It has been a busy week in the best way! Time with friends, family, bible studies and a husband home all week long. This weekend is a busy one also, full of the same things.... friends, family and working on our bible study. That sweet husband is also going to Chicago on Sunday but we get to go with him this time!! I'm so excited to take Solomon with us for his first trip to the windy city. We have some warm winter wear for our little guy and I can't wait. 

Sweet cuddles with this sweet boy. He's even giving kisses when asked for them, not always, but when he does I wanna burst. 

Paaaaaaasta! With black olives and meatballs. Mmm!!!

The girls are finally laying eggs again! About time, it has been way too long without fresh eggs, and I don't even like eggs that much. 

a day in our life // 001

I've always loved reading "Day Routine" posts for other bloggers and I also thought this would be a sweet way to track the average day in our life. I think it would be fun to do one of these once a season so I can look back on an average day and remember what used to fill it from morning to night. My new favorite quote about parenthood is "the days are long but the weeks are fast". It is 100% true. It makes my heart hurt a little bit to think about how fast time has gone by. Just thinking that Solomon is four months old, and changing more every day, makes me want to write these little things down. All the little details that don't seem like much now but will when I look back one day. So, here are all the little details for a random Monday, because Mondays are one of my favorite days of the week, lately! 

Monday // 01.25.16

Mondays are easily one of my favorite days of the week. It is a nice slow start after a busy weekend and I look forward to having some one on one time with Solomon. I never know what time our mornings will start but right now we are usually out of the bed around 9:30, if not before then.

7:25 - wake up
Little man was not a fan of sleeping in (or much during last night, to be honest) so we started our day a little earlier than normal. I woke up to Peter taking a shower which normally doesn't wake us up but today was a different story. I asked Peter to make me some coffee before he headed downstairs to eat his breakfast. After laying around and cuddling with Solomon for a bit, I got up and washed my face, then headed downstairs with little man.

7:50 - breakfast
After changing a dirty diaper I sit down with my bowl of cereal and cup of coffee while Solomon plays on the floor. Rolling over and staring at daddy, his favorite things. Peter leaves for work and we hang out downstairs and change another dirty diaper until he screams and cries for a morning nap.

8:30 - first nap
We head upstairs to his room where I turn on the sound machine and music. I sit in his rocking chair to nurse him and let him fight sleep a little. He finally gives in around 8:45. I put him in his crib and head downstairs to wash diapers.

9:00 - relax
I normally use the first morning nap to clean up a bit but I did a lot of cleaning yesterday so I sat down on the couch to relax some and watch Kelly and Michael and do some blogging.

9:48 - awake
Solomon starts blabbing and asking for momma with his loud squeals in his crib so I head up to get him. We come back downstairs and I start the hot wash on his diapers then he plays in his bouncing seat for a few minutes. As normal, he wants a few sips of milk to make him happy again. We snuggle on the couch while he drinks some milk and blabs to me.

10:21 - shower
Once we are done playing on the couch we head upstairs so I can take a shower and get dressed while he plays on my bed. I know I don't have much longer to be able to do this since he is flipping and rolling around more. I make him a safe spot to play with pillows around him and some toys and thankfully he likes to watch me dry my hair and do my makeup so it's not that hard.

10:48 - hang out
Back downstairs to change a wet diaper and let him play in the floor with some toys while I eat a banana and drink some water. My hands are a bit shaky which normally happens when I forget to drink my morning glass of water. While eating my banana I start feeding Solomon for his big lunch at 11:00 and try to keep him awake. This is the hardest part of the day because he wants to go to sleep while he nurses but I can't let him. He usually doesn't like it. Finally around 11:30 he is finished eating and awake so we play in the floor and practice sitting up. He's getting really strong and can almost hold himself up!

11:40 - second nap
Now that he has played and been awake for almost two hours we head upstairs so he can take his second nap. Or so I thought.... Peter came home from lunch at noon and found me with a screaming baby upstairs. He reminded me that he is not a clock and I can't force his naps. We all come downstairs and Solomon plays in his bouncing seat while Peter and I eat lunch together.

