My First Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, our church does child dedications, so we decided to have Logan dedicated that day.  We were very blessed to be surrounded by many members of our family and friends.  Unfortunately, by the time the service was over, Logan was tired, and not a happy camper, so we elected not to take a picture with everyone.  Here are a few from the service though.  We just don't have a picture of all of those who came to support us.

The verse we chose for Logan is Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light."

After the service we went home and had lunch with our families.  We were able to get a few photos before Logan had to go down for his nap and then a few more after he napped.

This is my favorite...

Logan & some of his biggest fans...

I did not know what to expect for my first mother's day or how I would feel, but it was a great day and I'm so glad that I am Logan's mother.  It kind of felt like every day since becoming a mother has felt - it's the absolute best.  It is kind of fun to be celebrated for a day (and of course to celebrate the other wonderful mothers in my life), but really just the blessing of being a mom is the best gift of all.  I'm overwhelmed each day with the best feelings of love, gratitude, and joy for this wonderful gift God has given me!

5 Months

Logan,

You are 5 months old!  You sure have been up to a lot this month and are still growing way too fast!

You rolled over from your back to your tummy for the first time when Grandma was babysitting on April 15th.  Mommy was sad she missed it, but you did it for me 2 days later (Daddy was out of town, so he missed it again - poor Daddy!).  I was so proud of you!  You actually did it sooner than that, but it was when you were in bed in the middle of the night, so I didn't get to see it then either.  Now, you are rolling all over the place!  You are so cute when you do it too.  As you roll from your back to your tummy you fold your arms and tuck them so they do not get in the way when you roll over.  Such a smart boy!

You have been working soooo hard to sit up.  I knew it would happen any day this month.  In the last 2 weeks you have been getting really good at it.  You can sit on your own for a few seconds, but as soon as you get interested in something it causes you to wobble.  Pretty soon we're going to have a full sitter on our hands :)

 

This week you got sick for the first time.  It has been hard on Mommy to see you sick, but it doesn't seem to have phased you too much.  You really have only had a cough and a little bit of congestion.  We are so blessed that you are such a happy baby, even when you are not feeling your best!

Your hair is getting very long.  You need a hair cut, but Mommy just isn't ready for that yet.  You are her baby, and getting a hair cut is just too much of a "big boy" thing.  One day, after your bath, Mommy was playing with your hair and decided to try to give you a Mohawk.  However, your hair gets curly when it is wet, and it just would not stick up.  What resulted was very cute, but made you look a little too pretty, so we probably won't be doing that again :)

You keep figuring out different sounds that you can make and you do them over and over.  Right now, it's screeching at the top of your lungs.  Almost so high that only the dogs can hear.  Ha!  Other sounds that you have figured out how to make are spitting, coughing (on purpose), grunting and sometimes it sounds like you are trying to make the "mama" and "dada" sounds even though I know those have no meaning to you yet.

The dogs have become one of your new favorite things.  You have really taken notice of them this month.  If they are near, you reach out to try to touch/grab them and if they are playing and fighting you are mesmerized as you watch them.

As much as Mommy wishes it was not the case, you seem to LOVE the TV and anything electronic for that matter.  Anytime there's a TV on you're very interested in it.  And, you love the iPhone.  Gigi and Papa both have one and when they share it with you, you get very excited!

Here you are watching Top Gear with Daddy

Here you are trying to take Gigi's iPhone from Poppy

Your first Easter was this month.  It will be a little while before you understand the importance of this holiday, but it was fun nonetheless.  Ms. Melodee dressed you up as an Easter bunny and you were soooo cute!  The cutest one I've ever seen ;-)

You have been teething like crazy this month.  The drool pours out of your mouth and you will grab anything and stick it straight into your mouth.  Gigi bought you the Sophie the Giraffe teething toy and you LOVE her.  Unfortunately, we took her shopping with us and you dropped her out of the stroller somewhere, and we never found her.  Lucky for you though, Gigi spoils you and she bought you new one.

 

You also got to meet one of Mommy's favorite bloggers - Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman!  She had a book signing in Houston the Friday before your 5 month birthday for her children's book that she wrote about her dog Charlie .  You, Mommy and Gigi all got to go and it was so much fun! 

You are sleeping much better now and pretty much sleep from 10:00 to 6:30.  Sometimes you'll wake up between 4:30-5:30, but all you need is your pacifier back in your mouth and you go back to sleep.  On the weekends, you eat around 6:30 and then go right back to sleep and usually sleep until around 9:00.  It is very nice for Mommy and Daddy!  During the week though Mommy has to get you up and take you to Ms. Melodee's so Daddy and I can go to work.

Papa has already bought you a real fishing pole.  He sure is ready for you to get bigger so he can take you on your first fishing trip.  Mommy is not ready yet though!

