Christmas Memories

I cannot believe Christmas has come and gone already!  Where did this year go??  Anyways, we have had a great Christmas  although there were a few kinks in our plans.  (Sickness hit the Little clan viciously so we didn't get to do our big family get together... Flu go away!). Hopefully in January!  

Brent and I had so much fun this year watching Dawson really enjoy the Christmas season.  

From the moment the tree came out he got so excited!  He loved everything about decorating with us.  If you know Dawson, you know he is obsessed with a ball... So naturally the ornaments were so exciting! We were definitely concerned he would break them, but we only had one casualty! 

Not only did he have fun decorating but he had fun making dough ornaments with mommy one morning.  

We had fun going to see the lights at hill ridge farms with his grandparents and cousins. He loved riding the "choo choo" to look at the lights and loves riding the pony!  He's such a little boy now!  

Once the week of Christmas arrived I was so excited to watch him experience all of the Christmas traditions and gatherings.  On Christmas Eve we had a party with Brent's grandparents and all of the Little family. Dawson loves it! He had so much fun playing with his cousins and  really showing off his personality.  He was so worn out that he slept until 8:40 on Christmas morning!! Since he slept so late Brent and I got up and enjoyed some coffee and made some pancakes and enjoyed a moment of peaceful silence.  😜 Once Dawson woke up naturally we went straight to the presents.  He was just excited about the paper and bows!  He loved opening his gifts and was so excited about everything! 

After our morning together we went to Brent's parents to do gifts with them.  Dawson loved playing with his cousins and opening more gifts! 

On Friday we had Christmas with my family.  We had lunch, opened gifts and then a game of football outside.  Dawson wanted to play sooo badly, so they had to stop and give him a few minutes of play! 

Brent getting some air 😜

Dawson with his prized possession... A football! 

Overall we have had a great Chriatmas.  Dawson has loved every minute and is still enjoying some time with family before everyone returns to work. Merry Christmas everyone! 

Happy Birthday Dawson

Well... This blog is only a month and a half late...but none the less we are getting there.  Life has been so crazy chasing this wild man around all of the time!  He is so full of life and energy these days that I don't typically just sit down to do a blog. 
  Dawson had his first birthday on June 3rd and we celebrated in Raleigh with family on the 7th.  It was such a fun time for us as parents and for Dawson.  He got to see his great grandparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and his cousins.  He had so much fun playing with his cousins and being able to be a big kid running around and playing with their toys.  Thanks to his amazing Uncle Ryan and Aunt Casey we had a great kid friendly house to host his party in.  We definitely had to go with the Mickey Mouse theme since it is all the rage in our house these days.  Dawson was in LOVE with it. (I was too)  I was so excited about how well things turned out. 

I loved how his monthly banner turned out! 

The June heat got to his precious cake, but we made it work!

Can't have a party without the details!

Gifts Galore!

Cannot believe my baby turned 1!

This kid loves his cake!

Cousin loving!

Present time

We love our birthday boy!

 

Dawson you have made this past year wonderful!  We are so thankful to have been blessed with you.  I am so glad we got to have such a great time celebrating with family and cannot wait to celebrate may more birthdays!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday ...My Baby is ONE?!?!?

How old? 12 Months
Total Weight:  22.2 lbs.

Length:  31”
Eating:  EVERYTHING!  Officially on a sippy cup of cows’ milk (this is huge for us)
Sleep: Napping like a champ twice a day.  Sleeping a solid 11 hours at night WOOHOO!
Fun Facts:  We have a walker!

