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!

Henry is One month!

The past month has been a whirlwind of emotions- from the long labor/delivery (exhausting), to feeding and taking care of baby (restless)...and exhilarating! I had no idea being this tired could also be this rewarding! I don't mind the 2 am feedings just as long as I see that smile on my sweet boy! He brings so much unexplained joy to our lives and he continues to do so. I had no idea my heart was capable of loving this much, this deep, this endless. The best part is that I've fallen in love with Matt all over again. To see him as Daddy has been so amazing! He does diaper duty like a champ and he gives Henry great snuggles. I love my boys to pieces!

Since Henry was 2 weeks late, we joke that he's advanced! hehe He has been smiling ever since he was born, and no, it's not gas. ;) He has been practicing head control since he was 2 weeks, and now he is coo'ing and making all kinds of sweet 'hoo' noises like a baby owl. I'm amazed everyday at the strides this kiddo is making to learn things that we already do involuntarily. I keep telling him to slow down, but this lil dude is relentless; he's so eager to move! I find myself very emotional at times when I think about how fast it's going by, but then I reel myself back in and focus on the present!

He has a very calm demeanor and rarely cries. We take each day as a new slate as we learn our baby and our baby learns us. So far, we're the perfect pair; I can't imagine life without my mini Matt! He's the perfect mix of his father's looks and his mother personality. I love watching that flourish day by day.

Can you see why I'm so in love...his long eye lashes, the puckered lips, the rolls on the arms! This lil guy does not miss a meal and he nurses like a champ! Because of that, we count our days in rolls on the arms and thighs! Each day brings a new lil chub roll on our dough boy! Can't get enough of them.

I know I'm 2 days posting this, but I couldn't resist since the date is 11-12-13! Kinda crazy, kinda cool! Thanks for stopping by to read all about Henry and how we're adjusting. Check back soon for more pics and updates! It's hard to believe it's already been one month. 

Heisel Rules!

Welcome Baby Henry

It's been one week (yesterday) since we welcomed sweet baby Henry, which accounts for the delay in posting. We came home last Sunday and we've spent our time bonding with Henry as a family. It's been amazing!

It's been great to have Matt here as well! His work gave him 10 days off, which has been a HUGE blessing. He's been helping around the house and even taking care of me. We have our own little routine with Henry-I breastfeed and Matt does diaper duty! I think I have the better end of the deal considering Henry squirts very far...and often!

Yesterday was Henry's first doctor visit. He is completely healthy and even gained back all the weight he lost. When he was born he weighed 9.7 pounds, when we left the hospital he weighed 8.11 and now he's up to a whopping 9.9 pounds! He came out asking for a cheeseburger and hasn't stopped asking for more since! ;) We still find it hard to believe that he fit into my small frame! Here's my 41 week pic...6 days before he was born.

We had family visit the last 2 weeks and we ventured to the apple orchard the week before he was due-tried to walk him out!

Henry is such a joy to have around and I can't even imagine what life was like without him! We are so in love with this lil man! I especially enjoy seeing Matt hold him and talk to him. It has made me fall in love with Matt in a whole new way! I'm so proud of him for taking on this new role so naturally!

Henry is such a happy baby. He's always smiling and he's so alert and attentive. He rarely cries and seems to be satisfied most of the time, unless he's hungry and he takes his meals very seriously! ;) We couldn't be more blessed with our sweet baby boy! Even though he looks like his daddy, he has his momma's calm demeanor! ;)

What's New:
Henry is so attentive-he looks at you and even smiles when you talk to him.
He eats about every 2 hours.
LOVES to be swaddled!
He's getting chubby cheeks (again) and chubby arm rolls! Love a squishy baby!
He's discovering his hands-can almost get his thumb coordinated into his mouth.
Doesn't particularly like pacifiers.

Big thanks to everyone that visited us and sent their prayers and well wished during the labor and deliver! We are certainly blessed with great family and friends! HUGE thanks to our doula, Stacie Lopez with Empowered Birthing and our photographer Rachel Krull with Grace Abounds Photography who so lovingly stayed by our side. Special thanks to you ladies! Love ya! I'll post about our birth story very soon!

Have a great weekend!

Heisel Rules! {the Bump}