General Conference

As we prepare for General Conference I was reflecting on the last session of General Conference, and I remembered how much I loved one of the talks.

This one.

If you have a minute you should go read it, rather listen to it, it can get a little confusing with his wording.

" as a parent, when can I check a child off my list as done? We are never done being good parents. And to be good parents, one of the most important things we can teach our children is how to be more like the Savior."

There are a lot of passages from it that I like, but its more powerful if they are in context. I loved this talk because its one of the few that I felt actually told you how to parent, instead of giving guidelines, ideas, feelings, etc. I felt so much more prepared to have my first child after hearing this talk, and Henry came 3 days later. :)

Happy Conference everyone.

unplugged

my gorgeous friend Brittany, did something that made so much sense to me. she unplugged. you can read about it here.

I have always wanted to do something like that, but Jason's not really into that kind of thing. weirdo.

Sundays would be a great day to do that, but I also think I will try doing it during the week sometime. I think a tech free day for reflection and growth in the middle of the week would do me some good. She is calling her days unplugged, I am going to call mine tuning out to tune in. Meaning, tuning out the worldly things, TV, Facebook(eeks), blogs, internet, etc. to tune in to myself, my child, and the spirit.

Do it with me, I have no doubt that only good can from it.

152 days old

My little guy turned 5 months old yesterday.

awesome.

I can safely say we are not one of the parents that are upset their baby is growing up.

we have the best, cutest baby ever, but we still have realized we are not really baby people.

Henry is much more fun and easy now that he can be content playing by himself or just hanging out around us.

He laughs all the time, he looooves people, he is such an outgoing baby, and most of all he absolutely adores his dad. He gets so happy whenever he sees Jason and Jason can make him laugh hysterically. its so sweet.

He loves to stand, he just wants to stand all the time and he is getting pretty good at doing it on his own while holding something besides us.

He is also learning to sit, even though he hates it. He would much prefer to stand.

Jason is great at getting him to laugh and smile when I want to take pictures. :)

We have decided to stop trying to get him to roll from his stomach to his back. He just has no interest in it, and I kind of feel like he is going to skip crawling. He just loves to stand and it just makes sense that since he wants to stand all the time, it will eventually lead to walking.

so whatever.

Go with your own flow, Henry!

and Yes, he has a big head. 103%. and I love it.

almost 5 months!

Henry's such a sweet little guy. thats what everyone says. :)

Henry is doing REALLY well these days. He was sick for about 2 weeks, I slept on his nursery floor everynight, and we were constantly clearing his nose. Since then he is doing a lot better though. He is back to sleeping in his crib at night, he falls asleep on his own, doesn't need a bottle, and usually sleeps through the night. We are back on a babywise schedule which has been nice. He only eats 4 times a day now, but bigger amounts and with rice in his formula. 

He has no interest in anything having to do with being on his tummy. He LOOOVES standing, however. I suspect he will walk before he crawls. 

He still loves his daddy a ton. Smiles any time he can see Jason and he will just stare at him. I love the way Henry looks at Jason. 

I started going to the gym regularly now, and Henry goes to the daycare there. I was REALLY nervous about it at first, but I went in and took a look around, asked questions etc. All the workers there are moms themselves, so I feel 10 times better right there. Henry's first day he laughed and played, and fell asleep which means he was fine being there. I like him being in the daycare more than a babysitters, because if he needs me or I just wanna check on him, I can be there in 60 seconds. so I think its gonna work out good. :)

be my friend.

I took the plunge, I started a website for my photography. I am excited and also nervous. Its kind of a vulnerable thing to say you think you are good enough at something to make a website ya know? So help me out, its here, http://katiannphotography.blogspot.com/, follow me, and like me on facebook. help my ego. :)

rice and boys

This is Henry:

For those of you who don't know, Henry was born with an immature digestive system, making it so that digestive formula was painful for him. he spent the first month of his life crying all the time. After 1 instacare visit, 2 trips to primary childrens hospital, 9 formulas, and countless dr's visits, we finally found a formula that Henry was happy on, Nutramigen. Its expensive, smelly, and makes his poop absolutely rancid, but he makes him extremely happy. So we are happy.

