4 months

Family Photo ~ May 18, 2012

So, I am just now doing Tuck's 4 month post… When he is like 12 days from turning 5 months. Thoughts running through my brain as I start downloading the oodles of pictures for this post...
* He has already grown and changed so much since May 19 and has learned a ton of new tricks so I feel like the info I'm sharing here is somewhat outdated.  BUT, since it is about what he did back when this was supposed to be written I will refrain from discussing things he has accomplished more recently. 
* On the topic of when he accomplishes things… I feel like labeling this post 4 months is misleading since it is technically all the stuff he accomplished during the 3 month old period leading up to 4 months, but whatever. 
* Lastly, May, August, and September are the 3 most ridiculously crazy months for a teacher every year and I would prefer to not have number two (when that time comes, which is NOT anytime soon) during those months as I always feel extremely busy during that time.  Plus, although a longer maternity leave would have been nice, I am LOVING that he is older and therefore much more fun when I get to be home with him this summer. God's planning was good. :) 


So without further ado, here are the things I want Tuck to know about this age... 

- You weighed 15 lbs, 1 ounce and were 25.5 inches long at your Dr. appointment on May 23, 2012

- You wear size 6 month clothes, size 2 diapers, and have outgrown most all of your socks. 

- You went to your first softball game and enjoyed it. :) 

- You learned to grab a toy hanging above you and guide it towards your mouth. 

- You love being held up in the air like Superman.

- You started sitting in your stroller without being in the car seat.  

- Your Daddy went on a business trip for a week to Boston and mommy was exhausted.  

- You sit in your Bumbo and interact with us while we eat. 

- you cut your bottom two teeth. 

- When you laugh it sounds like you are inhaling and is super cute. ;) 

- You celebrated Cousin Shelby's 16th birthday.

- You went to Uncle Brandon's college graduation and were terrified of all the noise. 

- Kirby has started bringing you socks thinking you will throw them for her.  She's blind and Sako destroys all her toys, so she plays with socks instead.  

- You make a grunting noise like you are trying to talk. 
- You are finally big enough for the exersaucer and are starting to figure it all out. 

- You are obsessed with the baby einstein ipodish toy. Most of the time it will stop a screaming fit. :) Lights and music intrigue you. 

- You also favor the Sophie teether toy. 

- You started waking up in the middle of the night for a feeding which stinks cause you used to sleep through the night since about 6 weeks old. :( We think it is because you are such a big boy, you need more to hold you over than you generally eat at one feeding. 
- You are getting more tolerant of tummy time and are holding yourself up to look around. 

- You got a package in the mail from Auntie Karen who is mommy's best friend from college.  You get to meet her in June! 

- You found your feet!  At first you weren't sure what to do with them and just grabbed them, but then you discovered you could put your toes in your mouth and constantly reach for your feet.  You do get confused however when you are in PJs and grab your feet and only get cotton pajamas to stick in your mouth. ;)

- The Dr. had us stop giving you your Prevacid for reflux to see if you outgrew it and clearly you had not.  That was a miserable week for everybody. :(  
- We had to stop swaddling you which was a hard habit to break, but we transitioned you to a sleep sack and a "lovie"to cuddle instead.  However, your Daddy doesn't like calling it a "lovie" and insists we call your lovies "Paco".  I kid you not, we debated this for a good week and Paco (rhymes with taco) it is.

- And most importantly, you learned to roll over! You don't show off this trick often for some reason, but it is exciting none the less!  Here is a video of you the first night you did it.  Don't mind all the background noise, the TV was on and Daddy was making fresh salsa in the kitchen. ;)

Time is Love

     Have yall heard the new Josh Turner song "Time is Love"?  It's amazing, of course. For starters, it is sung by this hottie, in his deep voice. Not only is he an awesome singer but the fact that he is a down home country boy and big family man makes him that much more attractive.  I'm not one of those girls who ever really had celebrity crushes, no Jonathan Taylor Thomas or Justin Timberlake for me.  But, if I had to be married to someone other than Brett, Josh Turner would definitely be my first choice. ;) 

     We've seen him at the rodeo a few times and he always puts on a fabulous show.  I heard this song on the radio one day after school last week while driving to pick Tucker up from his sitter's.  I kid you not, I started crying and then downloaded it as soon as I pulled up to Mrs. M's so I could hear it again and again. It pretty much sums up how I feel many days , except I don't have a "she" love waiting on me, rather I have a "he" son who needs his mommy and her loving.   


"Time Is Love"

I know I gotta put in the hours,
Make the money while the sunlight shines.
But anything I gotta get done,
It can get done some other time.

Time is love, gotta run,
Love to hang longer,
But I got someone who waits,
Waits for me and right now
She's where I need to be.
Time is love, gotta run.

I only get so many minutes,
Don't wanna spend 'em all on the clock.
In the time that we spent talkin',
How many kisses have I lost?

Time Is love, gotta run,
Love to hang longer,
But I got someone who waits,
Waits for me and right now
She's where I need to be,
Time is love, gotta run.

Gotta fly
Fly
Before one moment
Gets by...

Time Is love, gotta run,
Love to hang longer,
But I got someone who waits,
Waits for me and right now
She's where I need to be.

Time is love, gotta run,
Love to hang longer,
But I got someone who waits,
Waits for me and right now
She's where I need to be,
Time is love, gotta run.

Time is Love, gotta run...

