I honestly can't believe that  Solomon has been in our arms for over 41 weeks now. Monday made it a full 41 weeks and he was born at exactly that many weeks. 2:04 am, my life changed forever. I think back on that morning so often and this picture is forever stuck in my mind......

I see it a lot. This moment is my second favorite moment of Solomon's birth story, the first being when I brought him to my chest. The moment in that picture is so special to me because I could feel the Lord so strongly. He was holding me and helping me in that room. There I was swaying on a ball, holding on to the bed, Peter rubbing my back and listening to Seas of Crimson and feeling no pain at all. I kind of left this part out of the birth story for some reason? I don't know why.... It is such a sweet and loving part, but I think I was worried about sounding like a crazy person. Now looking back, I know I lived those sweet moments with Jesus, so that I could share them. 

While I sat on that ball, crying and singing and worshiping our amazing savior, I felt no pain. I could feel a contraction come and go, but there was nothing to hurt me. I felt my face relax, I felt the smile come across my face, and I sank into His goodness. I remember my sweet midwife saying it's okay to be scared when I started crying, since she thought I was crying out of fear. I told her that I wasn't afraid, I was so happy and excited!! As I sat there and prayed, she held my hand and said He is here with you. She was such an angel in that moment. He was in that room and He was in control. 

Now that our sweet boy is getting so big and active, I'm starting to crave pregnancy again. I mean, a deep desire to have another baby. I knew while I was pregnant that I wanted a lot of babies, and even right after giving birth I said I wanted ten more. Then with the newborn phase I couldn't imagine how much sweeter it would be to do everything over and over again with precious new babes. The urge has never really faded and I go through waves of wanting. It just seems that the wave is crashing down on me right now and it will calm again. We do know that now is not time for our family to grow but that doesn't really dull the desire. It's such a sweet season to look back on what God did in that room and what He is doing now in our life with Solomon. I guess it is natural for all of that sweetness to make you want more. 

Solomon means peace and I truly believe that the peace God gave me while in labor was a gift. Such a sweet gift for a first time mom. 41 weeks have flown by.... It feels like these moments were forever ago and I can't believe we have this big boy to chase around the house now. God is so good!! 

the full story....

part one & part two

the rest of vacation.

After a few days with just our little family, my mom and grandma came to meet us for a long weekend on Wednesday night. It was so nice to have some help with our little guy and that also meant we got a date night! Thank God for Gigi!!! We had some more fun in the sun with a beach day, pool day and then a day at Broadway at the Beach since we were all finished with water by the end of the week. 

Gigi sat on the steps with Solomon a lot and let him play, he LOVED it!

naps by the pool, living the life!

After dinner one night we walked to the boardwalk in Murrells Inlet for some quick pictures!

Broadway at the Beach was exactly how I remembered it and it was kind of nostalgic to walk around and see all the rides and stores. It's weird how so many memories of Myrtle Beach came flooding back while we were spending time there last week. I have to admit, I missed Charleston, but it was s nice to enjoy a week in a new place with our family since I hadn't been there in over 10 years. 

Little guy missed everything and took a LONG nap while we walked around and had a drink.

SO MANY MEMORIES on this thing! haha!!

It was a nice week away, and we were so glad to have both Gigi and Ma-ma, come and hang out with us!

our first #eliyafamvacay.

I was so excited to go on our first family vacation together as a family of three. We have been on so many trips, but this was the first trip alone, and the first without Peter having to work all day. A true vacation!! Some sweet family friends of ours let us use their gorgeous condo in Myrtle Beach and we loved it! The condo was gorgeous and it was nice to relax and just be away from Greenville for a bit. 

We went to show Solomon the ocean on our first night of vacation and he wasn't too excited... but, the next day was a different story! He is such a water baby and loved the sand. I've never seen a baby crawling toward the ocean into the waves before, but this guy wanted to surf the waves already. 

We were lucky to have some friends at the beach also and got to spend a couple of days hanging out with the Ayer crew! Wyatt and Solomon were so cute playing together!!