12:35 - hang diapers
Since he was still not sleepy, he watched me hang clean diapers to dry in the laundry room since this is one of his favorite things. He lays in his rock and play squealing and talking until it is finally nap time. I change his diaper before heading upstairs and he is asleep in less than 10 minutes which is really good for my little sleep fighter.

1:00 - get things done
This is my time to run around like crazy and get things done. I need to workout, pump and start my bible study since we finally got our books from UPS today. Group is Tuesday night so I have to find time today and tomorrow to complete the homework for this week.

1:30 - crud
Solomon wakes up after only 30 min. Grrrr, so I press pause on my workout and go get him from his crib and put him in his rock and play. I make crazy faces and noises during the last 8 minutes of my workout so he will stay happy watching me.

1:40 - play and learn
I sit in the floor and play with Solomon and look through his activities for the day on my Baby Sparks app, which I love and he seems to love also!

2:00 - study
While Solomon plays in his bouncing seat while I start my study in How People Change

2:03 - no study
Ha, no way I can work on the study with moody pants not wanting to play in his toy. A short naptime makes things hard for momma, that's for sure. Instead I put him in his sling and walked around the house to calm him down. Works every time! I also decided to make some coffee since I didn't get a full cup this morning and I need it, especially after a long night and the workout!

2:25 - give in
Baby boy is still very fussy so I do what always works, give him some milk! No need to have a sad and grumpy boy when nursing can make him happy again. He falls asleep and I know he needs a good nap so I let him sleep in the rock and play next to the couch so I can finally get this study done.

2:50 - really study
This study is so good and I feel refreshed and happy after a tall glass of water and some bible and prayer time. 

4:00 - relax, part two

I get up from the couch and go check on the cloth diaper stuffers in the dryer and get a fresh glass of water and a spoon of peanut butter before I sit back down to watch The Kitchen (my new favorite show to record and watch when I have a chance!) and of course Solomon wakes up starving.

4:27 - feed 

Feed my crying baby and let him slowly wake up to his wonderful happy self and have some sweet conversations while we finish The Kitchen before his bath time!

4:50 - bath time
His favorite part of the day.... most babies love a bath before bed time but Solomon gets too excited to go to sleep after a bath. After we are finished in the bath I get to pick out a cute outfit for him, my favorite part of the day!

5:06 - picture time
Since he turned 19 weeks old today and wearing a cute outfit before going to dinner at Gigi's house, I thought it would be fun to take some pictures and share them on Facebook! After pictures I try and organize his room a bit while he lies on the floor rolling around. Before I get dressed for dinner I jump in the shower for a quick rinse since I worked out earlier. 

6:15 - dinner
Peter gets home and we head to my mom's for dinner. A favorite thing to do every Monday night! We eat dinner and hang out, then mom and I watch Downton while Peter works on his bible study, Solomon eats once and when he starts his screaming from being tired we decide it's time to leave. Monday nights are wonderful since my mom is dying for some Solomon time, so Peter and I get to be a little baby-less for a bit.

9:20 - head home
Peter works his daddy magic and puts him in his car seat and swings him to sleep within seconds. I married an amazing man!

9:30 - tea time
Once we are home, I head upstairs to put on my pjs and wash my face while Peter starts the water for out hot tea while Solomon finishes his nap in his car seat.

9:54 - diapers

While my tea is steeping I grab the diapers that are dry from this morning to stuff and prepare for tomorrow. Solomon wakes up and wants to sit in my lap and watch me work on them! We watch the last episode of Making a Murderer (Ohhh my!!!) and then we head to bed 

11:00 - bedtime

We are a family of night owls, especially Solomon!! It's ok, it works and we enjoy spending the evening as a family! I nurse and rock him in his room for a long time, around 45 minutes, and then I put him in his crib for the night. Around 40 minutes later he wakes up screaming just as I doze off, I'm too tired to rock him back to sleep so I put him in our bed where he easily falls back to sleep. We both aren't ready to end this wonderful co-sleeping arrangement. His snuggles are too sweet!

snow day.

Our weekend started out with anticipation of a lot of snow thanks to storm Jonas. We were seriously let down when we woke up on Friday morning. Just a slight dusting of white stuff and most of it was nasty ice, not snow. Finally, as we were going to bed on Friday night, the ground was covered in snow. I was so excited to wake up the next morning and take some pictures with Solomon on his first snow day. We spent maybe 15 minutes total outside, just the way I like snow days. The rest of the day was spent inside, under some blankets and watching Making a Murderer! The best way to stay warm on a cold day.

