Day at the Pumpkin Patch

So, a few Saturday's ago, we spent the morning at the park, well, this past weekend, we spent our Saturday morning at the Pumpkin Patch, and we came home with two pumpkins, a big one for the family and a little one that Weston picked out. It was SO much fun, and I'm looking forward to continuing the tradition of taking Weston to the Pumpkin Patch every year. Weston was so amazed by all the "big orange things" laying on the ground, and he was TOO cute looking at them all and wanting to touch them and hold on to them while we were there. I think the pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'll leave you with pictures of our Pumpkin Patch outing! :)

Day at the Park

So, Weston and I went to the park a few weeks ago on a Saturday morning, and we had so much fun! He climbed on the playground, and he swung on the swings. It was a perfect Saturday morning with our friends!

Anyways, I took some photos, and I'll preface that some of the photos aren't so great, but he's constantly on the move, and it's a struggle to get his smiling face in the photos. I often get the top of his head or side of his face instead!

8 Months

Weston turned 8 months old on Monday, September 20th, and I still can't believe that he is already eight months old! Where has the time gone?! It's unbelievable to think that in less than four months, he'll be a year old, and you know that I'm already planning his 1st Birthday Party! Weston is SO much fun, and Grant and I are loving it and already looking forward to our next one! Ha-Ha! :)

At eight months, you are such a ball of energy. You are constantly moving and rarely stop playing unless you are exhausted or not feeling well. You are SO loving, and you still love your Mommy! It makes me SO happy! Since I last posted your statistics, you've had your first ear infection and the Roseola virus! Not fun, but we made it through it!

Here are your eight month statistics and milestones:

• You weigh approximately 22 lbs. I took you to the doctor last Friday, and that's what you weighed then, so I'm assuming that you are close to that now. I have no idea how long you are, but I'll find out next month at your nine month check-up. We are still exclusively BF'ing, and we haven't yet had to supplement with formula. You LOVE food, and I've been making all of your food. You've had SO many different types of food, and you still love it, but you are starting to push away your vegetables. You LOVE fruit, yogurt and meats...Turkey is your favorite! You are a chubby, healthy little boy!

• You still enjoy feeding yourself. You would much rather feed yourself than take a spoon that mommy or daddy gives you with food on it.
• Still wearing Size 4 diapers. You are wearing size 12-18 month clothes with some remaining nine month items thrown in, as well.

• You ONLY sleep on your stomach. You hate sleeping on your back, and you always roll over to your stomach during your sleep, so I've just stopped putting you on your back. It scared me at first, but I've gotten used to it. If you roll over onto your back during the night, you'll wake up and roll yourself back over. It's SO funny to watch on the video monitor.
• You have not been sleeping through the night lately, and it's frustrating, but I know that it'll change again. We had gotten so used to you sleeping for 12-13 hours, so it's tough to adjust. You've been waking up some nights once or twice and some nights not at all, but you've been waking up earlier in the morning, so we are trying to push your bedtime back to 7:00-7:30 PM to see if that helps!

• You still like to go to sleep on time! It's getting easier to keep you up late, but you don't like to stay up too late. You still don't like to be held when falling asleep or tired.
  
• You love to sit up and play by yourself. You are Mr. Independent and can be content to sit by yourself and play with your toys for at least a half hour.
  
• You NEVER sit still! If we put you in one place, you are gone in just a few seconds. You are crawling all over the place, pulling up on everything and standing. It's so crazy how quickly you are growing!
  
• You still only have two teeth, and we thought some more would appear, but they haven't yet. We are hoping that your teeth bothering you is the reason why you aren't sleeping, as well, and you will start sleeping better once they pop through.
• You still prefer to drink out of a sippy cup during the day, but at night, you want your bottle or your mommy. I had to go out of town for a week, and you wouldn't let your daddy give you a cup, you wanted a bottle instead.
  
• You still LOVE water, and we haven't given you any juice.

• Mommy has been traveling for work some lately, and she has had to leave you overnight with Daddy. Mommy is missing you, but Daddy is really great and handles it very well. He has had NO problems! :)
• You LOVE Banks, the dog. You think he is so much fun! Every afternoon when we get home, we go and let him out, and you just LOVE it. You kick your legs and get excited. You are trying to say "dog", because we say it constantly, but it comes out as "Doh".
• You are also saying "Da-Da". You say it constantly as you are playing and when I ask you if your Daddy is coming home, you start crawling around saying it. It's SO cute, and now, I'm just waiting on "Mommy" to come out of your mouth next! :)

I'm sure that I'm missing something, but I've posted enough for now. Life is so much fun with our amazing son.

