Our First Home

Now that we're moved and settled in Virginia, I thought I'd do a quick post about our new home!  James and I decided that since this was the closest we were ever going to get to moving "home", we would purchase a house instead of renting for the next 4 years.  Obviously buying when you're a military family is a gamble, but this was probably the best situation we were going to get.  We're only about 45 mins from our parents, so this increases our options when PCS 2018 is here.  If we decide to try and sell, if we can't sell right away, I can always stay behind for awhile since we are close to family.  And if we keep the house and rent it (probably what we're leaning toward at this point), we have family nearby to keep an eye on the house.

The process of choosing the house was relatively easy, much easier than I thought.  I came to VA in early spring to look at 3 houses and chose the last one we saw.  We put an offer in the next week and we were under contract by the following week!  

Our loan process, however, was a little more complicated.  Because I work, our lender needed proof that I was transferring within my company, but my company didn't want to give me documentation of a transfer until I had actually transferred.  So, it took us over a month to get all of this info, and had to delay closing by a week.  All in all, compared to some, it probably wasn't hugely complicated, but it sure felt that way when we were trying to deal with it all from NJ when we were both still working full time!

It's all behind us now though, and we are officially moved in and mostly settled.  I've started back to work in my new store and James is going back to work this week.  I don't think he's particularly excited about having to be at work at 5am every day for the next 4 years though =(

The things this kid says.

I thought since I have been lacking on the pictures (and I've been a miserable failure at writing in Maxwell's baby book), I would do a post with all of the fun and amusing things my 2 year old says.  I'll include some of his instagram pictures along the way.

"More 'cado Oji, more 'mato"

"Max no bed, mama bed!"

"Whoopsie" (as he fell while traipsing
around in mama's shoes)

"Daddy, hold you"

He also recently started saying "I don't think so".  Not only did he pick up this phrase, but he also knows how to use it in the proper context.  Like telling me today when I offered him the wrong color pouch because we were out of the one he wants, or when he called Oji over to watch him on the swings and instead he sat on the slide.  It's amazing how much toddlers absorb!

Another fun one is that he now informs me when he's pooped and occasionally before he poops.  He looks at us, very concerned, and tells us "a poop!"

He's also learning how time-out works.  Up until recently, he would cry pretty much the whole time and try to escape.  Now, he'll sit there for a second and then continuously apologize "sowee, sowee, sowee" hoping that we will cut his sentence short.

Where did the time go?

I can't believe I have a 2 year old!  Maxwell has grown so much and is less and less a "baby" every day.  He's SUCH a BOY!  Wild, crazy, loud, dirty, energetic, rough, the list goes on and on.  

I know I've very much abandoned this blog, and I wish I hadn't, but life has gotten in the way.  I will say, the #1 reason I haven't posted is because I feel like such a failure that I don't have weekly or even monthly photos of him at this point.  That's not entirely true, I suppose, but I certainly don't have a ton of"good" photos that I've felt are blog worthy.  There are definitely upsides to being "photography savvy", but the downside is that you feel like you can't post the "not so good" shots for fear that it will reflect negatively on you as an artist.  Even though I'm not a professional photographer, I still take a lot of pride in my work.  That being said, I think I'm guilty of going by the assumption that everyone has Instagram or Facebook, and obviously that's not the case for some people (such as some of the older generations of my family). 

I'm going to do my best to start keeping up with this blog more, even if it's just a quick update or cell phone photo!  Especially since we will be moving in a little over 2 weeks!!!

Thoughts on breastfeeding: Weaning

I've given a lot of thought to the big decision of when to wean lately.  When I first got pregnant with Maxwell, and even before that, I knew I was going to breastfeed.  I knew that there were women that had problems with breastfeeding, but I really didn't know anything about those problems and it honestly didn't occur to me that we may experience some of them.  I just knew in my head that I was going to nurse and I just really didn't consider any other option.  I obviously now know that I really didn't know much about what I was going to be up against and that there are a whole slew of things that can go wrong and put a wrench in your plans.

