Maverick John is two months old!

"It has been almost a week since Tula Belle was 2 months old, so it's really been weighing on me to do an update about what's new with her and all of us. Frankly, it is almost impossible to find the time right now. And when I do have the time to sit and do nothing, at this point the last thing I feel like doing is typing or even thinking about what to type. It is good for me though, to reflect a little and take the time to journal. This blog is the only journal I have and I am learning as every new mother does that the moments just fly by and sometimes the end of the day you can look back and it feels like a blur. There have been days that I feel like I got nothing accomplished, because I spent too much time just staring and cooing at Tula. And then there are days I realize I didn't spend enough quality time with her because I focused too much of my energy on finishing a project or task at hand. Everyday is a new attempt at trying to find the perfect balance."

Gosh, it is still the same. Maverick is two months old yesterday, and usually at some point before or after I write his monthly update, I will go back and reflect on Tula's and what she (or we) were doing at that stage of her life. And I read this tonight and thought that it perfectly describes how I am feeling with Mav right now too. This two month mark is kind of a big one, I guess looking back at Tula's post made me realize that as well. I think it's the transition that is taking place from the little ball of baby newborn-ness, to a smiling, alert, stretched out baby. And it's a reminder of how fast time flies, and that every single moment is fleeting. There have already been so many night that I have put Maverick to bed and thought to myself, "Tomorrow I will hold him more" or "Tomorrow I will spend more time doing this or that" with both kids I guess. But especially Mav right now. He is so babyish in comparison to Tula, and so she can just get my attention easier with all of the things she is doing right now. With Maverick, I really have to make a point or mental note to take time alone with him to snuggle, and get out all his smiles. I feel like every time I take a minute to do this, even if Tula is right there with me, he rewards me with the biggest smiles, to remind me to do it more often I guess. As busy as I feel I am during the day, sometimes I look back at the end of it and feel like I can't think of a thing I did. But lately, almost every day that I reflect on, at the end of the day I can think of one big smile that I got from Mav, and I guess it reminds me of the important things that happened. I truly, truly do not know where the time goes. It is so incredible how fast it flies. But I do know there there are seconds with you, Maverick, milliseconds maybe, that will last me a lifetime of memories already. So instead of worrying so much about how many moments passed that I don't know how I filled them, I am going to focus on the moments that I was able to completely fill up with my children and be grateful and proud of them. And know that the time will continue to tick, no matter how hard I wish it didn't. But every second wasted feeling bad about a wasted second is just another wasted second. Know what I mean? I am living in the moment, doing the best I can, still trying to find that "perfect balance" that I was looking for when Tula was two months old, and realizing that that may be a lifelong journey.

Oh, and Thank God for my camera, because some of the smiles and moments that I have been able to capture, thought they are right now so fresh in my memory, won't always be. And I love that I have some wonderful photographs to look back on for years to come. Seriously, the best money we have spent since having kids was on an SLR camera. It has allowed me to capture some of the most precious moments with my kids, and I will be forever grateful that I have them. I am still sometimes thanking John for my Christmas present from last year, which I am sure will go down as my greastest, most favoritist Christmas present of all time.

Not too much changed with Maverick this month. Well, he grew up and out, he is no longer in a ball like new babies are. His legs are all stretched out and he likes to kick them and flail his arms around. He definitely recognizes the sound of my voice, and smiles like crazy when I get my face close to his and talk to him. Around 6 weeks old, the smiles became a daily thing, and luckily I haven't had to go a day without them yet. Maverick is a really happy little guy, most of the time. He loves bathtime, I think he would stay forever in that tub with us pouring water over him if we let him. Maverick adores his sister. When I go get her in the morning after she wakes up and bring her into the bed with us, she always has to say "hi" to him and wave, and give him a kiss. Mav usually responds with a huge smile. It's a great way to start the day.

This month, I put most of his 0-3 months clothes away. He started wearing some 3-6 months stuff as early as 6 weeks. He is a very big boy, and seems to still be growing so quickly. He still doesn't really like any sort of tummy time, which is the norm, and sleeps lots for Mommy. He goes down at 8 and sleeps till about 3ish, wakes up to nurse and comes to bed with us where he sleeps till morning. He gets up for maybe an hour and then naps most of the morning away still, and a big part of the afternoon. At two months old, he is basically still waking to eat and maybe have an awake hour or two here and there. He is a really, really easy baby, and I know how blessed I am to be able to say that again the second time around.

Although having a new baby in the house was a huge adjustment, I really felt the last couple weeks like I was starting to settle into some sort of a routine, or just feel more comfortable with the two of them by myself. We have started going out more, the three of us. I can take the two of them to Target or a playdate or even the park! I have great friends who have helped out so much and made the transition easier on us. But I have also developed more confidence in doing it on my own as well and that has help a great deal. We are not quite a well oiled machine, but we are getting close. Home is definitely easiest for us right now, and we have started working on the backyard to accommodate or new need to "get out of the house" with out getting in the car. John has been working incredibly hard out there whenever he has the chance and I think it's going to look so good. I can't wait for it to be done!

Maverick, you have brought so much joy into our lives, and doing this the second time around is so much sweeter in many ways. I know the time passes fast. So I cherish every minute that I am truly wrapped up in you and hold those dear to me. You are a good baby, with an ear to ear smile that is infectious. Your big smiles this month have brought me more happiness than you could ever know. I love you so much!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Maverick from this month. He is really a gorgeous boy. But I am not biased, am I?