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
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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. 

Being Grown Sucks

This past weekend my little family went back to my home town and spent the weekend with my parents and sister. My littlest sister is a sophomore in high school and as I sat and listened to her talk with her bestie, I had a moment where I missed being in high school. I missed picking out my best outfit and spending too much time on my hair each morning, I missed those lunch time friends - you know the ones who aren't your usual friends but the ones you sat with at lunch because you had the same class that day, I missed the giddiness of talking to a new guy and I even missed note taking and homework. 

Everyone wishes away those younger years and all your look forward to is being able to just 'graduate and be done with school and finally have a big girl job'. I know I did. Something I wish I would have told my 16-22 year old self  - sometimes being a grown up isn't all that fun. 

Sometimes making life decisions sucks.  

Right now I'm having to decide on which insurance is going to be best for my little family. How the heck am I suppose to know what type of coverage we are going to need for next year? Will we break a bone, get ebola or will nothing happen and all we need are our annual appointments? 

Insurance is confusing enough because of the various options, each with their own benefits. 

1. Low premium, no copays & pay everything out of pocket till we hit high deductible then most everything is covered after.

2. High premium, no copay & no deductible but pay 25% of almost every bill.

3. Medium premium, copays with medium deductible & medium % to pay after deductible is met.

Decisions, decisions! 

Last year we chose option 1 and it saved us a lot of money during Kingston's birth. We had our deductible met when it came time for his birth and then most everything was covered after that. We didn't have to pay a cent of our $16,000 hospital bill and now each doctors appointment costs us $5-$10. Needless to say we are getting everything checked out this year! 

I think we are leaning toward option 1 again because we have the option to use a health savings account which makes it less of burden when we have to pay big chunks at each visit. 

Which option would you choose? 

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! 

Kingston: 1 Month

As of 8.28.14

9lbs 14.5 oz 

22 inches
Blue eyes. 
Strawberry birthmark on crown of head and back of neck.  
Looking exactly like his daddy but with my bottom lip/hands/feet.

Baby acne on cheeks and chin.

Craddle cap is almost gone. 

Clothes: still wearing a few newborn pieces but for the most part in 0-3 months.
Diapers: We went up to size 1 at about 2.5 weeks of age.
Shoes: We have a lot but we haven't worn any yet.

Eating

I call Kingston my little gremlin because this boy sure loves to eat. You know the song by Willow Smith - I Whip My Hair ... that's Kingston's theme song.  Except his is I Whip My Head back and forth as he goes in for the kill. 

My little boy is growing and gaining weight. He usually nurses every 2.5-3 hours during the day and every 3.5-4.5 hours during the night for about 20-25 minutes. For the most part he keeps everything down if we make sure to get out his massive burps. 

I have started to pump and build a small freezer stash. I'm going to kick it in gear soon so we will have a good amount stored up before my return to work in November. Kingston has taken one bottle from CT and it was the sweetest moment I've ever seen. See here.

Sleeping 

He sleeps great during the day and at night until his gas bubbles wake him up. {I have never heard such loud noises come out of such a tiny human.} Right now Kingston is giving me a few 2.5-4 hour stretches of sleep during the night and he takes a few 1.5-2 hour naps during the day. 

We tried having him sleep in a bassinet in our room for the first two nights home and he slept awful. The following night we moved him to his crib and he sleeps so much better. It's a win/win for everyone. He usually naps in his crib as well unless we have visitors or daddy who enjoy holding him. Daddy's chest - stomach to stomach - is both of their favorites. 

If it was up to Kingston he would love his hands free and by his face. Unfortunately, he always startles and wakes himself up so we swaddle him to give him the best sleep possible. Summer Infant SwaddleMe Blankets are what we use and they work like a charm. 

Milestones

Sleeping longer stretches during the night.

Cooing. 

Likes

Being outside.

Looking at the fan.

Laying in mom/dad's bed. 

Car rides. 

Visitors. 

Dislikes

Quietness. 

Being cold.

Gas. 

When I change his diaper and have to mess with his circumcision. 

