Domestically Blissful

4 months!! Well, 4 months and 8 days, because someone is struggling to do these baby updates. Since February is the month of love, and his 4 month birthday was the day after Valentine’s Day, this little heart throb outfit is perfect! He grew so much last month! We realized nursing wasn’t enough to help him grow, even with supplementing formula. So last month we made the switch from mostly nursing (supplementing 3 times a day) to mostly bottle feeding (formula mixed with breastmilk) and nursing for comfort at night. It was incredibly hard for me (a story for another time), but fed is best. And the reality is it’s not about me. We found a great formula online that he loves and is helping him thrive. And boy is he thriving! Nicknames: Buddy Boo RoRo Baby Roger Dale Love Bug Buddy boy Little dude Sweet boy Juicy Sweet (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaVwVYWg4bt/?utm_medium=tumblr

Early Friday morning, around 4:30 am, I woke up and decided to do my normal middle-of-the-night routine (tums, water, bathroom), but when I stood up I felt a gush of water. I grabbed the towel that was next to me in bed (I had been sleeping on one just in case for this exact reason) and waddled over to the bathroom. I discovered more of the “showing” once in the bathroom while I was trying to figure out if I peed myself or if my water had just broken. After some middle of the night exhausted confusion I decided that it was definitely my water breaking. I knew labor for a first-timer like me could take hours and hours if not days. So I headed back to bed to try to get some sleep, but my back was hurting (I figured I had been sleeping in the same position too long) so I took some Tylenol in hopes that I would feel better after a bit and doze back to sleep. By 5/5:30 it was clear that contractions were beginning so we decided to go ahead and get up. But figuring it would still be hours, I changed the sheets on the bed, Roger vacuumed, and we both took showers. By 6:30/6:45 it was very clear that we needed to head to the hospital. Contractions had sped up surprisingly fast, faster than either of us had anticipated. As we drove the 30 minutes to the hospital I called to let them know we were on our way between contractions, which were between 3-4 minutes apart. Roger pulled up in front of the hospital at 7:15 and I was so grateful we had the paperwork already filled out as she basically sent us right to the elevator. Although that also may have been because I was very visibly and audibly in pain. Once we arrived in the labor and delivery unit the nurses immediately brought me into another room for a urine sample and to ask the security safety questions (like if I was living in a safe home – or something like that I was a bit distracted by the pain and just wanted Roger and an epidural). I freaked out when all that came out for the urine sample was blood (sorry, TMI? But I mean this is a birth story). At this point, I remember calling for help… You can read the rest on my blog at DomesticallyBlissful.com. Link in my bio. (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZsm8SzAqNK/?utm_medium=tumblr

3 months! Where has the time gone!? I’m so very late in sharing this photo, but I figured it’s better late than never! Baby Roger has the sweetest smiles and we are all gushing over his cooing and cackling. While I was totally planning to have a mama’s boy, he is completely a daddy’s boy. And he has made it abundantly clear to everyone that he saves his best smiles for Roger. I’d be jealous, but their bond is beyond special and I can’t wait to keep watching it grow. Nicknames: Baby Rog RoRo Roger Dale Love Bug Buddy Boy Little dude (my sister @brikeizer calls him this) Things he likes: Being fed his bottle by Roger Listening to his daddy talk Observing everything (he has major FOMO) Smiling and cooing Sleeping at night Things he doesn’t like: Naps Motorcycle sounds made by his uncle @kaleb.stock 🤣 His bottle being taken out of his mouth to burp him (we are supplementing - he has my childhood metabolism) Being up late Tummy time Things he likes but we don’t let him have: Tv (he becomes an owl when it’s on and turns his head as far as he can to try to see it 🙈) My hair Food (he is so fascinated by food and likes to watch us eat 🤣) (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZLIv6TAoaM/?utm_medium=tumblr

*Swipe* Would you rather have Double Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Swirl Cookies or Nutella Cream Cheese Swirl Banana Bread? These Double Dark Chocolate Marshmallow Swirl Cookies are filled with dark chocolate chunks in a dark chocolate cookie dough with mini marshmallows and a swirl of marshmallow creme. This Nutella Cream Cheese Swirl Banana Bread is sweet, moist, and has all the decadent flavors of a breakfast dessert. Find the recipes on my blog by clicking the link in my bio. (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/domesticallyblissful/p/CY5HVJWgfmx/?utm_medium=tumblr

Roger, RoRo, and I are currently snuggled up next to a crackling fire about to read Christmas stories. What are some of your favorite family Christmas traditions? (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXzkgJNAq8o/?utm_medium=tumblr

Can you believe there are only 11 days until Christmas!? What’s even crazier is that I still haven’t taken a bath since baby Roger arrived. Actually, I think it’s been since I found out I was pregnant since I’ve used our beautiful freestanding bathtub. I was too scared to take one while pregnant (I prefer hot baths) and I’ve been too busy since baby RoRo has joined our family to be able to soak in our bath, let alone have time to fill it. But that’s ok because I’m spending my time soaking up these baby snuggles instead. 💙 (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXe-dfZgwFk/?utm_medium=tumblr

