch me mommy

Ooo moo me (when she burps/toots)

I heared it (when she goes potty)

Pat pat pat (when she wipes hahaha)

I want to see my baby chicks

I want to wat nene darden (water the garden)

I need help

I want to doe (go) outside

Addie help

I huuungey - I'm hungry

Stockton 4 Months

*Other than family and child updates, I have taken my blogging to www.graceandlee.wordpress.com*

Stockton is FOUR months old, how time FLIES and how time CREEPS when you have a baby. It seems like he has been here forever!

We have enjoyed this little guy so, so much. He is so laid back. I realized I never posted a 3 month update, but the update is pretty much- eat, sleep, poop. Repeat. Not too much of a schedule.

He is currently:

• Babbling
• Laughing (grunting)
• Smiling ( a lot)
• He has rolled over maybe 3 times
• Grabs everything in his reach
• So aware of his surroundings. It is getting to the point where I may have to feed him in a place where there is few distractions.

He is putting himself on a pretty good schedule, I just nudge it in the right direction by providing him the opportunity to do what he already wants/needs to do.

This schedule is our ideal day. And not every day is ideal ;). Also, I would love for him to drink at least 5 oz every feeding, but again, he is a human, not a robot. 

7:00- First feeding (5 oz)

8:30- Nap

11:00- Feed (5 oz)

12:30- Nap (usually naps anywhere from 2-3.5 hours for this one)

3:00- Feed (5 oz)

5:00- Catnap (I wake him after 30 min so he'll go down at 7:30)

7:30-7:45- Last feed (5 oz) and bed

Sometimes he sleeps from 7:45-6:00 the next morning. Sometimes he wakes around 2am to eat. He isn't consistent with nighttime yet.

Addie still loves her brother so much, and he loves her! He smiles every time she comes around. It is precious :)

Mothers Day

Mother's Day. I really enjoy this day, and I think that it's okay to say. It brings both joy in sadness to people everywhere, and I pray that those who have heartache connected with this day with find the hope and peace that the Gospel promises.

This Mother's Day, of course we attempted a picture. I believe our picture captures the true essence of motherhood. It's not all rainbows and butterflies. In fact, my two year old is having a tantrum in the picture. I'd say that's as about as real as it gets. Well, I guess it would be even more real if my hair was pulled back, and I was in a pair of running leggings and tshirt. But we were on our way to church- my only excuse to look semi-decent :). 

I woke up this Mothers Day to fresh flowers and a breakfast of eggs, grits, toast, and bacon (my favorite, duh). We went off to church and then went to out to lunch! No cooking for me on this day! We had a hard time deciding where to eat, now that our life includes a wiggly two-year old. I ended up choosing a japanese place, the one's where they cook in front of you. Mainly because I thought Addie would entertained and would sit there.

Well. She did sit there. But she WAS SCARED. And started crying. So our chef didn't do anything fancy. I felt bad for the people sharing our table, but oh well! 

The rest of the day was filled with hanging at home and resting. It was nice :)

Month 2 with Stockton

The sweetest. Stockton is such a laid back baby. He is pretty predictable. He eats, is awake, then sleeps. Repeat. 

At night we top him off at 11:00, then he wakes up somewhere around 3-4am then 7am.

His routine is to eat every 3-4 hours.

He only really is fussy if he is hungry or sleepy. I'm am way more laid back with him then I was with Addie. I think knowing that the baby phase ends allows me to enjoy him more. I often hold him when he sleeps. I often neglect chores so that I can snuggle with him. I am really trying to treasure him. 

Addie still loves him so so much I am so thankful! 

Stockton One Month

I can't believe it has already been a month! While this month has flown by, it has also seemed so long...I can't imagine our family without our new little guy. 

There isn't too much to report, as Stockton is a sweet, low-maintenance baby. The fussiest he gets is when he is hungry and gassy...which don't we all!

We have had quite the roller coaster ride of breastfeeding, which I have written a separate, very personal letter. Some friends have wondered about my story, which I gladly email it out, as the Lord has sanctified me so much through our short little journey so far, and I choose to give Him glory. So let me know if you would like to read it, as I am more than happy to share!

He sleeps pretty great for a newborn. He goes about 3 hours at night and sometimes 4! Right now he is in the Rock N Play in our bedroom, so I can easily pop that paci back in. Addie never took a paci, but little Stockton loves it. 

Addie also is so in love with "baby broder," as she calls him. She smothers him. All with good, loving intentions of course. She has even started breastfeeding her baby doll...using her belly button. 

He is such a sweet blessing to us! I kiss his face all day long, treasuring this tiny body, as I now realize how fast they grow. We love this little guy!