Weekly Wows

Wow! It's been a long time since I've done one of these. Usually these posts highlight things that have happened over the past week...but this post includes wows from almost three weeks ago.

I guess mommyhood isn't always conducive to blogging. ;)

We were fortunate enough to go to Cowboys Stadium to see ACU play, thanks to my in-laws.
The kiddos even got to come!

The grandkids are sporting their matching ACU onesies - thanks, Mini and Zu!

Max absolutely LOVED the big screen and stared at it, mesmerized the whole time! It was pretty funny. :) We also got to enjoy breakfast with the fam on Sunday morning before church. Such a treat!

I have discovered a new recipe to add to the meal rotation: the Pear and Bacon Grilled Cheese, which was featured in this month's issue of Real Simple. I tried it for dinner last week, and it was a hit!

[image via]

Your bread of choice + currant jam + thin pear slices + bacon + cheese 

= yummy fall goodness in your mouth!

We are getting closer and closer to finishing Max's nursery! 

I ordered a bookcase and it arrived last week, so this is what his room currently looks like...

The only thing that's changed here is the addition of the hook and hanging wet bag for our cloth diapers. :)

We added a cute little wall shelf, which features the beautiful scripture board hand-painted by Clay's cousin Laura!

 Here is the bookcase, which had to get because the rack was overflowing with books. What can I say? I love to read!

I added the letters to spell Max's name above his crib. I will probably eventually hang them on the wall 

and maybe add something to the arrangement. Suggestions?

My artistic Aunt Dee has generously offered to paint a piece to hang on the (very bare) walls - probably above the changing table - and it will be something similar to this:

 

[image via]

The scooter motif was purely an accident, but we're going with it 'cause it's cute!

 It's that time again - time for Just Between Friends!

I went on Saturday morning and found quite a few goodies.

A jumperoo, a shopping cart cover, two pairs of shoes, four shirts and three pants for under $90. (I'm good - I know.) The sale ends October 2nd, so you still have time to catch a few good deals yourself!

Fall is finally here! I know I say this every year, but after the sweltering summer we had, I am ready for some relief! The weather is slowly but surely getting the idea - I can't wait for the cooler temps the weatherman has been promising for next week. :)

I'd love to hear what's wowing you!

Scarf Swap!

I think one of the best things to hit the blogosphere is "the swap." 

It's like a panty exchange minus the chain letter - and way cooler! :)

Recently I signed up to participate in the Third Annual Scarf Swap 

through Meredith Tichenor's blog, and was paired with Jennifer Lipman. 

The rules were that you purchased and sent each other scarves by September 23. So fun!

As a new mom, I don't exactly have hours between naptimes to scour my favorite stores for the perfect accessory to send my new friend. But I knew just the place to find what I was looking for, where I picked up this bright beauty to send Jennifer's way:

Thank you, Anthro! I love that its lightweight - especially since Texas 

doesn't really get cold until after Thanksgiving - and the beautiful colors. 

Jennifer, I hope you like it too!

I was so very excited when I heard a little knock at the door yesterday afternoon, 

only to open it and discover this little beauty waiting for me:

(Please ignore the unmade bed in the background.
You can focus on the super-cute infinity scarf instead!)

Thanks, Jennifer! Can't wait till next year's swap. ;)

Three Months

Time is ticking away - our little Max is three months old today!

In the past month, it was been amazing to watch changes take place with our little man...

As best I could tell from our old-fashioned bathroom scale, Max weighs about 14 pounds. And according to my measurements while he wiggled during tummy time this morning, he is 25 inches long.

He usually nurses 7 times a day, waking once at night to eat. (Still so much growing going on!)

Max wears size 2 diapers (when we use disposables) and mostly 3 month clothing. Due to the bulky cloth diapers, there are a few 3-6 month items that are in the rotation.

Our little man is now sleeping in his own room for all of his naps and at night. It hasn't been as hard of a transition as I thought it would be; after all, it's only about 20 steps to get to his crib from my side of the bed! 

Max LOVES tummy time and gets about an hour total a day. He especially likes to kick his legs and push up on his arms. A few times he has rolled over (four times to be exact), but starting cloth diapers has provided a little obstacle which we've not quite mastered yet. :)

Max has traveled to Abilene and Nashville in the past month, and did great with both trips. Granted, he wanted nothing to do with the carseat at the end of our drive home from Tennessee - but I don't blame him! During these trips he got to meet two sets of great-grandparents and LOTS of other family members.

He has become quite the socialite, smiling and cooing almost all the time. And he doesn't discriminate! If Max sees a smiling face in front of him, most likely he's going to grin right back. That includes his own face when he's looking in the mirror. :)

We've got a drooler on our hands! This little man can soak a onesie in a matter of minutes when he's sucking/ chewing on his hands. And he loves to gnaw on Mama's thumb (which we hope doesn't mean he is teething just yet!).

The new habit (?) of spitting up has also developed. I used to be able to stretch out laundry days - now I have to do a load just about every day to keep a stash of clean burp cloths and bibs!

What a joy to watch our baby boy grow! Clay and I are humbled each day that we get to share in the life of this precious little man.

Can't wait to see what the next month will bring!

Meeting the Greats

In the past few months, Max has had the opportunity to meet some of his greats - 

great-grandparents, that is. And he has loved it!

In July, he got to meet Great-grandpa Ken.

In August, he got to meet Great-grandpa Bob and Great-grandma Jean.

And in September, he got to meet Great-grandma Joyce and Great-grandpa Doug.

It is so neat to see the generations all together!

And we know he would have loved meeting Great-grandmas Ruth and Virginia, 

who are up in heaven smiling down on him!

This Weekend

Two years ago this weekend,
Clay and I were enjoying the Labor Day weekend with friends at the River House.

