Adjusting to New Normal

Moving to different states is a big transition. It's even more challenging when you have a "hiatus" month in between leaving your old home and actually moving into your new home.

We officially started living in our home in Acworth the day after my birthday. It was so interesting to go back to our family dynamic of just the four of us. The kids were so happy to have all of their own things unboxed and slowly we started to find our own rhythms again.

We still have a few things to "check off the list" in terms of all you have to switch over and change when you move. But that list is quickly getting checked off as we have started August.

But there is so much more to "new normal" that we are still adjusting to. It's exciting and tiring all at the same time. We are getting more familiar with the area, and our house is feeling more and more like home.

We've met some great neighbors who have made us feel like we actually know people here beyond just family.

We are still searching for a church home, and we feel once we have found that it will really start to feel like we are settled fully. It has been 11 years since we looked for a new church, and it is no easy feat. It has brought back memories of where we were back then and we try to remember what made us plant our family at Quest. We are eager to start this next chapter, but we need lots of patience as the search continues.

In the mean time we are so grateful to have family nearby and we've even gotten visits from a couple Lexington friends that have been passing through. We're learning what it means to invest in long distance friendships while still keeping our eyes open for new friends here.

Louie - 11 months

It's so hard to believe that 11 months have gone by so quickly. I was so incredibly tired and miserable a year ago - but it was all absolutely worth it to add this sweet little guy to our family.

Louie had yet another very busy month. He now has 5 lovely teeth and hopefully number 6 isn't far behind. He started taking steps at 10 months, but by 11 months he was a fairly experienced walker...just a few days past 11 months and it is clear that he chooses to walk 95% of the time.

He is getting better at eating different foods, but I still spoon feed him lots of calorie rich solids so that I know he is getting enough to eat. He just has limited patience for finger foods and gets annoyed if he has to do too much work to eat. But a new tasty snack that he loves is veggie straws. He is super funny because as he eats them he likes to blow in and out of the straw.

Louie loves his sister but is showing some annoyance with her more often if she smothers him. He doesn't like his movement limited and Noelle is all too fond of hugging him (aka, putting him in a headlock).

Louie still wakes once a night to eat and I keep feeding him for the extra calories he gets, but we have had a few stray sleep through the night events lately which has been very encouraging.

He is still obsessed with anything that has wheels and loves to make his own sound effects for his cars and trucks. He also is still enamored with Mickey more than any other character out there.

I'm trying to enjoy the last month of having a "baby" especially since I know Louie is going to want to be even more independent than most toddlers. I day dream about not having to breast feed and future sleep through the night occurrences, but I know I will miss all the snuggles and sweet baby giggles.

Josh and I just came across a little video of Noelle before she turned two and when she was just starting to talk. It was incredible to see this little toddler that just doesn't exist anymore!! It makes your heart sad even though we absolutely adore our little pre-schooler. We were also looking at it and getting excited for the cute toddler things that Louie is about to do.

Next time I post for this little dude he will be one and we will be living in another state. So expect it late AGAIN if you are looking, lol.

This captures this month perfectly. Louie and Grover on the move!

When Plans Change

In the last 20 months we have had many surprises. Life has taken twists and turns we didn't expect, but God has been faithful and true through all of it. We have experienced heartache, frustration, forgiveness, joy, and had so much healing in our hearts and family through this season.

Shortly after Louie was born, I had a sense that change was around the corner. I kind of tucked it away for a while, unsure of what to do with it (wondering if it was all the hormones leaving the body after pregnancy, lol). It kept coming to the surface and a few months later Josh and I started discussing the possibility of moving our family. It was very much a "maybe" discussion for a long time. Over time, we really felt more strongly about it and started to see that we weren't pushing that plan - but that God was directing some next steps for our family. He was offering us a chance to trust Him.

