Canaan {10 Months}

I could literally eat him with a spoon. Cutest, sweetest baby EVER.

on.the.move.

Size: 17 lbs on home scale, size 4 diapers, size 9-12 month clothes
Eat: Drinks 5 oz bottle 4 times a day. Loves to eat noodles, muffins, fruit bars, yogurt, Cheerios, goldfish, sweet potatoes, chicken, Mum Mums, and fruit/veggie pouches. 
Sleep: Sleeps 7:30 pm-8:30 am. Naps from 10-12 in the morning and 3-5 pm roughly. 
Milestones: 
~has a top third tooth poking through
~babbling nonono and recognizes Finley as "dog" or "dah"
~has officially outgrown his dairy and soy intolerance!!!
~waves
~pulling up to stand
~crawls a mile a minute around our house. Can't turn your head!
Likes: food, playing on the floor, being outside, water, Finley, swinging, obsessed with turning on the Roomba and taking the door stops off of the wall :) 
Dislikes: being away from Mama, getting hungry or sleepy 

Happy 3rd Birthday, Levi!

On this day 3 years ago at 8:28 am we met our baby boy for the first time. There is no thrill or joy quite like delivering your first born child into the world and seeing that long-awaited face you've imagined for the last 9 months. I sobbed when I heard Levi let out his first cry and as I watched the emotion on Ryan's face as he saw our son take his first breath. Those first few moments together as a new family of 3 are etched into my brain forever. After the commotion of delivery was over and it was just the three of us in the room, Ryan prayed over our little family. I will never forget holding Levi in my arms and looking into his eyes as I listened to Ryan pray for God to bless Levi's life and us as his parents.

Fast forward three years and we see God answering those prayers for Levi and developing him into an amazing little boy. Over the last three years we have watched Levi's personality blossom and have continually been amazed at his vocabulary, comprehension, memory, and how quickly he learns things. Watching him learn and grow has been so much fun for us. He is a thoughtful and caring little boy and I pray he always demonstrates Christ-like compassion and love for others. His teachers say he should grow up to be a doctor because he is always taking care of his classmates... bringing them water when someone is coughing, giving hugs when someone falls down, checking on his friends when they are upset. He is quick to calm Canaan when he cries and assures him: "it's ok Cay-Cay!" He's always thinking of others. I love that about him.

He runs a mile a minute from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to bed. I love his energy and zest for life. Much like his Daddy, he is almost always in a cheerful mood. He loves to be outside driving his white truck and his clubhouse/swing set is his favorite place to be. He loves to go to church and to school, really loves Pelican's, and his favorite people are Finley (his tender and constant, furry companion), Daddy, and Jayce. He also dearly loves his Mommy and Brother. He loves music and has a whole playlist of favorite songs. I love that about him too.

He has a strong will but also has a strong desire to please. He is well mannered and knows his boundaries. We pray with him each night that he will one day love and follow Jesus and that he will be obedient to us so that one day he will be obedient to the Holy Spirit. He is learning God's Word and has almost memorized Psalm 23 in its entirety. Nothing makes my heart soar like hearing him say those verses. I pray he will understand and know God as his Shepherd who cares and tends to him, leads and comforts him, and restores and protects him.

I think my favorite thing about Levi right now is his affection for us and his friends. He is a lover-- always hugging us and always wanting to snuggle. He calls us back into his room every.single.night for "one more hug." Nearly every day he leans in close and tells us, "Daddy/Mommy, you're my best buddy." My heart skips a beat every time.

It's hard to believe how much he's grown and developed over these last 3 years. It's all happening so fast. While some days feel long, I know time is passing all too quickly. I savor each day I get to spend  with him and Canaan and thank God for two healthy, precious boys. I look forward to watching God mold and shape them and will praise Him for each day, week, month, year I get to love and celebrate them.

Thank you, God, for entrusting us with Levi three years ago today and for each day we've had the privilege of being his Mommy and Daddy. He is the real gift to us.

Happy 3rd birthday, Levi. 