I think the best part of vacation was spending time with daddy all day! This guy is pretty attached to his favorite man and he loved getting cuddles and playing with him anytime he wanted. Yesterday was a little rough without him at home with us... I love how much he loves his daddy! 

I also tried to use my spare time at the beach wisely and work on my bible study but it wasn't easy... I'm so behind and need to catch up. Nursing a baby and reading doesn't work very well, ha!

I love this picture so much!! The way he is smiling at me, his happiness from being in the water and creating new memories as a family. So much sweetness!!! 

We learned that eating outside is the best idea. Solomon loves to watch people, birds and enjoy his meal in the outdoors... sitting inside to eat just isn't as much fun for him. Which means we don't really have a chance to enjoy our meal, either. So, outside dining, a win-win for us!

The tickle spider attacking... his favorite thing lately!

More fun from our vacation, but with Gigi and Ma-ma coming soon.

weekly three.

Our week of vacation has been so nice! Relaxing and care free, or as relaxed and care free you can be with a crawling baby. He is a complete water baby for sure, it was so fun to watch him fall in love with the water. I mean, he loves his baths, but this was a whole new level! I'm glad we have a few more days to enjoy it!!! Happy weekend to you! 

My not so "quiet time" but it was sweet time in this pretty sun room! 

The best daddy in the water with his favorite boy!

Eating outside as much as we can since he loves it and that means we can enjoy our meal! 

vacationing.

We are at the beach and Solomon is loving it!!! I was a little surprising how much he loved it, honestly. He went from nonchalant, not caring much to super excited with clapping squeals. It was pretty cute!! Things have been a bit quiet around here, ya know, cause of vacation and everything, but I'm excited to share some sweet memories next week! But for now, some snipits from our lazy time around the beautiful condo.....

Daddy. stop. you are embarrassing me. 

weekly three.

This week has been a hot one but it has been so good! We have stayed in the AC for the most part but Solomon's excitement about going outside is hard to ignore, he gets sooooo excited. Thankfully Peter is all about taking him out in the back yard while I finish dinner inside, and then we enjoyed walks at night once it's cooled down. It's a nice little tradition we have going. We are heading to the beach next week and I'm excited to get everything planned and packed while also celebrating Father's Day this weekend! Hope you all have a great weekend and happy daddy day to all you dada's out there! 

So glad to have an amazing study with some incredible women this summer! I'm so excited that I have been craving His word and actively talking to Him again. Such sweet moments lately!!

Enjoying salads and a lot of water this week to try and help with the heat. Working out and drinking my shakes for lunch are helping, too!! Trying on my swim suits this week was actually empowering. One thing that I love about motherhood is the little ways it makes me feel beautiful and strong, even when I think I might feel vulnerable. It's a nice surprise! 

Some sweet words that describe my hunk of a man that I get to call husband. He is so many things; silly, humble, kind, sexy, nerdy.... So thankful to call him mine. Watching him become a father this year has been incredible! 

Solomon // nine months.

These pictures are starting to get a little more active, instead of cute and posed! ;)

5/19/16

This morning when we woke up and I went to pick you up I felt like you gained 10lbs over night! Granted, you had on a soaked diaper that was heavy, but you still feel so big in my arms lately. You are doing so many things that a baby should not do. I guess you aren't really a baby anymore. Babies don't hold onto the couch and walk around. Babies don't sit in a highchair and eat with momma and daddy at a restaurant. But babies do cuddle up with momma and drink milk like its the best part of their day, and you still do that all the time. I don't ever want to give that up! You will always be my baby, the sweet little one that made me a momma! 

5/23/16

Today is your daddy's birthday and I really hope you love him and look up to him forever! You love him so much and it makes my heart so happy to watch you two together. You are so lucky to have him as your dad. 

Today he turned 33 and he had such a fun night with you. Playing peekaboo and feeding you your dinner at the table and watching you play. We are in constant awe of you. You make our heart so happy, and we are so proud of how you are growing up before our eyes! 

5/30/16
I could die over your chunky soft hands! They feel like velvet against my skin while you drink your milk at night and I never want to forget how your free hand rubs up and down my arm while you eat and sleep. It's the sweetest feeling and my heart could almost burst when you do it. It almost makes up for the fact that you still wake up every 3-4 hours and won't sleep in your crib for more than 2. 

