Hunter's FIRST Birthday!

**For some reason I cannot get my pics on here yet, working on that**

Hunter turned one Dec 27th, 2012. We did a really nice cookies and milk party at the church for him and we had many friends and family join us to celebrate! Okay so this my sound a little absessive but once I found out that we were having a baby boy in Dec right at Christmas, I already had his 1st b-day party planned.... I mean what else would you do? ;) I didn't need that much planning for Hayden's b-day which has always been outside in good weather, I had to think of something so cute and perfect for indoors. Hunter started walking at 11 months so by his birthday he was jus about running! He eats so well -- seriously, like a big growing boy. I am thankful that I only have 1 boy for this reason! But he is just such a delight and you can't help but to laugh and hug him when you see him! He walks around yelling for his "da-da" constantly, he looooves his daddy for sure! When daddy walks in, Hunter stops what he is doing and meets daddy in the middle, greets him with a big ole hug while trying to tell him about his day. It is precious. Hayden loved her mommy and would do these things to me when she was little and Hunter is all about his daddy. Soon, they will both be about their daddy and momma will just be stuck being the maid.... No I am just kidding but daddy already has Hayden swinging his way too since Santa Clause brought her a bb gun and daddy is loving it! We do a pretty good job at balancing out time spent playing and being out and together! Anyway back to the party, I spent a couple nights before baking up some yummy homemade cookies and my mom and mother in law made a batch for me as well. We also had a table with sugar cookies, icing and and spinkles for the kids to decorate their own. We had cranberry and white choc chip, choc chip cookies, oatmeal rasin, snickerdoodle, choc butterscotch chip cookies, cookie crisp, oreos and then a few prepackaged whoopie pies and oatmeal pies. My friend Kerry made this really awesome 4 tier cake, it was beautiful and tasted so good too!

Hunter did not care a bit abou topening the gifts but would love he gift once it was opened. He was instantly attached to this little play phone by seasame street and his new Cars chair. Just like a man, huh? LOL! Sitting in the chair with a "remote". Well, that was the joke anyhow. He was such a happy baby and had the best time.

Another thing I have noticed is his attraction for my dad, his daddy pop. He was all about him at the party and even the next time we saw him, all he wanted was for daddy pop to hold him. That i very special to me.... and to my daddy.

Oh Hunter...

I want to take a few minutes to write all about my Hunter baby! What a sweet happy baby he is, but what a handful! What a sleepless last 9 months too! Poor little guy has had constant ear infections since his 6 month check up. I believe that he has always had the pressure and that is why 1. He was not sleeping through the nigh and 2. Why he didn't fuss a lot, because he was just used to it. At his 6 month check up we found out about his ears and put him on an antibiotic. A few weeks later, it was still there. 3 antibiotics later, we went to the ENT to see about tubes. A week or so later we were getting him tubes and since, we really think he feels better and the pressure is released. He is a lot of drainage but at least it is not backed up behind his ear, causing the infections. Of course the weather is changing and his nose is runny and some chest congestion is there... so we went to his 9 month well check up and I make the hard decision of getting the children FLU shots! It has been easy up till now to say no to them for Hayden, but with daycare and school in the picture, and there is not just one child now.... I decided to go for the shot. I feel good about that decision, however, ever since Hunter has had a high fever off and on at night (though last night was better) and he just acts so achy, and tired since he has been losing sleep due to the stuffyness and the fever too. The night before the flu shot he slept ALL night, yep his 1st time sleeping 11ish hours! I was excited and looking forward to a good streak.... nope. Back to the wakings. I am praying that he will begin to sleep better though. It is time. I was always so afraid that he was in pain or hungry that I had not done much sleep training like we did with Hayden but now that his ears are good and I know he does not need to eat, this is when it begins. Other than that he has started clapping and loves it. He LOVES to put everything in his mouth and he squirrels them in his cheeks, haha it is funny, but not good. Hayden was never one to put much in her mouth. He has the same crib she had and after she had it it was still in great condition... now almost the whole thing has teeth marks and paint scuffed across it. (the paint is safe, although I need to get one of the rubber pieces for it) Speaking of teeth, he has 5 good ones and 2 more that just broke skin... maybe that is another reason for his interrupted sleep. He eats very well and eats a lot of good food. Loves vegetables and fruit and has now had chicken and beef. He loves table food! Let me show you what I discovered:

1. Babycenter Says on average this is a Baby’s First Year for food and diapers alone (minus the accessories):
   
   Disposable Diapers: $72/month = $864 year
   Formula: $105/month Name brand= $1260 year
   Baby Food: $57/month = $342 6 months
   TOTAL=$2,466
   
   Hunter's average first year:
   Cloth Diapers: $19/month (washing) $150 full stock = $378 year
   Breastfeeding: $0 7months
   ...

