Just one year ago...

One year ago today, Eric told me that he was taking our family out to dinner for the evening "because it might be our last chance as a family of only three!" I thought he was crazy, but wasn't about to turn down the opportunity to not cook dinner at 39 weeks pregnant! We ate at Applebee's, then stopped at Nate's favorite store--the pet store to visit the kitties! Afterward, feeling guilty about skipping my evening let's-get-some-contractions-started-and-maybe-I'll-go-into-labor walk, I insisted that we take a stroll. We walked around the plaza, window shopping and chatting. It was hot outside, and [as usual] I did start contracting a little bit. But, as usual, they stopped as soon as I stopped walking and got into the car.
We came home, got Nate into bed, and watched a bit of television. We went to bed later than normal, and I was glad to finally slide into bed. Then, just in those final moments before sleep came, I felt the baby squirming around. Obviously, I knew the feeling well, but this was particularly noticeable because it was much more movement, very fast, and stronger than normal. I smiled and closed my eyes, thinking that the baby must really be having a party in there tonight. Then, I felt my water break! Just like that, no contractions, no tricks, no medical interventions, nothing at all. Just a little pop, and I was in labor--and my body was doing it all on its own! More importantly, I was having a baby very soon! It was hard to rest with the adrenaline pumping through my body, then by the time I'd relaxed enough to rest, the contractions were getting too strong to sleep. Eventually, I was able to fitfully doze off for a couple of hours, waking every few minutes to drowsily time contractions, but falling asleep before the next one began. By the time the sun began to rise on August 11, I was up out of bed and ready for our family of three to become a family of four!
Continue reading Levi's birth story here....

Teething Tips.

I've had several people ask about Levi's new "bling" recently, so I thought I might as well write up a blog entry about it. And, then I figured, hey, while I'm at it, I'll do a whole post about teething! I am by no means an expert on the subject matter, but I've gone through this with two babies, so I've got a few tips to share. And, as parents, we can all use all the help with teething babies we can get, yes? I will preface my post with this little gem that I came across.... (Pretty accurate, in my opinion!)

Levi is presently in the throws of Stage 3, and he's not happy about it! As any parent can attest, molars take forever to completely erupt. (We've got two partially erupted as of yesterday!) For weeks now, we've been doing all that we can to relieve the pain and discomfort so that we can all enjoy our days (and sleep at night!). This is a list of the teething remedies that I've tried, and a brief description of each. If you've got any more tips of tricks that worked for your child, I've love to hear them!

Hyland's Teething Tablets
These are, by far, my favorite teething product. I've used them for both boys, and have had success every time. Hyland's Teething Tablets are a homeopathic remedy that relieves the symptoms of teething (swelling, etc). They do not numb anything, and they certainly do not contain benzocaine! If you're interested in the ingredients (and their purposes) or about homeopathy, click here. The only time (for either boy) that teething tablets have not been enough to relieve the pain of teething has been at bedtime when the molars are coming in. We absolutely love Hyland's products, and I would recommend teething tablets to anyone with a baby!


Baltic Amber Necklace
This is the most recent addition to my "teething arsenal", and also the one that I've been most questioned about. Yes, my youngest son is wearing a necklace. It's a beaded necklace made of Baltic Amber, which has been used for centuries as a natural pain reliever. When the amber warms upon skin contact, it releases succinic acid, which reduces pain and inflammation in the body. The necklace is not to be chewed on for teething, but rather just worn against the skin. More information here. Levi's necklace was made specifically for young children, and it is knotted between each bead so that in the event of the necklace breaking, only one bead will fall off to reduce the choking risk. It also has a safety clasp so that it will pop open if pulled hard enough--to reduce to likelihood of strangulation.
Since putting on his amber necklace, we have noticed a significant decrease in night wakings. Also, we are still using teething tablets, but only for bedtime. (Before the necklace, we were administering teething tablets around the clock, and ibuprofen at every bedtime.) The amber necklace hasn't eliminated all of the discomfort of teething, but it has helped dramatically.