(He has a slight case of penile adhesion so we have to work at retracting the skin during diaper changes which is super uncomfortable for my poor little guy. His wife will thank me one day but it is the worst thing ever for his mama.)

Misc.
Daycare has finally been decided upon. Starting in November CT will be taking Kingston to school with him and he will attend the facility at Southeast Highschool. CT will be able to stop by on lunch time or plan periods, it's super convenient and they don't charge for days when school isn't in session. After months and months of thinking and talking about it and interviewing providers, I'm so relieved we finally have something decided on.  

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This first month has F-L-O-W-N by! 

Kingston and I have been spending many hours at home getting to know each other but we also enjoy getting out of the house. We have made frequent trips to CT's school for lunch and to the football field for walks. This upcoming month we will be doing a lot of traveling for CT's football games and Tessa's volleyball games. Kingston is quickly getting accustomed to the athletic lifestyle.

I'm looking forward to what this next month is going to bring us! 

Our Version - Babywise: Week 3

Prior to Kingston's arrival, I wrote about how CT and I wanted to try out the Babywise methods from birth. We have a really good friend who had awesome success with following it's principles and her little one was successfully sleeping throughout the night from age 8-10 weeks.

'Sleep training' is a very controversial topic, but I figured why not give it a shot and if we get sleep sooner rather then later, that's awesome! 

The gist of Babywise:

-goal is to be sleeping through the night by 7/8 weeks

- feed every 2.5/3 hours (but if your baby becomes hungry sooner - feed them)

- eat (full feedings), wake time, sleep 

Ever since my milk came in, Kingston has been on a great schedule of becoming hungry at the 3 hour mark. It makes planning our day and judging his mood easy. There are some days, mostly in the evenings (his fussy time) when he will want to eat every 2 or 2.5 hours and we do so. I think of this as his cluster feeding time where he is hopefully getting more calories to help him sleep longer at night. 

I like to think of the Babywise method as a routine and less as a schedule. We have no real start time and the times he eats each day aren't consistent, but we do have a routine we follow.

The last few days here has been Kingston's routine (3 weeks):

Sunday 

(going through a 'growth spurt' = more hungry then normal)

600am - eat/wake/nap

815am - eat/wake/nap

1100am - eat/wake/nap

130pm - eat/wake/nap

330pm - eat/wake/nap

600pm - eat/wake
(fussy - fighting sleep - no nap)

815pm - bath/pjs/eat/sleep

Monday 

1245am - eat/ sleep

415am - eat/sleep
730am - eat/wake/nap
1030am - eat/wake/nap
130pm - eat/wake/nap
400pm - eat/wake/nap
645 - eat/wake 
(fussy - fighting sleep - no nap)
830 - bath/pjs/eat/sleep

Tuesday
1215am - eat/sleep
400am - eat/sleep
630am - eat/sleep
915am - eat/wake/sleep
1245pm - eat/wake/sleep
(out visiting CT for lunch so little longer then 3 hours between feedings)
400pm - eat/wake/sleep
615pm - eat/wake
(no evening nap because we were at Friends volleyball game)
845pm - bath/pjs/eat/sleep


Wednesday
100am - eat/sleep
430am - eat/sleep
700am - eat/wake
(no nap - tummy time & swing)
915am - eat/wake/sleep
1130am - eat/wake/sleep
130pm - eat/wake/sleep
415pm - eat/wake/sleep
615pm - eat/wake/sleep
830pm - bath/pjs/eat/sleep 
1230am - eat/sleep 


 Kingston is going about 3.5-4.5 hours between feedings at night. Usually in the evening he eats sooner then the 3 hour mark because this is his fussy time, he doesn't want to nap and I figure I'll keep his belly more full in hopes he will sleep longer at night. 

Right now he naps about 1.5-2 hours at a time, but the older he gets the longer I will try and make his wake time so his naps will get less. 

I'm not 'super strict' in following the Babywise methods, but for the most part we have a pretty good routine going and I'm getting a few good stretches of sleep at night. 

What I'm working on now is getting Kingston to fall asleep the first time after he is put in his crib. At night he's good at falling right back to sleep, but for nap time he likes to be held/rocked to sleep and then sometimes wakes up when we put him down. It's crazy how every day is a learning process and I'm working my way through trying to find out what works best for us as a family. 

