I have a smart mouth...

I know I'm lacking in my blog posts...but you really don't want any recaps of my day.  They would all read something like this:

Woke up today, Pierce jumped in his jumper while I had my coffee and Pop Tarts.

Pierce took his usual 45 minute first nap, and I kept sitting on my tail

When Pierce woke up, we played for several hours

Pierce took his hour second nap, and I did laundry

He woke up and had a fruit lunch and a bottle

We played

He took a short nap

We played

I cleaned the kitchen

We played

He took his evening nap

We played

I cooked

He ate his dinner

We played

He got a bath

We played

He nursed and went to bed

I had my beer

and went to bed

Exciting life I have, no?  

I really am thoroughly enjoying being a SAHM, I randomly tell J, "Thank you for allowing me to stay home"  I think it's very important that he hears my appreciation, because I'm sure I can gripe when Pierce has a fussy day and make it sound ungrateful.  But, I'm far from ungrateful to stay home with my prince

I made bread today (more on that in another post, it's yum and I want to share the EASY recipe I found), and remarked to J that I needed a bread slicer but I wasn't sure where to find them

"Look it up"

"Thanks for that suggestion, I never would have thought of it :P"

He called me an Asshat!!

Then this conversation ensued:

 But, he never knew who I should submit them to...

so, I submit them to BlogWorld lol

Stepped out of my box...

I am a huge creature of habit, of structure, of familiarity.  I rarely do something "new", especially if I have very little knowledge about it.
Sunday was a huge step out of my church comfort zone, my box I've stayed in ALL of my nearly 30 years!  I have ventured out of my Episcopalian box to go to very few churches, Southern Baptist, Church of Christ, and Methodist (Contemporary service).
Let me back up a few steps...

One of my best friends rediscovered her faith, and not in the church she was raised in.  She was raised Baptist, and strayed like we all typically do as a teenager.

She stood by my side through my pregnancy, was a wonderful support.
She helped hold me up and keep me strong through Pierce's NICU stay.
We have shared things with each other that neither of us have shared with any other friends.
After she helped me get through Pierce coming home, many many texts of "is this normal??" from this new mommy, she and her husband decided they were ready for number 2.
She immediately got pregnant!  I remember the phone call!  I was SO SO excited and happy for her.

About a week later, I woke up to a text.  It was a picture of her ultrasound, TWINS.  I just sat in bed, mouth wide open, tears in my eyes, a million thoughts running through my head.
You see, her son was really rough on her body.  Pregnancy and type 1 diabetes don't mix well.  While I was elated for her, I was also very very concerned for what twins would do to her body.
A week or two after finding out she was pregnant with twins, she called me with horrible news.  One didn't make it.
Somehow, with her new-found faith, she got through that, and marched on knowing she still had one baby.
Several weeks later, getting close to the end of her first trimester, the week before Christmas, she found out she had lost the second.  She found that out the exact day I found out that I had to have surgery to remove my rogue Mirena.  She had to have a D&C on Wednesday, I had my surgery on Thursday.
She got through the entire situation with a smile, and trust in God.

We've been through a lot together the past year.  We've supported each other, cried with each other, picked each other up.  Listened.

So, when she came to me and told me that she had found peace in a church, found her faith and decided to immerse herself in it, I was all ears.  She knew that I would find it strange, that I would have questions.  She was ready to answer them.  She knew I would question "why do you do this..." but not "why are you doing this?"  She knew I would support her.
And, support her I did.

I've never had a Pentecostal friend.  All I knew about them were stereotypes.
Now, I have a Pentecostal friend, and I love her just the same.

When she told me she was going to give her testimony and be baptized, I knew it was something J and I needed to attend.  Something we needed to give her our physical presence support, not just a word of encouragement.  You see, she has known J and I separately for a long time, and of course known us as a couple the entire time we've been together.  We're all 3 friends.  Anyway...we knew we'd be there.  She's even Pierce's "Auntie", so he went too!!