Food
Food might seem like the most obvious way to reduce teething pain, but it isn't always such. Often times, babies/young children will refuse to eat when their mouths hurt, so mealtimes can become a challenge. Purees and other smooth foods can be good since they don't require chewing--and are especially welcome when chilled. On the other hand, babies who enjoy chewing to relieve teething pain can take advantage of mealtimes to gnaw uninterrupted. Cold cut-up fruit is a good choice, as are teething biscuits (We like homemade or Earth's Best).


Frozen Fruit Pops & Smoothies
These, obviously, fall under the category of Food, but since they're such a hit around here, I figured they deserved their own blurb. To avoid the high sugar and dye contents of store-bought popsicles, I make my own for the boys. They're easy to make, and much-loved as treats! Best of all, the cold numbs the painful, swollen gums of a teething baby! Since I use 100% fruit, I have no problem at all allowing the boys each a smoothie each morning for breakfast and/or a popsicle every single evening after dinner. My recipe is simple: throw any mixture of fruit into the blender, blend until smooth, and there you've got a smoothie! Pour it into popsicle molds, and freeze, and you've got popsicles! Easy, huh? If I'm feeling really crazy, sometimes I'll add yogurt, almond milk, or peanut butter into the mix. And, a little top secret parent info? You can blend spinach, kale, and/or avocado into ANY smoothie/popsicle mixture, and you CANNOT taste it (kale has a stronger flavor, so be a little more discerning with it!)! Yes, it will turn your smoothie/popsicle a disqusting-looking shade of green or greenish-brown, but it will still taste sweet and fruity--I promise! Some of our favorite flavors: banana/strawberry/yogurt(spinach/avocado), watermelon/blueberry/strawberry, banana/peach(spinach/avocado), banana/peanut butter/yogurt/almond milk (avocado), mixed berry/banana (spinach/kale). The thinner your smoothie (higher water content), the more solid it will freeze. Popsicles are made best with a smoothie that is about the consistency of a milkshake (bananas and yogurt are both good for thickening smoothies/popsicles).


Sophie the Giraffe
Sophie the Giraffe is a teether, plain and simple. We got it when Nate was a baby, and both boys have enjoyed gnawing on it since. I like Sophie more than other teething products for a number of reasons--first and foremost, Sophie is made of natural rubber and decorated with food-grade paint. It is stimulating for babies to explore (visually appealing, lightweight, and squeaky!), and super cute for parents. I've heard Sophie called "a really expensive doggie chew toy marketed to babies", and I will admit I was skeptical at first. But, after having two babies who are huge Sophie fans (Nate more so than Levi), I will say that Sophie is absolutely worth the money! Another benefit of Sophie is that the different shape (a giraffe!) allows babies to chew with the front OR back gums while teething; many conventional teether shapes aren't really conducive to being chewed in the back of the mouth.

Ibuprofen
This is usually my last choice in teething remedies, simply because I like to avoid medication whenever I can. That being said, if either boy is in pain, and I can't help in any other way, I will not hesitate to give them ibuprofen. We always use the dye-free kind; it's still flavored, just a cloudy white color, rather than fire engine red! Obviously, this is the strongest teething remedy on this list, and it has always worked to give my boys the relief that they need to rest peacefully. Sidenote: The reason that we choose Ibuprofen, (rather than Tylenol) is that Tylenol depletes glutathione in the body. Glutathione removes toxins from the body, and therefore, a shortage can make illnesses last longer (not good for anyone, particularly a grumpy teething baby who is putting all sort of germy things in his mouth to chew!).

Calcium
Since calcium is essential for growing teeth, it is recommended that teething babies' calcium intake is high. A calcium supplement works, but we have found that simply boosting calcium intake is effective as well. Obviously, dairy products are good sources of calcium, and so are almond milk, fortified cereal, and molasses. If you're nursing, increasing your own calcium intake will increase your baby's.


