Hawley Peeps Monthly: Month 3

I think I’m really starting to enjoy these posts!  Well time out, let me rephrase that.  I think I’m going to enjoy reading this one day in the future so that makes writing them more sentimental and special.

Month One ~ Month Two

Month Three- Dutch

• At 9 weeks he found his hands, he was registered for school, and started giggling
• Dutch’s facial expressions are more and more interactive
• He is imitating me...especially sticking tongue out
• He loooooovvves to go outside
• Bathtime with daddy is a highlight in the day for Dutch
• He is still wearing 0-3 clothes
• Dutch slept through the night (10pm-5pm) on 8/22/14... it was a on time thing but very much appreciated
• He went to work with mamma and sat through 4 meetings & training sessions perfectly as I prepped for school
• His frog and elephant toys are his favorite
• Dutch went to the church nursery at 11 weeks and mama balled her eyes out
• You went to the library at 11 weeks
• You watched your first Steelers game at 10 weeks
• Dutch attended his first college class with mama
• There have been several occasions where he slept from 9:30pm/10pm - 5:30am/6am so about 7.5 hr stretches 4 times or so
• You love to snuggle and sleep with mama
• Around 12 weeks he started slapping lips to make a kissing sound …it’s so cute!
• At 12 weeks daddy watched Dutch all day by himself!
• You are starting to bringing things to your mouth

Month Three- Ellis

• On 3/19/16 (8 weeks old) you slept your first long stretch at night 9:45pm-4am!! It was a one time thing, but mama says thank you baby girl!
• You are cooing a lot and really trying to engage in communication babbling back and forth with us
• You are still eating 100% breastmilk every 2-3 hours.
• It seems so odd to us, but you very rarely spit up. so far only 4x.  I remember how much your brother would spit up, we would have to lay him flat for 20-30 minutes after every feeding so that he would keep his milk down.  When you’re done eating there is no need to keep you flat.
• At 9 weeks daddy was in charged of both kids for the first time for 2 hours.  Everyone survived and was completely fine, except mama who just wanted to be with you all.
• This month you had your first family road trip to the farm, first holiday (Easter), and first overnighter
• Mama cannot stop kissing your cheeks; they are soooooo kissable!
• Lots of cooing coming from you and we love it
• You’ve got some thigh rolls and I just love them!!!! You can’t see them because they’re very high so only those who change your diaper can see them ….which is just mama and daddy but they are the cutest rolls ever!!!
• It's so cute when I get in bed with you.  As soon as I lay down next to you, you immediately roll towards me (when I say roll, I mean you rotate your head, you are not rolling over full-body yet) and tuck your head right up under my chin on my chest; it's like clockwork and  predictable.  We spoon all night long.  I treasure these snuggles.
• You have done a complete 180 when it comes to diaper changes.  You used to loath diaper changes….like scream bloody murder with each change and I would hate to change you, but now is completely different.  Now you just look at mama and giggle the entire time.  We both love diaper changes and we just smile at each other :-)
• You only really scream or cry now when you're hungry.  Other than that you're a very happy and very smiley little girl.  I don't think I have ever seen a happier baby.
• We have you scheduled to be dedicated at church next month
• You've started to tolerate baths a lot more.  I still don't think you love them, but you don't cry during them.
• You prefer to lay flat as opposed to reclined.  You don't tolerate the bouncer/swing/rock and play for very long.  You would much rather sleep flat on your back or on your stomach on mama's chest.  Clearly mama didn’t need to take the time to clean all of the baby gear for you.  You only want mama, and I’m more than okay with that.
• At 9 weeks you wore your first cloth diaper.  It took you some time to get a little bigger so that they would fit.  We're so glad that they fit now and we can get back to not using disposables. 
• If you do wear a disposable it is still a size 1
• At 11 weeks you're really starting to push up on your legs.  Your legs are getting stronger and you like to be able to look around.  You like us to hold you up so that you can see everything.  We think you have FOMO (fear of missing out) hehe
• The only think that you really really don't like is the nosefrida.  You like it afterwards, but during you scream really loud and hate it.  I think this month you have struggled with allergies because you’re stuffy in the mornings so I have to use the nosefrida every morning and I really dread it, because I know you hate it.
• Mama can't stop taking your picture.  It seems like every outfit you wear is the cutest so I have to take a picture.  I seriously have no more self control.
• You are trying so hard to sit up from your back to an upright position.
• It looks like your eyes are getting darker, like they might be green or brown
• Your hair is starting to get longer, you've got a little bit of a mohawk on your left side and it is adorable! 
• You and mama snuggle every afternoon while big brother is sleeping.  It's our special time :-)
• You got to meet granny this month
• I’ve packed up all of your newborn clothes and you’re fitting into 0-3 month clothes perfectly.