One year ago this weekend,
Clay and I were soaking up the scenery of Vienna, Austria. 

This weekend,
Clay, Max and I helped celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday in Nashville.

Who knows where we'll be this time next year! ;)

The Best Things in Life

Art Buchwald once said, "The best things in life aren't things." And I couldn't agree more!

Here are two of my favorite "things"...

What are some of your favorites in life?

First Things First

This week has been filled with many firsts for our little man:

First time to roll over!

(I wasn't expecting it the first time and as such was without a video camera handy!
We are working on recording this event for all posterity. :))

First time in cloth diapers

(I think Max approves!)

First time in the nursery at church

(while Mom went to a ladies Bible class)

Whew! This mama needs a break from all this growing. Our baby is getting so big so fast!

Mama Bird

My mother-in-law's sister (so my aunt-in-law?) and her daughters pitched in 

and got me a gift certificate to The Vintage Pearl as a baby shower gift several months back. 

It was such a treat to have a little something for me.

Picking a necklace was difficult because there is SO MUCH cute stuff on The Vintage Pearl! 

Ultimately I decided on this necklace, which is called "mama bird:"

I think I did good! ;)

Thanks, Sara, Amy, and Betsy!

Oreos Make Everything Better

This month's issue of Everyday Food included this mouthwatering recipe for Cookie Cupcakes with Raspberry Fluff. One look at the picture and I knew I was trying these out! 

cupcakes + Oreos + anything raspberry = heaven in your mouth!

Honestly, I'm surprised there were any cupcakes left to photograph. ;)

I think it odd that the very same day dear husband comes home from work gushing
(yes, gushing) about these Oreo-stuffed Chocolate Chip cookies a coworker made
and promptly did an internet search to find me a recipe.

At this rate, I'm never going to lose the baby weight! At least my tastebuds will be happy, right?

Five is Better Than One

So our little man has finally discovered his fingers - all five of them! 

Instead of just sucking one (or maybe two), he tries to stick his whole fist in his mouth. 

It's pretty funny to watch!

He gets frustrated when his WubbaNub falls out of his mouth during naps 

and his hand is too big - and wiggly - to be a good substitute. Hopefully those fine motor skills 

will develop quickly over the next few weeks; the big move into his room is imminent 

and this mama doesn't want to make multiple treks each night to pop the paci back in!

Just Perfect

So I'm sure that you already know about the Perfect Iced Coffee that Pioneer Woman featured on her website earlier this summer (on Max's birthday, actually!), but I am just now discovering the wonder that is cold decaf Dunkin' Donuts coffee, a generous splash of half-and-half, and some sugar over ice.

It is just the perfect way to start a sweltering Texas summer day. :)

Why, oh why couldn't I have found this recipe in May??!!!

Starting Early

I am hunting for good Christmas books.

[via]

"But Jessica, it's only August," you might say. "Why so early?"

I've got a whole lot of books to collect between now and November 31st! 

The reason? I saw this fabulous idea for a Christmas Countdown on one of the many blogs I follow:

1. Collect 25 Christmas books

2. Wrap each one in festive holiday paper

3. Let your kids open and read one each day leading up to Christmas

4. Wrap and re-use again year after year!

I absolutely LOVE to read so, of course, it didn't take much to sell me on this idea!

I've made a list of my childhood favorites, but would love some suggestions on your most beloved Christmas stories. 25 books is a lot, after all! :)

Two Months

I cannot believe that Max is two months old!

We have learned so much about our little man in the past two months:

Max has such an easygoing personality which is showing itself more and more each day.

He loves to chatter and often has babbling conversations with Mommy and Daddy. :)

He has also got an adorable grin which he freely shares - especially with the ceiling fans!

Max still loves tummy time and is perfecting the mini push-up.
His legs are getting so strong and he'll often push up to standing on Mommy or Daddy's lap.
He is also quite the kicker, which we predict will make him a fast crawler.
(Better get to babyproofing!)

Bathtime with Daddy is one of his favorite parts of the day - and mine too!
I love to hear my boys playing in the water. :)

Max has made two car trips, one to San Antonio and one to Abilene. He was SUCH a good traveler and we hope he'll continue this trend for our big road trip to Tennessee at the end of this month.

He is nursing about seven times a day, waking only once at night to feed.

While we're still a ways away from sleeping through the night (only about 4 hours at a stretch,
which the pediatrician explained hasn't happened yet because our little man is growing so fast!),
Max goes down for his naps and a bedtimes like a dream.

Max has such big, bright eyes and loves to look around, taking in all his surroundings.
He will follow Mom and Dad as they move across the room.

Our little man had his two-month checkup today - although he's not so little anymore!
Max weighed in at 12 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces and measured 24 inches long.
He was even a champ when the nurse gave him his shots.

It is amazing that God has entrusted this incredible little boy to us.
We are so lucky to be his Mommy and Daddy!

Do Everything

 I have always struggled with a desire to do everything for everyone every time. 

For the longest, I had the impression that this was something I could actually achieve. Motherhood has definitely put that into perspective for me! But sometimes that desire to emulate June Cleaver still rears its ugly head, and then I'm left feeling guilty when I don't measure up (which is constantly).

Then I heard this song by Steven Curtis Chapman on the radio this afternoon:

It was just the word of encouragement that I needed - 

that I can do everything to God's glory, even if it isn't always perfect. ;)

Looks Like

Over the past few weeks, many people have asked me who I think Max looks more like - myself or Clay. To be honest, I think it changes by the minute! Check out these pics and decide for yourself... :)

Baby Clay

 

(Thank goodness for shirts with their names on it!)

Baby Jessica

Baby Max

 

Now what do you think?