6 Months

Even though tomorrow, Weston will be seven months old, I didn't want to miss posting about all his current milestones and update on what was going on in our lives at six months. Life has been busy, and I'll get better at posting updates, I promise!

At six months, we've made it half-way to your 1st birthday, Weston. As each month goes by, I can't believe that my little baby is not so little any more, and he's approaching his toddler days quickly. It makes me sad to think that he's growing so fast, but I love each new phase, and I enjoy everyday we have together. I love that you need me and you prefer me over anyone else. It makes me feel so happy, especially when I've had a tough day.


Here are your six month statistics and milestones:

• You weigh 18 lb., 13 oz. We are still exclusively BF'ing, and we haven't yet had to supplement with formula. You LOVE food, and I've been making all of your food. So far you've had sweet potatoes, green beans, winter squash, pears, peaches, apples, carrots, avocado, yogurt and bananas. I'm sure I'm missing something, but needless to say, you LOVE to eat. You are a chubby, healthy little boy!
• You've started to get the "pincher grasp", and you enjoy feeding yourself. You would much rather feed yourself than take a spoon that mommy or daddy gives you with food on it. You love Puffs, but you always try to feed them to the dog from your high chair.
  
• You are 27 1/2 inches long at your six month appointment in July.
  
• Now wearing Size 4 diapers, but you can still wear Size 3, as well, but the 4's are more comfortable for all of us, because you were wetting the front overnight.
• You ONLY sleep on your stomach. You hate sleeping on your back, and you always roll over to your stomach during your sleep, so I've just stopped putting you on your back. It scared me at first, but I've gotten used to it. If you roll over onto your back during the night, you'll wake up and roll yourself back over. It's SO funny to watch on the video monitor.
  
• You can no longer wear any 6 month or 6-9 month outfits. You sometimes wear 9 month outfits, but most of those are too snug, as well. You are mostly wearing 12 month clothes, and you have some 18 month clothes already.
  
  
• You are still sleeping through the night. You usually are in bed and going to sleep by 6:30 PM, and I wake you up at 6:30 AM during the week. On the weekends, you will sleep until 7:30 AM. You never wake up mad. You always wake up and will just play in your crib until I come and get you. No screaming to get out!
  
• You still like to go to sleep on time! It's getting easier to keep you up late, but you don't like to stay up too late. You still don't like to be held when falling asleep or tired.
  
• You love to sit up and play by yourself. You are Mr. Independent and can be content to sit by yourself and play with your toys for at least a half hour.
  
• You NEVER sit still! If we put you in one place, you are scooting and moving to another location. You aren't crawling yet, but you can get where you want to go! It's SO cute! :)
• You still only have two teeth, but we are confident that you are going to get more as you are constantly drooling, and we can feel the teeth just below your gums.
• You've gotten to the point where you don't like to drink milk that much...you went from drinking 8 oz. per bottle to drinking maybe 4 oz. per bottle. You drink anywhere from 7-11 oz. while you are at daycare during the day. You used to drink 16 oz. while you were there! You drink well in the morning, but you don't in the evening. I'm lucky if I can get you to drink 1 oz., but I'm trying to do different things to get you to drink better. You are still sleeping through the night regardless. Your pediatrician told me not to worry, because you are on the "bigger" side, and you are probably getting what you need.
• You are no longer drinking out of a bottle at all...we think that the nipple must have been bothering your gums, because you chewed on it, and you never would drink out of it anymore, so we switched you to a cup, and you love your cup, so it's been working well, and you are drinking better.
• You LOVE water. You think it's the best, and I have to limit how much you drink, because you would drink it before milk, if I would let you.
  

I'm sure that I'm missing something, but I've posted enough for now. As I said before, I can't believe that he's growing so fast. It's been an amazing journey so far, and I love being a mother to this sweet little boy.

McCarthy Family Reunion & Beach Vacation

Well, I've been away for a week now, because we spent the past week in St. Augustine, FL on vacation and attending a three day family reunion for the McCarthy side of the family. It was a great weekend. Weston put his toes in the sand for the first time, and we enjoyed spending time away from the office. The family loved on Weston, and Ms. Mary at daycare said all he wanted to do was be held yesterday. Oops...I don't think he got put down all weekend. Gram & Gramps especially enjoyed spending time and loving on the little man. It was a fun and enjoyable time for all of us!