Fast forward to Maxwell's birth and hospital stay and to all the challenges we faced in the first few months (separated for 2 hours after birth, nipple confusion due to pumping, thrush that lasted for over a month, mastitis that sent me to urgent care, latch issues due to a lip tie).  We really had almost every problem in the book, aside from supply issues.  My boobs were in constant pain for pretty much the first 4 months or so and breastfeeding was not totally comfortable until about 8 months...and then he started biting!

My plan was to nurse him for a year, that's just what I had always heard when people referred to an "ideal" length of time.  I didn't even know that there were women who nursed longer than that.  Even around the 8 month mark, I was planning to start weaning after his first birthday.  He had started biting me and he was just nursing SO much.  I wanted my body back and I was sooooooooo done with pumping.  But something in me said that we were not ready to be done, especially Maxwell.  When Maxwell first became very clingy, and separation aversion really kicked in, nursing really saved my sanity.  I can't imagine how I would have calmed him down some days if we hadn't had nursing.  And I think about all the moments cuddling with him I would have missed out on, because that kid will not cuddle for anything except the promise of boobs.  I don't know how long we'll continue, but I don't have plans to stop anytime soon.  If he decides to wean on his own at this point, even though I would be a little sad, I obviously wouldn't fight it.  But on the other hand, I really can't see myself nursing a 3 year old....then again, I didn't really see myself nursing past 1.  

13 Months Old

Clothing Size/Height & Weight:  I'm still a little peanut, all of my 6-9 month clothes still fit and my 12 month clothes are still too big.  The weigh in at 1 year had me at 18 3/4 lbs. and 28 1/2 inches tall.

Favorite Toy:  I love to play with blocks and my toy helicopter that my babysitter, Ally, got for my birthday.  I'm also currently obsessed with the diaper pail.  I taught myself how to put the diapers in...then I realized a lot of other fun things fit in there too.  Blocks, clothes, books, mommy's cell phone....

Newest Milestones:  I've been walking like a pro since I was 11 months old, but now I'm really steady on my feet and FAST too.  I started clapping my hands pretty recently and daddy taught me how to high five.  You all know how much positive reinforcement mommies and daddies need!  Oh, and I said mama for the first time...but I only say it when I really need something, I don't want to spoil her.

Favorite Foods:  I love bananas (but only when I get to bite off of mommy's or daddy's), strawberries, pancakes, blueberries, and sushi (avocado rolls to be exact).

Is Mama getting any sleep?  More than she was last month!  I've been going to sleep in my crib and I try to give her 3 hours or so before I take over my rightful the big bed.  Even though I know she doesn't like to, I try to get her up by 7am.  Sometimes it's necessary to wake her from her deep sleep at 5am though, it makes it easier to rouse her later.

Update: I am aware that I am a totally worthless blogger.

I know I totally skipped over Maxwell's 11 & 12 month updates, but I promise I'll do my best to catch up and post those when I can!  It's been a very hectic couple of months, mostly because of my job, but I think things are going to be more manageable very soon and I'll find some time to finish some of the posts I've been procrastinating meaning to write.

Posts you can {hopefully} look forward to:

11 Month Update

12 Month Update

1st Birthday Party

My exciting opportunities within my job

1 year postpartum update, w/ pictures

Upcoming visit to Fargo, ND to see my bestie and my first solo flight with Maxwell

How I feel about turning 25

My photography aspirations and goals for this year

James and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary

1st Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Maxwell!

Of course, it was Lion King themed!  We celebrated back home in Virginia on May 19, 2013.  So many friends and family came and it was such a fun day.  We discovered Maxwell's love of balloons!  He made out like a bandit with toys and other gifts, so much so, we had to leave some of it at Grandma & Oji's house for the time being.

