Our Week in Photos

 My new goal is to have at least one picture of August each day.  To up the ante, I'm even going to date them.  Let's see how long this resolution will last.

 Last Friday, the three of us went to dinner at the house of one of JP's coworkers, which was absolutely lovely!  We got home just in time for August to chug a bottle, which both of my men fell asleep during.  They could not be cuter.

 If you study the middle of this photo, you'll see JP relaxing in a hammock on Lake Lanier.  It was the first nice weekend on the lake in months!

 At my birthday dinner last Sunday, JP broke out the big guns.  I got a gorgeous necklace from J.Crew for my 27th (!!), and he also surprised me with a belated push present for carrying/delivering August.  It sounds goofy, but knowing that he appreciates how much work I put into being a good mom means even more than the gift.  Although, let's be honest, I'm not saying no to a diamond band from Tiffany.  I'm drawn to the sparkles.

The little man is getting so strong!  Check out that push up!

 On Monday, he wore an outfit styled by his Hein; pretty adorable, no?

 Look at this chunky monkey!  He's hovering around the 11 lb. mark, and it definitely shows during his bath time.  I love his little arm and leg rolls.

On Wednesday, August had to get 3 vaccination shots for his 2-month birthday.  What a crummy gift, huh?  He was so brave, and only cried/screamed for a fraction of a minute before calming down during a nursing.  (I, on the other hand, was trying to keep it together while a nurse shot him each time, and JP got choked up when he heard how many Band-Aids he had on those sweet legs.)  The rest of the day was spent sleeping and cuddling with me or JP.  Our courageous soldier!

How do you like JP's workshop?  He has commandeered the smaller of our two garages for a wood-working space, and has made all of the tables in there by hand!  I am endlessly impressed by his dedication to new hobbies.

 Still loving this door!

 My favorite necklace combination: cute teapot pendant from my bffl, a new Karma necklace from a recent friend who is already a favorite, and my Mrs. Diego wedding piece.

This is how August napped yesterday- right hand raised.  Weirdo.

Haley took this cute video of the little man's hiccups last week; I love it!

Labor Day

via

Months ago, my grandmother sent me a recommendation for this book, with a note that it was the first good book she'd read in a while.  Feeling in a bit of a book rut myself, I picked it up from my local bookstore (couldn't even wait to get it from the library!), and dug in.  

Maynard's sixth book follows the story of a young man, Henry, who runs into a stranger while running errands, and inexplicably invites him to go home with him and his mother.  Henry and his mother generally lead a solitary life; she has become somewhat of a hermit, and Henry is picked on at school.  The stranger gives their Labor Day weekend a dash of the extraordinary, although it is said that all good things must end.  

This novel is a wonderful read, quick but soulful.  Maynard imbues her characters with heart and they pop right off the page.  As the holiday is quickly approaching, I definitely recommend picking this book up to read by the pool! 

My Week in Photos

Last Friday morning, both of my babies got some cuddle time on the couch.  They are needy, but so totally cute!

Later that night, Auntie Haley and Uncle Matt came to visit!  On Saturday, we did some shopping around Canton Street in downtown Roswell.  August showed off his Elton John impersonation skills.

Most of his day was spent in the Ergo, though, sleeping through the drizzly weather.
Can I share the story of the moment I truly became a mom?
Haley, Matt, JP, and I were packing up the car to head back to our house.  Somehow, my car key ended up being locked in the trunk, which meant JP had to literally run back to the house, one mile away.  While he was gone, August decided he was hungry, and needed some of mama's milk. Haley and I wound up on a bench next to a parking lot, Haley holding up my cardigan while I nursed August. Matt had to pop into a restaurant to grab some napkins so I could wipe off August's wet chin, and then I felt him take a very large poop in his diaper.  Two minutes later (I cannot make this up), it began to rain.  Haley and I just sat on the bench and laughed.  Sometimes there's nothing else you can do.

 On Sunday, we went for a hike through the Leita Thompson Memorial Park; so lovely!

Can you find Haley?

If there is one thing you can count on August for, it's a goofy face.

After the walk, we got pedicures; Haley was very happy!

I got a glitter ombre pedi; it reminds me of the ocean.

Auntie Haley on baby duty.  It was a rough life.

Bath time!

My little man all clean and smelling yummy.

He's so handsome!

Gah, this is such a great picture of August and Haley!

Have you heard of the Nosefrida Snotsucker?  It is by far my favorite thing we registered for, if only for the name and purpose.  I won't get into specifics, but it is incredibly highly rated on Amazon, and really goofy but effective to use.

August in one hand, a cookie in the other, a Sweetwater Blue bottle on the end table, and Cheers on TV.  What more could an aunt ask for?

I'll close with August's sneaky face.  It's one of my many favorite things he does these days. 

What I've Learned About Parenthood as of August 21

1. Giving your baby a bottle of formula before bed does not make you a bad parent, nor will it tank your milk supply.  Formula takes longer to digest, which means you'll get more sleep; after weeks of sleeping in 2-hour increments, 4 hours will seem like a vacation.

2. It's okay to still wear your maternity jeans 7 weeks after your baby is born.  Likewise, it is okay to wear your pre-pregnancy jeans with the button undone AS LONG A SHIRT COVERS THE WAISTBAND.  Honestly, let's keep some modicum of decency here.

3. When your baby is screaming and fighting sleep, place him in a baby carrier and vacuum a room.  The white noise from the vacuum mimics the sounds he's used to in the womb, and the baby carrier leaves your hands free in case you need to down a beer to maintain your sanity.

4. The best thing you can do for new parents is bring easy-to-prepare food for them to eat, and offer to do laundry.  Seriously, where do all the dirty clothes come from?