Anyway, the point of that background, Henry can't digest regular formulas, and baby's on nutramigen typically don't start any kind of solid food until 6 months or up to 1 year. Before I knew that however, when Henry was 3 1/2 months I started putting rice in his formula and he loved it. He didn't have any issues with it, and he is gaining a ton of good weight on it. So the other day I decided to try feeding him just rice, I mean its the exact same as putting it in his formula only its a different consistency.

so we did.

and he loved it.

its too early to tell if he can digest it well, but I don't see why he wouldn't.

we aren't giving it to him a lot, just a little at dinner time in his high chair so mom and dad can eat their dinner together.

So there you have it. Isn't he so cute enjoying his rice?

I hope all I have are boys, and I hope they are just like Henry.

:)

oops...

Henry's really 4 months, but I am a little behind so here are his 3 month updates.

photography

sooo I have done about 10 photo sessions in the last little while. every time I do a session, it becomes my favorite. I feel like I keep getting better.

heres some of my favorites:

Henry is such a good little helper. part of his bedtime routine is actually spending about 10 minutes outside, after his bath. It happens to also be the perfect time for me to practice my "sun flare" effect. I don't like the look of sun flares, buts its trendy right now. I like bright vivid color, not a whole bunch of sun rays. but anyway, Henry is kind enough to be my model:

On a couple sessions he and Jason have come with me, and he hangs out in his stroller with his dad. I'd like to think he loves it:

P.S. I am not sure why, but these pictures look really dull and grey in blogger. they look a lot better on Facebook.

so there ya go. If you want a session, let me know. :)

today is a milestone for little Henry.

He totally rolled onto his stomach from his back.

and we, totally missed it.

blast.

oh well. I am sure it will look the same the next time he does it.

Here are some pics of the little guy.

he loooooooves his daddy:

loves to be held like this:

his dad hates having his picture taken, see here:

but I just think Henry's face is so hilarious in it, that I love it.

Well theres not much more to update on. I feel like all I blog about is Henry and his development, but thats really my life right now. We did start putting rice in his formula to get him to sleep longer at night, and it totally worked, BUT, he was sleeping in his swing, cause it was the only place he'd sleep. Now that he is able to roll to his side and move a little more, he fusses in his swing cause hes trying to roll onto his side and get comfortable, so its ruining his sleep. So, we are switching him to his crib and its been an adjustment. He hates it, wakes up twice a night again, and screams when we put him down. sigh. CAN NOT WAIT until he is older.

twice!

In June I posted 3 times.

In July I have posted once.

I totally suck.

Not much has been going on, as usual.

I have been pretty busy doing photography, and am loving it. Its a good getaway from mommy mode and helps me keep me, me.

This is my little cutie all snuggled in a towel with his dad, after a bath:

This is how much he looooves bath time:

I really just can't get enough of my cutie:

Soooo, a lot has happened that I swore wouldn't. We arent doing babywise, because of Henry's immature digestive system I don't think its right for him, right now. We stopped letting him cry it out, and he sleeps in his swing, in our room, at night. Oh, and he goes to sleep usually right after a bottle. Henry has been EXTREMELY needy of me lately, most of the time its cute and I love it, but it makes it hard for me to let someone babysit him.

Henry, hopefully, will start some sort of solid food in a few weeks when he is 4 months, and thats when I plan on trying to correct everything. His formula right now just doesn't keep him full at night so I just want him to be as comfortable as possible until we can feed him things that are more filling.

siiiigh. oh well.

You can try and plan things all you want, but once baby comes, you really need to read your baby and decide whats right for them.

WELL, the little bugger just woke up, gotta go.

July?!

sorry for no update, I been in a blogging slump but I will do my best, yet again, to keep you updated.

mostly on this little guy....

Henry is almost rolling! They say babies grow up over night, and its true, literally. Yesterday during tummy time Henry was holding his head up like half way, and wasnt using his arms AT ALL. Today I decided lets do some tummy time and voila!! head all the way up, using his arms and he is trying to ROLL!!! he kept teetering back and forth trying to flip over and he got almost all the way on his side, then he got frustrated and we stopped. I am ok with it because I am hoping he will do it this 3 day weekend when his dad can see. :)

He went through a huge growth spurt this week. Jason and I didn't figure out thats what was going on til about half way through it. He stopped taking his 3 hour morning nap, wanted to eat all the time, and was waking up twice a night instead of his usual once. I THINK, think, the growth spurt is over, its been about 5 days since it started, and he seriously grew over night last night!

