PTL People - We Have Internet

What a doozie it has been without internet in our house. 60 days to be exact.

 SO much has happened since April 17, 2015. 

We moved into our first home.

I purchased 6 rugs, returned two, and then purchased another. 

I turned a shower curtain into a massive piece of artwork - now hanging in our living room.

I painted, painted and painted some more. 

I hosted my first event - my sister-in-laws baby shower. 

Kingston started walking. 

Kingston received his first black eye. 

Kingston rode a pony.

Kingston puked 5 times - just today. 

As you can see life is busy and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. 

Stayed tuned for some fun new posts on life's best things! 

5 on Friday

Man -- It's been a while since I've posted anything. Life and a baby got in the way and I'm okay with it! Just some randoms on this Friday . . . 

1. Today I'm taking a vacation day. I originally had this day off because we were suppose to close on our new house this past Monday and I was going to use today as a paint and projects day. Unfortunately we didn't close again ... going on a 100 day process, so I'll be spending the day with my boys running errands and watching lots of basketball. 

2. Speaking of my boys ... Kingston has been hanging out with CT all week and they have been having quiet the adventures. Falling off couches, cutting teeth, park surfing and playing the drums on pots and pans. 

They are a mess! I can't imagine the type of stuff these two are going to get into together this summer. 

3. I have a list a mile long of all the projects I want to do to the new house when the time comes. Paint walls, doors, and furniture (cream,grey,green,navy = we are totally a cool color family), sliding barn door for laundry room, stain concrete flooring in the basement etc. My list of things I want to buy for it is about 2 miles long - but I feel like I need to wait until we have paint on the walls and everything we already have in it's place to see what we are missing. Many more house posts to come once we finally get the keys. 

4. I really wish Iowa State wouldn't have lost yesterday because they totally busted my bracket. Scratch that, I guess I'm a tad bit okay with them losing because they beat KU last weekend and some of their awful fans yelled at my baby. 

5. Have you guys ever heard on a journaling bible? Look on pinterest or instagram under the hash tag #illustratedfaith. Such a fun and creative way to worship The Lord. 

Doodling in my bible! 

Linking up with these lovely ladies today: Linking up with: The Farmers Wife, Lauren Elizabeth, A Little Bit of Everything, XOXO Rebecca, A Blonde Ambition

Kingston: 6 months

As of 2.3.15

18lbs 2oz - 60%

27.5" - 85%

Surprisingly his eyes are still blue for the most part but depending on what he wears sometimes they look green.
His strawberry birthmarks are still visible and haven't changed much.
His dark brown hair is coming in more but he's still a baldie.
He still has the chubbiest of cheeks and a double chin if you catch him at the right angle. 
I'd say he's the perfect mix of CT and me. 

Clothes: 9 -12 months. 9 months fit best.

Diapers: This past month we transitioned to size 3 disposable diapers and we went up a 'rise' snap on cloth diapers. 

Shoes: Kingston's go-to grey moccs are becoming too tight on his chubby feet. Time to size up! 

  

Eating

Kingston still loves to eat - imagine that! He usually nurses first thing in the morning around 530am,  (cereal and a fruit) + 6oz bottle around 830a, veggie + 6oz around noon, 6oz at 300p, veggie or fruit + nurse at 530p, nurse at bedtime.    

So far he's  tried 'real' foods in this order:

oatmeal cereal, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, turnips, avocados, bananas, apples, peaches, pears, squash. He is so happy to get any type of flavor that he will eat anything we feed him expect the frozen avocados that turned bad and tasted like soap. 

I would say he LOVES: turnips, carrots, apples, and pears. He also loves to chomp on whole bananas in his mesh food holder.

This past month we also introduced water in a sippy cup with straw. We tried two different types of tommy tippee sippy cups but he only wanted to chew on the hard tip. CT gave him some drinks out of his cup while we were out a restaurant one day and since then he's been hooked. Now that he's able to 'suck' out of a straw he's also able to successfully eat out of those baby food pouches which makes it easy to feed him while we are out and about. 

