Evan's 7th Month

The biggest change this month is what Evan eats and drinks. I'm no longer nursing, which was a difficult decision, but I'm so happy with the decision. We've depleted our freezer stash and Evan is on formula and solid foods now. I'm using Simply Right Complete Formula (Sam's Club brand) and am very happy with it. It's comparable to Enfamil Infant Formula and is $9 cheaper per case. In addition, Evan is now eating purees of solid foods. He has had butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet peas, green beans, bananas, and apples. Evans is a great eater, but definitely does not enjoy green beans. He will eat them when they are mixed with other foods though.

I've been making all of Evan's food using recipes and how-tos from Momtastic's Wholesome Baby Food. I started by making my purees in the blender and freezing in ice trays. This worked great, but then I started making batches of food that were more than the ice trays I had, so I now use the Infantino Fresh Squeezed Squeeze Station. I love the pouches and the fact that I don't have little containers to wash each day with the bottles.

Weight: 15 lbs 6 oz

Height: 26.25 in

Size: 3-6 Month Clothes, Size 2 Diapers

Eating: 6 oz bottle every four hours

4 oz solid food 3x per day

Sleeping: on his tummy

usually through the night

Other: 

2nd tooth came in

sitting up unassisted

eats like a champ

First Christmas

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 | Month 6

Evan's 6th Month

Happy half birthday to my little man! We made it 6 months! Yay!

This month I became overly worried about Evan's weight because he didn't seem to be gaining much. I think this is why I started rice cereal this month...which was earlier than I planned. I guess I just wanted to get him used to taking food from a spoon so we could jump right into veggies. So, I then started with butternut squash on the day he turned 6 months and Evan loves it.

We finished up our Doc Band treatment as well and Evan's head is shaping up nicely. It was a fast six weeks and I'm excited that we don't have to deal with it while we're traveling for the holidays. As soon as we got rid of the Doc Band, we also got rid of the swaddle. I would have removed the swaddle earlier, but because of the chances of overheating we tried to keep his feet free of socks. I did the swaddle for him to have some coverage at night time.  I'm super excited that Evan is sleeping on his tummy and without a swaddle.

Speaking of sleep, we had a week with no sleep. At the time, I had no idea what was going on. As I look back on the timing, I imagine it was because his first tooth was cutting through.

Weight: 14 lbs 13 oz

Height: 26 in

Size: 0-3 Month Clothes, Size 2 Diapers

Eating: 6 oz bottles every three hours

supplementing with formula

weening from nursing

rice cereal

Sleeping: on his tummy (Yay!)

through the night more often than not

Other:

first tooth came in

reaches for and holds bottle

reaches for Mom & Dad

First Thanksgiving

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5

Evan's 5th Month

Do you see a big difference in this month's picture? Wait for it....yep! He got a hair cut. :(

The pictures above give me all kids of anxiety. I so did not want to cut his hair, but we had to in order to get accurate measurements for his DOC band. Now that it's done and over with and his hair is growing back and his head is shaping up...it wasn't so bad. And shampooing/detangling hair is much easier.

Evan is adjusting to the DOC band well and we are seeing results.

Weight: 13 lbs

Height: forgot to measure...

Size: 0-3 Month Clothes, Size 1 Diapers

Eating: 6 oz bottles every three hours

Nursing when at home

Sleeping: on his back, swaddled with arms out out

Wakes once or twice a night

Other:

rolls over occasionally

found his toes and chews on them

can take out and put in pacifier

trying to sit up on his own

loves his bouncer

recognizes Mom & Dad

laughs

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Month 4

Evan's 4th Month

Another month has passed! Wow! I can't believe how fast time is flying. I feel like I'm saying that every month.

I'm not exactly sure, but we think Evan started teething this month. We've now seen lots of drool and the bib seems like a permanent accessory. He's also chewing on everything, but mostly his fingers. We had a week where Evan was waking up 4-5 times a night which is definitely not his norm. We're used to him sleeping through the night or waking on once. Needless to say, that was a rough week. But now, things are back to normal, so that's why I say we "think" he started teething.

