One Month Already!

Our sweet boy is already a month old! He is such a sweet and cuddly baby.

1 month stats
Weight: 9 lbs. 13 oz. (a gain of 1 lb. 9 oz.)
Length: 22 1/4 in. (one inch longer)
Clothing size: Newborn
Diaper size: Newborn
Eats: about 3 oz. of milk every 2-3 hours


He only cries when he is hungry, has gas :) , or has a cold wipey on his bum. He is a champion grunter though!

He is trying very hard to hold his head up!

He has been sleeping really well so far. I know he'll be awake more now that he is getting bigger but at night he has been a dream! He goes to bed between 10 and 11. Most nights he wakes at around 3 and 6, and sometimes will even go back to sleep after that. Some nights, he's a little hungrier and wakes up around 1, 4, and 7.

He makes the cutest noises when he drinks his bottles.

He is very alert and curious when he's awake.

He loves his sister! They are getting used to each other more and more every day. He deals with being patted and poked and squeezed. She deals with him getting some of the attention she has had a monopoly on for years. The first few weeks were pretty hard for her, but she is coming around. She is a wonderful big sister and a great helper for me and her daddy.

He has been to many more places at his age than Leah. He has been to Leah's dance class 3 times, two restaurants, the mall, and other various errands with Mommy. He sleeps through most of it though!

We feel so blessed to be a family of four. I feel like he has been a part of our family for much longer than a month. I'm just hoping he doesn't grow up too fast!

Here are a few pictures from this month:

First bath at home

 I can't resist a baby burrito!

Playing with Daddy

Baby feet with those LONG toes

Neckid!

Sister kisses

Double towel technology

Burping is not his favorite!

Our Family of Four

We absolutely are in love with this new baby boy! And we have also figured out that adjusting to life as a family of four has its ups and downs.

The good:

- Justin and Leah have been getting closer than ever. She is becoming that daddy's girl that I have always known she would become. Justin has been amazing at taking the lead with her as she adjusts to life as a big sister.

- Leah is very protective of her brother. She doesn't like it when he cries and is always attentive to his little gurgles and coos. "That sounds like my baby brother!" she says.

Leah gives Kyle a bottle for the first time!

Leah made sure Kyle had a toy and a warm blanket.

One happy mommy!

- Justin and I have been working so well as a team. He takes care of me while I take care of Kyle. We laugh a lot at some of the crazy situations having two kids brings and are truly joyful to have this experience together.

-Leah loves to help pick out clothes for Kyle (he has a personal stylist) and give him milk from a bottle. She brings him toys to "play" with and gives him kisses and pats. She does this cute head rub thing that almost is a noogie, but he doesn't see to mind. Ha!

Leah picked out this baseball outfit. There was a matching hat and pacifier too. :)

-Kyle is amazing. He is so sweet and cuddly. He makes the funniest little faces and stretches in the cutest positions. I am totally in love with him! And that baby smell, oh my goodness, I could sniff his sweet little head all day.

Sweet.

On the way home from the hospital

Daddy gives him his first bottle at the doctor's office

He's a very good sleeper

Look at those cheeks!

My sleepy boys

Best view ever

The chunkiness cracks me up. You can't get away with a double chin for long, so work it, Kyle!

Love this kid

The Not-So-Good:

- Leah has been very sensitive about almost everything. It's like walking on eggshells with her, because I want her to feel good and happy but I also have to make sure that she knows we are still in charge. Just last night, we had a battle of wills that brought me to tears. I feel like I won, but we will have to see what happens today!

- The amount of pee, poop, and spit up in this house is laughable. On Friday, we had Leah with intestinal distress (to put it nicely), Kyle peeing during a diaper change (quite the marksman!), and spit up at the same time. A little later, Kyle pooped during his diaper change and I was the victim. Pee came flying out the SIDE of his diaper at the doctor's office, and he had his first public blowout waiting in the lab at Texas Children's (just a jaundice count). No surface is safe!! :D

-The laundry! Thank goodness for my mom doing some laundry last week! I forgot how fast you go through onesies and pjs, burp clothes and blankies.





My boy turns one week old tomorrow! :)

He's here!!

Kyle Ryan Etchison was born on July 8, 2013 at 3:55 pm weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces. He was 21 1/4 inches long, just like his big sister. 

We are so blessed. Everyone has been cuddling with him, especially mommy. He is a very sweet baby, but greedy when it comes to eating! 

We are going home today, and look forward to adjusting to our new family. Here are a few pictures of our new little prince.

The Final Countdown!

Two weeks ago, I had my 36 week ultrasound. Kyle was very active and looked great! Dr. Andrews thought he was about 7 lbs. and wouldn't wait much longer before making his entrance into the world.  But two weeks later and possibly a pound or two more, he is still hanging out in there! He is having fun scraping his foot across my stomach, chilling in my rib cage, and just being big. I can't wait to hold him in my arms, but most of all, I can't wait for his sister to meet him. 

The other day, we were eating dinner, and I told her, "It's almost July. Do you know what that means?" 

She said, "I dunno!"

I said, "That means Kyle is coming verrrry soon."

She got the biggest smile, threw her arms in the air, and shouted, "Hooray!" 

Sweetest thing...

Then tonight, while I was putting her to bed, she asked, "When will Kyle come, Mommy?" 

"I don't know, but soon." 

She is beyond excited. Does she really know what's in store for her? No, but she sure wants that brother. :D

Here is the ultrasound picture from June 17. The ultrasound tech also said he has a little hair, and she confirmed that he is, in fact, a boy! LOL!

I go back to the doctor on Friday and get another ultrasound if he hasn't come yet. Dr. Andrews seems to think he will come before that. We'll see!!

Maternity Pics by Stephanie

My friend from church, Stephanie, owns her own photography business. I am so glad I asked her to do my maternity pics. She was amazing!!

Here are a few of my favorites:

I will definitely be using Stephanie again in the future!!

Waiting for baby

Thought I'd get back on this neglected blog to update our growing family. Kyle Ryan Etchison is scheduled to arrive in July. We are very excited to welcome a baby boy to our family!
The finished nursery pics are on my other blog: www.handmadebyallisonblog.blogspot.com :)

Here are some pics of our time waiting for Kyle:

November 18, 2012: Our anniversary!

 Telling the family at Thanksgiving!

Today is 35 weeks! Just a few to go!