Another teething remedy that I've heard works is diluted lavender oil rubbed along the jawline on the outside of the cheek. You can dilute it in coconut oil or olive oil, and rub on every 15 minutes until the pain subsides. I have not used this method, but have heard that it is very effective. If you've tried it, let me know how it worked!

......................................................................................................................................

One teething remedy that I do NOT use is Orajel or any other gel that contains benzocaine. I wrote a blog about the risks of benzocaine here. There are some teething gels on the market that do not use benzocaine (Orajel Naturals uses clove oil, and Hyland's also carries a gel product), and I have used them occasionally. In my experience, the gels are effective, but not for very long--and most babies aren't fond of the numbing effect (but, nor are they fond of the discomfort of teething!).

Happy Monday!

I'm still THAT mom....

I recently came across this post from over two years ago. It's a blog entry about how much I thought I knew about parenting before I became a momma, and how much I would have judged future me had I seen myself raising my boy beforehand. Interestingly enough, I was pretty spot on with my "prediction" for our parenting of future theoretical Baby #2. We do treat him a little differently than we did/do our oldest, but not necessarily because we made mistakes or did things wrong the first time around. We do things differently because he's a different person. (On the other hand, because we're the same old parents, we do a whole lot of things the same old way!)
The things that we do differently with Levi are indeed things that some people might consider our "mistakes" with our first child--co-sleeping and pacifier use are the two biggies that come to mind. Nathaniel slept in our bed until he was almost two years old, and he used a pacifier until he was about 18 months. I don't consider either of those decisions to have been mistakes, and I don't regret that we did either one of them with Nate. Nor do I regret that we don't co-sleep or use a pacifier with Levi! The reasons that we did/didn't do those things with our sons are simple; we did what was best for each boy. Nate needed to be close to us, and he used the pacifier to soothe himself. Levi wanted his own space, and he had no interest in a pacifier. We gave both boys the same options, and they both made their own decisions. They're different people, and will make different decisions for rest of their lives; why were we surprised that they started being different as infants?
On the other hand, there are many ways in which my boys are very similar. And, as far as making "mistakes" as a momma--well, I think that mistakes aren't necessarily a bad thing. (How else would we learn?) But, on that same note, your mistakes might not be mine--and vice versa. I rocked Nate the sleep for every single nap until I was too pregnant to hold him comfortably in the glider. Mistake? Some would say so. But, for us, it was not a mistake at all. I have never regretted that I did that, and he had no problems transitioning. I absolutely still rock Levi to sleep for his naps and bedtime now, and it's not a mistake at all. Both of my boys can/could put themselves to sleep alone...but, they'll have years to do that; why shouldn't I enjoy the rocking and snuggles while I still can?
There are lots of other things that I do as a momma that I'm sure lots of people would judge and whisper about. So what? I'm doing the best that I can for our family, and I'm not hearing any complaints from my boys! (Yet!) Being a parent is hard work, and there isn't any textbook answer for raising good children. Every single momma is different, which is a good thing because every single baby is different too! I studied a bit about the Nature Vs. Nurture Effect while I was in college, and always tended to lean a little bit more on the Nurture side of the spectrum. Now that I've had two [very different] babies, I understand the Nature argument a little more. Clearly, there is no real "answer" to the debate, but it's an interesting concept.
As a mother, I love comparing my boys to one another, particularly at similar ages. I don't do it to see who's ahead or behind, but rather just to see how they're different and the same. My precious boys are opposites in so many ways, but I love how they both fit perfectly together into our family. We never knew it before, but these are the exact two little boys that our hearts were missing before they came along! And, even though our parenting might be spotted with "mistakes" here and there, our boys are growing up to be super, awesome little guys!

That bed hoggin' monkey....

Can't help but feel a little sorry for this fella when his monkey bullies him into sleeping squished in the corner like this, can ya?

