Celebrating Mom & Dad's Birthday

Mommy and Daddy celebrate their birthdays exactly one week apart. Mom's birthday is on April 17th, and she turned 26 years old. Dad's birthday is on April 10th, and he turned 28 years old this year.

We celebrated on our way back from Pine Mountain on April 18th with Gram, Gramps, Aunt Amanda and Uncle Josh. Mom chose to eat at Ted's Montana Grill. It was good, but our server wasn't the greatest and the food took a long time to finally come out.

Before we left, Aunt Amanda woke me up from my nap, because she wanted pictures of me in my outfit that mommy bought for me that says "My Auntie is the Best". The shirt is right...Aunt Amanda is the best, along with Aunt Anna and Aunt Ashley! :)

First Birthday Celebration as a Family

Checking it all out...

I LOVE Aunt Amanda!

Just as I was trying to wake up...

The Gift

The Gift

Father God -

After all these months of pregnancy, what will we do with this gift ~ this Weston James Harvey? We value him and love him ~ just like You. We'll meditate on, remember and teach him Your truth ~ that You knit him together in the womb. He is made in Your image. He is a creator. He creates his life with his words ~ just like You. So we abide in ~ delight in ~ feed on Your Word and keep the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts acceptable and pleasing to You. We will only think and speak to and about him in ways that agree with You ~ what You have already said about our baby, our Weston~ this child of Yours.

After all these months of anticipation and planning, what will we do with this gift? We'll meditate on, remember and teach him Your truth ~ that You will not ~ You will not ~ You will not leave him nor forsake him so he can boldly say that You are his Helper. You've sent angels to protect him and help him do everything You've placed him in this earth to do. The angels respond and obey Your voice ~ Your Word ~ coming out of our mouths. So we will not be anxious or worry about him. We cast his care on You because You care for him and us.

What will we do with this gift? We will continually thank You that he has great peace and thank You for teaching him daily. We'll meditate on, remember and teach him Your truth ~ that he has the mind of Christ, an anointed mind. He is quick to learn and has success in school and throughout his life. Like Daniel, he stands for You and you bless him with skill in learning, in wisdom and in understanding. In all matters, he is found to be ten times better than the devil's children. He's blessed coming in and blessed going out! He's above only and not beneath! He's the head and not the tail! And that blessing ~ that You bestowed on Adam, on Abraham and, thru Jesus, on Weston and us... that blessing Makes Us Rich!

In Jesus' name, I thank You and praise You ~ Amen.

Playing with Daddy

Grant came home last night, and he and Weston had a great time playing together. Weston enjoys sitting in his bumbo seat now that he can really hold his head up, and he is getting the hang of pressing the buttons on his toys and looking at them in awe as they light up or make noises.

Here are the highlights of the evening:

Mom, why are you flashing that bright light at me? We are trying to play!

Look, Dad...if I turn the key, it makes noise!

This thing is interesting...I've never seen anything like it!

It's so entertaining that I've got drool dripping down my face!

Now, I've had enough...I'm exhausted! No more playing, no more pictures...I'll just show you my bald spot! :)

Aunt Amanda's Easter Outfit

Aunt Amanda gave Weston a cute Easter outfit, and he wore it briefly on Easter. Unfortunately, it didn't last long, because he had a blow out that required a change of clothes; however, it was cute while it lasted. :) He even had a matching hat and bib! Weston never wore the bib, but Gramps did!

Nursery continued...

Here are a few additional photos taken by my mom after Weston made his big debut...
The glider that my mom and dad had recovered for Weston. It was the one that my mom used when Amanda & I were babies. I love it, and I'm so glad that I was able to use something so special!

The Dresser / Changing Table next to the Glider

The nightlight that I found on Etsy for Weston

Weston's Door Sign from the Hospital

Weston's Nursery

I've had some requests for photos of Weston's nursery, so I'm posting a few photos. Grant and I worked so hard, especially Grant, and it turned out absolutely perfect for our little guy!

Crib w/ Initials - The pillow goes on his Glider & the step stool was made by my Grandfather, and it has his name on it! I love it! :)

Window with Valance and Side Table

Dresser w/ Name Blocks above & Diaper Cake from Shower

Sign and Frames...I have no idea what I'm going to put in the Frames!

Behind the door...Bulletin Board my mom made, so we can hang photos!

Closet Door

My Heart

I can't believe how crazy in love I am with this little guy...he's my heart and everything that I do is for him!

Our Family

I honestly don't believe that our little family of four could be any more perfect...Grant and I are SO blessed and love both of our children, Weston & Banks!

