3 months already???

3 months?  How can it be?!!  Oh, my heart flutters daily for this little boy.  Love him to pieces! 



 


Landon loves to be talked to, and he loves to "talk" back - as you can see in this picture!

Getting to know Landon over the last 3 months has been wonderful.  He is a very sweet baby.  He likes to be held "up" - either on my shoulder or facing out so that he can see what's going on.  He hates to be put down when he's tired.  I'm talking this little boy already knows how to throw a fit!  But, once he's swaddled he's much happier.  Yes, he still loves to be swaddled; actually, he NEEDS (and loves) to be swaddled because he can not be still.  At no moment during the day is he ever still.  Ever.  He is the most wiggly thing!  He looks just like his daddy's 3 month pictures.  Scott's mom got them out for me to see, so I will try to scan them in so you can compare for yourselves.  His favorite person is his mommy, and a close second is his big sister Ella Beth.  He loves to watch her play, and actually tolerates being her play object pretty well!  He's a good eater, not such a good sleeper...yet.  I have faith that it will come.  He weighs 12 pounds even...10 percentile; he is 24 inches...50-75 percentile.  I think he's taking after his daddy all the way around. 

No wonder I L-O-V-E my little fella!

Family, boat rides, & pig-tails!

Scott, Ella Beth, Landon & I went up to the lake on Sunday to visit with my mom.  Scott's sister Karla, husband Greg, and daughter Kaitlin, Scott's sister Jamie and her boyfriend Scott, and Scott's parents all came up on Monday for Memorial Day.  It was a nice trip.  Scott's mom said she felt as though she went on a mini-vacation!  (Much different for Scott and me since we had to deal with two babies who didn't sleep well at night and who cried most of the way home on Monday night.  But, I digress!)

It is now our annual tradition for us all to head to the lake.  We spend the day basking in the sun, riding the Sea Doo, taking a nice, relaxing boat ride, and ending the day with BBQ and homemade ice cream!  Yum-O! 

I will let the pictures speak for themselves.  Everyone had a great time, and little Landon slept through his entire first boat ride.  (He actually took a 4 1/2 hour nap to make up for the lack of sleep he got the night before...but, again, I digress!)  Ella Beth and Kaitlin also took a good nap on the boat, but did wake up for the last half of the ride.  Kaitlin and Greg even got in the chilly water for a good swim.  Actually, Greg went for an extra swim as he fell off the dock into the water - too bad no one had a camera ready for that one!!!

It's so fun to spend time hanging out and having fun with family.  We are both so blessed to have those around us whom we love.




Landon napping with Aunt Karla (She's getting in her baby-boy-practice b/c she's due with a little boy in August!)


Soon to be big-sister-Kaitlin reeling in a fish!


Ella Beth looking on with curiosity.



Landon was all smiles with Mommy after a BIG meal following his record-breaking nap!
 
Aunt Jamie and Scott posing  for a picture.

Busy

Busy helping Ella Beth start her athletic career.

Busy watching Ella Beth "catch air" like the pros.

Busy watching my babies become best buds.

Busy dedicating Landon.  Scott and I dedicated Landon on Sunday, May 18th.  As his parents, we are dedicated to one another and to raising Landon in a Christian home that is loving, respectful, serving, and open & honest with each other.

 

Busy enjoying Ella Beth play outside...her favorite thing to do!

(Check out that static cling!)

Being a mom keeps me busy, busy, busy.  My shower is at 6 AM each morning - other wise I'd never get one.  My floors only get vacuumed once a week these days; mopped even less.  The laundry piles up for HUGE loads lately.   Our recycle material piles up for GIGANTIC drop offs.  My inbox backs up to where I respond to emails at least a week later most of the time.  But, it's worth it.  Not easy.  But when I see my beautiful little ones, it's all worth it!

Being a Mother isn't for the weak!

After a day like today, it's a wonder I'm still alive to tell about it.  Crying. Screaming. Babies. Oh my.  I don't understand it, but it happens around here.  The strangest gray cloud that settles over our house just appears at will and brings forth rivers of tears.  Mommy's own tears were flowing in the river today. 

I remember wishing before Landon arrived that JUST ONE PERSON would tell me it wouldn't be hard.  No one ever did.  Now I know why.  I'm losing my patience because things don't seem to be getting easier.  In some cases they are getting more difficult.  Example: Landon now responds to Ella Beth's crying with his own crying.  Before, he just didn't respond; not any longer.  Ella Beth is becoming more jealous of Landon, not less.  Landon is still not sleeping more than 3 hours at night.  This Mommy is exhausted.

Today, they both cried for over an hour.  I tried soothing each of them together and separately.  Finally, I just put Ella Beth in her bed and Landon in his.  They cried in their rooms, and I went and cried in mine. 

