The Knowledge of a Newborn.

As of Friday the 13th of this month, Stryder is a whopping 5 months old! Ashlee and I can barely believe our baby boy is getting so big on us this fast! (Wow, I wore out the letter "b" in that sentence!) One amazing gift of parenthood is getting the chance to watch my son's mind grow and expand! Every day, he learns something new and I am right there with him to receive that wide-eyed look of astonishment that says, "Look Mommy! Look what I did!" Speaking of learning things, when Stry learned how to laugh, that sound just melted our hearts. As I type this, Stryder is in the floor cackling at his Daddy and I find myself giggling too. To anyone who is expecting a child or will be one day, the sound of your baby laughing is the happiest sound in the world. You can't help but to laugh along. That's one of the best moments in my family, when Stryder, Ashlee, and I are all giggling until our cheeks hurt! It's just so sweet. 

Silly Little Stryder!

He has seriously learned so much in the past 5 months from figuring out he has hands, to using them to grab and hit things (including his Momma and Daddy!). As well as finding his toes, and trying his hardest to get them in his mouth! He is also able to sit up by himself now, which is bittersweet to us, cause that just means he is a little less dependent to his parents, wait...what am I saying? Being less dependent is a good thing right? Maybe that means I can catch a break here and there! But not for long, cause Stryder is also on the hot pursuit to crawl! He is so determined to finally get moving that I don't think it will be too much longer until I'm blogging about getting chased around my apartment by the most handsome little boy around. :)

The First Months!

You always here people say "Parenting is harder than you think!" but, strangely for us, it came so naturally. We just knew how to comfort our son, how to hold him, how to change his diapers, and especially how to love him. I will never love something or someone as strong and pure and whole as I love my son. That's the truest statement I have ever said in my life. Things that I had thought were so important in my life are so petty now compared to being everything my son needs. But let's get back on track...

The first few weeks were all about routine. He slept, he ate, he pooped, we changed him, we bathed him, he slept, he ate, he pooped. Now repeat that 500 times! :) He was/is such a good baby. Hardly ever cries, so happy, and so alert! From the day he was born, he has always been looking at everything with his huge eyes! He pays attention to everything around him, it's truly amazing to watch him watch everything else. He didn't start smiling hardcore until he was about 2 months old, but man since he started he hasn't stopped!! He has the most amazing smile! It's so huge, from ear to ear! And he has HUGE dimples!


 People keep telling me that his dimples will make him such a lady's man when he gets older, so I'll definitely have to keep a lookout for that!! ;)

9 Months Later...

My due date was August 7th. That day came, but still no baby. Our families were going crazy, waiting for our little baby boy to make his way on out. But no one was as anxious as his awaiting parents. I honestly do not think I have ever walked that much in my life, in hopes that I would convince labor into starting. But that didn't work. I tried all the old wives tales that supposedly got labor into going, but our son was staying in there until he decided he was ready to meet the world. Then Friday night, on the 12th, I went into labor. I had no idea what labor was, so I kept calling my Momma, and between us...we just didn't think I was about to have a baby. My Daddy finally made the call to head on to the hospital at about 1 in the morning. And when my family got here, the contractions started! I ended up having about a 7 hour labor, it was rough...but I held to my birth plan and went through it all completely naturally. My sisters were amazing during the labor, they kept me strong. Ashlee didn't stay in the room much, because every time he was there I would just yell at him. In my defense, I was going through labor! :) Anywho, at 9:56 on Saturday morning, Stryder Grey Warren was born. He weighed 7lbs. 9oz. and he was 22 in. long! I saw the most beautiful thing I had ever seen when I first laid eyes on him. I was beyond elated, and beyond exhausted! But he was perfect. Ashlee and I fell absolutely in love with our son. 

The Process Of Pregnancy!

It truly is insane how a child grows inside of their mother. I never knew how amazing the process is until I went through it. Yes, the rumors are true. You do get sick, you do have heartburn, your baby will kick your ribs until you think they are broken...but, you are the home to your child. You feel them before anyone else, you are their only source of food and warmth. They learn your voice, they know you. You build the strongest bond ever to exist. You learn what love truly means. You learn what fear truly means, as well. You prepare, you grow up, you become a Mother. It's beautiful. Ashlee was terrific through the whole 9 months. He stuck it out through every mood swing, fixed me food every time I was hungry, even shaved my legs for me when I couldn't reach them! :) It was the most lovely experience!

Yes, I know what you are thinking...I WAS HUGE!