Staycation Camp Out

Brady begs to camp out in the back yard at least once a month. Caleb had promised him when he was off they would camp out one night. Sunday night was the best night for it because of some other commitments, but it was also the coldest night and it rained. They decided to brave the elements and do it!

They had a fire in the fire pit, apple cider, and popcorn.

 Caleb posted this status on Facebook that next morning, "There's nothing like your son saying "I love you" multiple times when you take him camping, even if it is only in the back yard.". So sweet.

I think it is safe to say they had a great night. I am so proud of the daddy Caleb is. I love that he makes it a priority to spend time with his children.

Caleb texted this picture to me Monday morning. Brady was sound asleep and bundled up in his sleeping bag.

Caleb made us all pancakes for brunch and we spent the rest of the day being lazy and recovering from the weekend. Mondays are one of my favorite parts of this Stay at Home Mom gig. I do not take them for granted. I remember all to well the exhaustion and crankiness that Monday's can hold with little ones to get to daycare and a Mommy to get to work.

Presley did remarkably well this weekend, but it was all over come Sunday night and Monday. She cried off and on all night Sunday night and Monday. We had some really yummy lasagna for lunch Sunday, but it was full of onions, garlic, seasonings, sausage, tomato sauce, and other strong flavor foods. I have been trying to go easy on the strong flavors, because I suspected they hurt her tummy.  My suspicions were confirmed Sunday night and Monday. She would scream and scream and was completely inconsolable. It was pitiful! Caleb and I took turns trying to console her. She got a little relieve from a baby massage and when I would tuck her legs up to her chest, but it didn't work every time. Then she would finally have a little gas and be happy as a lark, until the next spell. The lasagna was some of the best I have ever eaten, but we all paid for it in the coming days with the crying. Lesson learned. By Tuesday afternoon her tummy was much better and the screaming had ended. It made for a much better day! :)

Staycation Kick Off!

Caleb got a couple weeks for Paternity leave when Presley was born, so he didn't have to use his vacation time for her birth. He does have to use his vacation time before the end of the year though, so he took off this week to be home with us. He has several "honey do" projects around the house and we have a few plans to fill his time as well.


His staycation officially kicked off on Friday. This weekend was also a busy weekend for us. My 10 year High School reunion was this weekend. We kicked it off with a tailgating party at my High School before the Homecoming game.

Thanks to April for taking a couple pictures of our family. Brady was being weird. He is 3; weird describes him most of the time.

My parents live very close to the high school so Presley and I went to their house right after the tailgating, while the boys enjoyed the game. My high school is known for its terrible football team, so the game wasn't very good. I think Brady enjoyed some one on one sports time with Daddy. I love seeing them do their man-thing. I have a feeling they will have a lot of these father/son dates in their future. I am perfectly ok with that.

Saturday morning we all got ready and headed to Cumberland University for an Alumni baseball breakfast. Caleb's college coach just wrote a book about the baseball program. Caleb was excited to see his name in the book. He loved Cumberland and has some great friends there, so he always loves to get back there. I didn't go to school there, but I cheered on Caleb and the bulldogs at my fair share of baseball games. :) We spent most of the three years we dated on this campus, so it brings back a ton of memories. His friends became my friends here. We took a quick tour around the campus. Brady wasn't feeling very well, a little snotty, so he was not really himself.

 

 

 

We grabbed some lunch before coming home for nap time.

 

 

Sweet girl was so so so good!

Caleb's parents came and watched the littles while Caleb and I went to the actual reunion part Saturday night. We always enjoy a night out with out the littles. I went to a small school, but there were a lot more people in my class than made it to the reunion. However, we still had a nice time. The food was really yummy and it was good to catch up with old friends. The girls did a great job planning it!

I stole these pics from our reunion page on Facebook. I failed to take a single picture. :(

Classmates that made it.

Classmates with dates.

Our table.

Brady and Presley did excellent with Caleb's parents, except Brady had a little run in with the bathroom door and ended up with a small black/hurt eye.

I had  a sweet baby shower to attend Sunday between worship services.

 We have so many friends who just had or about to have a baby. It is so fun and exciting to have so many friends with kids the same age as ours! I didn't stay long so I get get back to the babies. They made onesies and the ones I saw turned out so cute!!!

The boys enjoyed their Sunday afternoon and Presley did great! Sundays are usually her hardest days.

 

 

We are excited to enjoy this week with Daddy home. Brady has so many things planned for him and Daddy. I am sure we will have a lot to post about this week! :)

3 Months

Another month has come and gone with our sweet girl. It is strange, in some ways it seems like it has gone so quickly, but in others it seems like she should be so much older. Our sweet girl just fits so well within our family.

(Ignore the drool in nearly every picture!)

At 3 months Presley is...