I've never been to a Pentecostal church, didn't know anything about what to expect.  I was briefed by my friend lol.  She knew that I was used to a very formal, very high church atmosphere...and let's just say formal and high church this wasn't!!
It wasn't as bad as J or I expected...I'm not entirely sure what we expected, but it wasn't as bad.  It was certainly different!  Their services are loud, exciteable, a lot of clapping, hands in the air, "AMEN" and "PRAISE JESUS" shouting.
I'm used to speaking when the Book of Common Prayer has italicized words instructing you to all read in unison.  I'm used to no outbursts.  The priest isn't interrupted during his sermon at my church!  
Even during the first song, as I was dancing Pierce around because he's just not used to that much activity and noise (he handled it like a CHAMP and just soaked in his surroundings), I had a very strange experience, proving that I am Episcopalian through and through lol.  I sang "Hallelujah" with everyone, singing, dancing, clapping.  The Episcopalian in me all of a sudden remembered, "It's Lent, this isn't a celebratory time, this is a quiet, penitent time"  I scaled it back and stopped singing, stopped clapping, but for Pierce I kept dancing.  And, I felt more at ease, more comfortable.
You can still practice Lent in a Pentecostal church!  haha.

As I was showering that morning, getting ready to go, I had a slight moment of fear over my wardrobe!  Really?!  I don't own a dress or skirt!  I take that back, I have ONE black dress that's semi-low cut and knee length.  I decided that my pants were much more acceptable in a women-only-wear-skirts-church than a short dress that shows off the girls.
And, as I was applying my make-up to go to the women-dont-wear-makeup-church, I got a thought of, "Maybe I should minimize what I wear"  But, I also thought that I don't really wear much makeup, it's all a neutral natural shade...And, most importantly, if I were to invite a Pentecostal to my church with me, I wouldn't expect them to change their skirt to pants, or put make up on.  So, I went as myself and I'm glad I did.  I would have been more uncomfortable trying to "fit in" with a group of people who would clearly know I was an impostor as soon as church started!!

It was an honor to support my friend in her baptism.  J & I would do it again in a heart beat.

Friend, you know who you are...we love you

Half of a year....

Wow, how is it that Pierce is already 6 months old??  I'm so very grateful to have been home for the past 6 weeks and get to see him grow, change, mature, learn.  This boy is amazing, and I love him more each day.

He's gotten behind on his appointments, so his 4 month appointment was really at 5 months 10 days!  That appointment was mid January, and his measurements were

Length: 27" 75-90th percentile

Weight: 17.5 pounds 50-75th percentile

Head circumference: 17.5" 75-90th percentile

I'm going to guess he's up to at least 19 pounds and 28"

Diapers: Size 3 Luvs

Clothes: 3-6, 6mo, and today he wore a 9mo outfit that was loose but not too big

PJs: Carter's 6mo sleepers

Shoes: haha, doesn't wear any

 His "6 month" appointment is late March, when he'll be 7.5 months old!  womp womp...oh well lol

 

 I had randomly taken a picture of Pierce, diaper only, next to Seahorse (we got really creative there huh?) on the day he turned 4 months old.  I have pictures of him with it from the time he came home, so it's amazing to line them all up and look at them.

same sheets was a happy accident!

you see it took several to get one I could use for comparison!

Pierce and I met 2 of my dear friends for lunch today at a Hibachi place.  I don't eat much Japanese and had forgotten that they light the grills on fire during their cooking "show", oooh Pierce's eyes nearly bugged out of his head when those flames went up.  I wish there was video of that, it was hilarious!

For about a month, he's been holding his own bottle fairly well, so while I got ready to go, I gave him his bottle and put him in the doorway of the bathroom

He hit a big milestone today...

