Memories with the Memphis Crew

My brother and his wife and little one year old son came to visit over Memorial Day weekend. We were so excited for them to come and stay for a week but it just went too fast and now they're gone...We had so much fun together and they were so helpful cooking and cleaning and holding Rhett. I swear every time I sat down to feed Rhett, Johanna was handing me a glass of water and a snack. She is so sweet. Rhett loved his cousin Luke and aunt and uncle Tal and Johanna.

Luke was fascinated with Rhett and tried to get him to play with him. Rhett did his best.

Luke wanted to play Pirates but Rhett wasn't feelin it. 

We had a yummy bbq by the beach and Luke loved the swimming pool! After we were done with the grill, someone grilled some verrrry fresh crab. One almost got away!

We went to the zoo which was so fun and actually really pretty. This picture of Mitch and Tal reminds me of the new movie "What to Expect when you're Expecting." ha ha. All Star Dads. 

Luke is the cutest little boy and so much fun. I wish we could hang out every day! He loves gnawing on oranges- even the peel.

Rhett slept most of the time and woke up very hungry at the very end. He did get to see the grizzly bear though. Pretty scary. 

 Rhett: "I'm so hungry, it smells bad here, and all these animals look like they want to eat me!"
Luke: "They're all in cages bud. Don't sweat it."

Our last adventure was heading down to the beach. Rhett is already a little beach bum. He's spent like 1/4 of all his Saturdays there. We're a little worried.

We rented a little 4 man bike and rode all along the boardwalk till our legs were sore, Rhett had had it, and Luke was falling asleep. We had a ball!

Best buds! Ignore Mitch's hand forcing Luke to put his arm around Rhett. 

Thanks Tal and Johanna for such a fun week! We miss you!!

A Day at the Beach

My friend texted me this morning inviting us to go to the beach. At first I thought, that sounds way too hard with Rhett. But then Mitch and I talked each other into it and I am so glad we did! Rhett did so good and pretty much slept the whole time. It was a perfect day at the beach- breezy, sunny, warm water, and a happy baby. It was my first time feeding Rhett on the go and it felt so freeing knowing that we can go somewhere for longer than two hours before we have to rush back!!

Being in the sun all day with a new baby did not sound like a good idea so Mitch bought some beach umbrellas from good ol Walmart. They were perfect!

Mitch lathering up for the day... he's so hot. :)

The crew. We're so sad our friends on the right are moving soon. We have to enjoy as much time as we can with them. The friends on the left are stuck with us for at least two more years! He's in Mitch's med school class.

Mitch has kind of let himself go since becoming a dad. ha ha. Besides the fact that he is counting every calorie he ever eats and has lost 15 pounds in the last 3 weeks. He bought Rhett this hat for the beach but Rhett didn't need it while he was sleeping in the car seat so Mitch thought why not use it. Looked pretty good on him. Also notice his wolf man beard and inside out shirt. I just asked Mitch why he was wearing it inside out and he answered, "It's cool." Hmmm.

 I, on the other hand, always do my hair and make up and shower every day since having a baby. Just kidding. It's a miracle if I blow-dry my hair instead of just letting it air dry curly.

 Rhett must have been mesmerized by the sound of the waves cause he was out!

 When Rhett did wake up, we let him take his first dip in the ocean. He loved it! Life is so much better with Rhett. He makes everything more fun!

First Mother's Day

I picked up another holiday this year. Mother's Day. I think it's my new favorite holiday because it means I'm a mom! I can honestly say I did not appreciate my mom near as much as I should have until becoming a mom myself. I have a stronger bond with my mom now and I can understand a lot more about who she is. She is incredible!! I love her so much and am so grateful for all the sacrifices she made for me.

My Mother's Day started out with a surprise from Mitch. We have a huge jetted tub in our condo but haven't had a stopper for almost 2 years. Mitch bought a stopper and ran me a deluxe bubble bath with lavender bath salts and everything. It was so thoughtful of Mitch and was divine! Then he surprised me with an iPad! It's been such a fun way to keep take videos and pictures of Rhett. The last surprise was he made me my favorite breakfast- crepes! They were so delish. Mitch made my day so special and I feel so lucky to be married to him and to be the mom of such a sweet baby boy. Mother's Day is definitely a day I will look forward to each year and I hope to be as good a mom to Rhett as my mom has been to me.

1 Month Old

Rhett is one month old. We can't believe how fast it's gone and at the same time how long ago the hospital feels. We are more in love with this little boy than ever.

At one month...

Things you love:

• Eating
• Sleeping
• Cuddling with mom and dad (you especially love to put your cheek against ours when you're resting on our shoulder. If we pull away, you snuggle back in. It's my favorite. :) 

• Listening to us sing
• Going on walks in your stroller or carrier

• Having your legs pulled up like a frog. (We're sad that you're growing out of this one...now you like stretching all the way out.)
• Loungin' on my nursing pillow
• Taking warm baths
• Tummy Time (for the first 10 minutes)
• Peeing on your mom and dad
• Dancing
• Being swaddled
• Having your head covered with a blankie

• Listening to music in your swing
• Arching your head back when Dad is holding you so everything is upside down? We're not quite sure why you love that one. 
• Being with your Grandparents
• Partyin with Pops (playing with daddy when he gets home from work)

Things you don't like:

• Sponge baths
• Being hot (you take after your dad)
• Being hungry (also comes from your dad)
• Being sleepy 
• Getting your picture taken

• Diaper changes
• Getting woken up every three hours to eat. So glad we don't have to do that anymore! (You take after your Godmother Minds on that one)
• Loud noises
• Gas
• Driving in the car for too long
• 
  

Things We LOVE about you

• When you smile in your sleep
• When you chuckle in your sleep
• Your sneezes and the cute sound you make when the sneeze doesn't quite make it out
• Your hiccups
• Your snore
• Your big curious eyes

• Your big lips and how you seem to want to give kisses (really you're just bobbing your head around, but it's really fun to think you're giving kisses)
• The faces you make when you're falling asleep or waking up

• The way you love to look up at us and want to play
• The little noises you make (even if it's at 3:00 in the morning)
• How sweet you are
• How patient you can be (sometimes you choose not to be)
• The way you sigh after we help calm you down
• Everything!

Happy 1 Month Rhett. We love you!!

Meet the Petersons

Rhett loved meeting his Grandma and Grandpa Peterson! Mitch and I were so grateful for all of their help with cooking, cleaning, shopping, and just holding Rhett while we took naps. For some reason, every time his Grandma held him, Rhett would spit up all over her. While they were here, we had to wake his up every three hours to eat and somehow Grandpa always got the job of waking him up. Thanks Grandpa! Mitch and I also got to go on a date while they babysat which was so nice.

We went on walks, went to eat some bbq, hung out by the pool, and mostly just stayed inside and chatted and relaxed.

There are some crazy head statues at the park....

                            Rhett had his first manicure and he loved it as you can tell by his face.

He also started loving baths! Lisa figured out how to keep him warm and now he loves his baths. He wouldn't let go of the little wash cloth when we were trying to take him out. I think he's going to be one of those babies who loves his blankies. 

                                      Rhett loves playing with his sock monkey from Minds.

It was really hard to say goodbye to these two. We all miss them!

Rhett is growing so fast it's unreal. I can't even keep up with him. I'm with him the whole day and I don't know when he grows! He is finally starting to fill up his car seat, a little.

                 Mitch's aunt Patti, uncle John, and Emmi and Bradley came to see him too.