Morning Time

Morning time is my favorite time of day.  If my husband is reading this, he is laughing hysterically because I am not a morning person.  Not an early, early morning person. At all.  But my child has not slept past 6:15 AM, um...... ever, so I am getting used to it.  I don't think I will ever be used to 5 AM however. 

Anyway, P-man is up like clockwork. 5:45 to 6:15 every morning.  Neil always goes to get him and he plops in bed with us to drink his morning milk.  We giggle, whisper and give big love, smooches and snuggles as we (ok mom) wakes the rest of the way up.  Sometimes we put on Nick Jr. for Porter and we all watch 15 min together. We do this every.single.morning.  Weekend or not.  Usually longer on the weekends.  Sometimes we all stay in bed an extra hour together and Porter will jibber jabber to us, show us his toys, run around our bed.  Sometimes we fall back asleep for a 10 minute snooze.  Either way, it is my favorite.  It is the best way for this girl to wake up.  I don't remember the last time I set an alarm clock.  No need really.  If my child happens to sleep till 7, I'll take the sleep and be late to work.  That is like Christmas.

I was telling Neil this morning how much I loved my family and how I love that we have grown to do that every AM and I hope we always do, even as more kids come and our king size bed fills up.  I hope sleepy smiling  faces, bed head, sock covered feet shuffle into our bedroom in the AM for some love and comfort.  That they know they don't have to run head first into the day just yet. It is a good way to start off, all together, all love, all snuggles.  I am hoping it stays as constant and necessary as breakfast.  I hope I can start my families days off with thoughts of how blessed we are. It is amazing what 5-15 minutes of being with the people you love the very most, at the very beginning can sets the whole day on the right path. We all get to start off our day with the same thought..... You are loved more than you will ever know.

New Baby Love (and wish list)

Wow.  It is May already! I cannot believe I am going on 18 weeks pregnant! Almost halfway there.  It has gone by both fast and slow. I thankfully have had an easy, breezy pregnancy thus far physically (standard fatigue and minimal nausea) though it has been pretty emotionally and mentally stressful.  But, that is lessening too. 

I must admit I am super proud of myself.  I have not bought new baby one.single.thing.  Not so much as a onesie.  That is good for me, considering the amount of crap stuff I bought for Porter in pregnancy.  But the second time mom in me has a been-there-done-that mentality.  The only things babies need in their first weeks of life are, breasts, blankets, a good baby wearing device, diapers and a onsie. That about does it.  However, now that I am reaching the halfway mark and our ultrasound is on Friday, I find myself getting the itch.  One thing that will save us money, WE ARE NOT FINDING OUT THE GENDER.  I repeat, not finding out. People cannot seem to get over this one! He, he. We just want that surprise. So few true surprises in life.  It is not like we will never know.... in approx. 150 days everyone will know!!

 That will make it easier.  I am letting myself buy two newborn outfits.  One girl, one boy for the "first outfit" and I will get over the waste of one of them.  We do need some stuff that we will compile bit by bit.  Most of the necessary items are "big ticket" items.  Some are just because I want them! I am hoping to use the second half of my pregnancy and first month post partum collecting everything.  Neil even agreed we can skip over the small stuff and get the bigger stuff that we need. 

1.  A nice Pack n Play

I want this for our room.  Our babies are in our room for at least six months.  Plus we need it for travel and guests.

2. A Papasan Style Swing

3. Aden + Anais Muslin Blanket's.

Just because I have heard they are great so I wanna try them.  Porter didn't like the swaddling thing.  Maybe New Baby will. This is just a want. A "just because".

4. To Bassinet or not to Bassinet.... that is the question.  I love this one.

Not sure how practical they are.  A pack and play may suffice, but sure is cute!

and this one.....

5. A Mei Tai.

I want to design my own.  This is an expensive carrier but worth it and customizable.  I want it soooo bad. It is an Asian iinspired, soft structured  baby carrier.  So cute.

That is about it for now! I will keep building to my list I am sure.  But it is much less stressful the second time around.  Eventually we will need a second bedroom set and crib for the new baby, probably a double stroller, and maybe a new pump.  But that is a ways out, so we won't rush. I am going to hold off as long as possible but I love to browse and look!  Can't wait for our new bug to get here!

How Do I Love Thee..... let me count the ways......

*** I was editing this post 3 days ago and accidentally deleted it, but had a saved copy on my work laptop, so it is re-posted.  I first posted it on his actual b-day, April 28, 2011.***

Today is my husbands 35th Birthday! Happy Birthday Babe! I am sad to say that he was travelling to Connecticut all this week and there was horrific storms in the South. Hence, he got stuck coming home, had to spend the night in the Atlanta airport and try his hardest to get home this AM (his actual birthday) because he has a super, duper important inspection at work today. Sigh. Not a good way to start off the big day, but we will try to make it up to you.

I was trying to think of something creative, something special to give him (besides his big gift), what I could do that would be different and meaningful. But it is hard being 4 months pregnant, on the budget of a lifetime, taking care of a 1 year old alone AND get my creative on! So, I thought I would write (in garnet, his most favorite color ever) my top 35. Think David Letterman birthday style. My top 35 ways/things/nuances that I love about my hubby.

1. You are willing to read Harry Potter openly for me... and a Woman's Guide to a Better Birth (he did read that too, in the open, on an airplane)

2. You make great breakfast sammich's.

3. "sexy" to you is my $5 target tank top

4. You love red wine almost as much as I do.

5. You are a converted beer snob (huzzah!)

6. You keep bringing up going on a Hot Air Balloon ride with me, even though you are deathly afraid of heights

7. You give people lots of chances, even if they don't deserve it.

8. You make our home open to anyone and everyone, at any time, in any way.

9. You always whisper stuff to me in the night when I am sleeping. I don't know what your saying, but I hear every word.

10. You LOVE being a dad more than anything in the whole wide world.

11. You kiss and love on our boy every day and show him that real men give hugs

12. You get up at night with P because I am not a night person. At all. So you do the lion's share of that work and I can never re-pay that one.

13. You can (and do) unabashedly hold a conversation about co-sleeping, nursing, home births, breast pumps, placenta's etc and still retain your manhood.. tee hee.

14. You try to convert everyone you know that is having a baby to use our midwife cause you love her that much

15. You refuse to miss doctor's appointments for any reason at all

16. You love to travel and see new places and want to take me with you!

17. You love buying houses as much as I do.

18. We both hope to own a house in a foreign country one day.

19. You have a cute butt that looks good in jeans.

20. You gave me one amazing kid and I am sure the next one will be pretty great too

21. The dogs love you more than me now. You are the only one that takes them to the park. Bailey cries when you aren't home.

22. You are extraordinarily protective of your family, we are your whole world.

23. Happiness to you is having lots of kiddos, the Gamecocks, good beer, close family and a home to enjoy them all in.

24. You believe in nostalgia, lasting love and traditions

25. You let me help dress you, c'mon you needed it.... you know it :)

26. You love the beach as much as I do.

27. You and Porter have the same sneeze.

28. Family hugs are awesome....'nuff said

29. Your pretty much a gourmet grill-er.

30. You still have the same pet names for me and still use them daily

31. You self taught and know more about business than I can hold a candle to and I went to business school

32. You make me laugh and you aren't afraid to be silly.

33. You can quote music like a jukebox. For Real.

34. You are still a good 'ol Southern boy at heart

35. You try every day to make me happy in some way, even though I don't always make it easy on you.

Happy Birthday!

We love you.

Linsay, P-man, and New Baby

muah muah muah