CROSLEY JAMES: SIX MONTHS

 six months: september 5, 2015

this was a tough month as you hit a really big developmental milestone and some physical milestones as well, which left you fussy, uncomfortable and just not your self. despite having more off days than usual, you still brought us lots of smiles and happy days.

 

you've discovered movement. movement of your body, movement of objects, movement of people. you flail your arms when you're excited and babble and bang your toys on things. at the beginning of the month you were rolling everywhere. i couldn't leave the room without you being in a totally different spot than where i left you. you would become so frustrated because you wanted to crawl so bad and would get up on your knees and hands, rock in place a little, then collapse. daddy said you looked like you were dancing! after continuous attempts, you started shuffling yourself backwards to get to things. by the day you turned six months you were crawling. no longer sliding and rolling, you are now moving yourself with purpose and determination.

 

your practicing crawling, aka dancing crawling.

your leg strength amazes us. you started showing interest in trying to stand so we give you our hands to hold on to and you now lift yourself from sitting to standing. and to surprise us even more, you started standing when placed at the ottoman to hold yourself up. you continue to love using your feet for everything and even try holding bottles with them. silly boy!

mommy started back to work one day a week this past month and you get to spend a full day with nan every monday. she sends mommy and daddy photos and videos all day long so it isn't as difficult to be away from you, but eight hours seems like forever when mommy is so used to seeing you all day long. its good though, you enjoy your alone time with nan, she definitely loves her time with you also! on the topic of grandmothers, you get to spend a special night every week with cha cha too. she comes over after work and spends the whole evening with you until you fall asleep. you giggle and play all night with her. its so much fun to watch you together!

you are learning who the people are in your life and when you see them you smile and reach for them. i especially melt when you do that me. although i don't spend too much time away from you, when i do get away, getting back to you is the best. you smile so big, reach for my face and hug my head. it makes my heart so full! you squeal when daddy gets home too--the second he walks in the door you are so happy!

you love playing with mommy's hair, and you even play gentle (thank goodness!)

you have learned to say ma-ma and da-da. while i am not sure you are saying them with intentions of identifying who daddy and i are, you sure do love to say them! you favor da-da though. you'll go long periods of time just saying da-da-da-da-da-da-da. it won't be long till you are aware that it is our names and when you call them, we will be right there!

you went with mommy to two more baby showers this month--one for your godfather and aunt sammy's little sweet pea and one for mommy's friend who is having a little boy, your future little best bud. the second one was in pittsburgh, so we took a road trip and had our first overnight stay with you in a hotel--you slept in your bassinet while mommy and daddy slept beside you. you definitely did not enjoy the car ride there and back, so we all were happy when there was no more driving involved for a few days once we returned from our trip.

you're such an easy going, happy baby. you love watching people and rarely are shy. any time we go places with you, people are always commenting how good you are--no crying, no screaming, just content with taking in all that's happening around you and offering lots of sweet smiles to everyone you meet.

you started sitting in a highchair and love your jumpers. now that you are really teething, you love chewing on everything. sophie the giraffe and ellie the elephant go everywhere with you. you also love daddy's flat brim hats and we have found they provide the perfect amount of entertainment to get us to and from places when you ride in the car. you also look really cute with them on your head!

one afternoon i came to get you when you woke from your nap and found a hickey on your arm! you have started sucking on your hands and arms with all your teething, so we have to be watching you all the time to make sure you don't cause damage to your skin!

daddy's 30th birthday was at the end of this past month and you helped mommy in planning lots of special surprises for him, including a surprise birthday party for both him and uncle adam. while all the gifts, surprises and wishes were very special to daddy, his very favorite gift this year was you of course!

weight: 17.07 lbs.

height: 28 inches

physical appearance: one tooth and lots of hair growing in on the sides and back of your head.

diapers: comfortable in size three.

clothing: no longer wearing any three month clothing, and getting snug in your 3-6 month items. slowly we are moving into 6-9 month.

sleep: your sleep is continually disrupted during the nights due to teething pain, and by the end of the month, because of your first cold. most nights you're up every two hours. not our favorite new change, but we are doing our best to help you through it!

feeding: you rest your leg on my shoulder now and play with my face during your feedings. usually you fall asleep with your fingers holding on to my mouth.

