Soapbox Thursday!

You guessed it!  The famous Duck Dynasty controversy!  I just had to chime in after watching the "Today Show" and their opinion on this!  So, if you haven't heard, Phil Robertson has been suspended from the show Duck Dynasty (his show) indefinitely!  During an interview with GQ magazine Phil commented on homosexuality and how it was a sin.  Now, maybe the way he phrased it was a bit crude, but that is a Christian redneck and his firm belief!  Basically, he stated that homosexuality is a perverse sin.  Here is the link to the article and the words used by Phil and  A& E's response.  Now I am not going to get into the homosexuality debate, but I have to say, the way his freedom of speech is being attacked is down right sad! 

I just love how the whole backing of his suspension is his lack of "tolerance".  Ironically, the definition of tolerance is : the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Now, I don't think Phil isn't tolerant of homosexuality.  He stands firm in HIS belief that it is a sin, but he also stated that he has no disrespect and would never treat a homosexual person with disrespect.  Now, lets look at who isn't being tolerant!  A&E is in no way being tolerant!  That is Phil Robertson's right and opinion that they do not agree with, and by taking him off the network for his personal opinion they are not being tolerant of his Christian beliefs.  You see, this is how it always works for Christians, they simply state their view on a controversial topic and WOW all of the sudden people are shocked at the "lack of tolerance" and the person is verbally persecuted for standing firm on their belief.  BUT...if someone ridicules a Christian for believing that something is a sin...or a homosexual person criticizes a Christian calling them hateful...it is ok!  I'd definitely say something is wrong with this picture!  It seems that everything BUT Christianity is tolerated in today's society.  We are going to take a good man off of TV because he stands for what he believes in, but we can let Miley Cyrus walk around basically nude for our children to look up to, A&E can put Bonnie and Clyde on a platform to watch and make it look "cool" to rob and kill, we can pretty much make fun of Christians on any TV show and it is totally acceptable and "tolerant".  (Rolling my eyes)

This isn't just modern day problem...it started in the Bible...Christian's have always been and will continue to be persecuted for their beliefs.  Am I talking of physical harm? NO, but religious freedom of speech is being stripped away! The Bible has many verses speaking of this problem.

2 Timothy 3:12 - Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution

John 15:18 - If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.

1 Peter 3:16 - Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:17 - For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Luke 6:22 - Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

1 Peter 3:14 - But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

The list could go on and on, but I will stop there because that is enough to see what Christ was talking about!  It is such a shame that the world is so shocked that a Christian would stand for their belief.  But should we really have expected them to be OK with calling sin what it is?  NO, that is why people despise Christianity and persecute Christians.  Jesus said it would happen years ago, and guess what it is still happening!  In my opinion, it is just another piece of solid evidence that the Bible is true!  So to the Robertson family I commend you for standing on truth!  The media may use it as a platform for LGBT support, they may use it to talk about how Christians are not tolerant, but they just caused the Christian community to be even more supportive of the family! 

HO, HO, HO....I'm 6 Months Old!

How old? 6 Months
Total Weight:  18 lb. 30z

Length: 28”
Eating: Nursing or Bottle every 3.5-4 hours.  
Sleep: Napping 3 times a day (2 hours, 1.5 hours, and 45 minutes) 

Night sleep is getting better!
Fun Facts:  Dawson has found his high pitch squealing voice and loves using it!
New Developments:  Pretty much sitting up unassisted with a few falls here and there.

 

Dawson,

 

I cannot believe you are halfway to being a year old!  You are growing up entirely too fast and it makes me sad!  You have become quite the little ham and don't mind flashing that sweet smile at any person who asks for it.  You are so playful and constantly bouncing and squealing during your wake time.  Lately you have started to be quite clingy to Mommy.  You have decided that if I turn my back to walk away that maybe if you scream loud enough and start crying that Mommy will scoop you up and carry you everywhere.  Some days I give in and others you just have to learn.  I thank God for giving me such a fun, loving and playful little boy.  I am sure you will keep me on  my toes once you go mobile!  You have started noticing when Daddy gets home from work and no matter how tired you are you perk right up and start squealing and smiling when you see him get home....it truly melts my heart!  Your favorite things this months are still...Mickey Mouse...apparently Mommy :) ...Daddy coming home...drinking out of a big boy cup thanks to Papa Jay...jumping in your jumparoo and sitting up! We love you more each day and cannot wait to watch you grow!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

 

who..me?

Well hey there cutie!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

 

What We Have Going On.... All things GI!

As many of you know Dawson recently visited a GI specialist from the children's hospital in Charlotte.  I never posted anything really about the visit or results...so I figured today would be a great day to catch up on some blogging before I reveal cutie patooties 6 month blog photos! 

Thank the Lord Dawson does not have any serious GI problems and compared to many parents around the world his issues are so small in comparison to several babies!  But none the less...anytime your child is struggling it is hard on you as a parent no matter how big or small the issue! 