Sitting like a big boy in a restaurant high chair

*yes, I put his high chair cover on...but I had to make sure he would sit in it first before I drug it out lol

My sweet sweet boy has started "kissing" and "hugging".  He's very affectionate when he gets sleepy, he opens his arms and will quite literally hug you.  He will also hug your face!  His "kisses" are him opening his mouth, and slobbering all over your cheek or chin...where ever he can get to really.  This has all started in the past week.  He also will lean his forehead onto your face, resting his head on your for just a moment as if to say, "hi, I love you"  

As far as we know, he's only shown this affection to J & I...and we LOOOVE it, of course!

sorry for the blurry picture, camera phone+poor lighting

Poor fella, passed out on my shoulder!

I have a hoodie problem, if you follow me on IG or are on my Facebook, you know these things lol.  If it's got a cute hood, it's going on my kid!  This is a dinosaur?  Alligator?  I dunno.  He has a blue monster, and another dino (I'm sure that's a dino, it has an actual picture of a dino! lol)

Other milestones:

tripod sitting (arms on the floor or his feet/legs for support) for up to 20 seconds...he'll be sitting alone soon

reaches for things outside of his immediate reach

passes objects from one hand to the other

can grab Pass and put it in his mouth, properly

(speaking of Pass, how is there only one picture with Pass in it?  He has Pass 24/7)

has had 2 teeth since before his 5 month birthday, and has been having troubles with about 4 top teeth...if not 6!  Swollen, achy gums, thank goodness for Hyland's Teething Tablets!

Sleeps 10 or 11pm-6 or 7am in his crib, comes to bed with us to nurse, sleeps until 9ish, nurses, and we finally nurse again and get up at 10-11.  Yup, I get to sleep pretty well.  Thank you, Pierce

One "milestone" I haven't been loving, for 8 consecutive nights he has woken himself at 2am.  First night I thought he was hungry...nope.  Nights 2-7 J or I rocked him back to sleep within minutes.  Night 8, I just gave him Pass and patted his back and he soothed himself back to sleep.  It's 223 right now, and I'm waiting on the wake up for Night 9....sssssshhhhhhhhh

Pierce has changed our lives, he is the light of my life and I can not describe what he very obviously means to J.  He is an angel, and his Daddy sure believes it!  J soaks up every second he can get with Pierce.  I love watching them together.  Those boys....

BOGO Canvases!! Don't miss it!

I ordered a few canvases in January, and have been informed by my loving husband that I'm done with canvases for a few months...considering we went from none to 4 in 2 months I can't much blame him.  However, I did get them ALL on great sales!  Can't beat a sale!!

Before I hung them

The top two are 8x10s from Easy Canvas.  I absolutely LOVE their quality!
I got them on a great BOGO offer, and I wanted to pass it on to ya'll!!  Canvases aren't cheap, at all, so if you're interested in any canvases this is THE sale to use!!

And, because I just saw this sale and wanted to share it, I only have a poorly lit cell phone picture of the finished arrangement on the wall but want to share it anyway!

Happy Valentine's Day

This was Pierce's first Valentine's Day, and he was by far my sweetest Valentine ever!!  

Such a happy Valentine!

These are the two best pictures, out of countless attempts.  Why, you ask?

Pierce has become Mr Wiggles.  

Child moves all of the time, we call it happy feet.  He kicks and kicks when he's happy!

And if he's not being Mr Wiggles, he's eating his feet or rolling left and right

Pierce and I decided that he needed to give his hard working Daddy a Valentine's gift

Especially since we wouldn't really see Daddy much between a long day and school and all night at work!

before it went in the oven...not sure why I haven't gotten a picture  of the finished product!

His Daddy just loved it!!

Happy Valentine's Day, ya'll!

Pierce's first Ashes

I was hoping to share the experience of Pierce's first Ash Wednesday with J, but since he had to work Pierce and I loaded up in the car and went to church!  Just Pierce and myself.  First time the two of us had been to church alone.  If he decided to sing, fuss, or scream it was me...alone.  Can you tell I was concerned?  I hate the people that bring noisy kids into church, it disrupts service and concentration, so of course I didn't want to be that parent.  I positioned myself so I could quickly get out of either door, one that lead to a sitting room, and one that goes directly outside if we needed to make a great escape!