OH. MY. GOODNESS....when did an entire year pass me by!  I cannot believe we officially have a ONE year old!  This little man has been such a blessing and has given us such joy in this one short year.  I am so thankful to be his mommy and have loved every minute of being able to stay at home with him.  He has changed sooo much since birth and has developed quite the personality!  Dawson has officially transitioned to whole milk from a sippy cup! WOOHOO!!  We are beyond thankful that this has even happened after dealing with MSPI for so many months.  I was very concerned that it would upset his stomach, but he has done so well and loves it!  He is so cute walking around the house drinking his milk like a big boy! 
 Also,We officially have to baby proof the house now that he is walking everywhere!  I love it.  He is in such a fun stage!  Everyday is a new adventure and he keeps me busy!  He loves for me to chase him around the living room and tickle him.  He loves playing ball and just being super active!  

As far as growth goes his weight gain has drastically slowed down.  I think he is just so active he burns calories fast! He has only gained a few ounces in the past couple of months putting him at a little over 22 lbs which is 35th percentile.  As far as his height goes...he is steadily growing!  At his well check the doctors asked if "Dad" happened to be 6' tall?  I laughed and said, "not even close!"   His answer was...."Well, it looks like this baby will pass his Daddy around the 6th grade"  He has not slowed down in gaining an inch every couple of months which keeps him around 75th percentile for his age.  His projected height is 5'11''-6' tall.  Brent and I literally find it quite humorous, but are excited for Dawson if that is the case!  Precious boy also has quite the noggin.  He is in the 82nd percentile for head size which has him in 2t-5t hats.  I am so thankful to have a healthy growing little boy!

The best I could get on his birthday

 

This baby loves him some cake!

 

Sleeping baby pics are a necessity!

 

Happy Birthday sweet Dawson.  Mommy and Daddy are so thankful to have enjoyed you for the past year!  We cannot wait to celebrate many more birthdays to come!!!

 

 

11 Months Old

How old? 11 Months
Total Weight:  about  22 lbs.

Length:  30”
Eating:  Anything in sight!   
Sleep: Napping like a champ twice a day.  Sleeping a solid 11 hours at night WOOHOO!
Fun Facts:  He loves to throw a ball!  Anything round is a “baw”

Ok I may be a little sad that this is my final "monthly" post!  I seriously cannot believe that in just 3 weeks my little baby will be a ONE YEAR OLD!!! What in the world has happened to all of the time.  Each month he has seemed to grow up so quickly.  When I look at him I don't see a baby anymore, I see a little boy!  I surely do miss those tiny baby cuddles, but man is he so much fun as a little toddler! 

Dawson and his walking buddy Hannah

 

 

 

Dawson is really beginning to love being outdoors.  He absolutely loves to go on walks and swinging.  I can only pray he will love the pool as much as he loves everything else !!  I think he would love it if he could just get down and walk anywhere he wants, but we aren't quite there yet. He is so close to walking.  He is letting go and taking several steps, but hasn't quite gotten the confidence to continually walk.  He can walk like a pro if he is holding onto just one of my fingers.  I think soon he will be taking off. 

 

As we know he loves to eat.  He is quite the little booger at dinner time.  He will do pretty much anything to get Mommy and Daddy to laugh at him.  He has finally figured out if Mommy is trying to feed him something different than what we are eating.  That doesn't seem to go over very well.  He is in the middle of transitioning from bottles to a sippy cup, as well as from formula to whole milk.  I am still a little sad that I wasn't able to breastfeed for 12 months, but I think that he has felt so much better since we made the switch.  He has done incredibly well taking to the sippy cup and milk!  Pretty soon he will be totally weaned and my bank account will be grateful! :)

 

 

 

Dawson, Mommy and Daddy are so happy to have had the past 11 months with you and cannot wait to watch you grow in the many more to come.  You light up each day with that precious smile and words cannot describe how much you mean to us! 

Mothers Day with my boy!

 

 

10 Months Old

Oh Dawson! I cannot believe my baby boy is 10 months old!  You have become such a big boy these past few weeks.  You are 21 lbs.  and 30" tall.  You have 5 teeth and love to use them to chew your food... and well everything!  Lately, you have become brave and decided to just stand up and take a few steps on your own.  Before long you will be running around everywhere!!  

