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!

Stockton's Birth Story

This pregnancy and labor was different than the last. The few weeks leading up to Stockton's birth, I experienced labor-like contractions often, particularly at night. I would wake up in the middle of the night in pain, and think, "this is it."

Every time I was wrong. It wasn't "it."  I would wake up for the day very discouraged and very sleep deprived. What I thought was labor disappeared and here I was, still pregnant. 

Addie Grace was born at 36weeks 5days, so you can imagine how long this wait to 40 weeks felt. I thought I would have him even earlier, and we sat in anticipation for a month. This was exhausting and draining. If I would have gone to 40 weeks with AG, then of course I would have carried on with life until then. 

But I didn't carry on. 

We waited. And waited. And I drove myself insane waiting. 

The doctors told me that I would probably not make it to my due date. 

So I anticipated for 4 long, very long weeks. 

Within those four weeks, there were many instances when I thought I was going into labor, only to be wrong.

I even refused to get "checked" at my 36 week appointment, just to be on the safe side that it could potentially put me into labor. I at least wanted to make it to week 37 this time around. 

When I made it to 37 weeks, I was surprised. I went in for my check up, and I had the doctor check me, mainly out of curiosity on my end. He told me I was 2 cm and 50% effaced. He then asked me if I wanted him to "help things along."

As tempting as this offer was, I turned him down and decided to wait for when the baby was ready. I did not realize that meant three more weeks!

When I was pregnant with AG, I never felt miserable. This pregnancy was a different story. I think the combination of constant anticipation, not sleeping, and lots of false labor contributed to feeling awful. I was so ready to have this baby, and it felt like he just was never going to come.

Through the wait, my prayer was not that I would have this baby "today," but I asked God that he would sanctify me through the waiting. And I had to pray and trust A LOT. 

When the doctor asked if I wanted him to "help things along," the impatient part of me screamed, "Yes! Yes please!" But how could I pray for sanctification and then try to take things into my own hands? No. I knew I must wait.

Four days before my due date I had another appointment. I was 4 cm and 80% effaced. There was no way I was going to make it to my due date. The doctor told me that since I was 4 cm, they would not send me home from the hospital when the time came for us to go. 

After that appointment, I begin to have labor-like contractions. I knew this was it. My mom even drove up for the weekend just in case. Yet another false alarm. I was so frustrated and in tears, everything I thought I knew about my body seemed untrue. I didn't know anything anymore. 

Well, my due date slowly approached, and to everyone's shock, I was still pregnant. I constantly got the comments, "still pregnant?!" and "when is that baby coming?!". 

Last "bump" pic on my due date

That morning before my "Due Date" doctor appointment, I took Addie to the Science Museum to kill time. Might as well not just sit around waiting for labor to come! So we carried on like normal. We got home around 11:30, and  I started to have labor-like contractions. Again. I told myself they would probably go away. BUT just in case, we asked Eric's mom if she would take Addie, in hopes that this was real. Eric went to the doctor appointment with me, and we were both anticipating that maybe they would send us to the hospital. At my appointment they hooked me up to the contraction monitor and watched me for 30 minutes. My contractions were consistent, around 6 to 7 minutes apart.

When the doctor saw me, she said I was still 4 cm and 80% effaced. No progress. By this point, we set an induction date. 

We went home, and I was in tears. I was exhausted, uncomfortable, and just plain frustrated. 

My contractions, however, never went away. They got stronger. By 7:00 pm, I was certain that this was labor but not sure if we should go to the hospital yet. I labored at home with Addie until I was in raging, transitional labor and my water broke. I expected to labor the same way with Stockton, yet I knew if I waited until that point then it was likely that I would labor all night long, and to be honest, I was so exhausted from not sleeping the past few weeks, I just wasn't sure I could endure. 

So around 7:30, I told Eric that we should just go to the hospital. We knew they wouldn't send us home since I was already 4cm. My contractions were consistent and strong but not unbearable. 

We checked in, waited for 30-45 min, and they put us in triage. The nurse came to check me, and I was STILL 4cm! What!!!!

They let me stay though and took me to a delivery room. By the time I got set up in our room, my contractions increased in strength like crazy. I told them immediately I wanted an epidural, so I could get that ball rolling. It took about 45-60 min for the epidural to arrive, and during that time, I was in raging labor. My contractions were much stronger than I remember with AG. I tried so hard to allow my body to relax so I could breathe and labor through them, but my body would not cooperate. I was sitting on the bed and shaking so badly from the pain of the contractions, Eric had to put pressure on my legs using his body weight to help stabilize me so I could try and relax to breathe through the contractions. 

Finally, the epidural arrived. After I got it and was comfortable, they checked me and I was 5.5 cm. I decided that I wanted to rest for awhile since I hadn't slept much the past month. Eric decided he was hungry and I suggested that he go to Wendy's and get food. It was midnight by the point, I was only 5.5 cm, and I wanted to take a nap. I figured it would be awhile before any pushing happens, so he better eat now while he can!

He was gone for 20 minutes, came back, started eating, then all of the sudden my nurse calls for help. They couldn't find Stockton's heartbeat and I started bleeding profusely. 

The head nurse asked my nurse if I had been checked lately...they checked me and I was now 9cm. I went from 5.5 to 9 cm about 30 minutes which is why I started bleeding. 

They found Stockton's heartbeat, called Dr. McComb in the room, and he had to break my water. After that, I alternated relaxing/pushing for the next hour. After about an hour, we decided Stockton was ready, called the doctor in, I pushed 2 times, and he was born at 2:10am!

6lbs 11oz and 20.5inches 

Coming home from the hospital, big sister was so excited!