What's in a Name? {Blythe Juliette Grant}

Names. They are so hard for us because of the gender surprise. I cannot get fully on board with a name until the baby is born!  Blythe has been on our list for a long time and I am so happy we were able to finally use it!!!  

Blythe: carefree, happy, cheerful. It's an old English name and has been used for both a boy or a girl 

Juliette: we just liked how it sounded with Blythe 😁

Her official name selection was sort of like Caleb's. Right after Matthew and I figured out it was a girl--which shocked both of us--Matthew was sending an email to our parents and friend watching the big kids to announce the arrival. He simply said "so Blythe Juliette right?".  When I heard him say it, it was as if that was always her name. We never had settled on that as her name but when he said it there was no turning back in my book!

And I tell ya---we had a list a mile long of potential names and especially middle name possibilities to go wih Blythe.

We loved the meaning of Blythe and she really does live up to the cheerful part. When she is around others she is ALL SMILES!  We are still waiting to see how true the "carefree" part is 😂

Happy Birthday Daddy and Grandpa

Since Granma and Granpa came to visit us AND Granpa and Matthew both have June birthdays, Granma and I decided we would celebrate some Birthdays!

We made a GIANT cookie cake and dairy free peach ice cream made with almond milk.  I was so impressed with how the dairy free ice cream turned out that I will be doing it again soon; Caleb and I are both low to no dairy so it was perfect!  It was a fun celebration!

I do not have good decorating skills when it comes to writing :)

Making ice cream with Granpa

Checking on the ice cream

Checking on the ice cream....again.....

....and again....

All done!  We are making him work at his own party!

Yum!

They thought the candles were for them!

Poor Addison always blinks in pictures like her Mommy

Watch the progression of blowing out the candles here!

Ready to blow...

inhale....

Addison is worried about blowing out a candle that isnt hers, LOL

Still worried about it

Caleb got Daddy's blown out....

...Caleb is moving on to the next candle...

...Caleb blew them all out!!

Matthew wastes nothing---licking the frosting off the bowl

Opening his presents

His two mini me's!

Memorial Day 2014

We spent memorial day with our small group---we had a blast but boy it was hot!!  We grilled at a friends house and watched the kids play...it was beautiful chaos.  This was the first time Blythe did not have a witching hour too, that was huge!  Ever since then she has not had much of a witching hour, WOOT!

Some of the kids of the small group

Addison and Caleb chowing down

Caleb cheesing it up

Silly Addison

Blinks for every picture

Waiting for his food

Photogenic brothers!

Photogenic brothers!

All boy!

He was a natural!

Blythe: One Month

I cannot believe this gem has been in our family for a month already!!!!

Weight: at 2 weeks 3 days she was 11 lbs 3 oz and has been growing at a 1 oz per day rate, so she is well into 12 pounds by now I imagine

Height:  No clue

Diaper: Size one

Clothes: 3-6 months (WHAT?!?!)

Personality:  She has a very very sweet nature.  Blythe seems easily contented and very social.  She loves to be held and listen to everyone talk and play around her.  She is the perfect addition to this family.  I think she and big sister are going to be two peas in a pod.

Developments:  She has already been doing social smiles and talking (cooing and saying "ah-goo")!!  Poor Matthew is surrounded by motor mouths!  The smiles are a welcomed gift during that middle of the night feeding!

Schedule:  She is not awake for very long by the time she is done eating but---here is where we are at:

7:30 am: Nurse

8:20 am:  Nap

10:30 am: Nurse (sometimes this is at 10:00-10:15)

11:20 am: Nap

1:30 pm: Nurse

2:20 pm: Nap

4:30 pm: Nurse

7:15-7:45 pm:  Bottle of breast milk straight to bed

10:30 pm:  Dream feed

3-6:00 am:  Demand feed nurse

Her waketime activities are lacking because by the time I have her fed and changed I need to be checking on the big kids.  Some of her activities include:  bath, being held by Caleb/Addison, tummy time with Caleb/Addison, blanket time with Caleb/Addison

Reflux:  I am sad to report she is taking zantac for reflux---BUT it seems to be helping her a lot!  I have also been off dairy for two weeks now and that has made a difference as well.  She is content!

Mommy:  I am SO ready to work out but the midwife instructed me to wait until after I am seen at 6 weeks to start back to that.  I feel awesome honestly---just a little tired :)  I will talk more about how I am doing after I finish another blog post I have been working on since the beginning of April!

Blythe darling,  You are the perfect addition to this family.  You are loved by your siblings more than you will ever know and Daddy and I just adore you.  There are so many others that have prayed for you and have loved on you since the day you were born.  We are thankful you are here and thankful for each sweet smile and coo.  Blythe, you will never ever know how special you are to this family.  I am honored God chose ME to be the Mommy to such a sweet little girl.