Relearning to balance mom life and work-life has been a challenge. I was prepared for a learning curve with an infant and postpartum, but I didn’t expect it to be harder than when we were caring for our 2 foster girls last year. Slowly but surely we are figuring it out. Creating routines and discovering how to treasure each sweet baby snuggle while continuing to keep my small business alive. Thank you for your continued support and patience as I learn to balance my family/work life! 💗 (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXM97ENA0qW/?utm_medium=tumblr

75,000!! I can’t believe it! Thank you so much for being here and for following along on our journey! Your support and friendship are so greatly appreciated! All of your shares, comments, and likes have helped me grow beyond what I could imagine. Thank you so much! And no matter how hard I work, I know that no good thing comes from my own hands, but from God alone! “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW67Bn9AO2q/?utm_medium=tumblr

Happy Thanksgiving!! We are beyond grateful for God’s blessings and our sweet baby Roger Dale! 💙 Ps Maybe next year he won’t cry every time we take family pictures. 🙈 (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWuBjDVAeem/?utm_medium=tumblr

Do you prefer dark chocolate + peppermint OR dark chocolate + Nutella? The Dark Chocolate Peppermint Patty Crinkle Cookies are soft and chewy peppermint crinkle cookies topped with a homemade dark chocolate peppermint patty. The Florentine Lace Cookies are created with delicate thin oatmeal lace cookies filled with dark chocolate or Nutella and drizzled with dark chocolate. You can find the recipes for both the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Patty Crinkle Cookies AND the Florentine Lace Cookies on my blog by clicking the link in my bio. (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWZcBHtgwzy/?utm_medium=tumblr

Tomorrow's to-do list is about a mile long. My sister is coming over to snuggle baby RoRo between feedings and I’m determined to get it all done. My growing list includes photographing content for 2 clients, photographing and videoing the kitchen Christmas decor (and creating the whole blog post!), decorating/cleaning the dining room, and begin decorating the staircase. I don’t plan to add the fresh greenery for a few more weeks, but this will be a good start. And if I’m somehow able to get all of this accomplished in between baby snuggles and feedings, then Thursday will be open for decorating our bathroom and the side entry! One can hope and dream, right!? 🙈 Have you started or finished decorating for Christmas? (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWW3ccbAgT2/?utm_medium=tumblr

I’ve never been so grateful for what’s under our Christmas tree this year. 💙 Our journey to parenthood was so long and hard, but we learned so much in the process. We learned more about ourselves, each other, but most importantly about the patience, forgiveness, and love of our Heavenly Father. Roger Dale is a gift from God, but not something we can possess. He doesn’t belong to us, but God gave us the gift of raising him, loving him, and teaching him about the goodness and grace of God. I will forever be grateful for each day with our son. Whether it be sleepless nights and cluster feeding days. Or rainy days filled with sweet baby snuggles. Every one of them is a gift from God that I will cherish forever! 📷: Roger (the second) (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWKAnDDA-pr/?utm_medium=tumblr

We went on our first little adventure with Roger Dale on Saturday up to Cades Cove. It was a beautiful Sabbath and the colors were gorgeous! We were curious as to how he would do for longer stretches in the car, especially as we were concerned he had a growing connection between his car seat and the doctor's office. But he did wonderfully! The new week then started with cluster feeding and I’m excited to see how much weight he has gained at his appointment this week! This will be his 5th visit in under a month. One a few days after he was born. The second for his tongue tie surgery. The third was for circumcision. The fourth was a wellness check to make sure he was gaining weight (he is on the small side but he managed to gain 4.5 ounces in 4 days! 🤗). And this week will be his one-month checkup. I can’t wait to find out how much he has grown! (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCStOSAYfg/?utm_medium=tumblr

The only room that’s decorated for Christmas thus far is our bedroom. But it’s a good thing I’m starting early because at this rate I may not be done until Valentine’s Day! 🙈 I wouldn’t have it any other way! I’m loving these baby snuggles, even the middle of the night ones that last for sleepless hours. 💙 Photo from last Christmas. All decor details can be found on my blog. Click the link in my bio for more! (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVl15CVgyEe/?utm_medium=tumblr

Our entryway is always the last space I finish decorating for Christmas, but it’s also one of my favorites! I will probably start decorating it in the next week or two, but I won’t finish until sometime in December. I love adding fresh evergreen branches to our faux garland, but I’m the worst at keeping them alive to Christmas. I’ve found a special spray that I’m going to use to try to keep them alive this year, but I know I need all the help I can get in my attempt to keep them alive longer this year. What are your favorite tips or tricks for keeping fresh evergreen alive and how long does your greenery usually last? (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgtwh2AjXr/?utm_medium=tumblr

Absorbing these sweet moments. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. 1 Samuel 1:27 (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVT1pZKgPtu/?utm_medium=tumblr

Baby Roger Dale’s tongue tie release procedure went well today and I am beyond thankful. Thankful for medical professionals who are passionate about their work. Thankful to be able to feed my baby. Thankful for a supportive husband. And so very thankful for a God whose love is beyond measure. (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVRQ4G2ggpq/?utm_medium=tumblr