I'm still pumping at work - always 2 times a day but I try and make it 3 times a day. I average about 12oz a day which is enough - but I'm always wishing it was more. 

Sleeping 

This past month Kingston had a rocky month sleep wise. He still is sleeping a solid 8/9 hours - usually 800p-500a - but he will wake up with random bouts of crying (which he never did before) and needs his paci. He wakes up almost always at 430am. So weird. Interal alarm clocks are real people. There were also a few nights that he was waking himself up every 2-3 hours so we decided to put him back in his swaddle which helped tremendously. We will continue to swaddle him until he really shows interest in rolling over a bunch. 

He still is sleeping awful at daycare - maybe a 20-40 min nap in the morning and a 30-rarely 1.5hr nap after lunch. When he naps at homes on the weekend it's pitch black, he's swaddled with the blanket by his face and the fan is on. While at day care it's bright, there are a bunch of kids around, he's not swaddled and there's no fan. What can I say - the kid just likes his routine. 

Because of this lack of sleep at school, I think he is overly tired when he goes to bed at night. It's crazy how I had him on such an awesome nap/sleep schedule before daycare and he was sleeping 830p-645a, eating and then going back to bed for another 2 hours while never waking up. And bow that he naps horribly at daycare he sleeps worse at night. I'm hoping that putting him to bed earlier these days will help him catch up on his sleep.  

Milestones

He can roll over but chooses not to. He's really only done it a couple of times from tummy to back and never back to tummy. 

He has much more control sitting up and this is his most preferred position. 

He studies his hands and what they do. We are working on teaching him how to wave. He's got the motion down but doesn't know appropriate time to do it.

He straight belly laughs.

He turns in circles during his rare minutes of tummy time.

He can feed himself but would prefer if we did it. 

Likes

All sports - in person or on tv. 

Bath time. 

Chewing on his pointer finger.

His toes. 

People watching. He is such the awesome shopping partner. He will just sit in the cart and stare at people. 

Mama & daddy's bed.

Watching Bentley - wherever he is. 

Books & balls. 

The colors black and white.

Any STL cardinals logo. 

Watching me in the kitchen from the high chair.

Dislikes

Tummy time - unless it's in the bath.

Getting his snot sucked. He is a professional snot sucking blocker. He holds his breath and closes off the back of his throat so nothing can get out. He's too smart. 

People with glasses. He cries every time. 

Sounds/Words
ah-goo

grr

He gargles his spit in the back of his throat and blows spit bubbles by vibrating his lips.

Da-Da (doesn't know that CT is his dada but LOVES to say it)

Something that sounds like hi.

----------------------

Whoaaa

Ba-Ba

Lots of jibber jabber.

Activities

He loves music and his daddy rapping and singing to him.

If he's on his back and has his toes he can be entertained for minutes on end. 

Hanging out with his daddy at the gym. 

Who needs toys when hangers and crinkled water bottles are around?

Misc.

Kingston has been around for 6 months and Bentley still stays away. Kingston loves him and gets the biggest smile when Bentley comes close, but that's hardly ever. We started working on soft touches so hopefully some rubs will entice Bent. 

Kingston is still be battling the good ol winter cold. During the weekend we get him cleared up just in time for Monday and daycare to come around. It's mostly snot that drains and causes him to cough. Right now we are using the nose frieda, a cool mist humidifier and Zarbee's cough syrup with lots of lovin'.  

Kingston also had to be on his first dose of antibiotic this past month. Something nibbled his pointer finger the same one that you can find ALWAYS in his mouth  causing a big bite that didn't want to heal. We waited a good week and a half before taking him in because I figured it was going to go away on it's own and I didn't want to be 'that mom' for taking your kid to Dr. for a bug bite. Thankfully 7 days of Cephalexin cleared it right up. 

This little boy is such a little man already. He's officially found his boy parts and reaches for them whenever he can. He tries to undo the velcro on his diapers and put his hand in his pants whenever possible. It must be engrained in them from birth! He also is so active - whether it be kicking and grabbing while he's nursing or jumping up and down in his exersaucer. He's also way vocal and has his daddies temper. There's no doubt that he's 100% boy and I'm going to have my hands full soon enough!

