Little Changes

Yes there are big major changes in your life when you have a kid, but there are minor ones too....

I am so behind on blog reading it isn't funny. Before Griffin if you posted to your blog I would have prob read it within a few hours of your publishing. Now I am lucky to read it a week later.

I am not a consistent blogger. Before Griff, I posted almost five or six times a week. Now I go weeks without posting. And even longer between posting anything other than pictures of my adorable son.

I never read books. Before Griff, I was not the fastest reader, but I usually read a book a month. Now they sit and taunt me for not reading them!

I rarely cook. Before Griffdaddy, I cooked usually four meals a week. Mr.Pate grilled in the warmer months, but other than that it was all me. Now Mr.Pate cooks when we eat at home, and we eat out way more.

And finally....
I look like a slob. Before the cutie, I used to actually wear stylish clothing and put myself together each day. Now I strive to put on a clean, matching outfit. That is my only requirement.

Here's to change! ;-)

BAM

I was texting with a mom of a one week old today, and trying to encourage her as much as I can. She is totally in love with her new little guy, of course, but is just experiencing the new overwhelming world of motherhood. She used the phrase "life changing", and it is!

Motherhood turns your life upside down. We all know that. But I think the shocking thing is more so that it effects every tiny aspect of your life. We kinda expect that, but not fully.

For nine months the focus is on you- how your pregnancy is going and how you feel. Then BAM, that baby comes and now the focus is on them (and rightly so, right? They are so cute!). And you are suddenly bombarded with everyone else's opinions on how to mother this child, with feelings of inadequacy and anxiety over having no clue what you are doing, and the sudden realization that it will not be just you and your hubby again for a very long time.

Yes, you knew all of this was coming before, and everyone kept telling you. But suddenly the new reality is here and it hits you like a ton of bricks on one side, while sleep exhaustion hits you on the other. Add a crazy wave of hormones, and you have yourself one hard month or so - emotionally, mentally, physically, and relationally.

I do not really think telling preggos about this helps. What I do think helps is encouraging new moms in the thick of it that it's normal and they are doing great! You need to hear that 500 times a day when your newborn won't eat and only wants to scream his cute little head off. You are not the first mom to have no clue what they are doing. Other moms have suddenly mourned the loss of their life as young newlyweds without a care in the world. This does not mean you do not love this new gift from the Lord more than any words can express. It is just part of the process. What you will soon realize is you will be doing this mourning the past phase while being excited over the new phase over and over throughout this little ones life. I am so excited to see Griffin getting close to crawling, but I am so sad my tiny newborn is gone. We never get enough of most seasons of life.

So, if you are soon to enter this new phase of motherhood, I warn you that your life will never be the same. You already know that, right?

Maybe I will just come tell you once it happens... You'll understand then. It will hit you just like BAM.

The wave!

Griffin is waving now!!! A few weeks ago he kinda waved to some people in the church nursery, but it was questionable. Today, however, he has definitely caught the wave bug! He started waving and smiling at the ladies at the pharmacy (we are on an antibiotic now, let's hope it helps!) and then again at the chiropractor! He waves by waving his arm up and down first, then he starts opening and closing his little hand. Most of the time he faces his hand towards himself when he opens and closes it. It's so cute! Hopefully I can get a video of it soon.
What a cutie!

This Week in Review

- Monday we had "family" dinner night with Dustin over for the first time in a long time, and we all had a ball playing with our little guy!
- Tuesday, Griffin and I took dinner to daddy at work.
- Wednesday night we had church as always. Griffin cried the whole time he was in the nursery so I had to leave youth early. Poor thing was overtired and not used to the new nursery workers. Plus church is right in the middle of bedtime. Ugh.
- Thursday was a rainy gross mess. Griffin got a fever and became a snotty mess. He (and I) barely slept.
- Friday I took Griff with me to work so I could do some pressing things, and then we headed to the doctor. Stupid copays. He said Griff's fine and the congestion just has to come out. Goody!
- Saturday I cleaned like a crazy woman, then when Mr.Pate got home from work we all played for a bit. We went to lowes and then sushi! Yummo!
- Sunday we worshiped with our church family and I led girls small group. I love leading it again! Then we had lunch at the Graves' house. Mr. Pate had to work tonight, so me and Griffin went grocery shopping on our own and it was a success! He is loving sitting up in the shopping cart looking around. Then I cleaned more and stuffed diapers once the kiddo slept. Now I am headed to bed myself- I am worn out!! Whew.
- Did I mention Griffin was sick from Thursday night on? He has woken up with eyes so gunky that I am starting to see it as normal. Ugh.

6 Months Old!

6 Months Old

Griffin is 6 months old! That is half of a year! My oh my, where has the time gone? Time is such a funny thing. It feels like I was sitting right on this couch yesterday crying because I was home but my baby was in the NICU, and yet that also feels like a million years ago. Time marches on eh?

6 Month Stats:

• Griffin weighs 15 lbs 8 oz (10th percentile), is 26" long (50th percentile), and his head is 43 cm (20th percentile). 
• Clothing: He is barely squeezing in 3 month clothing, is comfortable in 3-6 month and 6 month clothing and wearing 6-9 clothing with a little extra length. His diapers are still on the 2nd rise setting. 
• We are still breastfeeding exclusively. Six months in, wow. I am so thankful for my boss & coworkers support in this. We never would have made it this far without their understanding and support so I can pump each day. Griffin usually only takes 10-15 minutes to nurse now. 
• Still spitting up, but it is definitely getting better. Just in the last two weeks, we have noticed it is happening less and less. So he still throws up after every feeding at some point, but not as much in amount as he used to. Hopefully we are growing out of it?! We did reflux meds for the last month, but we did not see any difference and decided not to continue them this month. I do not think his spitting up has caused him any burning in his throat (which is what the meds treat). Here is to hoping by 7 months he is over it!!! I cannot even imagine having a baby who doesnt spit up constantly. Cant even imagine. 
• Schedule: Griffin is still on a 4 hr schedule. He is still doing well with eating every four hours, but the sleep is not always happening anymore. Oh daycare! They really struggle to get him to nap there. I am still not sure what the problem is. At home he will take a 1 & 1/2 or 2 hour nap. But not there. Whatever. 
• Nighttime Sleep: We are doing SO.MUCH.BETTER! Griffin is putting himself to sleep each night in his crib usually. He started rolling onto his stomach to sleep and sleeps so much better on his stomach, so we now put him on his stomach to begin with (I know I know, they say dont do that!). He does so much better this way! He has only been waking about 2 times a night now, which is a great improvement. Woo Hoo!
• Milestones: He can now scoot himself backwards, and around in a circle. He is rocking back adn forth on his hands and feet and he even pulled up on something once this month! Crazy! 
• We started rice cereal last weekend. Our doctor has us do this for three weeks then we start yellow veggies. So far Griffin likes the spoon and the cereal, but he is still figuring out how to swallow with his tongue. 
• This month Griffin has fallen in love with Zoey, our cat. He loves to pull her hair or hit her (pat her). She is not his biggest fan, but she doesnt run away either. I mean, if it bugged her that much she would get up right? Ha!

Click here to see how Griffin has grown!