[Iron] Bowled Over

We're ALL IN.... again!

2016-01-12T12:05:00.001-06:00

I've been involved with AdvoCare for over 3 years and still get excited about every cleanse/challenge I do. In 2015, over 70,000 people started the 24 Day Challenge together. This year, over 128,000 jumped in to start the year off on the best foot. Clay and I are two of them!

2015 was a crazy year for us with selling our house quickly and moving to a temporary place, designing and building a house, moving again and of course, having a baby. Needless to say, it was often tough to focus on ourselves, so we're ready to take back control and get off this fluff!

I decided to do something a little different when we began planning our challenges- I am going to blog through it in addition to using my Instagram account.

Clay is doing the regular challenge with no modifications. He did add on ThermoPlus and Crave Check.

Since I am breastfeeding, I elected to change up the products I use to ensure Riley is safe and put together a program that's similar to the challenge. I will be using the peaches n cream Fiber Drink, Probiotic Restore Ultra, OmegaPlex, Spsrk, meal replacement shakes, Catalyst and Muscle Gain. I will also use the Post Workout Recovery.

I put together our meal plans and spent an hour or so prepping on Sunday. I like to chop veggies once, put together salads in mason jars and bag dinners to make things easier and prevent excuses.

Clay has eggs and reduced sodium turkey bacon every morning, and grilled chicken and green beans/blackeye peas every day, even off the challenge. I make them and put them in bowls to grab and go every week.

I also build mason jar salads. Put dressing on the bottom if you want, softer veggies (bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers) next, then harder veggies (carrots, onions). Top with protein and then add your greens. These hold for 5 days or so if in mason jars and make life so much easier. Just shake it up to coat with dressing and you can even eat from the jar!

I seasoned the pork chops and put them in a bag. We were having boiled cabbage with it, so I chopped it and put it in its own bag.

Clay is having cheesesteak (with no cheese. Ha) one night, so I browned the beef and put it in a bag with sliced onions and green bell pepper after it cooled. I can pour the bag in the skillet when it's time to cook and only have to clean one dish.

I also put together overnight oats in mason jars - just the dry ingredients: steel cut oats, flavor god gingerbread cookie, cinnamon, vanilla Muscle Gain, flaxseed. I only made three because some mornings, I'll have a shake. I'll add unsweetened almond milk to a jar the day before I plan to eat it. Prep only requires a good shake and about a minute in the microwave. Another eat from the jar meal!

I cut bell peppers into strip and bagged them, as well as carrot sticks. Snack size bags are perfect and being portioned makes it easy to eat while I'm nursing. I also bagged frozen mixed berries, spinach and chopped radishes to mix with Muscle Gain and almond milk for smoothies.

I am a firm believer in prepping for the challenge and beyond. I started this a few years ago and have done it almost weekly since. With the busyness of life, it's easy to find excuses to eat for convenience instead of health, but when I do, I feel TERRIBLE. Plus I mean, who wants to wash dishes daily? This helps eliminate some of the chores that come with cooking, and I'm all for that!

Baby 2.0: Fifteen weeks (and a gender reveal!!!!!!!)

2015-06-17T16:25:00.002-05:00

Well, hey there, belly! Where did that thing come from??

How far along? 15 weeks
Baby's size: Approximately 4 inches from head to booty and about 2.5 ounces.

Total weight gain/loss: Two pounds.

Stretch marks? I am appalled to say I think I see some around my belly button. Pretty sure this baby is higher and pushing out above my belly button.
Sleep? Thankfully it has improved a lot and I'm sleeping again!

Maternity clothes? I can still wear my regular clothes, but have switched for the most part because it's more comfortable.
Best moment this week: Finding out what the baby is!!

Worst Moment: We went to our appointment determined to find out what the baby is and had our families and the Facebook world all excited about finding out the sex. Well, the little stinker sat Indian style and had the cord between its legs for 15 minutes. We had to leave the ultrasound room and see the doctor. I spent a lot of time hopping up and down and considered standing on my head to get it to move, but fortunately, it moved its legs just enough to get a shot!
Symptoms: I have had a lot of pain in my lower left abdomen and my back feels like it's in knots (but that's probably from all the coughing and sneezing I've done)

Miss Anything? Ummm don't think so.
Movement: I feel strong, strong pressure hard up against my skin next to my belly button. It's harder than flutters, but lighter than kicks.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Chicken. Well, meat in general.

Gender: It's a..................................................

GIRL!

What is baby up to? Amniotic fluid continuously moves through her nose and upper respiratory tract, helping the air sacs in her lungs develop. Her legs are longer than her arms, and she can move all of her limbs. Her eyelids are still fused shut for a while, but she can sense light and will likely move away from direct light that is shined on my belly. She is also forming tastebuds for that first taste of milk!

Meet Miss Riley! I think she's already beautiful and so perfect!

Baby 2.0: Twelve Weeks (and life update)!

2015-06-17T10:53:00.000-05:00

Maaaan, how life has changed since my last post in February 2014.

Shortly after my last post, Clay and I attended a marriage conference at Church of the Highlands. It really opened our eyes to the lives we had been living for the last year and a half. After Bryson was born, our lives changed more than we could have ever imagined. When I went back to work, I left the house at 6:40 AM to drop him off at daycare and get to work by 7:30. I often worked through lunch, and got home at 5:30-5:40 PM. My nightly to do list was full, but the time to accomplish it was limited.

By the time I crossed everything off the list, Clay was often asleep. We went weeks without spending any quality time together. Even on weekends, we didn't want to let Bryson stay with grandparents because that was our best shot at real time with him. Our marriage was fine, and we weren't having any problems, but with the way we had been living, it couldn't have continued. As Clay says it, we were living each day for the next and that's no way to live.

Seriously, being a working mom is not for the feint of heart. It takes a great deal of emotional strength, endurance and mental toughness.

At the conference, Clay felt as though God was telling him to trust that He had a plan for us. We began discussing it and decided that it was time for me to walk away from the Corporate world and put my all into my AdvoCare business. Making that change has been nothing short of amazing for us. Not only is my business thriving, but our family is flourishing. It moves me to tears to think of what it's done for us. I get to live in the present now and really slow down and enjoy Bryson. I don't live my life based off what the clock says any longer AND I finally get to make a difference with the work I do.

I know that what I do isn't for everybody, but it is for me, and I LOVE it. I finally feel like I'm really working for something and not just doing a job for a paycheck.

________________________________________

Earlier this year, we decided to go ahead and put our house back on the market. In April, we got an offer and had to move pretty quickly as she wanted to close and take possession in three weeks! We said goodbye for the very last time on May 4.

We are currently renting a townhouse while we wait on our new home to be built. I am anxiously awaiting the amazing kitchen, incredible bathroom, huge laundry room and maaaassive bonus space! Eek!

________________________________________

Before we got the offer on our house, we got two pink lines on a pregnancy test on our second month of trying. Moving during first trimester nausea and fatigue was a whoooole lot of fun!

We got to see him/her for the first time on April 22. That little heartbeat was just as amazing as Bryson's always was. Best sound in the world.

We have A LOT of people on Team Girl - I guess since we already have a boy.

How far along? 12 weeks
Baby's size: The baby is roughly the size of a plum (2.1 inches long and .49 ounces)
Total weight gain/loss: So far, 2 pounds.

Stretch marks? So far, so good.
Sleep? With so much going on in our lives right now, my mind doesn't want to turn off. I fall asleep fine, but if I wake up for anything, I'm up for 2-3 hours at a time. The crazy thing is that I'm not even thinking about the baby, but things we need for the new house, how to make moving easier with a new baby either almost here or a braaaand new baby.

Maternity clothes? Since I wear elastic pants all the time now (SAHM uniform, you know?!), I'm in my regular clothes. Even my tighter AdvoGear fits, but there's a definite bump.
Best moment this week: At our 12-week appointment, I got to record the heartbeat. He/She swam away every time I hit record. Little stinker. Nice and strong at 156!

Worst Moment: Nerves. Not being able to feel the baby always makes me really nervous. I try to believe that all is okay, but it's tough!
Symptoms: I'm following the same path I did with Bryson. As most of the nausea passed and energy came back, I started getting more frequent headaches. Two Tylenol and half a Spark actually help a lot. I've also been sick with some sinus junk I can't get over. Thanks, baby, for stealing my immune system.

Miss Anything? Sleeping all night and liking vegetables.
Movement: I felt flutters remarkably early. No real movement yet, but I can feel bubbles right under my belly button a lot.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Chicken. Well, meat in general.

Gender: Absolutely no idea.

What is baby up to? Most of the vital body systems are formed, and will begin maturing, meaning the organs and tissues will grow and develop quickly. His/her reflexes are developing, and (s)he's curling her fingers and toes AND (s)he's making the sucking motion with his/her mouth. The brain and kidneys are developing rapidly; (s)he's even beginning to teetee! With Bryson, I thought that was cute, but now all I can think is that (s)he's peeing in the water she breathes in. Gross.

Here is Bryson's 12-week post for comparison.

Oops, we did it again!

2015-06-17T09:59:00.001-05:00

Hey there, blog land. It's been a while since I've posted anything. I've written a
few posts and never published, or decided to keep them private, but I'm back.... and for good reason!

WE DID IT AGAIN!

Baby #2 is ready to make his/her appearance in December!

My Forever Valentine

2014-02-14T14:45:00.001-06:00

I'm THAT girl.

You know the one- the child who cooks supper in her plastic kitchen and sets the table for two: herself and her imaginary husband. The little girl who cradles her baby doll while singing it it sleep and telling her imaginary husband how perfect it is.

I knew at an early age that love was something I wanted. I often had daydreams of what my adult life would look like. I pictured the adoring husband, happy kids, loyal dog and white picket fence. I could never see my husband or children's faces, but they were always so beautiful.

Growing up in church, I learned what true love is. When you first hear the story of Jesus and what He did for us, you know what love is. When God's sacrifice truly hits home and touches your heart, you know what love is. When the magnitude of that sacrifice truly touched me for the first time, it changed the way I thought about everything, including my future family.

The older I got, the more mature my fantasies became. I still imagined my family, but those dreams became more realistic. One Sunday evening at youth group, we divided into male and female groups and discussed finding the person God made for each of us. That night, reality hit me like a ton of bricks and my view of my future husband changed completely.

That night, I wrote a letter to my future husband. I can see it in my mind- purple ink on unlined paper, and well, slanted because who can write on unlined paper?? That night, I began to pray for my future husband- not that God would bring him to me because I knew He would, but that He would protect him in the trying teenager years and would mold him into the man He intended him to be. I was only in 7th grade, but had a clear perspective.

A few years later, I kissed dating goodbye. Reading the book changed my dating life. Throughout the remainder of my school years, I was very picky about who I dated. That meant most weekends were spent at home while my friends were at the movies with new guys, but to me, dating just to have something to do wasn't worth it. I dated sporadically, and at one point, thought briefly that I had found a potential match. He wasn't who God had in mind. While that realization hurt at the time, God gently reminded me that His plan is ALWAYS better than mine. Boy, was he right!

At times, pledging myself to a man that still had no face in my dreams and whose name I didn't know was HARD. When it got tough, I found myself cuddling up with a [lined] piece of paper and penning another letter.

March 8, 2008 was a day that changed my life, and the day that God showed me His promises are good, even if they seem to take forever to come to fruition. That's the day I met the man God had created with me in mind, the man who would give me the most beautiful baby boy ever (totally not biased) and who would love me the way God intended me to be loved.

March 17, 2008

I can remember that night in vivid detail. I was with my friend, Shannon, eating dessert pizza and drinking chocolate martinis (hello, sugar high!). I walked outside and saw Clay against the rail. He was in jeans and a dark purple Polo. I should have noticed his eyes or smile first, but his arms caught my eye immediately.

As I typed that, I felt like God laughed. He built Clay and put those guns on him for me. Bwahaha.

Memorial Day 2008

My relationship with Clay blossomed quickly and was always so easy. Conversation flowed with no awkward pauses and we had a lot in common. (Too bad football loyalty is not one of them) He kept me laughing and on my toes. I could let my guard down and just be myself. He held my hand when we walked beside each other, and his hugs made me feel more secure than any ever had. I missed him when we weren't together and wanted time with him daily. Seeing him gave me butterflies, and even a kiss on the forehead left me breathless. He became my sounding board and a shoulder to lean on. Even though his Facebook-appointed title was boyfriend, it was far too shallow to describe what he was to me. He was so much more- he was my best friend. Within weeks, I knew that He was the one I had been praying so long for.

And then trouble hit.

Less than 5 months in, our relationship turned rocky overnight. The next 16 months were tough. We spent days arguing through text and nights fighting in person. We broke up, got back together, broke up then hung out as "friends." That always resulted in getting back together and repeating the vicious cycle many times over. There were hurt feelings, lies, tears, anger, disappointment and distrust on both sides. Through it all, we both felt like we were supposed to be together, but just could not make it work. In November 2009, we called it quits for good.

(Yeah right. Try to tell God you're changing His plan and see how He works.)

For the next month, we barely spoke. We didn't see each other. At all.

