Let Freedom Ring!

Let the white doves sing...let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning! Let the weak be strong...let the right be wrong...roll the stone away...let freedom ring...it's...Memorial Day!

So Memorial Day and Independence Day may be celebrated on different days and technically for different reasons, but the bottom line is we live in a free country that is free because of our fore fathers and the men and women who have continued to serve so that our freedom may continue...

What a wonderful country we live in to be able to celebrate those who serve! It's not just about the day off and grilling out, but the reason behind the season!

How did we spend our Memorial Day?! Well...considering I haven't worked since Spring Break and Husband has every 3rd day off all my days run together so when most were so excited for the extra day I was just excited that those who deserve the daily recognition were getting it! However we did enjoy the day off & grilled!

Husband got a new grill for an early birthday present, and was super excited to smoke a brisket all day! While he manned the grill I took care of the baby & got some things around the house picked up. :) For me...that was an enjoyable day!

The food was wonderful! Especially for a 1st timer! And P and I really enjoyed our time outside! It's so fun to see her grabbing, playing, and laughing with her toys!

Way to go Husband! We'll let you continue to grill out for us... :) BTW...this was P's 2nd outfit of the day...she wasn't in the 1st one long enough for the picture! Let's just say...she loves America!

 

How Lucky am I?!

Sometimes I just lay in bed saying my prayers thinking how blessed I am! Or sitting in a nice relaxing bath thinking how lucky I am!

So taking a nice relaxing bath is something I did occasionally...one would think that being a mother would be it would become even more sporatic Oh the contrary! I take a bubble bath every other night & it is amazing!

After P's bath Husband puts her to bed, and I take a bath! When Prestyn was still sleeping in our room I would hear Husband singing to her and lulling her to sleep...I thought I was going to miss that when she was moved to her own room...

Thankfully our bathroom backs up to her bedroom so I can still hear him singing to her...even if it's just twinkle twinkle & wheels on the bus over and over again! He does it...and it works! And it makes me smile!

He certainly has a touch that I don't...I can make her smile all day long, but when it's time to go to bed...Mommy does not have the special touch! I guess she relates me to fun and him to sleep! haha!

So as much as my little one smiles also reminds me how lucky I am! We are always told what a happy baby we have! Since she's our only one it's all I know, but I do feel quite lucky & blessed to have such a happy baby! I'm not sure if that's because she comes from such happy parents or the fact that we educated ourselves with the 5 S's from the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD before she was born! ::Note to New Parents:: The 5 S's work!

I'm also trying to practice the ways of Babywise...Read my Eat::Play::Sleep post about that...in the book it says that you will have a happy baby, and many people will tell you how lucky you are to have such a happy baby!

Yes...we are lucky...but we also work VERY hard! I'm not going to lie...she does get cranky! And for those who have only seen that side...I'm sorry! :( When she's in an environment that she knows and is comfortable with she's extremely happy...but yes...we have to work very hard to ensure this! It means being very engaged during her awake time & making sure she gets good sleep!

To have a husband who is also so helpful with our daughter makes me feel incredibly blessed. It's the little things...the fact that I get to take a bubble bath every other night...the fact that when she wakes up & it's not time to eat he spends time with her so I can sleep a little bit :) It's all the little things that add up to make one big thing...A LUCKY LIFE! :)

Date Nights

I began this blog when Ryan and I were engaged...I often blogged about (or had intentions to blog about) our weekly date nights...I was quite flattered recently to be asked from a friend for ideas for date night. :) We take date nights seriously as it's a time for us to be completely focused on each other...and now that we have a little one date nights are even more important! So I thought I'd blog about our recent ones. :)

It took a couple weeks for a couple reasons...1. I had to have enough milk pumped for Prestyn to get a bottle & I didn't start pumping until she was a month old. 2. I had major surgery (Husband is laughing out loud at that one) so outings took lots of energy & I was sore & exhausted...3. We're new parents and are so in love with our little girl that we weren't ready to leave her...so we just took her with us everywhere!

