Jeremiah is 3 months

Today is Easter. It was a wonderful day spent with family! This past Friday, Baby J turned three months old. He is a massive 19lbs. At his two month check up he was 16lbs!! I feel like Im doing something wrong by his large measurements but not only is he big with numerous rolls and triple chins he is also long. Since his daddy and grandfather were both quite large babies Im hoping he will turn out okay!

Jeremiah is a mostly content child but lord have mercy is he busy! I truly am frightened by the day he actually can get those feet going on the ground because he NEVER NEVER NEVER stops moving his arms and legs awake or asleep! I still swaddle him for all naps and at bed and he really won't nap well without it. He knows the swaddler wrap is his cue to go night night. I had planned to give it up when he turned three months but I don't think he (or I ) am ready just yet! Plus he still has some time to learn to roll over (Im sure it will take great effort to heave those thunder thighs over). When he reaches this milestone I will probably move to something else but right now his flailing arms knock that dern pacy out and then he is awake! Speaking of pacifiers I finally found one that stays in a little better...
http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Essentials-Center-Pacifier-Colors/dp/B00005C0KD

Jeremiah is not a super cuddly baby and actually prefers to be set down to sleep on his own. I am trying my best to implement better sleep habits as much as I can to ensure I don't suffer like I did with Carsyn. Bedtime is a breeze and he is out by 7:30 most every night with no problems. Naps are still a struggle and he seems to catnap at 45 min to 1 hr stretches. I hope I can extend these soon. He currently takes his last bottle at 7PM and sleeps until around 12:00 to 1 and then wakes at 3:30-4, and then the dreaded 5:30 wake up which is not out of hunger but simply because he is tired of being by himself! He will fuss from 5;30 to 7 most mornings which is killer on me! Especially when sister bops in around 6:45. I am definitely reaching my exhaustion limit and have become quite the grouchmonster lately...just ask my husband! I am hoping we will get some more rest soon...if only that last 4-7 stretch could be straight that would help!

I can't complain about my happy baby's smiley disposition. He is such a sweetheart 90% of the time and hardly cries. His smiles still melt me and he almost always wakes with a smile. He will break out into the biggest grin when he sees his daddy across the room. He definitely is a peacemaker in our home.

My husband deserves a shout-out for the patience he has embodied lately and the super big hand he has given me. I really feel for women who have to parent two children on their own let alone one! There is no way I could do it by myself and I am already panicking for when daddy leaves for market in a few weeks for an entire week!

Carsyn's behavior has gotten a touch better since last month. Im not sure now if she is acting worse or I just don't have any patience from my lack of sleep. She still loves her brother endlessly and always has to give him a hug and kiss before each nap or bedtime.

Jeremiah and I will head over to my studio this week to photograph some official 3 month pics but here is their Spring portrait together I took a week or so ago.


This picture cracks me up how different my children look in their hair and skin tones! My dark haired dark skinned dark eyed beauty with my porcelain skinned, light hair, blue eyed child!

Pinterest Questionnaire

A few months ago I saw on idea on Pinterest to Interview your daughter every year. These are questions/ answers that Carsyn answered for her 4 year old Interview. As you can see she is an extreme girly girl! I do think these answers might be based on what happened the day they were asked but I would say most of them are correct.

1. What is your favorite color? pink
2. What is your favorite toy? dollhouse
3. What is your favorite fruit? grapes
4. What is your favorite tv show? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? carrots with ranch
6. What is your favorite outfit? dresses
7. What is your favorite game? princess board game
8. What is your favorite snack? bananas
9. What is your favorite animal? dog
10. What is your favorite song? Tonights gunna be a good night
11. What is your favorite book? Dora books
12. Who is your best friend? jeremiah at home...Sidney at school
13. What is your favorite cereal? na
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? playground
15. What is your favorite drink? water
16. What is your favorite holiday? EAster
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? mr. cow
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? boiled eggs
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? tomato soup
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a great big sister

Life with two children

Oh where do I begin..it has been 8 weeks since my last post and Jeremiah is almost two months old. Everyone says life with two is super harder than one child and I would have to agree at some moments of the day it is! The most difficult times of the day are in the morning when everyone is trying to get dressed, the baby wants to eat, and the dog wants to be let out (and in) all at the same time. I only have so many hands and it seems EVERYONE needs Mama's attention! My husband has jumped in and been a super partner...much more so than #1...and I definitely don't know how people with three do it once the parents are out numbered! Bedtime can also be a challenge at times if his feeding does not follow her bedtime.

For the baby who was born with no rolls, they are coming on in leaps and bounds now! I wish I could lose this baby weight as fast as he is gaining his weight! I am estimating he is already at around 12-13 lbs! He is already in 3-6 month clothing and he definitely looks more like a 3 month old than a two month old! He still eats every three hours...even at night...even when I added cereal to his bottles two weeks ago! Every now and again he will go for 4 or so on one stretch but that is it.

