One Year Ago Today...

I couldn't sleep and jumped out of bed at 4:30am to go take the most important test of my life. This test involved no studying, and I didn't even need a sharp pencil or scratch paper. One year ago today, I saw the one word that would change our lives forever....PREGNANT.

The night before I had taken a test with the lines, and we thought we saw a VERY faint line, but we weren't sure so we decided to take a digital test. I remember my hands shaking as I waited for the results. After waiting what felt like 45 minutes, my shaking hands somehow picked up the test and just started crying. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I was trying so hard not to be too loud with my tears of joy. I didn't want to wake Chris up yet. I had planned something special to tell him the news. I really wanted to just start screaming and wake him up that way, but I knew it would be better to wait and surprise him the way I had planned.

It's so hard to believe that it has already been a year from that amazing day, and boy have we had some equally or more exciting days in this past year...finding out Logan was a boy, seeing our baby's face and body before he was even born, his birth, first smiles, it seems to get better with everyday that passes and every new thing he does.

I feel truly blessed! I will NEVER forget May 26th or the feeling I had the day I found out I was getting to start the job I was put on this earth to do....Be a Mommy!

4 Month Doctor's Appt

Thursday, we had Logan's 4 month appointment. at PAMPA with the nurse practitioner Debbie. Mommy was much stronger at this appointment and didn't even shed a tear, although I got really close to it!
Logan was 16 pounds 9 oz. and 25 inches long. He was in the 75th percentile for height and weight and 50-75th percentile for head circumference. They were very impressed with his growth!
We discussed his bowel movements, or lack thereof, and Debbie suggested we give him prune or pear just once a day to get things moving! We tried it last night and he took about 1/4 of an oz. No poop yet, but things are brewing! Isn't it strange how once you have a kid, you instantly become so interested in poop!

We also discussed starting solids. I told Debbie, I was in no rush to start them and hoping to hold off until closer to 6 months. She explained that the AAP recommends that you wait until 6 months, but they can be introduced a little earlier if they child shows definite signs of being ready. She explained I would know this Logan is having a fit to have some of the food we are eating. We talked about how he now watches us eat and will even open his mouth when we take a bite of our food. She said to keep watching and it was recommended to wait until closer to 6 months. Since Logan is developing so well, and our nursing has been so successful, we have decided to put off solids for the time being. I hate to mess up something that is going so well.

Although Logan is not the biggest fan of tummy time, we are now in Operation Tummy Time! He already spends some time each day on his tummy, but after about 5 minutes he begins to cry. Debbie explained that babies develop on their tummies and he needs to spend as much time as possible on his tummy while he is awake. She said their frustration on their tummy leads to discovery and learning. So, Logan is now spending more time on his tummy and although he protests a little, he is handling Operation Tummy Time fairly well.

Logan got his shots and took the oral medicine and the first shot without making a peep. The second shot however, made the little guy scream! Mommy scooped him up right away and a little time with the "Twins" fixed him right up! He did however, run a fever yesterday. He slept most of the afternoon and seems to be feeling back to himself today!

Have I mentioned how lucky I feel to have such a beautiful, healthy baby or how lucky I feel to be his mother? I love him so much! I must still have some of the pregnancy hormones in me, because some days I just stare at him and tears run down my face and feelings of joy and happiness overcome me.

4 Months!

Our precious boy is 4 months old! Can you believe it? How is time going by so quickly? I hope it slows down. I feel like if I blink my eyes one more time, he is going to be walking.

4 Months:

Weight: We have Logan's 4 month check up on Thursday, so I don't know his exactly weight, but last Monday he was 16 lbs. on the nose, so I'm going to guess that by his appointment he will be close to 16 1/2 lbs.

Length: Again, not sure until Thursday, but maybe 25 inches?

Eating: Logan was sleeping through the night, but for the last week he has been waking up around 3 am to eat. I always wake him up to eat at 5 am before I go to work. He recently went up to a 6 oz bottle when he wakes up with Chris in the morning. Then eats two more bottles while I am at work. Then nurses a few times once I get home. Only 4 more days until Mommy is home for the Summer! YAY!

