7 weeks: I Have Officially Retired

Another fantastic week watching our little man grow! So, what's Spencer doing now?

• Sleeping through the night from 10pm-6am
  
• Starting to rub his eyes when he is tired (love this)
  
• Smiling tons!-before it was hard to tell if it was a real smile or just gas :-)
  
• Increasing his formula! We are up to 5oz!
  
• Learning how to whine along with perfecting that little pout
  
• Officially out of newborn clothes (except some pants) and even some of the 0-3 month things are getting a little snug
  
• Making baby bubbles with his mouth
  
• Lifting his head on his own for longer periods of time. Tummy time is becoming more and more fun!

We had another jammed packed week of walks, play dates, and fun! But, with all the fun being had, big decisions had to be finalized finalized at the Gordon Household this week. With my maternity leave due to end in two weeks, I have made the decision to officially resign from my job as a Field Service Rep and 10+years in the orthopedic field and have accepted a full time position as "Mommy".

For any of my co-workers at DJO reading this blog, I hope you understand this was the hardest decision I have made in quite some time and I appreciate all your support. And, for anyone, like me, who has worked since the age of 13 and spent years supporting themselves, I know you will share in the uneasiness but happiness I feel right now. The concept of having no personal income is foreign to me and moving from a 2 to 1 income household will change our lifestyle considerably but it is certainly worth it as nothing will compare to raising our little boy.

I once read that asking a women to decide on her post baby plans before she delivers is like asking you to chose your college major in grade school- a lot can change in a few short months. This statement could not be closer to the truth. Being a "stay-at-home mom" is not for everyone. However, for many reasons, this was the best decision for our family and I am looking forward to embarking on a new adventure. Being a "mommy" is no easy job but I am looking forward to the challenge :-)

A week in review :

Meeting my friend Dylan for the first time! We are 3 weeks apart!

Playtime is a MUST!

Meeting little Addison for the first time!

All smiles at our picnic

Catching some rays with all of my new friends

Getting "So Big"

Lip Service: The Many Faces of Spencer

We are in the beginning stages of shopping for a new camera but for now we try to capture what we can! I was quick with the button today and got some great pics of our little guy! I love his growing personality!

Sweet Cheeks!

That LIP! Who can resist?

Craft Project Gone RIGHT!

It's a known fact and an ongoing joke in my family that I have not a crafty bone in my body and the artistic talent of a kindergartner. I swear, at the age of 31, I still have problems cutting a straight line!

With that I said this may come as a big surprise to you but I got inspired to do a "craft"!!!!

In my quest to find all things preppy and monogrammed (see post below), I came across covered/decorative wipe cases. They were super cute and you could of course have them personalized for more money. Trying to say on budget, these cases were what I felt were overpriced and I quickly moved on in my search. That is, until I came across instructions on how to make the case myself!

While I still felt inspired and confident that I could complete this project, I asked Bill to watch Spencer and I went out to get my supplies (including iron on letters to monogram the cases-of course). And, the minute I got home I got started. Bill and I actually had a good laugh that I was actually doing something crafty, it just does not EVER happen! I completed my first case in no time...it looked pretty rough and I knew where I had made some mistakes so after dinner, I made another! This one came out much better. I still have a long way to go but surprisingly, I enjoy this project and I hope to perfect the cases so I can give them as gifts!

Here's a look at my very first two cases:

This was my first attempt

And the second one!

Lets Get Personal!

I love all things monogrammed, initialed, embroidered, you name it! If you visit our home you will see the letter "G" everywhere (it's kind of an obsession)! Oh and the "preppier" the better :-) I am always on the lookout for good finds when it comes to personalizing "things". It drove me crazy all through my pregnancy that I could not buy anything for the baby that was personalized because we did not have a name chosen! I was pretty sure we were going with an "S" name but that was it. I didn't even have a middle name to work with for monogramming!

Now 7 weeks later, I can go crazy :-) And I am on a serious mission to catch up without blowing the budget completely!

We have a favorite baby item that we give as a gift to our friends when they have a baby. I have given maybe a dozen of them to my friends over the years! It's our signature gift and if I did not have so many friends that just had babies, I would have probably given so many more last month but I has to use restraint or I might be broke :-) Wondering what it is? It's a name stool! We just got ours from LB and Danny a few weeks ago! I must say I love it just as much as I have loved giving them to all my friends in the past. They are so cute and useful......it is definitely a gift that will grow with the baby. Learning the alphabet, how to spell their name, brushing teeth at the sink, helping with potty training and reaching the toilet...the list goes on. This was the very first gift we had received with Spencer's name on it! Take a look!

Both my niece and nephew and many of my friends have the Pottery Barn Kids anywhere chair so we placed our order for that with Spencer's name and it should be here in a few days.

Next up is to find letters to spell Spencer's name above his crib. I am having trouble deciding if I should go with letters that match his bedding and room now or something more universal that he can carry over into a big boy room? hmmmmm

Finally, I hope to order some stationary for Spencer to make his notes extra special. Did I mention it's an obsession? I think I will need to be cut off for while after these items. I am positive Bill will make sure that happens :-)

Biggest Loser? I sure hope so!

