One Month Old!

Levi, you are one month old! That went fast! Here are some things you've done and are doing:

- You weigh 9 lbs. 11 oz. (50 percentile) and are 23 in. tall (90 percentile)!! Wow! You are already getting too long for a few of your newborn sleepers!

- Newborn diapers are pretty snug on you, so you're wearing '1s'. Although you are also wearing cloth diapers part-time. 

- You sleep great in your car seat. I was so surprised when you slept all the way home from the hospital! You have done it several times since then-- to church, at the grocery store, back home, etc. Sometimes your naps align with big brother's! This makes me very happy because I can nap too. Or sometimes I get a few things done (like writing up this post while you are sleeping!). 

- You are strong! You have been raising your head since you were born! You give me little "kisses" on my cheek when you bounce your head, while you're rooting.

- Just this week you have become more alert and can be happy while you are awake for up to 20 minutes! Daddy and I both noticed you seem to have crossed from newborn to baby at the 4 week mark. 

- You make lots of squeaks and other noises while you are sleeping. 

- Your cry is very much the stereotypical "waa!" You get angry pretty fast, hold your breath, and turn red in the face! What will this mean for our future? 

- You like using a pacifier. 

- You are doing a great job breast feeding! Sometimes Daddy gives you a bottle at night, but other than that you are nursing every 2-3 hrs. Although you've given me a couple 4 hour stretches some nights!! Sometimes when you are eating you will squeeze my arm between your legs. And the other day you happened to get your arms around both sides of my neck and you squeezed and gave me your first "hug"!! 

Levi, Mommy and Daddy love you so much! Already, we can't imagine life without you! We can't wait to see your personality develop each day and guide you on your life journey! 

New year, new baby, new normal

Life with two small ones is challenging. There are many demands (especially from the newborn!), there are lots of tears, there are lots of adjustments to make - especially here at the beginning. But my new motto is to just take it one day at a time. I can't dwell on my failures from the day before, but I can learn and make today as good as possible. 

I only have one new year's goal this year: to be a great mom and wife! Within that goal I have many components, like keeping up with the housework, praying for Jeremiah, Zeke, and Levi every day, reading several parenting and marriage books, and doing something healthy for myself each day, to name a few. I feel good about this goal because it is something I want to invest my time in and there are many avenues of improvement on the pathway there! Plus, at this time in my life, it really is important to me that I focus on the stage of life I'm in and not miss out on these days with little ones. I'll never get them back and they are precious, precious memories. 

The Lord has blessed our family and life is good! 

The Past Few Days -- in pictures

Levi Olin Davis has arrived! 

Swaddle time

Zeke colored this picture for Daddy and Mommy while we were in the hospital waiting to meet Levi. 

Zeke holding Levi for the first time

Time to get dressed! 

Last day in the hospital

Zeke was excited to bring baby brother home! 

He got to wear the bear outfit! (It was too warm in TX when we took Zeke home.) 

Our family of 4! 

Brother bonding time! 

The Final Countdown

It's December and that means we're going to have our baby this month! 

We are getting excited to meet Baby Davis and for everyone to know if it's a boy or girl! I am 36 weeks today, so with 4 weeks to go here is a little countdown. 

4 - the new size of our family!

3 - the number of outfits I have packed in the hospital bag for bringing baby home. Plus lots of hats and gloves! Apparently I'm having a hard time deciding! 

2 - a little less than 2 months until Zeke turns 2!! 

1 - one month to prepare, enjoy our Christmas celebrations, and give Zeke lots of one-on-one attention. 

To life... full of never really knowing what's coming next! 

It's the little things...

Our Thursday: 

Time with other moms at MOPS? Check! 

Zeke got to play with some other kids his age? Check! 

Snow day? Check! 

Nap time? Check!

Milk mustache and warm cookies? Double check!! 

This is the look I get when I ask for a smile on camera :) 

Growing up so Fast!

Remembering to be Thankful

I've seen a few posts on Facebook today poking fun at the people who are doing 30 days of thankfulness during the month of November. I get it. I feel like it gets way overdone and shouldn't we be thankful for things the whole year through? The answer, of course, is yes. But I also think it's great that at least one month of the year we make an effort to look for things in our life to be thankful for. What if we never did it? That would be truly unfortunate. 

Now I have no intention of joining in with the countless others on Facebook, but I am going to take a few minutes to reflect on a few things I'm thankful for here on my blog. 

My husband. 

My son, Ezekiel - who currently looks like this next to me. 

The healthy baby growing in my belly and who we will be meeting in just 7-8 weeks! 

My family. 

My friends. 

A place to live that keeps us warm and dry. 

The generosity of others. 

Our working car. 

The beautiful fall we are having in CO. 

Jehovah Jireh - My God who provides. 

The ability to read and learn. 

My good health. 

Dora- even when she throws up 3 times in one day. 

Clean, running water. 

Technology that helps me stay in touch with family and friends when they (or we) move away. 

We always have enough to eat. 

The sunshine...and the snow. 

Friendly neighbors. 

The gorgeous mountains I now get to see every day. 

My new Pioneer Woman cookbook. 

My husband's job. 

The privilege to be a stay at home Mom. 

I know some of these are vague and I could obviously go into specific examples. Some of these are small, but shouldn't we be thankful for even the small things? I find that my life has slowed down dramatically since becoming a parent, but I don't miss been stressed and busy. Some days I want to be productive and get dishes done instead of stopping to read a book or dance in the living room. But in those moments I find myself being more grateful for my blessed life than in my times of efficiency and effectiveness. I thank The Lord for giving me the chance to be a parent and stop sprinting through life, and instead savor it, one day at a time. 

To life... full of blessings.