After much prayer and discussion we are going to start a new adventure and move to the Atlanta area! We are truly sad to leave Lexington - this city that we absolutely love. It will be a city that we will hold so dearly in our hearts forever. The things we have experienced here have been foundational to our hearts and lives and we are who we are because of the 15+ years we have spent here. We will miss our friends, neighbors, and our church family. Never did we think we would leave Lexington, but when God says go, we will go.

It may seem fast and like a surprise to some of you reading this, but we took little steps here and there along the way. Each time we stepped out in faith, God met us and continued to direct what the next step might be. The most recent next step for us was putting our home on the market and after just 24 hours, 5 showings and 2 offers, we signed a contract to sell our home! The potential closing date is the end of May, so hopefully we won't be homeless for too long!

We are excited for the new opportunities moving will mean for Josh's work and we are so happy to be near some family. We believe that the next for our little family will be a wonderful adventure that we are thrilled to embark on together.

I never thought I would go back to the Atlanta area, so this feels like a great unknown to my own heart! At this point in our lives though, I know that God always has a bigger picture than I can fathom. I look forward to seeing what unfolds!


So for old friends that are still around in Georgia - see you soon! And for my many friends in Lexington...it's a really easy drive straight down I-75. Please consider coming to visit us, or even just stopping by as you make your way down to Florida for your vacations!! I'll buy you a Publix sub and your life will never be the same :)

Louie - 10 months

Louie was SUPER busy in his 10th month.

First of all he was determined to learn how to walk. I did help him "practice" because he absolutely loved it. I would sit down on the floor with him and hold him a couple feet out from me. Then I would count to three and let go and he would take a step or two towards me. His sleep as been difficult and erratic the last month, and it was clearly due to his development and not being able to shut his brain off to sleep. He just wanted to keep practicing his news skills!  He started taking steps solo THE DAY he turned 10 months basically. He loves to get new skills on the day he changes a month.

He also very quickly cut his top two teeth and they are so CUTE! I cannot wait for them to come fully through, because that smile is going to be priceless.

Louie also had his follow up heart appointment this month and the tiny hole in his heart has fully closed! He also had his official 9 month check up and his weight finally stabilized! Hooray! I'm still making sure he eats plenty to counteract the CONSTANT movement he has each day, but hopefully he just doesn't drop percentage wise anymore.

Louie probably loves his yogurt the most when it comes to food. He is enjoying trying new finger foods these days, but I think he gets frustrated that they aren't quite as easy to eat. So each meal consists of some finger foods to try, and then I spend the rest of the time quickly shoveling in something mushy and easy to eat so I make sure he gets enough food for the day.

Louie loves to see new people and new things. He still loves his toys, but mostly my days are consisted of keeping him out of dangerous things at the house. He just finds them so very interesting. Luckily the weather is starting to clear up here and there and he just loves to be outside and crawl around. I look forward to him consistently walking because that kid gets himself so dirty crawling around outside!

This boy is too much fun and I am so looking forward to what life will be like with him as a toddler!

Hip Hip Hooray! 10 months old!

YOU CAN SEE HIS NEW TEETH!!

Noelle wanted to participate this time!

Shortly after this photo, Louie wrangled himself free and crawled over the edge of the chair.Yikes!

Noelle thought it was funny that Louie fell off the chair. Typical.

Louie - 9 Months

3/4 of the way there!

THIS LITTLE BOY. Oh my heart. He is as sweet and wonderful as you could imagine through the pictures. He is almost always on the go, but so happy to be exploring this world.

Just a few updates...

He is still slipping down on his weight percentage for the growth chart (but still gaining weight) so the doctor has me adding fattier solids to his diet. He also basically gets to eat whenever he wants, day or night. The sad part is, he is just too busy to nurse for very long during the day, so he eats all he wants at night when he isn't as distracted. Doctors orders...

Since we had an extra doctor visit for weight check I also had them check his height. He is 29.5 inches long and 19 pounds 9 ounces. He certainly looks healthy in every way, so lets hope that his weight stabilizes by his "official" 9 month appointment so I can stop being concerned I am feeding him enough.