I jumped into two small groups and immersed myself in God and new friends. I opened up about our issues to people I could trust so I could get clarity on the situation and to allow my heart to heal. I specifically remember telling my friend, Amanda, about it. While I don't remember the words she spoke, I remember the feeling that came over me. Her words were divinely chosen and breathed new life into me. A weight was immediately lifted from my shoulders and the hard shell around my heart began to crack and fall off. When the conversation ended, I felt renewed, which is something I had wanted for so long.

Just two weeks after talking with Amanda, I saw Clay again. The love I had for him was still there, but I was surprised that none of the other feelings- resentment, anger, distrust, sadness, guilt- were. We spent the next year rebuilding our relationship. God confirmed many times what we had known all along- that we were right where we belonged. He used whatever means necessary to speak to us: friends, family and even movies. Thinking back, I am so amazed at how quickly God was able to mend us when we just gave up and laid our problems at His feet. What we couldn't resolve in 16 months took him no time.

In May 2011, I wrote to my future husband one more time. I bundled it with the letters I had written previously, and on June 4, 2011, he finally got to read them right before I walked down to the aisle to become his wife.

We've been married for over 2.5 years now. Our lives have changed so much since the day we met. College classes have been replaced with jobs, and crazy professors with crazy coworkers. Afternoons at the pool are now spent with floaties and squirt toys. Date night conversation usually centers around the funny things Bryson did that day and how much we miss him already. I still set the table for 2, but also pull up a highchair and we arm ourselves against food flying from all directions. If we stay in for a movie night, it's usually produced by Disney and is interrupted by milk runs and diaper changes.

Through all the change, a lot has remained the same. I still get butterflies when I see him, especially when he's playing with our son. His arms are still the safest place to be. I miss him when we aren't together and anxiously await the end of the day when we're reunited. He's still the first person I run to when I need to talk or need help. Unfortunately, he's also still an Auburn fan. Above all, he is still my best friend, my soulmate and the answer to hundreds of prayers.

Looking back at the fantasies of my childhood, my life doesn't compare. I didn't get the things I daydreamed about, wished upon stars for, or the things I prayed about. I got abundantly more. Those elaborate childhood fantasies pale in comparison to reality.

Clay,

I thank God for loving me more than I deserve, and for giving me more than I could have ever imagined. You are so much more than I could have even asked for- I never would have even been able to dream up someone so perfect for me. I am so thankful that it's you that God chose to be my partner in life. We've been through so much already and I'm looking forward to many more years of adventures, firsts, lasts and everything in between. I love you so much. U=my<3

Goodbye, My Girl.

2013-10-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

"Dogs aren't our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

Monday started just like any other day. I snoozed my alarm the typical 30+ minutes and stumbled out of bed groggily to take the girls out. We reached the door and the cold air hit me like a ton of bricks. After Bailey and Jenna were outside, I turned around to begin to get ready for the day.

As usual, five minutes later, the girls weren’t quite ready to come in, but Jenna came running when she heard the food hit the bowl. She rushed past me, but Bailey was still taking her merry time, as usual. I turned around to head back to our bedroom, but decided to peek out and see where Bailey was.

That’s how some of the worst few hours of my life began.

As I peered out in the yard, I spotted Bailey on her side in the wet grass. This is a dog that doesn’t like to step on wet grass, so I knew she wasn’t lying there willingly. I ran out there, scooped her up and ran in, screaming to Clay to close the door so Jenna wouldn’t get out. My heart simultaneously raced and jumped into my throat.

As she lay on the bedroom floor, I sobbed and shook and watched in horror as her breathing slowed down and became more labored. I called the vet to figure out where to take her, and within minutes, had her on a blanket in my Jeep and was flying down the road, hazard lights.

I kept one hand on her the whole time and she lifted her head often, thankful for my touch. As we neared Birmingham, she regained some energy and stood up to look out the window. We flew into the emergency clinic parking lot and I ran in carrying her. I had called to let them know we were on the way, so they were waiting to grab her from me.

I alternated between sitting and standing in the waiting room until they called me back. The veterinarian said she was stable, her heart rate was normal and she was standing. They were closing in less than an hour, and since she wasn’t in critical condition, decided to just keep on eye on her until our vet opened.

At 7:40, she was still doing well. She was rather lethargic, but still looked more like herself, so we drove to her regular vet. They had also been informed that we were coming, so we were ushered back quickly. Upon arrival, her temperature was only 98 degrees, which is pretty low for a canine, so she was placed on a heating pad.

The doctor came in roughly 30 minutes later. My first concern was when she listened to Bailey’s heart. She didn’t say a word. After the initial exam, she took her for x-rays, bloodwork and an ultrasound. After nearly an hour, Bailey was back in the room, but I hadn’t seen the vet. That’s when I looked up and saw her with a doctor on each side discussing something on the papers in her hand. All three had looks of concern on their faces. I tried to steady myself for the news to come, but nothing could have prepared me.

When the vet entered the room, she closed the doors that had been open the whole time. She began telling me the prognosis. She had a very large mass on the left side. It was so big that it was pushing her stomach and spleen entirely to the right. She also had fluid around her heart. Once I was able to calm myself and really absorb what she was saying, we began to discuss treatment options.

While we were there, they could drain the fluid around her heart and do an echo to determine the cause, whether it was a tumor or heart disease. Depending on the outcome of the echo, we may have been able to schedule a rather lengthy surgery to remove the mass.

I spoke to the doctor in length about the potential dangers and effectiveness of surgery. We discussed in great detail what the procedure would consist of, and what the long-term treatment would require. I wanted to be fully informed so I could call Clay to fill him in, but mostly, to ensure we made the right decision regarding her care. The echo would tell us what we were dealing with, but it could be painful to remove the fluid. If we did the surgery to remove the mass, she may not even make it through the anesthesia because of her age, and if she did make it through surgery, it may not be successful, again because of her age.

When I called Clay, he made it clear that it was my decision to make and that if I chose to go through with the treatment, we would do whatever it took to get her well. Together, we made the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I had to decide to let my longtime companion go to Doggy Heaven.

“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as
deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.”

Upon making the decision, Clay left work to be with me. My mom left work as well to say her goodbyes. On her way, she stopped and got Bailey her favorite snack, a rotisserie chicken. After getting off the phone with them, I pulled Bailey and her towel to the floor and laid down with her. We spent the next few minutes “talking” about the things she had done to get Jenna in trouble and reminiscing over our time together. I went from crying to laughing at things she had done.

My mom arrived first and I explained the situation. She had a few minutes with Bailey, then we got out the chicken. As lethargic as Bailey was, she knew when I had opened the chicken. She’s never been the most patient thing in the world. I’m surprised she didn’t take a finger off! She usually has to share the skin of the chicken with Jenna, but got every morsel to herself, and even got some of the meat Daddy never shares!

Clay arrived while she was enjoying her snack, and he spent a few minutes with her. We called the doctor in and within a minute or two, she slipped through the pearly doggy door.

From the time I found her in the yard to the time we left with her in a casket was less than 5 hours. It hit me like a Mack truck: hard and with no warning. The day before, she ate like normal and showed no signs of distress.

We went home and Clay brought her bed in and I grabbed one of her blankets. We went outside and Jenna and I supervised as Clay dug a hole. We put the bed in, then covered her with her pink paw print blankie. Before we covered the grave, we sat around it in silence. Jenna sniffed the box and scooted over to sit in my lap.

It’s now Friday and we’ve made it through our first few days. I’ve had meltdowns when I’ve gotten two snacks out of habit, and when I noticed a framed picture on my desk at work. I even cried when Clay took his shirt off to get in bed and it stayed there instead of being made into a bed. Each time Bryson calls out “Baaaaailey,” my heart breaks a little. I know he’s actually calling Jenna because she’s his BFF and he thinks all dogs are Baileys, but knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Yesterday, I realized that Bryson wouldn't remember Bailey, so now when he calls her name, I tell him something about her. It's been great therapy to my heart to share her quirks, silly behavior, smart things she's done and even what a brat she was at times.

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

Bay has been my constant companion for over 12 years. She’s licked away many tears and kept me company when I’ve moved to a new city. She’s made me laugh with her hyper running and jumping, and has amazed me with how incredibly intelligent she was. She's cracked me up when she did her prairie dog sit in front of an unsuspecting person with food... and weaseled a bite every time. I've been amazed at her skill to do the "Bailey Curse" and make a team lose to Alabama (ask the '09 Tennessee team- that was all her). She’s been an important part of my life, but also of Jenna’s. They didn't hit it off immediately, but eventually, loved each other like they were really sisters.

Jenna has never really been alone, but has done great this week while we've been at work. She seems to be very sad, but is getting the royal treatment. Bailey even sent the remainder of her chicken home to her.

When my first dog passed away, I said I would never get another one. I think the same thing now, but I know deep down that the pain I feel right now pales in comparison to the joy Bailey brought to my life. She will be dearly missed, but my memories are strong and will last longer than the pain. One day, I will look at a picture and laugh about her excited expression instead of burst out in tears. One day, I will tell Bryson about his oldest sister and how excited she was to meet him. One day, I’ll be covered in sloppy wet kisses and rub her hairy little belly when we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.

"Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them." - John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

Bryson: One Year

2013-07-18T10:46:00.002-05:00

Weight: Your 12-month appointment was on 7/5. At the appointment, you weighed 24.5 pounds.

Height: On 7/5/13, you were 30.5 inches long.

Eating Habits: You, sir, make this parenting thing easy *knock on wood*. I had been very concerned about ditching the bottle, but you did it by yourself. You began playing with the bottle more than drinking it, so I started putting your formula in your favorite sippy cups. You still wouldn't drink it, so we switched to milk and you chugged it. You weaned yourself off bottles and formula right after turning 11 months.

You're so funny about food. You won't eat certain things if they're in small baby-sized pieces. You're great about not biting off more than you can chew... except bananas. You would shove a whole banana in your mouth if we'd let you.

Favorite Foods: There's not really much that you don't like. I think if you had to choose anything, you'd eat a banana. You also really like pasta with tomato sauce. You eat grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade chicken nuggets, yogurt, waffles with peanut butter, ravioli and chicken often. You also discovered that you LOVE baked beans this month. They end up all over your face because you pop them in your mouth by the handful.

Least Favorite Foods: You've lost your affinity for blueberries and sweet potatoes along the way. When I try to give you sweet potato, you make a face when it squishes in your fingers. You don't like anything vinegary, like coleslaw, and refuse to eat anything green that isn't mixed into a sauce. I'm sneaky, though, and hide broccoli or green beans in your pasta. Bwahahaha.

Milestones: You have EIGHT teeth now! One popped up overnight on May 30. I didn't see it when we brushed your teeth before bed, but the next morning when we brushed them, there it was!

You've started brushing your own teeth! I actually brush them first and you love it, but after we're done, you want a turn. You put the toothbrush in your mouth and shake your head "no." It's hilarious, but shows that you understand how it's done, you smart little cookie!

Favorite Things:
You love to play tug-of-war with Jenna. She's great with you and usually doesn't pull too hard. I'm always so afraid you're going to tug as hard as you can and she's going to let go and send you flying. Somehow you always end up doing it near the ceramic tile floor.

You love to play "Where's Bryson." You do it frequently with your bath towel or blankets we use in the living room or in your crib. You've even done it with the blankets on the dog beds (eww) and just your fingers. You cover your eyes and we say "Wheeeeere's Bryson?" You pull whatever is covering your eyes down and we exclaim, "There him is!" You LOVE it and will do it forever. We were in the Jeep for 5 hours on the way to the beach and I sat in the back with you for awhile. We played it for at least 30 minutes. Your hiding place was behind the head rest on your car seat.

You have picked up this new face that we're pretty sure Aunt Christa taught you. You do it ALL. THE. TIME. It's funny until you do it when you get in trouble. Okay, I'm lying. It's funny then too, but we can't laugh then. We've tried to get you to stop doing it, so when you make the face, we grin like idiots. All that's done is change how you do the face. Now you make it, then immediately grin really big, showing all your teeth. You're a little nut!

Not-So-Favorite Things: You're going through separation anxiety again. Fortunately, you're fine when I drop you off at daycare. You've only cried twice when I've left you. At home, it's a different story. You can be playing contentedly, but if you catch us walking out of the room, you go to pieces. You even do it sometimes when one of us is still with you. You're really bad about abandoning Daddy in the floor to follow me from room to room. You do it to me sometimes too, especially if Daddy is just getting home. You have to follow him to our room when he changes clothes and always to the bathroom. haha

You've also started wanting to be held more. If we're holding you and try to put you down, you stiffen your legs so they won't bend for you to sit on the ground. Both of these make getting things done pretty difficult. I'm a sucker, though, and love the extra cuddles.

The bubbles weren't really working.

Other Bryson News: On Monday, June 3, you got tubes put in your ears. You didn't get to eat anything after you went to sleep the night before until about 9:30 AM, but it didn't really faze you. What did bother you, though, was the nurse trying to take your vitals. She had to distract you with bubbles. From the time I handed you over to the nurse to the time you were back in our room was 22 minutes, so obviously it wasn't invasive, but I'm not a fan of you going through that stuff. You handled it like a champ, so we got a free day of playing when we got home.

We went to the beach on Thursday, May 30. You absolutely LOVED it. When we got to Florida, our room wasn't ready, so we went grocery shopping. When we got back, our room was ready, so we checked in and went in to unpack and change clothes. You went straight to the balcony door to look outside. You kept turning around to look at us like you were asking if we were seeing this too. I loved watching the wonder on your face.