It all started when Dawson was 3 weeks old...He started having "colic" screaming fits at and after every feeding!  My mommy gut told me it was all food related so I called the doctor 100 times it seems.  His initial diagnosis was GERD...or gastro esophageal reflux disorder.  He was prescribed axid to take twice a day.  It helped during feedings but he was still in much GI distress 1-2 hours after feedings.  He would wake mid nap screaming and not stop for hours.  It was pitiful.  After calling the doc we decided he had a "milk" allergy...not my milk but cows milk.  I did a strict dairy free diet and it worked wonders.  Dawson started being my sweet happy baby and less screaming.  Although his symptoms were tremendously better...he never ever seemed to just have a "settled" stomach.  Up until his GI appointment we have dealt with multiple night wakings from terrible gas and just writhing in the crib with tummy cramping.  At first I thought maybe I needed to be more careful in my food selections... (sugar, veggies, fruit etc) but no matter how bland I was eating, or so I thought, he still had gas...not just baby gas that comes out....I'm talking loud...wow that had to hurt....gas!  We were living on 1-2 hour sleep increments at a time and even a few nights of 30 minute stretches a time.  Not only did this become a terrible problem, but Dawson started refusing to eat more than 2 oz. at a time....and nursing was just not happening!  He would arch his back and just fuss after about 2 oz. every bottle....and if I dare tried nursing he would lunge backward and fuss!  So for several weeks this stressed me out and finally I called and said that his reflux meds weren't working or something else is wrong.  The pediatrician ruled out ear infection and then decided for us to see a specialist. 

At the appointment we talked over everything we were experiencing and the GI discussed all of the "diagnosis" that his peds had made from reflux to colic to just plain fussy.  After telling the doctor all of Dawson's symptoms he decided that the reflux had definitely flared up and we were in need of a PPI ( proton pump inhibitor) to reduce the acid in his stomach.  He was put on Prevacid for the next couple of months to see how things go.  So far I think it is working! 

The other problem Dawson was having was waking from severe gas and sometimes not eating due to irregular bowel movements.  I told the GI that we had been milk/dairy free for months and I didn't know what else to do.  He said that most babies who have a milk protein intolerance also have a soy protein intolerance and that most likely his diagnosis should be MSPI or milk soy protein intolerance.

What is MSPI?Milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI) is a temporary inability to digest the proteins found in cow’s milk and soy products.  MSPI is different from a traditional food allergy.  You may also see it referred to as food protein-induced colitis or cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPI).  It may be related to other diagnoses, including eosinophilic gastroenteritis/ esophagitis, or allergic colitis.

Due to this new diagnosis, I have once again changed my diet to eliminate soy products also.  The doctor is very hopeful that he will be able to digest these proteins within the next 3 months or so.  He said that due to Dawsons weight and size he will clearly outgrow this by 12 months and be drinking cows milk! HALLELUJAH!  I know how hard it is to feed myself and I truly sympathize for the families who have children who never outgrow the allergy.  I had never heard of this before in my life!  I can definitely say that having to go through the trial and error and elimination diets has been a truly stressful time.  I am glad that we FINALLY have some answers! 

Since the appointment Dawson has been taking Prevacid each morning and we are also giving him Gerber Soothe colic drops in his evening bottle.  The GI doc suggested this to help in aiding digestions since many babies with GI problems are missing certain digestive enzymes and bacterias.  I truly feel like the soy elimination along with the new medications are making a world of difference. 

My D.I.Y nursing/teething necklace

Well, as many of my friends and family know... When it comes to Dawson and all things baby I've become quite the homeopathic hippy!  My how children change us!  Now that Dawson is becoming more aware of his surroundings he seems to struggle focusing on the task at hand..... Nursing to be exact!  So with a little investigation on the ever so famous google... I found many mommies using nursing necklaces for baby to play with.  I looked on etsy and man... $15-$20a pop... No thanks! So off to Pinterest I ventured!  I found several tutorials and decided to give it a go!  I also found many moms making them for teething purposes., and since we are also in that stage I decided to make mine teething friendly as well! Dawson rides around in his ergo a lot so it's great to occupy him! 

I got the jersey knit fabric from my mother-in-law who did the sewing portion since I (a) don't own a sewing machine and (b) have never ever sewn!  Although,  I have a good mind to learn and sell these bad boys on etsy! 

So first I cut a 5" wide by 58" strip of fabric. We then folded it in half and sewed it shut along one edge forming a long tube. Then I turned it right side out and tied a knot where I wanted to start the heading.  I slid round unfinished wooden beads in and tied a knot after each bead.  Once I got enough I cut both sides into 3 strips and braided! Easy peasy!!! Dawson already has loved tugging and chewing on it and we've finally had some successful nursing! I hope I can make the next one a little prettier... But I'm pleased with this for my first attempt! 

Milestones for Dawson!

I cannot believe my big boy!  One day I was messing around and sat him up like this and he would bend over and fall....so we used the bumbo or saucer to keep playing!  So 2 days ago I showed Brent how close he was getting to sitting up and he did so much better that time, but not quite there.  So Wednesday I decided I would play with him and let him try and to my amazement he didn't need mommy anymore! :( WHAT??? You learned at 5 months to sit up with barely any practice....what a big boy!  He will try to turn around and look and that results in a little tumble to the floor...but other than that my little buddy is doing it all on his own!  Dawson we are so proud of you buddy!  Now wait on the crawling until we can get this eating and sleeping thing back under control or mommy  might just pass out from exhaustion! 