Oh and that is another most difficult aspect of two children...it never fails that when J actually sleeps for a longer stretch, Carsyn will wake me with a nightmare or needing to potty! AND it seems J has started a pattern of awakening at 3:30ish and not returning to sleep until 5ish...which means when sister wakes at 6:30-6:45 I have just returned to sleep after being up! This is definitely starting to wear on me!

As for how big sister is adapting...she still loves him greatly but her desire to gain my attention has caused my sweet girl to become quite the troublemaker. Her sassy, smartmouth is more like at 14 year old than a 4 year old and I really am clueless as to how to make it better. She also has been having night terrors which I think are a result of her passive aggressiveness to her brother. I am hoping this too will pass soon but I am happy she is not physically taking it out on the baby even though she told me we could get a new one!

My newborn who was oblivious to noise and distractions and could be set anywhere has now started acting more like his big sister. And his need for a pacifier that he can't keep in his mouth is about to drive me to the looney bin! I am scared to death I will re-live the torment of no sleep I had with Carsyn so I intend to start some sleep training methods in a few more weeks. I tried to take his pacy away yesterday to see if he could go without but he only made it until afternoon and then wanted it to go to sleep.

J started smiling about two weeks ago and he almost always gives me a big grin right after he wakes up when he is getting his diaper changed...this definitely helps encourage me after the sleep deprivation I have just endured! I can't wait until he can laugh and interact even more!

And not to rush away his first year, BUT I am looking forward to getting to sleep for longer than three hours!
his first smiles that warm my heart and bring tears to my eyes!
Im telling you those eyes and lashes are going to break hearts one day!

My heart is so full it might burst

Well it has been a week since baby Jeremiah joined our family. All in all the transition has gone much better than I could ever imagine. It is amazing how much easier and calmer raising #2 can be when you have a little experience under your belt! Carsyn has done amazing with the transition and it almost makes me sad to see how grown up she is with her baby brother. When I tell you she loves him to the moon she really does. She is the perfect age and she really is super helpful! She even gives him his morning bottle most mornings! There was once this week where she bebopped into the nursery at 4:30 AM wanting to help me give him his bottle! And NO he wasn't crying! She just heard me in the hall. You thought I was kidding when I said I would be up with both kids! Not even 5 days old and it has started. Thankfully I was able to get Daddy to get her back to bed. And talk about loving someone unconditionally- this little boy has his daddy wrapped so much. We all really are just walking around in a cloud of bliss.

Jeremiah Allan ended up being born on January 6th at 12:51PM weighing in at 8.5 191/2 in. He looked absolutely nothing like what I expected and all of the family stared with puzzles looks trying to figure out who he looks like. As of now he has blue eyes and light brown hair...my child has blue eyes! I can't get over it! I know they might change to green/hazel but still he looks nothing like his dark haired dark eyed sister. Danny and I have come to the conclusion that at this time we think he most looks like his namesake, Pop, with brown hair. While his sister was born weighing 6oz less she looked more chunky then he. He has extremely long fingers and toes and really no rolls as of now.

My scheduled c-section went smoothly and I was able to actually be coherent this time! Everyone at Southwest Hospital was awesome and made our experience very pleasurable. A huge thank you to my photography colleague, Elise Parker who came and photographed the experience for me so I could see what Carsyn's reaction to him was like. And then she made this video that makes me boohoo every time.
http://animoto.com/play/eFxjgPd5nT6GTHmPQw5rEw

Now ever though we have been living in a state of euphoria does not mean I have not experienced my share of hormonal break downs and moments of complete stupidity either due to sleep deprivation or hormones taking over my brain. I'm certainly glad the night chills have ended after a week of waking up with teeth chattering and drenched pjs! I have shed my fair share of tears especially after realizing I would never experience pregnancy again. So funny since when I was pregnant with C I swore I would never go through THAT again!

For a week old Jeremiah seems to be a pretty content baby. He sleeps wherever I lay him down and aside from the cries from gas pains doesn't cry unless he is hungry. He actually seems to prefer being left alone as opposed to his sister who wanted to be held at all times.

For my one friend who is not on Facebook...here are a few shots I have captured this week of my two angels.

One more week

I am 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Jeremiah is already measuring in at 8.3 oz and if it were up to me he could come out after this weekend! But Im showing no signs of delivery and since I will have a scheduled section it is set for next Friday the 6th of January. So one week from today (in a few hrs) we will finally meet him! I have a vision in my head of what I think he will look like. This vision DEFINITELY includes lots of rolls, chubby cheeks, and dark hair as has been indicated by the ultrasound techs. I'm guessing his final weight comes in at around 8.8 which is what the father and grandfather weighed.

While we are all anxious for your arrival I am still a little apprehensive as to how the changes will affect our family! I finally have reached the miserable point of pregnancy where you definitely just want the baby out! My body is finally giving out and I certainly am ready to start retrieving my waistline again!