We went down to the beach quickly and you showed us you're a beach bum like us immediately. You've never really liked wind blowing on your face, but as soon as the ocean breeze hit you, you lit up and started clapping. At first, you weren't too sure about the water hitting your feet, but it didn't last long because you started slapping and kicking the waves as they rolled in. Each wave made you laugh, which of course, cracked us up. You loved to get out deeper in the water and let the waves hit you and Daddy. You were immediately enamored with the sand, as you can tell by the bottom right picture. You hadn't been sitting there for more than 10 seconds when I took that picture. As per typical Bryson fashion, you had lots of snacks on the beach. All that fun in the sun made you hungry!

Before we left on our trip, I was worried that you would either skip naps and be over-tired or we would spend the whole day in the hotel room. Neither happened. You took naps at your normal time and were perfectly content doing so on the lounge chair or a blanket on the sand.

Daddy and I started a tradition on our first beach trip together. On the last night, we take a walk on the beach and pick up shells. At first, we were going to choose just one, but I can't narrow it down. We have a vase full of shells from our trips, even from our honeymoon in Jamaica. On the last night of our first trip as a family, we went shell hunting. You dug up a perfect shell with your toes, so we kept it as your shell. I even labeled it with a Sharpie, so years from now when you go through my treasure box, you will find your very first shell! (Yes, I'm a sap and potentially a hoarder)

You and I like to play a game where we make silly faces. We do it all the time, but when we go out to eat, especially if it's just the two of us, we have to play. Both of us will lower our heads and look up at each other then crack up laughing. I have a hard time getting a picture because you crack yourself up so quickly, but I was able to get one picture. I laugh every time I see it. You're so silly!

You are such a joy and incredible blessing, my little stinky Stinkbug. My life was forever changed when you entered it and I wouldn't have it any other way. Your Daddy and I love you more than you can possibly ever imagine.

Love always, Mommy

Bryson: Eleven Months

2013-06-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

Weight: 24.5 pounds.

Height: You haven't been measured since your 9-month appointment, at which you were 29 3/4 inches. I would just about bet you're over 31 now. Your 12-month jeans are a good inch too short.

Eating Habits: You're down to 2 small bottles a day, once when you wake up and one right before bed. You're getting the majority of your calories from real food and are a master at feeding yourself. You are also getting diluted juice, which you LOVE.

Favorite Foods: You're definitely your Mama's boy because you LOVE spaghetti. I make it with whole wheat elbow noodles because they're easier to hold than regular spaghetti and you absolutely go to town on it!

You eat bananas like they're going out of style. Each morning, you have a whole banana and a waffle. You always go for the banana first. You have figured out how to peel them, but if you hold the whole banana, you shove it in your mouth and take a huge bite. I'm talking a bite so big that you look like a squirrel with a mouth full of nuts- cheeks fully extended and banana hanging out of your mouth. You think it's hilarious too because you always crack up.

Chicken, ribs, cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese also top the list.

Least Favorite Foods: The only thing you refuse to eat is peaches. I just don't get how you don't love them. You're also not a big fan of most green things, but will occasionally tolerate a few small pieces of broccoli or green beans.

Notice the spaghetti face? :)

Milestones:
You, sir, are a tooth-making machine. You have SEVEN now. So far, teething has basically been a breeze. You're a tough little cookie and don't cry when they're coming in. On every tooth except one, you've gone to sleep and woken up with a new tooth. Daddy says nature is just taking care of you because you need all those teeth for all the meat you eat!

It probably seems like an odd place to put this, but as a boy, the first time you touch a frog is definitely a milestone.

We went to Aunt Sandy and Uncle David's house for Maw Maw Hill's 93rd birthday party and there was a big tree frog on the side of the house. I picked it up and held it in front of you so you could see it. I kept it enclosed in my hand with just its head peeking out so it wouldn't jump on your face, but you wanted it! You immediately reached for it. When its head popped out, you did your excited dance, then started poking at its eyes. I didn't want you to hurt it, so I let it go quickly. We'll play with frogs again when you're big enough to touch and not to gouge eyes. Ha.

You are a crawling master now. You army crawled for about a month, then lifted yourself to your knees and hands. I have to tell you how this happened because it's too funny not to share. You LOVE to have some naked time after your bath each night, so I give you about 5 minutes to let the lotion absorb in your skin. You usually stay in your room and pull all the books off the shelf, but one night, you decided to venture next door to your play room. I tried to stop you, but you were persistent. I knew the ceramic tile would be cold on your tummy, etc., but I thought it might make you give up the belly crawling, so I let you do it. The floor wasn't that cold on your belly, but as soon as your weewee touched, you shot up like a rocket and haven't army crawled since. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.

Favorite Things: You love to sit at the front door and watch what's going on outside. When we open the door, you take off with a shot and join Jenna on watch. This is the only time when you are truly still and don't need a toy. We live on the main road of the neighborhood and are in an intersection, so you see a lot of cars, puppies, kitties and people.

I have a full-length mirror in our bedroom that I sit in front of to get ready. You make your way to it often and carry on conversations with the boy in there for minutes at a time. He must be absolutely hilarious because you crack up mid-sentence.

If you pass a mirror, you always have to look at yourself, and you usually smile. I guess if I was that adorable, I'd smile at my reflection too. :)

Since you've been crawling, you've discovered a whole new world. Our house has some super fun things in it, one of which is the dryer. If it's on and you're passing by the laundry room, you sit in the hall in a trance. I started turning the drum light on and now you have to make your way into the laundry room to watch it spin. I love to watch your wide-eyed curiosity as you discover these new things. You're so intrigued by so much and learn so much from your exploration.

We took you to the outdoor pool at the gym and you absolutely loved it. You have been in the pool before, but this time, it was PACKED and there were tons of fun people to watch... and splash. You got splashed a time or two and didn't miss a beat. The pool is a walk-in, so it starts at about 1/2 an inch deep and gets deeper the further you walk. We sat you down at about the 6-inch mark and you immediately start slapping the water and even tried to lay back and kick your feet. You totally ignored your water toys and just wanted to splash. Everyone had to get out for a 30 minutes, so Daddy and I found some loungers and in a minute or two, you were sound asleep on my chest. You didn't move a muscle when Daddy lifted you off of me or on the walk to the Jeep. When I put you in your carseat, you immediately slumped over, sound asleep. The pool wore you out!

For the longest time, you didn't move in your sleep, but now you're all over the place! Each morning, I like to peek in on you and see how you're sleeping. Sometimes it's on your side with your hands under your cheek; on other days, you're sprawled out on your book with your hands are behind your head. My favorite, which happens most often, is when you're on your belly, hands tucked under you and booty straight in the air!

In your exploring around the house, you have discovered door stoppers. You slap them and the springs make a noise you love! With the way our house is designed, the sound echoes all over, so when you get going and hit it fast, it sounds like a machine gun is going off in the hall.

Not-So-Favorite Things: At times, you don't like being put down. If we start bending to put you in your walker, you lift your legs so they're parallel to the floor and won't go in the walker. If we're intending to sit you on the floor, you stiffen your legs so they won't bend and we can't get you to sit down. Seriously, kid? You're a stinker!

You have developed a serious attitude when you don't like something. You do this weird scream/screech/squawk noise and throw your hands in the air to tell us you're displeased. You really only do this if you're hungry or sleepy and aren't entertained by what we give you or you are being put down against your will. Otherwise, you're pretty content.

Other Bryson News:
May 11, 2013 was our first Mother's Day together. I have been blessed to be surrounded by incredible role models in your grandmothers and great grandmothers, so this day is full of celebration. We went to Cullman to see Grandmama Heald, and as usual, you were the life of the party. Fortunately, it was a nice day, so we got to play outside for awhile. Granddaddy Heald, Aunt Christa and Daddy were playing washers, and you were so curious as to what they were doing, so you spent a lot of time belly crawling in the grass. You eventually fell asleep on my shoulder, which is one of my favorite times of the day. I love Bryson snuggles.

You may have your Grandmama Heald wrapped around your little finger. You took a nap after just about everyone had left, and when you woke up, were still a little grumpy, so Grandmama held you. You played with her necklace and laid on her shoulder, very contentedly.

On May 18, we went to Holly Pond for Maw Maw Hill's birthday party. We currently have 5 generations living on my dad's side, which is incredible! Maw Maw Hill is an amazing woman and I'm so glad you've been able to spend some time with her. She just loves you to pieces. As soon as she sees you, she holds her arms up so I'll hand you over and she smothers you in kisses. I know your great great grandfather, Papa, loves you too, and is watching you from his perch in Heaven.

While we were at Aunt Sandy and Uncle David's for the party, Grammy T took you to see the cows. They weren't very enthused to see you, but you were amazed by them. You stared with wide eyes for a long time, then looked at me to see if I was seeing them too!

Bryson Reed, I've said this so many times, but I love you so much. There isn't a day that goes by that Daddy and I don't tell you that and we try very hard to make sure you know it by our actions as well. At this point, it's hard to remember life without you, and almost inconceivable that life was happy without you in it because you fill us with so much joy now. You are the greatest thing that either of us have ever done and are so incredibly proud of you. You amaze us day in and day out and we feel so blessed that God chose us to be your parents. We love you, Stinkbug, more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow!

- Mommy

Bryson: Ten months

2013-05-16T10:59:00.004-05:00

Seriously, how is it possible that you're only two months from being one?

Weight: At your appointment on April 30, you weighed 22 pounds and 12 ounces.

Height: You haven't been measured since your 9-month appointment, at which you were 29 3/4 inches. You've definitely grown since then because we soared past 12 month pajamas and you're in 18 month pjs now.

Eating Habits: You're down to 4 bottles a day for a total of about 23 ounces. You're still a big fan of your baba, which really sent me into a tailspin because the bottle will be gone soon! You eat breakfast, lunch, supper and a snack of "real" food.

Favorite Foods: You LOVE bananas now and can finish an entire one in one sitting. I gave you blueberries for the first time this month and went through 10 quickly without dropping one. The next carton we got was pretty bitter, so you won't eat them. Ha. In addition, ribs, chicken, waffles, strawberries, sweet potatoes and carrots top the list, but you eat most things really well and aren't super picky. Grandmama made a chicken casserole that you devoured, so I've been making it too. I also make chicken nuggets with ground carrot and apple inside that you chow down on. In one week, you finished about 25 of the nuggets!

Least Favorite Foods: You don't like peaches AT ALL. I've tried fresh, canned, pureed and even in a healthy cobbler, but you won't touch them. It's things like this that make me wonder if we're really related. :) You don't like corn either. I thought you'd like to try corn on the cob because it's different, but it turned into a hammer and your green beans were flattened all over the kitchen!

Milestones:

You're crawling! We had your buddies, Kellen and Levi, over one day. You were the only baby not crawling. As soon as they left, you deserted your toys and started practicing crawling. A few days later, you were zooming all over the house. Of course, by "zooming," I mean slowly making your way around, considering your crawl is mostly Army-style with a few regular crawling steps mixed in. I was thankful that you waited until tax season was over to start crawling because you are in to EVERYTHING, especially since you're speeding up now!

End of busy season party. Y'all were both happy it was over!

Speaking of tax season, we made it through your first tax season. Right now, you don't get how difficult it can be, but tax season is tough since Daddy is a CPA. There were some days that he didn't get home until I was already in bed, so he missed seeing you those days. Most days, he left work early enough to spend some time with you, then worked after you went to sleep. He works very, very hard for us!

After tax season was over, we took a few days off work and school and just spent some time together as a family. On April 18, we went to the zoo and you had a BLAST! The first animals were saw were the elephants and you stared in wide-eyed amazement. When you would see something you liked, you always looked back at me to make sure I was seeing it too. On occasion, you would laugh and point. Your favorite animals were the squirrel monkeys because they moved so fast and were apparently hilarious.

You said "Dada" for the first time on Saturday, March 30. We heard you say it and tried to get you to repeat it. Daddy was especially excited and wanted you to say it again. You looked up at him and with an attitude, said, "Mama." You're a little stinker. To add insult to injury, you busted out laughing at yourself.

You got your first professional haircut on Friday, April 19, 2013. You were SO GOOD during the cut. The woman who does my hair, Alexa, did it. You sat in Daddy's lap and just let her cut. You were curious about the scissors at first and when she turned the clippers on, you jerked your head around to see what the noise was, but turned right around and let her work. You looked so handsome and so much like a big boy with the new 'do!

Your first Easter was a blast! We spent the day with Nana and PawPaw in Fayette. You got dressed up for church and everybody there wanted to meet you since they've known your daddy since he was your age. People passed you around like crazy and kept telling you how handsome you were. One woman told you that and you rubbed her face softly and sweetly. I thought she was going to melt into a puddle of goo. Always the ladies man. After church, we went to Nana and PawPaw's house and you played with your cousins and had an Easter egg hunt. It was raining, so we hunted eggs inside. You really enjoyed getting your Easter basket. You had a monster truck, Snickers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Bubbles, maracas, a crinkle monkey and Easter eggs that look like footballs and baseballs.