5. Don't pass up an opportunity to pee.  Your baby may decide in 2 minutes that he's hungry and will be attached to the breast for 45 minutes; you'll wish you'd hit up the bathroom when you had a free moment.

6. If nursing, a Netflix account is indispensable.  I nurse anywhere from 3.5-6 hours daily, and have worked my way through some great TV shows during that time.

7. Remember all those people who said, 'Enjoy this time, they grow up so fast?!'  They weren't kidding.  August has gained 4ish pounds since he came home from the hospital, and those preemie pj's he wore at first seem like a distant memory.

8. It's okay to change your plans about parenting.  I truly thought I would love breastfeeding and it would come naturally to us; I didn't love it at first, and it didn't come easily.  We had to use nipple shields (which some people are vehemently against, unnecessarily so), pump to get my supply up, it would take him over an hour at each feeding, and I still ended up having to supplement with formula to help him get rid of his jaundice.  I thought to myself, 'This is not how I envisioned this going, and I'm a bad mom.'  I had this idea in my head of what a good mom looks like, and I was not meeting it.
You know what?  August is doing great.  He can down a bottle or a breast now with no problem or extra assistance.  Most of our feedings take 45 minutes now, and they're spaced further apart.  I actually like our late-night meetings; it's just the two of us, and he makes the cutest faces and hand motions while he's eating.

9. No one cares what you're wearing as long as your baby is happy and well cared for.  A couple weeks ago, August was dressed in an outfit consisting of socks, a polo onesie, pants, a cardigan and hat- all matching.  I was in pajama pants, a nursing tank, and Converses.  When I got to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law's for lunch, they didn't even mention my pj's, just went straight for the baby.  Expectations for your appearance pretty low right now.

10. In order to be a good parent, sometimes you have to let someone else hold him while you take a nap.  It is simply impossible to be good at anything when you're going on just a smidge of sleep.  Take the offer of someone else watching your baby and crash for 45 minutes.  It's amazing what it will do for your psyche.

Our Week in Photos. Mostly of August.

 An epic staredown between my Diego men.

How adorable are these lion jammies?!  August is so precious in them, and is doing a mini Zoolander face to model them properly.

Last weekend JP got pretty into wake surfing; I love seeing him behind the boat like that.  He's so good!

The little man is just not sure about bathtime.

On Tuesday, August and I went to a mommy group, so he got dressed in his Florida Keys tee to impress the ladies.

Here he is practicing his sensitive artist look.  

During the group itself, August was so alert!  He hasn't really been around other babies, and he really seemed to enjoy it.  His eyes kept darting around, as if he didn't realize there were other babies in the world. 

We met at a church about 15 minutes from our house, and there were 30ish other moms and infants there.  From my own standpoint, it was great to get out and be around other moms, many of them with their first babies too.  We were nursing without covers, chatting about milestones, and exchanging sleep tips; it felt like a real community.  I can't wait to go back!  Especially since sometimes a group will go out for pizza afterwards.  I'm always up for pizza. 

I love his ducky towel!

And, lest you think we forgot about our fur baby, Mia got and destroyed a new toy this week.  That monkey never even stood a chance.

Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie

You may have noticed that pregnancy and now parenthood have brought out the carnivore in me.  I didn't grow up in a vegetarian household, and all I'm craving right now is comfort food.  For me, that means meaty lasagna, chicken pot pie, chili (yes, even during the dog days of Atlanta summer), and biscuits.  However, I've got a 6-week old to entertain and keep an eye on, and not a ton of energy to make these traditionally time-intensive meals.
I've done some tweaking on the standard c.p.p. recipe, and think this is quite possibly the easiest chicken pot pie recipe ever.  Everything is cooked in the same pan that it's baked in (!!), we use storebought pie crust and precooked chicken , and you could even buy pre-cut veggies from a salad bar if you were so inclined.  Does it get any easier?
You're welcome.  And dig in!

Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie
1 storebought pie crust, thawed if frozen
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 carrots, peeled and sliced thinly
1 onion, chopped
1/2 bag frozen corn (about 2 c.)
1/2 bag frozen peas (about 2 c.)
2 c. rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. flour
2 c. chicken stock
1 c. heavy cream or whole milk
1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Heat olive oil in cast iron skillet until shimmery, then add carrots and onions.  Sautee until onions are mostly translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add corn and peas, and cook through.  Toss in chicken and seasonings, stirring to coat all veggies and protein.  Sprinkle in flour and cook another minute.
3. Add in chicken stock and cream, and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.  When liquid is thickened, about 15 minutes, top skillet with pie crust and brush with an egg wash.
4.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until crust is golden brown.  Remove from oven, serve, and enjoy!

Gratuitous Photos of August

 August, Mia, and I generally get some good couch time in the afternoons.  Good thing our sofa is big enough for all three of us!

 Morning snuggles with my little man last week; he usually eats at 7ish, then takes a little nap, which I sometimes join him for!

This kid knows how to yawn!  It looks like a roar, but then just ends with him smacking his lips together.  So cute!

 Last Sunday, we ventured out for our first mini-hike!  Our family loaded up in the car and headed to Roswell Area Park, where Mia and JP jogged for a few miles while August and I walked behind them. He likes being in the Ergo baby carrier!

 Modeling the effectiveness of some new jammies.

 Sometimes, he needs a quick rest before his nightcap with me.

 On Tuesday afternoon, August, Mia and I ventured up to the lake house for some downtime with Abuela and Tia Belen.  He had a really good time!

It completely wore him out to be stared at and adored for hours on end.

And here he is practicing some soccer kicks with his dad.  We can't start him too young!

I'll close with this quick video of August's yawn in action.  This is my life; it's not too shabby.