Mom's on Call = LIFESAVER

http://www.momsoncall.com/

I had to do a separate post on this awesome company/service that is based out of Atlanta. Two nurses in Thomasville are trained by them and offer their services locally. One of the women was my nurse one night in the hospital and I loved her. After Hawkins was having his crying fits and we were at our wits end I heard that she would come to my house and teach us about basic newborn care, schedules, feeding, sleeping, etc. I signed up immediately and it was a life changing evening!

She came over for about 2 hours and had typed out a notebook with Hawkins' schedule and lots and lots of tips for getting him to fall asleep on his own. We also got a book from Mom's on Call and a special swaddle blanket. We tried it that night, and he is a different baby! We are following the schedule to a T! He is still fussy sometimes when he goes down to sleep, but is learning to fall asleep on his own - which is AMAZING!

I never thought he needed to sleep so much, but he is so much more alert and peaceful when he is awake now. If you are a new parent and need help with scheduling, feeding or sleeping or even just basic newborn care - call Moms on Call! The nurse's name in Thomasville is Jessica White.

Happy One Month Birthday, Hawkins!!

I cannot believe it has been one month since Hawkins was born! The time has flown by. We have been busy getting used to life with a newborn, and Hawkins has been busy eating, sleeping, growing and going through diapers faster than I ever thought possible. He weighs close to 9 lbs now!

This deserves its own post, but I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how Hawkins cried all the time, and we were growing very frustrated. Well, a miracle occured and things are going much better. He is sleeping much more and is more alert and peaceful when he is awake. This is truly a blessing and I will write more in detail later.

Hawkins' Honey is back with us in Thomasville for a couple of days and we played dress up and had a one month photo shoot. Here is our sweet boy!

Mommyhood...

Finally a post with words and not just pictures! I have barely had time to take a shower or sleep, so this blog has taken a back seat.

We are adjusting to life with a newborn here in our household. We had the BEST first week with Hawkins and he barely even cried at all...but then came the second week and we are getting to know what real newborns are like. He has started to get fussy and I am not sure why...gas, sleepy, ? who knows. His "fussy" time is in the late evenings around dinnertime and continues off and on until around midnight. It has been tough because I cannot stand to hear my son cry. It is this red faced screaming cry that is inconsolable at times. We are learning more each day how to comfort him and that makes it easier when Hawkins has these crying spells.

He also likes to eat ALOT. I am working on the every 3 hours routine, but he can barely make it past 2 hours. I have to remember that he is only 2 weeks old and not a machine! BabyWise makes it seem so easy...

I didn't understand mothers before that said they didn't have time to take a shower or brush their teeth, but now I understand. I will never make fun of those mothers again. There is a reason that new mothers don't leave the house for several weeks after they give birth...because they are not showered! My face has not seen makeup in awhile...

My Mom was here for the first week and half and we are super sad that she is gone now. Let's just say I cried the entire day she left...literally the entire day. Poor Robbie has to deal with a crying baby and a crying Mommy! I know I will survive without my Mom, but I do not want to! It's more fun when she is here!

I had Daddy babysit this morning and I made a big outing to Publix and Wal-mart - it was the most thrilling things to happen to me all week! Just kidding, but seriously I have been looking forward to this outing! I took my sweet time driving and browsing and enjoyed the alone time.

I do not want the weekend to end. Robbie is the BEST Dad and has let me sleep and take bubble baths all weekend. I could not make it through this season without his love and support.

Thank you all for your phone calls, emails, and prayers!!! I cannot wait for all of you to meet Hawkins!

For more pictures visit our shutterfly website:
http://theraybonfamily.shutterfly.com/

More nursery pics!

Here are more pictures of Hawkins' nursery. His Aunt Katie painted the initialed canvas and the blue hunting dogs - I love them!

Love Stewart & James!

More hospital pictures...

I am buried under hundreds and hundreds of pictures of our sweet baby boy! I have finally downloaded all of them and am still trying to organize them. Here are a few more pictures of Hawkins birth weekend:

One last pregnancy picture:

Grandparents calling and texting after Hawkins was born!

Hawkins in the nursery

Robbie made these cigar bands

Mommy holding Hawkins for the first time

So happy

Our new family

Daddy is so proud

Katie made this cute sign!

Mommy and Hawkins

Vicki and Hawkins

The Raybons with Hawkins

Saturday - feeling better!

Aunt Virginia finally gets to meet him!

Uncle Crisp

Hawkins is HERE!

Robert "Hawkins" Raybon arrived at 8:19AM Friday July 30th!!!

He weighed 7lbs 3oz and was 20 inches long.

Sweet Baby Hawkins

Mommy and Hawkins are doing great!

The proud grandmother

Uncle Crisp and Aunt Katie!

The next day...a little less swollen and feeling a little better!

Uncle Crisp and Aunt Virginia

Billie, Frances, Hawkins and Virginia

The Raybon family of THREE!

We are back at home now and adjusting to life with a newborn. Hawkins is the sweetest baby, and we are having the best time with him.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers - we are so blessed!