6 week check up and a okay to exercise, check. No longer breast feeding and can begin a diet, check. Fitting into pre-pregnancy clothes, ummmm, not so much!

Now I know I need to be less critical of myself right now. I mean it has only been six weeks since I had Spencer but seriously, with the spring weather here and summer right around the corner, I cannot help but feel the pressure to get back in shape.

Tomorrow is the day! I am starting a diet, and exercise regime! No excuses for me anymore. I am getting back into a routine if it is the last thing I do. I hope to be a big loser before summer hits! Any good motivational tips are welcome :-) Wish me luck, I will need it!

6 Weeks and Going Strong

6 Weeks Old!

(We switched from Bath Letters to Blocks for our weekly pictures--Thanks Krissy for the heads up on the blocks they are way cuter)

What a jammed packed week we have had! I cannot believe how busy this week has been but we have had so much fun. With Spring in full effect we took advantage and spent lots of time outside.

On Wednesday, we had another playgroup date and then we went for a family walk around the neighborhood after Bill came home from work! It's always so peaceful and we are lasting longer and longer each time we go out. Spencer is all tuckered out from his walk!

Don't you just want to squish his cheeks?

Playing with LB

On Thursday, Spencer and I went for a walk with Kelly and Carter on the Greenway. I think we were out just over an hour! That's a lot for me and pushing the stroller takes some getting use to! It was so great to have a buddy with me. Kelly and I chatted the whole way and it really made time pass quick! After our walk, as sweaty as we were we met another new mommy that Kelly knew for lunch. It made for a long day out for Spencer but he did so good and it was so nice to be out of the house.

On Saturday, we hit the Dogwood festival with Katy and Trey! It was gorgeous outside. We got there super early to avoid the crowds and stayed through lunch dining on the not so healthy but incredibly yummy food :-)

Trey giving Mommy and Daddy a break to eat their food

Picnic in the park

Chillin with my personal fan! Who says I'm not spoiled?

We continued our outside fun later that day with a BBQ at our place with LB and Danny and Laura and Mike! Great day, great evening! Good times :-)

We topped off the beautiful weekend with work around the house and a visit from Nana and Papa.

How could I forget to mention the MOST exciting moment of my week! Spencer is sleeping 7 hours! Yay! We saw our pediatrician on Tuesday for a follow-up for Spencer's reflux issues and she gave us the green light to stop waking him during the night for feedings so we started that night. We made it from 10-4 and 10-5 the next night and every night since. On the flip side, Spencer still needs meds for reflux but seems to be doing a bit better with his symptoms.

Here are some more pics from this week:

We love our Wubbanub. Especially after eating and right before napping!

Baby Boom- March Moms Unite

I am not sure how many people handle their pregnancy the way Bill and I did but we kept our big news secret from most until we reached 12 weeks! I remember feeling so excited during that time and could not wait to share the news! Little did I know at that time there were other ladies close to me sharing that same excitement! We were all having March Babies!!!

A few weeks back I congratulated all of the March Moms I knew in this very blog. Some of which I have know for years and others that I just met withing my last few months of pregnancy! Nonetheless, I could not be happier for ALL of them. Now, we are all sharing the same excitement again!

On Monday, Spencer and I went over to our friend Krissy's to hang with some of our new friends for our first March Moms Playgroup. What a great afternoon! I was so excited to meet all the little ones and boy was I excited to swap stories with other moms! I think I laughed more that day then I have in the last 6 weeks! I am hoping that I can introduce some more of the March moms I know to the group over the next few weeks. We are looking forward to seeing our friends and new moms as much as we can!

Here are some pics of the new group:

The Whole Gang

The Boys!

The Girls!

It All Started with a Cup of Joe!

Well kind of.....

Bill and I celebrated our 4 year dating anniversary last Friday (April 9th). Each year we celebrate by going to the same Starbucks we had our first date at. Funny thing is neither one of us drank coffee on that date and we certainly did not this time either with the 80 degree heat we were sitting in!

For those of you who don't know, Bill and I met online (Jdate) and for anyone who has gone through this experience you know coffee dates are the best! Just think, they are simple. If things go bad, you chat for a bit and leave. If things go great, you can chat for hours. That's just what we did! Bill and I chatted for hours that first date and I will never forget it.

This tradition never gets old for me. I love it and it always brings back so many great memories of the start of our relationship. This year, returning to "our" Starbucks was the best yet because as we sat outside drinking our ice tea's, we could not help but stare at our little boy! It's just crazy to think 4 years later, we are married and have a sweet little boy! What an awesome adventure!

In May, we will celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary but for now, Happy 4 years Bill! I love you!

Blogging Buddies

Although we celebrated 5 weeks with a playgroup date with LB and Marin, we got to celebrate all over again with Kelly and Carter at Cinco for lunch last Friday. Kelly and I "met" in what some people might consider a non-traditional way. We "met" through blogging-go figure!