Louie is very mobile. During his 9th month he has started pulling up on anything and everything. He even likes to let go every now and then and just stand there for a few seconds. He also very mildly started cruising. He hasn't particularly mastered it yet, but he is thinking about it.

Louie loves his sister and other little kids. He likes to just watch what they are doing, and I think that little mind of his is just thinking about all the ways he will join in on the fun one day. He also really enjoys hats. He will be absolutely fascinated by a ball cap, but isn't convinced he wants to wear them himself just yet. He is still loving anything with wheels as well - just thinks they are the coolest things!

We also discovered that Louie loves to be outside (now that we have finally had a few nice days come through). I'm definitely about to have another park rat on my hands, which works out well since Noelle is pretty much obsessed with parks too. I don't mind one bit, and mostly can't wait until he starts walking so that he can have just as much fun as the other kids at the park. The swing just isn't quite enough fun for this little guy - he wants to get in on the big kid stuff too!

He naps like a full on champion - two great naps a day. The nights are the tricky parts, but since I can't night wean him, I just do whatever is necessary. Someday I will get my sleep back. And I bet by then I will get a measly 6 hours in a row and be wide awake. I feel that is what happens to moms who have such interrupted sleep for many years in a row. It's like their bodies forget how to take a really long uninterrupted sleep. I hope I'm wrong!

Anyway, here's the pictures for this month. I am shocked we were able to get such a good one of him still and on his back. The other one he was desperately trying to reach for Josh's camera.  He's just the cutest :)

Louie - 8 Months

Making it to 8 months felt like forever. January and February in Kentucky can be hard with kids. It's when we get most of our snow and the coldest temperatures. I didn't mind it at all before I had kiddos (I actually quite enjoyed it) - but now it means being cooped up more. And of course, that was no exception this year...so Louie got to experience his first major snow storm during his 8th month.  It was a month of quite a few firsts...

He got his first two teeth (which are super duper cute)...and ON February 5th (the day he turned 8 months) he surprised me by again pulling himself up for real and holding it. I was on the phone with my friend Connie when it happened...if you recall he did it one time a month earlier after he saw his older baby friend do it. So that was last week - and now he pulls up on anything and everything. ALL. THE. TIME. He sits himself down very gracefully I might add.

I also mentioned last month that his growth had dropped at his 6 month appointment so we had a weight check scheduled last week with the doctor. Sadly he didn't gain but a few ounces, so it was doctor's orders to do what I can to beef the kid up a bit. Now let me just say this - he is not off the chart, or unhealthy in any way. It's just a bit odd that he had only gained about one pound in 4 months. The only hard part is that the doctor wanted me to give him formula once a day in ADDITION to all the breastfeeding and solids. The hard part...Louie doesn't like bottles. I wasn't consistent enough in giving them to him because (a) why bother and (b) I'm lazy and hate pumping and (c) there was no need. So he doesn't mind formula, he just chews on bottles and doesn't care. Same with sippy cups. Useless to him.

I gave it a valiant effort (which included several bottle purchases and even using some medicine droppers to get formula in him). But at the end of the day, I'm just trying to bulk him up with fattier solids instead of the fruit and veggie purees. I did a test weigh at our neighbor's home, and I feel the results are promising. He also just feels heavier to me, so that's a good sign.

Louie is still pretty happy and he has been napping like a champ this month. He really has his day schedule down pat which is great - but it also means that if something gets messed up he gets all crazy for the day. That's ok - I like the predictability and how he has gotten his rhythm. He has been having some hard nights the last few weeks, and I couldn't tell you what the problem is, but today I'm going to go with "8-10 month sleep regression". I'll let you know if that changes in a month.

