Valor — Two Month Birthday

Dear Valor,

Happy two months! Time has flown. I can't believe it's been two months, but at the same time I feel like you were always here...always part of our family. Now that you are here, I can't imagine even a minute without you. Last night laying in bed I told your daddy that I missed you, even though you were just in the next room. You my little Valor bring so much joy and happiness to our lives.

You've grown at a crazy rate. You have moved from your premie clothes, into newborn clothes! You're already starting to lose your baby looks and are looking more like a little boy. You celebrated your first Halloween and dressed up as a skeleton...the cutest skeleton I have ever seen. Every day you're much more alert and ready to play. I think you're a morning person, just like me. The evening hours are tough as you cry and just want to be swaddled, fed, held and rocked.

You, my son, are the most important thing to your daddy and me. Over the past month, daddy and I made a big family decision. When I return to work, I'll be cutting down my hours so that I can be home more with you. Our time with you is so precious and fleeting. Though things may be a bit tighter, you my handsome wide-eyed boy are so worth every less dollar. This time is cherished as we do not know what tomorrow may bring - we clearly saw with your traumatic birth story. I am eager to snuggle and go on adventures these extra days together!

As we celebrate your two months with us, all I feel is blessed. Blessed that you're my boy. Blessed that you came early for some bonus days. Blessed that you are healthy. Blessed that you're growing. You are truly a gift!

I love you — always and forever,
Mama

Want to compare with Valor's month one photo? Check it out here.

Getting "Nothing" Done

So there are these days — usually and almost every day where I'm lucky to take a shower, unload the dishwasher, cook a meal or tidy up. Welcome to my new life. Life with a baby. I wouldn't trade my dirty house for anything though. I'm training myself and having to redirect my brain. Often times I think, oh my goodness, I'm getting "nothing" done, but then I remember I'm doing the most important thing — holding my baby. Just in these short six week with Valor, I've seen how fast he has already grown and changed. And in maybe a year or so, Valor isn't going to want these constant snuggles with mama. Things will be different. My baby boy will grow up and want to play in the mud. Which, I am excited for that stage too - each is special in its own way. But right now I'm reminding myself I am getting lots done — I'm accomplishing the most important thing. I'm bonding with my baby. I'm loving my baby. I'm snuggling my baby. I'm savoring his baby squeaks, snorts and clean baby scent. I'm taking a mental picture of his tiny features, the way he looks at me with heavy eyes and precious eyelashes. I hold him tight as he naps and his tiny pucker slowly phantom nurses. So I guess in the end, it depends how you define "nothing."

"Babies Don’t Keep"

Author: Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Valor's Newborn Photo Session

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.

Dorothea Lange

A week after Valor was born, we had Chrystl Roberge Photography come to our home and capture our sweet little one. In these photos, Valor is two weeks old (9/16/14). I cannot believe how much he has already changed from these photographs to now! Anyway, I'll stop talking and let you see some of the beauty that Chrystl captured: