Things Winslow says.

Happy Monday!!!!

We are getting into the swing of things over here..still not getting a lot of sleep, but I am making it! :)  Hogan sometimes sleeps great and wakes up only twice, but the past couple weeks he's been getting up 3-5 times.  Makes this mommy T I R E D.  And Winslow has been getting up twice as well.  He just comes in our room wanting us to lay down with him.  I haven't blogged about W's sleep "setbacks" so I'll just do a summary here.

When Hogan was around 1.5-2 months old, he started crying at night and not staying in his bed.  Usually, we read books ,sing, pray and lay him down and he puts himself to sleep.  Well the past month he has been screaming and crying when it's bedtime unless we are in the room.  It is so exhausting and bedtime now takes over an hour when used to it only took 20 minutes, but we are just taking turns laying down with him and hoping this will pass.  I think he just needs us more now that Hogan is here and he is having to share time with him.  BUT if it doesn't get better on it's own, we will have to make another plan.  We will see. :)  He also has a lot of separation anxiety right now and doesn't like to go to Sunday School.  Lots of big changes for this guy and we are trying to give him extra loving during this transition.  Good news is, he still ADORES Hogan.  We are so blessed.

I've been meaning to make a small list of phrases or words that Winslow says right now that is SOOOOO cute so I don't forget!!!

Things Winslow says:


Grabbing Hogan's bamboo swaddle blanket:  "OHHH MOMMY! This is so cozy and warm!"

When he bumps into the wall while riding his scooter or tricycle inside: "OH! Sorry about that!"

Macaroni and cheese is pronounced: Mack-a-reeri and cheese

Bicycle is pronounced: "Bi-den-see-tee-ul"

When he doesn't want to eat something I give him: "No mommy, it has bugs on it. Ew. Yucky. Gross" 

When Hogan looks at Winslow:  "Mommy! Hogan is looking at me!"

Whenever I wrap Hogan in my baby wrap for a nap and he falls asleep:  "Mommy, is Hogan waked up?  Is he sleeping?"  

When Darla is in his way while trying to ride his tricycle "Darla! No (shaking his hand at her) please get up, Darla! Go over there Darla!"

While eating lunch: Me:  Winslow, take a big bite of watermelon so you can grow strong!"  Winslow: "No mommy, just a little bite. I am not big yet."

When we ask him if he's ready for bed or if he wants to take a bath:  "Not. Yet. Not. right. now. please."

While blowing bubbles outside:  "Mommy look! This one is HUGE! So huge!"

Looking at Hogan: "He's so cute and cuddly!"



Love this little guy! He makes me laugh so much! 

Hogan is three months old!

Weight: 14 pounds 8 ounces Height: 25 inches
Nicknames: Hogan, baby brother, monkey,
Eating: Nursing every 2.5-3 hours during the day and still twice at night.  Sometimes more at night but I am really hoping he cuts out the funny business soon. ;) 

Sleeping: Bedtime is between 8:15-8:30 now and he can usually sleep until 2-3am.  For about a week he was getting up around 11:30-12:30 and that was no fun.  It's so hard to only sleep an hour and then get woken up but you learn to deal with it.  He also gave me a super long 8 hour night once but that hasn't happened again yet. We can hope it comes again soon though, it felt amazing!  For naps, he always naps in the morning in his wrap while Winslow and I walk the neighborhood.  Well, W rides his tricycle, but Hogan loves sleeping on me :)  For his after lunch nap, he naps in the swing and sometimes it lasts a good 2.5 hours! Then in the evening he will nap in the swing or in my wrap...whichever is easiest. Usually when hubby gets home, we all go outside and play so he will nap in my wrap.     Diapers: He is in a size two disposable diaper at the moment. He's been dealing with a rash I am trying to clear up and I think since we have hard water here in Florida, I am going to have to strip all of my diapers of the minerals and start over with my wash routine.  It's frustrating but I do not want little guy to be red so we are figuring it out before he goes back into cloth.   Clothing: He is wearing 3 month clothes and 3-6 month clothes.

