One Month

Judah, this week you passed the big one month mark! Don’t hate me later in life for posting a cross-eyed picture of you, it is so cute, and to be fair you do look like that a lot.

You are starting to look more like a baby and less like an old man, despite your receding hairline. When I look at you I can see both of your brothers in you, it all depends on the face your making at the time.

You are a pretty good baby so far. You have already fallen into somewhat of a sleep routine. I can count on you to sleep 3-4 hours between 2am-6am, and then again from 7am-10am give or take. These are your only “regular” hours so far.

You have been fighting sleep a lot lately. I swear we aren’t that cool, and we will totally be here when you wake up.

You have been cooing a little, rocking some head control, and I swear I saw an awake smile the other day.

You don’t have too many likes or dislikes so far.

Likes: eating, sleeping on someone, bath time,

you also like laying on your play mat swatting at the toys.

Dislikes: Gas……

I look forward to what the next month will bring!

Florida Boys

When I was twenty-three I packed up my less than worldly belongings and moved myself from Minnesota to Florida. I had spent my first twenty-three years in the land of the frozen tundra.

I moved to Florida to go to school, but I think the real underlying reason was it was closer to the ocean. I have always felt a pull to the ocean. Visiting it has always been a cathartic experience for me.

We don’t plan to live in Florida forever, so its really important to me that we make as many trips to the beach with the boys as we can. I want them to remember the ocean, I want it to be a part of who they are.

Saturday we took our posse to the beach. It was the most beautiful day, warm with a breeze. The water was even still warm.

The boys made the most of their time. They made sandcastles. Ro is particularly fond of building sand castles, he is my little architect.

They hunted for seashells to decorate their castles with.

They flew a kite with their dad, which was really exciting.

I really love this next picture.

Oh, and this guy? I am not even sure he even knew he left the house. He apparently thinks the ocean is cathartic too.

We spent longer at the beach than we have on most previous trips. Everyone was being so well behaved. It was so nice to be able to actually partake in the sandcastle building, the swimming, and the seashell hunting, without the hindrance of an enormous belly.

The boys took it all in. The warm breeze, the sand in their toes, the seagulls, and the salty sea.When we pulled into our driveway, Ezra turned to me and said “thank you beach Mama.”  I don’t think I have too much to worry about, my boys are 100% Florida boys at heart. The beach will always be a part of who they are….

Random Thoughts

I don’t quite have the time to write a full blog post at the moment, so random thoughts will have to do.

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I am so glad I am no longer pregnant. Everything is better when not carrying a watermelon around in your belly.

Sleep is more comfortable. I can fit into the bath, and not need help getting out. I can drink more than one cup of coffee.  I can drink margaritas at noon. I can chase the boys. And I can take my medications, which has restored my sanity (well, most of it).

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I find it funny that newborns spend so much time fighting sleep. Yet, as adults we can never seem to get enough sleep.

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Taking on a job photographing a wedding 2 weeks post partum may not have been my most brilliant idea. I was so sore after it! But I did love doing it, and my husband helped out as well. This is one of my favorite shots from the day. You can find more pictures on my photography site.

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I think I am going to decorate for Halloween this weekend. I can justify this because the stores have had their stuff out for weeks. I need to go pick up some treats for our Halloween advent calendar.

Do any of you already have decorations up? Costumes already?

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I apologize for my lack of commenting on all of your lovely blogs. Please know I am still reading them, commenting is just a luxury I don’t have much time for at the moment.

you.

there are so many little things about you Judah that I am trying to permanently engrain in my memory…

the little piggy noises you make. the way you rub your hands together when you eat. your hiccups.

how i can’t tell where your eyebrows end and your hairline begins.

your milk drunk smiles.

your tiny little feet, with ten perfect little pink toes. your long fingers.

the smell of the top of your head. your peach fuzz soft hair.

how i didn’t know whether to cry or laugh when i first saw you, i was so overcome with emotions, in such an amazing way.

the way you furrow your eyebrows and flare your nostrils while you sleep.

your perfect little cherub lips. your teeny tiny ears.

how you much you need me.

but mostly i don’t want to forget the way you made me feel. how with your birth you reaffirmed for me what i knew all along.

this is what i was meant to do. i was meant to be a mom. a mom to three sweet boys.

thank you.

Awake

Judah is officially two weeks old today. He is more awake and alert every day. He still follows a strict schedule of sleep, eat, poop, repeat.

I am finally feeling almost back to 100%. Recovery was a little slower the third time around. Now I am focusing on losing the sixty pounds I gained while pregnant, *sigh*. Luckily twelve pounds came off already on their own, if only the remaining pounds would be so kind…

We are all adjusting to our new routine. I am so thankful that Ro is in kindergarten, I have no clue how I would handle all 3 of them all day, every day. I am enjoying having time to shower Ezra with attention, and I think he is enjoying it as well.

Besides the never ending laundry heap, I am so thrilled with our newest addition, he makes me really happy.

First Week

Judah your first week was filled with all sorts of firsts.

First breaths, first cries, first weigh ins.

First meetings.

First bath, followed by the first time you peed on your brothers.

First moments of alertness, first grumpy face.

First time being held by your brothers. They so do love you.

First sleep in your crib, first time on your belly.

First time finding your fingers.

And first time bonding. You fit perfectly in our family and I can’t wait to experience many more firsts with you.

Baby’s First Photo Shoot

This is the first of many photo shoots I will be having with my newest model! I hope to do another one this week, now that I am feeling better, and more up to the task.

Judah has proven to be an excellent baby so far. He sleeps in 4 hour blocks at night and only wakes to feed. I have been busy soaking up every moment I can with him. There is something almost therapeutic about having a newborn in your arms.

The boys love their new baby brother, they fight over who gets to hold him. They like to know Judah’s whereabouts at all times.

I can’t believe he is almost a week old already. I really wish I could freeze time just so I could soak up his newness a little longer…

 

Introducing….

He’s here!!! He was born at 11:02 pm on the night of August 31st. He was 7.9lbs and 20 inches. He has brown hair, which is crazy!

The labor and delivery was by far my easiest, and almost a somewhat pleasant experience.

I have tons that I want to share but for now this picture will have to suffice.

I am so in love with this little man…