When we went to see the Easter Bunny, you looked around like you had no idea what was going on. The Bunny's helpers couldn't make you smile and neither could any of your toys. I started doing the silly mommy dance and you smiled. I heard at least 5 people giggle and say "Awww," as you smiled, confirming that people had been watching me be silly. Thanks, kid. ;) Nah, it was worth it to have such a great picture. I LOVE this picture.

Favorite Things: You love to play outside. I take a blanket out with us when we go outside, but in true boy fashion, you're on the grass instantly. You love to feel it on your toes and pull it out and throw it. You better be careful showing your fascination; Daddy is itching for you to mow!

We've been blowing bubbles a lot and you love them. I started blowing them right at you the other day and you squealed each time you caught one. They're the one thing that will keep you occupied as long as they're around.

As much as you love bath time, we decided to take you to the pool when we joined our new gym. You absolutely loved it. Actually, love is probably an understatement. As soon as you touched the water, you began splashing around and didn't care that the water hit your face. We took you deeper and deeper and Daddy even held you under the water showering down. You stuck your hand and head straight in. A little girl kept coming up to you to play and you were polite and didn't splash too, too much until she left.

Not-So-Favorite Things: Outside of the few foods you don't like, it's hard to come up with not-so-favorite things. You're the happiest baby I've ever seen!

You still fight naps, but all it usually takes is a few rounds of "Jesus Loves the Little Stinkbugs" and me rubbing your head or patting your booty and you're out.

You aren't a big fan of being strapped in the car seat, but as soon as you see the scenery changing outside the window, you're happy.

Other Bryson News: You have 6 teeth! I hope all your teeth come in as easy as these have. You don't complain at all; we just notice a new tooth that wasn't there the day before. Of course, you won't let me snap a picture, you little Stinkbug.

You've been a master at standing up for months, but now, you like to stand up and play. The ottoman is your favorite play mat. Your monthly pictures are getting harder to take since you want to crawl away, so I thought I could get you next to the ottoman. That didn't work well either.

The past 10 months have flown by. I watch you playing sometimes and miss my squishy baby, but I also love this age and watching you grow. You are so much fun and have such a wonderful personality. You're laidback and have fun in every situation. You very rarely get upset and I'm pretty sure have never had a bad day. I love to watch you discover new things and the amazement that's apparent on your face. You are very inquisitive and pick up new things very quickly. Bryson, you are such a joy and bring so much happiness to our home and family. We love you more than you could possibly know. Mommy & Daddy

From Freezer to Slow Cooker

2013-04-16T11:10:00.000-05:00

Before Bryson was born, I stocked our freezer with easy crock pot meals . Since he came along, I've found it's so much easier to spend an hour or two in the kitchen on Sunday prepping meals for the week than to cook each night. I have to clean the kitchen once instead of every night, which leaves a lot more playtime with my little man.

I got this crazy notion to prepare a month's worth of crock pot meals, thanks to my friend, Kim. Since I don't have the freezer space for that, I cut it in half and did 16 bags that provided supper for Clay and me, as well as lunch for one of us. It took me 96 minutes to get everything chopped, measured and bagged. Clean up each night was as simple as packing leftovers and tossing the slow cooker liner!

This round, I made:
- pesto ranch chicken x2
- meatloaf (1/2 ground turkey, 1/2 ground beef) x2
- garlic beef stew
- balsamic roast
- ribs
- sweet Asian meatballs x2
- fajitas x2
- Philly cheesesteak
- beef w/ sugar snap peas
- chicken teriyaki x2
- tex mex chicken

Coming up with the list of things I wanted to make was the hardest part. I tried to make similar recipes so I could use all of what I bought. Since I was buying so much in addition to the groceries we needed for the week, I also matched sales and did a lot of ad matching. What can I say? I love a couponing high! I got all of this plus our regular groceries for less than $150!

To start, labels bags with what's in it and the date. DO NOT skimp on bags. Great Value and other cheap bags leak and the last thing you want is garlic beef stew frozen to the bottom of your freezer. I prefer Hefty slide zipper bags.

Start with a staging area. Get everything you plan to use in one area that's easily accessible. Open cans and jars. It makes things so much easier when you can just grab and go.

I used to drag the garbage can beside me and dump everything as I went, but have started using a Rachael Ray trick and keep a garbage bowl handy. It prevents me from tripping over the trash can. Now I only have to worry about Bailey being under foot...

Invest in Reynolds slow cooker liners. They're something like $2.50 and prevent you from having to wash the crock pot with each use.

All of the recipes below are either my own creations or adapted from recipes I've found online. We prefer to eat as healthy as possible and live on the AdvoCare/Paleo diet, so all of these recipes fall into that category. When possible, I've included a link to the original recipe.

Pesto Ranch Chicken Source

- 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

- 1 small jar Classico pesto

- 1 package dry Ranch dressing mix (I use homemade Ranch mix)

- low sodium chicken broth

- Combine chicken breasts, pesto and Ranch mix in the bag. Add chicken broth when cooking. I use roughly half a box of broth- it's never enough to cover the chicken as I don't like the texture too much broth gives chicken, but does give it some flavor and moisture. Chicken doesn't need to cook long because it dries out. The max I ever leave chicken in the crock pot is 6 hours on low.

Meatloaf

- 1 pound lean ground beef (I use 97/3)

- 1 pound lean ground turkey (I use 97/3 when possible)

- 1 egg

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 1 small can no salt added tomato sauce

- 1 tablespoon dry Ranch mix

- salt

- pepper

- Mix all ingredients except the tomato sauce and half the mixture.

- Form the mixture into two loaf shapes. Top each loaf with tomato sauce and place in individual bags.

- When cooking, just place in crock pot. No liquid necessary. This doesn't take long to cook, but can go all day if necessary. I did 6 hours on low.

Garlic Beef Stew Source

- 1.5 pounds lean steak, cubed, or stew meat
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3-4 medium carrots, sliced
- 6* cloves of garlic, finely diced
- salt
- pepper
- no salt added tomato paste
- 2-3 cups low sodium chicken broth

- Combine all ingredients in the bag and just toss in the crock pot when you're ready to cook. No additional steps needed.
- * I never tried this because I had a stomach bug when we cooked it. Clay wasn't a huge fan of it because it was pretty garlicky. I think I'll probably reduced it to 3 cloves next time. I like green beans in my beef stew, so I'll probably add some frozen cut green beans to the bag.
- I used a soup/stew preset on my crock pot, so it cooked for 3 hours on high and 6 on low.

Balsamic Roast Source

- 1.5-2 pound roast

- 1 large onion, sliced

- 8-ounce can no salt added tomato sauce

- 1/2-cup balsamic vinaigrette (I used Marzetti brand I got on sale)

- extra virgin olive oil

- salt

- pepper

- garlic powder

- Season each side of the roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and brown the roast on all sides.
- Allow it to cool, then put in the bag with the remaining ingredients.
- When cooking, just put everything in the crock pot. No additional steps required. Cook low and slow- I did 8 hours on low.

Ribs Source
- rack of ribs (I used baby back, trimmed of all visible fat)
- pepper
- salt
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- cayenne (I didn't add this because Bryson was eating them)
- BBQ sauce for dipping, if desired
- 1/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

- Rub the ribs with the seasonings and place in the bag.
- Pour the broth in the bag before freezing. It will act like a brine and make the ribs more flavorful and tender.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.

Sweet Asian Meatballs Source
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, minced
- 1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
- 1 egg
- salt
- pepper

- Combine all the ingredients and form into balls. I made the meatballs palm-sized, but you can do mini balls or big ones. Totally your preference, just make sure they're the same size. Separate the balls into 2 bags.
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4, depending on the size.

Fajitas
- 2 yellow onions
- 4 bell peppers (I used one pack of tricolor and a green)
- small handful of taco seasoning (I make my own from this recipe, minus the salt)
- 4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
- 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

- Rub the chicken breasts in taco seasoning. Toss everything except broth in 2 bags, no need to chop the chicken.
- Dump the bag in the slow cooker, then pour in broth. Cook on low for 6 hours. As the chicken cooks, it will become very tender and will shred easily. Shred the chicken using tongs or two forks, then wrap up in a tortilla or put on a salad!

Philly cheesesteak in a bowl Source
- 1.5 lb lean steak, sliced thin (I use eye of round most often)
- 1 green pepper, sliced thin
- 1 yellow onion, sliced thin
- 1 tbsp low sodium worcestshire sauce
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- pinch of black pepper
- pinch of chili powder
- 1 tsp-1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
- 1/2 cup low sodium beef broth
- 1/2 cup part skim mozzarella shredded cheese (optional)

- Combine all ingredients except broth and cheese in the bag and shake well. Toss in the crock pot and add chicken broth. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Since the steak is sliced so thin, it doesn't need long, but does get more tender the longer it cooks. Eye of round is super lean, but can also be chewy, so the extra time in the crock pot really helps the flavor and texture.
- Add cheese on top in the last 30 minutes to give it time to melt. Dairy isn't allowed on the 24 Day Challenge and some Paleo eaters avoid dairy, so if you follow either of these, leave out this step.
- We've eaten this on a wrap, but it's good all by itself! No carbs necessary!

Beef with Sugar Snap Peas Source
- 1.5 - 2 pounds lean steak, sliced very thin (I used sirloin)
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger (or about 2 tsp dry ginger)
- 5 scallions, sliced on the diagonal
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, either finely minced or made into a paste
- 1.5 - 2 cups snow or sugar snap peas (fresh or frozen)

- In large bag, combine in all of the ingredients except the peas. Toss to coat everything in the sauces.
- Put the snow peas or sugar snap peas in a smaller bag and place it in the big bag. I used sugar snap because I couldn't find snow peas. I've since made it with snow peas and they're both fantastic!
- Cook the ingredients of the large bag on low for 6-7 hours. Add the sugar snap peas in the last 30-45 minutes. They'll give the dish a freshness and crisp crunch!

Chicken Teriyaki Source
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Splenda brown sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup low sodium, low sugar teriyaki sauce or 1 teriyaki chicken seasoning packet
- 2 scallions, sliced on the diagonal
- 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth

- Pour soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, sesame seeds and teriyaki sauce or seasoning in the bag. Close and shake to mix. Break up the brown sugar with your fingers if it clumps.
- Add the chicken to the bag, then toss to coat.
- Pour the contents of the bag in the crock pot, then add chicken broth. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. In the last hour, add the scallions and stir to make sure they're covered by the liquid.
- If you want to make a sauce, pour the leftover liquid from the crockpot into a pot and get to a rapid boil. Let it boil for 3-4 minutes, then reduce to a simmer. It'll take a while to reduce unless you add cornstarch, which of course, I don't do, but it will reduce to a thicker consistency and it's soooo good!

When you've made all of your bags, lie them flat and remove all the air you can. Place them on the bottom of your freezer, as flat as possible. When they're frozen through, you can file them like books on a shelf. Thanks for that tip, Grandmama! It saves so much space in the freezer!

Tex Mex Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- no sugar added salsa
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
- juice of 2 limes

- Put the chicken in the bag and add all ingredients.
- Cook on low for 5 hours. I shred the chicken when it's cooked and add to a salad with black beans.

Bryson: Nine Months

2013-04-08T11:01:00.000-05:00

Weight: At your 9 month checkup, you weighed 22 pounds and 8.5 ounces. You went from the 95th percentile at your previous appointments to the 80th at the most recent appointment. I am glad to see that your weight gain is regulating. You're still a biiiig ol' boy, though!

Height: As of April 2, you were 29 3/4 inches, which is the 95th percentile. You have been in the greater than 98th percentile until this appointment. Again, I'm glad to see your growing is regulating some too. I'm hopeful that you'll actually wear clothes more than once now!

Eating Habits: You are still eating 5 bottles a day, but are down to 29-30 ounces.

You decided that purees were no good and wouldn't open your mouth for them anymore. A few times, you even swatted my hand away. You know, I can't blame you. Who wants to eat mush when you have teefies that can chew through ribs? Yes, ribs. You're a big fan of ribs.

Your breakfasts, lunches and suppers are the same foods we eat. For breakfast, you love waffles with peanut butter and are warming up to scrambled eggs. You always have fruit with your breakfast also and FINALLY like bananas. Granddaddy Heald will be thrilled! For lunch and supper, you always get a protein, vegetable and fruit. You usually go for the vegetable first.

Milestones: You are learning to use a spoon really well. I load it with the food and you take it from me, then guide it to your mouth. Only when you begin to get full does the spoon fly around.

I have been trying to get you to use a sippy cup, but you just chewed on the spout. I decided to try a new kind and since then, we have cycled through a few, but have finally found one you'll use. You have started drinking diluted apple juice to help your belly handle all the new foods and are a master at the sippy cup! You have knocked back 5 ounces of liquid (roughly 2-3 ounces of juice) in 2 minutes flat!

Favorite Things: You LOOOOVE cell phones. When I take a picture with my iPhone, you start posing, then try to take the phone away from me. I was able to capture this succession of pictures that really show how pictures are taken in our house.

I downloaded an app that's designed to help babies learn to speak. You have learned how to swipe the phone to change the pictures, to tap the screen to hear the lady say the word and to tap the word at the bottom to hear her spell it. It keeps you occupied for awhile, but eventually, you get bored and my phone goes straight to your mouth. Ha.

