6 Months

We have had a lot of memorable events happen around our house lately. Sawyer turned 6 months old on October 12. I remember thinking when he was a newborn how far away 6 months was. Well, I am finally getting used to all of the changes that are happening so rapidly. I am learning to change my attitude and to not be sad that he is getting older, but rather be glad that he is deveolping so well. Motherhood has also taught me patience and that I need to slow down my normally fast paced life. So, lately I have been soaking up my alone time with Sawyer and I especially love rocking him while he reaches up and grabs my nose! Also, I am learning to see life through his perspective. Everthing is new to him and I love watching him explore his surroundings.


God tells us in his word to have "child-like" faith and I am beginning to truly see what he means by that. Sawyer knows by now that when he cries that I will come and take care of his needs. Our Heavenly Father does the same so when I cry out to him, he hears my prayers. The love I have for my child has made me realize God's unconditional love for his children. He still loves us when we disobey him and he is always there to listen when we open up our heart's.


 As a new mom, I want what is best for my child and I will do anything in my power to make that happen. God does the same for me when he reveals his glory and opens up paths for me to take to better my life. My prayer is that I can raise Sawyer in a way that he will know and love the Lord. Keith and I both agree that the example that we set for our children is monumental to their deveolpment.


On another note, we had Sawyer's 6 month check up today. Dr. Smith was great as always and was quite impressed by Sawyer's size. Dr. S wants us to up his meals to 3 a day and to start introducing more vegetables and eventually meat. Poor little baby had to get 4 shots and it of course broke my heart. :( He has been pretty puny today and has taken several naps. We were so glad to get a good report and we go back again for his 9 month check up in January.


6 month stats:


Weight: 20lbs 3oz.


Height: 28 1/4 in


Clothes: 12 months


Diaper: Size 3

Sweet Pea waiting to see the Dr.

On October 6, 2010 we dedicated Sawyer to the Lord at our church. This was such a special event to us as we stood in front of our congregation and promised to raise Sawyer in a way that he will know God. He did great and Pastor Chris called him a "future football player".

With Aunt Kiki at dinner before Church

Fun Weekend!

We have been enjoying the beautiful weather lately so we spent a lot of time outstide this past weekend. On Friday, Sawyer and I met my Mom and neice and nephew at Homewood Park for a picnic and play time. I couldn't get over that Sawyer was big enough for the swings! He wasn't sure about it at first and was trying to lean forward and chew on the swing (like he does on most things these days). After swinging for a bit, Mimi held him and watched all of the kids play while I helped Emme go down the big slide. That little girl is fearless and is so smart! We enjoyed eating our picnic under in the shade until we were attacked by yellow jackets!! Luckily no one was stung. We had a great time and I hope we can go back soon.

Friday night, Keith, Sawyer, and I went to Pablos at Lee Branch and sat outside on their large patio. There was a beautiful oak tree that the patio was built around. I can't believe that we had never been there before. It was so nice to sit outside and enjoy the live music.  Thankfully I brought a blanket for Sawyer because it became chilly as the night went on.

All snuggly with his blanket

On Saturday, we went to Honey and Papa D's to watch the Auburn game. This is Sawyer's second home so he loved playing with all of his toys and swinging on the patio. The game was pretty boring so we spent a lot of the time playing and I went shopping that afternoon and found a hidden gem. It is called Then Again Consignment Store and they had great baby clothes. I got some cute fall clothes and the pjs I got still had the tags on them. I almost bought a Strasburg John John for Christmas for $17 but I wasn't sure if he would be able to wear it then so I will definetly be back closer to time.

Look at those GIANT feet!!

Napping on Honey

After Church on Sunday, we went to Tazikis for lunch with all of my family because Jeff was in town from Texas.

Wiped after jumping for 40 minutes in the Jumparoo!

(Thanks Jack for letting me use your Jumparoo, I really love it)

The Beach!

This past weekend we took our first family trip to Destin. We left early Friday morning so we could get there by lunch. We hadn't even made it to Clanton before we had to change a blowout (and I don't mean a tire).  We stopped again in Andalusia to let Sawyer stretch out and he loved all of the sights and sounds of the McDonalds there. Overall, he did a lot better than I thought he would. He took two naps and I played with him when he was awake. After we checked in, we took Little Man to the pool at the condo. He loved swimming with Keith and I and watching us make bubble noises. That night, we went to Baytown Wharf for dinner and walked around. Sawyer enjoyed strolling around and taking in all of the people and lights. The last time I was there was for a Bachlorette Party at Rum Runners so I have come a long way in just a couple of years! There was a great playground that will be perfect for him in a couple of years. On Saturday, we took Sawyer to the beach early before it got too hot. Keith went down before we did to set up the umbrella, chairs, and the cooler. As soon as we got all settled in, Sawyer was a little "too relaxed" because we had yet another blow out! That afternoon, Sawyer napped and Keith watched the Alabama game so I went to the beach for some alone time and it was great! I was looking forward to going to the beach because our trip got cancelled in June because of the oil spill. That night, we walked to a local restaurant on the beach to get some food to go so we could watch the Auburn game. The food was excellent and we will definetly go back there again. When we woke up on Sunday, the weather was not looking so good. After looking at the forecast, it didn't show any signs of stopping so we decided to come home a day early so we could relax on Monday. We look forward to many more trips to the beach in the years to come.

