New Year 2014

Wow. 2013. This is the year that I'll always remember, for this year made me a momma. This miracle in itself is awesome but the changes it made in me are even more amazing.

Most little girls dream mostly about their wedding day, but I actually dreamt more about being a mom. (No offense, honey. I LOVED our wedding!) Playing dolls was my favorite, and I knew I was made to be a mom. A few bumps in the road and now I hold the title of mom, and I'm so proud.

I've changed my whole perspective on all things motherhood.- it's harder and easier than I thought. Harder because childbirth tests every emotional/physical limit I didn't even know I had, and I never imagined loving someone so much and being responsible for his every need, for his life. He depends on me. And easier because nothing beats the joy he brings to us. I can't imagine life without him!

I've learned that a mother's body is beautiful, not flawed. I look past stretch marks and now think of the important job they do-to compensate for all the love that momma is growing! These two oversized melons that I've vainly always wished for now provide nourishment for my baby but will one day not be so perky, and my flabby belly provides a perch in which my baby can rest while I'm nursing him or holding him in my arms and rocking him. And this scar below my bikini line represents the final moment when my son and I were one. It's true, my body will never be the same again, but the happiness I get when I see my sweet baby boy far outweighs any happiness I thought I had before. If my body had to change to reach this level of happiness, then it's worth it.

You wanna know the best part? My son loves me as I am- I, alone, am enough. Even better? My husband says he loves me even more now! How is that possible?! :)

during pregnancy

after pregnancy

I still find amazement in the fact that I grew a human-my squishy baby boy, and nothing will compare to that! Nothing. Just the thought that I housed two heartbeats instead of just one still amazes me! When I look at my baby boy I see his handsome father, I see his bright future, I see love. I've never been more proud of something I made. He's my greatest accomplishment to date for sure.

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

And as I sit here gazing at my husband sleeping soundly on the couch and listening to the hum of the baby swing swaying back and forth nestling one of my dearest treasures, I couldn't imagine a more perfect year or night. I'm here, I'm well, and I'm so happy!

I'm not big on resolutions in the new year, so instead I'll simply focus on one word-Joy. As we welcome 2014, I'll focus on finding more joy- joy in the little things, the big things and all the things in between. Just joy. I pray that each of you get everything that you wish for out of the new year, and I wish you all the happiness that I have discovered, that has discovered me. I'm blessed beyond measure, and I'm delighted to see what the future holds!

Happy New Year!

Heisel Rules!

Henry's First Christmas

What a blessing this year has been! Welcoming Henry to the family has been such a joy! I'm not sure there's anything more rewarding than celebrating all the "firsts" with a new baby! So far we've done Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now Christmas! It's been so fun to start new traditions with Henry-real Christmas tree (daddy hunted it out this year since it was too cold for Henry to be out), seeing Santa and new jammies on Christmas Eve! I'm sure we will start other new traditions as Henry gets older, and I so look forward to that! Having Henry has given us new meaning to our holidays, making them even more special, and we are thoroughly enjoying it!

Before we left for Illinois, we let Henry open one present because I…errr I mean HE was just sooo excited! It's a Pottery Barn chair! You'll probably see this gem in his upcoming monthly photo shoots! ;)

My lil BIG guy!

See? He LOVES it! ;)

Yesterday (Christmas Eve) we got to visit with Henry's Nannie (Candy) and Poppa (Andy)! They got Henry the Llama Llama series books, a Baby Gap outfit, and a puppy stuffed animal! BUT I think his favorite by far was the red wrapping paper! He LOVED it! Ha! Henry is so excited to play with all his new things! Thanks, Nannie and Poppa!

Today (Christmas Day) we celebrated with Granny (Donna), Grandpa (Bryan) and Gram Joyce. We ate yummy prime rib! Henry got a sweet stuffed teddy bear and a gift card to get something fun from his Amazon wish list! Thanks Granny, Grandpa and Gram Joyce!

So, we will leave you with our Christmas Eve jammer pic! 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight! 

Heisel Rules!

Henry is Two Months!

The exclamation mark in the title in no way means that I am excited to be typing this-my baby is two months old- TWO MONTHS, and growing so fast!! Time is flying at a rapid pace and I fear that it will pass too soon right before my eyes. I take every moment I can to hug, kiss and cuddle my lil chubby cheeked, roley poley, smiley guy as much and as often as I can, after all, one day I will not be able to do that any longer, that or he will no longer want it, whichever comes first! Who am I kidding, I'll still cuddle him even when he's grown; he's my baby! ;) It's been so much fun so far watching him learn new things and seeing life through new eyes! I'm truly excited about what's still to come!

Ok, off my hormonal, new mom diaper wipes soap box- onto some 2 month pics of my sweet Prince Henry!