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CROSLEY JAMES: FIVE MONTHS

five months: august 5, 2015

this was the month of big travels for you--we took our first vacation and you saw the beach for the first time! as we are well aware by now, you do not favor car rides, so daddy and i were a bit nervous about our nine hour trek to the outer banks. after some thought, we decided the best option would be to drive during your time of sleep so you could sleep most of the ride. and we sure were happy we chose that option, because you did just that! we left at two a.m. and you sleep for five straight hours. then we made a food stop, then once we hit the road again you took another snooze. you were pretty restless when we made it to our destination, but we all were after a long ride!

we had the best time sharing the week with mommy's side of the family, you especially loved all the extra attention, and your big cousins LOVED helping take care of you. i had my own little helpers for your diaper changes, picking your outfits out, spit-up alerts and entertainment.

the best big cousins!

you and i spent most of our time in the tent on the beach, and the sound of the waves crashing all day long soothed you right to sleep for most of the afternoon. we of course dipped your tootsies in the water, but it was too cold for your liking. i think you prefer your warm baths! you stayed out of the sand for the most part, except when a breeze blew a whole bunch into our tent and covered your face while you were asleep. yikes!

later on each day we would head back to the house for a little pool time. you enjoyed splashing and kicking your legs as mommy toted you around the pool.

one of our favorite things about our vacation was having daddy with us all day long. we would take our time in the mornings, all three snuggled in the bed, giggling and talking with you. and we even snuck up to the beach for a morning walk along the water one day. daddy carried you in the ergo and you passed out with your head nuzzled up close to his chest.

the whole family on our last night together.

we were sad to see the week end because it was so nice to see nan, pap, zia, zio, aunt tammy, uncle brian, aunt jen, brayden, lexi and linclon every day. we can't wait for the next beach trip! but we were excited to get back home to see all our other family members and of course winnie!

the day before we left for the beach, at 19 weeks old, you rolled over from your back to your tummy while mommy was reading you a bed time story. daddy happened to snap a picture right before it happened. you did it so fast we almost missed it! daddy was so excited he was there for that moment.

right before you rolled over from your back to your tummy!

you are working on your balance to sit up on your own, but you still need assistance with out toppling over. you love to hold on to your toys and twirl them in your hand, kind of like you have a magic wond, our little harry potter in the making! you and winslow are becoming buddies, he comes in for bath nights and thinks he is helping to bathe you by licking your face AFTER your bath. you reach for his paws and he puts his nose to your face. its so sweet!

it was the month of blow outs for sure. in my daily photos there was at least one a week of an explosion episode. i blame it on the diapers (see diaper section below for more on that), but despite how often they happened and how messy they were, they always made for fun stories to tell. especially the time we were over at mommy's friend shannon's house for a play date with sophia. you went through all your extra outfits and all we had left to wear leaving the house was a too tiny sweatshirt (it was the middle of a very hot summer day!) and a diaper. mommy now over packs back-up outfits just because of this!

we upgraded to the play yard instead of the bassinet for play time. you continue to love playing with your feet, kicking and grabbing things with your toes. giggling when someone acts silly. and smiling constantly. you love to pull daddy's hair and taking long naps on mommy. you're getting so long that you barely fit across my lap like you did only five short months ago.

 

weight: 16.1 lbs.

height: 27 inches

physical appearance: CURLS! you are getting curls! just like daddy. oh it makes my heart melt! and you have the longest eyelashes--pure perfection.

diapers: we jumped to size two then size three this month. you're mimzy gifted us two full months of diapers from the honest co. and it was so fun to change diapers (even blow outs, which the honest diapers definitely fail at containing more than pampers!) with all the pretty prints they came in. 

clothing: you wear items in sizes 0-3 months occasionally, but have bumped up to more 3-6 month clothing on a daily basis. your sleepers are now all six months! 

sleep: this month we started to notice your co-sleeper was shrinking, err i mean, you were getting too big for it! we aren't ready to move you into your crib in your own room yet, so you'll just remain snug as a bug for a little longer.

you surprise us every once in awhile with an all night slumber, but for the most part you still wake up at least once a night. i don't mind though, because i savor our middle of the night snuggles.

feeding: i'm so proud of how far we have come and the bond that is created from nursing. i'm so in tune with you, that i find myself waking in the middle of the night before you do, just in time to scoop you up and nurse you back to sleep. my supply continues to flourish and i get to continue to nourish you with food only i can supply you with--incredible.