Pierce was an absolute angel through service.  Even through the what-seemed-like-forever periods of silence, you know the silence where you could hear a pin drop.  He just sat in my arms and watched everyone, looked around at everything.  Our church is historic, has stained glass, amazing architectural detail, and Pierce was soaking it all in!  Hey, whatever kept him quiet.

 It was time for us to go get our ashes (the service is known as the Imposition of the Ashes), and he just clung to me like a spider monkey, pass in his mouth (Pass aka pacifier).  We knelt at the alter rail and without hesitation our priest marked Pierce with the cross (in ashes of course), then moved on to me.  I've never seen a baby with ashes on his forehead, but it was so very important to me for Pierce to receive his ashes, at not-yet 6 months old.  No, he has no clue what happened, doesn't even know he received ashes.  Yes, it was for me in the grand scheme of things, but I just want to start now.  Immerse him.  Set the foundation now.
My Lenten promise to Pierce (and Christ) was to take these 40 days and nights and really start working on my Christian foundation.  I'm ashamed to say, I've never read the Bible.  I've read parts of it.  I'm ashamed to say, I can't name a quarter of the books of the Bible.  I don't plan on grilling myself and learning the books, reading the entire Bible cover to cover in these 40 days of Lent.  That's not what Lent is to me.  I want to start a habit, and make it a lifestyle.

After the imposition of ashes, we progressed into Holy Eucharist (communion), Pierce fell asleep in my arms and snoozed right on through me getting up and taking communion, the priest blessing him, and me going back to our pew.  He woke up, pleasant, happy, smiling.  All of my anxiety over taking him to church alone was gone.  I just knew, some how, he knew he had to be a good little boy and be quiet.  I had been telling him, but goodness I'm not silly enough to think he understands that!

Once service was over, we walked out of the sanctuary and spoke to one priest.  Pierce spit out Pass and just smiled his two-tooth smile, proud of himself for being such a good baby.  He smiled even more for the associate priest who organized his baptism.  That boy knows how to make people's day bright, the priest even said, "Those big smiles just make your day!"

I know it's crazy talk, but I really think somehow Pierce knew that he needed to be good.  To soak in his environment.  That there was something special about this place.
And my angel baby did just that, he was perfect

I really wanted to get a picture of Pierce with his first ashes, but I didn't want to be a goon sitting in church, this time of penitence, snapping pictures of my kid with ashes on his forehead.  So, sadly most of his ashes were wiped away when I put his hoodie back on him after service.  But, if you look closely, what looks like a bruise on his forehead is what was left of his ashes:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Haven't disappeared

I promise, I haven't disappeared again!  I generally don't blog on nights J is off work, or while Pierce is awake, and since he doesn't go to sleep until 11 or midnight that leaves me blogging at 1 or 2 am.
Tonight and last night Pierce woke up at 2am, crying.  I don't let him cry it out in the middle of the night, so last night I got up and just brought him in bed with me, figuring he was hungry but he really didn't nurse much.  When I bring him in bed, he just stays in bed with me or us because I'll just be getting him around 6am anyway when he does wake up hungry.  So, I didn't sleep well last night.  I never sleep that well when he's in the bed with me all night!
Because hunger wasn't the issue last night, when he cried tonight I went in and noticed he had moved again.  He had rolled on his side and gotten mad because he got stuck against the side of the crib.  So, instead of bringing him to bed with me, I sat and rocked him until he went dead asleep again.  He's been in there for 45 minutes now...so maybe success?  I can hope, right?
I think what he's doing is sleep-practicing his newest talent of rolling, or learning to scoot in his sleep.  I always find him in a new place when I go in to get him in the mornings or after naps. Oh, how I do hope this phase passes!