Your first vacation has been booked as well.  On June 30th, you will get to go on an airplane to visit your Great Grandma Johnson in Cape Cod.  Grandma and Papa will be going too.  Everyone is very excited!

You are so much fun and bring so much joy into our lives!  I thank God for you every day and am so proud to be your mom!  I love you so much sweet boy!

Love,

Another one is on the way!

Yep, you read it right.  Another baby is on the way!

But...it's not ours! Ha!  Gotcha!! :)

I have wanted to post this and have had the OK to share the news for quite a while, but everything has been crazy since I started back to school.  My sister and her husband are expecting their first child on September 1st.  I am almost as excited that I'm going to be an Aunt as I was to be a Mommy and cannot wait to see if I will have a nephew or niece.  They have decided not to find out, so we still have a while to wait.  My Dad thinks it is definitely going to be a girl, and I am thinking maybe so as well.  However, I think it would be really fun for Logan to have a boy cousin so close in age, but we'll be happy with whatever we get :)

In other baby news, Logan has a new friend!  Our sweet friends, Jennifer and Rusty's little boy was born on St. Patrick's day.  We could not be more happy for them, and I cannot wait to meet sweet Benjamin!  They have an amazing story and I am so thankful that God blessed them with such a beautiful, sweet bundle of joy!  Benjamin was born with some heart issues, but we are praying for complete healing for him.  Jennifer is the friend that has taken many beautiful pictures of our family pre and post Logan.  Isn't she a beautiful Mommy?? (Jennifer, I hope you don't mind me stealing and sharing your pictures)

 

Photo Shoot

I had to share some of the photos from his 4 month "photo shoot" that I did trying to get a good picture.  Logan is so active now, it has made it a lot harder to get a good picture.  Sometimes he'll smile, but he's moving, other times he's still, but not smiling, and other times I can't get him to look at the camera.  It was quite an experience.  It was rather hilarious too :)  Enjoy!

Hi Mom!

Hey, what's that?

This one is not my fault, Mom.  I'm smiling and still.  You're the one that cut the sign off.

Oh, hey, what's that outside?

I'll smile for ya, but I'm not going to look at the camera!

Oooo, I'm going to get that sign!

Let me have a turn with the camera!

I love my teddy bear!

Oh, hey! He tastes good!

Mmmmm!

I thought maybe you wanted to see my cute chunky thighs.

Ok, I'm bored with this Mom.  Are you done yet?

See his 4 month post below for the picture we finally settled on :)

4 months

 

Logan,

You are 4 months old!!  You weigh 17 pounds 3 ounces and are 26 1/2 inches long.  You are in the 84th percentile for weight and 95th percentile in height.  Your head circumference is 16 3/4 inches which is the 79th percentile.  Just this week you started wearing size 3 diapers.  You can still fit in 3-6 month clothes, but really the 6-9 month clothes fit you better.  You are a big boy!

The day after your 3 month birthday you started grabbing your toys all by yourself.  You were not super steady with holding them and moving them to where you wanted (your mouth!), but you would grab them and hold on to them.  As the month has gone on you are so much better at grabbing them, moving them from hand to hand and putting them in your mouth (your favorite!).

You are VERY active now and when you are awake you are almost always in constant motion. It was a lot harder this time for Mommy to get your monthly picture because you did not want to sit still.  You also LOVE to talk, and whenever anyone talks to you, it makes you so happy.  You almost always flash them one of your sweet smiles.

March 22nd you rolled over from your tummy to your back for the first time!  Daddy missed it and was upset.  You did finally roll over for him and we were even able to get a video.  You have been trying really hard to roll from your back to your tummy and even have tried it when you are swaddled at night (which makes Mommy nervous).  You just can't seem to pull that hip over.  You'll get there soon I bet!

Papa put your jumping toy together and you started using it this past month even though it says you're suppose to be 4 months.  Your toes barely touched at first and you weren't too sure of it, but now you really love it.  You can turn yourself around in it and play with all the toys.  You haven't figured out the jumping yet since you're still not quite tall enough, but I'm sure very soon you will be jumping like crazy!  I tried to get a video, but you started getting fussy right when I got the camera out, so it's not the best, but it's something.

You started going to Ms. Melodee's after spring break and you are doing great!  She and her daughter, Lacey, really seem to love you and it makes Mommy so happy when they talk so sweetly about what a great baby you are.  I still wish I did not have to leave you, but it makes me feel so much better knowing you are loved on and well taken care of every day.  You definitely get worn out though and usually take a long nap when we get home.  I'm sure all the activity of the big kids keeps you entertained.  Ms. Melodee says the big kids love you and try to share their toys and blankets with you.  I think they are ready for you to get bigger so they can play with you :)

Last weekend, we had a family reunion in Crockett.  It was our first long car trip and you did really great.  You got a little fussy right before we got there because you were hungry and you fussed a little on the way home because you were tired, but you finally fell asleep and slept most of the day home.  You got to meet a lot of Mommy's side of the family and everyone loved seeing you. They were all amazed with how much hair you have, how big you are, and how much you smile and laugh.  It made Mommy proud to show you off to everyone!  Here you are with Papa, Cousin Jason (Mommy's cousin), Great Great Uncle Boog, Cousin Jamie (Papa's cousin), Great Uncle Jimmy, and Cousin Jason Matthew (Mommy's cousin, Darby's, son) - 4 generations of Easterly boys!

