Hooded Towel

A couple weeks ago I turned this....

In to this....

Okay, so the people are added, but two towels became one cute hooded towel for Chase. Isn't he a cute little elephant head?

3 Months

Um...where did the last three months go? Did they seem to disappear as quickly for everyone else as they did for me? In a strange way it seems like we've had Chase forever. But yet at the same time it feels like we just embarked on this latest adventure just yesterday.

It's amazing to me how quickly he develops. The first week he's zoning out, then he briefly stares, then he gazes, then he smiles, then he shrieks with delight. And today...he laughed. Like REALLY laughed. It was the cutest thing I've ever heard. I was kissin' him behind the ears and "gettin' him" and he started laughing. So of course I had to do it a half a dozen more times 'cuz I wanted to hear it over and over again. It seems like each week he progresses and it's so fun to see what will be next.

He's such a fun little boy and am lovin' how much joy (and craziness) he brings to our lives. I started work this past week and it's been quite the adjustment trying to figure out this new routine. It breaks my heart when I come home and he's grumpy...only because I know how many happy wonderful moments I missed throughout the day. Being home with him all day I really got to know him...how he likes to be handled, what helps him fall asleep. Now I find myself going back to how I felt the first few weeks...second guessing myself and not knowing if I'm reading him right or knowing what he needs. I think that's the most difficult part. I want to know everything about him so that I can provide the best possible life for him. I'm lucky that Rhett wants the same thing and is so attentive. He's such a great daddy.

Anywhoo...Chase turned 3 (months, that is) yesterday, so I took a few pictures. He was such a great sport about the whole thing. He didn't fuss throughout all the posing and position changes. He even looked at the camera for most of the shots. He's so curious. You could just see it in his eyes that he was trying to figure out what mommy was doing. Hopefully he appreciates all the bazillion photos he'll have to look back on when he's older.

Momma's Surfer Dude

Last week Chase and I spent a few days at a friends cabin up in Utah. It was so nice to get away and do something different. And Chase was a perfect little angel the whole time. Maybe he's like his mom and likes to travel and see new places. 'Cuz he seemed so happy up there. Not that he's not happy at home, but there was a marked difference.

My friend's dad went fishing every day and we ate fish at just about every meal. And oh my was it good. Not only could he catch it, but he could fry it up like a pro as well. Every time I'm at their cabin it makes me want one. Vegas gets so hot in the summer. How awesome would it be to have a cabin in the mountains just a couple of hours away? I've gotta come up with some great business idea to make lots of money so I can get me one. And while I'm at it, I might as well get a beach house too. Okay, so I'm a total dreamer, but a girl has gotta have goals, right?

My sweetie pie

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted. My how time flies by when you're taking care of a newborn! And let's face it, when I get an hour of spare time, I'm usually trying to stuff my face, take a nap, or de-stinkify myself with a shower. Blogging isn't really at the top of the priority list.

Here are a few pictures I've taken over the last month:

Chase cuddling up with his daddy. This was just last night. Aren't they adorable?

This was taken last night as well. Chase was playing with his daddy and just staring at him. He loves when Rhett gets home.

Most baby showers I go to I make a hooded towel. I haven't even made Chase one. In fact, until yesterday I hadn't made him anything. I thought I'd have time after he was born, so I didn't worry about it while I was pregnant. Ya, I didn't realize that breast feeding, diaper changing, getting something to eat for myself, trying to get him to sleep, and entertaining him was going to take 18 hours a day. That leaves about 6 hours for me to sleep, shower, blog, take pictures, clean the house, etc. Thank goodness the last couple of days he's been so mellow. I could actually put him in the bouncer and he could entertain himself for once. Anyways, yesterday I made him a matching receiving blanket and burp cloth. They're cute little turtles. They turned out pretty good for my first ones...not that they're difficult to make, but I was happy about finally getting something done.

Someone's a little sleepy.

I love this picture. Is it messed up that I reach for my camera (rather than my baby) when he's giving me this perturbed face? Of course I love the smiles and the chill moments, but he makes the cutest sad faces too.

We went to Zion National Park for the fourth of July and took these two pictures down at the river. It was gorgeous out and Chase was so good all day...except when daddy dipped his toes in the freezing cold water. He wasn't a big fan of that. I love the piercing eyes...just staring up at dad.