11 Months

Clothing Size/Height & Weight:  I can still wear all of my 9 month clothes and I won't find out how much I weigh until I go back to the doctor for my 1 year appointment.

Favorite Toy:  I love my Simba & Nala stuffed toys.  I like to play with them in my crib when I'm supposed to be napping.

Newest Milestones:  I started walking this month!  I took my first steps on April 27 and I walked across the room for the first time just 3 days later on my 11 month birthday.

Favorite Foods:  I love my Happy Baby pouches, my favorites are banana, beet, & blueberry and apple & pear.

Is Mama getting any sleep?  Not a whole lot.  I really don't like to be in my crib and I cause a fuss almost every time mommy & daddy try to put me in there.  I much prefer to sleep nice and snuggled with mama in the big bed.

10 Months Old

Clothing Size:  Still in 9 month clothing and still in size 3 diapers.  His weight gain has definitely slowed down, but that's normal and to be expected with him getting more active with crawling & cruising.

Feeding:  He's still eating breast milk for most of his meals.  He sometimes gets a snack during the day, but still only gets a solid "meal" once a day.  We just follow his lead with how much he wants to eat.  He's really starting to have fun with learning to feed himself though!  He knows how to drink from a straw and LOVES to drink water from his sippy/straw cup.

Sleeping:  Thank goodness, but I think the major sleep regression is over!  He's still somewhat difficult to put down in the crib sometimes, but we're pretty consistently putting him in the crib around 8:30-9:00pm and he'll sleep until about 11:00pm when I go to bed and he comes with me.
Milestones: We now have a mouth full of chompers!  Maxwell has 6 teeth and a 7th one is VERY close to popping through.  He is fully capable of standing by himself, but is still too scared to try it.  I have a feeling it won't be long before he's fully walking.  Not much more development in the language area, he just doesn't have nearly as much interest in talking as he does in moving!


Favorite Moments

Thoughts on the tenth month

I can't believe you're in double digits little buddy!  Your first birthday is creeping up faster than I would like!  Not that you weren't always fun, but you're in such a fun stage right now.  You learn new things every day and you're becoming such a little boy.  Pretty soon my little baby is going to be gone and will be replaced with a crazy, energetic, sweet little toddler.  I wish I could get a good picture of you with your kitty cats, your face lights up like a Christmas tree every time you see them!  I wish you wouldn't squeal at them though, they'd probably like you a whole lot better if you didn't!  You have a mouth full of teeth and you love to use them on everything!  Everything goes in the mouth these days.  You're even getting good at taking naps, which daddy & I are very appreciative of.  I can't wait for the weather to get warmer so I can see your face light up at the pool for the first time.  I know you're going to love it, you're SUCH a water baby.  You are obsessed with the bath and the shower still, you don't even care if water is all over your face and in your eyes.  I really hope we get the chance to live in Hawaii again, I know you will want daddy to teach you how to surf!

9 Months Old

Clothing Size:  We're officially out of 6 month clothing!  He's starting to round out again, so I think he's going to hit a growth spurt soon.  He just went to the doctor on March 1 and he's 18 lbs, 27 inches long.

Feeding:  We're still doing mostly breast milk, but we are just starting to increase his solid intake.  Although, we probably won't increase it too much until after his first birthday.  It's really important for me that solids are just for fun and taste, not for nutrition at this point.  He gets everything he needs from breast milk.

Sleeping:  We're going through major sleep regression right now.  He was down to waking only 2 times a night, but lately he's been waking every 40 mins or so and he is a nightmare to put down.
Milestones: He's starting to babble more and he makes a couple of sounds pretty consistently   He says "dada", "gaga", "rara", & "nana".  He just cut his third tooth as well, his top right front tooth.



Favorite Moments
Instagram first again :)

Thoughts on the ninth month

I took so long to write this that I totally missed a month :(  I'll catch up in your 10 month post.  Sorry little buddy.