4 months

Luke is 4 months old. I can not believe how quickly he is growing. At his 4 month well appointment he was 26 1/4 inches long and weighed 16 lbs and 4 ozs. We went to see Dr. Roy for a check-up and I mentioned to him that Luke had a swollen lymph node behind his ear. He was a little concerned because he said it was a reactive lymph node but the scary thing was that Luke had no signs of being sick. He decided to do a CBC and his white blood count was pretty elevated (18,000 and average is 4-10,000). He told me not to worry (yeah right) and to come back in a week to check it again. Of course the worst-case was running through my mind all week. One week (and a lot of stress) later I took him back and it had dropped to 13,000, praise the Lord! Dr. Roy said he probably had some kind of virus and is just a tough cookie. Once again, the Lord reminded me, I am not in control and Luke is His! When will I just learn this lesson already?

I also took Luke to his first baseball game. In his 4 months of life he has not cried outside of being hungry or tired. For the most part he is very content and happy baby. This day was different. About 5 innings in he started to scream as if someone was pinching him. I did everything I could think of to stop him and nothing could calm him down. I finally decided to put him in his car seat and take him home. While driving home I was contemplating my next move (call Dr. Roy?, take him to the ER?) he was clearly in pain, right? Well, we walked through the door of our house and he completely stopped, I took him to his room to change his diaper and he looked up at me and smiled. LITTLE STINKER...he just wanted to come home! While I have no idea what was wrong that day, he has not had another episode and actually loves to watch baseball. We were going to have serious problems if this child had a problem with the baseball field.

Other things I don't want to forget about this stage:
-He is so so ticklish...knee, armpit, belly it all makes him belly laugh
-He has found his feet and loves to play with them
-He knows who mommy and daddy are and recognizes strangers
-He fights sleep
-He sleeps about 9 hours at night
-He has the sweetest smile and belly laugh
-He wants to sit-up (even though he can't) all of the time
-He loves to be held and rocked

Mi amor

This is my fabulous date for valentine's day. We drove up to Montgomery, ate at Carrabbas, made a Target run and headed home. I enjoy every minute that I get to spend with my boys. I seriously could not love these two more!

Snow Day

It actually snowed down here in south Alabama. And not just flurries...about 4-5 inches. Unfortunately, it came on the back end of the Irons' family week of sickness. The week started with an ear infection for Luke, a few days later I came down with strep and the day before it snowed Derek got strep. I built a little Bama snowman and took Luke out for just a minute since it was his first. Derek was feeling pretty bad and had to stay in the house. Our power went out and we headed to the Jones' to stay the night. Thankful for such sweet friends who let us come stay warm with them despite our illness.

Luke's Nursery

I am very much a type A person and in my normal state I would have had Luke's nursery completely done about 2 weeks past my 20 week ultrasound. However, pregnant Leslie was very indecisive and unsure of what she wanted. Did I really just speak of myself in third-person? Just call me Elmo....nonetheless, I am still working on Luke's nursery. I finally have these two walls done.

3 Months

Luke turned 3 months old this week. I can't believe how much he has changed over the course of this week. For the first time he rolled over, belly laughed, splashed in the tub, and reached for his jungle toys. I told Derek he is going to have to slow down. It is so fun now that he is more aware of his surroundings. I also think it's neat that just when I think I know him so well he surprises me. So many times I am just certain of how he is going to act or respond to something and he does the complete opposite. He is a very predictable baby on most days, eats at the same time, plays, naps and repeat. Very happy and content.

Wednesday Derek had his annual "Meet the Trojans" banquet to kick off the baseball season. He puts so much work into planning this event and we were all very excited because his guest speaker this year was Coach Ron Polk. Luke woke up that morning as hungry as ever. He usually eats between 4 and 6 ounces every 3 hours. Within 2 hours he ate 3 different times for a total of 12 ounces. The rest of the day continued this pattern and he was fussy and refused a nap. I mentioned to Derek that maybe we should just stay home from the banquet because I was afraid he was going to get fussy and be a distraction for Derek. He wouldn't have it and said we could just come sit in the back that way I could leave with him if needed. So we went and Luke did not make a peep for an hour and a half. I was sure he was going to be fussy and hungry and such a distraction. The banquet went well and we had about 175 people in attendance. I'm very excited for the season to start. Hopefully this spring-like weather will stick around and Luke and I can attend most of them.

