Mommy Picnic

Yesterday we hosted a picnic for the moms group that I have been attending on Thursday mornings. When they started talking about doing a picnic they wanted to find a park in the area and I thought it was silly to go to a park with limited bathrooms, fresh water, shade, and grills so I suggested that we have the picnic at our house. After I said this the RSVP list started growing and growing and I got a little worried that all of these people would not fit in our townhouse. But after a little worry and stress the day ended up being fabulous. The food, babies, and conversation was wonderful and it was a great way to spend a summer afternoon. I think we had about 12-14 couples come with their babies and it was so nice to meet the husbands that all of the moms talk about.

Jacob was perfect and slept for most of the time in my Ergo carrier. The Ergo was awesome because it allowed me to carry him around and be hands free.

A big thank you to Andrew who stood outside in the heat and did all the grilling for the picnic. I am glad he got to meet the moms and babies that I talk about. He also saw that he isn't the only dad that sometimes has a screaming baby and nagging wife. :)

Here are pictures I took after everyone left:

Ohhh the Changes

I feel like in the last week Jacob has changed into a little man. Everyone kept saying wait until after 6 weeks things will get better and boy were they right. Jacob celebrated his 7th week mark this past Wednesday and has made great strides in the past week.

Here are some things he has really started to do this past week:

- Really started to smile more and more. He loves his squeaky moose that my dad got him. When I squeak it and hold it close to his face he smiles a huge smile sometimes. The moose is the only toy that will make his smile.
- Made cooing noises and screeching noises
- Loves to listen to music and will kick his feet and wave his arms wildly
- He is starting to get into a routine of going to bed around 8:30pm and waking up at 3:30am, eating and going back down around 4:30am. Then around 5:30am he wakes up, Andrew feeds him, and he will go back down until around 8:00am or 9:00am. (Please lets hope this nightly routine lasts or gets even better because I am enjoying the sleep)
- I am working with him to eat around 1pm and then go down for a nap around 2pm until 5pm. I say "working" because he does not like to go down for a nap because I think he is afraid he will miss something. :)
- He is lifting his head more and really able to hold it up for a few seconds on his own. He is getting stronger and stronger everyday.

I was thinking about his birth today and how I thought this day would never come where he is sleeping more through the night, interacting with me and Andrew more, and becoming a little man. I hate that he is not an infant anymore that will curl up in your arms or on your chest but love that he is starting to develop this little personality. Sometimes I swear he knows what we're saying to him. Just last night Andrew came home and asked how our day was. I said we had a great day and that Jacob actually took a nap for 3 hours! Andrew looked right at Jacob and said "Well I guess we'll have to see how tonight goes and if you let us get some sleep." Right after Andrew said that to him he looked right up at Andrew and got this huge smile on his face as if to say, "Yeah suckers we'll see how tonight goes and if I let you get some sleep" I wish we would have had a video camera running because it was so funny Andrew and I laughed soooo hard.

I am really trying to get a smile on video and as soon as I do you know I will post it. Until then here are some pictures of our little guy.....

Father's Day

We had a very nice Father's Day yesterday. First, Andrew got at least an 8 hour stretch of sleep because Jacob slept 8:30pm-4:30am and then went back down from 5:00am-7:30am. After waking up, watching the World Cup with Jacob and drinking coffee in bed, Andrew and I went to church. After church my parents came down for the afternoon for lunch and to celebrate Father's Day. We had a wonderful afternoon and Jacob was a perfect while we sat and ate our lunch. Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

B is for Brazil

In college Andrew met one of his best friends, Gui, his freshman year. They lived together from sophmore year of college until 2006 when I ruined their good time and finally moved to Baltimore. During Andrew and Gui's senior year of college Andrew travled down to Brazi with Gui over winter break and spring break. Andrew got to meet all of the friends and family Gui told him about. To say Andrew had a good time in Brazil is an understatement. Andrew had an AMAZING time in Brazil and Gui's mom took Andrew into her home as if he was her son.

Gui's mom Marina is an amazing and caring woman. When Andrew and I got married she made us the most beautiful scrapbooks of our wedding that I will always cherish. When we had Jacob she sent him a little shirt from Brazil. It is my hope that one day we will be able to take Jacob to Brazil with his Uncle Gui to but until then we will have to read him this book that I found in the bookstore today.