We also found out at Evan's 4-month check up that he has a moderate case of plagiocephaly. We are currently looking into treating his flat spot on the back of his head with the DOC band. While Evan's case is moderate and would really only be cosmetic at this point, we are wanting to treat it now while his skull is super pliable. I don't know that any parent wants to see their child in a helmet for months, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not the end of the world and it's only temporary; and my baby is healthy, so I'm thankful.

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ~James 4:14 (ESV)

Weight: 12 lbs 6.5 oz

Height: 24.5 inches

Size: 0-3 Month Clothes, Size 1 Diapers

Eating: 6oz bottles every 4 hours
Nursing in the morning, at night, and all day on weekends

Sleeping: swaddled on his back
Sleeps through the night 2-3 days a week 

Other:

started teething ?maybe?

reaching for objects
can hold his bottle
sucks and chews his thumb
can take pacifier out of his mouth
can put Wubbanub pacifier in his mouth

holding head up for extended periods of time

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3

Evan's 3rd Month

Three months have passed and Evan is doing great. We've battled a stuffy nose here and there, but nothing major. Putting a humidifier in his room has helped clear that right up. Evan is talking to us much more. His sweet coos just melt my heart. Evan's dad has started taking care of bath time, which has helped with his bonding time and freed up some time for me to get other things done...because there's always something to be done.

The biggest change this month is that Evan started daycare. I must say that I am extremely happy with the daycare we chose thus far. The teachers seem to be taking good care of my baby. They send me pictures and are recording all his milestones. His care sheet is always complete and they are sticking to my schedule as close as possible.

Weight: 13lbs 6oz

Height:  24 in
Size: still wearing some NB clothes
wearing some 0-3 month clothes (finally)
size 1 diapers

Eating: about every 3 hours, nursing and taking a bottle
now taking 5oz in bottles instead of 4oz

Sleeping: in the crib, wakes up once at night
sleeping through the night about 2-3 nights a week

Other:

returns smiles intentionally
doesn't scream in his car seat as much
falls asleep sometimes without being rocked
putting a few fingers in his mouth instead of his entire fist

Evan Talks with Daddy from Kim on Vimeo.

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1 | Month 2

Evan's 2nd Month

Month 2, we ventured out of the house a bit. We went to several classes/group meetings at the hospital where I gave birth. Some of those included breastfeeding support, new moms group, and baby yoga. I also was introduced to baby wearing and love my Moby wrap. It's the only way we survive going out since Evan screams bloody murder int he car seat. It's also a way to get things done with hands free around the house when Evan wants to be held (which seems like all the time).

We introduced a bottle as we prepare for me to go back to work and Evan is drinking from a bottle like a champ. It almost made me sad that we lost out on something only I could do for what seems like so long. We're still nursing and getting our cuddle time though.

One of the hardest parts of month two has been watching all the changes in his skin. There's been lots of acne and dry skin, but it seems to be clearing up.

Weight: 9lbs 15oz

Height: 22.25 in
Size: still wearing NB clothes
moved up to size 1 diapers

Eating: about every 3 hours, nursing and taking a bottle

Sleeping: in the crib, wakes up once at night

Other:

takes a pacifier
smiles at everyone

talking up a storm with his sweet coos

found his hands and is putting them in his mouth

enjoys baby yoga and Gymboree

loves to play high five

Evan Plays High Five! from Kim on Vimeo.

Did you miss the previous months? See them here!

Month 1

Evan's 1st Month

It seems as though every time I put my son down, there is always something to do: laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, pumping, lesson planning...always! Well, I decided that thing to do this morning is a blog post. Those chores will still be there when I finish.

I'm happy to report that I survived the first two months as a mommy. And Evan has survived his first two months of life. Success!

As a teacher, I always look forward to June, July, and August. This summer was spent very differently than my normal teacher summer, though. I got a bit stir crazy being in the house with a newborn, but when it came time to go back to work, all I wanted was to be in the house with my sweet boy.

Typing this almost three months late, it's really hard to remember what happened during month one. My main task was to make sure Evan was fed, and breastfeeding was hard. It has definitely gotten easier though...with the help of friends, a breastfeeding support group, and time.

Our first month was spent pretty much in the house all day every day. It was a time of learning and sometimes frustration, but most of all a building of love like no other. We had lots of visitors and I am so thankful for the wonderful people we have in our lives.