Our first official date night (we went to Chipotle and church one evening & left P with my mom, but Ryan doesn't think that counts..) so our first official date night was on a day that both my mom & dad could babysit! For those who don't know my dad works & lives in San Antonio, and hasn't seen Prestyn since she was born so he quickly jumped on the opportunity to join my mom here at our home to babysit P! ...even though he ended up taking a nap while Mom did most of the work! haha!

Sorry...I'm rambling! I've been craving hibachi & sushi since I was pregnant...sushi I couldn't have...hibachi I could, but never did...so we went to Edohana (sp?) for date night! Since it was a celebration or (monument as Husband would call it) we went ALL out! We ordered a bottle of wine, sushi, edamami, and had a hibachi meal! I was really taking my time enjoying this one-on-one time with my husband since our baby was born. Once we finished...the night was young! Prestyn was doing great with Nonna and Papa (they were sending us pictures of the good time she was having & smiles to show it!). Our friends were having neighbors over so we went on over there. Tons of fun! But eventually we were ready to come home to our princess. :)

Since then we have kept up with our weekly date nights. This past weekend Ryan's mom & her boyfriend came to babysit while we went to a movie! And this weekend we will be celebrating our birthdays with our friends while my mom babysits.

I love Husband & our date nights!

P.S. If you have any creative ideas for date nights let me know...we're always in for fun & different things!

XOXO

Prestyn's 2nd Month

Dear Prestyn,

I cannot believe you are already 2 months old! It's true what they say...time flies when you're having fun! I do have to say though...the 1st month didn't fly as fast! haha! That month was a month of both of us getting used to this new life! But the 2nd month...oh it's been so fun!!

*You are really smiling and laughing a lot now! We have figured out that you love when we sing and dance with you. You like when we move your arms and legs to make you dance! Oh your giggles get Mommy really laughing! Sometimes it makes me want to cry because of how happy you are & how happy that makes me to see you so happy! Haha! Can you feel the happiness?! If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!

*You've gotten really good at sticking to your schedule! When you went through the 6 week growth spurt though...things REALLY threw us off! You started eating every 2 hours, napping for 30 minutes, and Mommy couldn't get anything done! It took one day of trying to stretch your awake time 30 more minutes, nap time 30 more minutes, and you were back to eating every 2.5 hours! Yay!! Sometimes you even go 3 hours if you're really sleepy & napping well! Weird how these days usually only happen when Mommy leaves you with Daddy...and days that Mommy needs a nap!

*You're still sleeping in the rock 'n' play in our room. However we think you're ready to move to your crib...but I don't know if I'm ready! I told Daddy I wanted to keep you in our room at least 1 week after your shots just in case you needed us close by. So next week...when Daddy will be home for 2 nights we are going to move you to your room. :( We're going to start by putting you to sleep in your rock 'n' play then laying you in your crib after you dream feed. We'll see how this goes...

*Speaking of dream feeding...this has worked wonderfully for Mommy!...and Daddy too! You go to bed around 9. Well Mommy likes to spend some time with Daddy while you're asleep so before Mommy goes to sleep I feed you while you're dreaming...this allows for both of us to get a good 5-6 hours of sleep before you wake up to eat! Doing this you're only waking up once during the night to eat! :)

*You still LOVE morning time! It's getting to where it's taking you a little time to wake up, but you just streeeeeetch on your changing table while Mommy starts your morning routine! You still get a morning massage, but no more baby powder in your hair. Mommy did this before because your hair was so greasy still! haha! But now it's fluffy so I smooth it down with your brush. :)

*You've completely outgrown your newborn pajamas. You're still able to wear some of your newborn clothes, but not many! Definitely not the newborn onesies! You're now wearing size 0-3. We realized you don't have many clothes in this size...I bought you a couple more outfits and a couple pajamas. With the rate you're growing You could be in size 3 months before too long! Since we don't have many options in size 0-3 I don't pick out your outfit the night before anymore. And also since we live in Texas we never know what the weather's going to do! Me picking out your outfits in the morning gives you time to lay on your tummy on your lamb mat!

