8 Month Old Boy!

I know I say this with every post, but I don't believe my baby boy is already 8 months old. Life has been at full speed since my last post. With an unexpected, fast change in jobs, in effort to be closer at home and spend more time with my little man, our lives have been in somewhat of a whirlwind. Things are finally beginning to settle back down and it's SUMMER!! This has been my favorite summer by far. What can I say? I have the most precious little boy to enjoy it with who is always smiling, laughing, and loving on his momma. :)

I'm pretty sure this is what handsome looks like!

So, my baby boy is growing up. He adores being outside.  Baby toys are boring to him after a while, and he is always On. The. Go. He would much rather play with the remote control or my cell phone.  His sleeping habits are hit and miss. Some nights, he will sleep through the night, but other nights, he wakes up around 2 or 3. Still zero teeth, but the teething process is driving him crazy. He wears a size 3 diaper and a wears a size 9-12months in clothes. He is weighing in at a whopping 22 pounds! Momma gets her workout at home for the time being, especially now, since he thinks staying in one place in the room for longer than 5 minutes is so overrated. He loves his puppies, Babee and Belle. I'm pretty sure he will give them a good run for their money one day. He thinks their tails are fascinating and doesn't understand why Babee won't let him touch hers! She's so sensitive. Belle would let Sawyer grab her tail all day long. Doesn't bother her a bit. He still enjoys bath time so much. He has graduated from his "baby" tub and now in the big boy tub. Loves every second of it. He took his first "crawl" around 7 months, but really started moving around 7 1/2 months. Now, I am just chasing him all day long. He's going through a stage where he doesn't like his mommy to go very far out of his sight. I walk out of the living  room to the kitchen, he cries for me. He wants to be picked up, but then he wants back down. He still likes being rocked to sleep. I am pretty sure I've started a bad habit, but I keep telling myself, they are only babies once. Daddy is pretty happy that he's saying "Da Da." I'm not exactly sure that he knows what it means, but he loves to say it over and over. Blake says, "Of course, he knows what it means!" Ha! He also babbles all of the time and I love it. I don't know what he's saying, but in his world, he is making great conversation. If you were a fly on the wall in my house during the day, I think you would be amused at some of our conversations. ;)   


Sawyer had his first playdate last week with his two friends, Ellie and Abigail. It was the cutest thing ever. They had a blast. Abigail and Sawyer had a "wrestling match." It was adorable. It's so neat watching how babies interact with each other. He gets to have another playdate this week with his new buddy, Porter, who is only one day younger! They are going to have a pool day. We are pretty excited about that. On Friday, his other buddies, Ellie and Abigail want to have a second date! I just love that he already has so many friends his age! I 
foresee much fun in the future;) 

Sawyer, Ellie, and Abigail on their playdate. Fun times. 

Oh, sweet Sawyer. Daddy said he's going to have to work with you a little bit more. He can't let a girl take you down;)

So, yeah, my baby boy is growing up for sure. Sometimes, I just wish time could freeze, but I know there are many more adventures to come. I feel blessed to be called his momma and I wouldn't have my life any other way right now. Even on those sleepless nights:) In my book, it's all worth it. Seeing that beautiful smile that lights up any room is the best thing in the world. 

Look at that beautiful smile. You are truly my sunshine, sweet boy!

Happy 8 months, baby boy. Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back! 

Where does time go?

It has been way too long since I have updated.  Since I've re-entered the working world, sitting down to blog has not been as easy as it was when I was at home on maternity leave. But this mommy has been on spring break this week, thus here's my first blog post since the beginning of January!

Since I've gone back to work, my evenings consist of playing and cuddling with Sawyer and pretty much nothing else. I try to get more done at work while I'm at work instead of bringing it home like I used to do. The gym has been a no go ever since I have gone back to work. I just haven't been able to leave him when I get home. Hopefully, now that it's warm, I can at least go for a walk in the neighborhood with my Sawyer bear. My buddy and I walk the track at recess. I figure it is better than nothing at all. :)

Sweetness.

At around 4 months, things started feeling pretty "normal" again. Now, we are on some sort of schedule. Sawyer has really been an awesome sleeper since birth. But he really began sleeping through the night at around 4 months. That would explain why things began feeling normal. Ha! He has been sleeping in his big boy crib since he was about 2 months old. He has done well and seems to love it. Mommy and Daddy's bedroom is downstairs, so we haven't been sleeping downstairs. Instead, we sleep in a very tiny twin bed in Sawyer's room. Some nights, you may find one of us in the twin bed and the other in the comfy bed downstairs. We kind of like it up there. We like to say we have our own little nook:) I say every day that I am going to sleep downstairs and just rely on the monitor, but that's never fallen through. Maybe tonight should be the night. His room is exactly right above our room and you can literally hear every sound he makes, but still.