* 5 Months Old....and Growing Up Too Fast!!*

How old? 5 Months
Total Weight:  2 Weeks ago he was 16 lb. 9oz.

Length: 26.5”
Eating: Nursing or Bottle every 3-3.5 hours.  
Sleep: Napping 3 times a day (2 hours, 1.5 hours, and 45 minutes) Night sleep has been so rough lately….more about that in the post! 
Fun Facts:  Since last month he has started rolling both ways and loves to roll across the floor!  Too cute!
New Developments: So close to sitting up…he is quite wobbly but trying so hard to be a big boy!!

Dawson Job...I cannot believe your are getting so big so quickly!  Where is the time going??  As each month passes I love you more and more!  You are such a bright eyed, joyful, loving baby who has such a contagious smile.  I could not have hand-picked your personality better myself!!  Each day you surprise me with how sweet you are even though you have struggled with so many tummy issues.  Mommy knows how hard that can be and am amazed at how you still are so happy most of the day! I love you more that I can express buddy and am so thankful God picked me to be your Mommy!

 

 

Now....for the adult readers :)  Dawson really is an amazingly happy and sweet little boy at 5 months.  He loves chewing everything in sight and loves Mickey Mouse ( like to the point nothing in the room phases him if Mickey is on TV) he hates being without Mom or Dad when he is in a playful mood.  He is the star of the show and will let you know if you have forgotten to applaud his "tricks".  He loooooooves taking baths and has so much fun playing and splashing in the water.  He hates getting dressed....yes...he would rather stay in a diaper than have to pull an arm through a shirt!  He loves Phoebe (his dog) and watches her like a hawk!  He loves to jump and stand and move all around!  All of that should give you a good idea of the 5 month old we have here at home! 

 

As for eating...we have had quite the challenge this month!  My little guy had started on some cereal and LOVED it....he would eat it right off of the spoon like he had never had anything so wonderful ever! Each day I was struggling to get him to nurse well or even take a bottle.  He had had a cold so I assumed maybe his ears hurt or his nose was just stuffy.  After several days of this I called the doc and took him in.  She said it sounded like his reflux was acting up and to increase his medication.  We did so...but here we are 2 weeks later with Dawson only wanting 2oz...yes, 2oz. at a time...Mind you he was taking 5.5-6oz every 3 hours or so.  I began to get so sad watching my baby cry at the sight of a bottle and pushing me away.  I knew something wasn't right so I called the doc.  They have referred us to a GI specialist to get things sorted out.  I have been observing him very carefully the past few days and took away ALL solids and watched my diet once more.  I truly believe he is super sensitive to anything other than breastmilk, free of dairy , of course!  This morning he showed several reactions very similar to his Milk allergy, but he has not had any milk protein for months! So something is truly messing with my little buddies tummy! So for now we've decided to be very careful with my diet and his diet until further testing can be done!  Please pray that there is nothing serious going on and that he is just sensitive to certain foods at this point. 

 

As for sleeping....well it is a result of his eating....how you say?  Well a child with tummy distress obviously cannot sleep through the night without some type of cramps or gas pains.  So we never truly know what to expect each night.  I am so grateful to know that it is not a sleep problem but a tummy problem.  Dawson loves to sleep and actually becomes very angry when gas wakes him.  He is put down in his crib and puts himself to sleep everyday and night.  He actually hates when mommy tries to rock him and soothe him through his pains.....so we have to leave him in the crib and rub his back until he calms down.  Some nights we have 2-3 wakings....and we feel pretty rested, but we have had nights where the poor little guy goes a 3 hour stretch of waking every 20 minutes or so.  We are very sad for him and very exhausted from lack of sleep and trying to figure out how to help him.  I tell myself that this time of his life is short in comparison to the many years to come and that it will get better!  It has truly tested our patience and we have truly missed having family in town.  There are so many nights I just wish we had a grandma to come let us get some sleep through the night ( because...lets face it...naps just aren't the same!). 

 

So for this month I pray that we can figure out how exactly to approach properly feeding our little man.  We want him to be able to take solids without pain....but are also ready to hear that he may just have to mature a little longer than some before we can approach other foods again!  My biggest prayer is that there are no internal issues and no severe allergies.  But like I said....He is an AMAZING baby none the less.  We are so blessed and thankful for our sweet 5 month old baby boy!

 

My Favorite Baby Items!

Ok soooo...now that Dawson is taking a nap I figured I would do a random post apart from a "Dawson update".  So after being on facebook many of my friends have found out they are expecting! Yay for all new moms to be!  During pregnancy it seems like you research and look to find the hottest and most perfect items for you and baby!  I really didn't do too much research before we registered and kind of went with what "looked" nice in the stores.  After being a mom for almost 5 months (WOW...really that long already) I have decided to give my 2 cents on my favorite baby products to date!

