Blogging Challenge -- Days 14-18

Hey everyone! Where in the world have I been with my Blogging Challenge posts? Well, I'll tell ya. I've had the pleasure of hosting some nasty virus for the past 4 days. Today is by far the best day yet, but I'm still feeling rough. This thing started off like a cold, then turned into what felt like the flu and then progressed to something resembling a stomach virus. Lovely, I know. That's a good part of the reason why I haven't blogged in a week. BUT I wanted to get back to it today and answer questions 14-18 of the blogging challenge. These questions are all really interesting to me and it's funny how a lot of them are harder to answer than I would have ever thought. They are really making me think...which is a good thing! Hope you enjoy! :D

14. What's on your iPod? I really like a variety of music! Country music is definitely my favorite, but I also like pop, contemporary Christian, and 90's music. Scrolling through my Pandora stations I found: Matchbox Twenty Radio, The Grinch Radio, 3 Doors Down Radio, 90s Pop Radio, Today's County Radio, Lady Antebellum Radio, Today's Hits Radio, Hillsong Worship Radio, and Passion Worship Band Radio...to name a few.

15. List 10 things that make you awesome:

1. I am one big, recessive gene (red hair, green eyes, left-handed, fair skinned).
2. I enjoy running long distances.
3. I am very organized.
4. I've jumped out of a plane.
5. I'm a good friend (or at least I try really hard to be).
6. I love to encourage others.
7. I have the best husband, son, and puppy around!
8. When I want something, I work hard to achieve it. I'm driven.
9. I have always adopted my pets from the local animal shelter.
10. I exercised throughout my entire pregnancy, up until 3 days before I had my son.

16. What's your biggest accomplishment? Gosh, this is a hard one. There are a lot of things that come to mind, but one of the biggest accomplishments I can think of is how hard my husband and I have worked for what we have. We started off with very little and have worked so hard and come so far. We still don't have much, but what we do have, I am proud of because I know the hard work that went into it. I'm proud that together we have overcome a lot of obstacles, especially financially, and stayed dedicated to what we wanted. I'm thankful that what I have wasn't handed to me because I don't know if I would appreciate it quite the same.

17. Why and when did you start blogging? I started blogging in August of 2013. I have always loved writing and found blogging to be a way to rekindle that passion. I wanted to share bits of my life with people and hoped that someone would find my posts encouraging and relatable. I figured if I touched one person's life with my blog, that would be wonderful!

18. Where are you happiest? I am happiest when I am with those I love, my family and friends. Yes, that corny, but it's true. The older I get, the more I realize the importance of my relationships and how those are the things that will carry on when everything else fades. At the end of my life, the reflection on the relationships I had will bring me far more joy than anything else ever could.

Blogging Challenge -- Days 9-13

9. What's On Your Bucket List?

Travel to Europe
Run a marathon
Find a job I love, so I don't feel like I'm working
Visit NYC
Go on a family vacation
Lead a women's Bible study
Go to a movie by myself

Things I Have Already Achieved on my Bucket List:

Give blood
Donate hair to Locks of Love
Go skydiving
Go on an international mission trip (South Korea and Costa Rica)

10. Daily Routine -- With a 2 month old baby, my daily routine looks very different each day! Three days a week I go to work, leaving before the sun comes up and not getting home until about 5 pm. After I get home from work, I either go to youth girl's Bible study, Wednesday night dinner at my church, or relax at home for the evening with my baby and husband. Two days a week, I am off work and am able to get housework done and run errands. I also like to go on a walk, go running, and see friends and family on those days off. My routine is different each day, but I like the variety! And of course, my son determines a lot of how my daily routine goes :)

11. Last Book You Read -- The last few books I have read have been The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Hunger Games series, Mere Christianity, and The Fault in Our Stars.

12. Something You Miss -- I am at the stage of my life where I have a lot of responsibility. I am responsible for another human life, my house, my job, my car, etc. I also have a lot of financial responsibility. I love this phase of my life and am happier than I have ever been, but if I miss anything, it's probably the phase of my life where I had less responsibility and was able to be more carefree. Every decision I make now affects not only myself, but my entire family. Sometimes I miss those carefree high school and college days where I had less responsibility.

13. Do You Have Regret? My biggest regret is probably the time I have wasted in my life worrying about the future or how things would work out. Each time, everything has always worked out and I spent way too much of my time and energy worrying about things I couldn't control.

Grayson's 2 Month Update!

I can't believe it's already time for Grayson's 2 month update! This month has flown and he is growing and changing right in front of my eyes. Each week I can see so many differences in him and he is constantly hitting new milestones. In a lot of ways, he is like a new little person since last month and I am seeing his personality come out (which I love!). If you haven't already noticed by the crazy amount of pictures I post of Grayson, I am completely in love. In some ways, I feel like a teenager...completely head over heels for this little boy and constantly admiring how cute he is. Grayson has my heart and makes it melt on a regular basis. 