Celebrating the big "3" with his favorite: a chocolate sprinkled donut

In his "clubhouse"

Jayce

Loves his Aunt HaHa

Canaan {9 Months}

Size: 16+ lbs on home scale, size 3 diapers, size 9-12 month clothes
Eat: Nurses/takes bottle 5 times a day. Eats solids for breakfast, lunch and dinner and lots of teething crackers.
Sleep: Sleeps 7:30/45 pm-8:30 am. Naps from 10-12 in the morning and 3-5 pm roughly. 
Milestones: 
~has a second bottom tooth!
~babbling Dada all the time 
~claps on command
~signs "more"
~waves
~scoots around on his bottom (not crawling) and can cross a room in no time to get whatever he wants
~still dairy and soy free but I think it's improving slowly but surely
Likes: bath time. The kid goes bananas in the bath. He scoots around, splashes, steals Levi's toys. It's his favorite place to be. Can't wait to see him in the pool this summer. He loves to go for walks, play with Finley, and loves to play with Legos. 
Dislikes: Not loving food right now. He's in a weird transition from baby food to finger food and doesn't love certain textures in his mouth and gags at them (chunks of banana and avocado particularly). Just got to keep offering and hope that something will stick soon!

Canaan {8 Months}

Size: 16 lbs?, size 3 diapers, size 9 month clothes
Eat: Nurses 5 times a day. Eats solids for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
Sleep: Sleeps 7:30/45 pm-8:30 am. Naps from 10-12 in the morning and 3-5 pm roughly. 
Milestones: 
~scooting around on his bottom. He rocks on all fours but not crawling yet.
~bottom front tooth popped through! And two more are not far behind. 
~working on signs for "more" and "milk"
~talks all the time-loves to hear his voice. The louder the better. 
Likes: baby mum mums and puffs, drinking water in his sippy cup, sitting in big boy high chair at restaurants, petting Finley, being with big bro, being outside 
Dislikes: teething :( 

Canaan {7 Months}

Size: 16 lbs, size 3 diapers, size 6-9 month clothes
Eat: Nurses about 5-6 times a day. Eats solids at breakfast and dinner. 
Sleep: Sleeps 7:30 pm-8:30/9 am. Naps from 10:30 am-12:30 pm and 3:30 pm-5 pm roughly. 
Milestones: 
~now sits in the front seat in the stroller 
~sits without support on the floor 
Likes: taking baths with big brother, eating big boy food, riding in the stroller, playing with (Levi's) toys
Dislikes: his highchair, not being held, being away from mommy

Canaan {6 Months}

A half a year with this sweet little thing!! Can't even believe it! Time is flying but we are enjoying every minute with our precious little Canaan. He is so happy and playful and smart. I kiss him a million times a day. He loves interacting with Levi and I look forward to what God will do in their relationship in the days, months and years ahead. 

Size: 14 lbs 11 oz at his 6 month checkup. Doc says he's "long and lean" because he's 72% length and 5% weight. I guess I make skim milk? Ha.
Eat: Still nursing every 2 or so hours during the day- with naps that ends up being about 5-6 times a day. For solids he eats a fruit in the morning and a veggie at night right now. 
Sleep: sleeps 8 pm-8 am usually and takes a two hour morning nap and a 1.5 ish hour afternoon nap. 
Milestones: 
~Sitting up now and plays on the floor with his toys!
~Has eaten lots of veggies! peas, avocado, squash, zucchini, carrots, bananas, pears, sweet potatoes
Likes: grabbing my face with both of his hands, sitting and playing on the floor with his toys, interacting with big brother, singing wheels on the bus, jumping in his jumper, falling asleep in the car
Dislikes: being away from mommy, teething, getting hungry 

Canaan {5 Months}

Size: weighs 15 pounds, wears 6-9 month clothes, size 2 diapers
Eat: Nurses every 2-3 hours or takes 5 oz bottle of breastmilk
Sleep: Canaan goes to bed at 8/8:30 pm and wakes anywhere from 8-10 am. Sleep has not been as predictable this past month. I thought after his 4 month growth spurt was over we were good to go but we've dealt with some sleep regression these last few weeks. Some nights he would sleep 12-13 hours without waking and then others he would wake once or twice a night wanting to eat. Fortunately he nurses quickly and goes right back to sleep. He has slept great the last couple of nights so hopefully we are getting back to 12-13 hour nights. :) He still naps 2-3 times a day and has been so flexible with the craziness of Christmas by napping on the go. 
Milestones: 
~Rolled from back to tummy on Dec. 14
~Had his first bite of food on Jan. 1- peas! Didn't love them.
~No more swaddle
~Takes his Paci in and out of his mouth
~Major teething signs- drooling and constantly chewing on fists/fingers
~Sitting up with help
~Found his toes and loves to grab/hold his feet
Likes: jumping in his jumper! I think we have another jumper lover on our hands. Loves playing with toys, being in mama's arms, when big brother talks and plays with him, baths, playing peekaboo- he smiles and laughs and then buries his head and it's my favorite
Dislikes: being away from mama 

Canaan {4 Months}

Loves those fingers!

