First Easter

Hunter really enjoyed his first Easter!As much as I LOVE Easter....it will never be the same without my mom. I can't help it, but I seem to get frustrated when I think about the love that Hunter is missing out on! Zsa-Zsa would have filled Hunter's heart and Easter basket with goodies, hugs and love! Easter aside...Zsa-Zsa would eat Hunter up! I'm so confident that Hunter and my mom have spent a lot of time together! His spunk so reminds me of her! She could light up any room...so can he! Her smile was contagious...so is his! Her energy filled any room...so does his! She exuded happiness...so does he!
 I think of my mom every time he flashes that BIG OLE smile! I know she is forever a part of his soul, I would do ANYTHING if she could physically be part of his daily life.... Lord knows she would breathe Hunter's breath, smile his smile, hold his hand, and embrace every heart beat!

Scott and I often reflect on our memories with my sweet mom. Her "family roots livin" is the foundation of our home and future! Truly, the most giving, loyal, fun, energetic, loving person I will ever know, and I'm sad that Hunter will not experience "Zsa-Zsa!" She used to tell me that, "being a grandmother was her favorite phase of life," and she was a damn good one! I do my BEST to incorporate her mothering techniques and skills...she was just "naturally a GREAT MOM!" I sure do hope that I am half as good as her! Holidays were always so special with my mom, and I can say that Hunter's first Easter was very special!! Cheers to many more holidays with my mom's spirit as the root of each tradition!!

Now some Hunter facts: Hunter's hair is growing in two different colors...dark on top and light on the sides! So, it looks like he has a Mohawk...so funny! The Mohawk really fits his personality...spunky!! We put 2 diapers on Hunter at night because he was peeing up his back...the overnight diapers didn't work. 2 diapers does the trick!! Hunter is getting surgery on May 6 to remove an ear skin tag...prayers are so appreciated. We have taken all precautions in preparation for surgery because the surgery will include anesthesia. Some scans were not covered by insurance, but closing the door on fear of unknown was worth every dollar! I wanted to make sure that there was not any heart birth defects that would have resulted in a wacky reaction to anesthesia....phew, thank you God, all looks good! He really is getting to be a chunky little fella...and I love every roll!! Pictures of Easter, his first time to swim, cousins, and friends!

"Baby Baking" and Happy Easter!

I came up with a wonderful analogy, "Having a baby is like baking a cake!" Follow me here....
                        

Why do people use recipes??? So you can REPEAT A GOOD THING!

Feel free to leave your "baking advice" and recipes, because secrets from everyone's kitchen is interesting and appreciated!

Every baby is different, just like every cake is different. It takes "just the right" ingredients for each cake...vanilla, coconut, chocolate...all need different ingredients, measurements, and cook times. Each baby has its own "recipe." The basic ingredients for the "baby cake" is sleep, food,play (and the icing is LOVE time!) Some require more sleep, more food, more TLC, more structure, etc. If ONE ingredient is off...well then, the whole damn cake tastes like crap! The first few months of your babies life, you are trying to figure out that recipe. Right when your "cake taste just right!"....bam, the "oven breaks" and he needs new "measurements!" The recipe needs change as each month passes and milestones are being met.

There are "periods of peace" where you can have your cake and eat it too! Then, there is a transitional period...then a period of peace...over and over, probably for the rest of my life! Only the mom (aka: "cake baker") knows the secret recipe and knows what will happen if there is not enough flour, or not enough eggs, or too much vanilla. Just like a mom knows what kind of day it will be based solely on the result of the morning nap!

My "baby baking" is much more successful if I follow the most current recipe (aka: schedule). I know the exact measurements of each ingredient if I want a happy Hunter that sleeps 12 hours at night! Sometimes the recipe doesn't go as planned and the cake doesn't taste as good as yesterday or the day before...some days you just have accept the "curveballs in the kitchen!" Some bakers "wing it" from cake to cake and their recipe is written in pencil....(ex: he can only be awake for 3 hours, he doesn't eat a lot in the evening, he takes a short afternoon nap.) Other bakers, like me write in pen and 'try' to follow the recipe verbatim! Sometimes my pen runs out of ink or I lookse my pen! Either way...if the baby is happy, healthy, growing...in my opinion, you're a GOOD COOK! 

*the rest of this blog is for me to refer to with future babies, although I know that the next "cake will call for a different recipe," but it may be helpful to remember these ingredients!*

6-7 Month Hunter Cake Recipe

• 7:00-7:30 Wake time. Yes, we wake him by 7:30 if he's not awake. This is "Daddy time!" They take the dogs out, watch some "toons" and lounge around while mommy is walking and getting ready for the day! During the week, Hunter "helps" Scott get ready for work! Some of the best advice I've been given...don't feed him right away because mom can use that morning time for herself....SO TRUE!
• 8:00 Breastfeed, followed by about 2 tbs. of baby oatmeal with fruit mixed in
• 8:45-10:30 Morning nap. I wake him up by 11:00 if he's still sleeping. I am all packed and ready to walk out the door when I get him out of crib.
• 11:00 Breastfeeding (either at home before we leave or in the car, on the go)
• 11:00-1:30 Outing (play date, lunch, Bible Study, shopping, errands, etc)
• 1:30 Breastfeeding at home
• 1:45-3:30 Afternoon nap. I wake him by 4:00 is he's still sleeping.
• 4:00-5:00 In house playtime, neighborhood stroll or out until dinner
• 5:00 Breastfeeding (home or on the go)
• 5:15-6:30 Maybe run an errand, but mostly play at home and cook dinner until Dad gets home.Then, its totally Daddy time the second Scott walks in!
• 6:30 Dinner, about 2-3 tbs of multi grain rice cereal (we will soon mix in vegetables.) Scott feeds him while we all eat dinner together...this is my favorite time of day!
• 7:00 Nighttime routine (about 6 oz. pumped milk, read Goodnight Moon, say prayer, in crib)
• 7:20.... Mommy and Daddy time
• 9:30 Top off feeding of only half of one ounce...I know it's such a tiny amount-pointless, but we are slowly weaning him from this (we used to do 2 oz). We are giving him less daily, and I know this small amount is not helping him sleep, but I continue it based upon "why fix what aint broke!" But, I am ready to BE DONE with this. My goal is by the first wknd of May...I have a feeling this will entail some crying, and mega pacifier! Any tips?

