Precious Moments

Hi friends!  This week's post is going to cover two separate mommy-memoir entries because the nugget is growing and changing so fast I'm falling behind!  So in order to catch up, I'm going to double up in the next couple of posts.  These memories are from the same weekend in July and they are slam full of cuteness!  

Showing off his skills

Becoming a genius

Ready to go for a run with mommy!

Complete bliss

July 27, 2014

It's 2:42 am on Sunday morning.  Levi and I are in the nursery rocking in the rocking chair.  Daddy's asleep and is leaving for the Gauntlet tomorrow night (the Gauntlet is our church's youth trip to Daytona, FL).  Levi is contentedly nursing, hopefully drifting back to sleep.  It occurred to me how quickly time with my little man is going by and that I need to slow down and enjoy these moments instead of rushing through them to the next thing.

Levi is changing daily.  It really blows my mind.  He's already outgrown his newborn clothes and is filling out the 3 months stuff!  He is smiling and cooing all over the place.  He loves to be outside or look out the window.  He is basically holding his head up all the time now.  He takes 2 or 3, 1.5-2 hour naps a day but is still waking up twice a night.  Daddy usually takes first shift, me second.  Levi just gave me a grin in his sleep.  Gah, I love this kid!

Soapy and sweet

Cuddling after bath time!

'Nuff said

July 28, 2014

Just a couple of memorable moments today.  Gary is at the Gauntlet so the nugget and I are getting some extra quality time this week!  Today I was rocking him to sleep before a nap and before he closed his eyes he just stared at me for what seemed like forever.  That's the first time he's really maintained eye contact like that and it was amazing.  I could almost see his mind working to familiarize himself with my face and making recognitions.

Bath time has been fun this week!  When Levi's little bottom hits the water he tries to lift it out at first, but then he eventually relaxes and seems to enjoy it, despite my awkward holding maneuvers.  After he gets squeaky clean, I wrap him up in his adorable hooded towel and we cuddle until he gets warm and dry.  He is always so soft and smells so sweet after bath time, it's just the best!  I never want these moments to end!

First Month

Month 1 is in the books!  Enjoy some of my favorite pics from our first month as a family of 3!!

Sweet Dreams

Hangin with Dad

First smile on camera

Meeting the pets

Watching the World Cup

Cuddles with Mommy

Love!

1 Month Old!!

July 9, 2014

Levi is one month old today!  I can't believe a whole month has already gone by!  I fall more in love with this little nugget every single day!

Stats:
weight: 8lbs, 7oz
height: not sure

Accomplishments:

• Levi is starting to outgrow some of his newborn outfits and diapers
• He can hold his head up for several minutes at a time
• making more cooing sounds
• makes eye contact

Likes/Dislikes:

• Loves to be outside
• Loves to be held by mommy or daddy
• Doesn't like tummy time

We are so thankful for this month of getting to know our sweet boy and pray for many many more healthy, happy months to come!!

First Sunday!

This week's post is about Levi's first trip to church!  Gary and I absolutely LOVE our church, so it was very important to us for Levi to get to attend as soon as possible!  We have the best kids ministry on the planet (in my opinion) and Levi has a blast learning about Jesus every week.  I volunteer in our kids ministry with 4th and 5th grade students and I took the summer off while we adjusted to life with a newborn but I am starting back next week and I can't wait! 

 We're excited for church!!

Now with the GP's!

June 29, 2014

Levi made his first trip to church today!!  This week I stayed with him in the mother's viewing room where I can watch the service live on screen but I can keep Levi with me in case he needs to nurse or anything.  There were two other ladies in there with us and it was nice getting to know them!  Levi pretty much slept through the whole service but he did open his eyes during the closing song, which was "I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)".  One of the first times I felt Levi move when I was pregnant with him was also during that song, so it was neat to get to actually sing it to him while he was in my arms (I definitely teared up a little)!  I'm so thankful that Levi is going to grow up in a church that will teach him about Jesus in a way he can understand and make it fun!  

Two Weeks In

So after two weeks Gary and I were really becoming pros at this whole parenting thing (NOT!).  It was hard...WAY hard those first couple of weeks.  I was an emotional wreck, Levi wasn't getting enough to eat and nobody was getting any sleep.  So the two week update is like a little pep talk to myself and to Levi.  It helped to put things into perspective by writing kind of like a letter to Levi so here goes:

June 27, 2014

The first couple of weeks of your life have been quite an adventure!  We've been trying to figure out how much you need to eat, sleep, poop, and we do everything possible to keep you from crying (you really like it when daddy sings in a funny voice).  We're also trying to figure out how to help you gain weight.  When we went to the doctor this week you had lost an ounce from our first visit so we are going to see a lactation consultant and we've started adding a formula supplement.  We go back later today to recheck your weight so we are hoping you've gained some!  We want you to be so healthy and happy because we love you so much!!

The next day...

Levi's up to 6 lbs 13.5 oz!! He gained 3 oz in 2 days so to celebrate we took him on his first trip to Lake Keowee at High Falls Park.  Although he slept most of the time we had a good time grilling burgers and hotdogs and Granny Kelly and Aunt Phyllis even got to join us!  We had a great time but we were all ready for a nap when we got home!