Size: weighs 13.5 pounds, wears 3-6 month clothes, size 2 diapers
Eat: Nurses every 2-3 hours and takes about 5 oz each time (5 feedings a day)
Sleep: sleeps 8 pm-9 am :) He had a little growth spurt a week or so ago and would wake once in the night to eat but it only lasted about a week. Still takes 3 naps a day. 
Milestones: 
~Stays in childcare now for my Tuesday morning Bible study and for Sunday morning at church! 
~Reaches for his bottle, Paci, Sophie, toys, etc.
~Loves sitting up and standing in my lap
~Found his toes and loves to grab them
Likes: watching big bro, playing on the floor, snuggling his loveys, sucking his hands/fingers
Dislikes: sleeping without being swaddled. 

Canaan {3 Months}

Levi wanted to join the fun too :)

Size: Weighs 12+ pounds, still size 1 diapers, wearing 3-6 month clothes
Eating: Nurses every 2-2.5 hours during the day like clockwork
Sleeping: Sleeps 12 hours straight at night! Usually 8:30 pm-8:30 am. He likes to take a long morning nap and a long afternoon nap and catnaps here and there during the day. Praise the Lord for another great sleeper!
Milestones:
~First night in the crib was Oct. 17 and he's been there ever since for naps and at night
~Rolls on his (left) side to sleep
~Constantly rolling from tummy to back
~First belly laugh Nov. 1
Likes: his mama. :) Loves to swat at the hanging toys when he's in his blue rocking seat, tummy time, his fish tank in his crib, sitting in the bumbo
Dislikes: HATESSSSS the carseat. Also hates when I slip up and accidentally eat some form of dairy/soy. Usually comes back to haunt us in the form of vomiting, crying, and bad diapers. I've been dairy and soy free since he was 2 weeks old. He presented the exact same symptoms as Levi so his doctor advised me to adjust my diet-- and sure enough that was it. I know what to do this go 'round so it hasn't been a big deal at all. It's helped him gain great weight from the start so it's worth the sacrifice for sure.

Canaan {2 Months}

Oh, Canaan, you are the sweetest little baby!! Your smile and easy going spirit make me forget how traumatizing your birth was! haha ;) He is the best baby and we are enjoying every minute with him. 

Size: weighs 11.4 pounds, size 1 diapers, size 0-3 month clothes
Eat: Nurses every 2 hours during the day unless he takes a long nap and then it's 3 hours. So thankful that he's a great nurser; we've never skipped a beat!
Sleep: Sleeping anywhere from 8-10 hours at night- hooray!! Around 5 weeks old he started hitting the 8 hour mark. I usually put him down for the night (in his rock n play) around 9 pm or so and he sleeps until around 6 am. I nurse him at 6 and then put him right back down and he sleeps for another 3 hours. After he wakes around 9 am we start our eat/play/sleep routine every 2-3 hours. :) 
Milestones: 
~sleeping 8-10 hours through the night!
~He rolled from tummy to back on accident a week ago while on his playmat :) 
~He's been coming with me to my Tuesday morning Bible study for several weeks now but had his first Sunday morning at church on Sept. 17 and got to hear Ryan preach ;) We have been sitting in the nursing room and listening until he gets all of his vaccines and can go to the nursery. 
Likes: interacting with people-- he likes to see faces and be held and talked to. He loves his mommy's arms and to be snuggled tight. I don't mind it either ;)
Dislikes: loud noises. He gets very upset when Levi gets too loud or the dog barks. 

Fam of Four

3 weeks old 

Big thanks to Courtney Wise for our first pictures as a family of four. We are so grateful for your talent and for capturing these moments. These were just some of my very favorites, but I will treasure all of them forever.