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I love Kingston's personality and it is so fun/rewarding to watch him grow and learn. He's a giggle box and loves to laugh - but only at his mama and daddy. I love when he tries his hardest to keep his giggles in but CT knows right where to get him (on his ribs and back.) He isn't afraid of strangers but he doesn't give out his smiles out to just anyone. He really makes you earn them! I love how he will lay still for minutes if I'm kissing his chin and how he loves skin to skin snuggles on the weekends in the morning. His daddy is his best friend but he shows me so much love. He's also fascinated with Anyslee - his first friend and girl friend (until her sissy comes in the picture) He lets Ayns do whatever she wants to him and then always gives her a kiss on her cheek. 

These truly are the best days of my life! 

Kingston: 4 months

As of 12.2.14

15lb 6 oz - 50%

26.5" - 95% 

Eyes are still primarily blue - sometimes with some honey and sometimes with some green. He's our little chameleon baby - changing color with his outfit.
His strawberry birthmark on the crown of his head and back of his neck are both still there but are lighter than they were at birth. 
His hair continues to grow on the top of his head. He has a bald spot on the back of his head - but thankfully he's a bald baby so you can't really tell.
He still has the biggest jowls West of the Mississippi.
He still looks a lot like his daddy but I think he for sure has my forehead, shape of eyes, tip of nose and chin. He is perfectly 50% me 50% CT. 

Clothes: 6 month pieces fit the best. There are a few 3 month onesies that are long enough to still work but only when he is in a regular diaper.  

Diapers: He is still in size 2 disposable diapers. I purchased a box of Up&Up brand - split between at home and daycare and we are still working on that same box at night time and out of the house. Cloth diapering is working out really well at daycare - and I'm so thankful that they were open minded with them. I would say 2/5 days he comes home in a different outfit from leaking - but that's because they have students change him and they don't get the fit correct. His main teacher is awesome though with them and they are working out better than I imagined! 

Shoes: Kingston is still wearing the heck out of his 4.5'' moccs. He has a two toned grey pair and a black pair that go with almost every outfit.  

Eating

Little man is still eating like a champ - if you can't tell by his chubbiness. He is super active while he eats - pulling off, looking around, scratching, grabbing and hitting. Soon enough we will be working on manners. He is down to nursing 5-6 times a day: 600a, 1000a, 200p, 500p, 800p.  According to Babywise - this past month he should've merged the mid morning and lunch time feed to a late morning feed which he did without me prompting anything. Crazy how that happened on its own just like the book said it would! 

At his 4 month check up - his Dr. said we can start introducing solids if we would like. Grains first and then veggies, fruit and meats - making sure he has one food for three days before trying something new. I think we are going to hold off on foods until the end of this month. I want him to be able to sit up better on his own and plus he's suppose to be getting a high chair from Santa. I think we will skip the rice cereal, start out on oatmeal cereal and then when he learns how to swallow and is really interested in it - we will start veggies!

 Thankfully I'm able to pump at work in our mothers rooms. I have it booked 3 times a day - the same times Kingston would usually eat. I've been able to pump fresh milk for him to have at daycare the following day and I'm also able to add about 20 ounces a week to my freezer stash. At this point I'm not really sure what the point is of continuing to add milk to my freezer - but it's nice to have it for back up! 

Sleeping 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - thank goodness for the principles of BabyWise and a good routine! Kingston is still sleeping 9.5-10.5 hours consistently. It's so loud at daycare that he averages about 2 30-45 min naps these days. I'm sure soon enough he will get on their schedule and take his 'long nap' from 11:30-1:00 like all the other kiddos do. Until then, his bedtime is earlier in the evening because he just can't hang. I've also found that if I wake him up (or he wakes on his own) around 515-530 eats and then goes back to bed till about 715 - he has a better day at daycare for them. I love finding things that work for my boy. 

