It's been a rough week so far

Oh man. I can't tell you how rough this week has been on me. There haven't been a lot of things that have made it that way; just a couple of big things that have made it hard. For the last three days, my little Leo hasn't been wanting to eat more than 2-4 minutes at feeding time. And he'll only eat on one side. This is so frustrating because before Monday he would eat on both sides for at least 10 minutes. He finally ate 5 minutes on each side this last time. I've called the doctor and the lacation nurse. They don't have any ideas because he isn't having any other problems besides not wanting to eat. He is perfect in between. He doesn't act hungry and he is going to the bathroom regulary like always! The lactation nurse said it could just be an "eating strike". The nurse at the doctor said to try giving him a couple oz of formula to make sure he'd eat something. He did, of course, and now he is broken out in hives. He must be allergic. I'll have to call the doctor AGAIN! This will be my third time this week. However, he kid is soo perfectly content. It is driving me NUTS! I'm stressing out about it. My mom said to stop because he'll be able to sense it. I can't help but worry though. On the bright side, this whole ordeal finally made me go out and by a good breast pump. I pumped 3 oz in 5 minutes this afternoon!!!! Can you believe that? Okay, okay enough with the breast feeding talk. I guess I'm just making a HUGE deal about it because breast feeding was the one thing I really wanted to do and do well.

The other thing is that Kyle is trying to fix some things on the house we are trying to buy in order to get the FHA loan approved so he is gone in the evenings. And even when he is home, the evening goes by soooooooo fast. He gets home at 5:30 and then all the sudden it is 10:00 pm! I can't wait until he is done studying for this next exam. He needs to take a day off (for my sake).

On top of everything, my house is a complete disaster. I am a clean freak. I enjoy cleaning and to have a house in the condition that mine is right now is seriously driving me nuts. This is one of my favorite times of year: spring cleaning and I don't have time for it. I guess moving will have to be it.

I'm sure half of this is very poorly written. Sorry, but I have baby brain syndrome and don't feel like proof reading.

Beautiful Photos

My friend Megan Petry, who happens to be a amazing photographer, took these photos for me. I'm so grateful to have them. As a photographer I always get to take beautiful photographs of other people. It is rare that I get to have any taken of me. Having these photographs means so so much to me! Thank you Megan! You did a wonderful job. To see more of Megan's work (she does everything: weddings. portraits, entertainment, and even commerical photography) click here.

These were taken at the hospital:

Smiles and Cute Faces

Leo started smiling this last week. I finally got it on film.

What really matters...

Well, my munckin is asleep but he is still in my arm. He always wakes up about 5 minutes after I put him down, even if I swaddle him. However, I'm not going to complain too much because he sleeps pretty much most of the night without too many problems. I'm so grateful for that. I've been sooo tired lately. I'm beginning to wonder if my iron is low again. I guess it time to start taking those supplements again. I also like the fact that my little man is a momma's boy. This photo was taken about a week ago.

I've been really fustrated with all the adjustments I've had to make since I've had Leo. Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy to have him in my life. I think I just thought I'd still be able to get a few things done. By the end of the day I'd be so frustrated and overwhelmed that I'd be mad at everything and everyone: Kyle, myself, and sometimes even little Leon. I hate having that bad attitude. So the other day I just decided not to expect to get anything done. I just told myself that I didn't need to do anything that day but take care of Leon and nothing else was important. That ended up being a pretty good day. I didn't expect anything from myself so when I did get things done I felt so good about it. And even Leo was in a really good mood. This little experiment made me realize what is really important and what isn't important. It's not important if dinner is made on time or the house is clean. It's not important if the bed is made or there is a massive pile of dirty laundry. What is important is that I'm taking care of my little guy and enjoying my time I have with him. He is growing up so fast and I don't want to miss out on it. Those other things will get done, just some other time. Yesterday, my mom came up to see us and I was telling her about all of this and she said to me: "No mother, even the really good ones, will say that they held their baby too much or that they spent too much time with them. They'll all say I wish I had spent more time with them. They grow up too fast." She is totally right. What really matters is that my little boy knows I love him and that I'm here for him and that I enjoy being with him. I know things will get easier and better. I just need to be patient.

Baby Announcements

So, here are the baby announcments I made to send out. I totally stole the ideas from a website but I did them myself with my oh-so-fun skills in photoshop. The website was charging something like $1.50 or $2.00/announcment! I thought that was outrageous so I did it myself and just ordered 5x7 prints from Walmart for something like 30 or 40 cents/print. Aren't I thirfty? We didn't use both of them but I think they are equally cute. Click on them to see them larger.

This is the one we actually sent out:

This was our second choice:

The House

Ok, so let me just say before you start judging the photos: The house needs work. We know this and we are totally okay with this. We got it for a great deal and it is in a great location so after we do some work we’ll be able to sell it for a lot more than what we got it for. Also, the house has been very well taken care of. It is just really outdated so most of the work is cosmetic.