A Mother's Love...

Eric and I stood in front of our church family today, and we dedicated our boys to the Lord. We promised to raise them in a Christian household, to teach them about Jesus, and to serve Christ through our jobs as parents. We promised to do all of the things that we've planned to do since we became parents--but this time, we promised in front of a lot of people, and more importantly, in front of God. This dedication is something that we'd *meant* to do for months after Nate was born. And after a little over a year, we figured we might as well wait a few more months to make a family of four event. So now, nine months after our little Levi joined the family, we have finally done it. We've publically dedicated both of our boys back to the Lord. A baby dedication is not a baptism or a guarantee, but rather a vow (on the parents' part) to train up our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).
I have been reading about Samuel's mother, Hannah, recently (1 Samuel 1&2). Hannah's willingness to very literally give her child back to the Lord convicted me a bit. If she was willing and able to give Samuel, who was the very desire of her heart--her son!--back to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:28), I should be willing to do the same. No, I'm not taking my boys to church to live there and be little assistants to the pastor in a modern day version of Hannah's Samuel. Why? Because that's not what the Lord has asked of me. But, if he does, I should be willing to let them go. These sweet boys of mine who are the most precious things in the world to me are not entirely mine. They belong first to the Lord, and then to Eric and me.

Our children are precious to us. They are the most important gifts that we'll ever receive, second only to our salvation through Jesus Christ. I once read a blog entry that discussed idols in today's world, and it really made me think. It seems that we often bypass the second and third commandments because they're the ones that we're sure we don't violate--no other gods before Him? Easy peasy; I've never even seen a golden calf statue, let alone considered bowing down before one! But, the gods of today's world are different from those of the Old Testament--or are they? An idol can be anything that we love more than God. Anything. Money? Friends? Material possessions? Our own children?!
Now, hold it right there--our kids can be our "gods before" HIM?! Yup. Anything we love more than God. Anything. That aforementioned blog entry discussed how children are the only idol that is commonly "acceptable" in the modern church. And, by "acceptable", I'm not talking about acceptable to God, but rather "acceptable" to us, the sinful humans. And, that's just not cool. God has made it very clear that we are to have NO other gods before Him--not even our beautiful babies, who are precious gifts from Him. We love our children very much, but we must be careful that the love we have for them does not overshadow the love for our Saviour. I'm not saying that you necessarily need to love your children any less, but rather that perhaps you should examine your relationship with your Creator. Are you giving Him all of your heart AND soul AND mind?
As parents, our jobs are huge and busy and never-ending. But, there is only one way that we're going to be the parents that HE designed us to be, and that is by putting Christ first in our lives. Strength for those sleepless nights? Patience with the toddler's tantrums? Wisdom during the scary teenage years? There is NOTHING that our God cannot handle, and with His help ANYTHING is possible! We were designed to praise, honor, and worship Him in all that we do--even me as a stay-at-home mommy. It is my job to show my boys what a real relationship with Christ is, and, oh what a job! The best (and only!) way to do that is to demonstrate it in my own life. As many hopes and dreams as I have for my two little ones, I have only one real desire for them--that they both grow up to be godly men who have a strong faith in the Lord. I want their relationship with Christ to shine so brightly from their lives that it easily overshadows anything else. Sure, I want them to grow up into happy and successful men who have everything they've ever wanted--but more than that, "I [will] have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth" (3 John 4).

Happy Mother's Day!!

Letter to my Second Baby.