The view from our balcony

Playing in the Johnny Jump Up

His new favorite sleeping position 

 (Don't worry, this was a supervised nap!)

Our condo

5 Months and Labor Day Weekend

Whew, we have been busy around here! We were excited to start off football season this year with a weekend at the lake and on the plains. Of course it was perfect timing to pass around a summer cold that is just now going away. Yuck! The weather could not have been better and it was even chilly in the morning. My brother Jeff was in town from Texas so it was so nice to see him as well. On Saturday, we headed to Auburn while Honey and Sawyer stayed at the lake. We went to Tiger Walk, tailgated, and went to the game with Dick and Kenzie. We spent the rest of the weekend playing around the lake and of course, eating!

This child never has a lack of stimulation!

Chef Papa D with Keith and Sawyer

Gotta protect those baby blues!

Before the game

Yesterday, Sawyer turned 5 months old and is changing every day! He is full of life and is so interested in what is going on around him (this is especially true when I am trying to feed him!).  He is also filling out quite nicely since we started cereal and fruit a couple of weeks ago. He started laughing out loud and it's just music to my ears! When we hold him, he will wrap both of his arms around your neck and bury his sweet face in your chest. He is such a cuddle bug! He has started a few new developments this month including grabbing objects with both hands, standing up (while we hold him), and rolling over. He now sleeps on his tummy which he seems to love and he sleeps longer which this Mommy is thrilled about! Here are a few stats at 5 months but some are just estimates since he doesn't go to the doctor until his 6 month check up.

Height: 28 in

Weight: I am guessing 19-20 lbs

Diaper: size 3

Clothes: 9 months are getting tight and he is even wearing 12 months because of his length.

Sleeping: He is still on eat, play, sleep "routine" so about 3-4 naps a day and at least 1 will be 2 hrs. He goes down at 8 and sleeps until 6:30 or 7.

Eating: 8 oz every 3 hrs plus cereal and fruit once or twice a day.

He is very active and loves to play in his exersaucer and on his play mat. He still loves to be held before I put him down for a nap or at night and splashes up a storm in the bath tub. This sweet baby makes brings so much joy and laughter in our lives and just when I don't think it could get better....it does!

Recent Happenings

We had a good weekend this past weekend. We didn't have too much planned which was a nice change since we are normally pretty busy. On Saturday, we took Sawyer to the pool for the first time. He loves bath time so I was sure that he would like the pool. We took him in the morning when it wasn't so hot outside. He wasn't sure what to think at first but ended up loving sitting on the steps and splashing and having Keith take him out and doing "Superman". He wasn't too thrilled about the 30 lb diaper that he had on when he got out! I was over cautious about this so I had a regular diaper and a swim diaper. The fine at our neighborhood pool if there is an accident is $1000!!

Later that night we took dinner to my friend Meg and her family because she had surgery last week. It was eventful to say the least!! We were getting close to leaving when Sawyer had a HUGE blowout that resulted in us having to give him a bath and as we were changing him into some new clothes, he peed all over Keith. And to top it off, he spit up all down Keith's shirt after he was all cleaned up. Thank goodness they have a 14 month old and could not have been more understanding. Poor Sawyer was asleep before we left the neighborhood and we were exhausted too!


On Monday, my friend Shelley gave birth to her and her husband John's baby boy Hunter Stephen Futrell. He weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 20 inches long. I went up to the hospital that day to meet this sweet baby and see the new Mommy. She did really well and Hunter could not be any cuter! It turned out that Shelley was in the room next to where I was when I had Sawyer and I even got to visit with one of the nurses that I had. It was so surreal being back up there and it brought back so many happy memories. I can't wait to see our little boys grow up together.

Today we had Sawyer's 4 month old check up and it went great! He weighs 18lb and 2oz (97th percentile) and was 27 inches (98th percentile). Dr. Smith said he looked very healthy and was pleased with all of his new deveolpments. He wants us to introduce rice cereal and some fruits to him. I can't believe he is at this stage already!! He had to get 4 shots and has been pretty pitiful the rest of the day and he even went to bed at 7:30. Bless his little heart. We are so fortunate to have a happy, healthy, growing baby who is our everything.

I am going to close now with a few more cute pics and a funny video of us giving Sawyer a frozen teething toy. He thought it was a popsicle!

Looking Back and New Milestones

It is amazing to me how much Sawyer has changed over the last 4 months. In the first video, Sawyer is less than a week old and is still learning about this new world. When I was looking at these videos earlier I was reflecting back on those newborn days. The second video was taken a couple of weekends ago and its like he is a different baby. He is so alert and his personality is really starting to come out. He is so verbal and loves to have attention and affection. I could seriously eat him alive!

