Levi you are 3 months old!

OK, so you are 3 and 1/2 months old! You actually had your 4 month check-up with Dr. Coffman a little early. You weigh 14lbs 1oz, your head is 16.5" around, and you are 25.5" head to heal! That puts you in the 70th percentile in weight, the 75th in head circumference and the 90th in length!! We have no idea why you are so LONG, Mommy and Daddy (at 5'2" and 5'9") are not tall people!

Things you have been doing for a while now include smiling (since you were 3.5 weeks), babbling and cooing (since you were 6 weeks), laughing at things you think are funny, holding your head up and watching things move around the room, supported sitting, and supported standing. Recently you have noticed our dogs more and you love to watch them. Mommy helps you pet them and it is so sweet. You are kicking your legs during diaper changes and scooting around your crib in your sleep. You have been turning to sleep on your side some and you are really close to rolling over from back to belly. As for belly to back, we may never know, you HATE tummy time! Last week you started putting things in your mouth, and just in the last few days you have discovered your FEET!

Dr. Coffman recommends starting solids at 4-6 months, starting with rice cereal. I think we will wait until you can look more straight ahead while sitting in your Bumbo instead of down. We may have to force some tummy time on you to help with that! You are growing up too fast and we want to punch rewind a little! What a sweet and precious boy you are, we love you so much!

You're getting SO BIG!!

What a looker you are! Mommy calls you a "lady killer"! :)

You are such a happy boy!

I'm so glad I didn't quit

I'm so glad that I didn't give up on breastfeeding. I still don't have a full supply, and Levi takes a supplemental formula bottle after most feedings. I still have to pump AND wash bottles (the most inconvenient parts of each type of feeding). But I'm still glad I didn't quit.

The time I have with Levi when he is breastfeeding is so precious. I love it. It's time that I have him and no one else can give him what I give him. Yes, it comes with it's challenges. Yes, he gets distracted and goes through phases of "playing" with his food that doesn't feel very good. But each phase of difficulty has passed and it's still enjoyable most of the time.

I wish more people would embrace that feeding doesn't have to be one or the other. Breast is definitely best, but when it doesn't work out as a full-time option, I wish that more moms felt ok about doing it part-time. I think the reason that women feel they have to give it up altogether if they can't do it full-time is absolutely the fault of the breastfeeding advocacy community. I've always been a HUGE breastfeeding advocate, and a bit snobish about it (remember). But I think this is where the breastfeeding community gets in its own way. There is so much pressure to breastfeed, that every other form or combination of feeding is shunned. Even with as hard as I tried to make full-time breastfeeding work, knowing that I have NOTHING to be ashamed of, I would still never pull out a formula bottle at a Le Leche League meeting for fear of being burned at the stake. I think that's incredibly unfortunate. Imagine how many more babies could be getting good milk from their mommies, if only their mommies felt ok about breastfeeding part-time!

No, I can't breastfeed exclusively. I deal with feelings of inadequacy and failure almost daily. And I have a hard time referring to myself as a breastfeeding mom without adding, "but I don't make enough milk, so I have to give him a bottle too." I wish none of these things were true. But I keep reminding myself that what he gets from me, no matter how little, is still good for him. And that if I were more narrow-minded about feeding Levi (breast or bottle, one or the other), that I would be missing out on a wonderful experience with my son. I hope that by sharing our journey that more advocates will open their minds and hearts when talking about breastfeeding to moms and moms-to-be. And I hope those who have had similar experiences are encouraged to do what feels right to them, no matter the pressures around them. But remember, feeding is not an all-or-nothing thing. You can do BOTH.

Levi, Levi God Claims You!

If you've never heard this sweet baptism song, you're missing out. I think it's so precious. I sing it to Levi every day as I get him up in the morning and from naps. He just smiles! I've tried to tell him that we are not morning people around here, but he keeps smiling! Even though we didn't sing this song at his baptism, I still love it.

Levi, Levi God claims you.

God helps you, protects you and loves you too.

We this day do all agree,

a child of God you'll always be.

Levi, Levi God claims you.

God helps you, protects you and loves you too.

We your family love you so.

We vow to help your faith to grow.

Levi, Levi God claims you.

God helps you, protects you and loves you too.

Levi was baptized on Sunday in The Vine contemporary service at First Centenary. Lots of family came from out of town, and it was wonderful to share the day with them. I have to brag a little, I made his gown.

It was a proud day for our family

With Hilary, Levi's Godmother

The Needhams

The Blacks

The Trousdales

4 Generations

3 Generations of Black men! :)

Brian told Matt to ask me out, he married us, and now he's baptized our son! He's pretty special to us.

My favorite pic of the day, Levi and Grandad.