Weight: 8lbs 9oz

Height: 20.75 in

Eating: about every 3 hours, latching on well

Sleeping: great when cuddled in the arms of mom or dad
Only sleeps about 30 min at a time when in the crib.
The rock and play sleeper and sleep sheep have been
amazing for getting longer stretches of sleep.

Other:

rolls to his side when sleeping

hates the car seat

starting to smile

Introducing Evan {Birth Story}

I've been MIA, but with good reason. Becoming a mom is a definitely a task.

Our little boy was due on June 8th, but decided not to come then. With my husband and my doctor, we decided to be induced on Thursday, June 12th. I was scheduled to go in the night before for Cervidil to ripen the cervix and then labor would be induced the next morning with Pitocin. This was such a hard decision because I somewhat felt seflish for choosing my son's birth day instead of letting him come in his own time. I cried and prayed and was still a bit uneasy after we made the decision.

My parents went ahead and drove in from Louisiana and were here in time to accompany us to the hospital. I was so happy to have them here. They are amazing parents and the only thing better is that they get to be grandparents to my son.

The check-in process at the hospital was so smooth and everyone I was cared for by was amazing. We got settled in about 7:30 and started the Cervidil by 8:30. When I got to the hospital I was still only 1 cm dilated and about 50% effaced.

Me, my OB, and my night nurse.

Painful contractions started around 2 am and my water broke a little after 2:30 am. The nurse asked if I wanted something to take the edge off. I asked for the epidural. At 3 am, I was finally dilated enough to get the epidural and got that on board about 3:30 am. After about 30 minutes, my legs were heavy, but I could feel nothing. I hoped to get some sleep, but that didn't happen. In the morning, I was dilated to 6 cm and we began Pitocin to get stronger contractions. (Side Note: Every time they checked my cervix, they kept telling us that our baby had so much hair. My husband was so nervous that baby would come out and be a girl instead of a boy.) I was fully dilated when checked at 10 am. 'm not sure when I started pushing, but it took two contractions and a total of six pushes to meet my baby boy at 11:01 am.

Evan was born June 12, 2014 @ 11:01 am

6 pounds 4 ounces & 19 inches

The past six weeks have been tiring, invigorating, trying, interesting, stressful, blissful, a learning experience, a blessing. I am so in love with Evan and I have a whole new love for my hubby because of the way I see that he loves our son.

I appreciate your prayers, well wishes, and words of encouragement. I am so grateful for the community we have at home and online.

Hopefully I'll get back to blogging, but I'm not making any promises. Being a mommy consumes my day and I'm okay with that!

We're Full Term! {39 Week Bumpdate}

Tomorrow (well, actually, today) is the last day of school, and I've made it all the way to the end! God's timing is so perfect. It's 4:30 AM and I haven't been able to sleep since about 2:00...ugh! (#pregnancyproblems) I figured this would be a great time to share my final "bumpdate!"

Did you know that full term is now 39 - 41 weeks? I always thought it was 36 or 37 weeks, but the definition of full term changed about 2 years ago. Anywho....I'm glad to know that my little boy is full term!

Due Date: This Sunday, June 8th...like 3 days away. As of right now, baby is measuring right on time and has dropped, but still no dilation or effacement. Doctor thinks I'll be going past my due date.

Gender: Baby Howard is a boy! Read all about the gender reveal here. Baby Howard finally has a name too...you can read how we arrived at his name here.

Food Cravings/Aversions: I definitely crave sweets. One of my favorites is shaved ice from Bahama Bucks! Pineapple is my favorite flavor thus far. Thanks, Brittany, for introducing me to the best shaved ice ever! It's quite the oxymoron, but hubby and I often walk around a nearby park with our Bahama Bucks. I guess my pregnant belly would reveal that we're not trying to exercise with snow cones in hand!

Weight Gain: As of today, the number on the scale has increased a total of 27 pounds. Normally, weight gain is not something that I get happy about, but I am very pleased with this number!

Clothes: While I still wear some of my non-maternity clothes, I can't stand to wear anything restricting right now. I lean towards skirts, maxi dresses, and leggings. I haven't worn shoes in about three weeks. I'll spare you a picture of my swollen elephant feet/ankles.