His night time routine: 

 Bath time, about twice or three times a week he plays in his otteroo during bath for about 10 min, we lather him up with lavender lotion and change him into pjs, nurses, we pray for him and then put down in his crib. Lately he hasn't been nursing to sleep so we have just been laying him in his crib and he goes to bed on his own. Sometimes we have to put in his paci a few times before he falls asleep. Because of this - I think I'm going to start incorporating a bedtime story each night.

In the last week we have stopped swaddling Kingston because he is so close to rolling over. It was making me nervous to keep him in his straight jacket with the possibly of him rolling over and not having his arms free to help lift his head up. He loves being free and he is such the little mover. We will start him at the bottom of the bed and by morning time he has traveled all the way up to the top. We noticed this past weekend while we shared a room with him at my parents, that he kicks and tosses and turns quite frequently throughout the night making so much noise. We've also found that he is a side sleeper like his mama.

Milestones

95% of the way there of rolling from back to tummy. He has one arm that he just can't get unstuck. 

Reaching for things. (This is the best thing so far to witness. You can tell his mind is trying so hard but his body doesn't fully cooperate. Slowly but surely he is gaining better control of his arms. His favorite thing to grab for is his paci. He takes it out of his mouth and just holds it and looks at it.)

He found his feet. 

Constantly crunching when he is laying down. He likes to sit up and see. 

Likes

All sports - in person or on tv. 

Bath time and the otteroo. 

Standing - in his exersaucer or jumper. 

His toes. 

People watching. He loves to watch the world and hates missing out on stuff. 

Being naked.

Mama & daddies bed.

Dislikes

Getting put in or taken out of his car seat.

Being held in the cradle position unless he is nursing. He likes to see the world.  
When I'm not fast enough to feed him.

Water in his eyes. 

Words
ah-goo

grr

He gargles his spit in the back of his throat and blows spit bubbles by vibrating his lips. 

----------------------

No new sounds but he is blabbing non-stop these days. 

Activities

Bringing his feet to his mouth.

Standing up and playing in his exersaucer or jumper.

Kicking.

Misc.
Kingston has finally started to really notice Bentley. He will sit and watch Bentley play with his toys and then giggle at him. Bentley still isn't a fan of Kingston and at this point I'm not sure he ever will be. 

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I'm continuing to LOVE my role as a mother. My little boy brings so much happiness to my heart and I know God created me to do this. As much as I love being with Kingston, being back to work isn't as bad as I thought. I love the idea of 'providing' for him - especially since purchasing a house has become a very real possibility lately. I've realized I want the best life possible for Kingston and I'm going to do everything in my power to give him that. The best feeling in the world is getting off work and holding my son while he attacks my face with open mouth kisses. That's one thing I hope never ends. 

Kingston: 3 months

As of 10.30.14

14lbs 8 oz 

He has blue eyes still but they are changing. They have a dark blue ring around the outside and lighter blue in the middle. In some light you can start to see a little honey brown coming through. Maybe they will end up hazel?? Only time will tell!   
His strawberry birthmark on crown of his head and back of his neck are both are getting lighter. 
His hair is growing on the top of his head and it's falling out on the back. 
Biggest jowls West of the Mississippi.
He still looks a lot like his daddy but when his eyes get really big he looks a little bit like his mama. His cheeks and thighs are continuing to get chubbier and chubbier by the day and I love it. 

Clothes: 3-6 month pieces fit the best. There are a few 3 month onesies that are long enough to still work but because he is so long we have to size up (especially in his pjs). Also, when he wears cloth diapers his tush is extra fluffy and he fits best in 6 month pants. 

Diapers: He is now in size 2 diapers. I didn't get the point that we needed to size up until we had a few days of blowouts. Thankfully we were gifted a diaper cake with size 2 diapers so we haven't had to purchase any yet. When we do thought we will go back to the target brand. They have worked well for us. We are also still cloth diapering during the day while we are at home and during short trips out of the house. We finally found the perfect fit for him in cloth and just in time for him to start daycare. We use Alva/JC Trade pocket diapers with 2 inserts - 1 CBI on top and a thirsties hemp on bottom. Kingston is such a heavy wetter so the CBI absorbs quickly and the hemp holds a lot and we've been really successful with this!

