Too Cute not to Share

Fine. I'm giving in. I'm going to do it. Maybe not every month or about everything. But at least something once in a while, because I guess this is the best place to document Ernest's happenings for family and friends to see.

Ernest is already more than three months old! As any new parents would be, we are just loving our little guy! It amazes me that his personality is already shining through, so here are a few things unique to him.

Despite minimal tummy time, Ernest is really good at holding his head up and has been since the beginning. I think I stopped supporting his head after 3-4 weeks (at least most of the time any way). At his two month appointment he was already sitting in his bumbo (which actually happened when he was 2 months 2 weeks). And that's when we found out his head is only in the 25th percentile. And all this time we just thought he was super strong ;) 

Ernest has also enjoyed standing from about day one. It's his favorite position! He is also mots alert when he is standing. He has some strong legs! 

He loves to eat and takes his sweet time eating. Feedings can take any where from 10 min to an hour. And he would take every nap camped out at my breast if I let him. We like to think he takes after his Grandpa Paxson (who he is named after). He took a long time to eat as well.

Ernest has some really dry skin (like Grandpa Paxson as well) and some professional cradle cap. I only bath him twice a week so that his body and scalp won't dry out quite as much. Ernest is not much of a fan of bath time. He rarely cries during it, but just has a disgusted look on his face the whole time. 

We also rub him down every night with olive oil as part of his nightly bedtime routine. He LOVES it! It's probably his favorite part of the day! He can be super tired, and a little ornery, but the second you lay him down on the changing table he is all smiles. He loves all of it! He loves taking his clothes off! He loves his body massage! And even though he is not too keen on tummy time he loves it when I lay him on his tummy and rub his back. He loves his diaper getting changed (he actually enjoys this most of the time as well). And then I'll usually play with him for a minute or two, moving his arms and legs and he is all smiles. Then I put his pajamas on. And while he loves dressing and undressing the second you get his clothes on him he goes back to being fussy. It's so interesting, and cute!

He doesn't spit up too much. Drools like he is teething (usually in the afternoon). Very alert, and always looking around. Loves sucking his hand, but will take a pacifier if he is tired. Pretty mellow temperament. He hardly ever cries hard, but instead whimpers. At 3 months 2 weeks he shows zero interest in food. I can't wait till he does, but we're in no hurry. Takes pretty short naps, but sometimes I get a good one out of him. And he sleeps better during the day on me. 

He's always been a pretty good sleeper at night. Right now he goes to bed around 5:30 or 6, and wakes up once or twice throughout the night. Sometimes he is awake for the day at 5:30, but we've been working to make it 6:30 instead and he seems to be changing. Then I pull him into bed with me and we nurse/co-sleep for another hour. I'm so lucky to have such a good sleeper. He sleeps in his own room. And we enjoy our evenings without him ;) and our days with him!

Well there you go. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet the little guy, hopefully you'll feel like you have through this post. And here are a few pictures of the little guy from 3-4 months. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of pictures after the newborn stage to the 3 month stage because we were so busy fixing the house, packing, sanding, and moving. Here is what I do have!

Halloween! 2 1/2 Months

 Just shy of 3 months

Bath Time! Well, more accurately his rub down after bath time. He loved it!

 He always had his 'whole' fist in his mouth!

It is what it is (and this is what it is)

2 weeks till Christmas and we have not bought a single, present or even thought about what to get anyone. This is not because we don't love you or because you are not important to us. It is because we are so dang busy trying to finish the kitchen, unpack, get the apartment ready to rent by Jan. 1st, and with life that buying presents is getting pushed back. Ugh! I may or may not also be procrastinating the gift buying because thinking of what to get people just does not come easy for me.

Tiling is hard. And it takes forever! And grout is near impossible to completely wipe up. 

Today I left Ernest with Marshall and I headed to the dentist. And even though he has done it before, the little guy wouldn't drink from his bottle or settle down. Being able to calm a baby instantly is nice! Knowing that I go back to work in a month and I won't be able to rush home to feed a cuddle him is not quite so nice.

Our fridge is currently in the garage. And while it is super cold any time we have to venture out together some food that my friends is not the worst part. The worst part is that it is so cold that the food in our fridge is freezing. And not because we have the fridge temperature set too low!