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CROSLEY JAMES: FOUR MONTHS

four months: july 5, 2015

a new month, and more new exciting things happening for you! mommy takes you just about every where, and this month you came to two baby showers for your future little girlfriends--one in another state (MD), your first road trip with mommy and nan! although you slept through most of both of them, when you were awake every one couldn't stop commenting on just how sweet of a little boy you are, and how good you are! no tears, no tantrums, only a couple blow outs and a whole lot of smiles! we are so blessed with such a happy, healthy little boy and there isn't a moment that we don't thank God for you and all the joy you bring to our lives.

this month you celebrated another holiday, independence day!

we had our first night away from daddy this month, but it gave us an opportunity to have a sleep over with nan instead! speaking of daddy, last month we celebrated mommy, and this month was daddy's turn--his first father's day! you helped mommy plan a special day and it turned out to be such a good one. we made daddy a book titled "i love my daddy because..." and filled it with photos and all the many reasons you love daddy. he couldn't wait to read it to you at bedtime that night.

we planned to make daddy breakfast in bed that morning, but just as he always does, going above and beyond for you and mommy, daddy surprised us instead and gave mommy breakfast in bed. he's absolutely the best daddy ever! following breakfast and gift opening, we headed out for a surprise adventure--a trip to zoo america. you started sitting in your stroller facing forward in your big boy seat, so you really enjoyed the new view you had, especially one filled with lots of animals you've never seen before. our favorite was the big black bear. on our way home we picked up dinner then spent the rest of the night all snuggling.

there were lots of special family events this month. you met all of you great grandma parry's relatives at a family reunion nan and pap held at their house. you were the star of the show of course, but after only 20 minutes of meeting extended family members (including your great-great uncle and aunt!) you cried and fell asleep in mommy's arms. it's exhausting being so cute! your pop pop tom (great grandpa) stayed a few days extra after the family reunion, and spent a special day with you. we went shopping and out to lunch at the hershey pantry, where you decided to have your first public blowout all over yourself and mommy's clothes. we rolled with it though and came out of it laughing. when we got home from our day out, pop pop held you for the first time and sang you songs he sang to nan when she was a little girl. it was a beautiful sight to see.

you still hate riding in the car, we can't quite figure out the magic solution, but it doesn't keep us from venturing out of the house to do fun things! (although mommy wants to cry and hold you when you get so frustrated you scream so hard to the point of becoming hoarse.) we are spending a lot of time with your cousins sophia and dylan this summer, and one day this month they invited us to attend a reptile show at the town library. although you may not have known what really was going on the whole time, you enjoyed listening and watching as the presenter introduced all the reptiles. including a massive boa constrictor. yikes!

it amazes me how quickly you are advancing in your development. each new thing you learn to do is so exciting and makes us so proud. i love watching you while you concentrate, you focus so intently, babble a little and have just recently started discovering your hands, so when you are focusing you clasp your hands together. you are also interacting more with your toys, spinning the hanging toys on your activity gym and grasping them. the other thing you love to grasp is your feet! i couldn't wait for you to start doing this, because i always picture your ultrasound in my third trimester when you grabbed your foot and sucked on it in your mouth! we can tell you're so ready to start moving, you rock and try so hard to roll over from back to tummy, and are able to do it with a little assistance, so we know it won't be long!

you continue to be so talkative. i love the mornings when you first wake up, you babble while laying in bed with me and daddy. we just lay next to you and listen to everything you have to say. we never get tired of your sweet little voice.

 

one evening i found myself reflecting on my pregnancy journey. i remember every night waking up in the early hours while everyone else in the house was asleep, laying in bed with my hand on my belly, mind racing with fears of what was to come, what was going to happen. i worried so much about the future uncertainties, i never took the time to appreciate was happening already. right then, the beautiful blessing i was living. i never fully appreciated the absolute miracle i was given in caring and growing my baby, until now, while awake in the early hours of the night, while i hold in my arms the amazing human i was creating and dreamt of only months before. i love you so much crosley james!

weight: 12.8 lbs.

height: 23.75 inches

physical appearance: we have noticed your eyes changing more to a hazel color than the blue/gray they were at birth. not quite brown, not quite green, but still a little blueish. everyone says they will be brown, but i am holding out for eyes like your mommy. 