Softball Wednesdays

Andrew coaches his company's mens softball team on Wednesday nights and loves every minute. This year I was not terribly excited when he told me he was going to coach again because I knew that would leave me at home on Wednesdays from 7am-8/9pm with no break from little Jacob. I know how much Andrew loves the softball team but I just didn't know if I could make it through Wednesdays without a break. Well....I have made it through with the help of my mom, little sister and friends coming over to help me on Wednesday evenings. Yesterday we were on our own in the evening and hadn't been out all day so I thought we would attempt the trek over to the field and watch daddy play some ball. Of course before we went I had to dress Jacob up in his baseball onesie.



When we arrived at the field Andrew told me that the other team forfeited because they did not have enough players but they decided to scrimmage instead. Jacob slept the entire time we were at the field but it was nice to get out of the house and watch daddy play a little ball. Next week is the big match up between JMT and FOX (they are huge rivals) I think we will definitely be trying to head out to that game and cheer dad on.

Home for a Visit

Over the weekend Jacob took his first road trip and headed to both of his grandparents homes to meet his cousin Charlotte and 3 great grandmothers for the first time and catch up with his other relatives. I was nervous to go up for the weekend not knowing how he would do but he was the best little boy a mommy and daddy could ask for. He hardly fussed at all, slept in all the grandmothers, aunts, and uncles arms, and even slept very well at night at his Grandma and Grandpa Birminghams.

I think one of my favorite parts about the trip was him getting to see his cousins. When I was growing up I didn't have cousins close in age or ones that lived close by but Jacob does and I am so glad he will get to build those relationships. Right now Jacob has his cousin Garrett, 4, and cousin Charlotte, 2, but pretty soon he is going to have two more cousins closer in age. My older sister is expecting a little boy in October and my sister in law is expecting a little one in December. I cannot wait for the days when all the babies arrive and can start playing together. I will not wish for those days to come too soon because I think his daddy and I are enjoying him being a baby and being able to cuddle with him every day and night.

Garrett and Jacob


Charlotte and Jacob

Bay Window

Our bay window has been the hang out spot for Jacob since the day he came home. He does numerous daily activities on it including sitting in his little blue seat during meals, doing tummy time, looking for birds in the tree, singing nursery rhymes, and now taking his afternoon naps. I think we could have saved a lot of money on a crib and just put some bars across the window and used that instead. :) I have to say the bay window has been a life saver when you are trying to cook lunch and dinner and when you want to include Jacob in meal time.



I think Andrew is going to need to find a way to put a baby gate across the window so we can use it as a play pen when Jacob gets older.

Lazy Sunday

Today we decided to have a lazy Sunday. Jacob went down for a nap around 12:45 after a few days of no napping so Andrew and I decided to take advantage of the down time. We got a movie a few days ago and have not had a chance to watch it so we popped it in and enjoyed our quiet time. Around 2:45 our little man woke up, ate, and then went right back to sleep on his blanket. The poor thing has had a hard time sleeping the last few days and I think he is worn out. Isn't he just so precious when he isn't screaming? Lets hope he is good for mommy this week when daddy is at work. :)

Side note: Yesterday I got out from 10:30-2:30 while Andrew watched Jacob. I got my hair done, went shopping for clothes, and went to the grocery store. When I got back it seemed like my boys had a wonderful time together. They went for a 2 hour drive, ate lunch, and hung out around the house.

1 Month Stats

Jacob had his 1 month appointment on Wednesday. Here are the stats:

Height: 22 inches; 70%

Weight: 10 lbs. 1 oz; 70%

Head Circumference: 38 cm; 95%





Yesterday we had a wonderful day with the mom group. We went to Ledew Gardens, walked around with about 15 other moms and then had a picnic on the grounds. We had a beautiful day and Jacob was perfect.

Today I attempted to take him shopping and buy a pair of shorts that fit but he wasn't having it. The minute we walked in the store he started screaming and I could not try one pair of shorts on. I think he is definitely going to take after his father when it comes to shopping for clothes with mommy.

Daddy Lounger

It seems that Jacobs favorite spot to sleep most evenings is on his daddy lounger. He will curl right up on Andrew's chest and go to sleep for hours. Andrew and I hope we are not starting a bad habit but he is so cute that you just can't refuse him wanting to sleep on you :)



I just love my boys.