Jesse-3 Months Old

Jesse is officially 3 months old today. I say it each week, but he is so sweet and gets more precious each day! I love having a baby in our home and can’t get enough of holding him!!

He gets so excited looking at his mobile. I love to watch him while he watches it. I got a video of him this week while he was in Jack’s crib checking out the mobile.

As slack as this sounds, we haven’t even gotten Jesse’s crib. He’s still (barely) fitting into his bassinet. Sadly, he won’t be in it much longer, he’s getting so big.

Here is a picture of me and Jesse that Hanna took. I didn’t realize it until I was editing pictures that we both have on grey, and he looks like he’s blending into me.

I didn’t get too many pictures this week of Jesse and the kids. We have stayed so busy that I just didn’t think about it. We’ve been having lots of fun though.

Here are several more pictures of Jesse from the week.

He’s laying on the Boppy that I had for Hanna, and I love those little fox feet on his sleeper.

This is a classic Jesse expression, when I think of him, I see this look in my mind most.

What do I love about Jesse right now:

• the way he always has his little hands clasped
• how quick he is to smile when I go in to get him up from naps
• the way he coos, smiles and “talks” to me while I am feeding him
• how he lets me snuggle him against my neck as soon as he gets up from sleeping
• how warm he always is, and his sweet baby smell

Here is a picture of my handsome Jack. I can’t get enough of looking at his face either.

Anytime I lay Jesse on the floor or on his playmat Jack is immediately beside him ready to give him kisses and play with him. He is such a sweet big brother. He enjoys taking care of Jesse, helping to feed him and shows him so much affection daily.

It is so much fun watching Jack and Jesse. Even though it is challenging having them so close in age, it is so rewarding and I am so thankful it worked out this way.

Santa Jesse—12 Weeks Old

I can’t believe Jesse will be 3 months old this next week. These 3 months have passed so quickly! He is 12 weeks old today. He is weighing in at a little over 15 lbs. and just about to outgrow his 0-3 month old clothes. He slept about 12 hours two nights in a row this week!! It was WONDERFUL! It should only get better from here! Both Jack and Joe slept through the night routinely around 9 weeks old, but Hanna was almost two years old.

I tried so hard to get a good picture of Jack and Jesse together in their Santa hats, but as you can see, I was unsuccessful. Jack is in la-la land and Jesse is screaming.

However, this picture cropped made a really sweet one of Jack up close. I love how his face looks so baby like.

I tried to make sure and get pictures of all the kids with Jesse this week since I haven’t in a while. Here is Hanna with Jesse.

Here is a cute one of Hanna and Joe kissing Jesse.

Jack’s favorite toy of the week was a pet carrier. He pulled this thing around all week long filled with his favorite stuffed animals and Lovie.

Santa Jesse:

One last one of Jesse smiling a little. He almost always has his little hands clasped together. So sweet. He is such a happy baby!

Growing So Fast—Jesse, 11 Weeks Old

Jesse is 11 weeks old today.  Just like last week, I held him and played with him as much as I could.  I cannot get enough of holding him, seeing him smile and just enjoying him being a baby.  This entire week I honestly felt as if a cloud of negativity had been lifted and I was seeing everything through different eyes, different but the same.  The same because the old me was back.  I enjoyed, loved and had fun with my kids and Jamie like I haven’t done in so long.  I cannot believe how different Jesse’s pregnancy was emotionally for me and continued to be postpartum until about two weeks ago.  I have been so happy this week that I cannot even put it into words.  I have offered so many prayers of gratitude for these feelings of happiness. 

I got a few pictures of Jesse, but I realized not nearly as many as I usually get.  I think I was so carried away in the moments of each day that I didn’t remember to pull my camera out often enough.

The kids all still enjoy holding Jesse. 

Jesse has the biggest eyes and they are always so bright.  His cheeks are getting so chubby and cute.

  

I like this picture because Jesse was looking right at me and has such a sweet grin on his face. 