Weight & Height: We just went to Grayson's 2 month appointment today, so we were able to get accurate measurements. Grayson is 12 lbs. 2.8 oz (62nd percentile) and 22.5 inches long (33rd percentile). Short and chubby :) Since he only started off at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and is still exclusively breastfed, I am thrilled with his significant weight gain! 

Sleep: This is probably my only complaint about Grayson at this stage of his life. He is a wonderful napper, but he still doesn't sleep for very long periods at night. He averages about 3 hours of sleep at a time, sometimes reverts back to waking up every 2 hours and other times, he reaches 4 hours of sleep before waking up. Each night is still different for him, but we are slowly starting to see regularities in his sleeping and eating patterns which helps. Grayson has been much better about eating quickly and then being put back in his Rock 'N' Play next to our bed and falling right back to sleep. That new trick of his is a life saver...no more being up for an hour at a time each feeding! Last night he actually slept for 4.5 hrs and then 3 hrs...this mama was thrilled! 

Clothes: Grayson is in 0-3 month clothing and just went to size 2 diapers this week. Stop growing, Gray! I personally really struggle watching him grow. It brings me so much joy, yet makes me sad that the days are already passing so quickly. I finally put away his newborn clothes last week and I was so sad about it. My husband was laughing at me the whole time saying...he is almost 2 months old! You know it's a good thing he still doesn't fit in his newborn clothes, right? ....Yes, Josh, I do. But it's still sad! ;) 

Mood: Grayson's mood has probably been the biggest change that we have noticed this month. Josh and I used to joke calling him "The Grump" the whole first month because he was just that, grumpy. He wasn't good about not being held all the time and couldn't self-sooth (very normal for newborns), but now he is a different baby! He is a lot happier and cries so much less. Grayson is much more content and will go for almost an hour on his play mat cooing and playing, which gives me time to get things done around the house. I can tell that he is more aware of things and notices sounds more which helps entertain him and keep him calm for longer. He has also started smiling this month which just melts my heart. I absolutely love it and am constantly trying to make him smile. 

Milestones: smiles, holds his head up, cooing and very vocal. 

Loves:  Batting at colorful objects in front of him (especially his red, jingly fox), sucking his hands, kicking his arms and legs around while laying on his back, running errands with mommy and basically going anywhere in his car seat and stroller, his play mat, bath time (as long as the water and bathroom are very warm!), laying in mommy and daddy's bed, sleeping on his side, and staring at the owl mobile in his crib while it spins and plays music. 

Doesn’t like:  tummy time and being burped (who likes being interrupted during a good meal?!)

How Is Mommy Doing? At 8 weeks postpartum, I am feeling great and very much like myself again. I was very lucky and felt about 90% after the first few weeks, but it took awhile for me to get back to feeling 100% again. My body is back to normal and I have even started running again (very slowly). The only lasting symptom from birth that I am still dealing with is a bruised tail bone. I don't know if anyone else has ever experienced this, but my doctor said most likely Grayson nicked my tailbone on the way out. (TMI, sorry). I love being a mom and am actually handling it better than I thought. Emotionally, I have been fairly calm and haven't been nearly as stressed and overwhelmed with all the changes as I thought I might be. Sleep deprivation is hard, but I am managing. It's amazing how God can create your body to do so many things including carry a child, give birth, and still function while getting very little sleep over a long period of time. As far as Grayson and I, I feel more connected to him this month and that really helps when I am feeling worn out. I have deeply loved him since before he was even conceived, but it took a while for me to feel that mother-baby bond. In a lot of ways, I felt it from the moment I saw him, but I also know it has grown stronger with time. 

Going Back To Work? So many of you have asked me about this, so here's your answer. We were originally planning on me going back to work full-time after Grayson was 6 weeks old. I knew it would be hard, but leaving him was one of the hardest things I have ever done. By going back to work, I felt like motherhood was being stripped away from me (obviously not true). I went from being with my baby 24/7 to being gone half the day. I hated not knowing what was going on with him and I felt like I was missing those precious moments of his life. After a breakdown and lots of tears on Sunday night, I forced myself out the door and to work the first 2 days of that week and about mid-day on Tuesday, I just couldn't do it any more. I was miserable. Like I said, it was much harder for me than I ever would have imagined. I just felt like work wasn't where I belonged anymore. I belonged with my baby. Thankfully, my boss and I were able to work out a perfect arrangement for our family. I am now working 3 days a week! Yes, I do still have to work, but at least I am home and with Grayson more than I am away. Between Josh and I, we are able to adjust our work schedules so Grayson can be with either one of us (or both) at almost all times. We are very blessed to be able to say that! I am in no way discrediting working mothers or stay-at-home mothers for that matter, but for me, working part-time is the perfect balance! 

