Sweet, sweet baby

Feb 23rd, 2014

Sweet baby Sawyer...

As the third child, I am realizing you may never know the day or date that you rolled over, or the day that your first tooth popped through, or the date that the second appeared, the first day you ate solids, the order of which you ate your first foods, the date of family trips, what family members you visited with on certain days.  

I can promise that you may not know these things because the one person who is entrusted to document such important things has done a bad job.

I know this....you rolled over on Christmas day, in your crib as Mommy and Daddy were packing the car to head to Grandma and Grandpa's.

I know this too...it's Feb 25th and you have two teeth.  The first one appeared about 10 days before the second.  Your daddy first noticed the first tooth.  You had been fussy and I realized that made a lot of sense.  

You have been eating stage one baby foods for about 10 days, off and on.  We tired bananas first (see picture below).  You had NO interest.  Made an awful face and refused to eat.  I tried again the next night and you loved it.  No turning back.  As of tonight, you have now had bananas, peaches, butternut squash with cinnamon, green peas and mangos.  The choices of baby foods are even better than they were when Payton and Owen started eating solids.  The butternut squash with cinnamon smelled great.  I'll try to find another container, you loved it!  You now pop your mouth, stick your tongue out and kick your feet as you anxiously await each bite of food.  

As for traveling, you have had quite a few trips.  Let's see....you are just under six months old....we have moved to a new state, we have traveled back and forth to our old house several times, you were baptized at our church in Mt. P, we have traveled to Raleigh and Chapel Hill several times for friends and for sports, you've been to football and basketball games, you have stayed with Meme and Pawpaw and Grandma and Grandpa overnight, you have traveled to the mountains for a family ski trip, Mommy and Daddy traveled without you for a weekend and we hit the road again back to Chapel Hill and Raleigh.  You are a lucky kid to say the least! We are lucky parents because you make it easy for us to take you along!  

Last weekend we went as a family of five to the UNC vs. Wake Forest basketball game.  It may have looked like a difficult thing - 2 adults, 3 boys - but honestly, it was waaaaaay easier than keeping all of you happy during the day at home.  The three of you were great at the game - I'm not sure if it was the noise or your innate love for sports, either way you were perfect at the game and barely made a peep! 

Feb 22nd, 2014
UNC vs Wake Forest

I do know that last Sunday afternoon we spent the entire afternoon outside playing...or watching your brothers play.  Baseball, frisbee, and a family walk.  You are ready to get in on the action and loved being outside and watching everything that was happening.  

Sweet baby boy, I can promise you this - you may not have all the details documented like your big brother Payton - but, you have all the love that we can give!  I love you more and more with each passing day!  You are almost 6 months old and I, once again, truly can't believe how quickly the time has passed.  We have certainly been through a lot of stress and change over the past six months.  The things that were normal to us the day you were born are completely different.  It has been a challenge to say the very least.  When people ask me how it has been to add a third child, I truly mean it when I say it has been easy.  You, my sweet boy, have been the easiest part of the past six months.  Moving was our choice but that does not mean it was an easy choice.  I can say that having you by my side every day has been the greatest blessing of all!  Despite the stress and ongoing changes, you keep me calm and help remind me of what is actually important.  Sure, we are getting stressed that our house hasn't sold.  Yes, I hate that we are still looking for a church (and missing our old one more than I imagined!).  I am looking for a job and the thought of going back to work is overwhelming.....BUT, with each passing day, each time I look down at you, I am immediately reminded of what is important...you bring a smile to my face on the most stressful days.  I am not sure if I can ever put into words how much I have needed you these past few months....without me, you would not have your essential needs (food being the most important) but I promise, without you I would be lost!  From the outside, I'm sure it seems that having a baby in the midst of a move, job change, etc would add more stress but to me, you make the stress manageable.  

A mother's (and father, I'm sure) heart knows unconditional, absolute love the first second that she holds her baby.  Once you have a second child, you realize that same love can double.  Now, I also know that having a third boy, brings exactly the same feeling.  It's insane to think that a love you never even knew existed can hit you immediately when you birth a child...and double...and triple.  It is truly amazing.  I can say without a doubt that I do love you more than I could have ever dreamed possible.  

Sweet Sawyer, thank you for your silly giggles, your almost immediate smiles when your eyes meet mine, your drool-filled snuggles, your squeals and your constant movement.  I see swimming or running in your future!  You are a spoiled baby boy...and, it will only get worse!  

I will do my best to write down those big milestones....crawling, walking, first words....they are all in your near future....but, even if I miss it, just know that in the midst of those milestones we were too busy loving your and your crazy brothers to stop and write it down!  

Thanks for being my sweetest baby boy!

Mommy