Purchases: I feel like I've bought so much, there's too much to even try to name. I've had three baby showers, so friends and family have helped out a lot when it comes to preparing for our little one. Some of my favorite purchases are:

Dr. Seuss Prints by Sunshine Prints..I was motivated to emphasize reading somewhere in the nursery after I was gifted great books by my co-workers. I was so pleased with the prints that were customized to match Evan's nursery.

Project Life Album by Becky Higgins...I love scrapbooking, but rarely make the time to do it. I heard about Project Life and the simplicity of building a scrapbook without cutting and gluing and I was sold. As I complete some of the pages of Evan's baby book, I'll be sure to share. Here is a little video that explains the process:

Baby Prep: We've attended Breastfeeding, Infant CPR, Baby Care Basics, and Prepared Childbirth classes. Although, hubby didn't necessarily want to attend, he was a great partner and learned lots along with me.

I also finally packed a hospital bag.

And hubby installed the car seat!

Researching: I'm back on the cloth diaper kick. At my 28 week bumpdate, I explained that my reality is that both I and my husband are too lazy to take on the extra loads of laundry. Well, after not receiving many diapers at baby showers, I thought about the best use of our money when it comes to diapers and reusable just makes sense to me. I'll be doing more laundry anyway, so why not add in the diapers?! I plan to use disposable for the first 4 - 6 weeks while I'm operating out of exhaustion and learning to be a mom. I'll then prep and use 6 - 8 of the cloth diapers I've bought and see what I think and if we can handle it. (My current stash of cloth diapers is up to 28.) I figure if I find it to be too much for me, I can return the others.

In addition, I've been reading up on sleep training and breastfeeding.

Best Moments: It has been so much fun to celebrate with friends and family at baby showers. I am truly blessed to have such amazing people in my life!

Also, I have had the best quiet times with the Lord throughout this pregnancy. This is the most consistent I've ever been in spending time with Him and I am praying that this is only the start of our consistent sweet times together. The devotional I've been using that has aided in this consistency is Waiting in Wonder: Growing in Faith While You're Expecting by Catherine Claire Larson.

This book has been such a blessing as I've been going through my first pregnancy. The devotionals are so timely, linking baby's development to great prayer ideas and scripture. Not only do the devotionals focus on baby, but on mom, her faith, and important relationships like significant other, grandparents, and in-laws. This book has been instrumental in helping to prepare my heart and mind for the addition of our little boy. Now, I just need the author to write a devotional for new moms!

Looking Forward to: Meeting Baby Evan! I can't wait to see him, hold him, and love on him!

Baby Boy has a Name...

So, the hubby and I have gone back and forth about a name for this baby for a while. Some of the names on the list have been Austin, Evan, Noah, and Preston...just to name a few. Of course, hubby would have loved a Junior, but I wasn't feeling it. While I've been okay with baby not having a name yet, hubby has wanted to get this done.

Let me warn you now...the remainder of this post may not be politically correct, but it's just how it happened and I don't know another way to say it. If you're easily offended, stop reading now.

Last week, I decided to sit in the nursery for some inspiration. I had been sitting for about 30 minutes, pining over books and web searches for names before the hubby decides to come in and check if I'm okay. He asks what I'm doing and I told him I was looking for name inspiration. His response is "Noah Evan Howard." My response was "Evan Deshan Howard." Evan has been at the top of my list for a while...but hubby wasn't feeling it because he had never met a black person named Evan. I keep telling him that name/race association is totally shaped by your past experiences. And I want our son to have a name that does not have any preconceived notions. (As my friend Ashley says, a resume-ready name.) Anyway, hubby huffs and leaves the room, going back to watch basketball. 

Five minutes later, I hear a loud "Okay."

I respond "Okay...what?"

Hubby yells "Evan Deshan."

I'm in shock. This name option has been on our list for over two months and all of a sudden, he is okay with it...I'm confused. So, I go to the living room and ask what changed his mind. 

This is who changed his mind...

After a starting player gets ejected from the game, then enters from the bench, Evan Turner, #12 shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers. Hubby sees a black guy named Evan and decides the name is now an option. 

So Baby Boy has a name...Evan Deshan Howard. 

Evan means "God is gracious" and Deshan is hubby's middle name (my compromise since we don't have a junior).

Here's a peek at my first personalized DIY project for the Evan's nursery.