while you still don't have spiral curls, your hair seems to definitely have a wave to it and is especially curly when wet, but dries more wavy. 

you go back and forth between daddy and i in regards to who you look more like. it honestly changes every day! 

diapers: size ones still, but on the edge of needing to size up. diaper changing is now so easy, i probably could do it with my eyes closed! you remain on the same amount of changing you did last month--sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

clothing: still rocking a few 0-3 month items, but mostly in size 3-6 months now! it makes me so sad to put another size of clothing away in storage.

sleep: we continue to let you schedule your own sleep, following your signals and patterns for what works best for you. this month you had your first eight hour span through the night, mommy and daddy kept startling out of sleep to make sure you were okay because we aren't used to such a long span of deep sleep!

feeding: still guzzling milk like a tank!

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CROSLEY JAMES: THREE MONTHS

three months: june 5, 2015

three months already baby boy?! i'm sure each month my reaction will remain the same. no mommy can ever believe their sweet tiny newborn could ever grow bigger than what they remember from the day they were born. so, remember that, cros. mommy will always tell you, even when you are a grown man with your own babies, "i can't believe how you've grown. when i look at you, you're still my sweet tiny newborn, just ever so little and fitting perfectly into my arms."

now that i've made myself even more sad imagining you as a grown man, i'll quickly dive into you currently, my still very little, not so grown up, three month old baby.

we started out the month with a celebration. my first official mother's day, on may 10. it was an extra special day, because you were also dedicated to God at our church with family and friends in attendance to show their support and love for you. 

in the morning before church, you and daddy showered me with thoughtful gifts and so much love. daddy got a special bracelet with your initials and birth stone for me, as well as a ring engraved with an "a" and "c," for my boys. i haven't taken them off since!

when we arrived at church, we greeted all of those there to cheer you on (which they literally did, rooting for you and shouting your name when approaching the front during your dedication). 

there were a few other families with children being dedicated, so when it was your turn, daddy carried you up while i prepared to read a passage we had chosen for you to live by.

since you are the product of no greater love, the love between your daddy and mommy, and the love God has for you, we selected 1 Corinthians 1-13. 

after sharing the passage, pastor chad and his wife prayed over you, while daddy and i held onto you and joined them in their prayer.

following the service, zia and zio held a lunch for everyone back at their home. it was so nice to share such a significant event and day with all the people who will be there for you as you grow into the incredible person i know you will become. 

to complete the afternoon, daddy and i read a letter to you in front of our loved ones. 

dear sweet crosley james,

the adoration and love we have for you is unimaginable and the gratitude we feel for the privilege in being your parents is humbling.

the day you were born you made our family more complete. instantly, our days became brighter, our hearts grew bigger, our thoughts became less selfish and our desire to be our best versions burned deeper.

it's amazing to us how such a tiny person can make such a huge impact in our lives, but we know that God created you to do just that in the world. you are a product of love and for that reason you make those around you feel the most purest of love.

although you are still so new to us and everyone here on earth, you have already shown your gentle spirit and sweet disposition. you smile and reach for us, express your excitement and share your happiness. you use your voice to be heard, through many coos and gurgles. you let us know what makes you happy and what upsets you.

we pray that as you grow you continue to share your smile with everyone and always reach for us and God in times you are in need. we pray that you continue to possess an excitement for life and your Faith and share the happiness it brings you with others, so that they may find happiness as well. we pray that you use that strong voice of yours to share the messages you feel passionate about, the messages God has given you to share in the world. we pray that you feel confident and courageous in everything you do, and remember to thank God for the blessings in your life that bring you happiness. and when something upsets you, we pray that you will ask God to give you understanding. we pray that you will always strive to find good in people and in times of difficulty. we pray that you live a life you are proud of and aren't afraid to be who God created you to be, but live boldly through Him. and as you grow, you will make mistakes, but remember that no one is perfect and it is through the imperfections that we learn and become better people. most importantly we pray you always remember we are here to hold your hand every step of the way, loving you, encouraging you, protecting you and teaching you through the best of our humble human capabilities.

long before God gave you to us, mommy and daddy fell in love. and it is through our love that you were created. love is a truly powerful thing and the greatest of all the gifts God has given us. you are our greatest accomplishment in the world and that will never change.

the day ended with me, you and daddy snuggled in bed. perfect.