   Formula: (store brand): $325 (5 months)
   Homemade Baby Food: $25/month * 6 months= $150
   TOTAL= $578
   
   MY SAVINGS: $1,738.00 WHOOP WHOOP! ;)

   
   

   
   

   Isn't that awesome! So I had to remind Justin of how wonderful of a job I am doing. ;)

Vacation 2012

What a beautiful week we had in N Myrtle this past week! It was absolutely a perfect family vacation! Mom was able to  join us for the first weekend and we did some blue crab fishing which was pretty neat and fun. Justin actually steamed and ate them, and said they were rather sweet and tasty - - ew! He went back again later that week and caught more! We tied a chicken leg (or a fish head) on a string and just put it out in the water (marsh/inlet area) and would slowly pull it in once you knew there was a crab on it (and you would know) then you just net them. They have to be 5 in from point to point to keep. It kept Hayden entertained as well!! We were straight beach bums in the day though. Once the weather warmed up we headed out to the ocean. We were very fortunate to stay at my bosses beach house which is 2 blocks from the ocean so we would just walk to the water. Hunter of course ate some sand but he never got upset out there. He would crawl all over the beach -- I think he thought it was a really big bath tub! He had himself a nap out there too -- who couldn't ask for a better place to nap, in a tent ont he beach listening to the waves! Ahh, how relaxing! Mom and I went out there for a couples hours one day to try to do the same. Of course we like to talk a lot so I got about a 10 min nap when I realized I kept getting bit by flies. What? Never has that happened before! We had a shrimp boil for dinner and the rest of the week we either ate out or cooked in but whatever we did we made the best of it! The kids enjoyed their time, no fussiness (out of the norm at least) Justin and I enjoyed it too! Pictures to come tomorrow!

Hunter and his milestones

This YEAR is flying by. With hunter being 6 months old already and quickly moving onto new milestones, I just cannot get over it! So..... he has now cut his first TWO teeth... at the same time, 3 days after his 6 month date. That was a rough night! A week or 2 before the teeth he started to sit up by himself! I got him a new toy and decided to sit him up in front of it and he just "caught on" to sitting that quick! I probably could have had him doing it sooner but just haven't thought of it. Now, just 6 months and 2 weeks old, he is on his hands and knees rocking.

I forgot to update this when I originally wrote it so now I am back and reading this and he is a month older and doing more things! He pulled up to standing at the dishwasher about 2-3 weeks ago (right at 7 months) and I just squealed! I wanted to push him right back down and tell him he can't be doing this yet!! I thought boys delayed their progress? I thought Hayden was just super fast and surely Hunter man wouldn't be the same.... NOPE! So now he stands up holding on to everything!!!! He will be walking soon I know it... and dread it!! He has his two bottom teeth that he got right at 6 months and the two top teeth have been working their way in for a few weeks.... popping fully in right at 8 months!

Nothing like wanting the first baby to hit all the milestones early and then the second baby you just hope they wait for everything. ;) I love my children! They are awesome I tell ya!

Hunter eats food like crazy, babbles all day long. He never sleeps  -- he doesn't want to miss out on anything so he chooses not to sleep and to fight it! I am interested to know what kind of personality he will have as he grows into his own little person! I can't believe that this Christmas he will be one! 

Stressing Here!

My mind was made up... I was going to start Hayden in 4K next year since her birthday falls on Aug 29th and the school cut off date is Sept. 1. We cancelled the screening she was supposed to do and we thought that was it.... until I get a 'Welcome' letter in the mail letting us know who her teacher will be beginning on Aug 29th, the first day of school!! WHAT? I called to ask about holding her back and they cannot say that there will be a space next year in the 4K program and we would need to sign up for Kindergarten. Well, I definitely do not want to skip the 4K process so we are sending her to school..... THIS August! I know there are a lot of ppl who would not understand why I would want to "hold" her back a year but if she were born 3 days later, she would not have had a choice for 4K this year. This being said, we will be going to the BIG meet the teacher day next Monday!! Ahh!! This also meant that I had to find a way to get her to and from school. My caretaker is a true God-send! I hate to have to find anything else esp after searching for so long for someone so wonderful. We found a daycare that does pick up and drop off at school so both Hayden and Hunter will be going to ..... daycare. There is really nothing wrong with daycare so I hate to feel the way I do about it but I just never thought my children would go so young (or wishfully, ever) Please don't strike me for this... I know there are good daycares out there and good people who run them and now I will just have to trust that I have found one that will be just that and more! I also hope that Hunter being so small still will not get sick from being with so many other little babies. 