*You're getting so much better at tummy time, and really enjoying it! You immediately lift your head up and start looking around. We do tummy time after nearly every diaper change. Sometimes you roll over in the short second Mommy is getting your bows out of your closet! If you seem to be having fun during tummy time I'll sometimes read to you, or play with a toy so that you can lift up and see.

*We've also started putting you in the bumbo chair for a little bit each day! So after tummy time I'll put you in the bumbo to see the pictures of the story I read...or I'll read you a new story. Or we'll play with toys! I do most of the playing though...you just like to watch. :) You have such good head control, and a strong trunk that you were ready for the bumbo! Hopefully it will help you to sit unassisted!

*You take most of your naps in your bed now...which is good! There was a point though where you would ONLY nap in you bed which made it hard when we were out...now you'll nap in Mommy arms which makes me happy! You also like to sleep in the car after you've looked out the window for a few minutes...then you're out!

*Your boy-fran, Jaxson, his mommy went back to work so we don't see them as often...but you're always happy to see Miss Kristina and Jaxson! We haven't gotten to see your friend Grey again either, but you will! Don't worry! You did get to meet your new friend, Piper! She lives right behind us with her mommy, Shawna, Daddy, Josh, and brother, Kingston. They'll be moving soon so hopefully you and Piper get lots of play time together before they do! You & Saylor had some fun play time together. Saylor's mommy, Meghan & I, grew up together & hope the same for you and Saylor. I guess since we were such good friends we have the same taste in baby clothes! You & Saylor have 2 matching outfits...that we know of! So we had to get pictures of you with Saylor in your matching outfits!

*It's a good thing that you're getting better at sitting. We'll keep working on this because I think you're getting bored with your play mat and jungle gym. You still laugh when you see yourself in the mirror, but you're not content playing the piano as long anymore...You have noticed the mirror on your swing though. If you look up and see yourself it makes you laugh! You've also noticed the birds hanging from your bouncer that bounce as you kick and bounce. This REALLY gets you going! So sweet to hear your laughter!!

*Today you are 9 weeks and 1 day. "They" say growth spurts happen at 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks & months. You may be in your 9 week growth spurt now. Or you're still feeling the effects of your 2 month shots. Or a combination of both! You are VERY sleepy and nursed for 45 minutes this evening! So unlike you! You're a 30 minute nurser...sometimes a little less, but never more!

*Mommy & Daddy have gotten back into our routine of a weekly date night. Nonna has babysat you alone. Nonna & Papa have babysat you. And tomorrow night Grammies and Steve are going to babysit you. You haven't had any trouble taking a bottle from others so we hope this continues. :) It's easier for people to babysit you at our house...maybe eventually you'll be able to go somewhere to be babysat...for now...our home is most comfortable for you. :)

*Mommy and Daddy met Miss Jennifer who is going to babysit you when Mommy goes back to work in the fall. She lives on the street behind us so it'll be wonderful to have you close since Mommy will be teaching at the school in our neighborhood! Now that you've had your 2 month shots we'll consider taking you to the nursery at church while we go to big service...I think I'll still want to take you to Life Group though since 2 hours away from you is too long! Baby steps...

*I am enjoying every moment of you right now. But I'm anxious for you to talk when the day comes...your facial expressions say a lot so I can only imagine what will come out of your mouth one day! We have figured out your tired cry and hunger cry...and we had to hear your painful cry for the first time when you got your shots. This was hard...but not as hard as I thought it was going to be...your tears are what really bother me. :( I hate to see you upset!

*You go to breastfeeding group every Wednesday with Mommy. Here Nurse Cindee weighs you to ease Mommy's worries about you not gaining enough. 1 week you weighed 8.12. 2 weeks later you weighed 9.10! I was pretty proud since my milk is what's helping you gain weight! However...when we went for your 2 month check up your pediatrician, Dr. Drake, was happy that you're gaining weight but...not as much as we'd like to see. At a previous appointment we had talked about your reflux since you spit up often. You're still spitting up so we started giving you Zantac. Maybe you'll be able to keep more milk down, and REALLY start gaining! You DO NOT like the way the Zantac tastes! I'll ask the pharmacist if we can add some better flavor next time we have to get you a refill. :)

Here's how you rated on the WHO Growth Chart:

*Weight: 9 lbs 10 oz 12th Percentile
*Length: 22 in. 28th Percentile
*Head Circumference: 38.6 cm 61st Percentile

And my dear Prestyn...I leave you with this: every day is a gift...that's why it's called the present! Thank you for being a daily gift from God for me. We love you! Xoxo

Last Year in My 20's...

