Happy Friday!

Hello friends.

Happy Friday. It has been an inspiring week, filled with household changes and creativity. Nick even submitted some of his artwork into a silent auction. I am very excited about this and hope that it will do well. As for me, I am just playing around with the camera and the baby! He is such a happy little baby and I wish that I had a camera attached to my head at all times. Everything he does, I wish I could take a picture and hold it in my heart forever. Today was super sweet because he is starting to like bath time. He is really into the water and the way it comes out of the faucet and the sound it makes. It must look really cool to him! He is going to love the water. I just know it. I know I do, and I hope he finds the sense of calm that I get to hear it or smell it or see it. Anyhoo, I have some sweet pics of him napping from the other day. I have noticed in his photographs he has this glow around him. I love them =)

((ps. we received mucho love in the mail recently from familia. we love and appreciate every bit of it! Thank you and we love you!!))

I have more pics then I thought! Enjoy!!

same blooms

handsome

with daddy

gettin big!

hangin at truman annex

nicks art. one of my faves

diaper butt

Newborn Newsies

1. portable bassinet: this thing is a lifesaver. It allows William to sleep anywhere. Not to mention that he loves the coziness of it. He always lays down and snuggles up when we put him in. They have some cute ones on Target (make sure it has wheels!) for about a hundred bucks. Definitely worth it for the first couple of months when you always want him close by (I don't know if this will ever change for me!).  =)

2. video monitor: also available on Target. It is a little pricey at $179, but I think its worth the investment. It allows you to see baby at all times, talk to him through a microphone (which I had a friend who said this only made baby mad to hear momma through the speaker and not to see her..) and play lullabies. We really only use it for the video. We have been letting him nap in there since the beginning and it's nice to know I can see him when he is doing these big boy things!

3. sleep sheep: I had someone just call this "all that is good in the world." =) definitely a comfort tool for baby. The rain setting reminds of what it may have sounded like in the womb. Not to mention it is super soft and sweet.

4. The Bjorn: or any baby carrier. William is still getting used to it.. Sometimes he isn't sure what to think, but I think he likes it. It is a great option to have when you want baby close by but still want to use your hands. Probably a great option for dad too. Nick likes to use ours quite a bit.

5.   The Aden and Anais swaddle blankets: they are so soft and light, perfect for the Key West weather. They seem to get softer with each wash. I also love the sweet little patterns on them.

6. Aubrey Natural baby & kids bath soap: I am all about anything natural, and especially when it comes to William. We bathe him about twice a week and I like knowing that I'm not using any harsh chemicals on his baby skin. We got this at our local health food store and I love it. We also have all natural powder for his little baby butt. They both smell so good too.

7. The rubber paci's are what he started using in the hospital and what he has the easiest time keeping in his mouth. I was worried about nipple confusion with using a paci right at the beginning since we are breast feeding, but we were fine. It really comes in handy to help calm him down and put him to sleep. (I will let you know if my feelings on this change when it's time to take it away.. eeek). I would say to get about ten of these bad boys.. they get lost easily and they are bouncy like a ball, so they often end up in unexpected places.

8. The lamby seat: This was super helpful when we first got home from the hospital. It has a setting for vibration which put William right to sleep. It's like a papasan chair for babies. It's super soft and baby sinks right down in it. It's nice when you need to set him somewhere close by to shower or do the dishes.

9. Sassy cup: I use this thing a lot for his baths and I'm sure we will continue to use it. It's one of those things that you don't think that you will need, but are so grateful to have. It helps me to rinse him in his baths and wash his hair. I think he will like having it as a bath toy when he gets older and its soft grip makes it fun.

So, that's about it! There are a few other things that I recommend getting like a nursing cover to feed when you're in public, a travel size wipes holder for your diaper bag, a car seat insert for when they first come home from the hospital (William used his for about a month after), blankets to use when you want him to be on the ground (when your home, outside, or at the beach). Also, don't ask for all the same size diapers, they go through the newborns and move to the 1's before you know it! Nipple pads. Have fun with those things..

That's about all I can think of for now.. I have racked my brain trying to remember every little thing that we have used that made our transition easier. I'm sure everyone's experience will be different. But, I do think that these items are some key ingredients to making life easier for you and baby in those first couple of months when you just aren't quite sure what to do! (I promise it does start to flow after some time!). You can't hear it enough... do what works for you and your family (mom, dad, and baby). And learn from dad! They have a great, fresh perspective on the whole thing which is helpful when mom feels very attached and overwhelmed! Hope some of this helps =)

Summer Lovin'

Hello hello!

William is almost two months old! We received an awesome gift yesterday from Nick's mom, a photo book of William's life so far. It is so beautiful and emotional! I really love it. He is such a special, happy, little boy. I just love him with all of my heart. Everything is going great... It is very hot in our neck of the woods (or should I say neck of the beach!!haha). We spend most of our time indoors, generally doing the same thing every day. Some days we spice things up with an evening walk. We spend a lot of time looking at each other and smiling =) William LOVES to stand up and be stretched out. He tries very hard to do this and really concentrates! He gets such a funny look on his little face. He loves to hear the sound of my voice, which melts my heart. I was thinking about how connected we are and how the sound of my voice is something he has known ever since he has been in existence. This makes me think about how much I love my mom too =)

Nick has been busy making art. Right now, he is working on some graphic design stuff. He is working with a program on the computer where he creates bright colored pictures of sea life. He has a turtle (which is my favorite) and a hammerhead shark and some different kinds of fish. They are super cool and a lot of people are into them!

