Three Months

I wrote this post on time, however am just getting around to posting it.  Oh the laziness of not putting pictures on the computer.  So, apologies for the outdated post, but that's how things go around here.  Back track with me to November 16 for this post.

Between being on the floor entertaining a babe, work, keeping a house clean, and good old Instagram I am having a difficult time keeping up with blog land.  I feel a New Year's Resolution coming on (then again, it was a resolution last year and look where it got us...).

Henry turned three months old this past Friday.  Can hardly believe it.  The days roll by and turn into weeks and now we are looking back thinking where have the months gone!?  I am enjoying this journey of motherhood moreso these days.  Not gonna lie, the first few weeks were pretty rough.  Exhaustion and the internet can make a woman go mad!!!  Every little thing I would google and be convinced Henry had something wrong with him.  The nightly iPad time is used for much more fun things now, like pinning things on Pinterest and dreaming of the day I might be able to accomplish a crafty project again (ha).

I stopped the weekly pictures.  I'm sad about this, but it was one more thing that I would forget and so now we are back to just the monthly picture.  That's alright though.  I am keeping up with a daily calender on my phone of pictures.  Hopefully I can figure out what to do with it once the year is completed.

Back to Henry...

This month has been HUGE!!!  When I wrote his two month post we were blessed with our first full night's rest.  Since then, Henry has been amazing.  I feed him at 8, put him down to bed at about 8:30ish, do a dream feed at 10:30, and then we go into wake him up at 8 the next morning.  Bless that child!!  He is down to three naps a day and we will probably stick with this schedule until he starts stretching to a four hour schedule.  We have learned this month that he is much more flexible than we give him credit for, so we have been much more active and get out more.  Which is a good thing, because the holidays are upon us which mean lots of gatherings (aka babysitting time for the grandparents).

Other milestones for this month, rolling over.  He still hasn't mastered the concept, but when he does it once, he will do it all day.  Just some days he has a brain lapse and refuses.  He smiles a lot, too.  Blesses my little heart when we walk in the room and he just brightens up.  The stinker is camera shy though.  You pull out a camera and he gets all serious.  If you've been around him long enough though, you know he is a ham.  He chuckles here and there as well.  I can't wait until that belly laugh comes.  He still enjoys to sing and Christmas music is a hit (when dad is at work, he is a stickler for the no Christmas until after Thanksgiving policy). 

Each day is more fun than the day before.  We love watching his little personality come out.  It is amazing to sit back and think of how he is learning EVERYTHING.  I get a good laugh when he finds his hand and looks at it like it is an alien.  Love this little kiddo. 

Baby Dedication

Back on October 7th we were able to participate in our church's baby dedication with little Henry boy.  It was very humbling to be able to stand in front of fellow believers and basically make it public that we realize Henry is just ours temporarily.  And really, even during this temporary time, he isn't in our control. 

I'm going to be honest, the whole baby dedication thing kind of freaked me out to begin with.  I felt like it was another microscope I would be placed under or perhaps it was just a Christian routine of what parents did with their kids.  So, I've let it soak in for a while before posting about it because I really didn't know what to say.

So, we've dedicated Henry.  For me this means...

I realize that I have no control over this little soul I have been entrusted with.  I can't force him into any belief system, I can't make him be a godly man.  However, I can promise to pray over him, to seek Biblical wisdom or counsel when I have no idea what to do, to provide a loving environment that will hopefully teach him to love others, to be a good steward with what I have been blessed with in order to teach him to be giving, to admit when I am wrong in order to teach forgiveness and humility, to extend grace when he messes up (we've been over this, he's a sinner) so that he will hopefully understand the amazing grace we have been blessed with, to constantly turn to God for answers and help in order to show that I desire nothing more than to glorify Him in my daily ins and outs, to wear holes in the knees of my jeans from praying on them in order to show the importance of a relationship with Him. 

When I hear the word dedication I think of that little section in the beginning of some books.  The "I dedicate this to my parents because they are so awesome" kind of thing.  So, here you go God.  I dedicate this little boy to you.  Because you are so amazingly, wonderfully , indescribably, awesome.  I pray his little life is full of wonderful things.  Thanks for letting me be a part of it.