Enjoy some pics from our day at the lake...

It's a miracle I'm sitting upright here (sooo tired!)

The ladies love Levi

Family!

Sweet Dreams!

The Birth Story

So all the baby websites (and believe me, there are a TON of them) tell you to write down your baby's birth story right away so it's fresh in your mind.  How's the next day for fresh?  So this may have more detail that you really want to know about, but it's happy times so indulge me.  Before we get started, enjoy some of my favorite pics from Levi's birthday (most taken with the iPhone so not the best quality ever).

Post-epidural...I'm feelin' good (thanks Liz for braiding my hair!)

 No words...just feels

Perfection

Weight check!

Father-son bonding moment

Hello world!!

June 9, 2014

What a day! Started out in the hospital dilated to 3 cm, ended up with baby Levi finally arriving!!

We left for the hospital around 1:30 am when my contractions were 5 minutes apart for an hour straight.  I was really nervous because when I called my doctor's office to tell them, my usual doctor was not the one on call and so of course I was freaking out.  But my ever-patient-calm-wonderful husband was there to reassure me.  And I was proud of him because he drove quickly but safely on the way to the hospital and we made it in about 30 minutes (we had done a practice run that took 35 minutes)!

When we arrived at the hospital Gary prayed for Levi and I to have a smooth delivery and for everyone to be healthy (did I mention I LOVE this man?).  So, we went on up to the 6th floor (I was still able to walk at this point so I haughtily dismissed the wheel chair, like an idiot).  We checked in at the triage station and were put into room 5 at around 2 am.  I continued to have my insides lit on fire contractions but I was only staying dilated to 3 cm so at 9 am they sent us back home (are you freaking kidding me?!?!?).

So I went home ready to kill someone but once again Gary was there to do everything he could for me, and my wonderful mother came by to help take care of me too.  So all you need to know is that I basically writhed in pain all day until I just couldn't take it anymore.  At about 3:30 that afternoon we decided to head back to the hospital.

This time when we arrived I was dilated to 6 cm and I believe my exact words were "thank you Jesus!"  So we were admitted, I got my nifty hospital gown and bracelets and we were ready to go.  However, my brilliant plan of not getting an epidural was shot to hades at this point because I had been having contractions for 20 hours and I was DONE.  So I couldn't get that sucker fast enough.  And once they finally got it done I was ready to party!

By this time mom, dad, and my sisters-Kelly, and Elizabeth had arrived at the hospital so we let them come in and hang out.  We had the most fun!  I know I should have been stressed and worried and nervous but I really was very calm and excited at the same time!!  Everybody was making fun of me because I couldn't move my legs AT ALL.  It was nuts.  I even thought one of my legs was a pillow at one point because it was covered with blankets and I started poking it and said "is this my body?!"  I had no idea!  One of my legs kept sliding off the bed so Gary and Liz were taking turns lifting it up and putting it back.  It was so WEIRD!

So fast forward to about 9 pm.  They decided I had progressed enough to break my water and get the show on the road!  When it was time to start pushing everybody left the room, except baby daddy, and I was ready to do some work!  They told me to take a deep breath and then push for 10 counts and I thought, man I got this!  7 years of playing the flute had definitely prepared me for the breathing thing.  So yeah, I was still feeling good.  I could feel some pressure but no pain and I was just chillin' watching the Braves beat up on the Rockies between pushes.

I had started pushing at about 10:40 and Levi poked his little head out at 11:21!  Just 39 minutes before his due date!  I was so proud of the little nugget.  He did so good!  He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 inches long.  He is better than anything I could've hoped for and I'm so proud to be his mommy!  Thank you Jesus for this precious gift!!

A Different Direction...

The Robersons!

News flash: Having a child changes your life.  Like completely.  So in the same spirit, I have decided to change things up on the blog a little.  While photography still remains a passion of mine, I haven't been pursuing it as much as I have in the past.  So it will still be an important aspect of the blog, but the focus is going to shift slightly.

Gary and I have many out-of-town family and friends that don't get to spend as much time with the nugget (a.k.a. Levi) as they would like, so I thought it would be nice to post some updates to let them know about the everyday stuff that you miss out on when you don't get to see someone very often.  And with babies, they change so much everyday that there is a lot to miss, so I want to try to include as many people as are interested in how Levi is growing and just generally being awesome!

So the first couple of posts are going to be playing catch up.  I've been keeping kind of a mommy-memoir throughout my pregnancy and since Levi was born.  I won't bore you guys with all the pregnancy stuff (it's mostly just me being sentimental about things I don't want to forget) and we'll get started with the star of the show, Mr. Levi!

Hope you enjoy!

Introducing: Levi Grant Roberson

My husband and I are so excited to introduce our first baby, Levi Grant Roberson! He was born in June weighing 7 lbs 6oz and was 20 inches long.  He is about 6 weeks old as of today and is growing like a weed! So naturally, from here on out, all of my posts will consist of the little nugget (but he is the most adorable baby so you won't get tired of him!)   Below are some of his newborn pictures as well as some that were taken in the first month.  Enjoy!