I was talking to a friend recently that shared her bed with her babies, and nursed on demand, as well. She said the exact thing I think often, you won't be sleeping in our bed in high school . She now has a 15 year old that just got a drivers license. It goes by so fast, even if the nights seem long right now. You will be big and driving a car before I know it, and this season is such a sweet one, I want to soak it up as much as I can! It makes me happy that you feel safe and comfortable in our bed and waking up together as a family is so sweet. Hearing you giggle and talk to me and daddy first thing every morning, crawling between the two of us, excited to start your day makes my heart so happy.

6/3/16

Tonight has been a rough night. You are acting all kinds of crazy, even having weird dreams where you do this creepy breathy chuckle that can only make me think of a scary baby doll. I've had to count to five in my head and give you kisses on your cheeks a few times tonight, my own little way to try and calm down. You are finally passed out on my chest and my eyes are so heavy that I can barely keep them awake to type this on my phone. Your face is all warm and sweaty on my neck and I can feel your wet hair on my shoulder. Last night at the baseball game, a sweet old man walked by me when I was holding you in my arms, he looked at you and said "man, they don't stay that little long". I almost started crying right then and there. I constantly say how big you are and how I can't believe you will be even bigger soon. This season is a whirlwind of changes and growth and sometimes it hurts so badly that I feel I may break in two. You are changing and growing constantly, you never slow down, and that man was right. You won't be this little long because you are already bigger than you were yesterday. Your sweet little face won't lay on my chest forever so I will sit here and soak it in, your sweaty face and all. 

6/11/16

Time has seemed to slow down a bit recently, somehow? I keep thinking I might have missed your ninth "monthday" but I haven't? It's weird but it is comforting to see that things can slow down a bit. I'm trying to get you sound asleep so I can put you down in your crib. This seems to be the main time that I write you these little letters but I can't help it. Having this quiet time in your room and feeling your heavy body breath against my chest always makes my mind think about how big you have gotten, which makes my heart start writing to you. That is exactly what these letters are, my heart in pen form. I hope that you can read these one day and see your past in them. See how much I love you and how much I need you. Understand how important you are to our family, since you were the first to grow our family from two to three. I pray that you see Jesus in these letters too, and that you seek him and find him in your life. All these memories that mean so much to me are a gift from our Lord, and I never want you to forget that. He is such a good Father and he loves you so much. More than I ever could! 

stats // 20 pounds 14 ounces & 29 inches

eating // breakfast is still a no go since he only wants to nurse before his morning nap. We normally get the three meals in during the day thanks to a big lunch, dinner and then a snack before bed since he goes to sleep later than most babies. He loves his organic yogurt with everything. Apple sauce with some added cinnamon and nutmeg is his favorite right now. We have also made him some fresh squash and zucchini from the garden which he loves, and he really enjoys getting fresh blueberries or blackberries with daddy when they are ripe enough. 

sleeping // naps are twice a day, 2 hours after he wakes up and then 3-4 hours after the second nap, both for two hours most of the time. Bedtime is still at 9:30 at the earliest, sometimes even as late as 10:30 but it works well for our family since we like to stay busy at night and enjoy family time together. I did try moving it up to 8 and it did not work at all. 

We are still starting the night in the crib 90% of the time but the rest of the night we cuddle together in bed. I love it and don't care to push it anytime soon. 

wearing // moved into 12 month clothes for the most part and some of his shorts are even 12-18 months! It is weird how some 6 month tops still fit though.

He is still rocking the cloth diapers at home and still wearing size 4 Seventh Generation diapers at night and while traveling.

favorite things // going outside, he squeals and throws his arms around anytime we go near a door. Giggling while he plays, it's so funny to hear him laugh at himself. Looking at the chickens outside with daddy. Playing in his pack and play, he has even crawled up to it a couple of times wanting to get in. Watching himself with the fun filters on snapchat!

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1st Month // 2nd Month
3rd Month // 4th Month

5th Month // 6th Month

7th Month // 8th Month