Dear Winslow,

The last post of 2013 little one!!

I can't believe this year is over.  This was one of the BEST years of my life...and it's mostly because of YOU!! We announced you were coming into the world on New Years Eve last year and this year we got to celebrate with you (even though you went to bed at 7pm) ;)

We can't imagine our lives without you in it, it's like you were always supposed to be in it.  You fit perfectly into our family. 

Today was hard.  You decided you didn't really need any naps today.  And that caused a little grumpiness and some crying from you.  It broke my heart because I know you were so sleepy, but you wouldn't go to sleep.  I think you were just exhausted.  I prayed for you when you went to bed and I know that tomorrow will be a lot better.  We will have hard days, Winslow.  But that's the beauty of grace.  The Lord allows us to start over with no condemnation or guilt.  We can start a fresh new day.  I am grateful for that.

Some of my most favorite things you do lately that I do NOT want to forget:

When you nurse, you now touch my face.  You are exploring so much now and I just stare at you and smile so big because those blue eyes of yours just melt me.   You will grab my nose, my lips, my eyes.  It's precious. 

When you're going to sleep, you make this groaning sound.  It's not an upset sound or a happy sound..it's just a sound you make in your throat.  I love it.  You do it in your carseat and when you're heading to bed for the night. 

You love to stand up now.   (With me helping you, of course)  It's like you're showing everyone how strong you are. 

You are sleeping like a champ, most nights.  You'll be alseep by 7:15 and wake up once to eat (around 4-4:30) and then back down again until 7:30.  It's a dream, really. You do have your nights where you're up more, but most of the time you sleep great.

Your favorite toys right now are your exersaucer, some squishy building blocks your " Aunt Granny" got you, and Socks the Fox.  

We love you so much and CANNOT wait to see you grow in 2014. 

Love,

Mommy

2014 Goals...

Because who doesn't love to make lists?

1.  Be more patient.  I thought I was good at this, and then...BAM, I had a child.  I really want to do my best to love my husband better by being more patient. And in return, I will be more pleasant to live with.  It's a win-win kind of deal.  

2.  Organize the trillion photos I have online.   This makes me want to barf...but I need a better organizing system.  They are currently all in lightroom or in the mac photo library thing...with no order at all.  Lord, help me.   (And by trillion...i really do mean HUNDREDS of photos.)

3.  Learn how to shoot in manual.  I need to get better with my camera...I have a child, and every cute little thing he does needs to be documented. Duh.

4.  Cook more.  I used to be good at this one...but then I had a kid.  and worked 4 days a week.  and have a husband who works late at night.  So yeah, let's try to be better at this, mmkay? 

5.  Give more.  We tithe at our church, and I love doing that, but I want to give to others more.  The other day, I paid for the person behind me at Starbucks.  It was only $4, but it really felt soooooo good to do that for them.  It made my heart smile.  I want to do more of that this next year. And I also want to send packages to friends and call/text more encouraging words. 

6. Worry less.    Well...this one will only happen with LOTS of prayer.  And boy this one will probably be the hardest. 

7.  Document more of the everyday things.  I need to pull my REAL camera out more and not my iphone...but dang, an iphone is so convenient.  I want to have real good photos of my little man though.  I need to have it with me more.  Because then I could get sweet moment like this capture more often:

A Year in Review

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And just like that, 2013 is gone.  Can you believe it?  Parts of this year seemed to have gone by so slow (Like when I saw the FOURTY FIRST week of my pregnancy (and then some!))  and then parts of it have FLOWN by (like the fact my son is OVER FOUR MONTHS OLD!)

People tell you, "Savor every moment" and boy am I trying.  I swear Winslow was just born yesterday. ANYWAY,  Let's do a recap of my favorite memories from this year, shall we?

1. January 1, 2013- We started off the year right by announcing our pregnancy.  We had all of our closest friends over for a NYE party and told them all at once.  It was so much fun and surreal to actually share the wonderful news of a baby.