Also...I think it'll be a REALLY long time before we can get both Weston & Banks to look at the camera or even in the same direction!

Before I was a Mom...

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, Ihad never goten up in the middle of the night, every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Me & Weston on Easter Sunday after Church

Weston & Banks - Best Friends Forever!

Two Months

Weston,

I can't believe that you are two months old...these past eight and a half weeks have flown by, and you have changed drastically since you were born. I don't even recognize you as the baby that you were on your birthday! You have grown out of much of your crying phase, and we no longer have periods during the day where you scream at the top of your lungs. Mommy & Daddy can make you happy now, and you smile and grin at us to let us know.

You have started cooing and talking to us all the time, and we just love it. It's so much fun, and we love all the funny expressions that you make. You are such a serious baby, and it can be difficult to get a grin out of you sometimes.

You rolled over from your stomach to your back during this month, and you have done it a few times since then. You are SO strong, and you like to stand up on Mommy & Daddy's legs. You will also sit up against something, if you are propped up. We just are enjoying these phases so much! We can't wait to see your progress and are looking forward to the next few months and all the changes that you will go through.

Here are your two month statistics and milestones:

• 12 lb. 13.5oz. We are still exclusively BF'ing, and we haven't yet had to supplement with formula. It's been a very rewarding experience and SO convenient, because I don't have to carry bottles and formula with me everywhere! :)
  
• 23.5 inches long...
• Moved up from Size 1 to Size 2 diapers
  
• Still in most of his 0-3 Month clothes, but he can also now wear the 3-6 month or 6 month outfits. They are still a little big, but I'm sure they won't be that way for long!
  
• Watches Mom & Dad constantly
  
• So alert and independent...you like to sit quietly by yourself and watch everyone and everything around you!
  
• You cry at bedtime...we can't figure it out! During our bedtime routine after you get out of the bathtub, you start screaming at the top of your lungs. We think you are overtired, but we aren't sure. It's tough, and it's difficult to soothe you when you get like that! We hope you'll grow out of it soon...
  
• You have big hands and big feet...everyone says that you look just like your daddy!
  
• You fight sleep...you hate taking naps and hate going to bed at night...your are definitely your father's son. He hates sleeping, because he feels like he might miss out on something.
  
• You have the sweetest smiles, and I just can't get enough of them! :)
  

Love, Mom

More photos of Weston

Playing with Mommy! :)

Weston's 1st Day of Daycare...Me with NO Make-Up yet!

1st Day of Daycare...looking scared!

Trying to wake-up, so I can see the Easter Bunny!

Me & Mom visiting with the Easter Bunny...this was taken in the less than five minutes that I was awake! ;)

Birth Announcement

You've likely received one of these in the mail, but I wanted to post it for anyone who hasn't already seen the Birth Announcement. We love it, and I love the photo! He looks so peaceful.

One Month

On Saturday, February 20th, Weston had been part of our life outside of my belly for one month, and I can't believe that the time has passed so quickly. It really feels like it was just yesterday that I was scheduled to go into the hospital for an induction, and we were anxiously awaiting his arrival.

Our little guy is not so small anymore, and he's definitely a little pig! :) He tells me constantly that he's hungry, and it's just unreal how quickly he is growing and changing. Our life as a family is so happy, and we are so grateful for our little guy! He is just too precious! He is a semi-fussy baby, and he spends a lot of his evenings crying, and we try our best to soothe him though it doesn't always work. It breaks my heart to see him so upset! He does sleep though, and it makes me so happy. He usually sleeps a five hour stretch at night followed by another three hour stretch before we get up for the day.

Now onto Weston's Stats & Milestones for Month 1:

• 10 lb. 4 oz...Unbelievable! He started off his life at 7 lb. 2 oz, and he got down to 6 lb. 13 oz. after birth, and he's bulked back up to 10 lb. 4 oz. We are exclusively BFing.
  
• 23 inches long...Again, so crazy! He has grown three inches since birth!
• Moved up from Newborn Diapers to Size 1
  
• Outgrown most of his newborn clothes, especially in the length, and he has moved on to 0-3 Month clothes; however, many of these are still too big!
  
• Lifts his head and moves it from side to side
  
• Holds his head up briefly
• Holds focus on Mommy
• He has become so much more alert...he keeps his eyes open watching and looking around, as well as, moving his hands all around!
  
• He has such a serious face and people always comment that he looks so much like an old man! Ha-Ha!
  

And a few pictures...