although mother's day/your dedication day, was a huge moment in you third month, lots of other significant moments happened as well. 

you have had a lot of new developmental milestones! we notice you gaining such focus on patterns and light. and although we rarely watch tv with you around, on the short occasions that we do, you are turning your head to find the source of noise and light, making us afraid you're glued to the tube already--hence my stern belief in no tv when you are around!

speaking of turning to find the source of activity behind you, you no longer want to be held for too long facing the person holding you. we tease you all the time and call you nosey, but we know it is just your inquisitive nature kicking in, which is a good thing! when you hear a new voice talking, you are quick to turn your head in  their direction. 

you have become so strong! you can push up to standing when being held and at just 13 weeks old you rolled over from tummy to back! i caught it on video, and was so excited when it happened i cried, cheered and clapped for joy in your accomplishment, as if you just won the olympics! everything you do makes me so proud, it's as if you've won gold every time.

i am almost certain you will be a little soccer player like mommy and daddy, because you kick your feet and legs non stop, as if you're running. and anytime something gets in your range of motion, you kick or push it away with your feet. in the bath tub you aim for the rinse cup and knock it out of its holder every time. or if someone brings any part of their body close to your feet, you push it like you're using a leg press machine, like a little baby body builder.

your fists are still usually clenched tight, but we have noticed you have grasped things more frequently now. especially toys that have a ring on them. 

i am not 100% positive, but believe you might be starting to teeth. you have an endless supply of drool and you want to suck and bite down on anything that gets  near you. you also had a pretty serious growth spurt, during which you screamed for food and were pretty fussy for about a week. we attributed the fussiness to a growth spurt, because you are nearly never upset, making it the only reason we could see why you would be so unhappy! 

you went to nan and pap's house for a fun day at the pool with your cousins, sophia and dylan. despite sleeping most of the time, i think you enjoyed their company and snuggling with their mommy. 

mommy and daddy had their first date night at the end of this month, followed by a wedding the next weekend. the date night wasn't long, since we couldn't wait to get home to you. even though you were safe and playing with zia and nan! the wedding was the longest we were ever away from you, 9 hours! your cha cha and aunt lizzie did an awesome job taking care of you, and cha cha even spent the night over at our house! 

the love your aunts and grandmas have for you is beyond measure--they are always there for you no matter what. as is the rest of your family. we are so blessed!

weight: 12.8 lbs.

height: 23.75 inches

physical appearance: your starting to lose the hair on the sides and back of your head. it's quite noticeable on the left side and back more than the right side, since you favor sleeping on your left side and rub your head from side to back while you sleep. in the mornings we find a trail of your hair rubbed on your bassinet!

i can't believe how fast your fingernails grow now too! i couldn't keep up with the speed of their growth, so i put the tiny baby nail file away and brought out the clippers. SO MUCH EASIER! you don't mind getting a mani/pedi either. 

diapers: size ones. diaper changes seem to be more pee pee diapers during the day, and usually upon wake up in the mornings we get one or two poopy ones. i'd say we change diapers at least every two-three hours. 

clothing: most everything in your wardrobe these days is 0-3 months. some shorts/pants are 3-6, but are of course loser around the waist. 

sleep: you started sleeping much longer spans this month throughout the night. you usually go to bed at 9 p.m. and wake up around 1 or 2 a.m. for a feeding and diaper change, then quickly go back down till 6:30 a.m. when you are then pretty much up for the day. we take nap together at around 9:30 a.m. for an hour or two, then we play it by ear throughout the day for naps. since you usually take short naps after your feedings, i'll sit holding you while you sleep and i read. the second you're in a carrier though, you are out like a light!

up until this month we swaddled you in muslin swaddles every time you were down to sleep. you were getting pretty good by this point of escaping from the swaddle so we knew we'd soon have to find a new way of swaddling or drop swaddling all together in the near future. the decision to do just that happened literally overnight: it was around 1 a.m. and a loud distressed cry coming from you woke me from my sleep. i lept over daddy to your bassinet and found the swaddled tangled around your neck. i screamed for andy to wake up and scooped you out of the swaddle as fast as i could and immediately picked you up into my arms. you threw up the minute i did and continued to cry. your arms were so tangled in the swaddle and it traveled so far up your neck, that every time you moved your arms the swaddle tightened around your neck. when we carried you to room and daddy ran after me, we saw red marks around your neck. you were okay, a little frightened, buy okay. it was so scary that we barely slept the rest of the night and the next day we were purchasing a halo swaddle sack. 

feeding: feedings are based on when you request it, but basically that's still every two-three hours. i am so thankful my supply has stayed up to speed to your demand. i love our special bonding time during feedings. my heart melts when you stop and look up at me to smile while your nursing.