 

One more sitting in the rocking chair in his room.

What do I love about Jesse right now:

• his sweet baby smell
• his hair
• hearing him coo
• seeing him smile as soon as he hears my voice
• the way his head fits perfectly against my neck
• he feels so warm and snuggly

Such Big Smiles!

Jesse is ten weeks old and such a happy baby! This past week I have spoiled my little man rotten by holding him every chance I get. He is so cuddly, so sweet and so absolutely adorable. I love having a baby in our home and am enjoying him so very, very much.

I was finally able to capture his big “whole body” smiles on camera this week. He smiles all the time—he is so happy and hardly ever cries. He is truly a joy in every way.

Jack is so sweet to Jesse. He still kisses and talks so lovingly to him off and on throughout each day. I thought it was so funny to see him playing on the blanket with Jesse yesterday. He was riding his construction trucks on Jesse’s body while making truck sounds. Jesse just laid there calmly looking up at Jack.

Next, Joe had to come over too. He, too is so loving to Jesse in his words and actions. This picture was my favorite from all week. My three boys playing together and looking so happy with one another. I love the way Jack is watching Jesse for a reaction to Joe’s animal sounds, and Jesse is looking up at both of them.

Jamie thought this next picture was “strange” as he put it. But I think in years to come I will be so glad to have yet another picture of my sweet babies’ hands and feet. Jesse had his little hand laid on Jack’s foot while Jack was playing with his construction trucks beside him. It just looked so sweet to me.

We have truly had a great week. Probably the very best one yet for each of us since Jesse came home for many different reasons. I have loved looking at my children play together this past week—no, they haven’t gotten along perfectly or been “angels” in their behavior every minute either, but….. I have appreciated my family and just been so thankful for the love, laughter and “noise” they bring into my life each day. I have loved everything about being a mom!

Nine Weeks Old and Growing So Much!

Jesse is getting BIG! Joe was a big baby. Not at birth—all of my babies have been small to average at birth, but Joe grew soooooo fast! I looked back at pictures last week and he looked like a 6 month old at 2 months. I can see Jesse taking on this same pattern. I’m glad he’s so healthy, but I do not want him to grow big so quickly:-). He weighs in at 13 lbs. this week.

I have decided to enjoy him as much as I can. What I mean by this is that I follow Baby Wise to the letter with my babies, and for the most part I love it. I am a scheduler and thrive on schedule, routine, doing things at the same time each day, but I just don’t have the heart to let Jesse cry it out. I also want to hold him as much as I can. Although I don’t anticipate Jesse being my last baby—I hope and pray Heavenly Father will see fit to bless our family with at least one more sweet spirit—I just love every second I get to spend holding him and smelling him.

Things I love the most about Jesse right now:

• the soft pads on the bottoms of his feet
• the rolls he’s getting on his thighs
• his soft cheeks
  
• his fluffy hair right after a bath
• the way he looks at me, and calms down as soon as he hears my voice, or I pick him up

It’s never too late to be a pumpkin is it—even after Halloween? This outfit was too big for Jesse the week of Halloween, but it fits him now, and I think he looks so cute in it. I had to get a picture of the back of it.

Of course I got some close-ups. I have certain poses that have always been my favorites. This is my most favorite because it is close-up and I can see his sweet face so good.

Smiling at his toys:

Jamie brought Jesse in to sleep with me one morning this week. This is my favorite picture of the week. I love this picture because it reminds me of how good it felt to lay right next to him and hear him breathe those soft, quick baby breaths.

This week I thought often of one of my favorite quotes by Dorothy Evslin, “It will be gone before you know it. The fingerprints on the wall appear higher and higher, then suddenly they disappear.” This is so true!

First Smiles, Bright Spots and Uplifting Words

Jesse is certainly the bright spot in my days right now. Of course I love all of my kids, but there is nothing like the smell, touch and feel of holding and caring for a newborn. He is getting SO big!! I seriously think he grows overnight! I can’t believe he is already two months old. He is starting to smile alot. I managed to catch glimpses of his smiles this week, I didn’t capture a full smile—wasn’t quick enough—but I got some cute “partial smiles”.