Other than that, we are just living one day at a time with walks and swims and good, yummy food. Can't complain about a thing. Love to all from me and William.

surprise breakfast from my sweetheart.. I'm hungry just looking at it!

watch doggy

bed head

mother & son

grandma

William getting kisses from his uncle

surprise onesie for Nick on Father's Day. It said "Happy 1st Fathers Day".

love the turtle! the colors are even brighter in person. 

Nick's art. All done on the computer and printed off of our printer onto photo paper!

bundle of joy

my rose blooms!

From a special little boy =)

Lovely, cozy, little life.

Hello friends!

I have been thinking about my blog a lot lately. I have been putting off writing on here because honestly, these days, I just can't find the words to express how I am feeling. It is all SO beyond words. But, I really want to try because I know how much I enjoy looking at the posts I have done. I think it is a great way to document this whole experience. And I love to see the blog evolve with me! It is definitely a form of therapy for me. And I love to write and take photos, so it's a great place to combine those two joys!

Anyways, William Joseph (as I have taken to calling him lately, I know, I am REALLY bad with my full name thing.. I just LOVE his name) =) is doing just fine. He is getting so big and he loves to be held. So I am developing some serious back muscles these days. If he is up and awake, he wants to be walked around and shown things. Time doesn't really exist right now, but iced coffee does and thank god for that! I stay busy with William and making sure he is clean, fed, and happy. He is such a joy and his little smiles and bright eyes just warm my heart. I am constantly in awe of him. I will have moments where my breath will literally get caught in my chest when I look at him! Who knew something so small could have such a BIG impact.

Nick and I got to have a night out the other night. We went to Hot Tin Roof (one of the nicest restaurants in Key West!! Thank you Jess!). It was such a nice night with my love and so good to just sit together and talk. The view was absolutely amazing. It was a complete panoramic view of the water. We got to watch the sun set and then a lightning storm lit up the night sky. It was so cozy and sweet. I was wishing that we never had to leave that cozy, little restaurant.

Anyhoo, here are some pics of life lately...

passion flower vine

strawberry blooms

quilt time

Stop and smell the flowers.

I hope one thing that I can pass on to William is my love for the outdoors. There is something about being outside that helps me feel satisfied. There are always different things to observe and wonder about. Today, I was loving the bright blue of the water and the pops of color that these flowers gave off. I am always thinking of William and what he must be seeing when we see these beautiful colors that are just giving off spectacular shades of light! It must all look like a Van Gogh painting, bright colors and shapes that all seem to dance around.

Rainy Day Love.

Here are some pictures from last week when we were stuck inside for days because a semi-tropical storm and tons of rain! We ended up having lots of snuggle time and just being together, so you know I didn't mind one bit that our street started to overflow like a river. =)

Here he is! My little William Joseph. Today is our first full day without Nick and we are doing pretty well. It is definitely going to be an adjustment for the both of us, but I think we will manage just fine once we get there! I can tell that William misses his daddy and his big old, wet kisses all over his cheeks. William and I are finding some things that we like to do together.. so far, we like to do stretches on the yoga mat (when Jax isn't using it as his bed!) and we like to go sit outside and soak up the sun for a few minutes. Today, we went in the afternoon and it got hot pretty quickly, so it would be nice to try and make this more of a morning/evening thing when we can stay outside for longer!

Tomorrow is my six week postpartum appt., which means if all is well, I can start easing into some exercise. One thing at a time though!

mariposa

William

Today is the first day that I am back here since my pregnancy. William is five weeks old and a thriving little boy. He is very strong and loves to hold his head up all by himself! He loves to look around at new things and enjoys the warmth of the sun. He is so sweet and I love every moment that I get to spend with him. The feeling when he is curled up on my chest is one of pure bliss. It is just warmth and sweetness and completeness. He does so many things that make me laugh.. his little sneezes and the face he makes afterward, the way he shoots his arms up when you put him on his changing table, and his really wonderful, toothless smile. He is a constant source of new wonders.

As for me, I am doing well. This Monday will be six weeks since he was born. I have said it before, this whole process is pretty CRAZY! It seems like you go from being one person to someone else and I am not quite sure who that person is yet. I know that I want to be the best for my son. I want to make a comfy little bed in the present moment and stay there forever. So I don't ever have to miss one beautiful moment with him. I don't ever want to take any of it for granted because it is all once in a lifetime and the moments fly by with him and he is born one day and five weeks old the next.

Life is different now. My life revolves around my son and being with him is the only thing that matters. Nick and I feel different now. It is almost as if we are one being, the three of us. Life feels heavier, but heavier in a juicy, delicious kind of way. Like the best mango on the tree. =)