Just a bit of what I've learned in the first 5 months with baby Z

Hey Friend!
It's been 4 months ish since I last posted.
Things have been busy but beautiful.

Zephaniah is such a wonderful addition and blessing to our family.

Zeph and Daddy at the Pumpkin Patch

Its been so fun to watch him grow and change.
And to see how we are changing because of him! Michael and I have totally different priorities now that Zeph is here, but we love our lives and couldn't go back.
Zephaniah is so much fun. He'll be 6 months old on December 28th, while we are in Michigan celebrating my sister and her fiance's wedding!
He's starting laughing and smiling, and really noticing the people (and dogs) around him. He LOVES Bosley and thinks that when the dog whines its the funniest thing ever!

Zephaniah has started to sit up on his own and is really into playing with his toys....and by playing either eating them OR banging them against the table or floor to make loud noises. 

Its so crazy though because even 12 weeks ago he was just starting to smile and now he's so entertaining and into talking to people. He loves Facetime with my family, and likes to 'talk' to them and show off his new skills.

He recognizes voices from the phone too. 

1 week old Zeph with Mom and Grandma 

Grandparents!

Most parents already know this but it truly is amazing how fast things change. 

I'm so thankful that we have the means and technology to easily capture these wonderful stages he's been going through because it seems like a blink and he's learned something new.

So happy with our cloth diaper and handmade booties!

We're cloth diapering, but usually only at home. It has been going well. I really love our FuzziBunz and the routine of washing and what not is pretty easy, especially since I only work one or two days a week. We have a HE washer so it took a little trial and error to get the right system down for us. If you have questions at all about that let me know in the comments and I can answer you there!

They are so soft and his fluffy bum is so stinkin' cute with those colorful diapers!

I would totally recommend for a mom to try cloth.

This is Zeph's 'really Mom?' face

I feel like recently we've really been getting into a good rhythm with being parents. Don't get me wrong, sometimes that boy cries and we have NO IDEA why and have to just try to calm him down.

Those times are getting less frequent because we've reached the place where we see what he likes, when he's getting tired, how to talk to and soothe him, how to make him laugh or distract him....and because Zeph is a little older and probably a little more used to being out in this big world. 

He's started taking longer, more restful naps....thank God! And really I think it was my not reading his cues properly that took us so long to get to this place where he's sleeping well. 

Now though he gets sleep-I can usually shower during the day (hurray!) and work on some other projects!

Its really so much fun to get to know this little guy.

Here's just a little list of the things we've learned over the that 5 1/2 months.

*when the baby is a newborn, sleep when he sleeps. For real-your house will be messy but baby doesn't care. Sleep!

You'll be happier and have more patience with that sweet hysterically crying baby when you've had an hour nap!

*Freeze up some meals-more than you think. Even after you've recovered from birth, having a quick meal is great for days when the baby has been a hot mess and is having an epic meltdown....right at dinner time....read: the first 3 months of sweet baby Z's life

.

*Swings are life savers. At least for us it was. Babies love to rock and sway, and a swing can keep going for hours after your arms would give out. Craigslist has them for 1/2 off! Get the cradle swing that is soft and you can wash the lining!

*Use that smart phone to your advantage. Track feedings w/apps, take photos and make movies of your little bundle of joy....even when all they do is lay there and stare at their own hand. Because in just a couple of weeks it will be so hard to remember those days where all they did was lay and look at their own hand. Plus grandparents love that stuff. Create a YouTube channel and load that puppy up!

*Baby-wearing is awesome! There are a ton of places that list all the benefits of babywearing.

We were fortunate enough to have my cousin gift us a Moby wrap and we used gift cards to purchase an Ergo! So great for handsfree baby-soothing. If Zeph was having a rough time I'd throw him on and walk around in circles around the house if I couldn't leave-taking big exaggerated steps (think lunges) and all the swaying would put him to sleep. The dog though was a little confused and followed us around....so we had a parade of three going on for a while! 

*People have opinions about every aspect of baby raising, from diapers to sleep training, to clothing....seriously like almost everything. But, these opinions are always super strong and it's not "oh we disagree, ok" its more like "we disagree and if you don't change your mind you will damage your baby for life!" 

Its craziness. Ask the opinions of people you respect and that won't be haters if you don't take it. 

And find a pediatrician you can ask questions and get honest responses. I asked my Dr. about vaccines and she sent me home w/her copy of a book to read to make an informed choice. I respect that.