Our "nook"

Sawyer, you are 5 months old today! I cannot believe it. You are now turning over and over and over and over.... You don't stay on your back very long at all. You make Mommy giggle when you turn over to that little belly of yours and then fuss because you don't want to be on your tummy. I will turn you back over and you do the same thing again;) You are taking cereal like a pro now. It took you about 2 weeks to get the hang of it. Mommy was getting a bit worried. Mamaw Karen helped on this one. Thanks, Mamaw Karen! You absolutely adore the Giggle Bellies. Whoever created this is a genius. We gave you your first vegetables this week! Yay! So far, you have eaten peas and carrots. We couldn't believe how well you ate the peas! They kind of smell bad to me, but you don't seem to care. We can't seem to get them in your mouth fast enough! You are so unbelievably adorable when you eat. We just love you.You are wanting to put everything in your mouth now, especially Mommy and Daddy's fingers and your toes. You figured out how to get them in your mouth today. Daddy said, "At least you are flexible." You love to snuggle in the mornings and at night. I think Mommy has spoiled you just a little while she has been on Spring Break. I've rocked you A LOT. You go through quite a few outfits in one day now and you spit up on Mommy often. It's ok. Mommy doesn't mind it at all. You LOVE when people talk to you. Daddy is convinced you told him you loved him. You melt our hearts more and more every day with your smiles, laughs, and coos.Your favorite songs are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Mister Sun. They always make you smile the biggest smile.

5 months today!

This is what you look like when Daddy feeds you.

Our boy at 4 Months

We have a big healthy boy on our hands. At his 4 month checkup, Sawyer weighed 15 pounds and 8 ounces! Dr. Abby was also concerned about him wanting to lean his head to the left instead of holding it straight. She said his muscles were tight in one side of his neck and showed us some exercises to do with him. They will check it out again at his 6 month appointment.
So, Mommy has had a few tears today. Blake has been home with Sawyer since November, but his work called him last Thursday and told him to be back to work on Friday. First of all, we are so thankful to God for this. It needed to happen. God sure knows what He's doing. On the other hand, with such a short notice, I haven't had much time to prepare myself for this. Since I've gone back to work, I've been a bit spoiled, if you will, because Daddy has been home with little dude. He takes such awesome care of him.  I have already told my team at work to excuse my frazzled brain this week. Tomorrow, Blake's mom will keep him here at our house.We know he will be in good hands. It's just getting used to a new routine. Blake missed him like crazy on Friday. I know how hard it must have been for him. He has been home longer with Sawyer than I was before I had to go back to work. But we both are looking forward to loving on his sweet face when we get home tomorrow evening!

Hopefully, I won't wait so long to update again. Thanks for reading:) 

Motherhood and Teaching

I made it. I made it through the first day. Just as I had imagined I would, I left my house in tears yesterday morning. It wasn't that I was worried about Sawyer, if he was going to be taken care of, or that I don't like teaching anymore. It was none of that. It was just that I was going to miss Sawyer like crazy. I've been home with him 72 days and for that, I am so thankful. When I pulled out of the driveway, the tears streamed a little harder. I just felt this weird void right in the middle of my heart. The whole drive to work seems like a blur. I would dry the tears up for a little while, then they would start again. I was finally dry-eyed when I pulled into the parking lot at work, but the minute I started walking into the building, I felt the tears coming again. I just felt this overwhelming sense of anxiety and nervousness, while still missing my Sawyer bear to no end. I will not bore you with anymore tales of how many times I cried yesterday. Let's just say that up until about lunchtime, this girl struggled.

But of course, I had some amazing people around me ALL day. The huge amount of love, hugs, support, laughs, picture messages from Mr. Mom (as he was instructed to send...every 30 minutes)...these are all things that helped me make it through my 1st day back.

Here are some pictures that Blake sent me that helped me get through the day....

Look at that smiling face. 

The caption on this one was..."So fresh and so clean clean."

Y'all, I have the BEST office mate friend ever. She had my next week's plans completed, ready to go, all copied, and all sorted into their daily bins. It was like I had never left. I'm telling y'all, Susan Merryman is one hard worker and I consider myself highly favored/blessed to have the opportunity to work beside her. On top of that, my room was just as I had left it, actually it looked better. My interim, Ms. Meyers, did an AMAZING job and I know the kiddos are going to miss her tons. Lunch with my team at the Creamery was great therapy. My principal started our morning off with an inspirational message on how not to get so boggled down with worrying about things that we can't change and to have FUN while we teach. That was motivation in itself. So, yes, all these things and more yesterday helped me to remember that this is what I do. I teach. It's always been my passion and that hasn't changed. I think what I am scared of the most is just finding that balance between still being the best teacher I can be while at the same time, being the best mommy I can be. I know I'm not going to be working all those extra hours as I did before, because now, I have other priorities, too. I have a little boy at home who needs his mommy:) Can I still be that teacher who 20-some kids need too? Yes, because God has called me to be a teacher AND a mother. HE will be the one who gives me the daily strength I need. I just have to remember to ask.