When Dawson was a newborn we had so many struggles getting him to sleep.  He had acid reflux so laying flat was not really working for him.  He would gag, spit up, hiccup and cough.  At first we used a fisher price rock-n-play for him to sleep in, but once he got a little bigger he would push up with his feet so that wasn't working.  My brother and sister-in-law had bought us a snug-a-bunny bouncer, which Dawson would nap wonderfully in during the day.  We decided to try the bouncer for night-time sleep.  OH MY WORD...this thing was a life saver for the first 8 weeks of Dawson's life!  It is cozy, warm, and hugs him just right!  Great for day time and if need be, night time! 

Once we transitioned Dawson to the crib...He HATED being on his back.  We tried swaddling...we tried putting blankets rolled up on the sides of him...we tried laying him on his side...nothing would work...HE HATED IT!  So one day during tummy time he conked out...I mean out for 2 hours solid!  Never had Dawson slept so hard.  Brent and I discussed trying his belly for naps...and to our surprise he slept amazingly each time!  SIGH...I was sooo not wanting to allow him to tummy sleep, but you do what you gotta do for you and your child to get some rest.  Well I really wanted to know that he would be ok breathing etc.  So naturally as all mothers do...I researched for a product to help ease my mind.  We ended up getting an angelcare monitor off of amazon, and I absolutely LOVE it!

 

Another battle we faced was with nursing.  In all honesty I absolutely LOVE nursing.  I know it is not for everyone, but if it is the route you choose to go then in all honesty...there will be difficulties in the beginning.  Dawson was great at the hospital, but as soon as we got home he really struggled with latching etc.  I got so uncomfortable and just in pain everytime we would try!  I had a friend at work give me these AMAZING lanolin gel pads.  I highly recommend them for the first couple of weeks when nursing.  They truly helped relieved discomfort after feedings!

I had already decided that Dawson would nurse as well as be bottle fed.  Little did we know our little man would struggle with terrible tummy issues.  I started off bottle feeding with Medela bottles, but he seemed to be getting tons of air as well as gas and spitting up.  (As you know a lot of his issues were due to Milk Protein Allergy) but also I truly believe switching bottles helped with the burping and gas!  We absolutely LOVE Dr. Brown bottles.  Yes they are somewhat annoying to wash, but they truly seem to work for the gassy baby!

 

 

Living far away from family has been tough!  I will admit I truly miss having them around for needed help.  One weekend I decided I really wanted to go to Raleigh but did NOT want to drive with just me and Dawson.  He is NOT a good carseat rider unless he can see Mom or Dad.  I just knew that it would take forever and a screaming baby the whole way was not my idea of fun!  I decided that I would take the train from CLT to RAL.  I knew that I would have a carseat, diaper bag, luggage ...etc. and that I would need my hands free.  We had originally purchased a moby wrap which was wonderful for those screaming newborn days, but just would not work for the train.  I could just see me taking the 100 ft. of fabric and saying..."Excuse me, could you hold my baby while I wrap myself up in this"  So I decided I needed a baby carrier that would be fast, easy and last a LONG time.  I had heard all of the "rave" about ergo carriers so I started looking around.  Target ended up having them on sale and get a free gift card with purchase!  That is the route I chose. But I know TJ Maxx has them sometimes and also zulily. 

Last, but most certainly not least....the NOSEFRIDA!!!!  AHHH yes my newest most favorite product!  Dawson has come down with an awful cold this past week.  His poor nose has been so stuffy and well, those hospital bulbs just weren't cutting it!  The girls in my Bible study class (all moms) had recommended the nosefrida.  I had heard of it online, but didn't know if it really did the trick.  Well, poor Dawson was waking from sleep because he just couldn't breathe...his nostrils would literally be stuck to the inside of his nose from so much mucus.  We use saline drops and a bulb, humidifier etc...but still he was super stuffy!  SO I told Brent we must go purchase this magical nosefrida and give it a whirl...OH MY! It seems soooo gross, but won't moms do anything for their children?!?  The nosefrida is a Swedish contraption that has a long "straw" connected to a funnel shape syringe.   Essentially how it works is you place the syringe part in baby's nostril and suck the straw!  Yes, I know, but it has a loooong tube and filter and from my experience mucus really doesn't even ever reach the filter.  This thing sucks allll and I mean allll of the mucus stuck in the sinuses.  My child can breathe for hours after using it!  So to all moms to be...seriously if you aren't grossed out...go invest in a nosefrida!

 

Well like I said these are all of MY favorite baby products to date.  Take them or leave them but I thought I would share!  Hopefully somebody will get some use out of this post or I will knowing I just love these products !  Good luck to all of the future mommies!  Welcome to the best job in the world!  Being a mommy!

 

 

* Four Months Old*

How old? 4 Months
Total Weight:  Find out Friday…I’m guessing around 16 lbs.

Length: Around 25”
Eating: Nursing or Bottle every 3-3.5 hours.    
Sleep: Bless him….He has become such a good napper, but his nighttime sleep is still quite unpredictable.
Fun Facts: Dawson rolled over for the first time last night (10-9-13), Also he has really become quite strong.  He loves to stand in his exersaucer and play.  He now chews on EVERYTHING! 
New Developments:  DROOL, DROOL, DROOL!!!