Shoes: Kingston wears shoes with almost every outfit - primarily 4.5'' moccs. They fit and stay on the best because of the elastic.  

Eating

Little man is still eating like a champ - if you can't tell by his chubbiness. He is down to nursing 6 times a day: 630a, 930a, 1230p, 300p, 630p, 830p.  According to Babywise - towards the end of next month we should be able to start merging the mid morning and lunch time feed to a late morning feed. At this time I might start introducing grains of some type so he can start learning how to eat from a spoon and how to properly swallow food. I will talk with the doctor at his 4 month appointment. 

 I'm continuing to add to my freezer stash and I'm up to about 275oz. I've started to pump only once a day during Kingston's first nursing session. At this time he one nurses from one side so I can get a full bottles worth from the other. When Kingston does take a bottle - he is drinking 4.5-5oz. I'm planning to try and make some lactation cookies here soon to see if they work. If they do - I'll add some to my lunch bag when I return to work. My goal is to continue nursing until Kingston is a year. 

Sleeping 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - thank goodness for the principles of BabyWise and a good routine! Last month Kingston was sleeping 6-8 hours and now he is sleeping 9.5 hours consistently. When we are home (which is most nights), Kingston is asleep by 830p-900p but some nights when we are out late we just continue our routine when we get home. He's not asleep by the same time every night but he wakes up the same time each day - usually between 6a-630a. That darn internal alarm clock! Thankfully, he nurses and then goes right back to sleep in the mornings.

His night time routine: 

 Bath time, we lather him up with lavender lotion and change him into pjs, he then gets swaddled, nurses, we pray for him and then put down in his crib. Usually he goes right to sleep and sometimes we have to give him a paci. Thankfully, the only time he will take his paci is when he is sleepy and any other time he will chew on it and spit it out.I love that he's not dependent on it.   

Now that he is sleeping longer at night he isn't napping as long. In the morning he takes a 45 min nap, a longer nap after lunch usually 2 hours and then another short 45 min nap in the late afternoon. If I swaddle him during nap time he is more content and sleeps better but I know they won't do this at daycare so I'm trying to get away from it. We are working on transitioning him out of the swaddle during nap time and it isn't working so well. Little dude loves his hands by his face so sometimes he scratches himself or knocks out his paci and other times he startles himself awake.  

Milestones

Giggling. 

Rolled over from tummy to back.

Rubbing his eyes when he's sleepy.

Bringing his toys to his mouth. (Almost reaching for them)  
Holding his head up. 

Likes

Football games - in person (outside) or on TV.

Bath time and the otteroo. 

Worship music at church.

Walks and being outside. 

Dislikes

Car rides.

Getting put in or taken out of his car seat.

Being held in the cradle position unless he is nursing. He likes to see the world.  
His paci when he's not tired.

Words
ah-goo

grr
----------------------

He gargles his spit in the back of his throat and blows spit bubbles by vibrating his lips.  

Activities

Kicking on his play mat. 

Standing up and playing in his exersaucer.

Spending time outside in his stroller. 

Misc.
Bentley and Kingston still aren't friends. I'm hoping when Kingston becomes more active they will enjoy each other more. Kingston is also doing awesome at CT's football games. After that awful first game, he's been a pro ever since. As long as he has a change of scenery - in and out of his car seat carrier, walk during half time he's great. The weather is suppose to start getting cooler so we will see if that changes things.  

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I only have a few more days full time at home with my baby before I go back to work. I'm soaking up as many moments and snuggles as I can before then. My favorite thing is when Kingston is with someone else and then sees me and gives me the biggest smile! It makes this mamas heart explode with happiness. I love being his mom. 

Kingston: 2 Months

As of 8.23.14

12lbs 4 oz -- 50% 

23.75 inches -- 90%
Blue eyes still. 
Strawberry birthmark on crown of head and back of neck.  
Looking exactly like his daddy but with my forhead/bottom lip/hands/feet. He has the chubbiest cheeks that get too many kisses from CT and me. 

Baby acne on his chin.

Craddle cap gone. 

Penis adhesion gone. 