My little snow bunny, we love him so much!!

Hope you all had a beautiful and safe snowy weekend!

weekly three.

This week has been a quiet one.... around here on the blog, in our house and just in life. I'm trying to take time every day to rest and play with our little man. I have a lot of feelings going on recently thanks to our church and the sermon series we are doing, but more on that later. This weekend is supposed to be full of snow, but we don't have a ton yet. Just a slight dusting in areas and an icy back deck, but I'm excited to have a slow weekend and hopefully get some pictures outside for Solomon's first snow!! Hope you all have a beautiful weekend.

These little dinosaur feet were killing me this week! It also killed me that he could wear these pajamas because they are sized for 6 months. Stop growing, baby boy!!! Please!

Family date night to Carrabbas this week was a lot of fun! We received a gift card back when we had Solomon from my mom's office but we didn't even use it. It was a super sweet surprise to find out that the table behind us paid for our meal, we were blown away by the random act of kindness.

The workout DVDs came out today and I'm embarrassed to admit that it was the first workout in many, many months. Time to get this body back in shape, even if it is hard. 

to do list // Winter 2016.

March 20th is the first day of spring, and yea, I'm excited to see it arrive.... but I love the cold winter months also! Instead of doing monthly goals, I thought I'd change things up a bit and do seasonal to do lists. a little less structure and it will be a fun way to create little traditions (we all know how much I love a tradition) for our family! So, here are some fun things I'd love to do before spring arrives. 

1// have a bonfire, especially since the last one was rained out

2// officially create a cleaning schedule that works

3// start planning our family summer vacation 

4// establish a workout routine to help get this last ten pounds of baby weight off

5// have a girls night in with friends 

6// take some family photos with Solomon at six months (March 14th)

7// make a homemade pie

8// take mom out for lunch and a pedicure 

weekly three.

Today is a good day, my hubby is home and it's a day early, so that is always a nice surprise!! I love those fun, surprise calls that make the end of the week a little extra happy. This week has been a long one since we didn't leave the house from Sunday-Thursday but I didn't want to do too much in case we were going to have a relapse of the cold. Thankfully, we are both fine and healthy! This weekend is going to be full of family time and I can't wait!! Hope your weekend is slow and wonderful!

All the lovely, clean diapers ready to be used. Its funny how much I have grown to love cloth diapers, even stuffing them is therapeutic. So many other cloth diaper moms told me I'd feel that way but I didn't think it was possible.

So excited to be using my Christmas Gift for the first time!! I made this recipe and loved it!

And I'm so happy to have this Christmas gift hanging by our front door now! It really is the perfect place for it.

Solomon // four months.

12.18.15

I'm sitting on the couch holding you in my arms and you are drinking your morning milk. As I look around, I see the Christmas tree lit, and all the wrapping paper around for the gifts that haven't been wrapped yet. The list of things that need to be done before Christmas Eve is pretty long, but when I stop to feed you, everything seems to slow down. I think that's my favorite thing about nursing you. How you give me a chance to rest and hold you and soak everything in. I love this time with you. Yesterday while I was feeding you, you reached up and touched my face while I was watching tv. It was like you were reminding me that you were right there, looking up at me and wanting me to look at you. This was a first but I've been hoping for this moment for a long time. Even before I met you, I used to think about your little hands touching my face with affection. Such a sweet and simple way of showing you love me and I will cherish that moment. I kissed your hand and you smiled so big that milk went sliding down your cheek. I wish I could bottle you up right now, you are so sweet and becoming more aware of your surroundings, and you are definitely making me feel loved! Sweet baby boy, I love you back!!

12/25/15 {merry christmas} 

You are finally sleeping next to me and I'm afraid tonight is going to be a crazy night like last night. The fact that your fourth leap (the hardest so far in your wonder weeks) is happening right now is making Christmas very interesting. You are eating at crazy times, some four hour spaces and then long stretches of every hour feeding. You are not sleeping or napping well, which is a not so fun change to our routine, but I'm starting to realize that is part of parenthood. Taking a breath, saying some prayers and going with the ups and downs, while finding grace for yourself! 