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BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

my sweet family and friends threw me a baby shower on january 18 to celebrate our little crosley's impending arrival. my sister ashley and sister-in-law liz took the lead on putting everything together with a little help from my mom, mother-in-law and friends sam and jen. the theme was "baby it's cold outside." everything was so perfect, and the most special way to celebrate our baby boy.

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CROSLEY JAMES: TWO MONTHS

two months: may 5, 2015

how fast time is surely moving, but how beautiful it is to watch you grow! and you definitely did lots of that this month, baby boy. at the start of this month you had no trouble still squeezing into your newborn clothes and diapers (and by squeeze i really do mean it, i didn't want you my tiny newborn baby to get bigger, so i squeezed you into your newborns as long as i could!) but in a matter of weeks, it seemed as if you grew over night! as sad as it makes me to see my itty bitty baby become a bigger baby, i know that growing means you're healthy and getting stronger, so it is a beautiful bittersweet experience.

with daddy back at work, you and i started to get into our own groove and schedule of life at home together. since you usually wake up for a feeding when it's time for daddy to get ready for the day, daddy and i take that opportunity following your feeding to spend a few minutes "talking" to you. you are quite the chatterbox and a very happy morning baby. you coo, gurgle and smile when we talk to you, it is absolute bliss. your expressions are endless and sometimes you coo so loud that i think you do it just to hear yourself get loud, almost as if you have just discovered you have a voice.

after a morning gab fest, you and i crawl back in bed and snuggle for another few hours before starting the day. i could lay all day with you snuggled on my chest, fast asleep, heavy arms and legs dangling while your one cheek is smushed up against my chest. your lips make this pursed half open look while you sleep. you look so peaceful and like a tiny angel.

once you rise and shine again, we get our day started. you aren't really keen on taking naps during the day as you once were, and you continue to become more alert and inquisitive about your surroundings. for the most part, a few days out of the week are usually filled with errands or appointments. we try to get out of the house as often as possible, but not too much, because you can have car ride meltdowns that make driving alone nearly impossible. one reason i finally caved and allowed you to try soothing yourself with a pacifier, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. you're still working on the whole thumb sucking thing and usually only do that when you're hungry, but it's more of a fist sucking than a thumb sucking!

we also introduced a bottle for the first time, despite my anxiety with the introduction. we started out using tommie tippie bottles with the slowest flow and you had milk flying out the sides and downed a 5 oz. bottle in nearly five minutes. i wasn't comfortable with the idea of that much milk entering your tiny tummy that quickly so i did some research and asked advice from other mommas. with some trial and error we have found the dr. browns bottles with the premie flow work best. it takes you the same amount of time to finish your bottle as it does when you nurse, and not nearly as much milk comes out the sides while you're eating. we have incorporated a nightly feeding from daddy to help familiarize you to the bottle feeding. daddy likes the bonding time and mommy likes the "freedom" it allows.

i spend most of our days talking to you, telling you what i'm doing as i'm doing it, sometimes we even dance around the house listening to music while you're in your carrier. other times we sit in silence and i just savor all your tiny features and soft skin, listening to you breath while you sleep snuggled on me.

just a little gab sesh with nessie.

you had your first "play date" this month with one of mommy's childhood friend's son. it was so neat to see you react to another baby!

i had my first mommy fearful moment this month when you had your first allergic reaction. nan was with us at a doctor appointment for mommy, when we noticed your eye was swelling shut while nan was holding you. i panicked. we called your pediatrician and had to wait for an appointment an hour from the time i called, but surprisingly during that hour wait, your swelling went down. nan and i were trying to think back to what could have caused it, and thought it may have been perfume. once at your pediatrician, they told us it was most likely contact dermatitis (skin allergic reaction) and could have been anything. it didn't show up again until we got home and nan was holding you again. we found the culprit. it's nan! just kidding! nan wore a new perfume that day and it must have been irritating to your skin, because every time you laid your head on her shoulder it happened. nan left the house that afternoon in tears almost because she felt so bad. we reassured her you were okay, but that she couldn't wear that perfume around you ever again! needless to say, she threw it out that night and you haven't had a reaction like that since! 