My Dearest Levi,
I want to take a moment now and let you know how much you are loved--and, Honey, it is so much! There are times that I wonder if worry about how you might feel left out in the future because you are Child #2. You are the youngest--and, someday, you might even be the Middle Child. I don't know what it's like to be a second child, and nor does your daddy. (If you want someone who understands, I know a few uncles and aunts who have some experience in that area!) But, no matter what the stereotype, you are very special to me. Being a mom to two kids is a little more challenging and a lot more busy--but I would never, ever trade either of you for the world! I'm sorry that I don't keep your baby book updated (or even this blog!) or spend as much one-on-one time with you as I'd like. Caring for two kids keeps me busy (in a good way!), and I'll even go as far as to say that I was bored very often when Nate was my only child (even though I didn't know it then!).
You, my darling second child, are the most amazing little fellow! You are sweet and easy-going, not to mention so stinkin' adorable that I can hardly stand it! Your big personality is shining already, and I can't help but smile every time I see you (even when I'm plucking pieces of dog food from your mouth!). Your chubby little thighs and your six perfect little teeth make me swoon. You are the happiest baby--constantly smiling, and your big belly laugh is the best sound in the world. You absolutely adore your big brother--which only makes me love you both more!
As a mom to two young children, it seems that I am constantly feeling as though I've abandoned one of you in favor of the other. That's simply not true; it just feels like it. Since you're both of the ages that you needs lots and lots of attention and time, I am constantly on my toes while caring for you. And, I'll admit that I love it! I love you both, and I love being your momma! You, my boys, are the hardest job that I've ever encountered, but also, by far, the most rewarding. I hope that you never feel that I (or your Daddy) favor one of you over the other, but rather know how incredibly much we love both of you. That being said, yes, your big brother is older, and I'm sure that there will be lots of times that he is allowed to do something that you're not. Unfair? Maybe, but he's got 103 weeks on you, my little one!
I love to the moon and back, my precious Levi!

XOXOXOXOXOX,
Momma

PS-If you're feeling like I'm not paying enough attention to you, it's not really necessary to eat a wilted cactus flower that you may find on the floor. Sure, you'll get my attention--and, it will even warrant my very first call to Poison Control! But, again, it's not really necessary for my attention. Your high pitched shrieking will do just fine in the future when you need me. Please? And, thank you!

A romper: then and now.

There are simply no words to describe the way that I love these two baby boys (even though one of them is a whole lot bigger nowadays!)....



Nor can words describe my deep afinity for little boy rompers!

Nate, May 2011; Levi, April 2013

Blessed to be Sleepy.

Between the never-ending teething, stuffy noses, sharp little fingernails, gassy tummies, RSV, learning to roll over, and just plain being hungry, Levi hasn't slept well in, oh, about 3 months. And, that means, in turn, that I haven't slept well in at least that long. (Come to think of it, my last solid 8 hours of sleep probably occurred in the spring of 2012?) I'll admit, some nights are better than others--occasionally, Levi only wakes up once during the night to eat. Those blessed nights are when he has no new teeth bothering his sore little gums. And, since we have been graced by the addition of two new teeth within the last four days, the past week and a half has been sorely lacking in the sleep department for me.
If you know me well, you are very familiar with the fact that I don't function well without at least a little decent sleep. Getting up every one or two or three hours all night long doesn't make for a very cheery momma in the morning. (And, we won't even talk about my mood at 3am when I'm awake again after only 45 minutes of sleep since the last wake up call!)
But, last night, I realized something as I was sliding beneath the sheets at 4:30am, crossing my fingers that the snuffling and tossing in the pack 'n play across the room only meant that he was settling down to sleep for a nice long stretch. I was reminded that I am so very blessed to have this opportunity to be a momma. And, the honor of being his momma is not something that I'd trade for anything in the world--not even a full night's sleep! Waking up every few hours to tend to my grumpy little one is part of being his mother, and I do love it. I love the sleepy snuggles and the midnight smiles and the quiet nursing sessions. I love the peace and comfort that I can bring to him, and I love that he wants only me. I love the weight of his body in my arms, his sweet milky breath, and his soft little head on my shoulder. Yeah, sure, I do love my sleep, but oh, I love this special time with my littlest one even more! I know that these sleepless nights are truly short--no matter how they feel now, and I know that maybe, just maybe someday I'll miss waking up four times a night to tend to my baby.
Besides, who can stay crabby when you wake up to this face?!