2.  March 2013-  We celebrated our last hoorah as a couple by visiting Miami and attending the Sony Open Tennis Tournament.  

3. Summer- Growing larger by the day, I spent the summer gardening (a little bit, but mostly I would just watch it slowly die), and counting down the days until my little one would make his arrival.

4. August- This was THE month . The month that would change everything.  I was so excited and anxious to meet my son and when August 9th came around, I just new it would be anyday.  But no, he made me wait a LONG NINE more days.  Those days were painful.  I remember praying all the time "Lord please let me have this baby. "  I didn't think I could grow any bigger, oh but I did.  

5. August 18-  The DAY that changed my life.  After just 4 hours in the hospital, my son was born.  I had a very wonderful delivery and forgot about those 9 days he made me wait.  It was perfect.  

6. The past four months have been the hardest, most rewarding of my life.  I never ever knew my heart could hold so much love for one being.  Oh, but it does.  

2013 was my year.  My year to learn about patience, love, and being a mom.  It's been so wonderful and I can only imagine how much better 2014 will be.  

I learned a lot...

2013 taught me a lot. 

This year taught me how to be patient.  From the time I got pregnant until now, I think I've learned a lot about patience.  When I was just 6 weeks pregnant, I got EXTREMELY sick for about 10 more weeks.  Every single day of every week, I was sick.  It required me to stop and take care of me.  I thought it would never get better, but finally it subsided after 3 months or so.  Then when my little one decided to be  late, boy...I was so upset and tired and exhausted and just done.  Done of being pregnant.  I would almost snap when people would ask me "YOU HAVEN'T HAD THAT BABY YET?"  Well no, no  I haven't.  Don't you see my HUMONGOUS belly?  So yes, I had to exercise patience a lot during my pregnancy.  Oh yeah, and let's talk about how Winslow was nine days late....

This year taught me how to rely on the Lord.  I've learned that, good gracious, I can't do this mom thing on my own.  I can't tell you how many prayers I've prayed for strength, patience, understanding, knowledge.  I've prayed it all.  And you know what?  The Lord has been good to me.  Even when my child is not napping like I want him to, or when he wouldn't take a bottle for 4 weeks while I was at work,  or when he got up 10 times at night last week, Yes, He is still good.  He has taught me that without Him, i would literally have no hope.  No hope to go about my day.  Can I get an AMEN?

This year taught me about my true calling.  Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a mom.  I wanted to live on a farm with chickens, goats, a big garden and lots of kids running around (and still do want this!)  But I'm slowly getting there.  :)  When people would ask me what I want to be when I grow up, I would tell them "A mom".  I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to have the desires of my heart  and I need to continually stay in constant thanks for showing me my true calling: To be a mom.  There's nothing else I'd rather do.

This year taught me how I need to be a better listener.  Since having a baby, it's been a true challenge to keep my husband first.  I mean, a baby plus a job takes a LOT out of you.  And I want to work on being a better listener instead of getting so angry so quickly.  Sometimes when I'm at my wits end, my husband gets to see my backside. And it's not pretty.

  I'm sorry, babe, for my short temper and I promise to work on it for next year.  

This year taught me how much I appreciate my mom.  When Winslow was born, she came and stayed with me for two weeks.  Those first two weeks were the most wonderful and awful weeks of my life.  Can any other of you momma's relate?  It was wonderful to have a new baby, but my hormones were insane and between having problems with nursing, and just being a new mom with no sleep, my mom helped me so much.  She would wake up in the middle of the night to rock Winslow while I would try to get a couple hours. She has ALWAYS answered my phone calls and listened to my fears, my hopes, my rants...she always helps me with being the best parent I can be for my son.  I am also so appreciative of my mother in law.  She graciously gives us her day every day to keep W while I am at work.  She doesn't have to do this, and I am so grateful she does so that we don't have to pay for daycare.  