Newborn baby love

I make no promises of posting on a regular basis, but I'd like to so keep an eye open for some more updates! 

5 Days and Counting

Hello Blog friends! Its been a while. 

We're here in the home stretch of baby-making. My due date is this coming Saturday!!! The means baby Gill could come tomorrow.....or, he could come on the 4th of July. Here's hoping he comes a little bit before Independence Day. 

37 weeks

Today also marks the second week I've been home from work. I think the wonderful women I work with could tell that my swollen ankles and painful wrists needed an early break so they let me start my 'maternity leave' early. And can I tell you how WONDERFUL it is to not be working right now? 

I am just not sure how women work up until the day they deliver. I wasn't getting anything done in preparation for baby when I was working-I'd come home so tired, and our evenings tend to be a little bit over-scheduled.....so sleep was always the priority. 

Anyway while I was working all the time-Bosley started to have a hard time. I think a large part of the problem was the fact we were gone all day and so tired at night he didn't get much exercise OR attention....and then there was the issue of all these new things coming into our home, that from his little puppy eyes-looked like they should be toys for him.

So, he took it upon himself to "play" with these new toys one afternoon while I was at work.

Bosley the Destroyer of worlds

Yea-that is a picture of the destruction. In case you can't tell what's shredded there its a WHOLE package of disposable diapers, an outfit including shoes, linky toys, a blanket and a stuffed animal.
This wasn't the first time either although it was the largest massacre of baby stuff.
I came home from work tired, swollen and hungry. I waddled into the living room to see the Boz, sitting there amongst the carnage, wagging his tail all ready to play.
I just started crying.....called Mr. Gill and told him I think we might have to give Bosley up because his hunger for diapers has become too much for me to handle.
I'm pretty sure Mr. Gill rolled his eyes and thought to himself-seriously? But he could tell I was very upset because of the angry/crying/yelling at the dog on the other end of the phone and tried to logically talk to me about how Boz behaves when people are actually around, which is slightly sneaky-but not malicious or even really very naughty.
Which was needed because I wasn't being fair to the dog and I may have been a *little* hormonal.
These last few weeks have been MUCH better with Boz though.

Happy Dog

We've been spending our mornings outside in the backyard, and taking lots of walks around the neighborhood. 

We've also been hanging out at a local park that has foothills and a pond, so Bosley can swim and I can climb up and down flights of stairs (rumor has it that helps the baby move into the right position for labor). He's been happier, and so have I. 

We aren't scared of how he'll react to the baby, although we are for sure anticipating a little bit of jealousy.....maybe a couple more chewings of baby things. 

But like my mom mentioned to me after that last massacre.....its only a matter of time before Bosley and baby Gill are a team; tearing up all my stuff. ;)

So here we are just waiting. I'll try to keep taking pictures of how things go and maybe even post pictures of the nursery before the baby comes!

*Jenny

Photo Dump!

So it's been several months since I've posted. Um, 3 months to be exact. And, I'd say I'm sorry but-ya know....we're just living life. Here is a just a quick photo run-down of what's been happening the last 3 months.

In late Janurary we found out we're having a boy!

Our lemon tree produced several big lemons-and I made Lemon Bars!

The recipe is on my Pinterest page-OHMIGOODNESS! SO GOOD!

Bosley got a cut on his little paw and then had to wear the cone of shame until it healed....since he spent all day licking the cut and making it worse....poor puppy. Except his bumbling around w/the cone was SO funny. I mean, SO funny. hehe




This is some fabric I picked out for baby. How stinkin' cute is that? I haven't actually MADE anything with it but, its going to be something beautiful.
























This photo is from the very end of March. I was only 27 weeks-but guess what? I was measuring more like I was 33 weeks. He's going to be a BIG baby.

My parents bought us a BEAUTIFUL crib that I adore. Bosley has been practicing protectively watching over the crib like a big brother should.
Actually he just wanted to be w/Michael as he was putting it together which meant he was practically in the crib as it was being assembled.

And last but not least the Michael Gill and Friends Band had a show just last week! It was super fun and they are going to start recording!

That's a mini-glimpse into what's been going on w/the Gills.
Have a good Wednesday friends!

I'll poke your eyes out

You know how sometimes you want something SO MUCH you rip right into it and then something unexpected happens?

Yea, I don't think that's what happened here. 

I'm pretty sure the Boz wanted to tear out this toy's eyes.

My terror of a puppy.