I just need someone to tell me that it is going to get easier.  Please.

Despite this difficult day, I am still grateful to be a mom.  It's much harder than I ever expected, and it's still hard to believe that it's me in pictures with my own two children, but I love them more than words could ever express.  I honestly do.  Here's a cute shot of Ella Beth and me together.  It was quite windy, so little Landon wasn't outside with us.

We spent the day on Sunday with Scott's family.  My mom had planned to come, but with my grandmother not at home with her any longer, she decided not to make the trip.  Kathy (my mother-in-law) loved her gift, and I am anticipating the same reaction out of my mom.  I had hoped that they would open their gifts at the same time, but my mom will get hers this weekend when she comes to visit for Landon's Baby Dedication at our church.  I think their gifts will become an on-going tradition each year!  (I would tell you what it is, but since my mom doesn't have hers yet...)

I hope all of you moms out there had a great day celebrating you!  Being a mother isn't for the weak, so we should relish in those who appreciate us. :)

Things have been busy!

No, I haven't forgotten how to type, I just haven't had the opportunity recently.  With 3 photo shoots, managing Landon's sleepless stage, managing the beginning of potty training Ella Beth, managing life as a wife, and trying to get in some "me" time (Ha, Ha)...I've been really busy.

First:  a few shots that are SO worth sharing from recent photo shoots.

So, on to my life.  Well, something crazy and awful is going on right now with Landon's sleeping habits.  He all but refuses to nap in the mornings.  Ummm...he's only 10 weeks old, people!  He literally goes from wake-up (anywhere from 6:30-7:30) and doesn't sleep again until 12 noon-ish.  It doesn't matter what I do -


swaddle, walk, rock, swing, all of the above...he just won't settle.  He may drift off a bit, but no deep slumber.  I've even tried letting him cry for a little while...okay, I had just gotten in the shower when he woke up (I thought he had finally gone to sleep which is why I got in the shower).  Since I was in there and all soaped up, and I needed a little break, I didn't rush my shower.  He was still crying after I got my clothes on.  That was about 25 minutes later, and he was showing no signs of settling himself.  I can't muster the ability to let him cry that long.  I'm weak, I will admit it.  But, listening to him cry when I could just go pick him up really breaks my heart.  It still seems too early to do that anyway.  But, because of my weakness and his sleep-less-ness, life is even more hectic... 

...lest we forget little Ella Beth!  Oh, she can be naughty.  Such a stinker.  She has completely been submersed in the terrible twos; I dread threes.  She is testing her limits.  But, darn if she isn't just so cute.  For instance, the other day I was getting her out of her car seat and she hit me.  I looked at her and told her, "That's not nice.  We don't hit people.  What do you say?'  Ella Beth says, "Please."  I busted out laughing!  The "teachable" moment was totally lost.  Her jealousy of Landon has finally hit now that the newness of Landon is gone.  She likes whoever isn't holding Landon.  Makes it a tad difficult when it's only me at home.  Now I know what it's truly like to be on the other side of a mother/daughter relationship.  It's made me a little sad to know that she's not 99% Mommy's girl any more, but I know it's just a part of growing up.  And, we've started potty-training.  Just the beginning stages.  She will "tee tee" each morning, but she's not grasping how to let me know before she has to go during the day.  This morning I let her go without a diaper for a couple of hours.  But, after 4 little accidents, the diaper went back on.  I guess I didn't realize that she tee tees in tiny little bits every so often.  I thought she was just like an adult and would just "go" when she had a full bladder.  Oh well, I'm still learning.  Any and ALL suggestions are welcome to help out with potty-training!

Well, last week we went back to the farm where we met the orphaned baby deer last Fall.  This time we met baby goats, baby chickens, and a rooster.  The deer was still there, and was a bit obsessed with Landon's car seat!

Noah, the little boy in the background, kept putting the baby chickens on the table and they would "fly" off.  Ella Beth thought it was hilarious!

This is just one of the many shots of the deer checking out Landon and his sweet ride. ;)

The other day I decided that I was going to devote a good amount of time to my quiet time b/c both babies were napping and I was ready to delve into my ladies' study.  Here's how that went:  Read Ruth 3.  Landon cries.  Pat his bottom, and he falls asleep.  Read Ruth 4.  Landon cries.  Pat his bottom, and he falls asleep.  Answer questions 1 & 2.  Landon cries.  Pat his bottom, and he falls asleep.  Answer questions 3 & 4.  Landon cries.  Pat his bottom, and he falls asleep.  READ question 5.  Landon cries.  I realize it's now time for him to eat.  I am nursing for about 2 minutes.  Ella Beth wakes up.  Oh, the endless joys of motherhood!