You have figured out how to stick out your tongue and you do it a LOT.  You are such a cutie pie!  I have not been able to get a really good picture of it, but this one will have to do.  It's a little fuzzy, but you are still super cute!

You live in bibs now because you are constantly drooling.  I think your teeth are working hard to come in, but Mommy is hoping it does not happen for a while still.

I feel like there is a lot more you have been up to, but since I have been at work, I am not as good at recording things and taking pictures.  I will try to do better next month!

You melt Mommy's heart every day.  I feel so blessed that God gave you to me, and trusted me enough to be your Mommy!  I love you Logan!!

Love,

Spring Break Vent

Warning: This post is not doing a very good job of counting my blessings, but is more like complaining.  Do not read if you are looking for a happy, enjoyable post.

I wish I was posting to say how much I have been loving and enjoying my spring break, but unfortunately it did not get off to the best start.

Friday night I had my monthly Bunco group which was a great way start to my spring break...or so I thought.  I decided to take Logan with me since I missed him and knew a bunch of women wouldn't mind passing around a baby :)  However, I wanted to actually get to play bunco and I knew Logan would get tired so I had Brandon pick him up around 8:45.  Everything went smoothly, and I enjoyed my evening with some of my favorite women.  At around 11:30 I decided I better go since Logan would already be asleep and if he was asleep I should be too.  I got my coat and reached for my keys in the pocket.  They were not there.  I thought for a minute and realized I must have put them in the diaper bag...which went home with Logan and Brandon.  Ugh!  I called Brandon and sure enough they were in the bag.  One of my sweet friends offered to drive me home so that Brandon would not have to wake up Logan to bring me the keys (Thanks Judie!).  We would then go back the next morning to get the car.  Normally this would not have been that big of a deal, but I had already planned out my Saturday due to a baby shower for a sweet friend of mine that I was helping with and there was no time for this.  I had made it to bed about 12:30 or 1 and Logan was up at 3, 4, 5, and 6 that night/morning.  I was exhausted, but had a busy day ahead...

I had to feed a baby

get ready enough to leave the house

go get my car

go to the grocery store

feed the baby again

put the baby down for a nap

make deviled eggs

help Brandon make bacon wrapped corndogs (since all the husbands of the women at the baby shower were getting together for a sausage fest with ridiculous amounts of foods that are sure to clog your arteries)

take a shower (ran out of time)

get dressed and ready (have a fit over having nothing to wear and looking terrible, due to no time for shower or make-up)

feed the baby

load everything including the baby into my car

drive 20 minutes to the shower

The shower started at 2:00.  I left my house at 2:00.  Not only did I have eggs to bring, but I had the cups and forks...so the hostess ended up using her dishes.  I felt so bad for being so late, but at least I made it.  It was a great shower though.  Logan and I can't wait to meet baby Luke in May :)

After the shower, I was exhausted, had been sneezing all day, and just needed to go home and rest.  So that's exactly what Logan and I did.  We got home and lucky for me, it was time for Logan to nap again, so I was able to get him to sleep and got right in bed myself.  Logan woke up after just a very short nap (Brandon wasn't home yet), but I felt he needed a longer nap.  I was able to get him to go back to sleep around 6.  I went back to bed and did not wake up until Logan did at 10:45!!  We were both obviously worn out.  He slept through 2 feedings.  I could not believe that.  When I got up I realized I wasn't just tired, but either my allergies were really bad or I was getting sick.  I fed Logan and then we all went to bed again as soon as we could.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling worse.  I decided to stay home with Logan while Brandon went to church.  Around 10:00am I thought I was starting to feel better, but by about 2:00 I started going downhill fast.

Monday morning I decided to call the doctor and get everything checked out because I thought maybe I was getting an ear infection.  My mom came and watched Logan for me so I could go to the doctor without having to get him out in the rain or take him to a doctors office with the rest of the sick people that were there.  It turns out I had/have a sinus infection.  The doctor was able to prescribe me some medication and I am finally starting to feel better (of course spring break is now half-way over).  Needless to say, this is NOT how I wanted to spend my spring break. I still have enjoyed my time with Logan, but since I haven't wanted to get Logan sick, I haven't had as many cuddles and kisses with him as I would have liked.  All that being said, though, I know I am still blessed beyond measure, and I haven't forgotten that.  I just needed to vent.