Our sweet boy has such a personality these days!  He loves to talk ...guess he got that one honest...loves to stand and play and just be super active!  Last night he had been asleep for a couple of hours then, all of the sudden, we hear him just talking away.  Brent goes to look on the monitor and low and behold our boy had finally done it....he had rolled over from his tummy to his back and apparently had been quite excited!  After a proud high five from mom and a good night kiss we got him to go back to sleep.  I thought sure he may be trying this all night.  We knew it was coming soon because everytime I put him down for a nap or bedtime he would try with all of his might to roll over.

Poor boy has had such a rough time with his tummy this past month...I think I had consumed some  milk ingredients by mistake at a luncheon.  We ended up with several sleepless nights and terrible diapers.  For those who don't know MPI or MPA ( Milk Protein Intolerance or Allergy) causes baby to have gas, intestinal cramping, and sometimes bloody stool.  Well this past time we had ALL 3 symptoms.  I took Dawson to the doc just to rule out anything else.  He did some testing for bacterial issues and suggested that if they were negative that we continue to cut out ALL milk protein forms.  Thank goodness his tests were negative and after about a week or so his tummy seemed to calm down.  Brent and I have been really stressed about the allergy because it seems that any slight amount of milk affects him easily.  We went through debating to switch to hypoallergenic formula and have discussed what will be best for me and Dawson.  I called the doctor about this and they suggested that breastmilk is still better than formula for a baby that has allergies.  My other question was...well can I get him used to formula just as a back up.  The nurse said we could try weaning him onto some formula by slowly introducing it to him.  For those unfamiliar with the cost of formula these days...hypoallergenic is EXPENSIVE!  I had heard that the insurance will frequently cover the cost of this type of formula.  Well after forever on the phone with the insurance they have now decided that they will NOT cover it anymore! SOOO we decided that we should just test it out before committing.  I am currently on a totally dairy free diet....basically Vegan with the exception of meat.  It is not really my thing considering I LOVE cheese, yogurt, ice cream and basically processed foods (shame shame) . At this point we are planning on sticking to my diet and supplementing some formula here and there just to see if it helps soothe him.  The type of formula we are trying has a probiotic for digestive health added in.  Dawson has been drinking 1 oz of formula mixed in with his bottles for the past three days and seems to be taking it well.  He also seems to be sleeping better since we added to formula to his bottles this week. 

The decision to try formula has been quite emotional for me.  I in no way am ready to give up on breast feeding, but also want what is best for my little man.  Hopefully he will grow out of this before the end of the year!  So please pray that he grows out of the allergy quickly!

 

Now....as far as things Dawson loves at 4 months....where to begin.  He loves his floor gym...finally grabbing the toys...he loves his exersaucer, his swing (although he is getting to big) ,bathtime and he loves PHOEBE....yes, the child loves his dog.  He follows her with his eyes everywhere she goes..he loves when she brings him her bone...he loves when she (gross) licks him...and he just thinks she is so funny!  Our little man is so full of life and I cannot wait to continue watching him grow!  So for now to end this loooong post I leave you with some sweet pics of our little man!

Love you baby boy!!!

 

 

"Train Up a Child....."

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Yesterday was an exciting day for Brent and I as parents.  We were able to dedicate our sweet Dawson to the Lord in our Sunday morning service.  We knew from day one that Dawson is a gift that God has entrusted us with and that it is our job as his parents to "train" him in the right ways.  We are so thankful to be blessed with a Godly family, and we wish to give Dawson the same. 

Dawson,

Mommy and Daddy love you more than words can describe!  Each day brings us more love for you and more desire to raise you as best we can.  You have changed our hearts, our way of thinking, and our view of true love.  You don't know this now, but one day you will understand why we took you up in front of the whole church all snazzied up!   Yesterday, in front of your family and church family, we committed to raising you the way God has intended.  We can only pray that you will learn from our actions and see that we are committed to this goal . You are a blessing from God and it is our job as your parents to lead you in His ways so that one day you can be a Godly man like the generations before you in your family.  We will pray for you, instruct you and love you until the day we die.  You are such a little treasure and we are forever grateful that God chose us to be your parents!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

 

 

From The Heart....My thoughts on motherhood lately!

The day I became pregnant was probably one of the most exciting days of my life!  I had looked forward to this day for so long and couldn't believe it was finally here. We had prayed for the right timing to become parents and were so excited when God blessed us with that positive pregnancy test!

From that moment on we began talking about how we would raise our child.  What parenting strategy would we use?  I love order and hate chaos...so I knew that I wanted to have some order to my days if at all possible.  We talked about bed times, feedings, where baby would sleep, good habits to maintain bad habits to avoid....etc.  I was set in my mind how this baby "would" be.  Well over the months of pregnancy I became so convinced that if I followed "parenting resources" I would have a happy sleeping baby.  Fast forward a few months to June and our lives forever changed when our little blessing was born!  Dawson Job Little stole my heart at 11:13 p.m. on June 3, 2013! 