One one hand I am a little relieved to have one more week to take care of odds and ends and make final touches to his nursery. On the other hand it will be the longest week ever as the birth day looms ahead.

I will try to rest and enjoy these last 7 days of carrying my baby since it will be my last. I am beyond excited to do the newborn portraits and I just pray that I am physically able and that he cooperates...although unlike my clients I have ALL DAY to make him!

Christmas 2011 recap to Carsyn

We have so much to be thankful for this Christmas season. Last year we were enduring the loss of Pop and missing Nonny as she was recovering from her breast cancer operations. I loved the way my Christmas cards turned out this year and they definitely described everything we as a family have learned through the year.

This year was the first year that you could truly understand the reason we celebrate Christmas. We went to see the Live Nativity and talked about the baby Jesus. We had a Happy Birthday Jesus party with your playgroup buddies (you also had one at school too). When we left the lunch I asked if you understood why we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and you said Yes and then proceeded to ask these questions "How old is Jesus?" "Did he have to get shots when he was born?" "What kind of presents does he want this year?" My answers; Really really old, no, and he just wants you to obey mommy and daddy as his present!

This year you were in the Mccomb Christmas parade with your dance class and while I know you had fun I think you'd rather have been catching the candy on the street than throwing it! But you got that opportunity when we attended the Summit Christmas parade a few weeks later. Also we made our annual drive to Tylertown to view the lights and watch you perform in your school program. Ms. Chris invited us over to what has become an annual tradition of making gingerbread houses with Brooke and Colin. One Saturday, we rode over to a place called Swan Creek in Monticello where we fed animals, played games, roasted marshmellows, and saw Mr. and Mrs. Claus. You were not fooled, however, when Santa Claus started talking to me and CiCi about your father and the furniture stores and quickly told me "That's just a pretend Santa, isn't it mama? That's not the real one." Yes I agreed this was just a friend of his sent to visit and keep an eye on everyone around. You are definitely a quick little 4 year old! We did go visit another Santa at the Bass Pro Shop where we had lunch with Grandparent Smiths.

Christmas morning you actually slept in and I was impatiently waiting for YOU to wake up! Just as I did as a child you calmly inspected everything Santa brought never really showing much emotion.

And now the holiday has quickly passed and it is time to wait for your baby brother to arrive in one week from today. I can't wait to watch you and our new addition grow next year!

Carsyn my dear

I am a little late posting about your four year old birthday, but as I sit here on the couch watching you play pretend with your lalaloopsy and doll house dolls it made me realize how quickly time is fleeting.

I don't even know where to begin to talk about what you mean to me and your daddy. You are the most beautiful and caring little girl to others. While you aren't always the nicest to your parents you are always respectful and loving to others. You love to be in the spotlight and have to be busy at all times! You would much rather be surrounded by people either adults or children than be at home. You hardly meet a stranger and always give them a hug goodbye whether you have just met or known for years.

I have to say you are more and more like your mother every day...sorry to tell ya! You are definitely my mini-me and I get blamed for all of your "negative" personality traits. Your independence can drive me batty at times but I know that I will not have to worry about you achieving whatever you want.

From 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM except for the 3 hours of preschool or the few times you are with babysitters/daddy you are by my side. You have been the best little sidekick during my pregnancy with your brother....always kissing my belly and jumping to pick up the countless objects I drop and cannot retrieve. I only hope this love continues once he actually arrives. I know that you will take some adjusting to sharing me. When someone asked you last week what you were going to do when he was sitting in my lap you replied very matter of fact...."Ill just pick him up and move him!"

For your 4th birthday we had a princess tea party at the Brentwood House. You and I had been planning this party since your last one ended last year! I hope that you will remember how magical it was.

In the last couple of weeks we have been watching our old home videos and even though it is cliche I can't believe how quickly time passes...especially 18 mos to 4! As if you had a choice you have become quite the poser in front of my camera. Just this week we went and played in my studio to take your picture in my wedding gown. It turned out beautifully and I have plans to blow it up large and hang above our bed with pictures of you and Jeremiah.

Just for records sake here are a few of your habits at age 4.

You stopped taking a nap sometime around August. I hated to see it end but you actually are much happier during the day without it and quickly go to bed as opposed to the nightly battle we were enduring.

You still have a fabulous appetite and eat almost anything. EVERYDAY you have carrots/cucumbers/celery with ranch atleast once a day. Your favorite breakfast is boiled eggs and peaches/pineapple. You do eat a few too many hotdogs and probably would everyday if I let you. You love spaghetti/roast/and tomato soup.

Most nights you sleep through the night but atleast twice a week you still wake up. I do not look forward to being woken up by you and your brother at the same time or right after each other!! :(

I have to wrap this up because we are headed to visit with Grandparents Smith and go visit Santa in Jackson. It is so fun to experience the magic of Christmas through your eyes at this fun age!