About Henry-
Henry has been making strides doing life! This lil late arriver is starting to "talk" more. He says "ahgoo", and "oo", "coo", "hoo" (we call him baby owl), and a variety of other sounds. He loves when you say "Oooooo" to him, with BIG eyes and wide, open mouth! He's starting mimicking facial expressions and sounds. Matt was teaching him "oo" last night and Henry was copying him. So sweet! Sometimes Henry gets this look like he's taking it all in and you can almost see his brain growing. I remember back to the Bio Physical Profile ultrasound that we had done of him at 41 weeks. The tech said that he had a LOT of brain activity and even called his brain 'beautiful'. Oh shucks! ;)

This lil guy has been grabbing things a lot more lately. Yep, that means he's found momma's long hair! He doesn't quite pull yet, but I know it's comin soon!

Kicking! Oh the kicking! He has the strongest lil chubby thighs and legs! He kicks me all the time when we're cuddling or even when I'm just holding him. He likes to practice standing, assisted of course! We were just watching him tonight pull his little legs up in the air when he was laying on his back. I'm thinking he will be discovering his lil toes before long!

He is focusing more on objects now. He has a toy zebra that we hang on his stroller and carseat and he stares at it. He also has a play mat (jungle gym) with things that hang over his head to look at. He stares and "talks" to the stuffed monkey that hangs down. It's so adorable to see him try to interact with monkey. The funny thing is, there's a toucan and and elephant he could talk to, but he chooses monkey!   We put up our Christmas tree this past week and got twinkling/blinking lights and he's starting notice them. He likes lights.

Henry is happiest in life in the morning. I'm always greeted by him with wide eyes and big grin. Nothing wakes me up better than that! Better than coffee in the morning, well, almost! ;)

We did his unofficial measurements at home tonight and he is 17 pounds and about 25 inches long! BIG, healthy boy! We've had to move up to size 2 diapers already!! I prepared ahead of time and bought diapers before he was born, like LOTS of diapers. Now, I have several boxes of unused size 1 diapers! Oh well, at least he's healthy, and diapers never expire!

Still hard to believe that big baby was growing in me!  I made him! :) We spend a lot of time analyzing his looks, trying to figure out who he looks like most. Well, I'm pretty sure Matt plucked him right out of his butt because he looks SO MUCH like Matt! That's ok, though, because Daddy's a handsome guy! ;)

Well, just like any doting mother, I could go on and on about how wonderful motherhood is and how I just adore my new little family, but I'll spare everyone all the details. Take my word, I LOVE this new lil dude and everything about him! I think I'll keep him! ;)

Truth is, I fall more in love with him everyday. 

Heisel Rules!

Thankful for what I lost

I feel like I should preface this post by saying, I'm not thankful for everything that I've lost, read further to fully understand what I mean by "what I lost".

...................

November is the notorious month of being thankful, and in my effort to document my little family's life, I, too, wanted to make note of the things I am thankful for as of late...

My new perfume is the scent of baby barf that seems to accumulate all over-it's like an epidemic some days!

My new 'do is a messy bun on top of my head...

My new style is a pair of leggings, and a comfy t-shirt that I can easily whip out a boob at a moment's notice (to feed the baby, that is)....

My heels have been replaced with a pair of low, comfy shoes-boots as of late...

Victoria Secret has been replaced with Motherhood wear- nuff said! ;)

What was once sleep-filled nights is now 2, 4, and 6am feedings.

And let's not forget losing my pride! Having a baby has a way of taking your pride, throwing it on the ground, and stomping on it. Oh, and then laughing. Yes, it's that cruel!

Nights snuggled up to the mister watching a movie are now spent with baby laying between us, blowing up his diaper followed by glances of "nooo, it's YOUR turn to change him!" and then analyzing the color of his poo to make sure he's still complying with the newborn poo guidelines. (Don't act like you never did that!) Romantic, huh?

And what was once 8 hour work days, filled with gratifying work I was paid for are now 24 hour UNPAID days of feeding, changing, calming, rocking and playing/teaching the tiny, drooling human.

In fact, there's not much that is the same since this tiny human being has entered my life.

BUT, I'm ok with all of this because for everything that I 'lost', I have gained a new life with the sweetest baby boy. So, my month of November has been filled with thankful thoughts of all the things I  lost, happily.

I do often wonder if my new identity is permanent or just a new mommy trying to figure it all out. Either way, when a puckered lip is made all better by momma's hugs, or when I see Matt in his daddy role- changing a diaper or rocking the baby (and I think, "he's never looked sexier"), or when I'm cluster feeding and I'm sure this is the time my nipples will fall off, or when the babe lights up and gets that BIG gummy grin on his face when he hears my voice or sees my face (nothing melts my heart more)- it's then that I know that I'm right where I need to be, and it's all the reassurance I need. So, I'm thankful for my new role, my new identity-as Henry's mom, even if that means I've lost my former identity, just a little.

Afterall, what I've gained far outweighs what I 'lost'.

Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll! 

Heisel Rules!