Jack loves to lay beside Jesse when he’s on the floor or on his playmat almost always. I got the sweetest picture of the two of them—my favorite of all I’ve taken of them.

It continues to touch me as I watch Hanna care for, love and bond with Jesse. I also think it is so sweet how all of the kids enjoy and anticipate when it will be time for Jesse to be awake and up with them.

Here is Joe with Jesse. Joe is always very quick to point out how “adorable” Jesse is throughout each day.

I thought this was a good full length picture of Jesse. I can tell how much he’s grown by looking at him in this picture, but of course, his cheeks give him away too:-).

I had to throw in one of Joe with Ted. Joe loves his Ted so much. To me in the past several months Joe has really started to look like a big boy—he is losing his baby face and it is slowly changing into that of an older child. He is so handsome—that smile and those eyes, and let’s not forget the hair:-)….

And, my sweet Jack. Jack is the odd ball of the bunch with his dark hair and eyes. He’s going to be my little heartbreaker when he’s older.

One last picture of my three boys:

I’ve been trying to read each night in inspiring and uplifting books and magazines, particularly those that are religious centered. In my reading I found an article that I read every day sometimes more than once a day since. Some things really stood out that I am trying to take to heart and do better at, and I want to record them here for later reflection.

• Focus on what you do well.
• Don’t run faster than you have strength.
• Limit to do lists.
• Try to keep the big picture in sight—“As my children get older I realize there are good and bad parts to each stage of our lives together. Many of the challenges pass with time. So do some of the joys. I try to take stock of the joys, to imprint them on my memory for the days when the long, sleepless nights have passed—and with them the sweet, soft smell of a baby’s warm head against my neck, (Jean Knight Pace).
• Get back to the basics.
• Study scriptures and pray often, and sincerely.
• Make time for yourself.

My mom also said something that really clicked for me and I so hope to remember this each day—it’s not only the baby phase that you want to treasure, but the toddler phase, the child phase, the preteen stage and every stage thereafter, even up to adult as I am now to my mom. I don’t want to waste time missing any of these moments with my children for whatever the reason may be. Each of my children need me and I need them too. And how thankful and blessed I am to be surrounded each day by family that loves me!

Sweet Jesse

I truly appreciate this baby phase of my Jesse more than any of my others. I realize just how quickly it will pass. I know that the nightly feedings are going to be a thing of the past soon, and often these are the only moments alone I get with my little man each day. I am trying so hard to remember this about my rambunctious toddler too—this is proving much more difficult though:-).

I won’t even go into how I feel this week—I’ll just sound like a broken record. To make it “short and sweet”, my emotions are shot, my energy is completely drained—I pray each day for inner strength. I am at the point of taking each day one at a time—this is not something I am accustomed too:-)--and while doing so trying to count each and every blessing that I have—believe me I know they are plenty and way too many to begin to name. That's why I hesitate to even share "my" feelings for fear of sounding ungrateful.

Here are some of the sweet moments from our week, some of my my most important blessings in pictures:

Watching Hanna learn to care for Jesse and hear her talk about how sweet he is—knowing that she is learning things right now that will make her a better woman, and I do hope mother too, when she is “all grown up”.

Watching my boys play:

A favorite of mine that I haven’t been able to capture on camera in a few weeks—a yawn:

Looking at Jesse’s sweet face and knowing that even though he has grown so much since we first brought him home, he is still so small….

….and all he truly needs and wants is pure, unconditional love.

I love having a baby in our home. We couldn’t ask for a better, sweeter baby than our Jesse. Looking at him fills me with peace and love.

from His arms to mine

It’s hard for me to believe six whole weeks have already passed since Jesse was born. He weighed 6 lbs., 1oz. at birth, and he now weighs just over 11 lbs. He is getting so much longer too! He’s growing so fast. He is such a joy, a bright spot in each of my days. I look forward to each feeding because I know I will be able to hold him and just look at his sweet face. I love him so much.

