just hangin' out

with my favorite,

strong,

6-week-old!

i love this little guy!

yesterday...

YES, I may have worn a wrinkled shirt.

YES, my pants may have still been damp but I wore them anyway.

YES, I may have sucked down several cups of coffee and any caffeine I could get my hands on. 

YES, I may have sprayed pumpkin on my white shirt and not realized it until we were already in the car.

YES, I may not have planned it out and needed to use our host's oven for approximately an hour once we arrived.

YES, I may have switched Sawyer and Gray's names more than normal.

YES, I may have forgot if I had shampooed my hair so I shampooed it twice.

YES, we may have been in a minor car accident (everyone is fine)

YES, I may have had a total meltdown at one point.

sigh.

all of that said, I need to state that I am still thankful. so thankful.

for lives well lived ;)

for blessings

for family

for friends

for grace

for my wonderful little family

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

texas travelin'

the boys

Ready to go to Warrenton... Sawyer thinks he's coming too.

Sorry buddy, only one crying pooper in the car at a time.

This past weekend we took Gray to Warrenton for the first time. 

We had tons of fun celebrating Michael's big 4-0! Gray was kind enough to sleep through most of it and not stress out his momma.

Here are some highlights:

Thanks for letting us have so much fun on account of you Michael!

one month down!

Wow! This month has both gone by agonizingly slow and yet flown by as well. I can't believe I have a 1 month old son! I swear, EVERY day he gets bigger. I thought you're not supposed to be able to tell when you see them every day but I definitely can. 

mischievous... i think yes

stats n' facts:

~weight- 10 pounds exactly

~height- 23 inches

~head control has improved significantly and you love tummy time

~aunt amanda has been a trooper and basically has lived with us for the last month... she loves you more than you know

~you smile a lot... you also pass gas a lot... coincidence, i think not

~you hate, repeat, hate baths

~everyone comments on how cute your nose is... i think you have your dad's nose

~mam binkies... or pacis if you prefer... we could not live without them

~you have just started sleeping for 4-5 hour stretches during the night (sometimes twice) and your dad and i could not be happier about it

~you've recently become very good at grabbing things... necklaces, shirts, burp rags, blankets, et

~we've learned... swaddle + sleep sheep + vibrator = sleep (repeat!)

we love you little guy!

thanks for keeping me smiling all day long :)

ughhh

bad night of sleep equals cranky baby and cranky mom.

agreed gray. agreed.

just plain tuckered out

Sommmeone fell asleep during tummy time...

I guess  a long walk with Grandma Lynn, making faces with daddy, hanging out with Gramma Marley, and just trying to lift that big ole head is exhausting. 

In exciting news, Gray is officially one month today and slept for 5 1/2 hours! Way to go little man... so glad you have realized that night is for sleeping, how to put yourself to sleep, and just how good it feels to wake up rested and stretch. Love you and thank you ;)

you tell me

Here it goes... the question that all parents want to know...

Who does he look like?

There are always follow up comments concerning particular features... he's got dad's nose, mom's feet, etc. So my question to you (yes, you) is who do you think Gray looks like?

Gray's baby pictures:

Mom's baby pictures:

Dad's baby pictures:

Comments?

28 days later

Happy 4 weeks to my favorite little guy (10 pounds!!! at his check up today) and happy 2 years of being married to my best friend! I love my little family so much and can't believe that 2 years ago we weren't together. I ask Chris often, "What has surprised you most about being married?" He always answers, "Just how natural it is." It's so sweet and true. I don't feel like I should be anywhere else in my life right now but with these 2 guys (even as I type this one handed ;) and have spit up on my cute anniversary dress).

Here are some joys the last 2 years and last 28 days have brought to my life...

Happiness is family.

Thank you for a house full of people I love.

he got it from his momma

If you find yourself at my home anytime soon and you thing to yourself, "Wow, this house is quite clean since Leslie just had a baby not that long ago!" this is what really happened.

First, thank my sweet mom, cousin and husband for cleaning up this house that clearly has been LIVED in these past few weeks. (notice the bazillion baby 'appliances')

Second, thank my and Gray's shared love of the vacuum. Yep, that's right, Gray loves the vacuum as much as I do. It is our lifesaver to put him to sleep for naps during the day! Turn it on, vacuum everywhere that thing will reach (several times) and the noise puts him at ease. Who knew!?!

Bonus: It makes me happy because I can see the vacuum lines (::strangely-makes-me-giddy::) and makes Gray a happy, well rested baby.

PERFECTION!

This vacuum was a Christmas gift last year... best present ever!

smile like you mean it

smiles with aunt carrie

foundations

Sweet Gray,
One of the things I can't wait for is to teach you about our awesome God... to see your dad be an Christ-like example of what a man should be... to answer your innocent questions about our creator. I can honestly say that no one loves you more than I do except for Him. He has loved you forever, before you had a name, before you were known about, before time. I can't wait to share with you how much that truly is.
Love,
Mom

At our church, the children's building is under construction and before they lay the carpet our Pastor encouraged the congregation to write down names of children that they know and verses to pray over them. What an awesome foundation for the church and the start of Gray's life.

Thank you Grandpa Marty.

walk it out

"Anywhere is walking distance, if you've got the time."

Thanks to this sweet little boy, I've got some time to spend with just him. I can't believe how fast it's flying though. Next week my little Gray will already be a month old... when did that happen?! It is so true what they say, enjoy every moment because it flies by. Here's how we've been spending our moments a lot lately thanks to this gorgeous weather. 

walking

strolling

moby-ing

mmm morning

It is only 10:00 and I am showered, dressed, full and blogging. My two favorite boys are asleep and dreaming and the only thing that could make this morning better is a warm pumpkin spice latte in my hand. So, to Fall, lazy days, days off work, blankets, and pacifiers... I love you... thank you for making it a great morning!