Play Group

 This play group is called Square One.  It's put on at a church and is for first time moms and their babies.  One of my friends at school told me about it because her mom runs it.  It started right before Pearce was born and goes for 6 weeks.  This was only my second time to go, but I soooo wish I had gone earlier!  My pediatrician scared me a bit about being around other babies when Pearce was brand new, but honestly, I think it would have been ok.  Oh well.  The idea behind this play group is that the moms meet each week for 6 weeks and discuss different topics.  Then after the 6 weeks is up, hopefully we will continue to meet.  We talked today about continuing this group on our own.  Although I've only been twice, I really felt a connection to these girls and they were all so welcoming!  We all had bean bags we sat on and made our own little "station."  You could feed your baby, change his diaper, lay him on a blanket....whatever you needed to do, all while listening to our topic.  We all had a chance to go around and share our thoughts.  It was so fun!  Here are pics of a little photo shoot we did today with the babies!

Pearce was the youngest in the group...look how tiny he looks!! 

The baby on the left is Lucy.  She's sooo cute and chunky!! 

Lucy and Pearce kept looking and looking at each other!

Already holding hands :) 

Pops and Mimi come to visit!!

We were so excited to have Mimi and Pops come for a visit!!  Edie came on Wednesday which was sooo nice because Chris had to go out of town for work.  Edie was such a big help to me.  She did lots of housework AND helped take care of Pearce!  She always had the bottles washed and the kitchen cleaned up and took care of Pearce while I showered.  I am really missing her right now!!  On Thursday, we went out to lunch and then I left Pearce with Mimi so I could go visit a friend who just had a baby.  On Friday, I left Pearce with Mimi and I got to go visit my kids at school AND get my hair cut.  It was great getting out by myself and knowing Pearce was getting loved on.  Cliff flew in Friday evening and they both left this morning :(

I love this picture of Pearce.  This is wubnub...his little buddy :)

"I can't wait for Mimi and Pops to get here!" 

"I love you Mimi." 

"Mimi!  I think I have to go tee-tee!"

"Oops...I just went tee-tee....all over Mimi." 

My other baby boy :)  

Pearce loves to look at toys on his play mat... 

...but when he's done, he's DONE! 

These two are always checking up on their little brother.

"No more pictures please!" 

Mimi was in Heaven with Pearce!!  

Yay!  Pops is here!! 

"Mommy!  Pops just told me he's gonna take me to Toys R Us and let me pick out all the toys I want!" 

Pops has always joked that he can't wait to take his grandchild to Toys R Us and let him or her go up and down the aisles and pick out whatever they want.  Well, now we've got Pearce and I keep asking Pops if he really is serious....yes he is...when he gets a little older!  I loved seeing Cliff with Pearce.  He just talked and talked to Pearce.  If he was fussy, Cliff would take Pearce into the nursery and rock and sing to him.  It was so sweet!!  

Pops had so much fun playing and loving on Pearce.  

Otis loves to join in the fun!

Pops with both of his grandsons :)

Pops and Mimi, we had so much fun with you!  Thank you for loving on our boy and for all of your help!  We love you and can't wait to see you again soon!!!

Pearce's Birth Announcement

Here is the front of his announcement.

 This is the back.

I am so in love with this announcement!!  I have dreamed of what my baby announcement would look like.  Would I even get to have one?  My friend, Melanie, took his newborn pictures.  She did such an amazing job!  I found a girl who designs all types of announcements and invites and asked her to come up with something "classic."  This is what she came up with and I just love it!  It's from www.girafficarts.blogspot.com.  Leslie's prices were very reasonable and she was so easy to work with.  I know I'll go back to her for other things...like Christmas cards!  Oh my gosh...we're going to have a Christmas card!!!

1 Month Old!!

Our baby boy is 1 month old today!!!  I can't believe it!  One month of us being parents.  It has been a wonderful month!  I feel like we are in a "routine" now...I put it in quotes because it's not a set in stone kind of routine, but it seems to work right now.  I usually feed Pearce his last bottle around 11:00, change his diaper, swaddle him up and put him in bed around 11:30.  He will sleep all night until 6 or 7 the next morning!!  Sometimes he'll start to stir a little earlier.  If he wakes up at 7 or later, I'll just go ahead and stay up after I feed him.  If he wakes up earlier, I'll put him in bed with me and he'll sleep another hour or two!  After he eats, we'll play on his play mat for about 15 minutes.  Then he usually starts getting tired again after that and he'll take a little nap.  During his naps, I'll do housework.  So that's kind of our routine right now.  Here are pics from his 1 month photo session.  I couldn't decide which one was the cutest, so I just included all of them!!

"Mommy, I don't want to take a picture!"

"I sorry Mommy.  I'll be good." 

 

Pearce, you are one month old today!

*You are out of your newborn diapers and now wear a size 1.  They are still a little big, but the newborn diapers got too small.

*You still wear most of your newborn clothes.  I've tried to put some 0-3 month outfits on you, but they are still too big.

*You are taking 4, sometimes 4 1/2 ounces of Similac Formula every 3-4 hours.

*You weigh 9 lbs, 9 oz.

*You are 21 1/4 inches long.  

*You get gas a lot and sometimes that makes your tummy hurt, so I've started putting 5 drops of Mylicon Gas Drops in your formula and it seems to help!

*You are still a very sweet, laid back baby!

*You love to ride in the car and go in your stroller.

*You sleep through the night which makes Mommy sooooo happy!!!

*We went to our first play group that was just for first time moms.  You did great!  Everyone thought you were so cute and I loved showing you off!

*You love to be held and cuddled....which I love, too!

*You are a lot more alert now and can focus on toys!

**I could go on and on about you.  You are the baby of my dreams.  You are what I have always wanted and soooooo much more!  You have made me and your daddy so happy this past month!  I just love to squeeze and kiss on you.  I look forward to what your second month of life will bring.  I love you so much!!!!

More visitors....

This is Violet and her mom Alison.  I taught Violet in 1st grade...she's now in 4th.  She was the SWEETEST little girl and still is!  She was so good with Pearce.  They even brought Otis and Daisy treats!

This is Stephanie.  She works at my school.  I taught her two girls in 1st grade, also.  We stopped by their house for a little visit. 

Lauren holding Pearce. 

Sarah holding Pearce. 

I loved having these two girls in my class! 

We made a stop by school, too.  We just went after school so that some of the teachers could meet Pearce.  This is Shelly, my Principal.  She was always so sweet and encouraging to me during my struggle to have a baby.  She shared with me that it took her a while to get pregnant, so she truly knew how I felt and how badly I wanted to have a baby.  She was understanding about doctor's visits and always just checked in to see how I was doing.  When I went "public" and posted that I was pregnant on Facebook, she was sooo excited for me and immediately called me....crying.  We love you, Shelly!!

Seriously, do you not want to just scoop him up and hug and squeeze and kiss him all over????  I do it all the time and let me tell you, he is DEE-LICIOUS!!!!!  Mom knitted this outfit for him.  She started it right before he was born.  Doesn't he look so cute?! 

"Thank you for my outfit, Mama.  I love it and I love you, too!"