Congratulations, Paul! You Made it to 6 Months!

Well, Paul is exactly six months old today. It's weird to think about. We were originally going to start him on solids today but I was too excited so we started yesterday. Surely he has enough stomach bacteria built up that one day won't harm him!

I'm very excited about this stage of his life. It's difficult because I need to figure out which foods are not only high in calories but also nutrient dense. That's the main reason I skipped cereal all together. It wasn't necessary to me to feed my child just for the sake of feeding him other than "practice eating." Also, there are just hardly any nutrients in cereal.

Anyway, here is a picture of his meal. Mmmm. Pureed avocado. Hardly any water added.


"Eeek! I don't know if I'll like this." I will say, even though he's been curious for the past month and a half about food, he was a bit apprehensive yesterday.



Hmmm...I don't know about this...

Yeah, not all it's cracked up to be.

DEFINITELY NOT!
Eh, I'll deal with it.
I'm a trooper!!
We took a video too. James was on the ball taking pictures and video (please, don't watch all 6 minutes...it will get boring).



In a few days we're going to try sweet potato. I'm not sure what to do after that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Matt, you're a shining star!

This past weekend we went up to the farm to celebrate my brother's graduation from law school. It was so much fun! We had some awesome barbeque and the cake that I ordered turned out to be a big hit! I thought that there would be a ton left over but there really wasn't. Phew! Here's the cake, you can't really see the middle but it's the Georgia Law Seal.

Okay, this needs some explanation. Other than his girlfriend, Julie, there's nothing more that my brother loves than cereal. Our awesome cousins, Jennifer and Julianne got him five boxes of cereal so he's pretty set for a while (at least through BAR prep). The last box was "Shining Star" cereal...because that's what he is. So funny.


Paul had a great time. It was his first visit to the farm and he loved being passed from person to person. What a life he leads...



So, lucky us, we get to go BACK this weekend for our annual Farmapalooza. I can't wait...SO excited. I'll need to remember to bring my camera and video camera.

Well, I'm about 10 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. Slowly but surely!

That's all for now, thanks for reading!

It's Hard Being SO Beautiful!

DISCLAIMER: This post has too many pictures in it for its own good. Sorry.

Okay, so James is trying to beef up. Don't feel sorry for him...he gets to eat this everyday.

I really don't think this child will ever roll over on his tummy. I know he can do it, he just refuses. I'm convinced. He'll get onto his stomach but won't get up from under his shoulder.

This is about the time he'll flip back onto his back. SO ANNOYING!


He doesn't care though. He's a happy buddy.

He's made this face since he was a newborn. It's James' favorite.


5 month mugshot.


So, my wonderful sister-in-law took some AMAZING pictures of us a few weeks ago and here are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!




















Every time I look at them I cry! I've been so blessed with such a beautiful and loving family.

So, I'm SOOOO excited about this weekend AND next! We're going up to my Grammie and Grampie's house (The Farm). My brother is graduating from law school this weekend and his graduation party will be up there this weekend and next weekend will be the grand poobah of all weekends. FARMAPALOOZA!!!! It's finally that time of year--all of my cousins and I get together at the farm for beer pong and food. That's all we do all weekend...pong.

Well, that's all for right now. Thanks for reading!

Busy, Busy Boy!

At lot has happened since the last post. Paul has gained a pound! Woohoo! It's been exhausting, but worth it and James has been such a support for me. Now, on to the good stuff. I noticed that I have 3 followers now...man, you guys must think we're really interesting people. Okay, Catie. Pressure is on...you have an audience for real now. Oh, BIG congrats to Erin Evans on her baby boy! I know you guys can't wait until he's here. Little boys are such fun!

So, what has happened since I last posted?? Easter?? I can't believe I didn't take any Easter pictures/pictures on Easter. Pictures from around the house will have to do I suppose. I think we broke out the Bumbo a little prematurely a few months ago but I think he's definitely ready for it now. He really likes it. He takes his bath in it but once he's done sitting, he's definitely done. I just can't wait until he can sit on his own for real.



Sunbathing (sorta??). It was such a nice day that day that he just lounged around most of the day (and week) in his diaper. I'm pretty sure he dozed off and I woke him up with my camera. Sorry, buddy.


Not so pleased to be disturbed by the status quo.


Like I said, we've been having such remarkable weather. James and I have been grilling out more regularly and Paul has been having much more outdoors' time. I think he prefers the Spring to the Winter (RE: post 1).