 

Two Months Old!

Little Henry turned two months yesterday.  I waited until today to put a post together so I could get all of his stats.  Feels like it has been forever since we have been to the doctor, but that is a good thing!

Henry continues to be a great baby.  He coos and squeals now which makes awake time all that more enjoyable.  He loves it when you sing to him and will join in on his favorite songs.  We get a kick out of this and since Chris loves to sing anyways, our house is always filled with random songs.  We have started practicing our rolling over techniques and he does pretty well.  Hopefully by our three month post he will have this skill mastered.  What he has mastered is a sad face.  He can turn it on to get what he wants.  Your heart just melts and you realize how much he can manipulate us already!

Sleep was a hot topic in our household and has become a much better subject to discuss.  Henry takes an hour and a half nap at 9:30, 12:30 and again at 3:30.  He typically takes a cat nap from 6:30-7 and then from 7-8 he has decided to be fussy.  We entertain him during this time with baths, songs, his bouncy seat, swing, or just walking around the house.  Eight is still his bedtime, he has a dream feed at 10:30,  and over the past week (knock on wood) he has only been getting up once before we get him up at 8:00.  Last night was our first night that he slept the whole way through, hopefully this will continue.  Once he figured out sleep wasn't so bad, he seems to enjoy it.

This past month has been filled with his baby dedication, me returning to work, going to the sitter for the first time (Skyler is great), grandparent visits (helps that they live only 15 minutes away), and more and more outings.  We are starting to get the swing of things and enjoy showing the little guy off.

He still fits into his size 0-3 month clothing, but a few items are getting snug.  Most of them fit fine except for the length.  When he goes to stretch out in his footy pajamas, he can look a little silly.  We are finishing up a box of size one diapers and then will probably go ahead and move him into size two.  

Today was his two month check up and the boy is growing!  He weighs in at a big old 13.31 pounds!  He is in the ninetieth percentile for weight, seventy-fifth percentile for height, and his head circumference is in the fiftieth percentile.  The doctor said he looked great and is very healthy.  Poor kid had to get three shots, praying he handles them well.  We've got the Tylenol ready and lots of cuddles planned for the day.

Here are his weekly pictures since his one month post.  Going to have to put him on a chair eventually so he will look at the camera!  Little turkey.

A Sappy Post

This whole blogging business has taken on a new chapter for me.  My hopes is to turn my posts over this year into a book.  A little present for myself when Henry turns one.  Something to document all of the fun (and perhaps not so fun, but meaningful nonetheless) moments in life.  So, apologies ahead of time for over sharing perhaps or focusing too much on this current season, but that is what it is, my current season.

A majority of the nights of the week, when the clock hits eight and it is time for Henry's bed time feeding, I turn into a crazed lady.  Last night was one of those times.  I have heard this is common with new moms.  It is a little frightening, honestly.  No matter how many times I remind myself the emotions will come and they will go, during that moment I can't control myself (or don't try hard enough).  So, I sobbed and sobbed as I put a baby who didn't want to go to bed, in his crib.

Every night we pray for a restful night.  Every night I cringe because I never know if that prayer will be answered and even moreso have no idea how I will be able to function another day in my current state.

At 10:30 we got Henry up for his dream feed.  I had calmed down (poor Chris, he is so good to me) and held the little guy's hand as I sat there and tried and tried to think of what I am doing wrong or what lessons God is attempting to teach me through this season.  Pray without ceasing, that's a no brainer now.  Patience, still working on that.  Extending grace, the kid is still alive :) just kidding.  Being a servant, I am stretched daily.  Doing things without complaining, I am catching myself more often.

After putting Henry back to bed and crawling into our own for the night, we said our last prayer together for the evening and it clicked.  While Chris was praying he said two things that I am sure he says every night, but for some reason I actually heard them last night.  He prayed that we would continually find time to be in the Word and to seek Him.  He also pointed out that we can do nothing without Him.

Duh...

Grace, time in the Word, grace, time in the Word.

There is nothing during this season that I can do to improve it.  I need a big fat dose of humility and a reality check that God is in control, not me.