Going back to work while being a mom and a wife, and still managing my household and my life has been tough, but I am doing it! Our family is still adjusting to life with a little one and in a lot of ways our life is much more complicated now, but it is also so full of love and happiness! Grayson is our joy and we cannot wait to see what month 3 of his life holds!

Blogging Challenge -- Days 5-8

Good Morning! I'm continuing the blogging challenge with days 5-8 ! Hope everyone has had a great week of snow and ice (at least here in Atlanta). I personally am ready for the warmer weather and the time change. Come on, spring! Have an awesome weekend, everyone and hope you enjoy this post.

5. Favorite Movies You Never Get Sick of Watching -- Twister & Titanic. Yep, 90's and old school. I have watched each of these movies countless times and they never get old. It doesn't help that they both come on TV all the time and I still manage to get sucked in.

6.Your Last Random Act of Kindness -- Two years ago, I chopped off my long hair and donated it to Locks of Love to be made into a wig for a cancer patient. It was a really neat experience and very rewarding knowing I was going to help someone in need. I would have loved to meet the person the wig ended up going to!

7. What's Your Dream Job? For years, I have always said my dream job would be working for a non-profit doing some type of marketing. I have a degree in business marketing and management and I would love to utilize that more. Also, I always wanted a job that made a difference and impacted people's lives. At the end of each day, I would like to know my job and where I'm investing my time made a difference in someone's life and not just their wallet.

8. Biggest Pet Peeve -- My biggest pet peeve is probably people complaining about something, but doing nothing to fix it. I am a doer and a fixer. I am proactive about what I want and I go after it. Sometimes I struggle to understand people who constantly gripe about an issue, but do nothing to change it. I believe we are all in control of our own lives and we have the power to achieve whatever we want. If you want it, go after it and make it happen!

Blogging Challenge Days 2-4

Well, I've already completely slacked! I didn't post at all over the weekend, but I plan on getting back on track this week with my blogging challenge! Today I am going to answer the questions for days 2-4.

2. Favorite Quote -- "Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.”   ― Ida Scott Taylor

I love this particular quote because I am a worrier and I tend to overanalyze most things. I critique the past and struggle to move forward while also worrying so much about the future that I can't enjoy the present. This quote is a beautiful reminder to focus on the present which I tend to need reminding of.

3. What makes you happy? Well this question could be very long if I answered it fully. Lots of things make me happy! Dessert before the main course, going running on a fall day, the beach, and someone making me feel special all qualify as answers. But the first thing that popped in my mind as I read this question was my family. My family's life is pretty hectic, so any time I am spending uninterrupted quality time with my husband, son, and puppy I am very happy! They are my happy place without a doubt.

4. Best Childhood Memory -- While this may seem cliché, one of my favorite and best childhood memories was going to Disney World! I went with my family when I was in 7th grade and it was one of my favorite family trips. I have such good memories from that trip and still remember it really well. It was such a fun and magical place despite the fact that I was already 13 years old. I absolutely loved Disney World! I remember taking pictures with the characters, riding every single ride, and spending the evenings playing cards and laughing with my mom, dad, brother, uncle, aunt, and cousin. My family was in a really good place at that time and the memories we made on that trip were unforgettable (in the best way!).

Well that's all for today!

Let Me REintroduce Myself -- Blog Challenge!

Well hello there! My name is Brittany and I would like to welcome you to my blog. I started this blog almost 2 years ago and it's been a fun space for me to explore my love of writing, as well as, share my life with you all. When I started this blog, I was a newlywed living in a basement apartment in Atlanta with my husband and fur baby, Cedric. I was working a full time job and learning how to be a wife, as well as, manage a home. I was in that awkward post-college phase trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted my future to look like. Since then, my husband and I have purchased our first home, moved to an Atlanta suburb, and started a family. I spent last year navigating the ropes of cooking, decorating a home, commuting to my job and preparing for motherhood. And now, well my life looks more different than it ever has, but in the best way! I am currently a new mom, pastor's wife, part-time worker, church member, daughter, and friend...just trying to balance it all! I wanted to reintroduce myself as I spend more time writing and giving more attention to this blog. As you can see, my life has changed and progressed over time and I have the same hopes for this blog. I love writing and sharing my life with ya'll and am excited to continue that this year!