Even though we haven’t been out and about alot this week, it’s been busy. We had a really busy week of school and the kids wanted to do lots of Halloween activities, and we just seemed to stay busy all day each day.

Here are some pictures I got throughout the week of Jesse. This is my favorite of the entire week. It was taken today.

Me, Joe and Jesse the day we carved our pumpkins.

Jamie and Jesse the day we carved our pumpkins.

Jesse in his little pumpkin gown.

Joe and Jesse hanging out.

Jesse and Jack in their Halloween pj’s.

Jack holding his little brother—again—he asks often and I can’t hardly refuse.

It really helps me put lots of things in perspective as I recap our weeks through my posts. A post like this reminds me of how precious and truly heavenly Jesse is. He was literally just in the presence of our Heavenly Father six short weeks ago. Now, he is here in the arms of his earthly family. We love him so much.

I read this quote a few days ago and it has been on my mind ever since:

“Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. … Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried” (“Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, July 1997, 73).

I love this. This is what I need to try and remember each and every day. Especially at those moments when things aren’t going as perfectly as I’d like and when patience are running short. Our Heavenly Father has never ending patience for us. He is there with open arms, loving us unconditionally always, and I have to do the same for my children. He expects that of me. No, I don’t have to be perfect. Luckily He is forgiving.

I learn something every day lately. About myself, about my role as a wife and a mother. I have spent more time on my knees in prayer these last couple of months than I think I ever have in my entire life. I am so thankful for prayer and for the faith and knowledge that I have of my Heavenly Father’s plan for me. I am blessed to know my purpose and blessed to have such a wonderful family to share my life with.

Counting Life's Blessings

Well, the weeks are just flying by. Partly because we are so busy each day. This has been the best week so far post-Jesse for me. I have felt so much better emotionally. I know I will be tired for weeks, maybe even months, to come. But feeling better emotionally has made a huge difference. I've also come to the realization that things like exercising 5 days a week like I did before, and even eating right are not going to happen overnight, and that's ok for now.

I have loved being a mom this week. Not that I don't always "appreciate" motherhood, but this week I have looked forward to each day and enjoyed it too. I have taken time to think about the larger picture, and remembered that all too soon these special, innocent days of childhood will be over. I don't want to spend them obsessing over sleep, exercise, diet and household duties. This is a hard one for me--all that I just mentioned--but I am doing my best to remember what's most important right now.

Jesse is already plumping up. He's so much bigger than even two weeks ago. Seriously, he is the sweetest of all our babies. I love watching the kids interact with him and talk so lovingly to, and about him.

I have tried to "step back" this week and see my kids as they truly are, and not focus on what they "aren't" doing, but what wonderful qualities they do possess. There are too many to name, but I can tell you that this has helped me to "fall in love" with them all over again, and this is such a blessing to me.

Watching Jamie with Jesse always warms my heart. He loves being a dad and he is so hands-on with each of our children. He is just as good as a husband to me. I told my mom just today that I am always waiting for my trials to come, because I feel too blessed and life is just too good to me--that there must be something lurking around the corner, because I am blessed beyond comprehension. But, I know I shouldn't dwell on that sort of stuff, I need to just continue to thank my Heavenly Father for these blessings and think positive, happy thoughts. I'm a worrier so....I am thankful to my Heavenly Father though, He has given me so much.

Here are some pictures from this past week, Jesse is five weeks old today.

Jack playing with Jesse in a basketful of laundry--don't worry, it's clean:

Hanna holding Jesse:

Jesse on the couch:

Jesse in his bouncy seat. He has really started focusing on people and objects this week. He tries to touch, and bat at his toys in his seat now too, just as of a couple days ago.

Jack kissing Jesse:

We've had a wonderful week. We are looking forward to carving jack-o-lanterns and having a bit more Halloween fun this weekend. I love the weekends and being together with my whole family.