6 months.

Levi is six months old already! (Holy smokes, when did that happen?!) He has a such fun little personality, and I love getting to know him a little more every day. He laughs at everything, "talks" back to us, and reaches for everything! He is so silly already, and loves to make us laugh!

And, of course, anything he can get his hands on goes straight into his mouth!
He is still content to play in his baby gym for short periods, but prefers to be on his tummy. When he's on his tummy, he scoots himself backwards--eventually too far away to reach any of his toys, and he does not like that! He loves to roll from his belly to his back, but gets frustrated when he tries to roll back over (he's done it a handful of times, but usually can't remember how!). Levi is learning to sit up on his own, and he's doing well. He can keep his balance for a minute or two, but usually topples over when he lunges his body toward a toy that is always just out of reach!

Levi's favorite toy is is grasping caterpillar toy that we gave him for Christmas. He also loves rattles, balls, Sophie the giraffe, and his stuffed tiger. As always, his very favorite form of entertainment comes in the form of his big brother. No matter who is in the room, Levi always keeps an eye on Nate! And, no matter what his mood, a tickle or silly voice from Nate always results in big smiles!

Levi is a great sleeper now. He goes to bed around 8pm, and usually doesnt get up for the day until 8 or 9am. He does wake up at least once/night to eat, sometimes more often when he's teething. He takes three naps daily--a short morning nap, a long afternoon nap, and a short evening nap.

My little guy has three teeth already! He has two on the bottom, and one on the top left side. Despite more frequent night wakings, he's been a champ through teething so far. He's not been fussy or crabby; he just chews on his fingers a little more!

We let Levi start pureed foods about a week and a half ago because he seemed to be ready. And, he certainly was ready! So far, he's eaten both avocado and butternut squash. Both were a hit, but the avocado seemed to be his favorite. Until I added a sprinkle of cinnamon to his squash today--he LOVED it, and gobbled down every little drop!

First foods: AVOCADO!

Since Levi is almost 6 months old, reaches eagerly for food, and almost always imitates us chewing, we decided to let him start on some food of his own. Like Nathaniel, we fed Levi mashed avocado for his first food. And, after a few initial funny faces, Levi eagerly finished his entire bowl! He even yelled for more every time I was too slow getting the next bite into his mouth! (Nate, of course, was much quicker to help feed his baby brother!)

Wordless Wednesday.

What I'm in love with.... (photo edition!)

These chubby little baby feet:

Big brother tickling his toes:

This laugh:

Storytime with Daddy:

Art:

Simple faith and prayers:

Hey, teeth!

Guess who's got a new tooth? But, wait, guess who's go TWO new teeth! This little guy right here! Tooth #1 popped through the gum two days ago, and #2 followed suit this morning! That's a new tooth every other day in 2013 so far! If he keeps up this rate, he'll have a full set of teeth before we ever even start on pureed foods!! On a positive note, teething has gone fairly smoothly for him. We had a few fussy nights, but nothing that a little extra nursing and some Hyland's teething tablets couldn't help!

Roll over!

Guess who rolled over all by himself today?? My little Levi! He rolled from his belly to his back. Yay, Big Boy!

Tough days.

Last Friday night, Eric and I took Levi to the Emergency Room because he was wheezing and had labored breathing. They treated him with a breathing treatment, x-rayed his lungs, prescribed him steroids, and sent us home. Within 24 hours, we were back at the ER with a very sick baby boy. Levi was having even more trouble breathing, and he was admitted to the hospital.

Throughout the whole ordeal, my boy was a trooper. Despite being poked and prodded, he smiled at every nurse, doctor, and respiratory therapist who entered our room. His high spirits were the only thing that seemed to keep me going. I know that our ordeal was brief (only 2 days), but it was hard. (I slept a total of 6 hours, during a 72 hour stretch!) I've never liked the hospital (who does?), but I never imagined how much more miserable seeing my child as a patient could make it.