My first bath!

My serious little boy! :)

Looking confused...

Newborn Photos

We had our photographer come over on Tuesday, January 26th when Weston was only six days old to take newborn photos of him...I wanted to get his newborn photos taken as early as possible, because I wanted to remember how small he was and how sweet and innocent he was, so I scheduled them as soon as I felt comfortable after he was home from the hospital.

We had such a great time, and he did so well until close to the end when he started to get fussy. Here are two photos from this sweet day!


We had photos taken in this outfit, because this is the outfit that he came home from the hospital in, and it meant a lot to us, because one of my best friends made the outfit for us. We didn't get many photos of him or any family photos in the outfit, so I wanted to get some when the photographer came over.

It Won't Be Like This For Long

"It Won't Be Like This For Long"

Darius Rucker

He didn't have to wake up, He'd been up all night
Lying there and listening to his newborn baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee, splashes water on his face

His wife gives him a kiss and says it's gonna be okay

It won't be like this for long
One day will look back laughing at the week we brought him home
This phase is gonna fly by, so baby just hold on
It won't be like this for long...

Proud Dad

Grant is one proud dad of his little guy, and he is so thrilled to have a little boy who will hopefully enjoy sports, hunting and fishing as he grows up. Grant calls him "Sport" or "Sport Model" all the time, and it's so cute. He just loves spending time with him, and he's a great dad. I'm looking forward to seeing their relationship evolve and grow as Weston grows up!

Weston James Harvey - The Birth Story

Written on Friday, January 22nd - Two days after Weston was born

Here it is...I could go on and on about Weston's birth and how wonderful it was, and I can't wait to share my birth story with people who are preparing to have little ones, because I truly had the best experience that I could have asked for, and I'm so grateful for how everything went. For anyone who is in the Athens area, St. Mary's hospital and the nurses were amazing, and they were so helpful. We've had a great experience. Our pediatrician has been great, as well, and he has come by the past two mornings to check on him and to just talk to us, and I'm so grateful for that. He makes us feel so comfortable and answers all of our questions!

Right after he arrived with his full head of hair! :)

Anyways, on to the birth story...
Grant and I arrived at the hospital at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19th, and we had to check in through the Emergency Room. The ER was completely full, so we had to wait in line behind four other people before we were able to check in. Thankfully I wasn't in labor, because I don't know that I would've been able to wait. We finally got checked in and upstairs around 6:30 PM, and they didn't have a room for us, because ALL the rooms were full. We had to wait in a holding room until they had discharged someone, so they got things started in that room. They got me hooked up to all the monitors, and they gave me the Cervidil. Around 11:30 PM, we were able to move into our new room. We stayed there overnight, and I didn't get much sleep. I was so ready to meet my son.

Our room at the hospital

Around 8:30 AM, my nurse came in and took out the cervidil and checked my cervix. At that point, I was 4 cm dilated, so they had my doctor come and break my water. I started contracting on my own, so they let me do that for about an hour. At about 9:30, they started the pitocin to speed things up. I got the pitocin, and I started feeling terrible contractions. Once your water breaks, you feel EVERYTHING, so the contractions were awful. I had tears in my eyes, and I couldn't talk, so I immediately asked for the epidural. The anesthesiologist came around 10:30 AM, and he gave me the most amazing epidural. I didn't feel a thing!! It was awesome, so I relaxed and hung out with our families while we waited for it to be time. At 2:00 PM, they came in and checked me and I had jumped up to 9 cm dilated, so they called the doctor, and they told her to head our way, because it wouldn't be long.

Grant & I waiting for the arrival of Weston

At 3:00 PM, they asked everyone to leave the room, and the doctor still hadn't arrived yet, but they got my room ready for me to push, and they got me ready. At 3:17 PM, I started pushing, and they were telling me that I was doing so great. I reached down and could feel his head. At that point, they told me to wait again, because the doctor wasn't in the room, and I was making such good progress. Around 3:35 PM, the doctor arrived, and I pushed two more times before Weston made his debut at 3:42 PM. He came out with a head full of beautiful blonde hair, and he was just beautiful.

My sister waiting with us for Weston

I was so lucky that I didn't have any tears, so no stitches, and they were able to get everything back together in the room quickly. I wasn't able to get out of bed until 11:00 PM, because the epidural was so awesome that I really couldn't feel my legs until then. It was a wonderful day, and we had such a great experience welcoming our beautiful little boy into the world!

Right after his arrival...I'm looking rough, but so elated! He's beautiful!