Below, you will find Logan's 3 month post.  I had every intention of posting it on his 3 month birthday, but it didn't happen.  I had the whole post written and ready to go, I just needed to add one video.  I kept trying over and over to add the video and it kept giving me an error, but of course the error had no info as to what was the problem.  I gave up and later had Brandon look into it.  He found out that the video cannot be longer than a minute, so I was going to edit the video and then upload it.  Well, I've never done that before, and all attempts failed.  I had decided to post it on Monday anyway since it was already a week late, but unfortunately as Brandon was mowing the lawn, he mowed over our cable line (which the cable company was supposed to come bury and never did), so we had no phone, internet or cable for a day (we were lucky it was only one!).  I am finally having time/energy to get around to this, so it's finally here.

When reading the 3 month post, please keep in mind that I wrote it intending for it to be published on his 3 month birthday.  He is actually doing even more in just the week and half since his birthday.  It is also dated as if it was posted on his birthday, but I changed the date so I can keep everything in order.

Apparently, I cannot seem to do ANYTHING on time anymore.  This tardiness started pre-Logan, but since the pregnancy has gotten dramatically worse.  So please forgive my lateness.  Maybe one day I'll be one of those people that seems to have everything together.  One can hope, right? Ha! :)  I may have to accept this as my new normal.  Hopefully the next time I post I will have a much more positive post :)

3 months

Logan,

You are 3 months old!  This has been a sad month for Mommy since she had to go back to work.  It has been fun for you though because you have been able to hang out more with Daddy, Grandma, Papa, Gigi, Aunt MarMar and Uncle Mark while Mommy has been at work.  I will be so glad when I get to have you all to myself again over spring break.  It's just a couple days away!

What have you been up to this month? You just get cuter and sweeter by the day.  It doesn't seem possible, but somehow you do it!

You are about 15 1/2 pounds (we weighed you on Grandma and Papa's scale, so it's not official from the doctor) and around 27 inches long (we measured you with Daddy's tape measure - ha!).  You are getting bigger every day!

You still really love your baby gym. Your favorite is to kick the toucan, but you are getting pretty good at hitting the elephant too. You also really like to talk to the butterflies and the lights.

When we lay you on your back, you will kick with your feet and push yourself across the mat of your baby gym.  You smile and think it is funny when we pull you back so you don't scoot off the mat.

We also thought you were going to roll over from your back to your tummy the other night.  When you are excited when you play you sometimes roll back and forth, but you don't quite roll enough to make it over.  You were very close the other night, but still need a little more practice.

You are sitting in your Bumbo seat now, and do really well.  It is pretty boring though, so after a while you let us know that you've had enough.

You love to blow bubbles with your mouth, and are constantly drooling.  Mommy has to keep you in bibs all the time now or at least keep a rag handy.  It is probably the start of teething, but Mommy is hoping they don't come in for a long time.

When we went to your 2 month appointment, the doctor said that you would begin doing little "sit ups" this month, and she was right!  It seemed like the next day you started doing them and any time we lay you in our lap you are doing your little sit ups.  You don't like to lay flat very much anymore.  You will hold our fingers and work hard to pull yourself up to a sitting position.  You definitely prefer to be up where you can see everything that is going on.

You do really well when it's tummy time.  You hold your head way up and if you're in a good mood you'll play on your tummy for a pretty good while before getting upset.

You have REALLY found your voice this month.  You have realized you can scream and like to do it now just to hear yourself.  You aren't upset, but like to talk to your toys, or anyone who will listen, as loudly as you can.  It cracks me up once I realize that you're just talking and not upset! Ha!  I don't have a video of your shrieking/screaming, but I do have one of you talking (but I can't upload it - sorry!).  You are too cute!

You have started waking up in a very good mood!  This is after your 1st feeding of the morning though.  When you wake up in the 6-7am range you are more concerned about breakfast, and then usually go back to sleep.  After you wake up the next time you are usually talking and smiling in your crib.  I love going to get you and seeing you flash your sweet smile at me.  It makes mornings so much easier!  However, I miss this during the week now that I am working.

You are very aware of, and LOVE your hands.  You are constantly doing something with them and they spend a LOT of time in your mouth.  You will grab things with them (like Mommy's hair!) and hold on tight.  Mommy is trying to teach you to hold toys so you can put those in your mouth instead.  If Mommy puts them in your hand you do a pretty good job of holding on to them and moving them around or putting them in your mouth.

You are also becoming more aware of your feet.  Mommy is teaching you to hold them.  You don't grab them yourself, but if someone puts them in your hands you hold on.  Just yesterday it looked like you were trying to grab one of the toys from your gym with your feet.  It won't be long before those are in your mouth too.  Ha!

I love you sweet baby boy!!

Love,