you love lying on your back taking in all the new sights while kicking your legs around and talking. we've tried some baby/mommy yoga at home and you love to have your legs and arms stretched. you never tire being carried around in your moby/ergo/ring sling. as i mentioned earlier, you have some rough bouts in the car, i think you find the car seat too confining for your squirmy self, and you hate hats/sweatshirt hoodies because they seem to always fall down over your eyes, making you seriously upset–i don't blame you buddy!

i absolutely melt when i watch daddy with you. you look at him and your face lights up each time. daddy has mastered the diaper change game and bounces you like a grasshopper when you are fussy.

you make everything in life so much sweeter, baby boy. even when it's 2 a.m. and i'm exhausted, you make it all worth it–i'll rock you back to sleep, kiss you on your cheek and you will smile while your dreaming. enough to make anyone wake up at 2 a.m. for!

i hold onto all the special moments we have during our time at home. i can't imagine not being here for every moment of your day, so for that reason, i made the decision, with daddy's support, to stay home with you and not return to work. eventually i plan to return to my compensated career life (since we all know being a stay at home mommy IS a career in itself) doing something part time, but for now i am savoring you! 

weight: 11.8 lbs.

height: 23.75 inches

physical appearance: you have filled out since birth, not so squishy face and your cheeks are getting chubby. but that doesn't mean you are chubby! you are still long and lean! by the end of this month, most people say you look more like me. i still see more of daddy though! during your bath time one night this month, daddy discovered you have the same birthmark as him, just below your left nipple. kind of clarifies to me you're daddy's clone! 

diapers: diaper changes remained pretty much the same as they were by the end of month one. although the newborns are getting a bit snug, so we most likely will move to size ones by next month! 

clothing: it's hard to believe the newborn onesies that were too big on you when you came home from the hospital are getting too tiny for you now. i swear i try squishing you into these, because i am just in denial my itty bitty baby is getting so big! 

sleep: your sleep patterns have found a steady routine for the night time, but not much for the day time. during the night you are up asleep by 9:30 p.m., up again at 12 or 1 a.m., then asleep until 3 a.m., but up again at 6 a.m. after the 6 a.m. wake up, we head back to sleep and snuggle with you on my chest.

feeding: a champion feeder is what you are! i am so happy despite our struggles in the beginning, you and i have become pros at it now! you are fed on demand, but it pretty much ends up being every 2.5 to 3 hours. you usually fall asleep while feeding, and have started pacifying towards the end and not really eating. for this reason, we tried giving you a paci, and you take it sometimes, but more times than none, you spit it out. 

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IT'S A BOY: THE GENDER REVEAL

andy and i were planning a unique way to share the gender of our baby since the day we found out we were expecting. originally we planned to find out the gender in front of our friends and family, but decided this was a once in a lifetime moment and something he and i should share together, on our own. so, at 18 weeks we went to an ultrasound center to find out our little one's gender. we were so excited and had a pretty strong feeling since our first ultrasound that it was a boy. in the first minute the gender popped up on the screen and the tech exclaimed, "it's a boy!" immediately my heart just felt so full, a little mini andy! i cried and laughed with happiness at how exciting this was, and turned to andy and said, "crosley." and andy responded with, "are you sure? we still have a lot of time to name him!" but the moment i saw him on the ultrasound it was like he already had a name, and i just knew it was crosley.

we had to keep the news in for another week until our planned gender reveal party with our closest family and friends. my mom hosted it at her house and it was a crisp fall day--my favorite! we had everyone choose a pin when they arrived, either a pink bow or blue mustache.

the majority vote was boy, but everyone was still surprised and excited when the gender was finally revealed. we had cupcakes made by a local bakery and only filled one cupcake with a cream filling in the color of the gender--totally caught everyone off guard when they bit in, hoping to find the gender in their first bite! my friend lauren got the lucky cupcake and jumped with excitement when she saw the blue filling, yelling "it's a boy!"

immediately following the gender reveal, andy and i also revealed his name, crosley james. i won't forget my brother in law's response to the name, "this isn't a definite name yet right? we still have time to change it?" oh vito, you always have a way of making us smile! no other name would fit this little boy.

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