    So, to all of my teacher friends and other friends who may think I have fallen off the map or don't make time to come chat with you in your rooms as often anymore, this song explains things perfectly.  Time with my baby boy is my number one priority right now.  It doesn't mean you, my job, the housework, etc. are not important to me, it's just that they can wait.  I never used to understand that frame of mind, but then I became a mommy.  I truly believe that the strong relationships will be fine and pick up right where the last visit left off.  Tucker is already 4 months old and growing up super fast.  He is where I need to be after my job at school with my students is done.  Every second I spend with him fills my heart with so much love and joy and I don't want to miss a single second if I don't have too! I am so excited to be able to be a "stay at home mom" in just a few more days, even if it is only for the summer. ;)  

     Here we are on his 4 month "birthday".  I promise to do a 4 month post soon, I just want to wait until after his Dr. appt. on Wednesday.  You can see his two bottom teeth pretty good in this picture! Don't mind his red eye though, he was exhausted but fighting a nap and had been rubbing his eyes like crazy.  So in love with him and his sweet smile. :) 

Mother's Day

My handsome and happy little man! 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." ~ Joshua 1:9

     This verse was incorporated into Sunday's church sermon and it was one of those moments when you think the pastor is speaking directly to you.  Lately my heart has been very heavy about a variety of things and try as I might I just can't seem to fully pull myself out of the funk.  Life has changed tremendously for me in the past few months, and although I wouldn't trade being a mommy for anything  in the world, I am still adjusting and figuring things out as I go.  I have a slightly perfectionistic personality and am still trying to determine the best way to keep everything running smoothly at home, school, and with my husband and son and there are a lot of days where I feel completely overwhelmed and alone.  Lately, I feel as though I have poured my heart out in prayer asking the Lord for guidance and strength and a peace in my heart and wonder if he is hearing me.  Afraid and discouraged definitely describe me right now.


      The pastor was talking about how often us Mothers throw the same "fits" that our children do, but rather than saying "Mommy, I don't WANT to do what YOU said", we say "God, I don't WANT to follow YOUR path, I want the path to go MY way".   Yep, I'm guilty of that.  It shames me to admit it, but being honest about it is the best way to change it.  So often I think that I know what is best for me and I truly don't.  I try to push things the way I want them to go, when I want them to go there, and then get bitter when God says no.  Then when the reason(s) his path and timing are so much better than what I had originally envisioned becomes clear, I realize it and do the "DUH" forehead bop and send up some major prayers of praise.  The pastor went on to say that life will ALWAYS be overwhelming, we will always have too much to do and not enough time to do it and rather than to stress and complain about it, we should accept it, embrace it, and figure out how to actually enjoy it.  I'm liking that idea and trying to determine the best way to start making it a habit.  Certainly easier said than done, but last year when focusing on some of the goals on my 25@25 list I realized that habits truly can be formed or broken if you really keep at it and stay committed.


     One goal I've stayed committed to, that has paid off big, is putting my family first.  I've always been a person that does things I am passionate about above and beyond and my classroom was no exception.  I'm always looking for new ideas, ways to teach something, and putting together independent centers where the kids can reinforce and extend learning.  Don't even ask me how much I have spent on new units from teachers pay teachers, cardstock, and ink (needed to put all the awesome stuff to use) in the past month.   Once I found out I was pregnant, I told myself that I could still be an excellent teacher without making it my life.  I had to.  I knew it would be a big transition from pouring all of my energy into my classroom and students and then coming home to relax to splitting everything between mothering and teaching, but I have done it.  Sure I feel exhausted and overwhelmed with school sometimes because I still am always thinking and creating new things, but I have absolutely no regrets with little man.  


     I focus on him when I get home and don't touch school stuff until after he goes to bed.  I don't feel like I have missed any part of his childhood and in fact feel like I have been blessed to be able to work full time in a career that God created me to do, knowing he is in fabulous hands, and then still have plenty of time to spend with him as he learns and grows.  He is growing up fast and I am so thankful that I am taking the time to really cherish every single minute.  Yep, even the not so fun cutting two bottom teeth at once moments.  My favorite thing right now is when he falls asleep on my shoulder/ chest and every time he does I stare at him and wonder how I got so lucky.  I'm also enjoying watching him learn how to grab something and guide it towards his mouth. Then again, you can not beat his laughs/ squeals of delight.  Golly, I am so in love.  Can you tell I'm a first time Mommy?

Now, let me share with you my first Mother's Day, which was fabulous btw. 

Brett made me eggs benedict.  My favorite and oh so delicious! 

Tucker swinging while we ate breakfast. 

You can't see the whole thing, but I got a "MOM" pandora charm from my boys. Love it.

Tucker also made me a card at Mrs. Melanie's!  Precious little handprint.

After church, we went to Brett's grandparents and hung out with the family.
Here is Daddy putting together Grandpa Earl's birthday gift. 

Tucker laughing and playing with his Nana.  

My family of three. 

My son and I.

He fell asleep on the car ride to my parents.  Look at those big feet! 

Checking out Grandma Mary's garden.

He is full of expressions!

We saw this momma and her babies in someone's front yard when we 
pulled into our subdivision! 

Tucker's second tooth showed up that morning.  

We spent most of the evening playing on the floor in T's nursery. 

He loves the "Superman" game. 

I also got a pretty pink pedicure to get my toes ready for summer!

I snuck in his room a little later that night just to watch him sleep.  

 I absolutely LOVE being a Mommy!

Last thing, one of the things weighing so heavily on my mind right now has to do with another mommy I work with.  Her third child was born a few weeks ago at just 24 weeks and needs as many prayers for strength and healing as he can get.  Please add sweet baby Jacob and his whole family to your prayers and pass on the "pray for" word!