Pictures of Easter bunny with friend Connor Lankford, and playing with Kinsley and Bentley. And my "blowing raspberry" face!!

                                    

                                                        



                                                      

7 months

Time is such a funny thing! It moves slow when you stare at a clock-tick,tick,tick! But, yet it moves so fast when you are "livin' it up!" I have never really "wished" for anything, except for the healing of my mom! Since that wish didn't come true, maybe this one will...I wish that I could bottle up every moment and keep things just as they are right now! Since this is not a realistic wish, I am going to capture each moment that I can in my "blog bottle" so I can remember what it felt like to be in the best time of our lives, so far ;-)!!

If I were the "gambling type" I would bet that Hunter is going to be a handful!! In the midst of his screeching laugh with his mouth wide open-he gives me this eye that says, "Hold on momma!" He is so sweet, funny, patient, calm, easy going, cute, loving,content, entertaining.....and the biggest compliment that we hear daily, "He is such a happy baby!" That is music to my heart!

• 17.11 lbs
• makes "panting" noises when he is excited, he may be copying the dogs!
• he is very strong, solid and sturdy. It's like holding a sandbag!
• waves at the dogs and people (sideways wave!)
• reaches for everything
• no teeth yet
• still not interested in rolling from back to belly...he is perfectly happy on his back!
• however, rolls quickly from belly to back...again, perfectly happy on his back!
• such a still sleeper
• he is full of soft fat rolls, especially on his thighs
• knows to smile at the camera

Just sayin'

We read a wonderful book in my young mothers Bible Study. Something that stood out to me is....you never remember the exact moment of your last bottle feeding, your last diaper change, your last time to buckle the car seat...life moves too fast! I took this message and have tried to live "like every moment is my last!"

I will never forget today- April 7, 2011....this COULD be the last day that my little boy slept on my chest! He never sleeps on me anymore. I can't remember the last time he did! He literally fell asleep on me during our nighttime feeding, and I just sat there and rocked, and rocked, and rocked! He snored and I stared...stared at my sweet little baby that is already growing into a sweet big boy!

I couldn't have felt more connected to my mom! I miss her more than anything in the world! I had no clue how much I was going to love Hunter! My mom...she was a "one of a kind mom!" I have learned from THE BEST. Now, I just hope I am half as good as her. She was so special to so many!! The most giving, loyal and FUN person I will ever know!

Days with Hunter....

Are full of love and LAUGHTER! He is such a funny guy, and he always has his big ole mouth wide open! This is going to be a long post- I apologize in advance....I just feel like he is growing SO fast, I want to document everything!

Hunter is constantly "blowing raspberries!" Scott doesn't know what that means...it means "spitting/making tooting noises" with mouth. He looks like such a boy when he does this! We now eat baby oatmeal in the morning after his 8:00 feeding and rice cereal after his 5:00 feeding. Just a few days ago, we started putting baby food in his oatmeal. We have tried peas and are now on carrots. He literally gagged and threw up the peas...but kept opening his mouth for more! Of course, he blew raspberries with peas in his mouth!! I'm the one who needs to wear a bib! Carrots...another story! He loves carrots, and hasn't spit one drop out! Next up is squash and sweet potatoes. His eating throughout the day consists of breastfeeding 5 times a day, and we added the meals after 2 breastfeeding sessions- the boy is an EATER!

My sweet friend is making me all the baby food...how nice! She makes organic baby food from scratch and packages it into serving sizes! Every bag is labeled and frozen! She even made me a "food calendar" so I can keep up with his food progression. She has me so organized, and I have at least 2-3 months of baby food ready to go! Makes my life super easy, and Hunter is getting some great "home-cookin'!"

Scott and I are truly in the best time of life right now! Our little family is in such a peaceful, happy place! We are soaking in every second, and we better "buckle up" because I think LOTS more fun and adventure is on the way! Scott and I still have regular date nights...thanks to our family and friends! And, our "favorite" babysitter is my 11 (almost 12 year old) nephew! We put Hunter to sleep at 7:00...so Sam sits at our house while we go "party"...always with in 10 minutes from home! Sam and I negotiated his pay (with my brothers guidance)....$5 for the first hour and $3 for each hour after! Can't beat it! He is so responsible and sweet! He told me, "He deserves every dollar because he checks on Hunter A LOT!"

Scott and I love our dates, and we act like we are 15 again...seriously! I sometimes wonder if I am mature enough to have a child! I also have regular "GIRLS NIGHT OUT!" Scott loves to have Hunter to himself, and I enjoy the girl time...there's nothing else in the world like it! My o my-we laugh SO hard! Love my girls, and I sure do love my two favorite boys....my Dad of course makes 3 favorites!!!!