Speaking of naps, he usually napped in his swing in the living room.  Meaning I had to be really careful when I was cleaning while he napped so as to not wake him.  I've promised the swing to J's aunt who is due in June, and Pierce is just getting too big for it.  Too long, too heavy.  So, I started putting him in his crib at around 4 months, trying to get him to sleep in there.  Never worked, but I kept trying about once or twice a week.  As soon as he hit that crib for a nap, he'd wake up!  But, in the past two weeks or so, I've been able to put him in his crib for at least one of his naps in the day!!  VICTORY!!
He rolls over and plays with his blanket when he wakes up.  He's so cute I have to take pics!

yesterday, rolling around in his blankie

today, he had been sucking on his foot, leaving the foot of his pjs slobbery wet...yum lol

Don't you wish you woke up that happy?  lol  Sweet baby

I'm working on putting together a post about all of the foods I've made him, which he's liked more than others, and tell ya'll about the Baby Brezza.  I LOVE that thing.  If you're going to make your own baby food, I HIGHLY suggest you get a Brezza!  And, no, it won't be any sponsored or compensated post, it'll just be me suggesting you get your tail to Target and get one!  lol

Let's just hope this waking in the middle of the night thing doesn't last long for Pierce!!  Good night ya'll!

Car travel with a baby

Packing for a weekend trip was a daunting, and stressful, thought.  We went to Orange Beach when Pierce was just 2 months old and I waaaay over packed for that trip!  We barely had enough room for everything.

So, on our trip to Mississippi to see my grandmother a few weeks ago, I decided to try packing all of Pierce's stuff in one tote.\  Because I knew it would fit in our trunk, with our suitcase and toiletries bag, and leave room to put his Boppy pillow and bouncy chair (if it will fit, it goes! Why hold him the whole weekend when he would rather be able to be put in his chair from time to time!).  Let's face it, we drive a Kia Forte and that sucka doesn't have a small trunk, but it certainly isn't a Crown Vic's trunk lol.
My idea worked!  And worked well!  I was impressed with myself, and how easy it ended up being.  Since my grandmother has a 2 story house, and we would only be upstairs with Pierce to sleep, we just left the whole tote downstairs because it had diapers, clothes, toys, etc in it.
It worked so well, that when we went to Kentucky to see my parents this past weekend, I was able to quickly pack it back up like a pro.
I thought I would share, because I know I have a lot of friends who have babies or young children and wow, this made life easy!

Of course, as a pumping mother, one of my biggest concerns was getting those supplies packed up

so, I chose a shoe box sized tote

In went pump bottles, spare parts, and spare Passes (yeah, we call pacifiers Pass)

I tossed this box in on top of his bottles, which were put in a reusable shopping bag

along with the dish soap I use for his bottles, and the bottle brush 

Next, I had to pick out all of his clothes.  

Since I knew we were going to be in Kentucky 2 days/2 nights, but didn't know what the weather would do, I knew I needed to pack several options, 

along with several options for any mishaps we all know happen with babies

Luckily, he only wore one outfit each day...yay, less laundry when we got home!

Then, I put his favorite toys and books in a box

this box happens to be one of those cloth cube drawers lol, it's a perfect size!

Because we buy Pierce's diapers in the large Jumbo boxes of 120+ count, they come in neat stacks in the shrink wrap inside of the box.  

So, I just took one row out of the shrink wrap, knowing that would be MORE than enough diapers

but, with a little one, you never know so ALWAYS over prepare! lol

They sack neatly in one corner, toy/book box on the other side, 

leaving room for bibs and socks to go between the box and side, 

and clothes and bath towel/wash cloths to go in the empty corner

I put his floor blankets on top and closed the lid!

And, like my grandmother's house, we slept on one floor but "lived" on another; so we left his box upstairs out of the way.  No going down in the basement to get anything!

I wish I had taken a picture of the trunk all packed.  It goes in like an easy puzzle.  It's really awesome

Happy travels!

