Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Thank you to each of you for your love and support through 2011.  It was simply an amazing year for us both.  It will be a hard year to top.  We look forward to ringing in the new year with our new addition Leighton.  She is truly a blessing and has brought us even closer together.  We can't wait to continue to watch her grow and change.  Each moment with her is special and a gift that we will be forever grateful for. 

To Put Size into Perspective

Leighton has been growing A LOT.  We can tell she has gained weight and length but I was having a hard time remembering how small she was when she was born compared to her size now at 7 weeks old.  The day we brought her home from the hospital it was chilly outside, so we attempted to put her in bear suit for warmth but we quickly saw it ate her up.  This week at the beach we put her in her bear suit and it fit perfectly.  Check out the difference for yourself.  What a big and strong girl we have!

 A few days old

Seven weeks old

Christmas in Greenville, NC

Mommy helping Leighton open her first gift.

 Leighton quickly realized how tiring it is to open gifts.  She ended up sleeping through the rest of Christmas morning.

With Bb after her morning nap.

The morning after Christmas spending some time with her Pops.

Christmas Virginia Style

One Month Picture

Sweet Leighton turns one month!  She is stretching to show everyone just how tall she is.

Wiggle it...just a little bit!

Leighton has really started to move and groove.  She loves to lay on her play mat and kick her legs and move her arms around.  Shake, rattle and roll Leighton!

Before and After

Leighton Before

Leighton After

Sometimes all she needs is a little cuddle time!

Bath Time

Look at me taking my first bath in my duck bath tub!



Naptime

Leighton now weighs 10.9 pounds and is 22 inches long!  What a big girl, it is hard to believe she is already 3 weeks old.  Growing so much makes her one tired young lady.

 I nap on my boppy

 
I nap on my poppy

I can nap almost anywhere!

Super Dad!

Stuart does it all!  He is super dad, here are some of his and Leighton's first time special moments. 

 Feeding Leighton a bottle for the first time

Taking Leighton out for a quick walk in the Baby Bjorn

Oh Christmas Tree!

Stuart's parents head to the mountains every Thanksgiving to have their Christmas tree cut down.  So Stuart and I jumped on the bandwagon and decided to go with them this year.  The night before I was so worried wondering why we decided it was appropriate to take a two week old baby on a full day trip in the car.  We packed all we needed the night before.  Which we have learned we need to bring a lot.  Lots of diapers, wipes, changes of clothes, etc.  We even tried bottle feeding Leighton to be sure she would take one before we were out on the road.  Our nightmare was having a screaming baby in the car and having to stop everytime she was hungry so I could feed her.  But we had success!  Stuart fed Leighton her first bottle without a hitch.  I guess that is one benefit of having a piglet, she is not concerned about how she gets her milk as long as she gets it! 

Side note:  I did so much research on bottle feeding a breastfed baby and oh my!  So many opinions and people who said it was too early, would lead to nipple confusion, that she would have trouble going back and forth.  Blah, blah, blah!  So many opinions and voices on ALL things baby.  Hence our approach: we do what works best for us.  Bottle feeding her breastmilk went just fine and we have had no negative side effects.  Actually makes for a more happy mother because Stuart gave me a break all weekend from feeding and it was just what I needed to feel like I could keep doing it.  It is not always easy folks!

Now back to our road trip.  We arrived to the tree farm in Sparta, NC.  We got out our BOB stroller and did some off-roading with Leighton through the aisles of trees.  Stuart and I picked out our tree and stopped to take some photos.  We enjoyed hot chocolate in the parking lot as the tree farm workers strapped the two trees to the roof of the car.  Our next stop was the downtown of Sparta, not much there.  But luckily we went there first and didn't get back on the windy road down the mountain because one of the trees slid off the roof and was laying on the side of the car!  This stop allowed me to quickly feed Leighton and then change her giant blow out.  This showed Stu and I that yes you need back up clothes (which we had packed, go us!) and that we need to pack more milk.  I already mentioned Leighton is a piglet, correct? 

After Sparta, we drove to Shelton winery and we stopped for some lunch and a mid-day drink of wine.  Yummy!  I highly recommend their Harvest Red and delicious food.  Our first time eating out with Leighton, again she was a champ!  Slept right through the whole meal.  Then back on the road again where dad, mom and baby slept most of the way home.  Thanks Bebe and Pops for driving us!  We arrived home and thought we would have the energy to decorate.  Wrong!  The three of us headed to bed early and Leighton slept seven hours through the night.  Thank you baby girl! 

The next day, feeling so rested we decorated our house for Christmas.  It looks great and feels oh so cozy.  Loving every minute of the holiday season with my precious family!

 The ride up the mountain

Enjoying the back seat with mom and dad

 Dad and Leighton off roading in the BOB

 Family Photo

The Brown Family

 Shelton Winery Gift Shop

 Trees safely on top of the car

 Our tree was perfect from the front, but from the side so crooked!  Poor Stuart had to really work to get the tree level.

Final product!

Leighton's First Thanksgiving

We had a great time visiting with the Pike family and introducing the newest family member! Amazingly, Stuart and I didn't over eat.  I think it must have something to do with being a parent.  You kind of stuff what you can in your mouth before your baby starts to cry, needs to eat or needs a diaper change.  Parenting is our new diet!  I made my Grandmom's pineapple casserole recipe and it was a huge hit.  Super easy to make and delicious...right up my alley. 

Here are pictures of Leighton being held by her Gigi Pike.  Aren't they both too cute?  I loved watching them spend time together and it meant the world to Stuart.  It was great to see everyone but there were many family members not there that we missed getting to spend time with. 

Afterwards we stopped by the Duke Chapel to quickly check it out.  It was absolutely beautiful!  This Thanksgiving Stuart and I are so thankful for Leighton and all of our family and friends.  We feel so blessed.  Love to you all!

Tummy Time

Stuart and Leighton have their special tummy time together.  I love watching them bond!

Heading Home

Getting a newborn ready to go home was harder than it sounded.  We didn't leave the hospital until 1pm because we had to pack, get dressed, dress Leighton, feed Leighton, take pictures and make sure we had taken every possible diaper we could find in the room!  We were so excited to take Leighton home and show her our house and her room.  She also needed to meet her brother Bristol and sister Mia.  I was a little worried about the introduction but it was a smooth transition.  Mia wanted to immediately smell and lick her.  Bristol kept his distance for about 2 hours and then when he was ready he came over to smell her. 

Life now with baby and dogs is great, they all get along.  When Leighton is in her swing Mia thinks it is her job to guard Leighton and keeps a watchful eye on her.  She worries when Leighton cries and comes over to lick her.  After Leighton is out of the swing Mia sniffs up her scent and doesn't worry about her until she is back in the swing. 

I have to walk one dog at time with Leighton in the stroller.  I have yet to master both dogs and the stroller at once.  Maybe one day.  But that just means I am getting twice the exercise.  Which leads me to need to boast about the fact that I have lost all but 7 pounds of my baby weight!  Yay!  It fell off the week after Leighton was born.  I was worried because I know it can be hard to lose and take a long time.  Especially since right after having her, I only weighed 12 pounds less....I expected a lot more considering she weighed almost 10 pounds.  I know these last 7 pounds will slowly creep off but that's okay with me!  All worth it for her!

Back to our homecoming, what a feeling to bring Leighton home for the first time.  Stuart and I were so happy and it was fun learning to adjust to having a baby at home.  It was a beautiful day so we took Leighton for her first walk in her stroller.  Love the BOB, what a good investment!  I hope you enjoy these pictures of us leaving the hospital and bringing Leighton home.