I watched my baby struggle to breathe. I watched people poke needles into his tender skin. I watched him fight his own exhaustion in an unfamiliar environment. I watched his oxygen levels drop too low, and watched a nurse hurry to fix them. I watched his oxygen monitor while he slept, begging it not to fall below 92%.

I sat in an uncomfortable chair, 2 days before Christmas, and held my boy. With cords tangled in my lap, a too-big gown falling off of his body in the chilly room, and alarms on his monitors beeping, I cried and I prayed. Around the clock, people entered our room to administer breathing treatments, inject medicine into his IV, and check his lungs. We were both exhausted. But, he smiled. Through it all, he smiled at me, and I knew that he would be okay. I knew that the resuscitation instructions taped next to his bed wouldn't be necessary, and I knew that we would go home soon.

Sitting in that hospital room, my priorities changed. Christmas preparations that had been on my to-do lists for weeks suddenly didn't matter. All I wanted was for my baby to be well, and for us to go home to be with family. (Nate wasn't allowed in the pediatric unit, and we didn't see each other at all during Levi's hospital stay--the longest time that we've ever been apart.) I realized that our family Christmas doesn't need anything but family.

Thankfully, Levi improved quickly, and we were able to come home on Christmas Eve. I felt peace, and I know that it came from the many prayers that were lifted on our behalf. When we got home, I didn't have any Christmas cookies made, our presents weren't all wrapped, the house wasn't "ready", we were missing my favorite church service, and I was more than exhausted. But, it was okay. I felt at peace, and knew that our Christmas would be wonderful simply because we were together.

And, not only was it wonderful, it was overwhelmingly perfect! We were shown so much love by so many family members--someone brought us Christmas Eve dinner, someone else brought us dozens of cookies, and more than one someone offered to host Christmas for us and do anything else that we needed. As it turned out, we went ahead and hosted Christmas (much to my unprepared OCD-personality's chagrin!). Our family came, and it was perfect. I didn't feel stressed or worried; I felt comfortable, peaceful and loved. My babies were with me, my family surrounded me, and our prayers were answered. Merry 1st Christmas, Little Levi!

Woah, sleep!

Guess what, Everyone?! My baby boy slept last night from 8pm until 5:30am!!! And, he only woke up to eat at 5:30, then he went back to sleep.....it's 8:45am right now, and he's still asleep!! Ahh, it's been a good night of rest! There was a point at which we were down to one single nightly feeding (usually around 3 or 4), but for the past two weeks, that was a thing of the past. I felt like I had a newborn again--Levi was up every two or three hours All. Night. Long. This "4 Month Wakeful Period" has something to do with the baby becoming more aware of his surroundings and wanting to be awake as to not miss anything. And, that's all good and well--except that I promised him he's not missing anything in our house at 3am! (No matter how many times I told him, he just wouldn't believe me!) Anyway, over the past few nights, we've had less nightly wake-ups--but last night was the very longest stretch that he's ever slept! And, this momma is proud (not to mention very well-rested!).
Since he's outgrown his colicky evenings, Levi has been a great sleeper. (Thanks, no doubt, to a couple of very special little girls' bedtime prayers from down the street!) I've no complaints about multiple middle-of-the-night feedings (he's not even 4 months old yet!), as long as he goes back to sleep immediately afterwards (and he always does). But, the ecstacy that one experiences when a baby sleeps for a long stretch like Levi did last night, well that's something that only a momma can understand!

Yay little Levi!! And, from the bottom of my heart, I most sincerely thank you.

Christmas Photo Fail.

I dressed the boys in their cute little coordinating outfits, popped them in the glider, and attempted to get a few decent shots. Maybe, just maybe, one of them would be Christmas card worthy!


....or maybe not!

In Nate's words, "UH-OH!"