Oh The Places You’ll Go…with scripture! {FREE DOWNLOAD}

Just when you thought a Dr. Seuss classic couldn’t get any better, it does!  It doesn’t matter how old you are, the words from Dr. Seuss are loaded with wisdom that provoke deep thinking. But, when you add scripture, the stories of Dr. Seuss are taken to the next level and become so much better.  Like a bazillion times better.  All I did here was put scripture on each page that matched up with the text from Dr. Seuss.  This is a great gift for someone who is starting a new chapter in their life (e.g. moving, graduating, new job, etc.), but also for young children to start learning scripture.  I “made” this for my babies this year for Christmas and gave as gifts for a few of our favorite kiddos.  I use the word “made” very loosely since I didn’t create any of these words; I just matched up words from some of the greats.  This is so easy and filled with deeply encouraging intentions for someone else.  It takes a book with many great life lessons and adds the message of the Greatest book of life lessons.  So that you can have this too, I made a document that you can download with all of the verses for each page for FREE!!!!   Seriously y’all can do this.  All you need is a pen :-)  I chose to add the wording to each page within the art.  Check it out!!!!

Click HERE to get your FREE copy of the scripture so that you can get started making one of these books!!!

Confession Time: This Mama is Coming Clean!!!

Maybe it's because I'm feeling poorly with some lovely food poisoning, or maybe I'm just feeling the need to get some stuff on my chest.  Either way, I'm gunna let you know some real stuff. 

1. Peepee Time- It's been a while since I got to use the restroom without my little helper handing me perfectly shredded toilet paper squares.  While I love the help (hehe), I admit that I got up early last Sunday just so that I could go to the bathroom by myself. 

2. Bear Jealousy- If you follow me on Instagram then you've probably seen pictures of Dutch with his bear.  This bear was actually in a floral arrangement that we received when Dutch was born.  I put it in his crib corner because I honestly didn't know what to do with it.  It stayed there for about a year.  About the time Dutch turned one, this bear became gold to him....like overnight!  I don't know what he sees in this bear, but whatever it is, it's very important.  Bear is a buddy, "is funny", is his snack date, playmate outside....bear is a big deal.  Bear is so much of a big deal that I have ordered 2 extras, so that now we have 3...of course Dutch doesn't know that.  I have them in case something tragic happens to bear.  I rotate the bears so that I can wash them but also so that they are all "loved" or worn the same amount and he can't tell them apart.  Now I bet you think that the effort I put into preserving 3 bears would be my confession, but it is not!  It gets worse!  The other day Dutch fell down and he was crying so I asked him where bear was for his comfort.  And that's when it hit me:  what used to bring him comfort was me, but now it's a stuffed bear........I HAVE BEEN REPLACED! I knew this was going to happen, I just didn't think it would happen this soon.  Throughout his life I will become more and more replaced, pushed further into the backseat......there will be sports and girlfriends and then eventually a wife and family.  So yep, right now I am jealous of that stuffed bear because it symbolizes the start of him drifting into his own individuality and I'm just not ready for it waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

