My new loves

I love...
when Connor falls asleep so peacefully in my arms... no paci necessary


when my hubby gives Connor a bath & Connor is full of smiles with each splash


when my hubby asks "do you have any of my black undershirts clean?" & I'm able to respond... "yes i do!... just not folded"... who would of thought that just getting clothes washed, not even folded would make me feel so accomplished


when I see my parents, dereks parents & dereks grandma light up when they hold Connor


diaper changes... weird? Maybe... but a dirty diaper means a healthy baby & successful breastfeeding! Plus Connor loves getting his diaper changed & is full of smiles during them


knowing that in 3 short days my hubby will be off for 2 MONTHS!


my house. I am so thankful for a roof over my head, comfy couch, toys for Connor to play with, a nice pool & fresh new flowers in the backyard. 


when Connor smiles in his sleep.


that I get to stay home with my baby everyday... while also knowing that I am lucky enough to be able to go back to school in the fall & finish my masters!

GROWING UP SO FAST

2 months old

Connor Jackson,

It is amazing to get to watch you grow, change and discover something new everyday. I feel so blessed to get to be your mama. You are an amazingly happy boy full of giggles, smiles, coo's and caa's. 

We visited the doctor several times this month so we got to see how you grew

11 lbs 1 oz. (4-15-12)

11 lbs 7oz (4-20-12)

12 lbs 4oz and are 24in long (4-30-12)

 At two months old, your hair is light blonde on the top with a brown section wrapping around the back. You have big, dark blue eyes and light eyelashes that are growing everyday. You have the cutest little ears, long fingers & long toes. Your belly is growing & your legs are getting chunky. This month you have developed some rolls on your little legs that I just love. 

 You're wearing mainly 0-3 month clothes, still fitting some newborn sizes and all your footy night sleepers are 3 months, since you're so long! Your diapers are size 1 and speaking of diapers, you still go through about 8-10 A DAY!

You have discovered your hands and wow are they cool. They go in your month, move in the air and even help you put your paci back in when it falls out. However, you like to keep your hands in a fist, but now and then you'll spread those fingers & they'll find your mouth. Play time is your favorite. You got a new play mat this month and you just stare in amazement at the musical cat and all the pretty colors. You also love it because you can swing those arms and hit all your toys. Bouncy seat is still your best friend (and mine!)You love car rides, bath time, walks to get the mail, naps in mommy arm or on my chest & hanging in the Moby wrap. Your able to put weight on your legs for and even hold your head up high with the help of mommy and daddy. You're not a big fan of tummy time and you usually get frustrated after just a few minutes.

Not only have you grown physically, your personality has grown even more. You are so alert and attentive. You have long periods when your awake where you smile, play and giggle. This month you have started to understand when mama and daddy talk to you. You smile when we smile, move your head back and forth as we move through the room and love looking around the house, store, or on a walk.

 You've had lots of 1st this month including your first trip to a public place, which was Lowes. Your first time at a restaurant, Bj's. Your first vacation, Chester for 2 days. You also stayed with Nonni & Pop for the first time and then with Grandma, Gigi and Kate another day. You also had a few nights where you'd sleep for 4 or 5 hours straight!

As you can see from your photo-shoot above, it took place over several hours and 3 diaper changes... first your in jeans, then just a one-sie then brown sweats. You usually smile so big for mommy when she takes pictures, but this month you weren't too sure how you felt about being in a basket on the floor. I think the pictures are adorable and really capture your big eyes, chubby cheeks and perfect little body!

Baby boy, you have brought us more joy, laughter & amazement in the last 2 months than I have ever experienced in my 24 years of life. I truly believe God planned for you to be our baby boy and for us to be your parents. We love you, care so much about you and are so excited to see you grow... but not to fast!

Happy 2 months old Connor Jackson Russell!

love, mommy & daddy

Happy Birthday Mama!

Well her birthday isn't until Friday but we celebrated early by surprising her with a limo & wine tasting! It was such a fun day, even though I was away from my little man for the first time for more than 30 minutes! I left the house kinda sad but had so much fun once we got in the limo & started tasting all the yummy wine! I remained a responsible mama by only sipping most of the wine than passing it off to Derek... he loved that idea at the time, however when he was than hungover at 9pm I'm sure he wished he hadn't drank for the both of us :) 

The day was full of laughs, smiles, amazing views and fun memories we will talk about forever. It even involved pumping in a public bathroom for the 1st time. Oh the joys of being a mama! Grandma, GiGi & Kate all watched Connor & were so nice to spend me many pictures & even a video of Connor throughout the day! 