Your Sophie toy is still a favorite, especially as new teeth come through. You learned how to make her squeak months ago, but now, you think it's funny to bend her neck quickly and make the squeak sound funny. While in Target one day, you picked out a small gray monkey and it goes everywhere with you! Along with that monkey, you have taken over a monkey Daddy had made for me on my birthday in 2008. Maybe the monkey fascination is because I call you my little monkey. ;)

Not-So-Favorite Things: You aren't a big fan of cauliflower. I don't know if it's because it has to steamed so much to make it manageable or if it's the taste, but you don't want anything to do with it. You'll eat if I make what we call fauxtatoes (basically cauliflower made to resemble potatoes) with it and mix it with something else, but you do not want it by itself. Yet again, I can't say I blame you.

You're going through a separation anxiety phase. For roughly 2 weeks, if I left the room, you pitched a fit. I'm not talking about crying a little; it was much more than that. You would scream bloody murder, throw yourself backward and cry huge crocodile tears. Fortunately, you only whined twice when I left you at daycare and never cried, but at home, you were downright mad if I left you. Nothing could stop it, even Daddy holding you when I walked away, and nothing made it better besides me picking you up. It's beginning to calm down for the most part, thankfully.

Other Bryson News:

The weather is warming up and we met Kellen and his mommy, Mrs. Paige, for play time at the park. It was your first time playing with another baby outside of school and you seemed to enjoy it. You share very well, and even offered your half eaten cookie to Kellen when he reached for it. We hope you and Kellen will be good friends!

Your personality has been obvious for awhile now, but lately, you are really showing what a goofball you are. One morning, you were carrying on a conversation with Jenna and having a one-"man" dance party. I start snapping pictures and you started showing off for the camera. When I went back to look at the pictures I took, I busted out laughing. You are such a little ham and keep us in stitches. These are my favorite pictures of you so far.

Daddy and I have loved you since the two lines popped up on the pregnancy test, but with each day that passes, we wonder how we ever lived without you. You are such an essential part of our family and we really feel like you complete it. We couldn't ask for a better baby and are so incredibly blessed that God chose us to be your parents. We love you, my little Stinkbug.

Bryson: Eight Months

2013-03-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

Pictures have gotten more difficult now that you're a mover and shaker!

Weight: At a sick appointment, you weighed 21 pounds and 12 ounces, but had just eaten and had a notsofresh diaper on. When I weighed you that night, you were closer to 21 pounds and 8 ounces.

Height: You haven't been measured since your appointment on 1/23, but I don't think you've grown a ton. I think your growing is finally regulating!

Eating Habits: You have really begun to show interest in what we're eating and aren't so gung-ho about your food, so you are eating more and more of our food and less baby-type foods. You are still getting yogurt or applesauce in the morning, but for lunch, you eat steamed veggies and fruit. At night, you get some of what we're eating, which usually means chicken or ground beef and steamed veggies.

You're still drinking 5 bottles a day with a total of about 32 ounces because you don't actually consume a lot of the "real" food. Most of it ends up in your lap or in the floor for the puppies.

Milestones: We have been working on learning to wave and say "bye bye." One night in mid-February, we were at the Jeep dealership buying my new car. We had been there for a few hours and in trying to keep you occupied, started working on waving. Daddy and I kept saying, "Bye bye," as we waved. You didn't care to wave and kept grabbing our hands and pulling them down like you wanted us to stop. When we persisted, you finally said "BYE BYE" in a very frustrated tone. It was hilarious because you looked like you were so frustrated, but decided to acquiesce and giving us what we wanted so we'd leave you alone.

Your top two teeth came in practically overnight. They had been peaking through the gum for awhile, then suddenly, were halfway down! Your nose ran a good bit as they came in, but you weren't fussy at all! Overall, teething has been a breeze so far (knock on wood). You're a trooper!

Sweet potatoes and carrots still rank at the top of your favorite foods list. You also like broccoli a lot. A new favorite is pears. You will mow through pear chunks and Gerber pear-flavored yogurt. You eat a lot of Gerber Puffs; you won't touch the strawberry banana, but love the sweet potato and blueberry ones.

Favorite Things: You love to go, go, go! You have never liked to sit still, but usually wanted to stand up, either with our assistance or in the exersaucer. You're finally showing an interest in moving around, but still have no interest in crawling. You prefer to roll all over. In the time it takes Daddy or me to go from your room to the kitchen to throw a diaper away, you can roll out in the hall! You have had the ability to roll for months, but until recently, just didn't care to. Sometimes you'll roll over and over a few times really quickly, then crack up. It must be so fun!

Not-So-Favorite Things: You still aren't very interested in staying on your tummy for very long. As soon as we lay you down for tummy time, you flip right over. You've taken two crawling steps, but then realized you were on your belly and gave up and flipped over. I don't know if you'll ever crawl!

You do not like bananas, avocado or peas. We've tried all three in the jarred version and you were disgusted, so I bought them all fresh and prepared them for you. I was met again with pure disgust. I can't say I blame you on the avocado, but if you don't like bananas, your Granddaddy Heald is going to be very upset. He will want to teach you how to make his famous peanut butter and banana sandwich!

You're REALLY picky about texture. When you touch something that's squishy, your face contorts and you draw your hand back quickly. You'll usually give it another shot, but most of the time, will give up quickly. I found a fun sensory game online using spaghetti and just had to try it. You were very hesitant at first, but after seeing Daddy play with it, jumped right in.

You won't eat any food that's overly squishy, which makes feeding you "real" food more difficult. The foods you eat are supposed to be cooked a little longer than what we eat so you can chew/gum them, but you won't have anything to do with food that's too soft. We have to just give you food cooked normally and either make smaller pieces or watch you even more closely.

Other Bryson News: After school one day, we went to Publix to get a few things. There's a man there that has always been very sweet. He always asked how you were doing when you were still in Mommy's tummy and remembers your name each time we visit. He asked if you could have a balloon and when he held it out to you, you took it from him and smiled like you were thanking him. It kept you mesmerized all night.

We had a few warm days in February, so we were able to get outside for awhile. The three of us went to the park and you got to swing. When we got you in the swing, you held on for dear life. At first, I thought you were going to cry, but after Daddy pushed you slowly a few times, your lips spread slowly into a smile. After a few minutes, you you started squealing! The boy on the swing next to you kept asking his mom what was wrong with you because you were being so loud!

This month, we had your first Valentine's Day! "You" made Daddy a super cool Valentine card... and a mess doing it! Your feet are very ticklish, so getting a footprint in paint wasn't easy. We went through 20 sheets of paper and two paint colors before we got something that resembled a foot. Daddy loved it, though, so it was worth making a mess!

You are growing so quickly and learning things at such a rapid pace. You're really discovering your independence, but still want to snuggle with Mommy, thankfully. Each night when you're ready for bed, we get all cozy on the couch or in our bed and you fall asleep on my chest. I treasure every minute of it because I know the day is coming when it won't be cool for Mommy to hold you. I just hope that day is when you're 62. :) We love you more than you can ever possibly imagine, Bryson.

Baby Chicken (or turkey) Nuggets

2013-02-19T15:16:00.002-06:00

Our little linebacker began taking interest in our food around 2.5 months and was attempting to steal our forks at 3 months. We started him on solids at 4 months. Since he was beginning so early, we decided to feed him purees in lieu of the original plan to practice Baby Led Weaning.

I am a firm believer that good health starts from the beginning. Growing up, my favorite snacks were carrots with ranch dressing and strawberries. Today, if you put a crudite tray in front of me, I am still all over it. Clay and I try to be healthy and really wanted to build a foundation for Bryson that would last a lifetime. That meant foregoing the convenience of packaged foods and artificial flavors, both in his purees and the adult food he consumed. Sure, if bacon cheeseburgers and onion rings are your thing, it's easier to give baby a piece of what you're eating, but baby's well-being should trump convenience every time.

I started out making Bryson's purees. With each new food, he got the jarred stuff once or twice and if he liked it, I made a batch. I used only organic frozen varieties even though we aren't strict about eating only organic fruits and vegetables. Frozen vegetables are much more nutritious than canned, or even from the produce section oftentimes, because they're frozen at their peak.

At 6 months, we began to give Bryson chunks of food, starting with things we knew he liked: carrots, pears, etc. Now that he is almost 8-months-old, he is almost past purees. At dinnertime, we all sit at the dining table and Bryson gets some of what we're eating.

Since some of our food isn't baby-friendly, I have been experimenting with recipes for Bryson and have stumbled upon a hit! Not only does he love it, but it's great for him, is easy to make AND can be frozen for future use!

Seriously, iPhone, you couldn't take a better picture??

Ingredients:

- 1 pound ground chicken

- 1 apple

- 1-2 adult carrot(s)

- 1/2 yellow or white onion

- 1 egg

- 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

- 1/2 garlic clove

- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

- dried thyme, if desired

- black pepper, if desired

Directions:

- Peel the apple and shred the carrot. Cut into chunks and put in a food processor with the garlic and onion.

- Process the ingredients until they're smooth, but still chunky. They don't need to be pureed.

- Combine apple, carrot, onion and garlic with ground meat.

- Add in the white of the egg. Adding the yolk may make it runny. Add desired spices.

- Mix everything together well.

- Add 1/4-cup of the bread crumbs and mix.

- Add remaining bread crumbs if needed.

- Form into balls, then flatten each ball into a nugget shape.

- Heat a stovetop grill or pan on medium heat.

- Add 1 tbsp olive oil and allow it to heat up.

- Cook the nuggets on each side for roughly 7 minutes. Don't overcrowd the pan or they take forever.

- Finish in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes if you're unsure if they're done. Babies CANNOT eat under-cooked meat.

Tips:

- I actually used turkey because our grocery store stinks and didn't have ground chicken. You can use any meat, but I recommend using something with 9% or less fat. I used 97/3 because I prefer extra lean.

- Bryson has never had garlic before, so I only added it to half. If your baby hasn't had or doesn't like onion, garlic or spices, play around with the combination.

-This yields a lot of nuggets, so you can freeze them for later. I packaged 5-6 nuggets together in plastic wrap, then put all of the packages together in one ZipLoc bag. Adding the plastic wrap helps prevent freezer burn and makes it easier to get smaller portions out.

The apples and carrot release their juices during the cooking process, so the nuggets are super soft and easy to chew. When Bryson took his first bite, his eyes got huge and he grabbed for more. I'd say he's a fan! I hope your little one loves them too!

Worth Bragging On

2013-02-04T14:02:00.000-06:00

Thinking back on my life, I can think of countless times my mom bragged about me. Even my smallest accomplishments made her proud. I didn't understand the fuss over finally spelling "daughter" correctly (seriously, why the u-g-h??), perfecting my cartwheel or landing a duet in my church youth group's play. Actually, I can understand the last one- I'm a LOUSY singer and the fuss was probably a way to give me confidence, even though I seriously STUNK. I was easily embarrassed by the attention lavished on me for my accomplishments and just didn't get it!

Before I had Bryson, I remember people saying they didn't like seeing babies all over Facebook. In hindsight, I realize those people probably aren't parents. I'm a sucker for kids and puppies, so I never minded my newsfeed being plastered with gummy grins and first steps, but now those pictures excite me even more. Now that I'm a mom, I understand why parents think seemingly mundane activities, like sleeping, are worthy of a shoutout on Facebook. My kid is a cute sleeper and I would hate it if people had to miss that he passed out holding his bottle or that he's taken over Mommy's bed yet again.

I'd hate those of you who aren't my Facebook friend to miss the cuteness of him falling asleep on Mommy's pillow... with a bottle.

I am extremely blessed to have friends with babies close to Bryson's age. Since I'm a new mom, there are so many unknowns and having people to bounce things off of is a tremendous help. I have people to tell me what works for them or about their experiences with certain sippy cups and diapers. I get to vent when I'm having a hard time with a new phase, and I have people to celebrate with when we reach a milestone. As an added bonus, I get to see lots of baby feet, new crawlers and funny sleeping poses when I sign on to Facebook.

In having so many mommy friends, I have also experienced a concerning problem that I think all mothers can relate to. Since children develop at their own pace, it's very easy as a mother to get wrapped up in what your child is or isn't doing. At one time or another, most of my mommy friends have expressed jealousy for something Bryson is doing that their child isn't, and in turn, I have reciprocated those feelings for something Bryson hasn't yet mastered.

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend whose child wakes up at 3:15 AM like clockwork. She's exhausted since she doesn't go to sleep at 7:30 PM like her child. Of course, since she's so fatigued, she's jealous that Bryson sleeps so well. Our conversation eventually moved to her child's new mobility and it was my turn to be jealous. I have a child who has ZERO interest in crawling and prefers to stand.

I read an article a few weeks ago on parenting a boy that also addressed baby comparison and our conversation reminded me of it. In a world of competition, it's so easy to put your child on a stage and have them compete without their knowledge. For some reason, we want "bragging rights" over developmental milestones.

All those years ago when I told all the boys in my class that girls ruled and boys drooled, I was right. Go figure. Babies have been studied for years, and it's a scientific fact that girls develop quicker than boys. Of course, contrary to every female's belief, it eventually levels out and boys catch up to their female counterparts developmentally. (Of course, every random scratch in public and other caveman-like behavior would make you think differently.) So what does this mean for us moms of boys? It means we get the shaft now, but when they're in their teenage years, we get deep voices while moms of girls are dealing with periods, girl fights and bras!