This year taught me how to sacrifice.  Let's face it:  once you have a child, it's not about you.  I can no longer stay up past 10 o clock (unless I want to be exhausted for the next day), I can no longer make a trip to Target for TWO hours (and yes, this was one of my favorite pasttimes).  It's not a bad thing at all, it's just different.  And I wouldn't change it for the world.  (Although I will make a Target trip sometime soon..and I may spend 2 hours there)

This year has taught me how fragile life really is.  We are not promised tomorrow, and I need to always keep this in mind.  Whenever I get upset at my husband and snap back at him or get frustrated at Winslow, or yell at the dog for just being in my way..I need to breathe and remind myself that the time I spend like that will be lost forever..i can't change it, and it's a waste if it's spent like that.  

 I did learn a lot, and I plan on trying my darndest to make sure 2014 is saturated in grace and patience.  Afterall, that's what the Creator asks of us. I am determined.  I'll make it happen.

 

Winslow's First Christmas

We had such a wonderful time celebrating Christmas...let me tell you, it's so much more fun with a baby.  He didn't really know what was going on, but we had a great time.  I love spending time with my family, and getting to see the JOY Winslow brings to everyone.

Winslow's four months old!

 

      Weight: 16 pounds 5 ounces
Height:26.75 inches tall
Nicknames: W, Win, Monkey,
Eating: This topic has been very stressful for me this month. I went back to work the day W turned three months old and he REFUSED to take a bottle.  It took a LONG 2-3 weeks before he would even drink 1 ounce and then one day it just clicked...he started taking a bottle like a champ and now we have no problems. (PRAISE THE LORD)  My mother-in-law is a CHAMP for being so patient with him and she even fed him with a little baby spoon sometimes to get some food in his belly.  But he is now just fine and I am no longer stressing that my baby starves while I'm at work.  He eats every three hours during the day, just about, and eats once at night.  And will now take a bottle. (After spending close to $70 on every different bottle known to man, he decides he likes the NUK brand..those are like 3 dollars...ha!)    

 

     
Sleeping:Sleep.  It's sometimes WONDERFUL and sometimes NOT WONDERFUL.  We are in the process of weaning him from the swaddle (AHHHHHHH) and it's not going so well...he does not know what the heck to do with his arms if they are not swaddled.  I know it'll just take a few days/ a week / for him to get used to it, but it's not been easy on this momma.  He got up every two hours last night...and yes, I had to get up at 6:30 for work.  YIKES.  I would LOVE to keep him swaddled because when he is, he'll sleep 8-9 hours before he's hungry, but with him rolling over like crazy now, I do not want to risk him getting stuck on his stomach without his arms to help him roll back over.  Yep, it's time..and yep, it sucks.     

  Naps? What are those?  This little fella does NOT want to miss out on anything...he does nap during the day, but not as long as I'd like him to.  And of course he naps way better when he's held..but I don't want him to learn to nap JUST by being held so I put him down and he'll only sleep 30-40 minutes...sigh...he used to sleep 1.5 hours twice a day with a catnap in the evening but now I'm lucky if he'll sleep 45 minutes 2-3 times a day.  I'm hoping this next month he'll learn that naps are good.  We will see.    
Diapers: Still in cloth, still in love.  I'll never go back. (Don't quote me on that though...when I have a small army running around, I may change my mind!)  ;)     But we are using disposables some because I stocked up before he came and don't want them to go to waste.  I've noticed that when he's in those, they get so much more smelly than cloth and his little bums gets a lot redder too... so I'm counting down the dipes until we can go back to cloth.   

   

Clothing: I have this disorder called "Try to squeeze your baby into small clothes to keep him from growing up" and I need help getting over this.  Three times this month I've put him in 3 month outfits that either look like capris on him or the sleeves are 3/4 length.  Ha!! Then I try to convince myself he can fit in them when really he's about to pop a button in my eyeball. 
Social: This little man is a HAM.  He smiles all the time.  He screams/coos/babbles/ makes dinosaur noises...it melts me.  He definitely recognizes me, daddy, his grandparents..it's precious.  He even smiled so big at daddy when we were facetiming while he was at work.  He talks to his toys all day long now.   

