It's all about the little things!

Oh, the things we (parents) get excited about!

It never ceases to amaze me how excited I can get about something that at some point in my life would have seemed completely un-exciting and meaning-less. This week I experienced such an event...

Just for some background - I mentioned in my 5 month update that Colin has been wanting to eat more often that I think he should need to for his age. I would always feed him because there was no other way to appease him and obviously I would NOT let my baby go hungry. It was very exhausting to nurse him every 1.5-2 hours and I can't say that it never made me frustrated but that is just the way things were.

Well, this week I found a pacifier (a NUK to be exact) that I bought when Colin was a newborn. At the time that I bought it, he HATED it and gagged on it. It was too big for his mouth and the only one he could use was the preemie one from the NICU. Well, I forgot about this pacifier until this past week when I found it while going through some of Colin's things. I figured it was worth another try and guess what!?! He LOVES it! L.O.V.E.S. it!!!

I could honestly not be more excited about this. He has turned into a different baby since my little (big) discovery. He has been waiting 3 hours (and sometimes more) in between meals and another HUGE change that we have noticed is the fact that his social anxieties have improved.

He still gets nervous around people he doesn't know but he doesn't cry like he did before and he has actually let other people (besides me) hold him! HUGE change.

One other change is that he has not cried in the car since he started using this paci. He used to cry in the car every. single. time. It was torture. He would cry (or scream) from the second I strapped him in until the second I took him out. Well, no more!! I don't think I have ever loved an object as much as I love that pacifier.

So, that is my excitement for the week. If you are a parent then you probably understand why I am so excited and if not, then you probably think I'm crazy. Just wait, if you ever have kids, you WILL understand...

Adventures in Cloth Diapering!

 New Adventures in Cloth Diapering....

Let me just start off by saying I NEVER considered using cloth diapers before. As in, the thought never ever EVER crossed my mind. I honestly don't even know what made me decide to start off on this new adventure in the first place but now that I have I am hooked. I spent the same amount of money to get started as I would normally spend on diapers for just one month - and Colin will be able to wear the same diapers for a very long time. I am beyond excited at the prospect at saving money and there are many other benefits of using cloth also.

Colin has very sensitive skin and has been getting diaper rashes since he was just a couple of weeks old. I haven't used regular wipes in a while now because of it (I've been making my own using Viva paper towels and baby wash/baby oil mixture). The homemade wipes were helping but he was still having some problems. Since we started using cloth (officially a week and a half ago), he has not had a rash yet. That is until I switched back to sposies for a day because we were planning on being out most of the day. Thankfully his rash has cleared up and we are back to cloth!

One of the other HUGE bonuses to using cloth is the fact that we have not had any leaks. NOT ONE LEAK!! This is a HUGE deal!! Colin has what we like to call "poopsplosions" and in disposables he would leak out of his diaper every single time. It was always tons of fun when we were out of the house and he started leaking onto his (and sometimes my) outfit.... <--- NOT!!! Since we started using cloth diapers he has not messed up any outfits at all. I wasn't even aware of this bonus when we started using but I'll take it!!

Well, now that I've talked about the diapers, let me show them to you. They're pretty adorable if I do say so myself!!

Here is part of my stash :)

This shows how adjustable the diapers are. They fit from 7-35 pounds!

This is Colin's nighttime diaper. He never makes it through the night in a disposable diaper. He always wets out if I don't change him midway through the night. This diaper gets him through 12+ hours. Yes!

So, there you have it! I am still learning but I am loving it so far!!

Photoexplosion!

I just took a bunch of pictures of Colin in his new partially decorated room and I just had to make a whole new post to show them off. I know I'm pretty biased but I think he's stinkin' adorable! So get ready for a photoexplosion!!!

I think he likes the pictures I painted for him

baby toesies!

his eyes are killer :)

Nursery Update!

Making Progress on the Nursery.... Finally!

Now that Colin is 5 months old I figured it was time to work on his room! Normally the nursery is decorated during the pregnancy but obviously that wasn't ever an option for me so I had to wait until now. It isn't finished yet but it's on it's way and I LOVE how it's turning out!!

So, here you go!!!

Before - There was stuff everywhere and the room had never been painted

Building the crib!!

This is the first time he layed in his new bed (he hasn't slept in it yet but will soon)

20x20 canvases that I custom painted to go over his crib. Can you guess what the theme is?

These are the animals that I made for Colin's mobile. I made my own patterns and everything.

Colin's collage! Still need to re-cover the cusions for the rocking chair.

