Four and Five month stats

Well time got away from me because three kids is some serious business. 

Weight: around 18 pounds

Likes: being held, clapping hands, attention, being naked and swinging 

Dislikes: riding in the car, loud noises and sisters that smother him

What you are doing: smiling, laughing, babbling, pushing up and rolling over. 

Working on: sitting up

Luke, you are my special buddy for sure. If I held you all day you would be the happiest babe in the world. We sure do love you. 

Three month stats

 

Weight: 15.8 lbs

Eating:  5 oz every 2-3 hours. We switched fully to soy formula between weeks 8 and 9. 

Sleeping: weeks 9 and 10 were Still really tough and you didn't sleep much. Week 11 brought great change. You settled into and napping routine and at night only woke twice in a 12 hour period. Hip hip hooray!

Likes: baths, being naked, clapping hands and talking to people. 

Dislikes: pooping, riding in the car and loud noises

Weeks 9 and 10 were still filled with the screams and discomfort of colic but once we got the probiotic going daily I saw a difference over night. I feel like we are settling into a good groove. 

Week 9

Week 10

I just let you sleep however you will sleep. We are both exhausted. 

Week 11

Finally seeing a change and getting to be happy. 

Week 12

Sleeping on the go. Love those sweet, chunky cheeks!  

I am so glad we have come through on the other side of colic. It was tough and I am so ready to sleep and have fun. We have nicknamed you "chunk nugget" and sing silly songs to you. You think it's pretty funny. 

Two Month Stats

 

Weight: 13lbs 14oz

Height: ---- 

Eating: 5 ounces every 2-3 hours. Still breast milk and formula. 

Likes: baths, swinging, being naked and the car....if it's moving

Dislikes: the car....when it stops, sleeping, loud noises (I.e. Isaiah and Isabella), pooping and changing clothes

Sleeping: not so much!  Naps are short and few. At night you are up every two hours. 

Outings: we are back in full swing so you go everywhere we have to go. Gymnastics, tball, church, play dates, grocery store, doctor appointments, etc

Travel:  first road trip to Nashville to meet Aunt Ash and Uncle Nick. You were great in the car but you pretty much cried the whole time we were there. I'm pretty sure you offered up a hefty dose of birth control. Hahahaha!

Colic is a tough reality, but it is ours. I sure do love you, but the days are long and the nights are even longer.  I am hoping and praying that this passes at 12 weeks and in the meantime we will be starting probiotics. 

Week 5

These smiles remind me that colic won't last forever 

These two love you so much but I'm pretty sure they stress you out after 6pm. Welcome to crazy, party of 5!

Whatever it takes 

You love a good bath

Ahhhh sleep!  

 

Week 6

Tummy time

Superheroes make great big brothers. 

The struggle is real. 

Baby wearing is our friend. 

Week 7

Good Friday 

One time you are always really happy is the hour and half we spend together on Mondays and Saturdays while Isaiah does gymnastics. 

Week 8

You love to swing

Zoo days 

I love you!

Newborn Pictures

We did Luke's newborn pictures with the amazing Elizabeth Wiggs. It was quite an experience. Isabella did not want to keep a barrette or headband in her hair. When I would finally get one in she would either pull it out or it would slide right out of her glossy, fine hair. She also did not want to smile for many pictures. We were making all kinds of silly sounds and faces to catch just one moment. Luckily Elizabeth got some great shots. I don't know HOW she did it. I am seriously amazed.

In our family shot Isaiah was literally ON TOP OF ME. He kept pushing in to me and I would lose my balance and fall over. The baby was sliding out of my arms and Isabella just wanted to squirm out of Mike's lap and get to her fruit snacks. Or anything BUT the picture. hahaha

This was actually a pure, sweet, real moment. Isaiah LOVES this baby with ever ounce of his sweet little heart. He wakes up every morning wanting to kiss him and snuggle him. While we were trying to rally Isabella, Isaiah was sitting just enjoying his sweet brother. I told Elizabeth, "forget Isabella let's just get this" hahaha! This was THE SHOT that brought tears to my eyes when I got my proofs back. Warms my heart every time I see it.

Mike and I got in on the action, too.

We sent the rest of the crew home for Luke's solo shots. His poor tummy was a disaster and he pooped on every single swaddle she used on him. When we unswaddled him he would cry and it was hard to get him calm enough to start working with again. He actually did better with the chaos of everyone being there than he did alone while it was quiet. Go figure. Again, she still got some great shots and I just don't know how she did it.

And another for the Bama wall! ROll TIDE Y'ALL!

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH, FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND TALENT! You really worked a miracle this day!

One Month Stats

 

Weight: 9lbs 15oz 

Height: 21 1/4 inches  

Eating: 3 ounces every 2.5-3 hours 

Likes: swaddles, baths, snuggles, mommy, white noise and sleeping

Dislikes: changing diapers and pooping

Sleeping: you are a snoozer. I try to keep you up after your first morning feeding and the one at night before bedtime. The rest of the day you snooze. At night you sleep 3-4 hours between feedings and go right back to sleep in your bassinet. 

Outings: church, cappy and Ebbie's house, jewelry store, grocery store and target, zoo, Harrison's house, a funeral, voting location, doctors office and a couple of restaurants. 

You are such a sweet baby. I love how calm you stay with all the crazy chaos that fills our house. You just snuggle in close to me and go along for the ride. Your brother loves you with such devotion and your sister loves you in her own silly way (Hahahaha). 

I love you!

Luke's BIRTHday

We went in to the hospital on Sunday, January 31 around 830 pm.

 Around 10pm the nurse started my first dose of cytotec. This medicine softens the cervix and can cause contractions. I was a little nervous I wouldn't be getting any sleep that night but luckily for me the contractions were very mild and I slept right through them. I got my second dose at 2am and went back to sleep until 6am when they started the pitocin. I slept again until almost 8 when I got up to brush my teeth, put in contacts and freshen up. At 830am Dr Williams came in to break my water. I was still only dilated 1cm. Within five minutes of my water breaking I dilated to 4.5 cms. Mike and I just hung out and watched episodes of "Suits" while we waited for the real fun to begin. By lunchtime I was dilated to 6cm and I was pretty relaxed. 

Mike offered up hand massages and applied pressure to my pressure points each time I had a contraction and I even worked in a few cat naps. Around 1230 the contractions rapidly got closer and more intense and for the first time in three labor experiences I had back labor. Oh. My. Wow!!!!  That was some crazy stuff. Luke was sunny side up so at 1pm the nurse put me in a position called "the pretzel". And that's exactly what I looked like. A big, fat, fluffy pregnant pretzel!  The first pretzel session on my right side lasted 30 minutes. Then I rolled to my left side and made it through 20 minutes before stuff got REAL!  I called for the nurse at 1:50 and told her it was go time. She had just checked me at 1 and I was only 7-8 centimeters so she wasn't sure but I was!  I wasn't allowed to push until my doctor got there because Isabella came out so fast. At 2pm my doctor came In and I pushed through the first contraction. Head out!  Second contraction came and so did the rest of Luke!  He was born at 2:11pm on February 1, 2016 weighing 9 lbs 2oz. 

We moved up to our mommy baby room about two hours later and the IJ's got to come meet their new brother. Isaiah was so excited and couldn't wait to hold him. Isabella wasn't sure what to think. 

I will be honest, I didn't want to share him too much. Soaking up all the sweet baby snuggles I can get. 

After all our visitors left around 9 that night he got his bath. 

Then we snuggled in for the night. 

Welcome to our family, Luke Michael!  I love you more than you know and can't wait to see how God works in your life