Maybe the title of this post explains why I wasn't too excited about my birthday this year...usually I am! Ryan was all ready to plan a big shin dig, but I just wasn't feeling it! Also...I am a mother now so there are better things to look forward to than turning a year older!

Ryan on the other hand was all excited about my birthday! As soon as I got up to go feed Prestyn in the morning he came in with my present! I read the card after listening to a tearful birthday message from my dad, and teared up from both the card & the phone call! I am surrounded by so much love!

So for my birthday I got a new phone!!! And an arm band to wear it in while I go running...still haven't used it yet! ;) And a very pretty necklace! I also got a day for myself! I went to activate my new phone, get my free birthday spray tan, and spend my birthday money from Nanny! I got new running shoes of course! I am determined to get this baby weight off! I can't blame it all on the baby...I had some weight to lose before I got pregnant, but I can't help that she wanted sweets the whole time I was pregnant! What my baby wants, my baby gets!

The plan was for Ryan to fix my birthday dinner since I didn't really want to go out, and I wanted to spend the evening with our little family...he had to go to the store to get a few things so I decided to start dinner...well I finished dinner & started dessert! haha! We had spaghetti and meatballs and strawberry cake! My sweet husband knows that my favorite, and bought it without telling me! He did such a good job baking it and icing it!

I guess turning 29 isn't so bad...it's next year that I may freak out about! At least I have my husband, child, home, and health! Life is good!

A Beautiful Day

This post is a tad bit late, but we've had lots of beautiful days since and I haven't had a chance to write...today I have a little more time to write since Miss Priss is content just getting sleepy & not being entertained...she's very sleepy lately after her 2 month shots, but that's for another day!

The beautiful day I'm referring to in the title is MOTHER'S DAY! It was my first Mother's Day with this beautiful angel. She really is such a blessing, and I thank God for choosing me to be her mommy! I am overwhelmed with the joys of being a mother!

What better way to start Mother's Day festivities than church service?! But this wasn't just any ol' church service...not that any of them are since we really enjoy our church...but this service was extra special! Parent Dedication took place this morning! It really worked out that the church organized dedication on this day & little miss was old enough to be alert!

From a couple of parents who grew up Catholic & grew up being baptized as babies a dedication for our baby was a little out of the norm. But for us it made total sense! Parent Dedication is a time for us to stand in front of our family, friends, loved ones, and our church with our little miracle to say that as her parents we promise to raise her in a Christ centered home.

It is our hope that Prestyn will grow to know the love Jesus Christ had for her from the moment she was conceived. We pray that she will accept Christ as her Lord & Savior, and live a life with her faith has a foundation in her decision making...

Choosing to dedicate Prestyn in front of our church is the first step on her Faith Path. As long as we continue to set a good example as Christians for Prestyn I believe she will be on the right path. We are such proud parents, and so thankful to have the opportunity to share our love for Christ with our daughter.

Prestyn was an absolute doll, and slept in my mom's arms the entire service! After church we had a nice celebratory lunch/Mother's Day Brunch with my mom, my dad, and Prestyn's Uncle Anthony. I could not have asked for a better start to Mother's Day!

Once we got home P and I took a nice long nap! She must have known it was Mother's Day & let me sleep! It was wonderful! While we slept Daddy cleaned up, and got things ready for our dinner. He grilled for me! We had grilled chicken and veggies! Yum!! And I didn't have to clean up a thing!

Oh and as my 1st Mother's Day gift...Ryan and Prestyn got me the necklace I've been wanting! It's a sideways cross gold chain with a heart charm with a P on it and Prestyn's birthstone (aquamarine). Beautiful!