This year has truly been the toughest, most emotional, and yet the most rewarding year of my life. I could not be more thankful for my family and my accomplishments. When I was pregnant I thought for sure I would have anxiety having two children if I did when I only had one. I was so 'afraid' to have 2 kids but I did not end up have any ppd! I thought that things wouldn't be as exciting as the first baby.... but it was like a whole new 'firsts' and just as exciting!! I struggled with cloth diapers with #1 and my baby boy has been in them since 5 weeks old! I did not go back to work for 9 months after dd so going back to work 6 weeks after ds was extremely difficult.... finding childcare for the 2 most precious jewels in your life is the hardest decision ever! I did it! I have just proved to myself that things really do work out the way they are supposed to and I have trusted God and give Him all the glory for "making it through" the past few months!! 

Breastfeeding has always been a "must" for me . I loved it for Hayden and just as much for this little one. I had my struggles with it as well. Right after ds was born my dad went in the hospital with lung cancer and that put a lot of stress on me (and my family) My milk supply had gotten very low and I was doing everything I could to keep up. That was even more stressful and very tempting to just "give up" I actually got off the mini pill and kept taking herbal supplements until my supply built back up. It is truly amazing how different your body is with each child. I had an abundant supply with the first and started my period back immediately. With this one I have had such a hard time with my supply yet no period yet. With this one I do not get let downs or leak or need nipple cream or breast pads, etc like I did with my first.

This all brings me to this. We are weaning from breastfeeding. I know that I am ready but it is still very emotional for me. Hunter doesn't seem to notice or "root" when I am holding him and it helps that he loves his bottle, lol it is actually kind of funny to watch him when he sees a bottle. But anyway, I have been slowing down a lot and just can't seem to remember how to eventually stop. I would like my morning feeding to be the last to go and so far that is what I am at right now but I still have to pump at night or I get really engorged. Actually today will be the first day that I will not be pumping during the day! :/

Sorry this is so lengthy, I told ya, I am still so emotional. But thank you for reading. 

Look at my two cuties in the tub! I love this picture!! 

Welcome to the world of TWO!

Hunter is 4.5 months old now!! At his 4 month appt he weighed 13.4lbs and was 26in long! I thought he would have weighed more than that but that is pretty long!! He is in the 75th percentile for his height and 25th for his head and weight. I hope he continues to be tall!! He was rolling over from belly to back at 3 months old but not yet from back to belly. He is very close though. He is such a happy baby. So content and all smiles! Hayden was a very happy baby as well and for that I am so thankful! I cannot carry Hunter around all the time since I am chasing an almost 4 yr old, all the while holding down the fort so he spends a lot of time in a swing, on his floor toy or elsewhere. I am glad that he is content! I carry him in a sling sometimes but still not as often as I had imagined I would. Being back at work after having him is such a change from not having to work after Hayden. It is a love/hate thing. I truly enjoy my job, getting away, money, etc but I feel rushed (almost everyday) whether it is getting ready in the morning, lunch breaks, and all the way to dinner time. That leads to the guilt I feel for not having “time” to play with Hayden like I should and do want to do. Don’t get me wrong, we play and we do lots of activities together, but she asks me to do more and I hate to have to say “I can’t right now, I am busy”. I know we all feel that way and we shouldn’t feel guilty but that is easier said then done, right? We just put the crib up this week, so the kids are sharing a room now. AH!! We had been talking to Hayden about it before doing so, she was thrilled and couldn’t wait so we were thankful for how smooth that worked out but now her room is so jammed up it isn’t funny. I am looking forward to more space one day!! Right now Hayden goes to bed earlier than Hunter and he wakes up to eat and ends up in the bed with me earlier than when she gets up so she really doesn’t realize that he is even in there. Before too long, I am hoping to get him on a better schedule. Right now he eats, plays, sleeps. Everyday that can be predicted however, the timing can change. He is a cat napper whereas Hayden loved her sleep, took great naps, and slept all night early on…. Hunter does not do this! He naps a couple times a day maybe 20 mins, maybe an hour. And doesn’t go to bed until 10-11pm! That means right now I am not getting enough sleep at night to function in my next day chores and work, of all things. He is still eating every 3 hours, DAY and NIGHT! Phew!! Also it means that there is not a lot of “down time” for me (alone) I sit down with him (when I actually do sit down) but that is with him, if he “lets” me. I do enjoy our time after Hayden is in bed, we need that, but it makes me end up going to bed even later b/c once he is in bed, I finish up whatever needs to be done, dishes, laundry, a shower, etc and I want to wind down before closing my eyes. This makes for a loooong day. We put the crib up hoping this will change his night schedule and allow him to sleep longer at night but 2 nights down and nothing has changed L I will continue now to try other things. I hadn’t cared much for a set schedule yet only because we are always on the go so this has worked but I think it is time for some changes. Also I just started to give him oatmeal hoping that would work at night and it hasn’t yet. Maybe he is ready to eat 2x a day? Maybe veggies?

