3 Months || Harrison Cole

HC,
This month has been filled with firsts, laughs, baseball games, and unconditional love.  Everyday you get bigger and everyday our hearts continue to explode with love we didn't know we had.  You make us happy and proud every day.  Daddy and I find ourselves saying the most typical "parent" comments when we see you do new things. It's such a blessing to be able to see you do all these first during my maternity leave. But now that I'm back to work and we are in a normal routine, we are so lucky to have Gigi and the Scott's watching you during the week.  You are one lucky little man, my boy! We can't wait to see what the next months have in store for us!

3 Month Memories:

- Diapers - Still in size 1 diapers and I don't see any need to jump up to size 2 yet.  We still haven't gone through all the diapers from the shower, so we are still using whatever people gave us! Mama still likes Luvs, but everything seems to be fine for you!

- Clothes - You fit in 3 month clothes pretty solid now.  0-3 are almost out of the picture now too.  At night time you are sleeping in a small velcro swaddle with a onesie underneath.

- Sleep - You are still such a great sleeper! We came back from Akron so mama could go back to work and we were a little nervous about moving you to a 9pm bedtime.  Currently you sleep from 9 p.m. till around 2 or 3 a.m. ish.  Then you wake again to eat around 6 a.m. or so.  With me going back to work, I get up around 6:45 a.m. and then wake you up once I'm ready, unless you are ready to get up before then! You always go right back to sleep after you eat too which I'm SO thankful for! Oh and you still love the Solly wrap!

- Eating - You still are exclusively breast fed, but are taking a bottle when I go to work. Your bottles are pretty much 3.5-4 oz bottles and you scarf those down in 5-10 minutes.  BUT - you are also a very efficient nurser when you eat from me.  Now that I'm back to work, I really cherish the times that we get that special mommy/son time together.  I love that you love eating from me and I love that I can provide that for you.  We are so fortunate.

- Pacifier - You haven't really taken much to the pacifier.  Let's put it this way, you don't NEED the pacifier.  If I give it to you sometimes you will take it, sometimes you wont.  We have been trying the MAM brand now as well to see if you like that better but no luck.

- Weight and length: 

- You are so alert.  The world is so interesting to you and we love seeing you take everything in.  You love going on walks in the stroller, being in the Solly wrap and the squat motion!

- Bath time is still your favorite.  We haven't put you in the pool yet, but your bathing suit collection is getting pretty big!

- We are getting into a pretty good night time routine.  I give you a bath every night now then you eat and I sing a song to you, read a book and put you in your crib!

- You sleep in your crib like a big boy now! I was so nervous the first night, but you did just fine! I love having the video monitor so I can see what you are doing in there.


Week 9-11 we spent in Akron and other baseball towns that dad went to.  You met lots of mama's baseball friends and flirted big time with all the girls.  Your smile is to die for and those eyes are going to be the lady killers one day!

We had more visit from The Browns and took this awesome three generation picture.  You are the only grandchild that will carry on the Brown name (as of now! Maybe one day you will get a little brother!).

Tummy time is still fun for you.  Thank to Trish Coulson, we do tummy time on this awesome ball.  Since we are home now, we try to make it to Gymboree every Saturday to see your other baby friends and get some good stimulation!

This month you have been smiling non-stop.  You are playing with your voice so much more now and we love hearing your little giggle.

I can't get enough of your spit bubbles.  Everyone sees those bubbles and comments on how you will get teeth early.  Well, if it's anything like your hair, it isn't coming anytime soon! We also removed the carseat head supporter because you are holding your head up SO well now! 

God is amazing.  He created this sunset.  And you. 

You have the best friends already.  Between our baseball buddies and all of mommy's friends with babies your age, you will grow up going to lots of play dates!

Daddy and I are so mixed with emotions on how fast you are growing! Every day you do something new, fit it new clothes, and need bigger diapers! This picture is from leaving the hospital till now! 

And some extra photos just for fun :)

I love this picture! You look like such a little man! 

A New Working Mom's Thoughts

A week ago today I started back at work. The past 12 weeks was the most precious time that we were able to spend as a family and I wouldn't trade that time for the world! When Harrison was 2 weeks old, we went to Akron to visit D.J. since he hadn't seen him since he was four days old. Then we came back home until he was 6 weeks old. Once we had the all clear from my doctor, we hit the road to be with D.J. for the rest of my maternity leave.  We got in a nice little routine of staying out late, sleeping in till late morning and going to lots of baseball games.

But 12 weeks ended.  And now we are in a whole different routine of bottles, pumping and 9 p.m. bedtimes for everyone in the Brown house!

People kept asking me how the first few days back to work have been.  Have I been sad, or crying, or missing my baby.  Of course I miss the baby, but not really sad or crying.

Does that make me a bad mom? Someone that doesn't love their baby less?

Absolutely not.

It makes me a working mom.  Who pumps at work to give my baby the golden milk.  Who enjoys adult time with my coworkers.  Who strives to be better every day at her job.

And I've found that other moms with babies HC's age feel the same way.  Having adult conversations throughout the day is refreshing, even if it is about work.  Getting into a routine of getting dressed and leaving the house is good for you!

Obviously if our lives were different and we had the income for me to stay at home with the baby, that would possibly be a different story, but I truly enjoy my job.  And that doesn't mean I don't truly miss my baby. Now I can say, that leaving the baby to go to work has been extra easy because he is in amazing hands.  Some days he's with my mom and others with a family that has kids at our school.  He is loved on, snuggled with and famous on Snapchat thanks to his Gigi!


Although the past 12 weeks off have been spent figuring out how to be a mom, love on our baby boy, and lots and lots of snuggles, I didn't realize how ready I was to get back to work until I was at my desk.

So thank you, Norfolk Collegiate for giving me the opportunity to work remotely last summer (and get pregnant), the past 12 weeks off to love on my baby and an amazing job that makes leaving him so worth it to come back to!

Here's to all you working moms out there - at home or in the office - you all deserve a big high 5 and a pat on the back! Go out there and bring home the bacon...and the pumped milk if you are into that kinda stuff like me :)

Happy Fathers Day

To all the loving, hard working, devoted fathers out there, I hope you are celebrated every day, but especially today!

Happy Fathers Day to the special men in my life.

I hope you all enjoy your day no matter where you are and what you are doing!

Our Son in 25 Years

In 25 years I hope Harrison will be....



Raised in a loving home that values the importance of family.

Tall and strong with the ability to provide for himself.

Respectful of his family, friends and himself.

Good in the kitchen, because not every woman is.

Driven to reach his goals but realistic all at the same time.

A loving husband who treats his wife like every day is their first date.

Humble and able to use his pretty blue eyes to still get what he wants from his mama.

Able to laugh at himself.

A true friend to those that he wants to keep in his life forever.

Courageous to stick up for himself and for his friends.

Understanding that sometimes life is hard.  Do the best you can with what you are given.

Still calling his mom to tell her he loves her.

And most importantly, I hope his daddy and I are around to see it.

I hope Harrison is all of these things....just like his daddy.

Happy 1st Fathers Day, D.J. We love you so much and are very thankful to be here to celebrate with you this weekend!