We plan to talk to the doctor at his appointment about when to start rice cereal. I was pretty sure I wanted to wait until 6 month to introduce solids, but Logan has really been showing signs that he might be ready to start before that. He is very interested in what we are eating, and actually opens his mouth when he sees us eating. He has great head control and is sitting with assistance. We'll see what the doctor says!

Wearing: Logan is wearing all 6 months clothes and even some 6-9 month things. He is wearing size 2 diapers, but as soon as we finish this HUGE pack I bought, we will move to the 2-3's.

Sleeping: He is so great about letting us know when he is tired and goes right to sleep as soon as we lay him down. He usually goes down around 8:30, but tonight he is was exhausted and went down around 7:30. He sleeps until around 2 or 3, wakes up to eat, goes back down until 5, eats again, and sleeps until about 8am.

Social Skills: pppppppppppppp......... That is Logan's new sound. He loves to "motorboat". He is also drooling like crazy! He loves to smile and is laughing out loud. He loves to be read to and talks to the characters in the book. I just ordered him a bunch of books from the Scholastic book clubs at school and went to the Scholastic Warehouse Sale today with Megan and Wyatt. I think Logan has about 50 new books!

Motor Skills: We have a roller! Logan started rolling from back to tummy overnight. He did it about 4 times today! As you can see in his picture, he is sitting up very well with assistance and can even sit by himself for a few seconds. He loves to grab his toys and put them in his mouth. He has figured out how to take his paci out and get it close to his mouth again, but he doesn't know how to get it back in. He has also found his feet. While he is laying on his back he curls his legs up and grabs his feet.

Here are some recent pictures:

His monthly monkey picture! Look how much he has changed in just 4 months!

Relaxing in my robe and slippers!

Look! I can sit for a few seconds all by myself!

Logan is now rolling from back to tummy. He tries to pull himself over by pulling his own hand. He shakes and his finger tips go white from the pulling. It's really cute!

Sitting with my monkey friend!

All dressed up after church on Mother's Day.

All warm and snug after my bath! How sweet is that face?

Another 4 month picture

Granddaddy and Barbara came over to eat hamburgers and celebrate Logan's 4 month birthday! Logan wore his camo outfit that Granddaddy gave him when he was born.

Mommy's famous lip!

As far back as I can remember my dad has always talked about my "pouty lip". He always said all I had to do was stick that bottom lip out and I pretty much got what I wanted! :) Well guess who else is working on that "pouty lip"? I've been trying to catch Logan's pout and I finally got it! It is the sweetest face and makes me want to scoop him up and kiss all over him! So now "Little Chris" has two things from Mommy, my eyes and the pouty lip!

Hot Babe!

We bought Logan a little pool for the back yard, for days when Mommy doesn't feel like lugging everything down to the neighborhood pool. We decided to try it out Sunday evening, since it was so nice out.

Chilling in my swing while we were waiting on Daddy! I love my swing!

Yum, Yum! Pool toys taste so yummy!

Chris came out with his bathing suit on and I'm not sure if he realized how small this "little" pool was. He hopped right in though and squeezed himself in! It was quite funny!

Relaxing with my shades on!

All warm with Mommy after my first swim!

Weeeeeeeee!!!!

Have you ever seen a happier baby? Daddy hung Logan's swing up the other night and we thought we would give it a try. As you can clearly see, he loves it! He would kick his legs really fast and smile and laugh at us.
Could I be anymore in love? I don't think so!

Growing like a weed...

People always say they can't believe how fast their kids grow up, but now I truly understand what they mean. Chris and I were looking at pictures of Logan from just three months ago and I found myself saying the same thing last night. The changes that their bodies and minds go through so quickly are so unbelievable. Logan looks like a completely different baby then when he was born. Of course, there are some things that are similar, but honestly he looks so grown up now. It's so bitter sweet; I love that he is growing so quickly and packing on the pounds, but it also makes me a little sad that he is getting so big! He's very quickly exiting the "Itty Bitty Baby Club", and now joining the "big boy" group! I know when Cousin Jack is born in the next few weeks Logan is going to look humongous next to him! I am so proud of my baby boy and love watching him develop into a curious little guy who want to touch and suck everything in sight!
He is now a whopping 15lbs. 5 oz and still very quickly outgrowing a lot of his clothes!
On a completely different note: He is still doing great in the crib! He went down again last night awake (but very sleepy) and had put himself to sleep in less than 3 minutes! He woke up once last night around 3:00, but went right back to sleep once I gave him his paci. YAY for crib sleeping!!