I wanted to start off my blog revival with a fun 31 Day Blog Challenge. My sister-in-law sent me this link and I thought it was pretty cool. So over the next 31 days, I am going to be writing and participating in this blog challenge. Yes, I'm aware that it says March 2013...but just ignore that! So if you are interested, just keep reading and I'll be sure to answer each of these questions over the next 31 days!

5 Random Facts About ME:

1. I would live off of chocolate and coffee if I could. Dark chocolate and a tall skinny vanilla latte to be specific.

2. I was nervous about having a little BOY. I am a girl, so I feel like I know girls. But boys, not so much. The day I met my son, Grayson, my life changed forever. I never knew I could love someone so much. That little boy has me wrapped around his little finger and more in love than ever before. I am so excited to have a son!

3. My husband and I were good friends for a year before we started dating -- I highly recommend it! :)

4. I am very interested in health and fitness. I stink at most sports and have little hand-eye coordination, but I love running, hiking, and the elliptical.

5. I am a Christian and am very active at my church. My husband is an assistant pastor and youth pastor and I love helping him with his ministry, but I am still figuring out exactly where I fit into it all.

Grayson's 1 Month Update!

I cannot believe that my precious baby boy, Grayson, is 1 month old -- the time has seriously flown. (Technically he is 5 weeks and 3 days old today!) The first month of his life has been one that I will never forget...after I recover from the exhausted zombie state that I am currently in. ;) But in all seriousness, each day flies by and he has already grown and changed so much. It's crazy how quickly babies discover, explore, and learn new things about themselves and their surroundings. So far, I am loving being a mommy! Yes, its challenging, but also very rewarding. I've had so many people ask me how it's going and I would say it's going very well! We are adjusting and learning more about each other (Grayson and I, that is) each day. It's harder than I thought in some ways and easier than I thought in others, but at the end of the day being his mama is such a fulfilling job and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm sad that Grayson's first month is already over, but I am also looking forward to all his milestones to come! Here's a little bit about how our first month with Grayson Otto in our lives went:

Weight & Height: At his 2 week appointment, he was 7 lbs. 14.5 oz. and 21 inches long putting him in the 21st percentile for weight and the 55th percentile for height. We recently weighted him and he is currently 10 pounds! I knew he had grown, but I was so excited to see him reach the 10 lb. mark after being born at 7 lbs. 1 oz. I am exclusively breastfeeding, so I felt like this was an accomplishment after the challenges that breastfeeding has held. I will say that he is a great eater, so that definitely helps! If anything, it shocks me how often and how much he eats, but apparently he is a growing little boy! :) On average, he still eats every 2 - 3 hours, but will sometimes eat every hour for a few hours. Like I said, the boy likes his milk!

Sleep: Sleep has definitely been rough. I will say that this has been the hardest part for me as a new mom. I am getting sleep, but only for very short periods of time (sometimes only 1.5 hrs at a time) and after a while, it wears you down. Overall, Grayson is actually a wonderful sleeper! He loves to sleep in the car, in his car seat, and when we are out running errands. Grayson loves loud noises and actually sleeps best in a louder environment. The trouble we have had has been getting him to know the difference between days and nights (he would sleep all day if I let him) and getting him to go for longer than 2 hours between feedings at night. We are still working on it, but we are starting to see progress, so that's encouraging! Grayson LOVES to be held and would prefer to be held while sleeping or to sleep in our bed next to us, but he is doing better about sleeping in his Rock and Play next to our bed. He actually loves his crib, so hopefully the transition into his crib won't be too bad. He is also a very loud sleeper, making noises and grunting most of the night! Right now, he sleeps an average of 3 hours at a time at night. 

Clothes: This week he started wearing some of his 0-3 month clothes (still fitting in a lot of his newborn clothes) and size 1 diapers. I couldn't believe it! I was definitely sad to see him transition out of the newborn diapers and clothes. It's awesome, yet hard to see your baby grow!

Mood: Josh and I joke calling Grayson "Oscar the Grouch". He is definitely expressive of how he feels and isn't shy about telling you when he is unhappy. Haha. Sometimes his resting face looks a little grumpy, but mostly because he hasn't learned to smile yet. At the same time, he is super sweet, loves to cuddle, and stares at you perfectly content with his big blue eyes that melt your heart. Recently, he starting cooing and making sweet little baby noises while he plays happily on his play mat. 

Loves: being held, cuddling, his play mat, his pacifier, movement and being bounced, car rides and his car seat, music, taking naps with his daddy, and the fan (he stares intently at it for long periods of time!)

Grayson's first bath!

Grayson's most recent bath -- definitely made progress! 

Doesn’t like: diaper and outfit changes, being burped,  and bath time (he wasn't a fan of bath time at first but now he is liking it more and more!)