Isaiah 3 Months

I'm 3 Months Old!

I'm Growing!

Unofficially weighing in at 13lbs, measuring 25"

Firsts:

First real tears and first real giggles just a few days ago!
More purposeful grabbing of toys and objects in front of me! Sometimes I like to hold toys in my hands, but whenever I do I just try to eat them.
First time in church nursery this past month.
First time in the Bumbo (I only liked it at first because I'm still not the greatest at holding my head up but I'm getting there).

Sleep:

I still sleep up to 5 hours - almost 6 - for my first stretch of sleep on my good nights. I don't grunt so much in the early hours of the morning anymore, which mommy is thankful for. I've been up a lot more during the night in the past week - mommy says it's because I'm growing. I'm both predictable and flexible in my naps. I sleep for about 2 hours for my morning nap and about 2-3 hours for my afternoon nap, with a catnap in the evening. Sometimes my naps are interrupted for various reasons but I always make up for it. Mommy says if I cry it usually means I'm tired and need to go back to sleep so she helps me. Wake up time is around 7 or 8 or whenever big brother wakes me up with his goofy face in mine, and I like to go to bed when big brother goes to bed. I usually end up falling asleep on my own in my crib while mommy tucks him in for the night. This is the only time I fall asleep on my own anymore. All other times I demand that mommy (or someone else) holds my in their arms and that puts me to sleep pretty fast. Most nights I start off sleeping in my crib and then mommy moves me and has me sleep in my rock 'n play in mommy's room. I usually sleep in my rock 'n play for naps too.

Eat:

Mommy feeds me pretty well. My eating has been all over the place this month. I went from eating every 2 hours or so with less snacking to stretching it out further to eating every 1-2 hours during my growth spurt. Basically I just eat whenever I want and mommy does her best to accommodate me. 

Play:

This month I discovered that I really like my play mat. It has a pretty cool mirror that I can see myself in as well as some fun toys that make noises when I bat at or kick them. My big brother likes to lie next to me and play with me on it too. I really like to grab at things and bring objects to my mouth. My black and white cat toy on my play mat is one of my favorites.

Likes:

I still like my play mat. And I still like smiling. Like a lot. I wake up and fall asleep with a smile on my face. Smiling's my favorite. Basically I like people who smile at me. Especially my big brother who likes to smile at me a lot. 

Dislikes:

I used to dislike being in my car seat,but I'm getting better about it. 

Memories:

I went to Nashville to see the Nashville Symphony with mommy and Isaac, and we went pumpkin picking as a family. 

(Above: Nashville Symphony)

Isaiah 2 Months

I'm 2 Months Old!

I'm Growing!

Weighing in at 11lbs 2.5oz and measuring 23in! I'm average they say!

Firsts:

Smiles, coos, baby squeals and babbles.
Grabbing things, like Mommy's hair.
Found my hands - I really like to put my fist in my mouth.

Sleep:

Mommy says I'm a lot different than my older brother in this department!
I can sleep up 5 hours straight on my good nights. But I like to grunt and wake up every hour or so from 4am to 7am and then take a really good nap. Some days I take a 2 hour morning nap and a 2 hour afternoon nap with catnaps in the evening. Other days I catnap in the morning and sleep forever in the afternoon. Either way I sleep and mommy likes that! I'm also pretty good at letting mommy lay me down somewhere and falling asleep on my own. Usually I sleep in my pack 'n play, rock 'n play, or bouncer. I did fall asleep playing on the floor once - mommy was amazed by that. Other times I request falling asleep tummy to tummy on mommy or daddy.

Eat:

Mommy feeds me pretty well. She says I'm more of a snacker, but lately I'm eating about every 2-3 hours when I wake up. Sometimes I like to eat before I go to bed.

Play:

This month I discovered that I really like my play mat. It has a pretty cool mirror that I can see myself in as well as some fun toys that make noises when I bat at or kick them. My big brother likes to lie next to me and play with me on it too.

Likes:

Being on my own on my play mat or in my bouncer - those are two of my favorite things. Sometimes I do like my cuddles though. I like smiling. Smiling's my favorite. Mommy makes some funny faces and songs and talks to and I like to smile back. I like when she plays peek-a-boo too... I'm very intrigued by this game. Tummy time is pretty cool too. Sometimes I actually have to ask for it. I'm pretty good at holding my head up. Oh and can't forget that I really like my paci right.