Only 17 days of school left until Mommy gets to spend the whole Summer with Logan!! (who's counting though?)

Sweet Bedtime Success!!!

So last night ended up coming home (long story), so I ended up putting Logan in his crib to sleep. He usually starts in there and then wakes up around 2:00 am and I put him in this sleeper/rocker in our room. We started using the sleeper when he was so sick because it elevates his head and keeps him from laying flat on his back. Well, last night he slept in his crib from 11:30 - 6:00am!!! He didn't wake up once!!! YAY!!! The other thing I have been wanting to work on is getting him to fall asleep on his own, instead of me getting him to sleep and then laying him down (which just resulted in him waking up). So I bought this light up/water/lullaby crib toy today in hopes that it would entertain him and help put him to sleep WITHOUT US! Guess what??? It worked!! I swaddled him and put him in the crib with the new toy on. A few minutes later he made a few noises and then that was it! I am sitting here on the couch watching the video monitor, but luckily not a peep!

Yes, I know it is only one night and I shouldn't get so excited, but it's a step in the right direction! YAY!!!

(The one I got is very similar to this)

I don't like it :(

Today was the first time the three of us had not been together, and I don't like it. Logan doesn't like it either. Chris is away at an overnight bachelor party in North Georgia. I'm sure he is probably enjoying the little break, but he has already called and checked on us a couple times and sent a few text messages. I hope he is enjoying the time with his friends, but we miss our Daddy! The house is so quiet and to make it worse it's storming outside.
I still get a little anxious during thunderstorms. I clearly remember my mother waking us up in the middle of the night to go sleep in the bathtub during thunderstorms. At the mention of an upcoming storm, my mom would have the flashlights out and gather pillows and blankets for us to head to the tub! I bet she thought she was just trying to protect us, but I wonder if she knew it would stick with us and storms would forever haunt us. I guess I need to be careful about the things that give me anxiety in front of Logan. I don't want him to cause him an unnecessary anxiety.

A monster??? Agghh!!

If you have never read the book, "The Monster at the End of this Book", I highly recommend you do. I remember asking my Dad to read this book to us nightly. Being the wonderful father he was, he graciously agreed to read it, but often tried to skip pages. As you know, even if kids can't read yet, they KNOW when you skip a page. I also remember my father reading this book to us and then suddenly everything going quite, followed by loud snoring and the book laying flat on his face. Despite the many interruptions to this book, it became one of my all time favorites. I still have the book (minus the cover) in Logan's bookcase. My Dad recently surprised Logan, Mackenzie and Baby Jack with a brand new copy of the book. I have already read the book to Logan several times. He loves the pictures and my animated voice! I can't wait to see what books Logan asks us to read to him over and over again!

He is getting so good as sitting up. We have had him in the Bumbo chair, but took this one out after we saw how well he was sitting in it at Mimi's house. Doesn't he look so big in it?

Logan and I are so lucky!

When I married Chris I knew he was an amazing man, but I have just discovered an entirely new love and respect for my husband. As my return to work date approached, we planned for Chris to watch Logan from the time I left (6:00 am) until Susan got to our house around noon. Looking back, I never even asked Chris how he felt about this, it was just what our plan was. I'm sure most Dads would have shuttered at the thought of having to be "Mr. Mom" for six hours a day, but not Chris. He has totally amazed me! He wakes up with Logan, feeds him, plays with him, and keeps him happy all with a smile on his face. Daddy even sends me pictures throughout the morning so I can keep up with what they are doing. It is such a relief to go to work and know that both of my boys are happy and spending quality time together. I don't know why, but for some reason I thought Chris would have a hard time with this. I couldn't have been any more wrong. Chris seems to have made a deeper connection with Logan through this little "Daddyhood" adventure.
What makes him even more amazing is that after being with Logan all morning and then working in the afternoon, he still helps with laundry, cleaning and cooking. (This is new, I used to be the main cooker and cleaner). I feel like my husband has become even more amazing, if that was possible!