So, after we prayed and I said my own quiet "forgive me" prayer, we fell asleep.  Prayers were answered last night and Henry slept for a long stretch, Praise the Lord!  Tonight might not be the same, but He always provides what we need when we need it.  A restful night, a smile from a boy who is cantankerous, a husband who steps in when you have no idea what else to do, a friend who calls and just talks to you like normal, a picture of your cute niece and nephew, a facebook post from another mom in the same season posting just the right passage you need for that day, the list is endless of the blessings that have been poured down during this season that I continually think is so hard.

While Henry is currently napping and I should be doing housework (or paperwork for work for that matter), I sat and read Ecclesiastes 3 and listened to this song.  Contentment can be such a struggle at times, but today, I am content.

Returning to Work

Next week I go back to work. Sigh...  Fortunately, due to my line of work and my loving husband who listened to my pleas to be a stay at home mom, my hours are minimal. I will be working three days a week, twelve clients total, and then of course the paperwork (which is never ending). I still have about 250 hours to complete for my license, so it was important to Chris and me that I complete these hours during the time I am allowed.

So, I will be easing back into my client load next week. We are blessed to have a sweet friend watch Henry on Tuesdays, Chris will be able to watch him Wednesdays and my mom and dad volunteered to watch the little guy Thursdays.  I don't start work until four, Chris gets off work on Tuesday and Thursday at 5ish and only works until 12:30 on Wednesday, so it works out.

I still am not ready though. I love being with my little guy. As the days go by, he changes more and more.

More smiles, more coos, more silly faces, more alert time.

I get worried that I will miss something and have to remind myself the likelihood that I will is there, but the likelihood that Chris would catch it if I missed something is likely as well which makes me feel better.

I have already started to read up or have been informed of some of my caseload. Whoa. I want to stay home so bad, but know there are some hurting people out there and know deep, deep down, this is what I am supposed to be doing.

So, prayers appreciated as I start back. I'm praying that I finally learn the art of separating personal life and work life.  That I can find a balance to complete my paperwork when I would rather be doing house work (gasp) or sleeping during Henry's naps.  That this "new mom haze", as I like to call it, will lift soon so that I can give Henry my full attention when I am with him and the same goes for my clients.  That Henry will continue to improve on his nights so we can both be well rested (the kid is doing great).

For today, the laundry will go untouched, I doubt I will put makeup on, and my hair will air dry (which is common, boy do I wish I had curly hair so this wasn't an issue). Henry and I will be playing, chit chatting, and cuddling.

You knew I would include a picture of this sweet face.

One Month!

Dear Henry,

Happy one month baby boy!  You have changed like a mad man over this first month, can't fathom how much you will continue to change. Hard to believe an adult size man is in that little body. Your face has gone from a completely round circle to some definition to a circle again :) We can't get enough of it!

We visited the doctor at three weeks where you weighed in at 9lbs 2oz. We don't go back until your two month visit and know that number will be plumped up quite a bit by then. You are a great eater and our times of having to use wash clothes to keep you awake to eat aren't nearly as often.  You eat every three hours during the day with bedtime being at 8:00.  I get you out of bed at 11 for one last feeding and then let you go for as long as you will allow.  You have started to go four hour stretches (knock on wood), we hope this continues and keeps stretching!

You love your play mat and have started to regularly reach and bat at your little friends. You also like to look at yourself in the mirror, you even know you are cute!  Dad is your favorite, in my opinion. You light up when he comes home and could walk around with him bright eyes for what seems like forever. You recognize your momma though, which melts my heart.  You have started to coo more and will mimic the ohhhh face and sound at times.

We read stories often, take tours of the house, fold laundry together, take walks in our stroller, and just hang out during our days.  You enjoy going to your dad's softball games, we've been to church twice, and have frequented both sets of grandparents' houses.  I still have to prep myself to take you out, but I'm getting better... 

We are going through a fussy time right now.  We can't decide if it is a little cold, gas, or reflux.  Time will tell I suppose, you keep us on our toes for sure.

You are a delightful little boy and can't believe a month as already passed!

Look at that face!!!

Who knows what he was upset about here.

Starting to get a little snug in his newborn outfits.

Yup, that is spit up.  That is how our "photo shoot" started.  Awesome.

Impossible to get the active guy to look up.

All boy, that's for sure.