Kingston's Birth Story

Years down the road, I know I will want to remember how July 30th, 2014 happened. 

Kingston's birth story: 

Let me preface by saying that at 36 weeks, with the help of our lovely chiropractor, Kingston finally decided to become un-breech. Starting at 32 weeks I saw her 3 times a week and did nightly exercises to try and get him to flip to avoid a c-section. 

Also, at my weekly OB appointments starting at 36 weeks - I was always 'almost at 1cm and softening'. 

July 28th, 2014:

Kingston's due date. 

Still no more progress. Almost at 1cm and softening. 

Our OB knew we didn't want to go much longer then our due date (We were getting anxious to meet our little man and I wanted CT to have as much time off with us before school started.  Also, induction is a personal choice, one not everyone agrees with it, but it was a choice we wanted.) - so she asked us if we wanted to be induced and when. 

We choose his birthday - July 30th, 2014.  

July 29th, 2014: 

We had our last dinner as a family of 2 at Old Chicago.

730pm

 We checked into the hospital to begin the induction process. 

I changed into the sexy hospital gown and answered a bunch of questions from the nurse and residents. 

I then got hooked up to begin monitoring Kingston's heartbeat, and was poked 3 times to start an IV. My nurse tried once and then she called the IV team. The IV team was super busy so the charge nurse came and got it on her second try. Supposedly, I am 'valve-y'. 

At this point I was checked by everyone - still at about 1cm and softening. I was also told that I had a posterior cervix and that it would become more anterior as Kingston made his way into position.

930pm 

Time to get a foley bulb catheter, which is a more natural way to induce labor.  I was told that having a posterior cervix could possibly make getting the foley bulb more difficult so they had the year 3 resident insert it. He was awesome and was able to place it with no problem and no pain. They then filled the balloon portion of the catheter with saline solution and gave it a tug every hour or so. This caused the cervix to mechanically open and by the time it fell out I was at 3/4cm.

1030pm

Last chance to order food before delivery day. 

I ordered a grilled cheese, salt and vinegar chips and water. Because of the delicious pizza I had a few hours prior - this meal went to waste.

130pm

The foley bulb fell out, I was at about 3/4cm and I was told to rest until 530am when they would start the pitocin. CT was able to get in some really good shut eye but me not so much. I was too nervous, and between getting up, using the restroom and listening to my little mans heart beat -  I couldn't get more then 30 minutes here and there. 

530am 

They started pitocin and increased it by 2 every 15 minutes. 

I was getting checked every hour and still at about 3/4cm and maybe softening a little more. 

930am 

The contractions really hadn't started and my pitocin was already pretty high. 

My Dr. decided now would be a good time to break my water to see if I would progress any more because of it.

1130am 

The contractions started and I was at a good 4cm now. 

Everyone who checked me thought Kingston was sunny side up and not able to get into the correct position. 

100pm

I was at 5cm by now and finally softening more.

When my doctor came in she tried to internally/manually turn Kingston's head so he was no longer sunny side up. It was uncomfortable but I could feel he had moved. My doctor left and acted really positive saying she thinks we would have a baby by 4 or 5pm.

200pm 

The epidural team came in and it took them 2 pokes to get it started. I also ended up jumping major when they said 'this may send a shock through your body, try and hold still'. Ya ... I suck.

200pm- 600pm

This time frame is all a blur.

 There was no real progress. I couldn't get past 5 cm but I was softening a little more. 

They had to place an internal monitor to measure contractions. 

After a bunch of checks, they think Kingston turned back to being sunny side up. 

We tried tons of different position changes to help him make his way into position better and nothing worked. 

My epidural worked great on my right leg (it was super dead) but I could still feel my left side. I had to have my epidural medications changed multiple times because they would run out or because they needed something stronger. 

600pm

The Dr. came in and the baby and my body hadn't progressed any more. Something was causing him to not get into the correct position so he couldn't fully make my cervix soften and open up. I was still at 5cm and she said I had until 700pm to progress to 8cm or we would need to do a c-section. 