Paul is a really good baby...but there are trying days. Today was one of those days but I was lucky to get a few smiles out of him (and lucky enough to catch it on camera!).


My sister-in-law is taking family portraits of us this Friday. She takes some really amazing photos so I'm really looking forward to having some frame worthy pictures of the baby and all of us. I can't wait! And it'll be nice to see everyone again.

I have a new "project." My brother, Matthew is graduating from law school in a little less than a month and I am heading up planning his party. I'm really looking forward to it. There are going to be between 35-50 people there we're estimating. I have most everything done...it's just going to be a really good time!

Weight update: I've lost another 2 pounds! I'm on track to be a good 5 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight by the end of June which is encouraging.

That's all for now...thanks for reading!

Breastfeeding Blues

Well, buddy Paul will be 4 1/2 months old this week. That is so crazy to me! He was just my sweet, little baby boy just yesterday I feel like! He is getting so curious about everything. He has recently discovered that he has feet and he can bend to play with them. He thinks that's pretty hilarious. His new favorite--and I mean favorite--thing to do now is blow raspberries. He started doing this about a week ago and he does it mostly when I'm changing his diaper (weird, right?). He's doing really well with sitting...he obviously needs support but I don't think it'll be long before he won't. We also don't think it'll be long before he'll be crawling.

I'm excited about the coming months. He's already changed and developed so quickly and I'm so looking forward to everything else he's going to be doing...it's just getting him to that point. It's really draining having a baby that doesn't gain weight easily. What's weird is that his height and head circumference are exactly where they need to be. If they weren't, I would worried. But, I always go back and forth on why he isn't beefing up from my milk? It makes me feel like I can't satisfy his needs. It also doesn't do much for my ego when I see babies born 3 months after him and are already surpassing his weight or close to it. Don't get me wrong--I deeply enjoy breastfeeding...I just don't know what I'm doing wrong after ruling everything I can think of out.

Anyway, I needed to get that out.

Update: I got through the tough two weeks of my dieting and exercising and so far I've lost 8 pounds! I'm 19 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight and 39 from my goal weight (yeah, I gained a lot with Paul, thus I weigh a lot!).

Birthdays, Baptisms, and Body Sculpting

Well, my family just finished what we like to call "Birthday Season." It starts with my husband and ends with me...4 birthdays in a little less than two months. I just celebrated my 23rd. I don't "feel" 23 but I accomplished a lot in a year...got pregnant and had a baby, celebrated my 2 year anniversary with an amazing man, graduated from college, and *got* a job. So, I guess you could say I feel closer to 40?? Hehe just kidding. What did we do for the big 2-3 you might ask? Well, on my actually birthday (which was on a Wednesday...how lame). James took me to Taco Mac and we celebrated in style.

On to more exciting things. Paul seems to be growing like a weed! He hates to be cradled like a baby unless he's nursing (obviously). He loves to look at the action. Here, he was intent on watching me wash dishes. P.S. if any of you out there don't have a Moby, I highly recommend it! I will say though, I did feel pregnant wearing him like this.

Our favorite (I say 'our' when I really mean Paul) place to play these days is on our gym. He's getting really funny and "talkative." The little jungle creatures on there spark his interest and he really has a lot to say when he sees them. (Please disregard the poopy diaper).

James works from sun up to sun down so his time with Paul is precious. Needless to say, I love capturing it. He's still the only one who can really make him laugh. What's up with that?! I'm with the kid all day! He does love his Daddy.

For all of the Georgians out there, we've been getting some pretty nice days. It's been REALLY nice for moms of infants. Less clothes to wash!

Like I said, James is probably the favorite. He likes having a little partner buddy when he works.


Little chunker head!

Palm Sunday was our baby's baptism. It was a special day for James and me as we presented our covenant child. We were so blessed to have not only both my parents and James' parents present but both sets of my grandparents as well as my brother, Matthew and James' brother, David and his wife, Elizabeth and their child, Calvin. We truly have been blessed.

Well, those're the major highlights. This past week I've really been working on working out. I mean, ever since he was born I've been watching what I've been eating but on Sunday I was really pushed to get in gear. So, everyday I've been working out: walking and lifting weights and of dieting. I've already lost some weight! I think the first two weeks are going to be the hardest.

Okay, I hope I don't go another month without letting you all know what's going on in our lives!