Random New Pictures I LOVE

This picture is of Keatyn. When she sees the camera she poses. And I LOVE it! She is Miss Drama!!!

This picture is of Dryver and his best friend Chase with their daddy's. They both look just like their dad's.

Most mornings when I get up to feed Dryver I hand him to Justin so that I can go to the bathroom. One morning when I came out this is how I found them. It was too sweet to resist. So, I left them there to sleep and I went and had some alone time. I really didn't know what to do with myself:)

This is a classic Keatyn picture. The other night we loaded up the whole family and went to the drive in movie to see Horton Hears a Who. We went ahead and put the kids in their pjs and Keatyn just had to wear her pink cowgirl boots. It was too cute.

This is just a picture of Dryver smiling. This smile melts my heart. There are times when I get the camera out and he starts to smile. I know, he is BRILLIANT!

St. Patrick's Day

We went to the zoo with Beth (BB), Keatyn, Brandi, Chase, Julie and Tatum. We had so much fun. The girls really loved it. Chase and Dryver slept through it which actually made it enjoyable for Brandi and I . Afterwards Dryver and I went over and hung out with Chase and Brandi for a little while. It is hard for us to find a time to take pictures of the boys when they both have their eyes open and not crying. Here is one of them. Dryver is wearing an outfit I bought for him last year on clearance. It is HUGE! I thought I would have a big baby because Justin and I neither one were small. However, that is not the case. But he had to wear it:)
I will try to post more pictures later. I have some good ones of the crazy weekend we just had. Life is so busy right now in the Cowart family. Actually in the Bills family, we are just a part of everything:) It is so fun to have family close!

1 month old Yesterday

Wow, time flies! Dryver is already a month old. We have had so much fun:0) We have learned so much about him since we have come home from the hospital.
1. he loves to be swaddled.
2. he will take a pacifier long enough to calm himself down and then he spits it out.
3. he loves music.
4. he is mesmerized by keatyn.
5. he likes to read books.
6. he has an attitude. (this he gets from me)
7. he gets an upset stomach if moma eats to much dairy.
8. he does not like to be naked.
9. he likes to talk when he is getting his diaper changed.
10. last but not least HE IS THE PERFECT BABY!!! just ask his grandparents:)


And yes, he still looks just like his daddy!

Breastfeeding Issues

I have gone back and forth about wether or not to blog about this certain issue. After much thought I decided my story needed to be shared. At least to have it out there if there is anyone who might read it and learn from it. I feel the same way about my infertility story. If people had not shared with me there infertility stories, I would have felt so alone.

Dryver was born not wanting to suck. He was born at 2:42 on Sunday morning. We should have gone home on Monday, but this was not the case. The on call pediatrician watched Dryver closely and decided he was not acting like a typical newborn. He told us he was going to take Dryver on Monday morning and do an ultrasound on his brain. He was afraid that his brain had not developed correctly and therefore he could not suck. As you can imagine, this was very scary for us.

We were told we would know the results by the end of Monday. Of course, yet again this was not the case. We didn't find out our results until Tuesday morning. What a long night. The results were unremarkable. So to our family that means he must be GT:) We were very excited with the results, but still curious as to why Dryver wouldn't eat. We were at the hospital until late Wednesday afternoon. During that time we continued trying to breast feed religiously every three hours, but he still wasn't sucking.

We were very excited the first time he sucked on his own. Then again when he did 2 sucks on his own, and so on. The issue was always sucking, not breastfeeding. So that meant that we couldn't just go to formula feeding out of a bottle. We had an array of techniques used to get him to start sucking.

We tried bottle feeding, syringe feeding, sugar water, supplemental breastfeeding system, pumping, breast shields. You name it, and we probably tried it. When we left the hospital he still was not eating on his own. They chalked it up to hard labor and delivery that left him stunned, as well as a child that was born not needing to eat.

Since then he has been eating like a champ. I have been able to successfully breastfeed on my own. I share this story because I have never heard of a child having an ultrasound of their brain. Hopefully you or someone you know will never have to go through this, but if it does occur you will know that you are not in this alone.

Words of Wisdom

As of late, I have received lots of words of wisdom. I thought I would share with you those that have really stuck with me.

"Sometimes motherhood means sucking it up. Go suck it up."
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters

This is the comment that really spurred the blog. I was watching Brothers and Sisters when this was said. I immediatly called my mom and told her I think this sums up motherhood. I am writing this down and putting it on my fridge!

"In the middle of the night when he is crying, before you let your feet hit the ground say "PRAISE THE LORD!"
Penni Jordan, mom

My mom's grandmother always said this to her and she has passed the advice on to Beth and I. And it really works. I feel it especially works well for me because of all that we went through to get Dryver here. We are so blessed to have him, even at 3 in the morning:)

"Get up and get fully ready for the day every day."
Beth Bills, sister

Beth told me this while I was pregnant with Dryver. She said it will really help to fight off the baby blues. So I have religiously gotten up every morning and taken my shower, fixed my hair, makeup and gotten dressed for the day. It really has worked. I for one feel productive and like I am getting back to my old self.

"Challenge yourself to brestfeed for 1 week, and then 1 month, and then you will love it."
Stephanie Shelton, SFA friend

I am so glad she told me this. I KNOW that breastfeeding is not for everyone. I admire women who do it but I am also the first to say I admire those women who know it is best for them to formula feed. I personally REALLY wanted to breastfeed for so many reasons. This advice has really stuck with me and I can say I really love breastfeeding. Especially during the waking hours!

"Enjoy every minute with that baby. It goes by fast!"
Countless mothers

This is so true! I can't believe he is already 3 weeks old. He is already changing and I am trying to soak up every minute.

Happy Belated Valentines Day

Dryver and I had a photo shoot on Wednesday. It is amazing how my time is now not my own. My plan was to post this Wednesday or at least Thursday. That obviously did not happen. But better late than never:) This picture is of Dryver right after he ate (his happiest time). He is wearing a bib that says My 1st Valentine's Day! The bib covered him from his neck all the way to his diaper. He is a pretty little guy!

This is the Valentine's Day outfit I bought him before he was born. I love the puppy dog hat and matching socks. Yes those are socks, not leggings. I guess he will grow into them. His onesie says Puppy Love. I was so proud of myself! I got the whole outfit at Target in the dollar section. So the hat, onesie and socks cost me $3 all together. What a steal!!!

This is my favorite picture we have of Dryver so far. I think that is the sweetest expression. But I guess I am biased:0) But you have to agree!

Hopefully I will be able to update more often. I am learning the whole camera, to computer, to blog thing. I am not the tech person in this family! But I am trying:)

My New Best Friend!

Yesterday, my mom took me to meet my new best friend. His name is Chase Everett Woodley. I was so excited to meet him, because mom had told me so much about him when we were in the hospital. Mom said she and Chase's mommy found out they were pregnant with Chase and I at the same time. Throughout the pregnancy, they became very good friends. Chase was due to come into the world on Jan. 23. I was due to come into this world on Jan. 31.



As you all know, I was born Jan. 27. Chase's mommy came to see me in the hospital. While she was holding me, I told Chase he had better hurry. Then Chase was born on Jan. 28. I was so excited when mommy told me he was here. I could not wait to meet him. So, yesterday I met him and then today we played together more. I think we will become the best of friends, just like our mommies have.



The first time I saw Chase I said "How big a boy are you?" I weighed 7 lbs 4 oz at birth and Chase weighed 8 lbs 10 oz. Chase's grandma remembered to tell me, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. But mommy told me to remember I will always be one day older and one day wiser than Chase.



I can't wait to have more play dates with my new friend Chase.