As far as sleeping, you have learned to love it!  You sleep from 7:45-7:20 every night ... Yes all night hallelujah! You nap from 10-11:30 in the morning and 3-4:30 in the afternoon.  Mommy is so thankful for this time you give me to rest and get things done at home! 

You knew I had to do a sleeping photo!!!

 Lately you loooove going for walks and going to the park.  You love to wave and tell people bye bye.  You smile at everyone!  I love how sweet you are!  You and Hannah have become best buds and you enjoy our daily walks with her!  She's a sweetie and mommy loves her family! We will keep you guys in touch! 

You and mommy have so much fun playing during our days.  We are starting to get creative and mommy branched out and made you finger paints! You weren't too sure at first but you gave it a whirl!  

Mommy and Daddy love you so much and are soooo glad you are our little boy! Happy 10 months! 

9 Months Old

How old? 9 Months
Total Weight:  over 20 lbs. Find out soon!

Length: Not sure …around 29” or so
Eating:  This boy loves food!  He will eat anything. 
Sleep: Napping like a champ twice a day.  Sleeping a solid 11 hours at night WOOHOO!
Fun Facts:  He is saying some words…uh-oh, mama, dada, bye bye, and pap (paci)
New Developments:  Dawson is trying so hard to walk!  He can pull up and walk around the whole living room going from table to couch to ottoman etc.

 

OH. MY. GOODNESS....it is only 3 short months until my baby is 1 Year Old!!!  Dawson has grown so much over the past month.  Brent and I both keep saying...what happened?  He went from just figuring out how to get into the sitting position alone to pulling up and walking around.  He went from eating pureed food to eating finger foods.  He went from just squealing to saying and understanding a few words.  I am so shocked how quickly he is growing up! 
We are starting to see a stubborn streak in our sweet little man the past few weeks.  Lately with these developments has come a sense of independence.  If mommy says no we whine, if mommy takes away a toy we throw our head back and cry, if mommy changes our diaper we kick and scream.  SHEW! I have got my hands full with this little boy, but I wouldn't change a thing about him.  He is so spunky and fun to be around.  He is constantly making us laugh and then wrapping us around his finger with that sweet gooey smile! 

Lately he has become fond of his toy car.  The other day I heard him whining and the next thing I know he had dragged his car over to me and was hitting me.  I put 2 and 2 together...ding he wants to ride his car.  This has now become a daily event after breakfast.  Mommy cleans up and Dawson drags his car out and fusses until mommy pushes him around. 

Weeeeee....mommy this is so fun!

 

Recently I have had to start messing around with Dawson's naps.  He has been such an awesome napper and sleeps so hard that he was beginning to sleep through lunch.  We are talking from 10-12:45 or so.  I know...most people would love this (and I do) but he has started fighting going down for his afternoon nap or wanting to nap too close to bedtime.  So we are now having to wake him up around 11:30 to feed him lunch and make sure he goes back down around 2:30 or 3.  It seems to be working very well so far!  He has been doing so well sleeping at night also.  I could not be more proud of how far we have come.  I am so thankful that his tummy is well and he is finally able to sleep in peace!

One of the many photos taken from naptime

 

So far Dawson has 3 teeth and one on the way that is taking way too long to break the surface!  He looks like a cute little pirate with his little teeth shining!  He doesn't seem to enjoy teething toys so I guess that is why his teeth tend to slowly break through. 

Well that is about all for 9 months.  We are super excited about the weather warming up so we can go to the park more frequently!  Yay for spring!

 

 

 

The Real Housewives Of....

