I can do this!

I don't know if it's because I was away from my precious baby for 2 days and we are in the honeymoon phase being back together now, but the past couple of days Hawkins has been the cutest baby! He is in the stage now where he laughs and smiles at me constantly. How can you not love a baby who just smiles all the time? Well...he does not smile all the time, but he really does for the majority.

I have been a bit overwhelmed at this new job called motherhood these past six months. It is a 24 hour a day job that you get paid $0 for. I love it, but it is hard. I make sure to let Robbie know this every chance I get. He can't even get "How was your day?" out of his mouth before I tell him how little Hawkins slept and how tired I am. I never seem to tell him the good stuff that happened before I tell him the bad stuff. This is getting old for both of us. I want to be happy and positive towards Robbie so he wants to come home at night! ha! Who wants to run home to a nagging wife?

Well, here we are approaching the sixth month, and I am finally feeling like I can do this. I have almost been scared to leave the house all this time because "it is too hard with a baby". That is partially true, but not really a valid excuse anymore. I have never taken Hawkins to the nursery at the YMCA b/c I am scared of germs. Not anymore! Next week I am taking him and I am finally going to lose the baby weight - hold me to it! I am tired of wearing sweatpants!

This has been a rambling post, but a Mother's brain is always rambling. This season of life is not an easy one with a young child, but there are alot of joyous moments to balance out the hard ones. I have been blessed with a healthy happy baby and I am learning to appreciate that. I am loving this age and look forward to seeing his sweet smile every morning. Hawkins, you are my whole world and bring such joy to my life!

Sitting up!

Hawkins has starting sitting up! This is the gateway to crawling and then walking, so it is a big accomplishment!

Practicing in my playpen

Getting the hang of it...

Hey Mommy!

Look Beau, I can sit up!

This is a fun way to play with my toys

Oops I fell over!

Are you watching me?

Get this arm out of the way!

I can do push ups too!

I am a big boy!

Freedom!

Robbie and Hawkins survived a whole weekend without Mommy! I knew they could do it. Of course Hawkins was an angel - he ate and slept like a champ. He didn't even know I was gone. It may or may not have to do with the 2 page typed schedule that I forced Robbie to follow :)

My weekend away was fabulous and included the following: alone time in the car on the looooong trip, visiting some great friends, attending a baby shower for Libby, 2 great dinners, A LOT of pumping, missing my sweet baby and not shopping - and did I mention pumping? I think I scared poor innocent Virginia with all of my pumping. She might never have children or breastfeed after witnessing it so many times.

My only shopping was at Babies R Us. I just had to bring Hawkins back a few surprises. You know my life has changed dramatically when that is the ONLY shopping I did the entire trip to Atlanta. I didn't even go to the mall - that's major!

I have to admit I was expecting a huge reaction from Hawkins when I walked through the door Sunday afternoon - a full 50 hours since I left him on Friday. I wanted a huge smile, some giggles, and a hug...but he just sort of looked at me funny and then looked back at Robbie like "Dad, why is Mom back?" He and Robbie totally bonded during their man weekend and he is goo goo over his Dad now. He just kept smiling at him and not looking at me! Things are back to normal now that I am the one feeding him :)

It was very nice to have some time away from Mommyhood, but I am glad to be home with my baby!

Weekend with Daddy

I am getting packed and ready to leave tomorrow for my first WHOLE weekend away from Hawkins and Robbie...I am excited and nervous at the same time! Will they survive? Will I be able to enjoy myself without thinking of Hawkins' schedule every minute? Will I be able to pump that many times in one weekend? Do I remember how to drive by myself alone in the car without singing every children's song I know?

Seriously, Robbie is hands down the best Daddy in the world, so I do not have to worry one bit. He will even bathe him, which is better than my Dad ever did. I have just turned into this OCD "follow my instructions to a T or I will kill you" type of Mother. This weekend is just what I need...friends, wine, no schedules, free time to myself to think and reflect.

Thank you Robbie for letting me get away!

Where did my baby go?

Newsflash: I do not carry Hawkins with both arms/hands anymore. I carry him on. my. hip. like a real big boy - not a little baby that can't hold his head up. That is a big deal! I am not sure when this happened, but I just realized it the other day and freaked out. There may or may not have been a tear shed.

Just in the last 2 or 3 weeks since Christmas he has changed SO much and is growing up right before my eyes. I will get into exactly what he is doing in his 6 month post (next week? what?), but he is really a different baby than he was at Christmas. He has lots of new tricks that he can't wait to show everyone!!

This is bitter sweet for me because I LOVE every new thing he does and I can't get enough of his cuteness in this new stage...but I do love my little baby and want him to stay cuddly and small! Everyone that says it gets better and better is truly right. Each day brings new laughs and makes us fall in love with Hawkins even more. He is such a good baby and rarely cries for no reason. If he cries he is either hungry or tired. I am sure all my other children will be terrors after I have been spoiled with such a happy baby :)

Katie's Christmas pics...

Sip and See for Hawkins

My Mom had a Sip and See for Hawkins back in November. I just got most of the pictures from that day, so here they are! Better late than never!

Leola loved helping dress Hawkins for the special day

Honey had beautiful flowers!

Mommy and Hawkins

Aunt Katie, Hawkins, Mommy and Honey

Leola and her famous sausage biscuits!

Hawkins with his Honey

We had so much fun! Thank you Honey for hosting this special party for Hawkins!

Christmas

Words cannot describe how special Hawkins' first Christmas was.

He is not quite old enough to know what was going on, but he knew it was different! We loaded up and headed to Honey and Big Daddy's the Wednesday before Christmas. It took a little adjusting being in a new place, but he loved it and definitely loved all the attention!

Lady and Beau loved it too.

Hawkins went to church with us on Christmas Eve for the children's service and then we went to the Jones annual Christmas Eve party. It as a late night for Hawkins, but he did great! Mommy and Daddy were so proud to show him off.

Mommy, Hawkins and Aunt Nina

Family picture

Mommy, Honey, Hawkins and Aunt Nina

The proud Grandparents

We let Hawkins open a few gifts on Christmas Eve!

Christmas morning!

Hawkins opening his presents

Yay, a book! I love books!

Now Daddy's turn

He was more interested in eating the bows than looking at his gifts.

Daddy and Hawkins on Christmas morning

Ready for Christmas lunch at Honey's house

Dee, Aunt May and Cousin Robbie came through the snow to celebrate Christmas with us!

Hey Dee!

So excited!

With Aunt Katie

(He LOVES his Sophie giraffe)

Hawkins and Mommy

A few more presents...

Sitting in my new chair from Honey and Big Daddy

Love that smile!

We had a fun relaxing time over Christmas. It is so nice to be with family and friends and truly enjoy the reason for the season.

Monday after Christmas Robbie and I went to Atlanta for our first night away from Hawkins. We missed him terribly, but it was nice to get away and have some much needed alone time. We got a chance to shop and visit with several of our friends in Atlanta (two of which just had babies!). Thank you Honey and Big Daddy for taking such great care of our baby while we were gone!

Now we are back in Thomasville adjusting to our new 5 month schedule...and working on naps...more on that in the next post!