Although I loved every minute of our fun day away, I sure LOVED the second I walked in the door & saw my smiling baby boy! 

 

New Normal

Welcome to the new normal. My life officially revolves around this little one, in a great way. He is my world from the moment he coo's and caa's in the morning with a smile on his face, to the moment I lay him in bed to sleep for the night...well more like 3 hours, then he's awake again for a feeding :)

I rarely put him down, I rarely let him cry, & I always make sure he knows his mama loves him. I dont believe its called spoiling, I believe its called love. After all I held him for 41 weeks inside of me, of course Im going to hold him for his first 8 weeks of life. I think because of our awesome parenting skills, Connor is a HAPPY, HAPPY baby!

Dont worry, he stills get lots of tummy time & lays on his new play gym mat, which he loves too!

Look who is 1 month old!

Connor's 1st month

.... 10 days late

When I was pregnant I remember thinking how much I wanted to blog at least three times a week to remember all the precious moments of my baby growing. Well, not only have I not blogged three times a week, I haven't managed to blog three times this whole month! I started working on several smaller posts but decided to do one big post about my baby's first month of life.

Parenthood has been the most amazing adventure I have ever embarked on. I knew that I would love that baby growing in my belly but getting to see him grow and change each day in my arms is indescribable. Seeing Derek as a dad melts my heart. Derek is so naturally comfortable when it comes to Connor and being a dad. Its like he just know's what his baby needs.

Dear Baby boy,

You have light brown hair, light eyelashes and light eyebrows. You have big blue eyes and a cute pudgy nose. There is something about your ears that I just love. They are so small & perfect. Your arms and legs are long and your fingers are long and skinny. His skin is so smooth and once the jaundice cleared up, his skin became a beautiful color. At just a few weeks old, you became so strong, holding your head up for a few seconds and stretching your legs out trying to stand. You love to hold on to mama's finger while she feeds you... which melts my heart.

At birth you weighted 7lbs 13oz

On Friday, March 2nd you weighted 6lbs 14oz

After our 24 hour stay in the nursery you weighted 7lbs 4oz

At his 2 week check up on March 14 you weighted 8lbs 3oz

At 1 month, I am guessing you weight at least 9lbs!

You wear Newborn clothes, size Newborn diapers and tiny tiny socks that don't stay on your feet.

You like to be swaddled, but your arms MUST be out. If not you make it clear that you want them out. I don't blame you... you were crammed for over 9 months in mama belly. You also love your hands right by your face, especially when you sleep.

At one month old, we have "somewhat" of a sleep schedule. Although the times vary each night, you eat every 3 hours for the most part. Most feedings you fall asleep eating and Mommy puts you back in your bed after burping you. Of course there were (and still are) nights where it's every hour and half, leaving Mommy only 45 minutes of sleep in between. I wish I could say you sleep sound in your bassinet, but you don't. Some nights you do but many nights I lay you in there and you cry. Once I quickly move you into your bouncy seat, you fall fast asleep... At 3am... the bouncy seat wins!

I gave in to the pressure (not really pressure more like a nurse at the hospital) and you use a Paci, which you LOVE it. However I like to only give it to you when nothing else works or if I need to slip in my 5 minute shower :)

You love bath time. You just lay there & stare at me while I clean you all up. You don't like when I turn off the water so mommy has to go fast to try you and get your clothes on.

You love sleeping on mommy's chest. Most evenings after eating you fall asleep for hours on me while daddy and I watch our shows. It my favorite time of the day. I've also learned to multi-task durning this time. I just can't sit you down!

Your first few weeks of life, you had many visitors and so many people brought you gifts and cooked us dinner. Your grandparents, aunties and uncles ADORE you. Whenever Nonni, Grandma, Gigi and Auntie Katelyn are all together they (subtly) fight over who gets to hold you. How could they not? You are that perfect! I know that if they come up that means I won't get to hold you for a few hours, luckily I always get to steel you away to eat!

Your first "holiday" was St. Patricks Day. Daddy had work but we celebrated with nonni and pop before daddy left for work. You had the cutest outfit on!

I am aware that I do not have another baby to compare you too, nor will I ever compare you to anyone, but I must say you are a HAPPY baby. You are full of smiles and giggles, coos and caa's all day long. When you cry, 99% of the time a diaper change and some food calm you right down. I can count with one hand the times that didn't seem to work.

You stare into my eyes and touch every bit of my heart. You have stolen my world and the heart of all of your family. I loved my life before you were born, but life with you in it, is even better!

Baby boy, I cannot believe you are a month old! Now the days just need to slow down so my baby doesn't grow up so quickly.

love, Mama