He has a lip tie but thankfully it hasn't affected his nursing. We will meet with a pediatric dentist after the new year to see if it needs to be addressed. 

Clothes: 3 month pieces fit the best but I'm cramming him into 0-3 month outfits. I have packed away all his newborn onesies and pants. =( 
Diapers: Still in size 1 disposables and we are using Target brand. We are cloth diapering during the day while we are at home and during short trips out of the house, and he's in disposables at night and at all other times. He has the best fit with his AIO Regular NB Happy Flutes with an added CBI (the one with the wide crotch). He leaks through the narrow crotch NB and the OS diapers look huge on my little baby. I'm trying to perfect the fit and what works best for him so we can make it as easy as possible for daycare next month. 
Shoes: Baby shoes are my weakness. He has a few of size 1 soft soled shoes and I'm obsessed with leather moccasins.

Eating

My little boy is growing like a weed and is gaining steady weight. He doesn't really cry letting us know he's hungry but when his little tongue starts moving like crazy we know he's ready. He usually nurses every 2.5-3 hours during the day starting at 6am and starting his last nursing session about 830pm. Poor guy has a little case of acid reflux but for the most part he keeps everything down if we make sure to get out his massive burps. 

 I'm up to about 215oz in the freezer for my milk stash. I pump after feedings maybe once a day and then at Kingston's first feeding of the day he only nurses from one side so I pump the other. He has taken maybe 5 bottles (tommie tippie) total and is continuing to get better. I plan to have him take more of them so when he starts daycare next month he will be a pro. 

Sleeping 

It's crazy how much can change in one month. Last month Kingston was giving me 2.5-4 hour stretches of sleep during the night and now he is consistently giving me 6-8 hours and last night it was 9. Thank goodness for the principles of BabyWise and a good routine! 

His night time routine (usually between 8-830p - but we aren't strict on this): 

daddy changes him out of clothes while I get his bath ready with the perfect temp and lavender bubble bath, bath time, daddy dries him off, we lather him up with lavender lotion and change him into pjs, he then gets swaddled, nurses, we pray for him and then put down in his crib. He usually falls asleep while being burped and sleeps until about 5am. If he peeps after we lay him down we give him his paci and he goes right back to sleep. 

During the day Kingston takes better naps during the morning and early afternoon and is more alert during the evening. His usually is awake for an hour to 1.5 hours and we know it's nap time when he starts to yawn. He naps better swaddled and he usually takes them in his crib or laying in his mamaroo swing. I have come to learn that he loves something by his face so we usually put his minky taggie blanket by it and pop in his paci and he's out. He will only take his pacifier if he's tired - any other time he will chew on it and spit it out. I love finding out his quirks what works for him! 

Milestones

Sleeping through the night.

Cooing and mimicking his daddy. 

Smiling. (But he doesn't give them out often. If you get a smile you should feel very special!)

Starting to grip things.

Bringing his hands to his mouth more. 

Likes

Football games - in person (outside) or on TV.

Looking at the fan. 

Shadows.

Bath time. 

Worship music at church.

Being cuddled. 

Dislikes

When driving and the car stops moving. 
The paci when he's not tired.

He doesn't really have many dislikes and we are so fortunate that he hardly ever cries. Usually the only time he cries is if he's super tired or if mama drops the baby wash on him during bath time. :/

Words
ah-goo

grr



Activities

Kicking on his play mat. 

Spending time outside in his stroller. 

Misc.
Kingston is starting to like his swing a little bit more. We might be able to get 10 minutes out of it before he doesn't want anything to do with it. Usually we put it by the window and open the blinds so he can look outside. Kingston has also started to slobber like crazy and he is starting to track us when we move about the room. Also, he and Bentley still haven't become friends but I think that's right around the corner. 

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When people say that having a baby makes the time fly by, they weren't kidding. I love watching him grow, change and learn new things but it makes me sad to think that I only have a month and a half left to witness it all full time. I'm going to soak up as many moments and snuggles as I can before I have to return to work. My goal is to make him a mamas boy before he is spending all his time with daddy at school and home!