1 year ago...

1 year ago today we found out that we were pregnant with our little man. It's crazy to think back to that morning - how excited, happy, nervous, scared we were and here we are now! With an almost 4mo old! Love this little boy...

Big boy stroller

A "cold front" blew through this weekend, so we took full advantage of the cooler temps and went on 4 walks in 2 days! The first walk of the weekend was Jacob's last time in the carseat attachment on the stroller - tear! He was squirming all over the place in the carseat, so when we got home we tried out the toddler seat and he fit great! And loves it! We wound up going to lunch at Twisted Root on Saturday and Whole Foods on Sunday - both in the big boy stroller!

Here are some cute pictures. What a great weekend!

Jacob - 3 months

Age: 3 months
Height: 24.75"
Weight: 16lbs 8oz
Milestones: Jacob is holding his head really well when held and when on his tummy.  He bats at toys like crazy, and has recently started grasping them.  His hands are much more controlled now, and you can tell when he's trying really hard to grab a toy.  He started kicking up his legs, as if he wants to roll over (back to tummy), so I've been practicing that with him.  He is also spending time in his Bumbo, stregthening his trunk.  I had heard bad things regarding using the Bumbo too early (spine issues), so I've been hesitant to use it until now.  I also help him stand, which he loooves!!
Sleep: Jacob is still sleeping in his room, and still waking 2-3 times per night.  He typically gives us 3-5 hours straight at the beginning of the night, and then wakes every 2 hours.  On a positive note, he has started napping in his crib during the day!  He typically takes 4-5 30 minute naps each day.  We do the same nighttime routine, minus bath and PJs, and it seems to be working well for us.
Eating: Jacob is still eating like a champ, every 2 hours.  Although I've started working with him to stretch out this time.  Need to get him eating more, less frequently!!
Clothes size: 6 month mostly, some 3-6 month stuff
Diaper size: Size 3
Best Moment: Labor Day weekend - we went over to a family friends' house to watch the UT home opener and we took Jacob swimming for the first time!
Worst Moment: We've had a few bad nights, but its truly incredible how the mind somehow forgets the details and just leaves you tired. I'm thankful for that.
Teeth: No teeth!
Looking forward to: I'm really excited to introduce solids next month! I think it will help Jacob sleep longer, and hopefully extend his feed times. He's already showing signs of wanting solids, so I'm hopeful he'll be ready in a month.

This month has been pure joy! Jacob is really starting to blossom and grow. He's so interactive, and you can tell he really enjoys playing and learning. Josh commented the other day that he gets excited to come home now, so he can play with Jacob. So sweet seeing my boys play together. :)

Jacob's first swim

We went over to our neighbor's pool on Labor Day for an afternoon swim. Jacob wasn't sure about the cool water at first, but he calmed down quickly and ended up really enjoying himself! He, of course, didn't like the $25 raft I bought him...typical. Anyways, here's some cute pics. We'll definitely be going back!

The dog days of summer

As September arrives, I look back on the last 3 months and our first summer with our little man. Having Jacob at the beginning of the summer was really good timing, especially in a year with the Summer Olympics! We wouldn't really take a newborn outside anyways in the first 2 months, so the hot weather (and West Nile outbreak) just encouraged us to stay inside and stay cool and healthy. In the last month we've started venturing out to restaurants, run errands, go on car rides and lots of walks in the neighborhood! Jacob has also established a bit of a routine, that I am so grateful for! My A-type personality was really getting in the way of the flexibility of a newborn.

Jacob usually wakes up between 7 and 8, I release him from his double swaddle (currently using the Swaddle Buddy method, minus the actual Swaddle Buddy - I just folded a thin blanket into a strip) and he stretches his arms and legs for a few minutes. It's one of my favorites times of the day. He makes the cutest squeaky noises while he stretches reallllllly big and gives me huge gummy smiles. I love it! Then I change his diaper (it's usually ~2lbs because we don't change it overnight), hug and kiss him a few hundred times and then take him out into the living room, give him his medicine and nurse him. He usually stays awake for 30 minutes and then I put him back down in his crib for his morning nap. This is his longest nap that usually lasts 45 mins to an hour. Then he gets up, I nurse him, change his diaper, and we play. About 45 mins before he's due for his next feed (he's still nursing every 2 hours), he starts giving his sleep cues, so I pick him up and take him into his room, swaddle him, put the noise machine on, close the curtains and rock him to sleep. He typically naps for 30 minutes. Then he's up again and we just repeat the eat, play, nap cycle. We usually get through 5 cycles during the day. Then after 5ish (or his 5th nap), we try to keep him from napping so he'll {hopefully} sleep better at night.

We start bath time at 8, which includes California Baby Calming Body Wash. Jacob really loves bath time, and I love the smell of their calming body wash. Then I slather his booty in Triple Paste, put a fresh diaper on him, put him in footed PJs, give him his medicine, nurse him and then Josh rocks him to sleep while I take my daily shower. He's usually down by 9:15.

J is currently still waking 3 times each night to nurse. I can usually get 3-5 straight hours at the beginning, and then he's up every 2 hours until 7 or 8, when we start our day again.

Being able to anticipate what's next is really great for me (and I would imagine him too). Now that he's napping and sleeping in his room, I'm able to get chores done around the house during the day, and Josh and I have "us" time after we put him to bed when we drink a glass of wine and watch a little tv.

Things are definitely getting easier, but I still struggle daily. I'm trying to establish my new identity as a SAHM and figure this whole thing out. I'm still terrified to go anywhere by myself, so we usually just stay at home during the day. Occasionally we'll meet Josh for lunch, or my sister will come over and run a quick errand with us. I need to get more confident with this.

Weekends are the best. Josh is here to help out, I get to take naps, and we try to go out a few times with Jacob.

I'm really looking forward to the fall, and cooler weather. That will help us get out more during the day, and give us more to do.

Overall I'm super happy these days, and really looking forward to Jacob getting older and continuing to grow and learn. Love that little guy!

Here are some fun pictures from the past month...

everyone checking each other out

working out on his playmat

sweet boy on an evening walk

Jacob's first Texas game

morning cuddles