Rhett is such a good daddy. He loves his little man and his little man loves him. I think Chase gets sick of me by the end of the day, 'cuz when daddy gets home he seems to want to be with him. And that's perfectly fine with me. I love seeing the two of them together. Makes me love them even more.

So...a few things I've learned about Chase over the last six weeks (yep, he's six weeks old today):

1. He sleeps a million times better when he's swaddled.

2. He loves taking a bath (and pees within a minute of getting in the tub).

3. He has awesome head control. I don't know how, but he's had great head control from the very beginning.

4. He can sleep thru just about anything. We made sure to keep it noisy when he sleeps so he wouldn't be a light sleeper.

5. He's not a super huge fan of the car seat. He hasn't been in it too many times, but half the time he screams.

6. He loves his pacifier. We only give him one if he's inconsolable, but when he's screaming bloody murder and we give him his binky, he's a little angel. It's been nice to have that to fall back on.

7. When he wears a onesie with a crab on it...he's crabby all day long. It's true. The last two times he's worn an outfit with a crab on it he is super fussy cranky pants. I think I'm going to burn them all!

8. He LOVES sugar. When he was circumcised he was given a finger of sugar to suck on while they did the procedure. The doc said the only time he cried is when they took the finger out of his mouth. How crazy is that? I tried breastfeeding him afterwards and he didn't want anything to do with it. He is SO not getting sugar for a very long time.

9. He started smiling in response to other's smiling at him yesterday. It was so exciting. He doesn't do it all the time, but he did it quite a few times yesterday and today. I've yet to capture it with my camera though.

10. Babies can projectile poop...when you're in the middle of changing their diaper...all over the wall and floor! Unfortunately I had to find this out the hard way.

Chase Andrew

It's amazing how adding a mere 8 pounds can completely change your outlook on life. I always strive to better myself and be thankful for my many blessings...but it's on an entirely different level now. I am in complete awe of all the mothers out there, not fully realizing the sacrifices they have been through for their children until now. And I know there is so much more to come that I can't possibly foresee.

Not only has my heart grown to love everything about this new little life, but my love for my husband has expanded in ways I couldn't imagine. Seeing him holding Chase, smiling, cooing, and loving him beyond measure just melts my heart. He is so eager to be near him, even if it's just to change a diaper. The first day or two in the hospital, I was pretty much out of commission. It took me five minutes just to get out of bed. And I couldn't get back in without Rhett picking up my legs and lifting them up on to the bed. He not only took care of me, but changed all but a couple of diapers and soothed Chase when he got fussy. He totally stepped up to the challenge and I will forever be grateful for that. He truly is the love of my life and I can't imagine going through this experience without him.

I can't even express in words how I feel about my new little man. It's nothing I've ever felt before. A totally different kind of love. I have so many hopes and dreams for him. There are so many things that I'm already scared about. There's already such a tremendous weight on me to make sure I do all that I can for him. It has brought me so much closer to my Heavenly Father, knowing that I can't figure all this out by myself. I know that it is only with His guidance that Chase will grow and develop and turn out as he is meant to. Maybe that's why it took us so many years to get him here. I needed to learn that I can't do everything on my own. I need to rely on the Lord.

Chase Andrew Richins

Friday, June 4, 2010 (born on his actual due date)

8 pounds 3 ounces

20/21 inches (hospital/pediatrician measurement)

Nursery

Yaaaaayyyyy! We FINALLY finished the nursery today. Not only was the nursery finished, but the 8 loads of baby laundry were finished and folded up and put away. And I finally finished packing my bag to the hospital last night. Now all we need is for baby to come!

38 Weeks

I thought I'd be one of those pregnant ladies who took pictures of her belly every week, but that so didn't happen. Mainly because I'm the picture TAKER of the family...not the person in the picture. I've thought of doing it a few times, but of course my hair would be a mess or I didn't like what I was wearing or blah, blah, blah. You know how it goes. So I decided tonight that I just needed to get at least one picture of how I looked before he decided to make his journey in to this world...regardless of how I think I look. So here I am with only two weeks to go.

Are you totally diggin' the couch in the background? I thought so. With the recent room changes we've found that there just isn't room for this sofa and matching love seat any longer. We're planning to sell them at a future garage sale, SO, if you're heart is beating rapidly and you don't think you can live without them, let me know and I can reserve them for you!