A new milestone that we reached this week, or are starting to attempt, is no swaddling. Most babies are over this by the first month or less but this seems to be the best way for him to stay asleep and not be woken up by his startle reflexes. He is getting so big now and we would have to come in the middle of the night to re-swaddle him because he would break out. I also read that he is at the age now that babies do a lot of movement in their sleep that is important to their gross motor skills and helps them learn to roll over, crawl, and eventually walk. I try not to read into everything I come across but we were also at the point that we thought he had out grown the swaddle. Today while he was down for his nap, I heard him on the monitor wake up and was very upset. I went upstairs to check on him and his LEG was hanging out of the crib. AHHH! I was so upset and I picked him up and brought him downstairs to cuddle him then put him in the swing where I knew he would be ok. Keith made a little barrier on the crib so hopefully Sawyer won't wake up to any body parts hanging out of again!

Another new thing was this past weekend we tried out the high chair at my parents house. He seemed to enjoy it because he could look around at our level but I am not sure if I was ready for him to be big enough for it. He is just growing up so fast and it seems like every time I turn around he is doing something new!

This past Friday was my last day of work at Compass. I returned from my Maternity Leave at the beginning of July knowing it was going to be yet another adjustment but this one was by far the hardest. I started off with such a positive attitude but it quickly faded into regret and a personal let down. Keith would get home from picking him up at Honey's at 6 and by the time we ate dinner and gave him a bath it was time for him to go to bed. This was not the same quality time that I had experienced over the past 3 months when I was with him constantly. So, after much contemplation, budgeting, and letting go of some financial planning for the future, we decided we needed to make a change. To be honest, it was more me worried if we could do it without my income. Keith did not like seeing me that upset and knew we would be fine. So I asked the Lord to take control and he once again blessed us. I thought the solution for now would be to find something part time so I would have more time at home with Sawyer. I looked at different options and was willing to take a major cut as long as I could spend more time with my baby. In conversation with Keith's cousin, she mentioned that one of her husband's co-workers was looking to hire someone PT for his growing business. I told her that I would love to know more about it but really didn't think much more about it. Well, that night Keith filled in at a softball game and the guy who was looking for the position was on the team. I had told Keith about it that afternoon so he mentioned something to him. The next day Russ called and we had lunch the following week to discuss what he was looking for as well as my needs. It went really well and I thought that it would be the perfect fit. He called me last week and offered me the job! I went yesterday and we discussed my job description and when I would be working and I am really looking forward to it. I will be working Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9-12 on Wednesdays. The name of the company is Nowlin and Associates Wealth Management. I couldn't think of a better work schedule and it allows me to achieve my ultimate goal and priority which is to be with Sawyer as much as possible. And thanks to Honey, she will be keeping him while I am at work. She has been such a life saver and I am so appreciative for all that she has done for us. It is amazing what can happen when you put your trust in God. I am so undeserving of his grace and mercy.

How did this happen??

My baby is 4 months old! He is getting so big and changes everyday. This is such a fun stage that he is in right now. His little personality is really starting to come out and he is discovering new things all of the time. He has started to use his hands more these days. He tries to hold his bottle, grip his soft burp cloths, and grab his toys and stuffed animals. He will "flirt" with his eyes when he looks at people and then will give a sweet little grin. I have a feeling this little smile may get him in trouble one day! He is also starting to giggle if we tickle him while playing "Grandaddy long leg" or when Keith will lift him above his head. Cindy, aka "Honey", has been keeping him during the day while we are at work. She has such a heart for babies so having her own grandson has been such a blessing to her and Papa D. I am glad to have her and my sister-in-law Kenzie spend so much time with Sawyer so they can see why I am so in love with this baby!! A few weeks ago we went to the lake with my parents and they just ate him up! Dad made us homemade blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast then we cooked out steaks that night to celebrate Keith's 29th Birthday. It was such a fun weekend! Before we know it Sawyer will be old enough to ski! He is such a sweet and happy baby and if he is fussy you know something is wrong. Here are just a few things that Sawyer is up to at 4 months old.


Clothes size: almost out of 3/6 month so we are starting to use 6/9 month.
Feeding: He eats 6 oz bottles every 3 hours during the day
Sleeping: He goes down around 8 and wakes up at 6:30. He usually wakes up around 4 because "Hulk" has broken out of his swaddle.
Diaper: Size 3
Playtime: He is starting to like his exersaucer. He DOES NOT like tummy time and I usually give in because I hate when he gets upset. He is loving the lamb swing. He takes at least 1-2 naps a day in it. He is putting everything in his mouth so I am thinking he is in the beginning stage of teething.


~ Stay tuned for his updates on weight and height from his 4 month check up on August 25.

 

Almost.

Rolling.



















Over!