It's easy to get discouraged if it seems like everyone else's baby has reached a milestone and yours is far behind. It's just as easy to get overly excited when your baby reaches a milestone well before his/her peers. (S)He'll reach one milestone months in advance and may reach the next one months late. The timing doesn't matter- every baby will reach milestones at a different pace and at this age, worrying over whether he/she is slow or extremely gifted is silly.

I'm saying all of this [from the comfort of my soapbox] to try to drive the point home- each baby is his or her own person. (S)He is perfectly content with his/her development and is happy right where he/she is. The only person in this competition is you. Don't drag your baby into it. (S)He already has too much going on in his/her body and mind.

Being a mom is hard enough without this weight we add to our shoulders. In today's Pinterest-inspired society, women are expected to be tiny with an awesome wardrobe, to have an immaculate home with a design worthy of the front cover of Better Homes & Gardens and to be able to cook elaborate meals complete with an artfully decorated cookie for dessert. Add being a super mom on top of it, and a woman's circuits are easily overloaded. I say we, as women, declare to drop the expectations we put on ourselves and our children. That means being healthy and attractive to your husband, but not killing yourself to be a size 0, using the homes we're blessed with to keep our children dry and safe and feeding our families healthy meals, even if they taste much better than they look. Most importantly, that means continuing to be a super mom, but only because that's what your child needs you to be, and not to ensure your child is superior to other kids.

No matter where your child is developmentally, every milestone is worthy of praise. His first tooth is exciting, and her first steps are worth celebrating, so even if your child is "late" to the party, it's worth shouting from the rooftops... and posting on Facebook.

Bryson: Month Seven

2013-01-29T11:20:00.000-06:00

Weight: As of 1/23/13, you weighed 20 pounds and 12 ounces. I think your weight gain is finally slowing some. You've gained an average of close to 2 pounds a month since birth!

Height: At your appointment on 1/23, you were 29 inches. You grew a whole inch in a month! We bought a new 6-9 month wardrobe and two weeks later, had to buy longer pants!

Eating Habits:
You went down to 4 bottles a day, but decided that wasn't enough, so we're up to 4.5 now. You also get applesauce, fruit or yogurt in the morning and some kind of veggie or veggie and meat puree at night. We also give you finger foods at random times. You don't really eat much of them, but are learning to get them to your mouth and to chew.

I have waited to give you eggs for awhile, but after talking to your doctor and finding out you can have them now, I was excited to let you try them. On January 21, my work and your school were closed, so we were home for the day. I decided to make you scrambled eggs and toast (okay, plain bread). You were excited when I laid the plate on your highchair, but that excitement quickly faded away at first touch.

When you touch something that's squishy, you make the same "Eww" face. You usually give most things another shot, but not eggs. You prefer to play with the "toast."

Milestones:

You have taken a few crawling steps, but aren't really interested in it. You prefer to stand up. You began to pull yourself up and stand stick straight with no rolled feet or bent knees at about 6.5 months. This picture is from the first weekend that you did it. I held you up and you grabbed the crib rails and held on for dear life. You couldn't figure out how to get down and grunted until I helped.

Now you can hold on to something, like the ottoman, your crib or our thumbs, and stand for minutes at a time and are able to figure out how to sit back down. I think you may end up walking before you crawl. I may need to invest in a helmet!

Your first tooth (bottom front left) appeared on January 8. It was barely through the gum when we dropped you off with Grandmommy on January 11. When I picked you up the next day, you had another one! You've been awesome with teething for the most part. Even with Tylenol or Motrin and teething tablets, you occasionally have wakeful nights. I think you've discovered the best medicine is mommy snuggles... in her bed.

When you spent the night with Grandmommy, Maw Maw Kimbrell started teaching you "Bye bye." You haven't mastered it yet, but will bend the tips of your fingers when we make the motion with our hands. When we start saying "Byyyye bye," you laugh like it's the funniest thing you've ever heard.

On January 20, 2013, you had your first haircut. Your hair was past your ears and halfway down your forehead. Daddy has been trying to get me to let him do it for weeks, but I resisted. Finally, when your hair went completely curly after a bath and wouldn't lay down, I decided we better take the plunge. Your daddy started the cut, but gapped it above your ears, so I took over. You were very curious about what we were doing and tried to grab everything. If a piece of hair fell that we missed, you found it and quickly pulled it to your mouth. You tried to grab the scissors multiple times and eventually had to be entertained with your hairbrush sword. When we were done, you looked like a big boy and I wanted to glue it back on!

Favorite Things:
You started blowing raspberries with your tongue a few months ago, but you've suddenly become obsessed. You'll blow and blow and crack yourself up, especially if you happen to do it in someone's face.

In the last two weeks, you have started growling. I don't know where it came from, but I think it's probably a spin-off of the noises we make when we play with you. Before Daddy blows on your belly or tickles you, and when I try to make you laugh, we make a growling noise. Your noise starts out very throaty and gets louder, then suddenly, you're laughing at yourself. Last week, your teacher greeted you upon arrival to school and you responded with a growl and a hearty laugh.

Since you came home from the hospital, Jenna has been very protective of you, but still very hesitant. As you get bigger, she is getting more comfortable with you and has to be wherever you are. She lies next to your exersaucer while you jump, and if you get down in the floor, she's right next to you. When we practice crawling, she gets next to you like she's trying to show you how to do it.

Bailey is a little more standoffish and likes to be the one to approach you. She will let you grab her, but isn't quite as patient as Jenna and walks away pretty quickly. She has to be in the same room as you most of the time, but would rather keep her distance. When she sees a chance, she will sneak in a lick and get away quickly. She won't give me enough time to get a picture of the two of you together.

You are very aware of where the dogs are and love to touch them. Jenna doesn't care of you tug on her ears or tail, and even lets you pull her hair when you "pet" her. We sit down together each day and have Bailey or Jenna sit next to you so I can guide your hand easily over their heads and backs. You're learning to pet gently, but of course, like any boy has to do to his sister, you still like to pull her hair on occasion. :)

You pucker your lips a lot. You started doing it to mimic me when I would give you kisses. Now you do it at random times. Last weekend, we were at a restaurant when we noticed you were doing it a lot. We call it your Zoolander look (it's from a movie featuring Ben Stiller). You usually follow a lip pucker by rapidly shaking your head no and laughing or giving Mommy kisses. While the first is hilarious, I prefer the second. :)

Not-So-Favorite Things:
You were diagnosed with bronchiolitis on December 26, 2012. Your symptoms are finally starting to subside, but in the last month, we have had to suction your nose and use saline drops before each feeding and sleep. You can see the bulb syringe in a drawer and start shaking your head. I think I've finally mastered the one-hand grab, but you still fight with everything you have to keep us from doing it!

Other Bryson News:
On Wednesday, January 2, your teacher in Infant 1 had to leave because she was sick. You spent the day in Infant 2 and as we were leaving, the Director asked me if it was okay for you to move up because you had a blast. I thought babies had to be crawling to move up since the crawlers typically bug the ones who don't, but they said you were Mr. Popular. When I got there to get you the first day, you were sitting on a play mat with a little boy named John Weston, playing a trumpet. They said you had a blast and played with everyone really well.

Since you sit up so well by yourself, you sit in your own big boy seat when we go out to eat. The first time you tried the highchair, you hated it. Now you realize you have some independence and are able to people watch.

You love to kick your legs back and forth sitting in a highchair and if you make contact with my leg, you keep doing it for fun. You've discovered in the last week that the new angle and height gives you access to grab my food. When we went to eat with Heather last week, I gave you my pickle to keep you entertained. It was a hit!

You had your first business meeting this month. :) We were at home for a holiday and Daddy had to work, so we went to visit him. You had some pretty serious matters to discuss. You even went on a business lunch in the break room and discussed matters with Daddy's coworkers. Your crunchy book that makes kissy noises was the first thing on the agenda.

On January 7, 2013, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide won its 15th national championship. You, Grandmama and I went to Tuscaloosa for the celebration parade and got to go inside the stadium. You were enthralled by the parade and the number of people, but when we walked in the stadium, you stared in awe. You were amazed by everything. The first time you ever touched grass was in the Alabama endzone. Remember that. :)

Bryson, you are seriously the most amazing little boy. I have lived my life knowing God was in the miracle business and you are living proof. Each day, you grow a little taller, learn something that blows my mind and capture my heart a little more. Your daddy and I are completely head over heels in love with you. We thought we were a great little family before, but on June 28, 2012, we realized we were missing a piece of the puzzle and only you could fill it. We love you so much!

Bryson: Month Six

2013-01-04T13:47:00.000-06:00

Ok, kiddo, you're going to have to slow down on this growing up thing. You change every day. Two weeks ago, you were a spitting image of me, but suddenly, you're picking up more Daddy. You seriously change every. single. day. You learn things overnight, it seems. You're becoming incredibly intelligent and people are taking notice. I think you get that from your mom. ;)

Weight: Your 6 month appointment was on December 21. You weighed 19 pounds and 12.5 ounces.

Height: You are getting so tall! You're 28 inches on the dot!

Eating Habits:

You have made your way through all the yellow and green vegetables, most of which you liked. Surprisingly, you aren't a big fan of sweets, so you don't like most fruits right off the bat. You do like applesauce a lot, though. Smart boy. We started meats two weeks ago and so far, you've liked everything. Your favorite is chicken noodle, which I don't understand. I tasted it and it's HORRIBLE. I made a chicken pot pie on Christmas Day and pureed some for you. You weren't a fan. AT ALL.

Milestones:
This month, you have mastered sitting up on your own. Like I said above, it happened overnight. On December 20, you were still wobbly, especially when
you saw your feet or played with your keys. On December 21, you were steady and sat up arrow straight.

You've been an active baby for months, but you're getting more and more hyper each day. You have been getting in exersaucers since the beginning of month 5, but now you're really getting into them. You spend the majority of your day at school in one. You got a doorway jumper at home and you LOVE it. You have jumped in it and the exersaucers at school so much that your legs are slimming down!

You've been holding your bottle for awhile now and doing it very steadily, but you understand now that you have to tilt it when you get to the end. It's particularly good timing because tax season has begun and you're able to feed yourself breakfast while I fix my hair!

You sat up in a cart all by yourself at Target and were so excited! You leaned back and tried to look at the ceiling lights and "talked" to everybody you saw. When we went to one of the baby aisles, you even tried to get something down, you little stinker.

We just switched pediatricians, so at your 6 month appointment, the new doctor wanted to watch you play for a bit to observe your development. As she was watching, you caught sight of a piece of bright orange paper at the end of the exam table. You wanted it so badly, but kept falling over while reaching for it. After about a minute of failed attempts, you discovered you could pull the white paper lining the exam table and get the orange paper to move closer to you. It took you about two minutes to pull the paper. The doctor sat staring at you in awe. She looked at your file again to make sure she was right in thinking this was a 6 month checkup. Needless to say, she was very impressed with your ingenuity.

Favorite Things:
Grandmama got you a set of keys that play music. You keep them with you everywhere you go. You've already killed the battery and you've only had them two weeks! You also got a plastic pyramid with a ton of different activities from Jerry, Gena and Trisha, and you love it! It could probably keep you occupied for hours.

Grandmommy and Mark got you a new bouncy activity center for Christmas. The first time you got in it, you liked the toys that encircle the seat. You got really excited once and jumped. I wish we would have had a camera on you when you realized the center bounced. You were elated and started jumping like a madman!

You LOVE carrots, applesauce and chicken noodle. You're actually less interested in your bottle now. You suck on frozen strawberries in your teether when you have teething pain and they're a big hit.

Since you're so stable while sitting up, bath time is even more fun! You have a ton of bath toys and you want to play with every one of them during bath time. This picture is from the first time you sat up in the tub, which coincidentally is also the last time a bath toy went in your mouth. You quickly realized soap doesn't taste good!

Not-So-Favorite Things:
I bet you can guess by now, but tummy time is still a no-go. I have started trying to get you to like it by offering your favorite toys, but even then, we may get 5 minutes of smiles before you pitch a fit.

Bananas are TERRRIBLE. With each new food, we try the jarred stuff first. If you approve, I make a batch from fresh fruits and veggies. You hated the jarred bananas. I really don't blame you though- they're almost pink! The next day, I brought home a fresh banana and put it on the high chair tray for you to feed yourself. After the first bite, you glared at me like you were already planning to send me to a home!

Other Bryson News:
This month has been another of firsts. You celebrated your first Thanksgiving and survived the crazy weekend of Christmas events. The holidays were so special with you that covering them in a month post won't suffice, so they'll have a post of their own. :)

Bryson: Month Five

2013-01-04T11:48:00.002-06:00

Weight: At your last appointment on 11/27, you weighed 19.6 pounds!

Height: You haven't been measured since your four month appointment, at which you were 27 inches long.

Eating Habits:
You started eating solids this month and you love them! You are still getting milk every 3 hours, but twice a day, get a vegetable. So far, you have tried squash, carrots, corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, avocado and sweet peas. You LOVE carrots and sweet potatoes and absolutely HATE avocado. You're a boy after your mama's heart. :)

Accomplishments:
I feel like I could write a novel on all you accomplish each month. This month, your biggest accomplishment is sitting up on your own. You're still a little wobbly when you see your feet, and can't pull yourself up to a seated position yet, but you're getting there.

