Picnic

Blake’s work hosted an employee picnic yesterday. Blake's team has been overloaded with work due to tornadoes and the everyday hail storms east TN gets. This was a time for them to relax and receive a big thank you for the sacrifices made. One of the many qualities I admire about Blake is that he is a hard worker no matter the conditions. I appreciate so much how hard he works for our family’s foundation.

So, we packed up (with a child you really do pack up) and headed to Knoxville, TN. The picnic was at a park called The Cove. The weather was perfect. We were afraid it was going to be too hot for Camp but the weather was really nice. It was a great day and we had a lot of fun!
. Camp and me hanging out
Crazy carseat looks again
Visitors!!
Family picnic photo

Newborn Photos

Car Seat Looks

Camp always gives Blake and me cute and crazy looks when we put him in his car seat. He loves his car seat and never cries about being in it. He loves to ride in the car. One day we will be those parents driving around just to soothe our baby. Below are some faces I've captured. I've put some commentary below the pictures of what I think he might be thinking.
"Yeah, you think I enjoy this car seat and you always taking pictures of me."
"Mom this collar is a little too much, don't you think?"
"Seriously, I don't like this outfit."

Bubbles!!

As mentioned previously, Camp has graduated from the sink into the big boy plastic tub. He loves it!! He kicks, kicks, and smiles the whole time. He really enjoys bath time.

Whale of a Good Time!!

I just bought this cute onesie with whales on it at a consignment sale this past weekend. Chattanooga had its large children's consignment sale for the summer and I got a pre pass for it.I will post some purchases later. Anyways, I put his whale bib on and I've got a perfect match!!

AND YET AGAIN!!!

Camp loves his thumbs

As I mentioned in a previous post, Camp has become quite the thumb sucker!! He loves to suck his thumb. It seems he does it the most when he needs to comfort himself. When we put him down at night he sucks his thumb until he goes to sleep. When he wakes up during the night he sucks his thumb to put himself back to sleep. In fact, I can hear a very loud sucking sound through the monitor. He is at the point he does not want his pacifier. He takes it out and puts his thumb in his mouth.

I was a thumb sucker but not at such an early age. It just amazes me that he has started so early. I have to admit it is kind of cute because his thumbs are so small. He always sucks his left thumb. I wonder if that means he will be left handed.Case and point below:

12 Hours!!!

He did it!! We made it!!! Last night Camp slept from 8pm to 8am. We are now in the 12 hour sleeping club. The only question I have now is why do I feel so tired after getting 12 hours of sleep???

How did we do it? 12 hours of sleep at 11 weeks. My official goal was 12 hours of sleep by 12 weeks. It really helped that Camp was born a big baby, continues to eat a lot and weigh a lot. So, let me preface the below by stating your baby has to weigh enough in order to do what I followed below.


For the first two weeks it was survival mode!! No schedule-just making it. Beginning week 3, I followed the book Baby Wise to a tee. Now with this book moms either love it or hate it. I started Camp on a strict schedule of 2 hour feedings while breastfeeding and then I went to a 3 hour schedule with formula.

Step 2: At Camps one month appointment our doctor said he weighed enough to be sleeping 8 to 10 hours. At this point I was getting up at 1am, 3am and 5am to feed him. The doctor directed us to give Camp a bottle at night, then give him a bath and immediately put him down to bed. We started this routine with his last feeding at 10pm. Really he got to bed at 11pm. The Dr. told me to start paying attention to his cries at 1am, 3am and 5am. Were they really hunger cries or was he just going in and out of sleep? He told me if he's just going in and out of sleep just wait a bit and let him put himself back to sleep. So, I began listening and the 1am was not a hunger cry, the 3am was somewhat and the 5am was a must feed me now cry. After about two days of not going to get him at 1am he started sleeping through that time and waking up at 3am and 5am. Then I started really paying attention to the 3am time (and by this time we began feeding him more ounces too). My doctor said a good rule of thumb is whatever the baby weighs his stomach can hold half of that.


Step 3: I followed parts of a book my good friend sent me called 12 Hours of Sleep by 12 Weeks Old. I began following this book at week 8 or 9 and changed Camp to an every four hour feeding schedule. This meant that we started his feeding and bath routine at 8pm at night. By this time he weighed enough and was taking 6 to 7oz of milk. The 3am feeding immediately went away. At this point he was going to bed at 8pm and sleeping to 5am. The 5am feeding was the hardest to get rid of. I began waking at 5am and feeding him about 4 to 3ounces and putting him straight back to bed. He would then sleep to 8am. At my last doctor visit, my doctor said let him cry for a little bit and see if he will put himself back to sleep. Well, I did that and he did not go back to sleep. I followed the book by decreasing his ounces at that feeding. I began with giving him 4oz and then day by day went down to 1oz. I really listened to his cry if it was not the feed me now cry I let him put himself back to sleep. I only fed him the ounces stated above when it was obvious he was not going back to sleep. The 5am feeding went away and he was going to bed about 8am and making it to 7am or 7:30am.

Then last night he slept for 12 hours!! In fact, Blake and I got up, got ready and ate breakfast. I said should we wake him. I just was not sure how to act or what to do. We both decided No and enjoyed our morning together. When Camp did wake up he bolted out the FEED ME NOW CRY!!!!

2 and 3 Months Old!!!

Camp is almost 3 months old (he's 11 weeks). He had his 2 month appointment last week and below are his latest accomplishments:

-13.6 lbs and 25 inches
-He's in 1-2 diapers. It seems Pampers is the brand for him.
-He drinks 7oz of milk 4 times a day.
-He smiles and coos a lot more now.
-He's starting to grab onto more things.
-He loves to suck his thumb. I had no idea thumb sucking could begin so early!
-He's now taking a bath in the big boy plastic tub.
-He tries to hold his head up but it wobbles and then it goes forward.
-He had his shots and did well.
-He is three days into daycare at a local church.
-He wears 3 to 6 months clothes.
-He knows my voice and Blake's voice.
-He is sleeping 8pm to 6am or 7am!!!
-He loves to ride in the car.
-He loves his swing and soft gym but is really not interested in his bouncy seat.
-He wants to see all the action now. He's more alert and loves to watch people, Trixie, the fan and his mobile. He also really enjoys mirrors.
-He stays in the church nursery and has had two sleep over’s with my parents so Blake and me could have time to ourselves.

Church

Last Sunday was my first day back to church and Camp's debut! It felt so good to be back in church and among friends. I knew from others that after having a baby you feel so disconnected from the Lord. It is so true. It is funny to me when I remember my thoughts during pregnancy. One of my thoughts was I am going to be so connected to God, complete all these bible studies and be in deep prayer to Him. I didn't have the time my pea little brain thought I would and my prayers became short and selfish i.e. please God let him go to sleep.

So, this girl was ready for some worship! When worship is gone from my life, I feel lifeless. I hate that feeling of maneuvering through life distant from Christ. It has become more and more apparent to me, as a mother, that I have to be intentional about my relationship with Christ because before I know it the day is gone and over with.

Church means the world to me. It is my favorite place to be with Blake. I love worshiping God beside Blake. I can't wait for Camp to get involved with church as a child, youth and adult. Below are pictures of my little man dressed and ready to worship the one and only true God: