2 Months Old

Dear Liam,
You are growing so fast! I can't even believe my eyes! You weigh in at 14lbs 8oz!! Mommy has a bin full of your newborn (which you never really wore) and some of your 0-3 month clothing that no longer fits. It's strange to have a bin of things you no longer need. We are getting more and more used to your cues and know what you need when you need it. You are eating about every 3 hours during the day, and sleeping through the night. Everyday I count my blessings that you let me get so well rested. You wake up so happy and smiling it just melts our hearts! We usually wake for your big morning feeding around 6:15am. You fall back asleep for an hour and then we play a bit and you usually fall asleep again for 30 mins before waking up happy and ready to eat again. The day continues like that, and you have now let Mommy get dinner cooked (and sometimes eaten) before you need to eat again. Around 8:30 we start our bedtime routine which consists of singing and putting lavender lotion on the bottoms of your feet and your chest/belly, getting your night-time diaper on, and your jammies. You love this routine, and I love the little sigh you give when you get all snapped up and ready to snuggle. Sometimes you get your diaper changed in the middle of your feeding since you fall asleep. This helps you wake up enough to eat a bit more before falling asleep for the night. Otherwise I feed you after, and snuggle a bit before putting you in your bed. You love your aden+anais blanket tucked up next to your head, your nuk, and sometimes your bunny under your other arm. We play summer night sounds on the sound machine as well as turn on the twilight turtle. Sometimes you fuss a bit, but for the most part you are out for the night. Mommy and Daddy go to bed around 11, and Mommy wakes around 6:15 when you fuss. Since we have realized this new schedule you are so happy all the time! Always smiling and babbling about.

Best.Picture.Ever.  (like father like son...)

Playing on the Mat

You still love the swing, but we moved it into the kitchen now so Mommy can get more things done, so you dont use it as much. You also have recently just started liking your bouncer more. It is interactive, and you are kicking around so much more and making it go off. We have been working on tummy time more each day, but you still don't enjoy it very much. You would much rather be on your belly while laying on Mommy or Daddy. When you are on one of us, you use your arms to lift yourself up and look around. You also love love love to stand up! I can't wait to bust out the Exersaucer and the Johnny Jump Up in the upcoming weeks, you are going to love it! You are flailing your arms around  with more intent and catching objects on your playmat. It amazes you when you make things move around. You also enjoy seeing yourself in your mirror. You just watch this cute baby copying you, even when you are crying. You have also begun to search out your left hand to suck on your fingers. You have recognized Mommy a few weeks ago, but have recently recognized Daddy. You also turn your head to follow us if we cross the room, or if we start talking.

Napping with his bunny.

Your hair is beginning to grow back, it looks dark brown--like Daddy's. It is still very fine and short, so we'll see if it has any curl like both Mommy and Daddy's hair. I know I will probably say this every month, but I am so excited to see what month 3 brings! You are growing and learning so much already, I cant wait to see what the next thing will be!
Love,
Momma

Leg Rolls Starting! :-)

Our Cloth Diapering Set Up

Cloth diapering has quickly become an obsession of mine! There are so many fantastic reason to cloth diaper. The biggest one in my book is the savings! You buy cloth once. That's it. Not to mention, they are so incredibly cute!! They are, of course, way better for the environment--no waste in landfills, sitting for years and years. No harmful chemicals on your baby's bottom! No drymax gel causing chemical burns. This can be a controversial topic, but I would rather error on the side of caution with this one.
Here's another comparison from Apple Cheeks Diapers.

So, for those of you who care, here's our current set up.

This is an old desk we had. it works well for a diaper station. There are three drawers on the right, the first holds his diapers, the last two hold clothes he currently fits into. I have his baby book, extra change pad covers, and his grooming kit on the shelves. On the right hand side of the top I have my Himalayan Salt Lamp as a night light. And a basket of cloth wipes I made from scrap flannel, as well as wipe solution and other diapering odds and ends. Underneath you can almost see the laundry basket and that red bin holds his dirty diapers when we are doing diaper laundry since I only have one pail liner for now. You can also see a cute red chevron pocket diaper in that bin. :)

Here we have most of his diapers we are currently using. Left top going down: The first 5 are Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 1. The next three are Flip Covers. Middle Row Top: You can see some extra inserts in the way back, our favorites are hemp. 1 Weehuggerz cover size 1. 4 lotus bumz pockets. Right top: Dippee Dypee Skellington Jack cover with bamboo inserts. Kawaii baby, 2 Imagine pockets, and 2 Fancy Pants Pockets.

Top Left: Rockin' Green Shake It Up deodorizer (got as a gift), California Baby lotion, Homemade Wipe Solution. Bottom Left: homemade cloth wipes--2-ply cotton flannel.

Green Mountain Diaper Prefolds. Orange edge-newborn size, Yellow edge-infant size.

I will eventually do a more indepth post on what has worked for us so far. And a sort of review on the diapers we currently own. Our set up could always be more efficient, but for now, this is what works. Liam loves to be on his changing table, I'm not really sure why, but its a good place to get him to smile. :)
N.

Photo Fun

Liam and I had some photo fun today...thought I'd share.

7 weeks old today! So big!!

What a handsome man!!

Wait for it...

BIG SMILES!!

I can't even begin to describe the cuteness here! I love it so much!! He actually was super grunty trying to poop...lol. I started helping him do some bicycle legs to help it along...We sang row row row your boat; which he loves!

Meal Plan Ideas 8/5-8/11

Here are some of my meal plan ideas for dinner this week: 

Sloppy Joes
Complete with homemade pickles and steak fries :) YUM!

Click here to find recipe

 

 

 

Taco Braid
Salsa, sour cream, and guac on the side.

Recipe

Chicken Pot Pie
We have carrots and beans in our garden, I'll add some frozen corn since our corn isnt quite ready yet. I will also probably use a crescent roll crust, I'm not sure yet.

Recipe

Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Recipe

Lemon Bars
I also plan on making these! I love love love lemon baked goods!

Recipe

Banana Bread
And we need to use up some bananas, so I cant help myself...The lemon bars may get pushed off until next week, depending on if we eat this up. 
This is by far the best banana bread recipe I've ever had! Moist and delicious!! We sub 1 cup of local honey for one of the cups of sugar, and Scott doesn't like nuts, so we use chocolate chips! Even better IMO!

Recipe

Well there ya have it. We also do a day of sandwiches or Brinner (breakfast for dinner) and of course a day of leftovers. If we have lots of leftovers then we will have one of these the next week. Now to make my shopping list.

A Little Life Update

So I wanted to post this real quick. I'm pretty sure I am applying for a part time position at a 3k program. It is 3.5 hours a day M-F. And it sounds like I would only have to be with the kids and have fun! :) No lesson planning and stressing over curriculum and such. I know I am very over-qualified for this position, but the principal seemed very excited to meet with me. Besides, my mother in law works in the library, so that helps too. 

It's so hard to think about leaving Liam! We are trying to figure out the logistics of childcare for little man. We are thinking about 2 days at my mom's, 2 at Scott's mom, and 1 with Scott milking early at his farm so he is back in time for me to go to work.

Anyways, I think it would be really nice to be done by 12pm everyday, come home and make lunch for us, and have the rest of the day to do whatever, even do afterschool care for other children. 

That's the update right now, I'll keep you posted as to what we decide.