The house is on 1.5 acres of land with lots of mature trees on the end of a great little neighborhood. It has a screened porch. It has hardwood floors in many of the rooms and a beautiful floor to ceiling red brick fireplace that I’m so excited about. The rest of the rooms have old tile. We worked into the offer to have the sellers put in $2000 for new flooring. It has a huge unfinished basement with a ½ bath which in a few years we’ll finish by making an office and big family room in it. Right now the house only has 2 bedrooms. However, this summer that will change. We think we’re going to take out the wall that separates the kitchen and dining room making it a dine-in kitchen and then putting a wall ½ through the big dining room to make a third bedroom (there is a closet on that side, so that helps too). The biggest challenges will be the very out dated kitchen & bathroom and the front of the house which right now doesn’t look like the front of the house at all! Oh, and I want to paint the trim white which I’m sure will be a time consuming project in itself. We already have a ton of ideas and we’re so excited.

I originally didn’t want to buy a house that had to be fixed up, but after looking through this house and seeing the potential it has, I just fell in love. It is totally livable after we get new flooring. Kyle and I were also talking about how it will give us something to work on together. We’ll close sometime in late March/early April and then paint, re-floor, and move!

the front:

the back:

the side (where the drive way is):

the side yard:

The Living Room

(notice the big windows and fireplace. there is also hardwood floors under that ugly carpet):

The very yellow kitchen which we'll paint, do some rearranging, and put in new countertops.

WE GOT IT!

Kyle just called me right after I'd finished my last post. Our offer on the house was accepted! I'll write all about it tonight or tomorrow.

Today with Leo

Leo has been sooo good today. He has barely complained at all. He even let me get ready without making a peep while he wiggled around on the floor.

Today Leon had his 1 month check up. The doctor said he is "perfect". I had to agree with her. He now weighs 9 lbs 15 oz. That is almost 10 pounds! 10 POUNDS! Can you believe that?

After his doctor's appointment, we went to Kyle's work so that Kyle could show him off to all his co-workers. Everybody loved him. I made sure that he looked especially cute for the occasion.

Doesn't he look adorable?

I absolutely love his sweet eyes and little chin.

I've been trying hard today to get Leo to nap and to nap in his crib instead of in my arms or in the cradle. He has been in there for almost 20 mintutes now, however this is our third or fourth try. Oh well. Thing like this take persistance and patience, especially since I'm not one of those mothers who can just let their babies cry themselves to sleep. I don't want him to associate crying and being unhappy with sleep. I know it works for some people but I'm just not one of them. Here is a photo from about a week ago when he was "napping" in his cradle. I love how he sleeps with his arms above his head. It is too cute.

I really wish it wasn't so windy out. It is warm today and I'd give anything for the wind to die down so I could go on a walk.

I really shouldn't even being posting any of this. I should be doing something more productive while he is asleep. OH WELL! ;)

Oh, we haven't heard back about the house. We should hear very soon! It is an estate sell, so the sellers have to deal with several members of their family. I'll let you know when we know!

My Trip to Walmart

Last night I wanted some "me time" and I also wanted to get out of the house for a little while so I decided to run to walmart which is only 3 mintutes from our apartment. This experience which a month ago would have been a completely normal thing for me to do felt soooo weird! I haven't driven in a month so driving was really strange. I felt so self conscious while I was roaming through the store. It also felt weird not to have Leon attached to me. The only store I'd been into in the last month was a trip to Target and Kyle and Leon were both there that time. The Doctor doesn't want me taking Leo out because it is RSV season so I've been cooped up in the house for way too long. Last night I could defenitely tell it was taking its effect on me. Also, I think I'm getting a sinus infection. How is that possible! It sucks!

We made an offer on a house on Monday. We should find out tonight if we got it. We were supposed to find out last night but the sellers were out of town so we gave them an extra day. I'm super excited but am trying not to put my hopes up to high just in case. I'm sure that if we get the house I'll be posting a very long post all about it tonight or tomorrow.

Baby Blessing Day

Yesterday was Leon's baby blessing. It was a special day for our little family. Leo looked so handsome and precious in his little white blessing outfit. Kyle gave a beautiful blessing. I know he had been thinking about what he wanted to say during the blessing but when it came to actually giving it I think the Spirit really guided him to know what to say. Christina (my sister-in-law) and Shayla (one of my best friends) took a few notes during it so that we would be able to look back and remember what was said. Here are some of the key things that Kyle blessed Leon with:

• Health
• Contentment and a happy disposition
• A strong desire to gain knowledge and wisdom
• The ability to make correct decisions in life
• The ability to detect and withstand temptation
• To seek out truth
• To have the seed of faith
• To have love and respect for his earthly parents
• A desire to be worthy priesthood holder
• To seek to serve others
• The opportunity to serve a mission, marry in the Temple, and have children of his own.

During the blessing, I tried very hard to listen carefully. This had been a dream of mine for a very long time: to be married to a worthy priesthood holder in the temple, to have children with him, and to teach them about how amazing the gospel is. I couldn't help but think about how this dream is coming true. I feel truly blessed. It was fast and testimony Sunday, so I decided to share my testimony since my parents were there. I had no idea what I wanted to say. I could have gone on and on about all the blessing I have in my life, but instead I decided to testify of the hope that the gospel gives us. That is something I love most about our church and its teachings. In every principle there is some since of hope and love and mercy. I also said how grateful I was for my parents for supporting me and teaching me what is right whether we share the same beliefs or not.

After Sacrament meeting, we went home and had lunch with my parents and a couple of friends. After that we went to Kyle's parents and spent most of the rest of the day with them. We were so exhausted from the weekend that all three of us climbed into bed and took a three hour nap.

I also just wanted to say thanks to Shayla, Christina, and the priesthood holders who stood in the blessing circle.