  Likes: He still LOVES bathtime, he loves to kick his piano on the end of the playmat, he loves his lion toy, loves smiling at daddy, being naked, his feet (this is his FAVORITE)  rolling over, being on his stomach   
Dislikes: hiccups, sometimes his car seat, being held like a baby, burping, napping   

 
What we're looking forward to: Christmas next week!  Traveling to Texas and Alabama to visit family,   Milestones/ things to remember: He has started to laugh, loves his feet so much, rolls over both ways    

   

Winslow's ornaments

I love ornaments and I really love them when they have a special story behind them.  Every year, hubby and I get each other an ornament and this year was especially fun getting lots of different ones for Winslow!  Here's a few that I've gotten or bought and I can't wait to have a million more! Obsessed much? 

My newborn photographer sent me this one in the mail today and I was NOT expecting this at all!! It almost made me cry.  I love this photo.

My MIL gave me this one.  How cute are we?  ;)

I made salt dough ornaments of little W's hands and although Darla decided she wanted to eat one ( I left them sitting on the coffee table overnight)  I made several and she only ate one.  They had a CUP of salt in them, so I'm sure her tummy was hurting quite a bit afterwards. Sheesh!

My grandparents got Winslow this cowboy.  Maybe one day he'll be a true Texan cowboy!

These little baby booties are too sweet.

 

And of course I had to get W a fox.  I can't believe I didn't get him anything with foxes on it for Christmas- it's not too late to keep shopping though!

My MIL also got Winslow this one.

 

I think I need a much bigger tree next year, honey!  (at least ten feet tall!)

Merry Christmas!

Dear Winslow

Goodness Gracious!

TOMORROW you will be four months old.

Can that really be happening?  Were we not just at the hospital yesterday? 

I seriously look at you and cannot believe the little boy you are becoming.  You have such a big personality already- and you are also starting to become stubborn like your momma daddy! ;)  If you don't want to do something, you let us know RIGHT then. It's cute though.  You are now rolling over like crazy.  Seriously, the second I lay you on your playmat, you're rolled over looking at the world.  You LOVE to take everything in that you see which is probably why you think naps are DUMB.

Hopefully you'll soon learn that naps are good for you though... :) 

I love being your mom, Winslow.  You fell asleep nursing tonight (which I always love when you do that) because it lets me just stare at how perfect you are.  I looked at your ears, your chubby little cheeks, your sweet little lips..and I just can't thank the Lord enough for choosing me to be your mom.  It's an overwhelming feeling to know that he placed you in my life and how perfect you are for me.

You have the biggest blue eyes I've ever seen and everyone who sees you comments on how gorgeous they are.  I can't wait until you're old enough to look at me with them to get what you want.  or can i?  Maybe it'll be sweet when you're cuddled next to me in bed asking for a cookie at 8 in the morning, or when you beg to stay up just for one more story.  I bet I won't be able to say no.

Lots has been going on since I last wrote you a letter. 

We will celebrate your first Christmas next week.  And since you've been such a good boy this year (except for the coming NINE days late part), Santa will be making a visit!  We are also going to be traveling to Texas and Alabama to visit family and you'll be to meet a lot of your Aunts Uncles, and grandparents!  I can't wait to show you off.  You are going to be the center of attention, for sure.

You now roll over both ways all the time..you like to roll from your back to your stomach more though and you talk to me all day.  You also LOVE those little feet of yours.  They haven't found your mouth just yet, but you play with them all day long.  You still love bathtime, which is nice.  Bathtime is my favorite part of the day because you will splash all night if I'd let you.

You have discovered DARLA.  You will follow her with your eyes around the room and you even smiled at her today.  It was pretty cute.  One of these days, you'll be riding on her back. 

I love you so much little monkey.  I hope you never forget that, and every day just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. 

Love,

Your momma

Because who doesn't love smocked outfits and mini-santas?

Enjoy the overload of Christmas cheer.

 I mean this might be the cutest Santa EVER.

 Santa and his sad little reindeer, Darla.