Work is going well. Every since being back from maternity leave I am almost always late. I do not like to be late, at all!! I am usually getting the kids ready alone. When Justin is home he helps of course but his schedule doesn’t allow this to happen much. I drop Hunter off at Nana’s and Hayden at preschool. I pick her up at 12 and then him and go home fix a super quick lunch, rush her to eat, tend to him and then load up and head off to Mrs. Linda’s and then I am late returning to work. I went to my boss about it and apologized several times, offered to make it up and even have worked some extra without pay. I just feel awful, really! I am looking forward to June because they will both be going to Mrs. Linda’s all day Mon and Fri (my 2 full work days) I am not putting Hayden in preschool this time but will sign her up for Pre K NEXT fall! I don’t think she is ready this fall although she could go since her b-day is right there on the line. That was a tough decision to make. I know that when I was in school, I was the youngest in my class. I was not yet able to do some of the things the others could do and that I hated. I do not want Hayden to go through that and I definitely want her to be ready for school. Maturity and all. I think she is super smart and I don’t want to put her in now and her get “bored”. Plus, I really really  like Mrs. Linda. I am so thankful to have found her!! She worked with me on the weekly pay since I do not work full time. She is registered with the state so I fill this on my taxes as a write off. She has more patience than anyone I have met and she truly enjoys these kids. She can have 6 in her home and she handles them so well. She is Christ-centered and what more could I ask for? They have craft time and read books and they learn there as well so I wasn’t upset making the decision not to put Hayden back into the preschool program. Hayden enjoys being there too, at Mrs. Linda’s. It helps that she is right up the road, she is cloth diapering Hunter with me, and she is so easy to talk to and will listen when I say things about how I raise my children, etc. However, she is wiser than I so I would listen to what she has to say as well. Can you tell I am happy that I found her as our childcare provider?

Hayden is such a good big sister, I truly could not have asked for a better age difference, although I would not ever know if one is better than another. I love to see them interact and I know it is only going to get better and more fun. She loves to make him laugh and he LOVES watching her. He likes anyone to show their face to him. He smiles from ear to ear! It is heart melting!



I count my blessings that is for sure!

Great Cloth Diaper Change

Saturday April 21, 2012 marked the second Great Cloth Diaper Change where parents around the world attempted to break the Guinness Book of World Record™ for most cloth diapers changed simultaneously. There were an estimated 300 locations located in 17-18 countries. Some parents even woke up their babies to change them at 6:30 am! I was so glad to be a part of this event! It is encouraging to see so many cloth diapering advocates. Hunter was so good and has helped set his first record at only 4 months old! I hope to make it to the next couple years while lilttle man is in diapers! 

My friend and cloth diapering momma, Kerry, met me up at the event with her little almost 1 year old Mason!  (This is him in the picture laying down) Kerry has truly helped me with learning 'all there is to know about cloth diapering'! We both enjoyed the event and got some freebies out of it as well. Just for signing up we got a gift as walking in which was a couple samples of detergents.  I also walked away with a new pockey diaper! They had vendors set up with information on other cloth options from diapers and/or wipes themselves to cloth snack packs. Another supporter was Dirty Diaper Laundry which works out of Charlotte and does your laundry for you. Interesting right? I learned more about some products I can also use to help increase my milk supply and that being a stress in my life right now, meant so much! My next blog will be on making "Milkin' Cookies"! Tune in!