Belly Laughs

Luke started laughing a few days ago and I have been trying all week to get a video of it. Every time I get the camera out he stops and stares at it. Last night Derek snuck in behind me and we got him....

Look at me!

Luke rolled over for the first time yesterday so we have been practicing all day long and this is where we are:

Busy Season

Baseball Season + Tax Season + 3 month growing spurt = a busy Irons' family.

Let's see, where should I begin.  Derek officially started baseball season January 5th which means he isn't home much. I always forget how crazy-busy he is the first few weeks of January.  You would think it would be worse once games get started but it tends to be busiest right when practice gets started.  He is getting home at about 7:30 each night.  It's amazing to me how well he balances life.  He currently is reading through the Bible in a year, helping with the youth at church, teaching 2 different history classes, coaching baseball, and yet he continues to be an awesome dad and husband. And with no complaints I might add.

I started my work-from-home, part-time job last week.  I will be working tax season for a firm in Montgomery.  I had to go up there last week for three days to train on the software and so Grana came down to Troy to stay with Luke.  Today is day 2 of trying to actually work-from-home and it has been challenging but hopefully we will get a routine going soon.  I'll probably end up getting most of my work done when Derek is home. 

I'm also enjoying my little-man so much.  It is such a joy to spend everyday with him.  He currently enjoys lying in the jungle (activity gym) and laughing at the animals and music.  He also loves the lion, monkey and hippo that hang down from his bouncer.  He has started to reach for them and smiles at them each time I put him in it.  I think we are about to hit the 3 month growing spurt in full force.  Hopefully it will be less crazy than the 6 week one.  I'm also trying to get him to nap in his crib.  Currently his favorite place to nap is in my arms so if this work-from-home thing is going to work I am going to have to break him of that ;)

I really can't remember what I did with my time before I was a mother. Nothing could have prepared me for the life-change that is becoming a parent.  It is truly the most wonderful yet challenging experience I can think of.  The other day I was thinking back to last February when I found out I was pregnant by two pink lines on a pregnancy test.  God has taken us on a wonderful journey from two pink lines to holding our little 3-month old baby boy.  It is almost impossible to remember not knowing Luke but back then all I knew was that the Lord had begun to knit life together in my womb. God has already taught me so much as I experience this season of life.  A few things I wanted to write down so that I don't ever forget:

• I am not in control
• I must choose to place my life in His hands in the trust that He loves me more than even I love Luke
• My part is to love Him and please Him daily as I walk the journey of motherhood, I am merely His servant in caring for Luke while he is on this earth.
• He is my constant companion and His love and grace reach into every corner of my life.
• A crisis today is usually not a crisis tomorrow
• Can I say it again?  I am not in control

Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.  Isaiah 40:31

Project 52

If you look on the left side of my blog there is a link to my Project 52 or you can visit it here:

Leslie's Project 52

I look forward to documenting 2010 in pictures.

2 Months

Luke turned 2 months old on Christmas Eve.  He is growing so fast.  It's amazing how much bigger and how much more alert he has gotten in just 2 short months.  We had his 2 month well appointment right before we left for the holidays.  He got a good report and got his first round of shots.  He did not enjoy those but took to the vaccinations fairly well, no fever or fussiness.  He is really growing in size and length.  He weighed 12 lbs, 4 ozs and was 22 1/2 inches long.  He was in the 90th percentile for weight and 75th for length.  He has started to really focus on things and hold his head up.  He is a very smiley little one as well; especially when he wakes up from a good nap or has full belly.  He also has started fighting sleep.  When it's time for a nap he starts to get pretty fussy and we know it's time for bed.  He is sleeping about 10 hours at night with one feeding at 3.  We are more than ready for him to drop that feeding so we can enjoy a full night's sleep. He sleeps pretty sound.  The other morning when I went to get him he had shimmied his way out of the swaddled blanket to the top of the crib.  He had a sock in each bottom corner of the crib and his paci in the other corner.  He was looking like a hot mess.  I just love him to pieces though and can't kiss those cheeks enough