Carter is Kelly's son and he is just two days younger then Spencer. After following each others blogs for months of pregnancy and even the first few weeks of mommyhood, it was definitely time to meet in person. The best part is, we live just a few miles from one another! How crazy is that?!?!

I cannot say enough what a great time we had with our new friends. For me, it was just so nice to get out and have an adult lunch and better yet with a new mommy who knows everything I am going through. The little ones did great and slept the entire time letting us chit chat and share stories. We are looking forward to many more playdates in the future.

5 Weeks Old & A Play Date to Celebrate!

This week Spencer is 5 weeks old! So, whats going on this week? We have had a much deserved, low key week!

Our boy is growing like a weed and he now weighs approx. 9lbs 13oz. He is getting stronger by the day- lifting his head and turning it from side to side, and finding his voice more and more.

I was able to get over my guilt about switching to formula and after 5 weeks we have officially weaned onto formula (for many reasons which I will not publicly blog about). This was the first of many hard decisions for me at as mommy but it is probably best for Spencer and myself! Thanks to all the moms who helped me feel okay with my decision! You know who you are!

We have been loving the beautiful weather in Atlanta and have been taking advantage with walks in our neighborhood everyday except yesterday because the pollen was just way too bad!

I think the only downer this week is that we think Spencer is developing a mild form of reflux which bought us a trip to the pediatrician. This is very common in infants so I am not concerned thus far but we did start to try some medicine last night to see if we can give him some relief. Poor little guy. It is so sad to seem him in discomfort during feeding time. Our hope is that the medicine works and he goes back to his happy self very soon! So far, great results!

Spencer and I celebrated 5 weeks with attending our first playgroup with LB and baby Marin. LB invited me back to her playgroup that she takes Marin to. I had gone with her the week before Spencer was born to just get out of the house and socialize and loved it but this was my first time back with Spencer. (Of course Spencer slept for most of the time and there is very little playing at his age) The babies in this group are anywhere from 4-14 months older then Spencer but it was so nice to have other moms to relate too! And, it got me out and off of the usual routine which I LOVED! Speaking of play dates/groups! I am so super excited for Monday to come because I will be going to join other March Moms with babies Spencer's age at another playgroup that our friend Krissy has organized. So FUN!

Monday is also my six week doctors appointment from my C-section. I am hoping to get the release to work out more vigorously so I can get back to running and start swimming and cycling. My goal is to compete in a sprint triathlon this year so I have got to get moving :-) No time to waste! Not to mention, I still have baby weight to loose. I am down about 35 pounds but I still want to loose another 40!!! I was not the slimmest when I got pregnant so my hopes are to loose the baby weight and keep going! We'll see how that goes :-) With stopping breastfeeding I am sure my weight loss is going to slow significantly so exercise is going to be my saving grace.

All in all it's been a great week! I feel like each day gets a little easier and soon enough we will not remember what life was like before Spencer! I actually feel like I am enjoying each passing day more and more and that's exactly where I want to be :-)

1 Month, Really?

This week, Spencer turned 4 weeks old! 1 month, really? I feel like I was just leaving Northside! I must admit, this has been an eye opening month for Bill and I and we have learned a lot about ourselves. Adjusting to life with a newborn has been so many things; challenging, exhausting, but most of all rewarding. In the past, I have been told by other moms that being a mom is one of the hardest jobs there is and I realize this more then ever now. For anyone who has never tried it, I promise you this is a true statement (and I would just like to add the disclaimer that Spencer is an very good baby and it's still the hardest thing I have ever done). Everyone is different and handles parenthood differently so these are of course my personal feelings. Who knows, maybe you might feel the same.

As I mom I am learning that you are always "on." I Have not quite found that off button yet :-) How do I best describe that? You become a well oiled machine whose tasks are changing diapers, feeding bottles, doing laundry, cleaning house, changing diapers (LOL), giving baths, going grocery shopping, doing laundry (LOL) and the list goes on. Point is, you just keep going. I like to think of it as a continuation of nesting. "Nesting on Steriods". For me, it seems that everything that I once had time for has taken a back seat and for now, I am honestly okay with that. Now I know this is life with a newborn and as time goes on, I can introduce all the things I love so much. Things like, mani/pedi's, going to the gym or a long run, phone dates with my friends all over the country, cuddling with my husband, or even a hot shower that is longer then 10 minutes to name just a few :-)

Most of all, the past moth has taught me, that no matter how tired you are, how frustrated you may feel, the feeling that your baby needs you trumps all. I think that is what keep me going right now and why I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Believe me, I am not complaining. Like I said, I am just adjusting. I am learning how to manage my new life. I am a planner as many of you know and life with Spencer proves to be very unpredictable. A simple task such as leaving the house is a production and being on-time seems to be a thing of the past :-) Despite the many changes and adjustments in our lives, Bill and I are so in love with our little boy and are enjoying every minute even if that means always being "on". He is more then worth it :-)

Here are some more pics of the little guy!