From the moment he entered our world I knew my game plan.  We got home and the first week was very relaxed feeding every two hours and sleeping whenever little man decided it was nap time.  Week two we started our game plan.  Our goal was to get him into a routine of eat, play, sleep in order to straighten out his days and nights.  At night we would only feed him once he woke up.  This still usually happened around every 2-4 hours at that time.  Our goal was to "teach" him to sleep through the night early on by repeating this routine daily.  Well little did we know our sweet boy would suffer reflux, and milk protein allergy.  Once week three hit all of his symptoms exploded!  Arching back for feedings....screaming all day...waking out of nowhere in tummy pain.  It was pitiful and I did not know what to do!  I had told myself I wouldn't let Dawson get used to sleeping on mommy and wanted him in a bassinet or crib when sleeping at night.  I started out opposed to letting him sleep on me, but once I knew my baby was in pain and could only be comforted sleeping on mommy I gave in.  Due to the way I had "planned" everything I started to get frustrated thinking that I would have a baby sleeping on my chest every night in a recliner. Once we got his problems straightened out I started putting him back to bed in his room. It was so tiring the frequent waking...the small naps...all I could think was ...What am I doing wrong?  Isn't he supposed to find a pattern?  Once Dawson reached a certain aged I was determined to have him sleeping without waking every few hours.  Each night that it did not happen I would wake in frustration wondering why my "plan" wasn't working.  I began going to bed at night dreading what was to come.  When would he cry out? When will I ever get to sleep at night?  Then the next day would be filled with please nap so I can do some housework...etc.  (Looking back ...babies know if you are frustrated!)  One day in tears I began thinking....why am I so frustrated?  Didn't I know babies wake up at night.  Well yes, I did...but I had gotten a "magic number" stuck in my head of when he should start sleeping through the night.  The more I thought through things the more I became down right convicted....not just upset...CONVICTED!  I thought all the way back to Adam and Eve....I thought back to my grandmother....I thought back to my mom....when all of the sudden did a mom need to "plan" so much....when did all babies become so alike that a number could be put on when they would sleep through the night???  I started to think of how much of a unique creation my Dawson is from God.  I started to cry thinking of the nights I wasted worrying about him sleeping instead of holding him and cherishing that time with him in my arms.  Do I have a routine daily...of course....do I have nap times and play times...of course, but if they don't lead to my baby sleeping through the night does that mean I failed?  Well, at first I started to feel that way....but the more I genuinely thought about it the more I realized that...NO...I haven't failed....I have become more aware of my little boy and his personality and needs.  I have learned that he is so unique and he is an individual.  I have learned that this is the most precious gift I could have ever been given and to ignore that for an extra hour or two of sleep is down right selfish of me!   I love having a routine during the daytime and some nights it really helps and Dawson truly knows when it is bedtime.  We have been blessed with such an animated spirited baby.  I love his giggles, his smiles and his silly faces he makes.  He is growing so quickly and I want to cherish every moment of being his mom!  I am so blessed to even be a mom and I don't want to let a few missed naps and nightwakings make me forget how wonderful it is to be Dawson's mom.  I am at peace with the fact that it could be much longer than I had anticipated for me to get back to sleeping in a normal 7-8 hour routine....I am ok with not getting all of my housework done or going "out on the town".  For this short precious time my job is  to be Brent's wife and Dawson's mom.  For those working moms...WOW...I do not know how you do it!  As far as being a stay at home mom...I couldn't love it more!  Yes...some days I wish it were easier to get things done or go out and about, but I look at the big picture and see how fast this time is flying by and realize its only for a short time.  I don't want to miss one moment of my babies life!  So from here on out I choose to go with the flow and love my baby for who HE is and not what I had "planned" on him doing. 

Love my baby boy!

Lastly I wanted to leave a video that really touched my heart lately.  Sleeping and schedules are so small compared to many peoples problems.  I recently was reading a blog of a girl who goes to Summit Church in Durham who gave birth to a stillborn daughter this past spring.  WOW...I thought how can I get so frustrated when God allowed me to give birth and keep my baby here with me on earth!  There are so many people out there who only wish to be awake at night with their baby and going through the ups and downs of parenting.  I am so thankful that I get the chance to do this! 

Grab a box of tissues!

 

 

 

 

Dawson's 1st Family Vacation

Every year the Little side of the family gets together and ventures out on "Family Vacation".  We usually choose a lake in NC to meet at and stay all together in one big house.  If you know me and my nature at all...I over think EVERYTHING!!!!  Upon Dawson's pending arrival I was so nervous about taking my little tiny newborn on family vacation.  What kind of baby would he be...fussy,content...etc.  Then how will he be sleeping by then?!?  As a first time mom I was just so uneasy about being out of my comfort zone...which is home for me at this point.  We all agreed as a family that we would wait until mid to late August to give Dawson some time to adjust to the world and settle into a routine.  Now when you think family vacation most people think Mom, Dad ,baby etc....Nope this is not at all how we do vacation.  They are adventurous and not for anyone who does not love family/children!  We have Nana, Papa, 3 brothers and their wives and....get ready...a 3 month old, 10 month old, twin 1 yr olds, twin 2 year olds, a 4 year old, 8 year old and 10 year old!!! YES , all of us stay together!  Dawson did so well to be shared by so many people.  The first night he was a bit fussy and refused to nurse...I think he was a little overstimulation from his cousins wanting to love on him as soon as we got there.  The rest of the trip he did so well...of course his naps were a little off, but honestly his night time sleep was the best it had ever been!  Oh the irony....as soon as we got home that flew out the window...we are still working on that and getting into a good rhythm...but we got slammed with a cold and wicked 3 month growthspurt when we returned. 