Dislikes:

The contraption that my brother used to sleep in - not a fan if they put me in it when I'm awake or asleep (it tries to sing songs and rock/swing me back and forth). Sometimes I dislike being held too much. Strange. I know. But like I said, I do like my cuddles from time to time, but on my own terms. Other than that, there isn't much I really dislike. The world is a pretty cool place.

Memories:

I went on my first road trip with Mommy, Daddy, and Isaac. We drove to Illinois to celebrate my Aunt Alyssa getting married. Mommy and Daddy said I was a great traveler - I don't remember because I slept the whole time. While we were in Illinois I got to meet a lot of my family who I hadn't met yet!

I also went to my first NFL football game. I got to see the Titans and Vikings play in the rain. And later in the month they took me to the Zoo for the first time! Again I don't remember much because I slept a lot.

New Professional Photos of Our Family, Enjoy!

On July 29 we had the pleasure of having professional photographs taken of the newest member of our family, baby Isaiah, of Isaac for his 3rd birthday, and of our new family together. The photographs were taken in our home by By Shea Photography. I wanted to share some of my favorites with you (and there are a lot because they were all so good!). Please enjoy!

Isaac is 3!

In his big boy bedroom with his guitar. I love this photo. He is definitely musically inclined like his aunty.

This one of Isaac jumping on his bed is one of my top favorites. 

Continuing the tradition of taking his birthday pictures with balloons; this year 3 balloons for 3 years!

And of course we tied them to an airplane toy, one of his favorites. So here he is flying it!

This one above - an action shot of him running - is another one of my top favorites. This is my boy, perfectly captured in a moment.

This one above is another personal favorite. I love that she caught this expression of him being slightly embarrassed.

And this one is great too. My silly goose.

Baby Isaiah

Isaiah John born on July 21, 2014, 7lbs 1.5oz, 20.5 inches long. 

8 days new in these photos.

Love that they were taken in his nursery.

Also love these ones of me holding baby Isaiah and my crazy toddler running circles around me and hugging my leg!

Brotherly Love

Big brother Isaac with little brother Isaiah

Isaiah John

Candid Moments of So Much Love

Love, love, love this one of Isaac in his daddy's helmet!

"Portraits" of Our New Family 

Naming Isaiah

I love that Isaiah's name is full of meaning for us, just like Isaac's is as well. I also love that, like his brother, his name isn't one I ever thought I would name my child, but is one that God inspired in our hearts.

First we looked to our initials for ideas. We had a pattern going in our family: H, I, J, K (Hailey, Isaac, Joshua, Kristin). Somehow we needed to stick to our pattern. We first looked to G and L boy names but none stood out to us. We did like the name Luke but he didn't feel like a Luke, not to mention that was the name of Isaac's best friend and that could have been a little confusing. We eventually decided we could go with an initial in our pattern that we already had.

Almost immediately we both thought of the "I" name: Isaiah. Not only do I love the name and loved the thought of having two boys named Isaac and Isaiah (which I thought had a nice ring to it), but Isaiah has been my favorite book in the Bible for the last 5 years. It is full of my favorite God-breathed words that have continually spoken straight to my heart. It also holds a special place in my life in relation to Hailey, as it is a place where I found so many words of comfort and healing after her death.

I learned that the name Isaiah means generous, which I also love. For me, while I was pregnant, facing so many fears and unknowns, it helped remind me that The Lord is generous in so many ways to us. It also made me hope The Lord would be generous in the specific way of giving us another healthy baby, the dream we dared to dream.

For awhile Isaiah had no middle name. We wanted one that was a family name or full of meaning. We were leaning towards our dads' names as inspiration. I personally liked the ring of Isaiah Thomas (after my dad who I loved and lost in 2010 to cancer), but as some of you may know a certain famous athlete shares that name, and so it was vetoed by my husband. We then agreed to using my husband's dad's middle name for Isaiah's middle name, John. Of course John is an incredibly Biblical name, but I loved learning that it means God is gracious.

So Isaiah John means God is generous and gracious.

It speaks something that is so true and beautiful and perfectly captures Isaiah's life for us. God has generously blessed us with another healthy baby, and ever so graciously as well... Giving us gifts over and over that we do not deserve. Grace is kind of an overarching message God has been teaching me about in the past year so it's very personally fitting to me.

I hope that Isaiah lives a life that rings true to his name, one that witnesses and testifies of the Lord's generosity and graciousness.



Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
{Isaiah 30:18}


I have redeemed you,
I have called you by name
You are mine.
{Isaiah 43:1}


but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
{Isaiah 43:1}