We are also so thankful for Mimi and all that she does for us. I will never be able to thank her enough! She is the only other reason, I have not had a breakdown and want to leave work. I am so grateful to have her watch Logan so that he can avoid daycare and Logan is so lucky to have such a loving Mimi!

3 months!!

3 Months!
I still can't believe it has already been 3 months! Our little man is getting so big so quickly! He is now up to 14 1/2 pounds!! It is so amazing to see him change and do new things everyday.


Our monthly "Monkey" Picture


His hair looks so red in this picture. It's funny, in different lights it seems to be different colors.

Mohawk in the bathtub tonight. We took the sling out of the tub and now he has more of a big boy tub. He loves to kick his feet and feel the water with his hands.

Logan is quite the babbler now. We "talk" all the time. His little "ahhhs" are so precious!

Three Months:
Weight: 14 pounds 8 oz

Length: 24 inches

Eating: He was eating a little less while he was sick, but apparently that didn't stop him from gaining weight. He is eating about 6-7 times and about 3-4 oz. at each feeding. We are still trying to figure the whole pumping at work thing out, but so far so good. Logan has bottles with Mimi and Daddy and nurses with Me after work.

Wearing: He is wearing 6 month clothes and size 2 diapers. He is such a big boy. It seems like he was barely in 3 month clothes for just a few days and jumped into 6 months clothes overnight.

Sleeping: He has skipped the middle of the night feeding for the past three nights and has slept 7 straight hours the past three nights! It has been great! It's like he knew I was going back to work and needed more sleep.

Social Skills: Logan is now smiling like crazy. He loves when people talk to him. He tries to talk back and he is actually making some loud noises. It's like he wants to tell you something so badly.

Motor skills: He is able to hold his head up for long stretches and loves to sit and stand with help. He does tummy time for about 3-4 minutes and is able to do a "baby push-up". He is reaching for toys, but hasn't quite figured out how to grab and hang on to them. Daddy said that he put Logan on his tummy this morning and within 30 seconds Logan had rolled onto his back! Daddy tried to get it on video, but Logan didn't do it again. Hopefully we can catch the next one on video.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

If Logan had on anything else bunny, I think he would have started hopping away! I forgot to take a picture of it, but this outfit (from Aunt Megan and Uncle Josh) has a little cotton tail on the back! It's so cute!

Logan's first Easter is one we will never forget. We had such a great and relaxing day. We woke up and went to see what the Easter Bunny brought Logan. He got books, stacking blocks, a new bath toy, new rattles for the car seat, and a new bunny lovey. He was so happy!


Surrounded by his new toys

This is his new lovey. It is so soft. He slept with it all day and night.

We went to church, and then out to lunch with Mimi and Pops. We had BBQ at Swallow in the Hallow. Then we went home and Daddy surprised us with flowers for the flower bed at the mailbox. Logan slept in his stroller outside while Mommy and Daddy planted flowers. It was such a nice surprise and desperately needed to be done.

Later in the afternoon we went to Mimi and Pops to visit with them and Hope, Brian and Daniel. Of course, Mimi had Easter baskets for the boys and us. They got matching outfits, baseball gloves, sandals, books and balls. Mimi brought a bunny home from the store so we could get to boys' picture with it. They were very interested in the bunny.

It looks like he is trying to figure out how to get his hands on it.

We stayed at Mimi and Pops for a while and watched a movie with them. We had such a wonderful day and I'm glad we have so many pictures to show Logan how he spent his first Easter.

Being sick can't hold me down for long...

Logan is getting closer to being over his first cold/illness. He hasn't been wheezing, but still sounds very congested in his nose and chest. We are still doing the breathing treatments during the day and he is still coughing a little. Hopefully he will be completely over it soon. We seem to be attracting germs at our house. Chris went to the doctor last week and found out he had an ear infection and sinus infection. I have had a sore throat the past two days, but I'm praying it's just allergies. I don't have time to be sick!

Logan is eating much better and I can tell he is putting on weight again. I think he may be going through a growth spurt again. He slept for 6 hours straight last night. That was the longest stretch yet. I woke up around 4, and immediately checked to make sure he was breathing. (Isn't funny, that we do that?). He has been very hungry and sleepy today.