You're also really trying to crawl and mommy isn't ready for it! You don't like being on your tummy still, so you don't give crawling a try for very long, but you put the time you spend on your tummy to good use. You are good at pushing your booty in the air and balancing on your elbows. You can even scoot a few inches in that position.

You are really starting to like toys now, especially if they make music. Grandmama bought you a set of keys (for Christmas and she's a sucker and you have them already) that has fob that looks like keyless entry. It has a button that starts the music and you've figured out how to push it to make it play.

You laugh ALL. THE. TIME. You've been giggling for awhile, but some things just make you belly laugh. When the puppies walk by you, you grab their tails and think it's HILARIOUS. Grandmama also plays a game with you where she pulls you across a mat by your ankles and you think that's the funnest thing.

Favorite Things:
Toys! You love to look at yourself in the mirror on your playmat and have to have your Cookie Monster wherever you go.

Bathtime is still a lot of fun. Since you're getting stronger, your spirited kicks usually end up in a soaked mommy and bathroom.

Carrots and sweet potatoes. You love them and can knock them back in minutes.

Not-So-Favorite Things:
Avocados rank at the top of the things you don't like list. Mommy and Daddy don't like avocados either, but since they're so good for you, wanted you to like them. I wish I would have taped your reaction to the first bite. Typically with the first bite of a new food, you make a face and let it fall out of your mouth. With avocado, however, you projectile spit, screamed and shuddered from head to toe, then looked at me with a death glare. I didn't even try a second bite, but don't you worry, we'll try it again in a few weeks. :)

Being on your tummy is still not fun. You're content for about 3 minutes, then pull the familiar shove your face in the blanket and snort while trying to breathe stunt.

Other Bryson News: You've had a lot of firsts this month:

Halloween: You were a ~~cute~~ ferocious little dragon. We didn't go anywhere, but did stand in the driveway and watched all the other kids trick or treating. You even scared a few neighbors. ;)

Thanksgiving: On Thanksgiving Day, you got to meet the majority of the family on my side. You loved all the attention and fought to stay awake. You finally had enough and passed out in the middle of the living room floor at Grandmama and Granddaddy Heald's house.

Iron Bowl: It's a good year to be an Alabama fan, so I'm hoping that since you were born this year, you'll pick the right side. This year has been a different one than I've ever experienced. Alabama was at the top of the polls and because of some coaching issues, Auburn was winless in the SEC. It made for a very boring Iron Bowl. You enjoyed it though, like you do with any football game.

You saw fireworks for the first time on November 16, 2012, when they lit The Summit for Christmas. A lot of babies and kids bigger than you were terrified of the loud noises. You were amazed by the pops of color. Daddy and I joke that you didn't blink for 10 minutes. We couldn't get you to look anywhere but at the show!

On November 23, you went to your first football game. Daddy's alma mater, Fayette County, played Leeds High School in the playoffs. Since Leeds is just a few miles from us, he wanted to go. It was pretty chilly outside, so we all bundled up and cheered on the Tigers. When we got there, you were enthralled by the band. You love music, so having real, live musicians there thrilled you. When the football players took the field, your eyes locked on them and you watched their every move. You hung in until the third quarter, when you got hungry, and then so sleepy you couldn't stand it.

With each day, you are becoming more fun. You are the happiest baby I have ever seen. Even if your lips aren't visible, your eyes give away that you're smiling. Your smile is the highlight of my day and I do anything necessary to see it over and over. You're a pretty incredible little guy and Mommy loves you more than you will ever know!

Bryson: Month Four

2013-01-04T10:54:00.000-06:00

You were a wiggle worm and wouldn't let me get a picture without blurred hands and feet! Stinker!

Weight: At your appointment on 10/22, you weighed 17.4 pounds, which is in the 90th percentile. Your head, which was 14 inches when you were born, is a stocky 17 3/8 inches now, which is in the 98th percentile.

Height: You are 27 inches long, which is greater than 98th percentile. I hope you're tall like Daddy.

Eating Habits:
You are getting a little bit of oatmeal in the mornings at school because you are way too interested in the food Daddy and I are eating. You have already grabbed a piece of steak on its way from my plate to my mouth, you little carnivore. Other than that, you're on milk every 3 hours.

Milestones:
You have started saying "Mama." I got your first time on video!! You don't say it often, but have said "Mamamamama" when I leave the room, especially at school, and on occasion when you cry. C'mon kid, you could at least say it when you're happy once or twice. :)

You have officially found your feet. With every diaper change, you grab your feet immediately and begin talking to (or about) them. They make you smile a lot. They're fun feets! You have made it to your mouth a time or two, but darn it, it's not a usual occurrence. It cracks me up when you do it, so I really wish you would do it more often.

You are a big boy bottle holder! You still don't hold it long, but you make it roughly halfway through. You absolutely do not want to hold it if you are just waking up or are getting ready to go to sleep. Since that's the time you're the snuggliest, Daddy and I are perfectly content with holding it for you. :)

You are sitting up better and better each day. You still need a good bit of support and if you see your feet or are holding a toy or something, you fall. You love to "stand up" and when you're sitting, you straighten your legs and lift your booty off the ground. Of course that also means if you're sitting by yourself, you topple.

You're getting more and more active. You love to swing your arms and kick your legs. You're rarely still for very long. You even travel in your sleep!

Favorite Things:
You love to sit in your high chair and watch me cook supper or clean the kitchen. We talk about what I'm doing and occasionally, you get to play in the water on your highchair table. I always sing and dance while we're working and you smile like a bandit the whole time.

You really like a few stuffed animals and a set of rubber keys. You usually end up spanking the stuffed animals with the keys.

Your sister's tail! If Jenna walks by or sits near you, you start rolling to grab her tail. I've had to stop you from being it in your mouth many times. She's a good big sister and just lets you have your way with her.

Your piano play mat. It has an arch that you lie under and can look at your good lookin' self and you kick the piano at the end. You end up playing a one note solo with your right foot most of the time, but it's beautiful music.

Bubble Guppies. It's a cute little show with little fish people. You don't watch much TV, but you do get to watch it for about 15 minutes while I wash bottles and take care of the puppies when we get home each evening. You lay in the "recliner" (a.k.a. rock 'n' play) contently and smile at each song they sing.

You "talk" a lot and frankly, you get it honestly. Neither your dad nor I are very shy around people we're comfortable with. I will say this though- when you talk, you're the center of attention. Part of that is because you're much louder than us, but we're also so captivated by every "word."

Not-So-Favorite Things:
Tummy time. I feel like a broken record, but that's really all you don't like. You have nights where you're content for 10 minutes or so. Most of the time, 1 minute is a stretch.

Other Bryson News:
You are excelling at everything. Your doctor has told us a few times that you are developing at a rapid rate and are smarter and stronger than the average baby. I mean, seriously, doc. Who didn't know that already? ;)

Bryson's Birth Story

2012-12-17T11:33:00.001-06:00

Bryson's birth story is being featured on Pregnancy & Newborn magazine's website this week. I adapted a blog post for them, so it's basically a repeat for some of you, but in case you want to check it out, click here:

Little Punkin' Pickin' Pumpkins

2012-10-23T15:05:00.001-05:00

Saturday evening, we loaded up the truck and headed to the pumpkin patch closest to our house. I've been dying to go and wanted a BIG pumpkin to use for Bryson's 4 month pictures. We drove 20 minutes, only to find the worst pumpkin patch ever. There were very few pumpkins and what little they had were tiny, almost like sugar pumpkins. I was so disappointed, but decided to make the most out of it and get some pictures anyway. That dream was short-lived because there were yellowjackets EVERYWHERE. One even flew in my diaper bag!

Sooo we just walked around and posed at some of the decorated spots.

He got a little excited after touching the pumpkin and started dancing.

Bad mom moment- I really should have put a blanket under him or pulled his pant leg down!

This picture was just too funny not to get.

God bless you, B!

Sunday, we went to Clay's mom's house for her retirement party. On the way, we passed a church that had a TON of pumpkins, so I made a mental note ~~to beg~~ to stop there. Fortunately, Clay knew how important this was to me and made no bones (Halloween pun totally intended) about stopping on our way home.

Along with finding the massive pumpkin my heart had been desiring, B finally paid attention to the pumpkins!

He didn't cooperate very well because he was sleepy, but I got pictures and that's all I wanted!

First Sick Boy Appointment

2012-10-23T11:34:00.001-05:00

The last year has been full of firsts. Most have been happy experiences that I want my memory to absorb like a sponge. The most recent first is not one of those times. It's one that I don't want to remember and wish I wouldn't have to experience again.

On Saturday, October 6, Bryson started crying roughly two hours after going to sleep. That's not normal and his cry was unlike any I had ever heard. I ran to his crib panicking because he was obviously in pain. As soon as I picked him up, I realized he had a fever. I woke Clay up and had him grab the thermometer, which revealed a temp of 101.9. We undressed him, rubbed his head down with a damp ramp rag and gave him Tylenol.

Our little wiggleworm, who usually loves lounging on the baby recliner (a.k.a. Boppy), wasn't content anywhere but Mommy's arms. I held him close and rubbed his head. Within 5 minutes, he was OUT! For 45 minutes, I rubbed his head, face and chest, and sang to him. When I checked his temperature again he was a cool 99.0, so I put him in his rock 'n' play and tried to get some rest in the event we had to go to Children's. Four hours later, another temp check revealed an even cooler 97.4, which is much closer to his usual since he got his Mommy's low core body temp.

The following day, he was back to his smiley self. All week, he acted normal, but Tuesday night, began to cough in his sleep. The cough progressed some through the week, so finally, on Friday, we went to the doctor.

He looks really sick, huh?

The whole three stinkin' hours (that's for another time) we were there, he charmed the nurses, as per usual. We were in a waiting room alone for roughly an hour and a half (ugh) and we kept a good rapport going. In fact, it got so lively that nurses came in to listen to him talk. They gathered around when they realized a 3-month-old was already saying "Mama." I'm not sure anybody believed he was sick!

Talking to Mommy and trying to eat her hair.

When the doctor came in, Bryson pulled the stethoscope off of his neck and tried to eat it too. It just looked so nummy!

While the doctor had Bryson's mouth open to look at his throat, we investigated the toofie situation since he's showing so many teething symptoms. Because most babies get lower teeth first, I hadn't thought to look at the upper jaw. He still has a thick layer of tissue on the lower teeth, but his upper jaw is FULL. No wonder I'm constantly covered in drool and everything makes its way to B-Man's mouth!

He's even started sucking his lower lip in and rubbing it on his upper gums. Hahaha

The examination revealed a pretty yucky infection in both ears, so he got an antibiotic and a shot. The shot was rocephin and my gosh, the needle was huge. It's no secret this Mommy doesn't like needles and seeing that one head toward my baby's leg broke my heart. Apparently rocephin is a painful shot- he cried and cried and cried. Nothing I did calmed him down... until baba made an appearance. It was almost suppertime anyway, so we had a baba in the doctor's office while we waited the mandatory 15 minutes after a shot. We walked out of there just as we came in- with big smiles on our faces.

He had to go for his 4 month appointment yesterday and they checked his ears. They're all clear and this little man is once again a picture of health!

I'm considering getting a bubble to keep him in so we don't have to do that again!

[Not So] Wordless Wednesday

2012-10-03T15:19:00.002-05:00

I intended to have a Wordless Wednesday post, but who am I kidding? I like to brag on my kid too much to be wordless.

I'm worried that B may be depressed...

The tiger his cousins, Will & Elizabeth, got him is nummy!

And so is ducky.

He's not biased or anything...

He's definitely a morning person.

It's a car seat dance party!!

Sisters have to stay close...

He's a talker too...

Bryson: Month Three

2012-10-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

Weight: I really have no idea. My best guess would be 16 pounds. We go back to the doctor on 10/22- I can't wait to see how much you weigh!

Height: The last time I measured, you were at 26 inches. Of course, you were a wiggle worm, so it's so hard to get an accurate measurement when you're awake. Little stinker. ;)

Eating Habits: The way to your heart truly is through your belly. You are still eating every 2.5 hours. We still occasionally give you cereal, but for the most part, you're only drinking formula.

Accomplishments: My goodness, you have done so much in the last month.

You hold your head up with no problem. Last month, you were holding your head up, but you aren't the least bit wobbly now!

You've rolled from front to back one time. You aren't a tummy time fan, so won't spend the time it takes to roll over.

You are officially sleeping through the night. Technically, 5 hours is "through the night," so you've been doing it for awhile, but now, you're sleeping from the last bottle at night (9:00-9:30) until 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning!

Because of the crib wedge, you tend to travel in your sleep. I walked in your room one morning and absolutely panicked! When I knew you were okay, I couldn't help but laugh- I used to wake up with my feet on the pillow after a long night's sleep, so you get it honestly. I think I figured out how to stop the traveling last night, or at least how to keep your head off the rails.

You are beginning to show real signs of teething. Last weekend, Daddy and I thought you might be getting sick because you had the sniffles. After further investigation, your sniffling is probably part of teething. You don't have any buds yet, so I don't think we'll have teefies for awhile.