Being so young, Dawson and I didn't do too many activities.  We mostly sat under the shelter at the dock and watched everyone swim and splash.  BUT my little guy did get to ride Papa's boat a few times!  I was (new mom remember) super nervous about him doing this....what if he gets too upset...what if he poops...what if he gets hungry...what if the boat breaks down (my normal worrisome self) but we ventured on and I knew he would be fine.  The first time on the boat he cried some....not because of the ride, but because of the life jacket. Once we got moving he would relax and sleep the rest of the time!  Of course, as Dawson does in the car, he would wake anytime we stopped.  I think next year he will love it!  We also tried out swimming, but he was not having any of that...understandable ...the lake was chilly, plus sun in eyes, plus life jacket...makes no fun for a 12 week old baby!  Next year I hope he loves it and plays and splashes away! 

First Boat Ride (please excuse our appearance)

 

All in all I would say Dawson did well and was a trooper on his first "Little" family vacation.  I am so thankful I have such a sweet little man that we can make many memories with for years to come!

3 Months Old!

I cannot believe that my baby boy is 3 months already!  Where is this time going to? Dawson you are such a big boy already!  I cannot stand how fast you are trying to grow up.  He has started changing so much this month already.  We are guessing he is somewhere around 13 1/2 lb to 14 lb this month and still a little over 24'' long ! What a big boy we have on our hands!  He has still been eating around 4.5 oz every 3 hours , but the past few days has been literally screaming for more! So needless to say he nurses with fury and if I make a bottle he will take 5-5.5oz easily!  As far as his schedule goes, he has got it down!  Eat, play, sleep he knows his cues and lets us know when he is done with each cycle with a little grunting!  As for playtime my boy is so much fun these days!  He loves to stand up and sit up. I think if we would let him he would try to stand on his own. He has been fussing lately until someone will assist him standing. No more newborn holding for him ... He wants to see the world around him!  He loves to watch Mickey Mouse clubhouse while I do chores or get ready in the mornings ( seriously the only show he will sit through). Once he's had enough tv he plays on his floor gym, then we usually try out the bumbo or standing before he's ready to nap. He is super vocal these days cooing and giggling ! It makes my heart melt to hear him talk to me :) 

As far as sleeping ... Well Dawson has been so unpredictable since birth! I guess you could say the one consistency is inconsistency hahaa!  His naps have gotten much better for the last few weeks and I can usually count on a 2 hour morning nap and 3 more naps that range from 45 minutes to 1.5hours . Night time is still a guessing game!  He has slept through the nights a few times but still has a few nights he will wake up starving here and there.... If its not hunger he wants his paci or has a super wet diaper soaking through.... We've been letting him cry it out some and he will put himself to sleep after 5-10 minutes and I will go pat his bottom to settle him and he drifts to sleep quickly most nights.... It is the soothing during the night that is not as easy for him .... Some nights the cry/paci work but others nothing at all works .  Those nights it is usually true hunger, a wet diaper or tummy ache!  Hopefully soon he will find a rhythm!  

Our sweet baby has a contagious smile and I would not trade him for the world!  To have had the reflux, dairy allergy,and tummy troubles he has had he is a great baby!  He is usually super happy during his wake time and just loves to interact with the world.  Dawson another month has come and we love you more each day!!! 

2 Month Check Up!

 

Band-Aid Baby!

 

This past Friday Dawson had his 2 month old check-up!  This mommy was not excited about her baby getting shots.  If you know anything about me, you most likely know that watching a needle enter someone is one of my biggest fears.  I can usually handle it when I get it done (after years of learning not to pass out).  But I still cannot watch someone else, let alone my child, get a shot.  I had told Brent that I was going to have to find someone to come with me or tell the nurse that I wouldn't hold Dawson.  I will do anything for my child, but I was more scared that I would drop him or let him fall from seeing the shot go in.  So I called the best person to call in these situations....who other than your own mother!  My Mom and Dad came and spent the weekend so that I would have some "support".

Dawson looked like he knew what was about to happen!

Grandma snuggling him before his shots.

Dr. Fisher is Dawson's pediatrician ( and no he does not normally look scary lol) .  I absolutely love him because he is "old school" and super thorough.  It is so nice to have a doctor who actually commended us for his tummy sleeping.  He even admits that the new SIDS rules have caused other issues with all of the back sleeping etc. and that as long as Dawson is strong ( and he is) then we need to do what is best for him to sleep!  As a new mom it is so nice to have a doctor who takes his time to sit and answer any questions that we have!

During Dawson's appointment we learned that we have a big "Little" boy ! He is growing like a weed and super healthy. 

Weight: 12 lb 13 oz (54th percentile)

Height: 24" (71st percentile)

Head: 42 cm (90th percentile)

Dawson seems to be doing well. His colic seems to be gone and we are going to start slowly weaning him back onto dairy this month.  Yay for mommy!!!