This is when the water works started flowing. I remember turning to CT and mouthing 'stupid baby'. I had tried everything possible to get our stubborn baby to flip from being breech so we could avoid a c-section. We worked so hard and it was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to have skin to skin, I wanted to breastfeed as soon as possible, and I wanted our epidural to fully work so I could remember everything if a c-section was to happen. 
Naturally, there were so many fears I had. 

My nurse was awesome and did everything in her power to help us progress - more frequent changes in position and tying to manually stretch me to make it possible for Kingston to move down. It didn't work. 

730pm

By this time, I was still shedding a few tears off and on, but I had come to terms with the fact that we were going to need a c-section. I had talked to our nurse and made sure if I was unable to do skin to skin, that CT could. 

The Dr. came back in and checked me. I was almost at 7cm but she still advised we go ahead and get him out. The nurse anesthetist got me hooked up and I was completely numb up to my arm pits.  

745pm

CT gets changed into his OR clothes and a backwards hospital gown so it opens in the front. Everyone was so confused as to why he was dressed like that - but we were determined to do our skin to skin time.

I got wheeled back to the OR and the prayer before surgery started. 

812pm

My 8lb 6oz baby with a slight cone head arrived and he was absolutely perfect. 

I was able to have about 20 minutes of skin to skin time with him before my arms became to tired and I had to hand him off to CT. 

Being cut open and having him removed from me was the easy part. Being put back together was the hard part. Thankfully, I had an awesome nurse anesthetist that talked me through the whole process and kept my mind off everything that was going on behind the curtain. I literally felt like I was having a heart attack as they were pulling and tugging on everything.

930-1130pm

We were wheeled to recovery. 

Kingston easily latched on and we had a really good breast feeding experience. 

CT was then able to help with bath time. 

All I wanted was some water so the nurses snuck me some. 

1200pm

We finally made it to our postpartum room and my family got to meet Kingston for the first time.

 Immediately after everyone left, all I wanted was some chicken nuggets but the nurses said no. CT left to get some food and on his return Kingston had the biggest meconium poop and CT had the pleasure of changing it! CT was the biggest help and we spent the first few hours, exhausted but just loving on our boy.

July 31st, 2014

700am

I was determined to get up and walk around so I could shower. 

Everyone thought I was doing so well after surgery and I felt great. 

Thursday was spent figuring out our baby, entertaining visitors, and being constantly checked on by the nurses. 

August 1st, 2014

We were told the whole time that we wouldn't be released to go home until Saturday morning, but since I was doing so well and able to move so easily they gave us the option of going home Friday evening and we took it. 

430pm

We got released from the hospital, headed to the pharmacy to get my medications filled and immediately the adrenaline stops and reality sets in. 

I'm a mom and I'm going to do everything in my power to be the best mom I can be. 

Kingston Changed My Marriage . . .

. . . for the better! 

In two and half short weeks, I can say that my marriage and relationship with my husband is 100% better than it ever has been. 

 We work better as a team. 

CT is so hands on with Kingston and it truly is the biggest blessing to have someone do everything with me. From bath times to diaper changes and from me feeding and he finishing off with the burping - everything we do wit Kingston is together. CT helps out around the house or if I need something when I'm unable to do things because I'm needed by the baby. It really is the best feeling in the world to work together as a team.  

 We communicate so much better. 

We haven't raised our voices. We haven't been rude to each other. We consider the other persons opinions and views on each subject. I know it's because we are now thinking of more then just ourselves. The things we disagreed on before Kingston was born (daycare, etc.) we now have total different views on and we were able to discuss things as 'adults'. Becoming parents has really made us mature in how we communicate. 

I'm sure there are a lot more things that have changed and I'm sure things aren't always going to be this easy - but it's a good feeling. CT and I have been together going on our 8th year and I think things can only continue to get better from here.  

I love our family we have created and I am truly so thankful that God has given me a man that wants nothing more then to be an amazing father. It makes my duty as a wife and mother so much more rewarding and doable with the extra help and encouragement from my husband. 

I continue to fall more in love with this man as the days go on.