He still loves his sister but gets more annoyed with her these days if she smothers him with love or cramps his style (aka, blocks him from where he wants to go). I love how she thinks they are "playing" together lots of the time, and mostly Louie just stares at her and touches her toys. For my girl who is always eager for a friend, sometimes that is enough.

His favorite toys are usually ones that make noise, ones with wheels, or balls. He loves to take trips out and about to enjoy the scenery, and he gets lots of strangers who want to come up and say hi. I think what is funny to me is I get lots of women AND men that want to stop and say hello to him. I don't remember as many men stopping to make a comment about Noelle. I feel it has something to do with they see a cool little dude and just want to be buddies or something.

Before you enjoy the adorable photo of our son at 8 months old - let me just note how I am noticing this blog is becoming the monthly baby update blog. It's temporary. I just need more that 45 minutes a day to myself before I pass out for the night. We will get there someday...but for now, just bear with me and enjoy the baby updates!

On to the photo!!

Louie - 7 months

Month 7 was busy and just flew by! That always seems to happen in December when it seems our calendars fill up and suddenly you aren't sure what day it is.

Louie had a very busy month. His six month check up wasn't able to happen until the 16th (11 days after turning 6 months if you want to get technical!)  He took his shots like a champ and was generally a superb baby throughout the whole visit. The one concern the doctor had was that he hadn't gained a ton of weight since his last visit. Mind you - he is plenty big - still in the 56% of weight at the time. But just the fact that in 2 months he went from the 89% for weight, down to the 56% was a little out of character on his former growth patterns. He had only gained a few ounces in 2 months.

Now. That being said, it wasn't that surpising. He had certainly grown - no doubt about it. BUT, the child doesn't stop moving. He is such a wiggly worm! And thankfully, the doctor could see that he was very much on the verge of crawling. She agreed that this early crawling habit he was developing was to blame for the lack of weight gain - but just to be safe she had us schedule a visit for 6 weeks later just to check his weight.

That was December 16. Louie took his first army crawl on Monday December 21, just 5 days later. By the time it was Christmas the kid was every which way. By the time we left Georgia on January 4, you could barely keep him to one room at my mom's house.

And in grand style, he decided on January 5 (his 7 month mark) that he would introduce proper hands and knees crawling to his moving capabilities. And he also attempted to pull up on his exersaucer for the first time (thanks to his buddy Lydia showing him how). Luckily he has not attempted the pull up maneuver again, but he is regularly getting in some hands and knees crawling.

So my son the early crawler is starting to look long and lean these days. It turns out his Dada started crawling at 6.5 months as well!

Poor little buddy has been working on his first two bottom teeth still and hopefully this month they will make their appearance. It seems that both of my kids are what I like to call "long & dramatic" teethers.

Louie is doing so great on the eating front! He is picky about his vegetables lately but loves his fruits. He has had some straight up fresh banana and fresh pears and has also started eating baby puffs, which he loves.

He plays so happily on the floor and doesn't need much entertainment. I don't ever remember Noelle just being happy to lay on the floor with her toys for 30 minutes to an hour at a time at this age. To be fair, she couldn't crawl yet, so she couldn't snag whatever shiny object caught her attention too easily like Louie can.

He LOVES older kids. Noelle is always entertaining to him and if we have a play date with other kids he is just fascinated by whatever they are doing. He loves going to the store and riding around in the grocery carts like a big kid. Most everywhere we go I get compliments on what a sweet baby he is and how cute he is. Don't worry - Noelle gets the cute comments too, so her ego isn't hurting :)

I'm excited for Louie to keep growing and changing but I have to keep reminding myself not to wish the baby days away. I think that is why I haven't even attempted sleep training with Louie. With his recent lack of weight gain and the fact that I know "this too shall pass" I kind of just feed him or snuggle him whenever I need to because it's easy and I don't plan on having any more babies. So I might as well baby my baby, right?

We just LOVE this little dude. How couldn't you?!?

Our most common view of Louie...on the move!

Teething makes me cranky.

oooo...camera!