It was 84 degrees here today, so I had to find something cooler for him to wear. I tried this 6 month Carter's outfit and to my surprise, it fit perfectly. In fact, I'm not sure how long he will be able to wear it. It is a little snug in the stride. Daddy was worried about it being too tight around his "boy parts", which Daddy refers to as his "junk". I assured him it was okay, but he said, "You've never had them, so you wouldn't understand." It cracks me up that he is so concerned about that!

No, Logan's dream of becoming a pilot did not come true yet....

I wish that was what he was doing. Unfortunately, the little cold that Logan started with has now turned into Broncholitis. I noticed him wheezing a little Sunday afternoon and having a little trouble breathing. It wasn't bad enough to go to the hospital, so we waited to go to the doctor first thing Monday morning. When he woke up he was wheezing pretty badly and by the time we got to the doctor he was working pretty hard to breathe. He had a breathing treatment at the office and the wheezing seemed to improve some. We were sent home with a very cute nebulizer that looks like a penguin. We are giving Logan breathing treatments at least every 4 hours or sooner if the wheezing comes back. The albuterol, the medicine we are giving him, causes his legs and lips to quiver. It scared me at first, but they said it was normal and should go away. We were told we would probably be doing these breathing treatments for the next few weeks!! He is doing much better today, and finally eating a little better. He is still not eating like he normally would, but at least there is some improvement. I think yesterday's doctor's appointment was worse on Mommy than it was on Logan. Even though he was having trouble breathing, he was still smiling and talking to the doctor. Mommy however, had a hard time watching him struggle and just wanted to wave a magic wand and make him feel better. I go back to work Thursday, but at least he will be with his Mimi and Daddy so I won't have to worry about someone not knowing what to do for him.
Poor Baby :(

Beautiful Day...

On Sunday, March 28th, Logan and Mackenzie were baptized at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. This is the same church where Chris and I were married almost 4 years ago. We were surrounded by our loving families and are so thankful everyone was able to come to support them. Melanie, who is 32 weeks pregnant, and Scott even drove over from Alabama just to be there. Both of the babies looked beautiful and were great for the service. It was such a special ceremony and will be such a wonderful memory. Of course, I shed a few tears, but there aren't many things that I don't cry over. I couldn't help myself. They looked like little angels. Logan slept through most of the service, but opened his eyes for a few minutes for a few pictures.

Logan wore that same gown that Chris was baptized in. Chris wore it when he was 10 days old, we were a little worried if it would fit Logan, but it was perfect!

The church made these beautiful banners with their names' on them and we were able to take them home as a keepsake.

After church we headed over to The Diner the same restaurant we had "The Gender Dinner". although it was very crowded and very loud, we had a great lunch and enjoyed this delicious cake our friend Julie made.

Easter Egg Hunt

Logan got to experience his first "sitting in the lap of a big scary thing" this past weekend. We went to Josh and Megan's house with Melanie and Scott for their neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. Of course, Logan didn't really get to hunt for Easter Eggs, but he did get to sit with the Easter Bunny and we had a great time watching Mackenzie run around.

This was about as strenuous as our "hunting" got! It's hard to sleep and hunt at the same time.

Mackenzie couldn't figure out why Logan was crying when there were FREE candy filled eggs all around. She's learning from her Daddy, when things are FREE you take them!

Logan's First Cold :(

I took Logan to the doctor today because he woke up this morning around 2 and could barely breathe out of his nose. He slept on and off until about 6, and was coughing, sneezing and gagging during that time. He wasn't able to nurse for very long, because it was hard to breathe out of his nose. The doctor said he basically just has a cold that could go away in a few days or it could hang around for a few weeks. She said his ears, and throat look good, but to watch for wheezing or a fever. Logan hasn't stopped smiling the whole time, so I guess it's not bothering him too bad. Hopefully this will go away quickly. I hate hearing him so congested. Poor Baby!

Another Favorite

Mommy had to search high and low to find this little Seahorse in blue. For some reason, the first three stores I went to only had the pink ones. It's a good thing I finally found it, because Logan loves it! When you push his belly, it glows and plays sweet music for a few minutes. Logan likes it in his car seat when we travel and also next to him when he is sleeping. Add that to our list of favorites!

Still going strong....

13lbs. 6 oz.!!!!
We still can't believe how big our little baby is!