• sleeping from 9pm -6am most nights, occasionally she wakes up a little earlier or a little later.
• nursing every 3-4 hours about 5-6 times per day.
• getting one feeding before bed from bottle, so daddy can feed her and I can pump before bed for comfort. She takes the bottle without problems any time I need her to. :)
• always wants to eat around 8 pm no matter what time she just ate. It is part of her nightly schedule, it is pretty funny. It is followed by a bath and bedtime.
• She is a stickler for her bedtime routine. She will grunt and "fake whine" until you put her in the bath, gown, and put her down for bed, swaddled with her noise machine. If we don't listen to her cues to start the routine, we pay with a major meltdown. She loves her bedtime routine.
• on a regular eat, play, sleep schedule.

• wears 3 months or 3-6 months clothes. Some of the 3 months she is quickly outgrowing, but some still has room. Some of the 3-6 months stuff looks HUGE on her.
• in size 1 diapers. I will probably move over to size 2 soon once we are out of size 1.
• holding her head up so well.
• smiling, laughing, squealing, and cooing like crazy.
• loves her brother. She watches him constantly and will just smile and smile!
• a mommy's girl. It is crazy! She loves her Momma. She can tell immediately if I am not holding her.
• so close to rolling over. She sort of rolled over on September 25th, but she hasn't been able to do it again, so I am thinking it was a fluke. She gets all the up on one side and then plops back down on her stomach. It is somewhat sad to watch.
• bearing weight on legs when in a standing position.
• becoming more social. Like I said, she loves Mommy, but she is beginning to let more people hold her. I think the problem usually has to do with being overtired rather than being partial to  me. Weekends are rough on her and that is when everyone wants to hold her.
• napping one long nap in her swing each day, about 2 1/2-4 hours, usually at the same time Brady is napping. She still takes several cat naps throughout the day. She will nap in her crib, but seems to take the long nap better if in the swing. I am totally ok with that, because she falls asleep on her own in her crib at night. I also kind of like her being in sight during nap time. I just work around her and she stays asleep most of the time.
• likes to snuggle for at least one cat nap a day.
• swatting and grabbing at toys. She can grasp them, but when she tries to bring it to her mouth she loses it.
• drooling like crazy and trying to suck on her fingers. She does take a pacifier and likes it.
• a happy, happy girl at home and is so, so sweet.
• making the sweetest sounds.
• losing her hair. :( She had a bald spot right in back and her hair is thinning out all over.

We have all enjoyed her so much these past 3 months, more than I could have ever thought possible. We all adore her!  We are all looking forward to many more months with her!

1 month and 3 month comparison.

Brady at 3 months and Presley at 3 months

Another weekend down...

 

Friday night, Brady and I made chocolate pumpkin muffins. We made them using chocolate cake mix and pumpkin. We make the cake mix pumpkin muffins often, but have never used a chocolate cake mix. They were pretty good.

 

Saturday night there was a kid devo at my sisters house. Brady loves kid devos!

He lead a song and a prayer.

They boys had "sword" fight with any item that remotely resembled a sword. One kid had a broom and golf club. Ha Ha! Caleb joined in the fight. He didn't last long, claiming they hurt him. Boys are funny!

 

Sunday was typical at my parents between worship services.

 

Presley will be 3 months old tomorrow!!!!

Weekly Favorites.

Sleeping Baby

Sweet Cheeks

 

Tummy Time.

 

She is so close to rolling over!

 

Baby is strong!

 

Brady insists on doing tummy time with her. I have to ooh and ahh on his head control as well. Silly boy!

 

 

Pajamas.

(We got the Party City costume catalog in the mail this week and he has yet to let it out of his sight.)

 

 

Sweet gummy smiles.

 

playing outside.

 

Presley is so content on a blanket in the grass.

Football.

 

Friday lunch out.

Brady wanted a hamburger, so we went to Steak and Shake while out running errands.

 

Although the weeks aren't overly exciting, they sure do seem to go fast.

 

Weekend.

We had another busy, fun weekend.

Presley handled it like a champ, except for one not-so-little meltdown Saturday night. She can be my little diva baby sometimes, but most of the time she is super happy and sweet!

Brady, Presley, and I went to a birthday party Saturday morning. We made it and were only 10 minutes late. Success.

 

They had a backdrop and props. I had fun with the kids with this!

Brady had a blast at the party. It was a carnival theme. He loved the games. He was really, really good. You never know how a 3 year old will handle another kid getting gifts and all the attention, but Brady did wonderful. He even ate really well. That never happens at parties.

Presley also had a big time. She just took in all the big kids and getting to be outside. She loves outside. She and my friend Stephanie hung out in the shade for a while. Stephanie was 2 days past her due date at that point, so she was happy to sit with Presley. I thought I took a picture of them, but I must have not.


Saturday night Presley, Caleb, and I went to some friends house for some devotional time. Brady stayed with my parents by choice. We had a great time and Presley did so good until the ride back to my parents. Enter meltdown.

After church Sunday, we spent the day with family at my parents.

Quick picture of Presley before church. I always forget to take pictures of her before church. :(

Caleb was off work Monday and my friend Stephanie finally had her baby very early Monday morning. We went to visit them and meet baby Claire. She is so tiny! It makes Presley look so big!! It is amazing she was that small just a few weeks ago. We ran a few other errands before coming back home.

The rest of the day was recuperating from the weekend. I am always thankful for Mondays at home after busy weekends. :)