Anyways, it's now 1am and any time I move you instantly move with me. You reach for my shirt or my arm and you won't settle until you feel safe next to me again. I have to say, I love how attached and needy you are during these leaps. It is so wonderful to know that you need me. 

1/1/16 {happy new year}

The past week has been a big blur of happy and something came up every time I thought about writing to you! 

Christmas and New Years was so much fun with you. You are observing everything right now and it's fun to watch the wonder and excitement in your eyes! 

You are still needing a lot of cuddles and love to be rocked and nursed to sleep. I honestly love it and can't imagine anything sweeter to do several times a day. I just put you in your crib and you started grabbing and twisting to try and find me. After patting and shhhushing for a bit you wouldn't settle, so I picked you back up to rock a little more. You instantly put your tiny little face into my neck and sighed the sweetest yawn. Moments like these are when I thank God for giving us the option as a family to allow me to stay home with you. I love these moments and wouldn't trade them for anything. 

Happy New Year, peanut! We are so excited to see what this year brings for us as a family. So many firsts to experience with you and I can't wait!

1/3/16 

Daddy left today for his longest work trip yet, two full weeks. I'm not looking forward to it and I know he will miss you so much. We will miss him too. Miss him coming home for lunch and after work everyday. Miss him walking in and asking where Mr. Solomon is and then watching that big smile come across your face. Miss all his silly songs and teaching you words to say. Miss his kisses and hugs. There's a lot to miss when your daddy is as sweet as yours. 

Tonight during our face time chat, you were so excited to hear his voice and see him. The way you look at him on the phone is so cute. We talked about our day and I told your dad that I missed him and loved him and after he replied to me, before hanging up, he said "I love you, Solomon" and you looked right at him and giggled, kicking your legs and throwing your arms with excitement. We do love you so much, and I love the way you show that love in return. I'm so thankful for how hard your daddy works, even when it is far away. We are so lucky to have him!!

1/5/16

I can't believe I'm actually going to say this but I feel like time has actually slowed down lately. It doesn't feel like you will be 4 months old in just a few days and it feels like forever ago that you turned 3 months old. It's wonderful how slow and steady things are recently. Maybe it is the post holiday blues but it isn't making me blue at all. 

You love to lay and talk to yourself and you tend to do this several times a day so I can get things done! Like cleaning, laundry, or even sitting on the couch and typing you this letter. Right now you are just laying on your side and talking to your hands, your best friends! ;) haha, you love those hands a lot. There are definitely times when you want to be attached to me and walked around the house, watching what I'm doing, but I don't mind that either! I love showing you my chores and talking to you about everything. "Momma's getting some water..... See the coffee cup, it's hot, so don't touch it..... See the laundry spinning and being cleaned...... Look outside at the crazy chickens eating bugs" the list could go on and on, and you love it! Especially now that you can be propped up on my hip. I'm so glad you love to see things from my perspective sometimes.  

1/11/16

So much has happened since I wrote last! Six days can mean a lot right now because you are growing so fast!! You have rolled over (January 7th) and I missed it! Since that night you have rolled over several times and it's funny to see your expression after. You don't seem too amused with it which makes me laugh. Your personality is coming through so strongly and I see so much of your dad in you! He has a very nonchalant attitude about most things, or doesn't give his big laughs very often, and you act the same way. I've seen other babies around your age that can giggle for anything but you definitely reserve your laughs for something truly funny, (like momma's crazy faces and noises) and even then it isn't a big laugh. Just a little chuckle and then you are back to your cool and calm self. 

Unfortunately, you do have my temper. You can be so relaxed and happy and then you are screaming and mad. You have a short fuse, and I'm sorry for giving that to you! I know there will be many moments in our future when we will test each other. I know I will lose my cool and so will you, but I pray that we can learn from each other and that we will have a forgiving heart since we are both sinners. I may be the mom but I am not perfect by any means. But, God is perfect, and I hope I always remind you of that. 