I can't wait to a) unpack my kitchen stuff and b) have a kitchen to use! One more week tops and I'll have an almost complete kitchen (I'll still need to sand and paint the kitchen cabinets but that won't hold be back from unpacking!)! 

We had a whole week where we didn't have the internet once we moved. Here is what I learned: we use the internet to communicate a lot, and that is good. I missed knowing what was going on in people's lives (I really should get better at calling people). I found out that while entertainment (TV shows, YouTube videos, etc) is fun, it in no way contributes to my happiness level and I would say could easily decrease my state of happiness as it often leaves people feelin disconnected from their real life and the people in it. I love that I can download books! I like to read! I'm how

Isn't i can do a better job not wasting time on my ipad. I'm also grateful to have it, as I spend a lot of time nursing now a days. And while I have friends whose babies eat in like 5-10 minutes, my son is NOT one of those. A 20 min session would be considered short to him!

Here's something I don't understand. How do these moms have time to do a cute photo shoot of their child every week (exaggeration, I'm sure)? Seriously! My little guy is lucky if he gets a bath once a week (exaggeration, I hope). I keep telling myself to take some darn photos cause he'll only be 2 months and 3 weeks once! At least I put the camera in the living area for easy access... One step at a time I guess!

I recently read in a book that only 10% of our happiness comes from our situation/circumstance. 50% is our disposition and 40% is what we do. It's got me thinking about what I do to be happy. Reading my scriptures, positive thinking and self talk, connecting with those I love, working, serving, and then relaxing, GRATITUDE, church, hobbies,were just a few of my thoughts.

So I'm curious what do you do to be happy? You may or may not realize you do it to be happy, but you'd be surprised how many people keep doing things that don't contribute to their own happiness (this book specifically mentioned that TV does not contribute to our happiness). I think the first step is identifying what we are doing that is working. What makes you happy?

Ernest's Blessing

On December 1st Ernest was blessed. It was such a sweet blessing and I wanted to share some of my favorite parts.

Marshall blessed him to have a clarity and sharpness of mind and sensitivity to the spirit. That he would help those around him feel comfortable. That as he gains knowledge it will bring him happiness. He blessed him to serve a mission, and then many missions. That he would be a force for good to those he comes in contact with. He blessed him with the gift of gratitude that he would be able to see the good in all situations and to be able to see the Lord's hand in his life daily. He blessed him with the gift of love for those with whom he associates including his parents, siblings, other family and friends. And he blessed him to be able to learn from his experiences to become stronger and more like the person he wants to become. 

What a neat blessing huh? Marshall talked slow enough that I was able to take pretty good notes. I love that he blesses him to help those around him feel comfortable. I don't necessarily think that is some thing i am blessed with, but it is something that is important to me and something that I work on.  I want my home to be a place where all our welcome and all feel comfortable. I have definitely improved in this area, but I still have a ways to go.

I also love that he was blessed with the gift of gratitude. Gratitude is something that is really important to Marshall and I. I can't say I have always been the most grateful person growing up. It's a good thing change is possible! This is what I know about being grateful: grateful people are happy people. And while happy people may just naturally be more grateful, I know that if you are unhappy and work to sincerely be more grateful you will be happier. I know that gratitude keeps you humble, and allows you to acknowledge the Lord's hand in your life. It keeps you listening to Him and I believe makes it easier for Him to guide you and continue to bless you! I also know that I enjoy being around grateful people. If you want people to enjoy your company be grateful! I also want to give, serve, and help those who are more grateful. It makes me feel like whatever I had done for them was appreciated and makes me want to do more.

I also loved watching all of the men walking up to participate in the blessing. I am so grateful for all the great men, friends and family, that Ernest has to look up to. There was a power felt as I watched that circle of men bless my son, and I was so grateful! We are also so blessed that so many of our friends and family were able to attend. Not everyone was there that we wanted, but we had so much support on this special day! We couldn't ask for more!

Those were my favorites. I am so excited to see this little guy grow up and show me who he is. He is already such a joy to us. We love his smiles and laughs, the sounds he makes (he can be pretty vocal when he wants to be), his big blue eyes, his happy personality, and how strong he is (this guy has been holding his head up on his own for long long time-which is saying a lot cause I haven't been to great about tummy time). Who knows he may help me be a better blogger (as he lays on sleeping while I write this), I guess we'll see.