You are trying so hard to hold your bottle. At school last week, you held it successfully for a few seconds, then dropped it on the ground. Again I say- you little stinker!

You have started mimicking our actions. You have always stuck your tongue out a good bit, but are discovering that you control it now. Last week, you were flicking your tongue in and out of your mouth, so I started copying you. You noticed and began copying my tongue movements. Every few minutes, you would squeal with delight at this new game.

You "talk" to us all the time. Your favorite words so far are "Mama," "Dada," and "Bryson." We say the word and sometimes the sounds you make are similar. Sometimes you "talk" for so long and so loud that it sounds like you're singing. Jenna is captivated by your noises and always comes running.

Favorite Things: You are beginning to take an interest in your toys. Until this month, when you've played, you occasionally touched toys, but really, only your reflection could keep your attention for long. Now, you're touching toys that are placed in front of you and are able to find your mouth with them.

Speaking of your reflection, you still love it. Who can blame you? You're gooood lookin'. In fact, you know you are because you smile every time we tell you. Aunt Nina got you started on that a few weeks ago and you haven't forgotten.

Bathtime is still one of your favorite parts of the day. As soon as your feet hit the water, your legs start moving. The tub is usually only half full by the time you get out. Last week, you even cried when I tried to get you out, so your bath ended up lasting 20 minutes instead of the usual 5-10!

Not-So-Favorite Things:

You are seriously the happiest baby I have ever seen. The only time you fuss unless you're hungry is when we put you down for tummy time. You absolutely HATE it and instead of trying to roll over or push up, you typically press your face straight down in the blanket and snort until I pick you up.

Daddy put a pair of 12 month socks on you. We're just preparing you for your football uniform later. ;)

Other Bryson News:

We are well into your first football season and so far Mommy and Daddy haven't fought over what you'll wear during the games. We originally made the agreement that you would only wear team colors when we went to Tuscaloosa or Auburn. I lost a bet with Daddy during March Madness, so you wore your Auburn onesie for the first game. I'm sorry. ;)

This year, Auburn played Clemson in the opener. Daddy was holding you and got a little too excited. You didn't like it at all, so you stayed with Mommy and watched Alabama crush Michigan. Come to think of it, you were in the room with Mommy, but hung out with Aunt Heather most of the night. I think she kinda likes you. :)

Auburn had a BYE week last week, so Daddy let me put you in Bama gear for the Ole Miss game. Muuuuch better. Just look how happy you are! That's my boy! ;)

You and your teacher, Kristal

Thirteen days before I had to go back to work, I found out your daycare was closing. I made 32 calls and you and I made 6 visits in one day. We finally found a fabulous place and you're doing great!

I went back to work on September 18. That week, I worked half days to help us transition. Last week was your first full week and you are a shining star at daycare. Your teachers brag on how well behaved you are and what a pleasure you are to have in class.

You even got a "Very Good" report card Friday.

You don't nap much during the day, so a lot of your time at day care is spent playing. When I walked in on Thursday, you were lying on a Boppy pillow playing with toys above you. A little boy named John Weston was on the pillow next to you and you were "talking" to him. Your teacher said he was upset and you had been talking to him the whole time he was crying.

One of your favorite activities is sitting up and playing with toys on the tray in front of you. Your teacher sent me this picture last week. After seeing how much you like that, I put your highchair together so you can play and supervise me washing dishes.

You spent your first night away on Sunday, September 2. Daddy and I were trying to finish up some projects to get the house on the market, so you stayed with Grandmama. She LOVED having you there and you were spoiled rotten.

A few days later, Lala kept you so I could visit day cares. She talked us into letting you stay with her that night. She took you to her sister's house so you could play with Noah, who is 2 months older than you, and his twin sisters, Hannah and Leah. Noah slept the whole time, but it looked like you had fun! You showed off and slept the whole time you were with her and slept 8 full hours with her. She didn't get much sleep, though, because she isn't used to the noises you make in your sleep.

I've told you over and over, but the moment we found out you were on your way, we loved you. Our love for you grows with each passing day. It is incredible to see how quickly you change. It's unreal that we have already had three months with you. On one hand, it's hard to believe that my baby is already 3 months old, but on the other, it's like you've been around forever because it's hard to remember life before you.

You are developing such a great personality and are becoming more fun every day. As much as I hate the thought of losing my baby, I love to see the little person you are becoming.

I love you so much and am SO proud of you.

-Mommy

Our Breastfeeding Journey

2012-09-24T08:32:00.000-05:00

This is a very personal topic and some people may wonder why I'm sharing this. After going through this journey and experiencing so many pitfalls along the way, I decided to write about my struggles. I had hoped to reread this in a few months when we had successfully overcome the obstacles. It has now become cathartic for me as I had to make the decision to stop breast feeding, a decision that broke my heart but also relieved me of so much anxiety and stress. I hope that it does the same for anyone who may be encountering the same obstacles and facing making a similar decision.

I've heard how hard breastfeeding can be, but have always known that it's something I really wanted, both for me and my children. When we learned Bryson was on his way, I began to research the ins and outs of breastfeeding and before he arrived, was nervous about it, but felt well-informed and ready to go!

A few hours after Bryson was born, I attempted to nurse for the first time. He got frustrated, but was finally able to latch once. I had no colostrum yet, so we had to give him formula. He ate one ounce. Roughly an hour and a half later, he was on his way to the NICU and wasn't allowed to eat for fear that liquid would cause him to aspirate.

The next day, a lactation consultant came to my room with a pump and taught me how to use it because they really want NICU babies to get as much breast milk as possible. I pumped every three hours and most of the time, didn't get more than a few drops. He was allowed to start eating small amounts when he was two days old and what little I produced was mixed into his formula. Finally, the day he was allowed to eat as much as he wanted, my milk started flowing. I'm telling you, the way God designed a woman's body to know the needs of her child is incredible!

I continued to pump through his stay at the hospital and was able to nurse him a few times. When we got home, I nursed during the day and pumped enough for Clay to take a shift at night.

On Monday, July 23, when he was a little over three weeks old, Bryson hit his first growth spurt. For roughly 16 hours, he cried almost incessantly. He wanted to eat 2-3 ounces every hour and slept 10 minutes at a time, if at all. It was the hardest day I've had and coincidentally, was also my first day alone with him. I had my first mommy breakdown after about eight hours. I was a ball of nerves (and tears) and had to go sit in another room and let him cry. It hurt to hear him cry, but I was exhausted, frustrated, and honestly, in terrible pain. I was still recovering from labor and had been sitting all day while I was nursing him. My stitches felt like they were all going to pop out and my breasts had been overworked... or so I thought.

As the week went on, the pain in my left breast got increasingly worse. Finally, on Saturday, I realized I had a clogged duct. I woke up in tears. The pain in my left breast was so intense that I couldn't put my arm by my side. I had a knot about the size of a golf ball. Clay fed Bryson while I got in the tub and kept a hot rag on my breast. For the remainder of the day, I pumped and kept a heating pad on my breast. I noticed that my left breast was only producing about 1/4 of its usual, which made sense since ducts were blocked. I continued to pump through the pain because I had to prevent engorgement, but also because pumping or nursing will help get rid of the problem. By Sunday, the knot had gotten a bit smaller and by Tuesday, it was gone.

Although the knot was gone, production had not returned in my left breast. If I nursed, we still had to give him formula because he was not satisfied. In a fifteen minute pumping session, my left breast was producing less than 1/2 an ounce where it usually produced two ounces.

After speaking to a lactation consultant, I began a strict regimen to regain normal production. For 5 weeks, I took 4-6 fenugreek tablets daily, guzzled lemon lime Gatorade and ate as much oatmeal as I could stand. I absolutely despise lemon lime Gatorade and oatmeal, so it was a challenge. I also had to pump or nurse every three hours religiously, which is hard to do. Even if I nursed, I had to pump afterward, which was hard to do because he still required formula to make up for my decreased production.

Two weeks after my first bout with a clogged duct, I woke to yet another painful knot in my left breast. I continued my regimen, determined to beat it.

Finally, after two more weeks, I began to see that my production was not increasing enough to keep up with his needs. That realization combined with the stress from keeping up with such a stringent and demanding regimen to increase production brought me to my knees. After weighing the pros and cons, I began packing up all breast feeding supplies and cleaning my pump. As I moved around the kitchen, putting bottles in a box, I bawled... and bawled... and bawled some more. I wanted to breast feed each of our kids and felt like a failure because my attempts had not worked.

I made the decision to pump once a day until my milk dried up. Doing it that way would prevent engorgement pain and would still give Bryson some breast milk. The day after I made the decision to stop breastfeeding, my production picked up again! I assume that because I removed the stress of trying to increase production, my body was able to relax and the milk could flow!

One week later, I leaned over Bryson's crib to change his diaper. I hit my left breast on the rail and yelped. Yet again, I had another knot. As I rocked him back to sleep, I began to cry and made the decision to give up on breast feeding, this time for good.

I informed Clay of my decision and he was very supportive. In fact, he's told me on multiple occasions that he was fine with exclusively feeding Bryson formula because he saw the toll it took on me. He also told me that the people he's told of my plight and attempt to solve it have been surprised I stuck to it for so long.

For awhile, I felt a lot of guilt for not being able to continue breastfeeding. I began to question my decision and myself as a mother- had I stopped prematurely? Did I do enough? Did I quit out of selfishness or was this really what was best for my family? Each time I began to feel defeated, I recalled his neonatalogist telling me that my milk would help Bryson fight the infection in his body faster than any antibiotic, and I saw my body kick into gear when he needed it the most. I talked to Clay about it and he assured me that this was best for all of us because the rest of the family was affected by my stress. He also reminded me that Bryson would get the proper nutrition with formula.

In looking back over our experience, I am still saddened that breastfeeding didn't work for us, but am finally over the guilt that flooded my mind. While it was the second most difficult thing I've ever done (the first being leaving Bryson at the NICU and going home), it was also just as rewarding.

In addition to having precious time cuddled up with my favorite little boy, I have seen the beauty of God's creation of a woman's body and its ability to sustain her child's life. The time I had nursing Bryson is precious to me.

While our breastfeeding journey has come to an end, I am hopeful that it will begin again with Baby S #2 and this time, will end with triumph instead of tears.

Bryson: Month Two

2012-09-01T10:49:00.001-05:00

Weight: At your appointment on August 13, you weighed 12.3 pounds, which is in the 90th percentile. I weighed you at home last week and it said 15.2, but just now, it said 13.0. I think we need a new scale. Either way, you're a ton of lead!

Height: As of 8/13/12, 23 3/8 inches.

Eating Habits: You consistently eats 4 ounces and occasionally, want a little more. We added rice cereal to your last bottle of the night a few weeks ago because you wasn't satisfied on milk alone. This week, you were insatiable again, so I mixed your cereal with mommy milk and fed it to you with a spoon hoping that since it was thicker, it would keep you full a bit longer. It was a hit!

Accomplishments: You are able to hold his head up all by yourself and are a natural at eating off a spoon. You have recently discovered his hands and suck on them a lot, especially the thumb and forefinger. I hope it's temporary so we aren't fighting that battle in a few years.

Favorite Things: Bath time is your favorite activity now. I wish I could post the videos I have- the tub is usually emptied of water and mommy is soaked by the time you get out.

You have been playing on your Little Einstein play mat, but last week I introduced one that has a piano you can kick at the end of it and you love it. Move over Beethoven!

You also loves your puppies. If they get close enough, you occasionally reach out and touch them. They love you and always want to have tummy time with you. When I get up with you at night, Jenna always comes too.

Not so Favorite Things: You still hate putting on lotion and act like it is just going to kill you.

You're getting a little better about being swaddled, but still fight against it. You prefer to have your hands by your face rather than stuck by your sides.

We are starting to work on getting you in a routine, loosely following the Baby Wise structure. Some of the things in the book are silly and don't fit your personality or preferences, but reading it has made me more conscious of the layout of your day. Until recently, you haven't wanted to nap. I am putting you in his crib 30-45 minutes after each feeding and basically forcing you to nap. You're getting better at soothing yourself to sleep and because you're sleeping, you aren't as fussy at night. You're still waking up once at night, but I'm sooo hoping some structure to your day will help you sleep through the night soon. It won't be fun to be up at 2:00 or 3:00 and have to get up at 5:00 to get ready for work.

Last month, we took our first trip to Cullman. We went to the nursing home so you could meet your great great grandmother, Maw Maw Hill.

My dad and grandmother came to the nursing home too, so we could use the opportunity to take a picture of 5 generations of the Drinkard family. The first time we ever did that was when I was little, so it was pretty cool to be able to do it with you also.

Last week, we took our first trip to Fayette for your great great aunt's 90th birthday party. She didn't hold you long, so I wasn't able to get a picture. You were so well-behaved and had fun watching your cousins play and sleeping on Nana's shoulder. I think your cousin Will likes you a little. :)

You also got to meet your Granddaddy when he came down from North Carolina. He is so proud of you! I hope that having you around will convince him to move back to Alabama. :)

Because you like the tub so much, I thought you might like to swim. Since you aren't immunized yet, I didn't want to put you in the community pool, so I got out your (ok, it was Jenna's originally) pool, let the water warm up, and put your float in. You didn't move a muscle, but it looked like you liked it. Either way, you looked cool!