Oh Henry, you are too cute for your own good.

Oh Henry

We are still alive, I promise. While there has been plenty going on in the Boschen household, not a lot of time to blog. Last night however, is noteworthy. So, as my cantankerous son sleeps on the couch cushion beside me (due to me feeling terrible for my sleep deprived husband), I shall blog.

Henry is a dreamy babe. His personality is starting to come out and we giggle at him often. He farts and burps like a man, is a crazy mover, and ornery to high heaven.  We wouldn't have it any other way.

Chris and I decided to follow the babywise method with Henry due to seeing its success with our niece, nephew, and my sister's friend's three children. Granted we know the first month is dicey, you have to feed the child and your "schedule" might look different daily, over all it has been great with the exception of night time :)

Henry's nights are for the most part normal for this stage. He still wakes up every three hours as a general rule and we have decided that is fine until he is a month. Last night was one of his shining moments though. One of those nights you really have to laugh about because really?  What else can you do?!

We have our bed time routine at eight, consisting of Good Night Moon, prayers, jammies, and a few cuddles.  After that we put him down.  I wake him at eleven for one last feeding for the night and then let him go.  Last night was one for the books!

He began to whimper at 12:30.  I rolled over to Chris, frustrated and exasperated, not real sure what to do.  We let him cry for 30 minutes (it wasn't a full on cry the whole time, he would calm down and then start back up again) and then Chris thought it might be best to go ahead and feed him.  Perhaps it would give us a long stretch and maybe he just wasn't quite full after eating at 11.  I rolled out of bed and fed Henry who ate really, really well. 

I lifted the sweet, sleepy boy up to burp him and...  throw up, all over me.  I remained calm, luckily the mess was on me, not him.  He was pretty calm about the whole matter so I made sure I wasn't dripping and proceeded to change him.  He is a gassy guy, as I mentioned, so he was tooting a little while I was changing him.  He didn't seem quite complete with his "movement", so I kept the diaper under him.  Because really, who wants to put a fresh diaper on a child who you know if going to defile it in no time.  He gave a little grunt and poof, poop flew all over me, the couch, the floor, and the iPad.  This I could not handle on my own so I sheepishly hollered for Chris to come out and help.  Fortunately, he heard me (there have been events in the past where he was out cold).  After a good 15 minute clean up process, Henry was down in his bed and I was cleaning myself off as best as I could in the bathroom. 

The rest of the night was of course, not the greatest.  But, Chris and I laughed hysterically at two in the morning about an event in parenthood that will always be remembered.

I write this post to be a tad transparent and to possibly provide a little laugh at our expense.  This parenthood business is no joke!  I originally had this mind set to "fake it until you make it" and not let anyone know the struggles we have.  While I do not intend to sit and complain about things and probably will not have many posts like this, I felt like I had to share.  I am in a group that meets on Monday mornings consisting of all moms which I love.  Yesterday my sweet friend Rachel shared that in today's society, we are allowed little windows into each others' lives.  Instagram, facebook, blogging, etc.  It is easy to share the good moments and leave out the not so grand.  Here is me giving a glimpse into the not so grand.  I have poop between my toes that didn't get cleaned last night, throw up caked in my hair, and three monster zits on my chin where I perhaps get a zit once every six months. 

But, I wouldn't trade it for a million bucks or more.  This season of life is priceless.  All of the rough edges you aren't aware that you have (or refuse to work on) are put out there and you become completely humbled.  I am a structured, control freak but I can't be with him.  Yeah, yeah, we have a schedule, but that isn't because of my controlling ways, the reasons for us having a schedule is another post in itself.  I am prideful and tend to compare myself to others, but I cannot with Henry because Henry is Henry and our family is our family.  I am impatient, but can't be as a mom because things happen when and as they should.  I get overwhelmed, but have to remain calm now and buck up because I've got this little guy relying on me.

So, this is my "being a mom is hard" post.  But, by golly it is SO WORTH IT!!!!!  We have a healthy, sweet little boy.  He melts our hearts and is so fun.  He changes each day and so I am forced to enjoy every little moment and just slow down. 

Henry, you are quite the character and we love you so much.  Can't wait to see how you will continue to change our lives.