Don't you know we housewives look like ^^^^^^ this... on a daily basis?!?!?!  I kid...I kid!  So, I have really been thinking and praying about my new role lately and how our society has really twisted the view of a true housewife.  Television is now portraying a "real housewife" as this woman who has a billionaire husband or business taking care of her every demands while she prances around town in her Range Rover buying anything and everything....oh and lets not forget to add in the drama of her "girlfriends" who share a swanky dinner with her each evening.  (Guilty...I have watched a few episodes...it is like a train wreck you just can't look away)  These women are rarely shown doing anything other than eating, shopping, or traveling the world, yet they are called HOUSE wives.  I mean, really...don't you have to stay at home some and tend to your home to be considered a housewife??  Not only are they never home....they have full-time nannies watching after their children...sometimes they even have "night nannies" that tend to night wakings!  WOW....just WOW!  I think that shows like this and the "talk" around town really has distorted what it really means to be a housewife....or stay at home mom. 

Before I go on...if you are a working mom...I do not think lowly of that! Kudos to you for balancing both worlds!  I just thought I would share my feelings on this subject of the stay-at-home mom.  So recently a friend of mine and I have been discussing this topic quite frequently.  First off, let me say it is so awesome to have a friend who stays at home to talk through these things with because we can totally relate to one another.  The past few months I began really struggling with just wanting some ME time outside of my house with no baby in tow.  I would sit and think how some working moms at least get a lunch or coffee break with adults, or how our husbands can go to the gym or workout without worrying who will nurse the baby, or fix dinner and I started to think....well...where is MY "me time".  Honestly, I know these feelings happen a lot for many housewives, but the truth is...there isn't much ME time.  Yes, my baby naps and I may get my shower or drink a cup of coffee, but for the most part nap time comes down to cleaning or getting ready to run errands and packing a diaper bag and getting myself dressed.  The more I thought through this I thought about comments and questions people tend to have about the stay at home mom..  "What do you do all day...Don't you get bored....I would go crazy....I need to be around adults...etc."  Well, the fact is I think all too often the reality of what "we" do is so distorted.  Some think we play peek-a-boo and change diapers all day (we do a lot..lol)  some think we sit and watch tv in our jammies (I wish) and some just think we hang out with other moms around town on playdates.  Reality is...being a stay at home mom is HARDER than I ever imagined.  I was one of those working girls who thought I couldn't ever do that...until I say those little eyes, fingers, and toes....that little sweet face that would call me mommy.  Wow...something changed immediately and reality hit.  I did not want to leave my baby to someone else to raise all day.  In fact, this job is probably taught me how selfish I can truly be.  I have had to learn that my needs come last!  My baby needs to be fed, changed, clothed, bathed, rocked, soothed etc....then my laundry needs to be washed and folded, the house needs cleaning, dinner needs to be cooked, groceries bought, bills paid, errands run and so on.  I can tell you that some days I do get overwhelmed, but then I remember this is MY calling right now....I am so lucky to get to stay home and take care of my family.  It won't be long before this little boy is grown and I will have all the ME time in the world. 

For now....my job is to be the Proverbs 31 wife and mom.  Brent and I are in a study at church and the lesson this past week was exactly what I needed to re-affirm my decision to be a stay at home mom.  The lesson focused on the wife's role in the marriage.  We studied Proverbs 31 and learned about being a helpmate.  WOW...even though all of the things that wear me down and get me wanting "ME" time are hard....they are EXACTLY what I am supposed to be doing as a wife and mother.  I realize that this job I have right now is awesome.  I am beyond blessed to get to watch my baby grow everyday.  I am beyond blessed to kiss his boo boos when he falls.  I am beyond blessed to see him take his first steps.  I am beyond blessed to put him down for every nap.  He is my responsibility to raise and I am so lucky to be able to do so in today's society.  Our world has made it nearly impossible for women to stay home and raise their children.  I hate how the world has made this area such a low priority for families and almost look down upon women who make this decision almost as if we just don't want to work.  So...for any of you moms who get to stay home and have those "down days"  know that you are doing an awesome job.  Know that you are blessed and that many women aren't so fortunate.  Know that no matter what society says, God says it is a high calling to be a wife and mother.  I am thankful for a supportive husband who works very hard to make it possible for me to stay home.  God has really blessed our decision and I am learning that this selfless job they call "housewife" is hard, but so wonderful!!