I always sing "You are my Sunshine" to Colin so I made him that sign on Photoshop. Aidan pained the giraffe.

Another one of my Photoshop creations. I love how this one turned out!

Another painting by Aidan. The picture on the end is actually of Aidan but I am going to replace it with Colin's newborn foot prints.

I think he likes his canvases! He still looks so tiny in his crib.

Well, that's all for now. I still need to get material for the rocking chair cushions, window treatments, and throw pillows but the material is already picked out for everything. I'd love to find a cute round rug for the room but I haven't seen what I'm looking for yet. I'll add more pictures as I make progress! Thanks for looking!!

 

Beach day!!!

Today we went to the beach for the first time since Colin was born. He did so awesome!! He loved looking at all of the sights he seemed to like it when I put his little toesies in the sand and water. I have a feeling he's going to be a little water baby for sure!

Aidan had a great time as usual too. I'm hoping to go to the beach much more often this year. We went in with my parents and bought a 10 x 10 canopy so we can get some relief from the son and that should make going to the beach much enticing with the baby.

Alex and I got sunburned pretty badly although his is MUCH worse than mine. I'm not looking forward to the next couple of days! Aidan of course just turned a darker shade of brown. He's always been my little brown bear... Photobomb time!! I know you're excited! :)

Little tiny toes :)

first time putting his feet in the ocean

Aidan and a couple of the girls

the aftermath... yikes! the back of my legs was even worse believe it or not...

5 Month Update...

Happy 5 Months baby boy!

Has it really been FIVE months already!?! It is hard to believe how quickly times passes once you have kids. It is truely gone in an instant. I love watching Colin grow and change but there are definitely times I wish that I could stop the clock and enjoy these little baby moments just a bit longer. Colin is getting such a personality! Just over the last two weeks he has developed so much and is really becoming his own little person.

He weighs 13.5 lbs now and is 24 inches tall and is still wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes. He looks like a little mini baby next to all of the babies his age but I know that is because he was 6 weeks early. He'll grow! He is eating every 2-3 hours although it seems that lately he would just like to nurse ALL.THE.TIME. I admit it does get very exhausting but it's only for a season. We haven't started any baby food yet and I'll admit I'm not in a big hurry. I plan to start some when he is 6 months old though so not too much longer!

Let's see.... since he turned 4 months old, Colin has learned to roll over from his back to his tummy, he can sit up unassisted for quite a while and he has just recently started getting up on his hands and knees. I'll have to say though that the cutest thing he started doing this month was laughing. It is definitely one of the cutest things I have ever seen. He laughs so hard and so long that he ends up with hiccups! Adorable!! He also has learned a new "trick". If we tap our fingers on his mouth he immediately starts "talking" so that it makes a funny noise. It took him just a couple of days to figure it out and now he does it every time without fail. Such a smart little baby.

Aidan is just being a crazy little boy as usual! He LOVES his brother still and is constantly in his face trying to give him kisses. I feel like half of my day is spent telling him to give Colin some space. I told him to pretend that Colin is in a bubble and we can't pop it. "Don't pop the bubble Aidan!" is the reminder that I often tell him and although he does back off, he only remembers for about 2 minutes... *Sigh*

Aidan also informed me that he has a new girlfriend now. She is one of my sister's friends and is 15 years old. I guess he likes older women :) Silly boy...

As for me, well I finally decided to go see the doctor about all of the issues I am still having (i.e. nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety attacks, etc.) because it has continued to get much worse. I can't remember the last night that I slept and didn't have a nightmare. It's awful and I'm tired all the time. Anyway, I did make myself go finally because I know that I'm not going to be able to function and care for my family if I keep going on like this. He diagnosed me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from my very awful pregnancy, hospitalization etc. I'm not glad that I have PTSD but I am thankful to have a diagnosis at least because I was beginning to think I was crazy! I have started excercising regularly again and am also doing other things to help with the PTSD because I am more than ready to feel like me again. I'm sure Alex will appreciate when I'm back to normal also. Poor guy! I'm glad he meant our wedding vows when he said them because we have definitely been tested in the "in sickness and in health" department this past year. I'm so thankful for him!

So that is all of the updates for now! Get ready for a gazillion pictures!!

I love this silly boy! He was giggling and couldn't keep his eyes open ;)

passed out on mommy's bed

He makes this face and he can get whatever he wants <3

just another Saturday morning with my boys

yay! Smiles from both of them at once!!

This boy wants to move!