1/13/16

Tomorrow you are four months old. FOUR MONTHS! Geez, that went by fast. I can't believe all the things you are doing.... grabbing everything (even my face when you talk to me now!), I can hold you on my hip and you sit up and look around like a little bird, and you love to lay on your belly and spin circles like a break dancer! You really are growing so fast. Time is speeding back up now and I feel like you are bigger every day again. That slow and steady didn't last very long!

I chose the shirt for these pictures (thanks to Joni for the cute gift!!) because you make it known that you hate clothes and diapers almost every diaper change. I have to keep you occupied with a toy so you won't lay there and scream. The second I start putting the diaper back on you cry, and then when I try and get your legs back in your clothes, you cry even louder. You love being naked.... but I guess most boys do! 

But you are such a sweet boy. The way you smile and hold my hand throughout the day makes my heart want to burst. You show me you need me in the sweetest ways and I hope you know that I need you back. I can't imagine life without you and it is hard to remember a time when I didn't have such a sweet responsibility in my life. You make our family whole, and we are so in love with you. 

Love you so, so much!! 

-Momma

stats // 16 lbs. and 25 in.

eating // definitely a snacker like his daddy so he doesn't like a big meal at one time. So, our times between snacks are usually 2 hours unless I can get him to drink a lot before bed and he will sleep for 3-4 hours! He has also started waking me up at night by "hitting on his food source" instead of crying, it is so funny and so cute!
sleeping // thanks to the fourth leap we have started co-sleeping all night, even in the beginning. We were still trying to start in the crib but he would then wake up 30 minutes later screaming and then sleep for 3-4 hours next to me. I'm hoping once the leap is over (10 days left!) we can go back to starting in the crib!
The naps are definitely starting to have a pattern during the day. I'm trying to keep him awake for at least 1.5 hours and maybe 2 hours between naps and it has helped so much, thanks to my sis-in-law's advice!
Also, he has started only waking up once at night, between 3-4AM and then sleeps till around 8-9AM! I'm hoping this will stick when we switch things back to the crib but I really don't mind the snuggles in bed with him, especially since Peter has been out of town.

wearing // he has moved up to size 3 diapers already and I can't believe it! We have also started to use the cloth diapers and I love them. It isn't has hard as I imagined and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner but we are still using a disposable at night.

Still wearing 3-6 month clothes but they are definitely getting tighter!

favorite things // mimicking the sounds he hears and talking so much, rolling over now and jumping in his exercauser, started sucking his thumb some but not to pacify - mainly just out of boredom, sitting up in my lap and looking around like a big boy, and it is kind of strange but he loves hanging upside down, ha!

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1st Month // 2nd Month
3rd Month

sick days.

I always feared my first sick day as a momma and I was worried that having a fall/winter baby would make things a little trickier. I really try and wash my hands as much as possible to keep the germs away and keep us healthy, but I didn't stand a chance with the constant change in temperature around here. One of the most annoying parts of a southern winter. Some days it feels like spring, some days it feels like winter. With Peter traveling for work I didn't even try and manage at home alone all weekend. Instead, I packed our bags and we went to stay with Gigi for Friday and Saturday night, so we both could be taken care of. 

The mug definitely fits, but it should say BEST MOM EVER. on the flip side! I have memories of being sick as a kid and in all of them, I remember my mom making me comfy on the couch with all I needed right by my side. It was kind of the same as an adult but she just did the diaper changes and late night walking with my little man. It was so nice to know that I could pass him over and let him be spoiled a little. It was definitely spoiling me! And on top of all the help, a delicious breakfast is always appreciated when you are sick!!

bacon, cheese grits, napping babies and hot coffee. 

What else could a sick momma ask for?!?

All you can do is wash your hands constantly, feed your baby as much as possible and pray that all those good antibodies are being passed to him so he won't get sick. I've noticed a slight runny nose and some crusties around his nose but since I'm feeling better already, I'm hoping he won't get sick. Like I said, not much I can do when he constantly wants to be held and loved on. But, I am so thankful for my mom and all the love she was able to give him while I was sick!

Look at that drool...... HA!

Sweet Bella loved the company also, she was just constantly confused at why she couldn't play with her new dog toys Solomon's toys!

We love you so much, Gigi!! thank you for taking care of us!