So, Mr. Mom. How did he do yesterday? Phenomenal. First of all, he sent me pics throughout the day of Sawyer's smiling face. I knew he was happy. That was comfort. Daddy gave him a good bath, changed 2 poopy diapers, and made it through an hour of fussiness with the little man. Success! I walked in and Blake was rocking Sawyer asleep. Precious. I know I've said this before, but Blake's a pretty awesome Daddy. I think he will make a good Mr. Mom for a while. He even had the laundry done. That was a bonus. While I was at lunch yesterday with my girls, I got a text that said, "Hey, where is that baby carrying thing?" Thanks for the good laugh, honey. To come to find out, he was needing the baby carrier during that hour of "fussiness." He was trying to fix a grilled cheese, but Sawyer had other plans. I think Blake AND Sawyer were exhausted. I hadn't been home 15 minutes and both of them were passed out. I captured this picture of Blake.....priceless.

Usually, if Sawyer is going to sleep, I try everything to not wake him up. Yesterday when I got home and Blake was rocking him to sleep, I tried everything TO wake him up. He did just long enough to give me that smile that melts my heart and then he was out..asleep...dreaming of puppies and kittens:)

So, that's the story of my first day back to work in a nutshell. Once again, I feel beyond blessed to be at this stage in my life. God is good and He is good all the time. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we continue this journey. I know next week is still going to be tough, but I have a new and positive outlook. I CAN do this:) Thank you all so much for your support, comments, hugs, and prayers.

Maternity Leave Done and Blessings All Around

Fast forward.....10 weeks later. And my maternity leave is done. Over. Completed.

Tomorrow, I shall face the world of a new working momma. It seems like yesterday I was at the hospital anticipating the birth of the most precious baby boy. Most of you already know that I'm having a difficult time with leaving my little man. Many of you have listened to me go on and on already and talk whine about how I'm struggling with this and I want to thank you for listening. This week, my emotions have been just as out of control as they were when I had Sawyer in my tummy. He just gets more stinkin' cute every minute and it makes it that much more difficult. Tuesday night, as Sawyer and Blake were playing, he was making all kinds of different coos and that's when the tears really started flowing. What if I miss him roll over for the first time?  What if I miss his first big laugh? What if he says "Da Da" first? (And we all know that that just can't happen! Ha!) All these thoughts and more started running through my head. I hope it's normal for me to feel that super "guilty" feeling for leaving him every day. So many friends have given me such encouraging advice this week. I'm taking it all to heart. Some words that have stuck with me.....teaching is a calling from God, Sawyer's face is going to light up when his mommy gets home, it gets easier, and I have a great "mommy-friendly" job as far as the schedule goes.  And the biggest thing of all that is going to help me do this is the multitude of prayers and support I already feel from friends and co-workers.

I have been blessed to have had my husband at home with me since the beginning of November. It's one of those blessings that God gives you and you don't realize it at first. Financially, it has been a little more stressful, but having Blake here with me and Sawyer outweighs that burden any day. I'm so thankful for Blake. He has been beyond supportive. There have been many nights where he has let me sleep as he got up with Sawyer through the night. He's a better diaper changer than me! Side note for those who don't know....Blake is still at home with back issues as we wait for him to be placed in a different position at his job. So, not only will it be a shock for me tomorrow to be gone away from Sawyer, but it will be a double shock for Blake as he will be playing the role of "Mr. Mom." Again, another blessing. I won't  have to worry about packing up Sawyer and getting him out in these super cold mornings for now. Easier on Sawyer and easier on Momma. Maybe I will do a post on how it's working out for "Mr. Mom" in a few weeks;) Could get interesting. Ha!

I still want to go back and catch up on posts dating back to our first week at home since I am sort of using these blog posts to make up for my slack on keeping up on my baby books. But for now, I shall go kiss, hug, and love on my little angel before he goes night night! Here's to hoping Sawyer sleeps through the night again! Last night was his first time doing so and Mommy and Daddy were shocked when the clock said 6:15 a.m. this morning! He must know Mommy needs a "normal" sleep schedule;)

Even though it's going to be tough to be away from Sawyer, there is that huge part of me that is excited to see all my co-workers tomorrow and my room full of eager 2nd graders on Monday. I appreciate all the prayers of strength. Love to you all.

Playtime with Mommy is the best! Sure going to miss this during the day!