We came back from the trip to a not so nice surprise...our upstairs air condition went out, so we are crossing our fingers that the AC guy can make it out this afternoon to take a look. For now, we are sleeping downstairs on the couch and Weston is in his Pack & Play downstairs. It's a steamy 98 degrees upstairs.

Weston also turned 5 months old since I last posted, and I have some photos to upload from his 5 month photo shoot. For now, I'll leave you with some photos of our beach vacation...

Our little family before Dinner on Saturday night

Mommy & Little Man

Daddy & Weston playing in the sand

So sweet...

Playing on the deck as the sun goes down...what a nice night!

Please let me have some, Daddy...just a little!

Father & Son

Getting ready to fall asleep in my arms after a LONG beach and pool filled morning!

Lounging on the Beach

Floating in the pool...he loves it!

Wearing dad's shades...I think I need a pair like this!

Taking a play break before we get back on the road to finish the final leg of the drive home!

Look Mom, I can drive too...

Hanging out with 2nd Cousin, Tyler

Four Months

Weston,

It's been another really busy month at the Harvey household, and you've experienced so many "firsts" this month. You attended your first Rehearsal, Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding in Dallas, GA. Your daddy was in the wedding, and you were such a good boy throughout the entire ceremony. You even let Mommy & Daddy hang out until 9:30 PM even though it was way past your bedtime.

You also spent the night at Papa Jay & Grandma Harvey's house with your daddy while I was at a Bachelorette party. They said you had a lot of fun while I was away, but I sure did miss you! You met your friend Griffin this month, and you also got to go to the Cox Family Reunion at FDR State Park in Pine Mountain, GA. You are SO loved, and they passed you around the entire afternoon.

You have changed so much again this month, and I really can't believe it. You smile and you play so well independently in your Exersaucer. You like to play by yourself, and you don't always like to be held. You are a very independent little man. You LOVE swimming! You went to the pool over Memorial Day weekend with your two friends, Emma and Emma. :)

You've also learned to sit unassisted this month, and it's SO cute! You love to sit and play with a toy in front of you. Everyone keeps telling us how great you are doing, because you are already sitting up by yourself. We are hoping that the sitting will help round out your head since currently the back is pretty flat. You are also sleeping on your side or stomach at night, and you rarely sleep on your back anymore. You curl up and have one hand over your face when you are sleeping on your side, and it's so sweet.

Here are your four month statistics and milestones:

• 16 lb. 13 oz. We are still exclusively BF'ing, and we haven't yet had to supplement with formula. You are a chubby, healthy little boy!
• 25.5 inches
• Still in Size 3 Diapers
• Wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes, but you still wear some 6 month clothes and also wear 9 month clothes.
• Your coordination is improving, and you love playing with toys that makes noise still! You are now reaching and grabbing for toys!
• You are still sleeping through the night. You go to sleep between 6:30 and 7:00 PM now, and you sleep until 6:30 AM. Though the past few nights, you've woken up in the middle of the night with gas. The past two mornings when we've gotten you up, you've had a dirty diaper, so it looks like you were uncomfortable!
• You still like to go to sleep on time, but you are getting better. You've allowed mommy and daddy to continue our weekly ritual of going to Mexican for dinner on Sunday nights. It's been fun!
• You still don't like to be held when you are falling asleep or tired. You want us to leave you alone and put you down, so you can fall asleep on your own, but you have let me hold you when you've been tired a little more lately.
• You still put EVERYTHING in your mouth! You put your hands in your mouth, our hands in your mouth, your keys, burp cloth, etc. If it's nearby, you want to eat it.
• You always try to "eat" Mommy's shoulder...you are too funny, but I will be holding you, and you'll start gnawing on my shoulder, but you don't do it to anyone else, only Mommy.
• You no longer fit into your Bumbo seat...your legs are too big, and I've tried SO hard. I tried pushing you into it, and you screamed at me, because it really hurt. I don't think I'll try that again unless your legs thin out a little bit!
• Since you are sitting up, we've gotten rid of your infant bathtub. You didn't like it anyways, because you like to splash so much, so we moved you to the Duck tub, and you love it, because you sit up so well, and you can splash the water around you. It's too cute. Bath time is still your favorite time of the day!