 

Dawson was not so perky after getting his shots ...poor fella!

We are thankful for a healthy, happy baby at 2 months! 

2 Months Old

 

 

How old? 2 Months
Total Weight:  Find out Friday…I’m guessing around 12 lbs.

Length: Find out Friday!
Eating: Back to nursing hallelujah! So proud of my boy for not giving up on me…Still giving him an evening bottle so Daddy can feed him. 
Sleep: Napping every 2 hours or so during the day….sleep is sporadic at night still…not really sure we have a pattern anymore…He must be growing!
Fun Facts: I have found my hands and feet this week!  I love to eat my fist and watch my feet kick!
New Developments:  Really holding my head up on my own these days!

I cannot believe I am already writing his 2 month post....where has the time gone?? My little baby is growing entirely too fast!  Being Dawson's mommy is the greatest gift ever...at times it is challenging and tiring and I see why being a Mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world! I am so thankful that my little boy has seemed to find his stride this month.  Once we cut out all dairy he seems to be such a happy little camper.  He is in such a good daytime pattern these days and although it was tough sticking to my schedule through the colic and reflux days...I do believe it has paid off!  He is on a 3 hour schedule (dictated by his feedings) of eat, wake time, and nap.  And so we repeat all day long!  He usually wakes up and I feed him....after he eats he loves to lay in the floor and coo and smile and giggle at the fan.  If he isn't playing in the floor he is in the crib watching his mobile and kicking away.  I absolutely love his wake time and make an effort each day to just simply play with him during that hour to hour and a half.  I have learned as soon as he begins to whimper during wake time it is nap time.  If we let him keep playing he becomes cranky and fights his nap, but if I lay him down immediately he sleeps for a solid 2 hours most times.
  Besides figuring out Dawson's tummy troubles, our biggest challenge has been his sleeping arrangements.  From the moment we found out we were expecting we decided we would not be co-sleeping whatsoever!  Dawson would not sleep in our bed through the night for any reason.  We wanted him to learn that he has a designated place for his nighttime sleep and that our bed is for Mom and Dad.  Many people may say oh an infant doesn't recognize that and I am sure in the beginning he wouldn't, but I did not want him to get used to feeling mommy beside him every night to fall asleep.  It has definitely been a battle and my tired body can see why some families decide to go with co-sleeping.  Due to all of the tummy troubles he has had a very tough time sleeping for any lengthy amount of time.  If he doesn't wake from hunger, he usually wakes from gas pains.  We went through a period in the day time where he would only sleep in 30 minute stretches and cry the rest of the time.  He has been sleeping in his bouncy seat and we would try the crib for naptime during the day ...only to end in him screaming the whole time until he refused to sleep at all.  I began to get very frustrated due to the fact that my son is quickly outgrowing sleeping in the bouncy and as for the bassinet he wakes every time he has a startle reflex.  One day while we were playing in the floor I decided since he was beginning to have better days without much fussing I would try tummy time again....Mind you during those rough weeks he HATED tummy time....well he hated almost everything except being held.  Well that morning I thought I would try it again.  As soon as I turned him over he started rooting for his paci so I gave it to him.  Within a matter of minutes he fell asleep....so I covered him and let him sleep.  I was thinking it might last for 30 minutes, but to my amazement for the first time in a few weeks he slept for 2 hours!  I thought that surely he was just very tired but decided to try it again next nap time.  Sure enough same thing!  And all day we did this and success!  So then my mind starts thinking...hmmm he won't sleep in the crib on his back but maybe his tummy??? So once Brent got home and we could both keep an eye on him we tried it...and he didn't even fight it!  This was a huge milestone for us! After that day Brent was set on letting him sleep on his tummy at night.  I was still so nervous because the pediatricians pump the word SIDS into your brain from the moment the baby arrives and every time you see them.  I knew I grew up sleeping that way as most of my generation did, but still couldn't get past the fact of what if....what if...thanks to all of the pamphlets they have you read at the hospital.  We talked to several people and got input because for this mommy it was a big decision.  We found that many colic babies have this issue and that most parents give in and have a tummy sleeper.  After letting him nap this way several days I started noticing him turning his head on his own.  This gave me such relief knowing he can move his face if something were to be blocking him from breathing.  Brent and I talked and talked about this decision and I still needed my extra security knowing I would be in a different room at night.  I told Brent that I wanted an angelcare monitor and that the peace of mind would be worth the money in my opinion.  We got online and read reviews and looked for other people in the same boat.  Sure enough many parents who have babies with tummy troubles invest in this monitor simply to let baby tummy sleep.  We found one for a great deal and purchased it and just started letting Dawson sleep in his crib at night.  I love being able to see the light blink when he breathes in and out.  The first 3 nights have been a little challenging because he seems to be waking more frequently.  We are assuming he is just getting used to the change or going through a growth spurt because he is wanting to eat more.  He has really done ok considering he used to refuse to lay in the crib, but we are ready to see him stretch more than three hours or so again at night. 
This week we go get shots and our 2 month check up!  I will post his stats in a blog over the weekend!  Life is great with sweet Dawson!