What a Glorious Day

Ford was baptized at our church on Sunday morning. This, just as it was with Olivia, is one of the biggest days in Ford's life. Hays and I dedicated him to the church. This baptism did not symbolize that he is a believer in the Lord or that he will go to heaven because of this baptism. On this day, we (Hays and I) made the promise to raise him in a Christian home with the sincere hope that one day he will become a believer and have a personal relationship with our Lord. We made the commitment to live our lives as an example for Ford and pray for him fervently daily. God has blessed us with such a precious gift and we love him more than anything in this world but God loves him even more than that. We pray that he will know that love one day.

Precious baby boy in the same dress that his dad and sister was baptized in.

What a special time for me and Hays.

He slept the whole time. Even as Steve was putting water on his head.

We were so blessed to have many friends and family there to support us.

Just My Girl

I am so lucky that I was chosen to be this little girl's momma. She is such a blessing to be around everyday. I love her and what God is allowing me to do day in and day out during this season of my life.

Goodbye, Farewell, So Long

Warning: Not everyone will understand this post but all mothers out there, you will completely understand where I am coming from. We made a very interesting (and depressing) discovery about my breast milk this past week. Let me preface this by saying the picture below is all the frozen milk we have stocked up. Over 200 ounces of breast milk is considered pure gold in the Collins household. For some reason, with Ford I have been able to stock the freezer in case I wanted to be away he could always just have a bottle. I NEVER had this much with Olivia.

The other night I went to dinner and a movie with a friend assured that Ford would be well taken care of and could just have a bottle from the frozen supply. Every mom needs some "me" time, right? While I was away Hays had some major trouble getting Ford to take the bottle. We thought he just didn't care for the bottle so to get him used to taking one we were very persistent and just kept trying with no luck. We started researching this problem online and it turns out that my milk has too much of a certain enzyme, lipase. Excessive lipase can make any milk that is not extremely fresh taste soapy or metallic. What??? This is a nursing moms worst nightmare! We tasted the milk (I know, weird, right? I made Hays do it) and sure enough it tastes like you are washing your mouth out with soap. Poor Ford! Tear............

After many phone calls later to professionals in this field we were reassured that our findings were correct. All 200 ounces will be donated to a center in Texas where they pasteurize the milk and make it safe for other babies to have. It will be sent to NICU's around the South. I want to cry, I really do but I have come to the realization that this milk was never meant for Ford. It was God's plan all along for this milk to go to babies that need it more. So long, farewell, goodbye milk that I worked so hard for, many times in the wee hours of the morning. You will be used for little babies that need it much more than my own.



Like Father Like Son

Well, I guess there's no question who Ford looks like. :)

My Loves

This little girl has been cracking us up lately. Since Ford's birth she has been attached to several of her baby dolls. We went to Target the other day and she had to take her baby doll in with us. She kept telling the baby that "it will be okay, baby" and "don't frrryyyy" which means don't cry! She has also been "feeding " her baby often. She sees me nursing Ford and I guess, wants to feed her baby the same way. She'll be a great momma one day.

 

Our little guy was moved to his bed the other night. He did great, it was just weird not having him in our bedroom with us. It was a very bittersweet night for me. I mean...who knows...we may never have another newborn in our room again. On the bright side, Ford slept 7 straight hours which is considered all night. Whoop Whoop!!

Do you see that Olivia's arms are not in focus. That is because she is going ninety to nothing ALL the time. She keeps us on our toes.:)

Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen??? I seriously have no idea how he is already this big. I pray that I will always be able to remember this time with him. I pray that I do remember the snuggles, the interrupted sleep at night, the constant diapers, the spit up all over everything right after a shower, the smiles just because, the chunky baby rolls, the snuggles, the rocking, nursing and oh, did I say the snuggles. I pray that I remember everything about this newborn stage.

2 Months Old

Wow! Can you believe it? Ford turned 2 months old yesterday (yes, I am a day late posting this, I will do better). You know when people say everything goes much faster with the second child...they are SO right. It may be going faster but I am sure to sit down every now and then and really enjoy these days. He won't fall asleep in my arms multiple times a day much longer so you can guarantee that I am stopping to enjoy that.

Ford is such a good and easy baby. He weighs a whopping 12 pounds and 11 ounces (75th percentile), a weight his sister didn't see until she was over 6 months old! Yes, I think we have a little chunk on our hands. He eats every 2.5-4 hours during the day and has been consistently going 6 hours at night (which, by the way, is considered sleeping through the night). He has been smiling nonstop at us and really likes when Olivia talks to him. He loves to swing, ride in the car, baths, ceiling fans and his changing table. Thank goodness he is such a good baby. He just tags right along with us and doesn't make a peep. Thank you, Lord for such a little blessing that soon won't be so little.

 I love to compare Ford and Olivia's pictures. You can't really tell but he is 2 pounds heavier than her. I am really starting to tell the many differences they have (physically and characteristically).

Olivia and I were talking to him when I snapped this. Apparently, he thinks we're pretty funny.

Sweet, sweet baby.

Is he really that big? I am so not used to chunky babies. I could just pinch on those cute thigh rolls all day long.

My Little Chickadees

Doesn't he look like such a little man?? All he needs is a remote in his hand.

 Can't ever get enough of these sweet baby smiles.

Don't ask because we're not real sure what crazy big sister is up to...