Better late than never, right?

Our weekend was great! I realize it's Tuesday before this gets updated, but hey...

J, Pierce, Sully, & I packed up the car and headed out of town to my folks's house in Kentucky Friday evening after J's class.  I've never made the trip in the dark, and oh wow, that 2.5 hours drug on ssssoooooo long.  The only thing that breaks the monotony of dark interstate is Nashville, and if you know anything about the Nashville area you know that until you get to it there's nothing...and once you get through it, theres nothing.
We left home and it was a balmy 35 degrees.  As we got further north we watched the thermometer in the car drop lower, and lower.  I took a picture at one point, I think south of Nashville:

if you can't see it, that says 24 degrees at 8:21pm...for this Alabama lady, that's COLD

By the time we got to my parents house, it was about 20 degrees.  Ssssooooo ccoooollllldddd.  I am not a winter fan!
But, not to worry, we always keep Pierce all bundled up!

I say he loves his sunglasses...he at least doesn't seem to mind them at all

Those last two were taken the day before we left, I got my hair cut and he just sat in my lap the whole time, a perfect angel.  All the ladies in the salon couldn't get over how adorable he is, and just got a kick out of the sunglasses!

Pierce slept in his seat the whole ride to Kentucky, which was great!  Travelling with babies at night seems to be the trick!  It's dark, they can't see, what else will they do?!

Once we get to my parent's little town (outside Bowling Green) and get off of the highway we have NO cell service.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada.  And you know what?  It's awesome.  To get there and completely disconnect for the weekend?  Fabulous.
We tap in to the world when we go into Bowling Green on Saturdays (wow, we sound like a bunch of hillbillies come to town when I say it that way lol), so you guys that follow me on Instagram or Twitter got a glimpse of our fun.
Speaking of BG on Saturday, my mom, J, Pierce, and I went to the mall.  Daddy and Sully stayed home lol.
We didn't have room in our car to pack Pierce's stroller and all my parents had at their house was my niece, Rayleigh's, old umbrella stroller.  Yup, Pierce was pushed around the mall in a hot pink Disney Princess umbrella stroller!  Some how, I managed to NOT get a picture of this for blackmail in high school lol.  But, we did protect some of his manhood and put his blue blanket under him.  We got some really funny looks, laughs, and people just smiling at us for pushing him around in this hot pink stroller!  Never know what's going to happen at Nana and Popi's!  lol

We had a very nice weekend visiting.  It was great to get to see my parents interact with Pierce, they really don't get to see him much.  We'll see them again in March, but it will be at my grandmother's birthday party and most of my family will be meeting Pierce for the first time and my parents just wouldn't get any real time with him.  So it was really important to me for them to see him before March.
We woke up to snow on Sunday, for us Alabama folks, the 2 inches was a HUGE amount and we were honestly concerned we would get iced or snowed in.  Let's face it, we are NOT prepared for driving in that! We just don't get the practice here at home.

I did catch a few pictures of Pierce and my dad, Popi, before we left.  Pierce loves his Popi and his Nana.  Nana had him belly laughing, real laughter not just his choking sound he's been making for months now.  It was awesome to stand back and watch.

And, of course Pierce slept on the way home too....

Poor guy, fell asleep while it was still really overcast in Kentucky, so I didn't want to wake him to put his sunglasses on him...so I just covered his face lol.  Don't worry, he could breath, it wasn't touching him

And, because it's tooooo cute to not share, a picture from earlier in the week...

Yup...my little monster!  and yes, he's chewing his middle finger lol

A few deals for my fellow canvas and photo fanatics

I'm IN LOVE with canvases now...I have 3 currently ordered and being shipped and I can't wait until I get them!  I've added more pictures I ordered from Shutterfly to my collage frames, and am so excited to get everything finished and show ya'll the end results!!

But, until then, I wanted to share with you guys a few deals!

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