One Year Ago Today...well, actually Tuesday

One year ago on May 18th, 2009, I was driving to Mississippi for work, and I just felt off...I was exhausted. I had to stop six times, once per hour, to just get out and walk around, because I couldn't keep my eyes opened. I was having this strange cramping sensation where I felt shooting pains, and I just feel funny all day long.

Later that evening after this continually nagging feeling of something not being quite right, I went to the local Kroger, picked up a pregnancy test and immediately went back to my hotel room. I took the test right away, and I instantly saw the words PREGNANT on the test. I couldn't believe it. I was in complete shock, and I think I had a panic attack. I called my mom to ask her if pregnancy tests could be wrong, and I cried, because we had just gotten married only two weeks before, and I wasn't sure that I was quite ready for this. I then called Grant, and I finally told him. I think I hurt his feelings, because I called my mom first, and I regret that I didn't call my husband, my best friend first, but in a moment of panic, I wasn't thinking. I think I ended up taking more than TEN tests, just to be sure it was right! :)

Ready or not...we began our journey of nurturing and preparing for Weston. Our lives forever changed in that instant, and we'll never be the same. God blessed us with this perfect gift who was four months old yesterday, and we are beyond grateful for our son. He is beautiful and perfect in our eyes. He is the light of our lives, and I can't get enough of his love. I love that he relies on me for his every need, and I can provide for him. I never knew or imagined the love that a parent has for a child. It's the greatest gift and the most rewarding job that I've ever had the pleasure of having. Though Weston wasn't planned, and we were newlyweds facing the surprise of our lives, I know that this is what God had planned for us, and now, I couldn't imagine our lives any other way. Only one word can describe it...PERFECT!

Three Months

Weston,

It's been a busy month, and I'm writing this letter when you're almost four months old rather than three months old, but I promise I'll do better next month, and I'll write the letter before you are almost five months.

Again, I can't believe that so much time has already passed...it seems like just yesterday you were born, and we were in the hospital watching you in amazement. Now, you have your own little personality, and it's quite entertaining.

We love your smiles and the way that you now laugh out loud when something is funny. You regularly laugh at the dog, and it makes us smile that you enjoy him so much. You LOVE your Daddy now, and he is so happy and proud. In the prior months, you only wanted your mommy, and I was the only one of us who could calm you; however, now, you love hanging out with Daddy, and you are content to watch him and hang out with him. He's thrilled and can't wait to be your "best friend" as you grow older.

You are sleeping through the night, and it's been such a blessing. You usually go to sleep between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM, and you've stopped crying when we put you in your crib at night. You typically sleep until I come to get you up in the morning, and Mommy and Daddy are much more rested. We love this phase, and we know that it will only continue to get better as time passes!

Here are your three month statistics and milestones:

• Not sure how much you weigh now, but at almost three months, you weighed 15 lbs. 7 oz. We are still exclusively BF'ing, and we haven't yet had to supplement with formula. You are a chubby, healthy little boy!
  
• Around 24-25 inches, but we aren't sure, because you move so much that we can't get a good measurement.
  
• Moved up from Size 2 to Size 3 diapers
  
• Wearing some 3-6 Month clothes, but the majority of your clothes are 6 months, and you are wearing some 6-9 or 9 month outfits, as well.
  
• You are playing with toys, and you LOVE your keys. We have one set of keys for the car and Miss Mary's, and we have one set to keep at home. You LOVE that they make noise. Anything that makes noise, you are crazy about!
  
• You no longer cry at bedtime. We can lay you down and you look around for a few minutes and then finally fall asleep. I also see you wake up in the video monitor, and you don't cry anymore. You just look around and then go back to sleep! When I get you in the mornings, you are sometimes awake and looking around, but not usually crying.
  
• You like to go to sleep on time...you don't like to stay up late! You cry and scream until we let you go to sleep. We sometimes have to leave if we are out late, because you get upset.
• You don't like to be held when you are falling asleep or tired. You want us to leave you alone and put you down, so you can fall asleep on your own. Needless to say, there is no rocking you to sleep. :)
• You put EVERYTHING in your mouth! You put your hands in your mouth, our hands in your mouth, your keys, burp cloth, etc. If it's nearby, you want to eat it.
  
• You watch Mommy & Daddy eat. We sit you in your highchair when we eat dinner every night and you just watch us as we eat our food. You'll definitely be ready to eat when it's time! :)
  

Love, Mom