Social:Loving his toys now and is so alert and aware of what's going on!  He will look at Winslow and just smile and W says "He is looking at me!" and then gives him a huge "HELLO BABY BROTHER" It's so cute.  He loves smiling at his mom and dad and has laughed a little bit more this month.  I can't wait to hear that big ol belly laugh..i think it's coming soon.   Likes: Being worn in my wrap, smiling, his kick mat, bath time, nursing, chewing on his hand, cooing.   Dislikes: Having a dirty or wet diaper, riding in the car, being tired, and when big brother is a little too rough with him.

What we're looking forward to: I AM SO EXCITED because my brother, dad, and grandmother are coming to spend the weekend with us! She is about to be 92 and Hogan was named after her late husband.  I can't wait for her to meet him. Also, Winslow adores my brother so I am excited for him to play all day with him.     Happy 3 months little guy, we LOVE you past the moon!  

         

Hello from the trenches of motherhood.

Y'all.


Having two kids is AMAZING. Better than I ever dreamed it could be. But it's also HARD.  Not just a little hard, a LOT hard.  I'm not going to sugarcoat it and say it's amazingly easy and perfect and my house is spotless and I clean the bathrooms and wash the sheets twice a week.  No.  I am going to tell you that through the incredible calling I have as being a mommy to two boys, our sheets haven't been washed in over a month.  The bathrooms JUST got cleaned in over two weeks.  I found a sippy cup full of milk under the couch and WHO KNOWS how long it's been there.  As soon as the boys are in bed asleep (which is around 9 for Hogan) I am pure exhausted.  Like, blogging is the LAST thing on my mind.  And naptime around here is spent picking up cereal from the floor, feeding the dog breakfast at 2pm, and frantically trying to think of something for dinner.   I feel like some days it's all I can do to keep my head above water, but you know what?  It's awesome.  It's HARD.  Sometimes I cry.  I hardly ever wear real clothes (hello yoga pants!)  or put on makeup.  Dry shampoo is my new BFF.  If you want me to tell you my house is always clean and we do crafts and eat organic broccolli for lunch...I would be lying.

I am smack dab in the middle of the trenches of motherhood.  Someone the other day at church told me "you are always so put together and you are rocking this with two kiddos!"  Although that was an amazing compliment, I don't ever want anyone to think I have it all together.  Some days after the boys are in bed, I just lay on the couch and almost pass flat out.  It's exhausting.  I sometimes leave the dishes in the sink overnight (AHH!) and sometimes I leave the clean clothes in the hamper to be folded for five days.  That's my life right now. and it's okay.

Life with two is so much more hectic and messy and FULL.  It's about Winslow and Hogan and raising those little boys to love the Lord and become men of integrity and truth.  It's about putting the chores off to watch Winslow spin around the room in his batman cape or ride his tricycle up and down the halls.  It's about listening to Hogan laugh for the first time or watching him roll over and smile.  It's about dancing in the messy kitchen with my husband.  I love this life and even though it is not as clean or put together as it used to be, I would never trade it for the world.  I am so thankful the Lord allowed me to become a mother. It's the best job in the world.  I am also so thankful for grace.  a whole lotta grace.


We are finding our new normal with each passing day, and it gets easier and easier.  I am so blessed that two boys call me momma and I would not have it any other way.  The dishes and mopping can wait.  I have two little boys who need me more than ever right now. 

""You will never have this day with your children again- tomorrow they will be a little bit older than they are today.  Today is a gift, breathe and notice, smell and hold them, study their faces and little feet and pay attention.  Enjoy today- it will be over before you know it. Relish the charms of the present."

Missouri Trip

Earlier this month, we made our first trip with both kids to Missouri to have a mini family reunion.  My cousin, Haley, and her little 2.5 month old were going to be there, and I REALLY wanted to see them, so we decided to make a 4 day trip to visit grandparents. Plus, my nanny and pappy hadn't seen us in over a year and my mom and my aunts decided to come too! It was so much fun and Hogan was definitely not lacking in the love department.  Also, my brother came and Winslow ADORES him.  They did everything together.  Fished, ate ice cream, played in the dirt, ran around. I am thankful for such an amazing Uncle for my son :)

We had such a great time and man the weather was COLD! This Florida girl was not used to that.

Now let's talk about flying with TWO kids.  That crap is exhausting.  Both boys were very good for the most part and I am thankful for that.  But toting two bags, two car seats, diaper bag, carry on, and two kids....yikes.  We made it out alive though ;)