Since we brought Henry home from the hospital he had problems with his digestive system, and it was miserable for all. 2 primary childrens hospital visits, 5 different dr's, 1 instacare visit, countless dr's phone calls, and they finally decided he has an immature digestive system. This is good, because he grows out of it around 6 months. Until then we have to have him on a really expensive pre-digested formula, he's been on it for almost a month now and is the happiest baby I have ever seen. the only down sides are, the poop smells absolutely horrid, and, because it is pre-digested, it goes through his system pretty quick so at night he still wakes up around 2 am needing to eat. but its alright, he eats, and goes right back to sleep, and its good snuggle time with my little guy.

I started doing photography. I know, it seems like everyone is a photographer these days, but why not? I have always loved taking pictures, and I finally figured out how to REALLY use my fancy shmancy camera, and editing software, so I am going to give it a shot. Plus I think there needs to be at least one actually affordable photographer who doesn't charge hundreds of dollars to take pictures. Right I am just doing sessions for free, to get practice and show people what I do, so if you or anyone you know want pictures done, I am free! :) my favorite to do so far is children. They are just fun and easy to get sweet pictures of. Its been really fun so we will see where it goes.

my weight loss is going good, I think. I have a rule that I don't weigh myself until I have been on the absolute right track for at least 1 month. Doing a daily, even weekly weigh is just too soon for me, in the beginning. But I have been doing great for 5 days, feel better, maybe even lighter, so in 25 days we will see. :)

well, I think thats it for now! :)

blerg.

alright, lets do an update.

It may be boring, I am not feeling spunky, but I must post or I may never.

Henry:

Is amazing. He is doing SO well since we figured out his medical issues. He has an immature digestive system, and acid reflux. So we give him daily meds, and he is on a VERY expensive pre-digested formula, with those two things he is the happiest baby. He is hitting his milestones early, already grabbing things, babbles all the time, and is ALMOST sleeping through the night, he only wakes once around 2-3 am. He is 97th percentile for height and 26th for weight. We oober love him.

Us:

we're good. life has a normal, and I almost love it. Everything, except my weight. Its disgusting, I hate it, I hate my body, my face, my clothes, everything about it. I refuse to not lose the weight. I refuse to be one of those moms talking about losing "baby weight" at my sons first birthday part. its no longer baby weight, its Kati weight, and it must go. I mean, I know I will be a better mom when I am a happier woman. I gained A LOT of weight during pregnancy, more than I care to admit. I lost a lot when I first had him, but now I have about 50 lbs more to lose before I back to normal. ironically enough I am exactly where I was when I first started losing weight, over 2 years ago.

The plan.

this weekend is my get ready to lose it weekend, I am going to indulge, eat whatever, and enjoy it, for come Monday, the eating is is changing. I will work on correcting my eat for the next 2 weeks, and then in two weeks, Henry will be 3 months old, and old enough for the gyms DAYCARE!! I am really excited about this and also really torn at the same time. I have never left Henry alone with a stranger, even at the hospital he only spent about 6 hours total in the nursery. So Jason and I may have to go in one day and meet the people there, and check things out so I will feel comfortable leaving him there. I just keep replaying in my mind all the horror stories out there about people abusing kids while tending them and I could never forgive myself if something awful happened to him. Did anyone else go through this the first time you left your baby with someone other than family?

anyway, follow along here if you care to follow my weight loss progress.

:)

theres your update.

sorry theres no pics. I am too lazy.

hello out there.

I am in a posting funk.

I haven't posted in weeks.

but I have nothing to post about.

but I am still here.

reading your posts.

so keep posting away.

documentation

This is how I am documenting Henry's(well all my children for that matter) milestones.

I am not big on long lists, or big explanations, so this simple unique way works perfect for me.

I will print these all out into scrapbook pages when he hits a year.

my baby is 2 months old!!! Its pretty exciting and lots of fun. I can't believe how fast time has gone by and am really excited about it. I love how much he is learning and doing these days, totally beats a newborn. :) As hard as it may be we are very excited for the toddler stage. :P