3. Bubbles Are The Devil- Yeah I said it, and I stand by it!  Hate is such a good word, no I take that back, loathe is a much better word to describe my feelings toward those darn floating sods.  So okay, while I loathe them, bubbles are the best thing in the world to Dutch (next to bear of course, see above).  Bubbles bring Dutch so much joy; his face lights up like the Rockefeller tree when we play with them, or even mention the word.  Any normal mother would love bubbles too then, right?  Not me.  Of course I love to watch Dutch happy with bubbles, it's just that while I'm watching him I'm already anticipating what is going to happen when the bubbles are gone or we have to put them away.  It is a nightmare......like a really really bad nightmare.  Dutch is a very easy going kid; he doesn't cry or throw tantrums or have meltdowns.  Honestly he is a dream kid so far, so maybe I'm just not trained in the code of the toddler? When the bubbles go away the rest of the day is completely shot.  He is sooooooo sad when the bubbles are gone. So genuinely upset with the bubble exit.  Not to steal his joy, but I honestly do everything I can to avoid bubbles.  I’ve even secretly wished that maybe he would spill the bubbles so that they would be gone, but then I dread that he would spill them and be so sad.  But you know what? Bubbles are everywhere; it’s bubble season!  Over Easter Dutch got some bubbles & I think my eye balls came out of their sockets when I saw them.  I braced myself and just hoped he would go through them quickly.  And he did!  But then a super sweet little girl, no sarcasm here at all I promise, a really well meaning child offered her bubbles to Dutch when his were gone and he was sad.  It was so kind, but I’m pretty sure I stared that sweet girl down like she just offered my kid crack.  So I guess it’s not that I hate the bubbles so much as I hate that we can’t have bubbles constantly and I have to watch my child be so sad.  I guess with all things, this is just a phase and one day I will love bubbles again, but hopefully I wont be too late.

4. More Bows?- Um yes........I need more bows.  I know that I just wrote a post about Zozu Baby bows last week, but I'm not done talking about them (or thinking about them for that matter).  There are subscription boxes to everything these days & I've honestly always wanted to participate in them.  I've never pulled the trigger because I really can't justify the purchase; they're usually over-priced for what you get and really just small samples that you wont use very long.  Well my friends, I have finally caved and joined a subscription box for Lady Ellis.  I ordered Little Poppy Co bows!  They are three super stylish bows on a clip or nylon that we will get in the mail once a month for only $11.99!  That is an amazing deal!  I'm just dying for our first box to arrive and I can't wait to tell you what we think!

5. And More Leggings?- Oh yes guilty here again too!  I think I told y'all that I underestimated the number of leggings I needed postpartum.  I think I need about 10 pairs....but friends I have stumbled upon THE BEST leggings every created.  They are SO good that they're called PERFECT FIT leggings!!! Even the name is perfect!  It's no secret that I'm a bit obsessed with Grace & Lace (I love the product and the heart of this company), but I didn't try the leggings until this month.  HOLY MOLY I am crazy to not have tried these sooner!  These leggings (and honestly, the capris as well) are amazing.  Not only do they fit well, but they also make me look like I'm not still pregnant!  Woah talk about making this mama feel pretty again! Y'all go get you some stat!

Okay I think that’s enough confessing for one day, right?  haha

What do you need to confess today?  You’ve used more dry shampoo than actual shampoo lately?

I know I’m in good company, so come on spill it y’all! 

A Day In The Life- Take 2

Does this make me nosey? I love to see what days are like for other people.  Not special days, but just the normal, average, day.  So in case your nosey like me (hehe, I kid), then here is a peak into a veeeeeeery normal day for us. No glam here, but just an hour by hour what happens around Chateau Hawley everyday. (This is from Thursday this past week.)

To be honest, these #adayinthelife posts are getting harder and harder to do.  Not that my days are hard, it’s just that I am happily distracted with the actually living part.  But I’m really glad that I did this last week.  Like really glad.  One day these days will be so far away and I wont remember what every day was like and this will be a nice glimpse into what a regular day was like with a newborn & a one year old.  The last time I wrote one of these posts I was just pregnant with Ellis and Dutch had just turned 1, and to say that life has changed in just 8 months would be like the ultimate understatement of the year.  It’s neat to me to look back at what life was like; but honestly, some things are still the same just bigger.  Like laundry and changing diapers.  I still do that around the clock…just more now. hahaha

It's 7am, and I overslept by an hour! After I nurse Ellis at 5:30 I always pump so today I'm having breakfast and pumping to get back on track before the babies wake up. Hopefully I can get my devotional in today 
It's 8am. ..I'm shocked Dutch isn't awake yet so I'm doing the dishes since that darn Dish Fairy skipped over our house again last night! I normally do dishes before bed but I fell asleep on the couch last night oooops
It's 9am...bedhead :-) Dutch is awake drinking his milk, mama is watching her daily dose of the Today Show (an addiction really lol), & Ellis is sleeping still. 
It's 10am...look who's awake! Ellis has been fed & changed, Dutch is having the blueberry waffles I made him, & I'm on my second cup of coffee.  
It's 11am....Dutch is working on his numbers & letters

It's 12pm...baby girl has been nursed back to sleep, Dutch had smoked chicken salad, cheese, and crackers for lunch, and now I've started laundry and going through Dutch’s shoes to see what still fits so I'm ready to shop at the consignment sale this weekend. 
It's 1pm...nursed Ellis, vacuumed the house, and now putting my laundry away. Then Dutch is going down for a nap. Glamorous life y'all lol 
It's 2pm....swapping smiles with this precious little one!

It's 3pm...post nursing snuggles while I check email, read some blogs, & shop on the couch

It's 4pm...reheated my 2nd cup of coffee for the 2000th time, pumping again, & folding diapers again

It's 5pm...dinner is in the oven and I'm trying to finish these birth announcements that I've been addressing for 3 weeks now. I will finish before Ellis is one!

At 6pm...we had loaded sweet potatoes, with roasted dijon chicken served over a spinach and goat cheese salad.

It's 7pm... My view from the kitchen is heavenly

It's 8pm...we played, cleaned up, watched 1 episode of Mickey Mouse, did our Hotdog dance (y'all we are good, you should see our moves!), & put Dutch to bed

It's 9pm...one more nursing session for this girl before we go to bed. I'm gunna call it for today because if history is any indication I'm going to pass out right here on the couch before I drag myself to bed after our next nursing session around midnight. Night y'all!

So that is our pretty regular day, now times today by 7 and that's our everyday :-)  It isn’t a glamorous life but it is a life I love and am grateful for every single day!  If you want to follow more of this super exciting life I live (hahahahahaha, I can’t even write that with a straight face lol), feel free to follow LWTH on Instagram!

Lady Ellis Newborn & Family Photos

I feel so vain.  Like embarrassingly, can barely admit it, vain.

My sister calls Ellis, Lady Ellis and it has sort of stuck.

When Lady Ellis was 9 days old we had her newborn pictures taken.  If you’ve been around here for a while you know that LWTH is just smitten with Grace Hill Photography.  When I got the pictures back of Lady Ellis I scrolled through them over and over again.  I couldn’t stop looking staring at them! It only took me a month and a half to select our announcement pictures, have them printed, addressed and then sent…..So now that they are finally in the mail I can share these ah-maz-ing pictures with you.  Thank you so much Grace for these pictures.  There really are no words that accurately describe how grateful I am for these pictures, and your attention to detail (hey folks, check out the flowers that were used in these pictures, and then look back to our very first pregnancy announcement).  All of these amazingly beautiful pictures were done by the talented and sweet Grace Hill Photography!  Go check her out now!!!! She’s awesome!


Aren’t these pictures amazing?! Now can you see why it was so hard to pick pictures for our announcements?! I honestly cannot even believe that I’m just 9 days postpartum here!  Grace Hill Photography is seriously that good! Which pictures am I going to pick to have printed to be hung in our house.....Hopefully I will get those printed before Lady Ellis is one lol

You’ve got to check out more of Grace's work here. We just love her, and not just for these pictures.  Thank you Grace!