Smiles for Daddy

About a week ago Chase came to me and solemnly asked,
"Do you think Beck knows I'm his Daddy?"
Chase took these pictures while saying hello after he got home from work.
I take them as proof that he does.
See how his eyes light up when Chase talks to him?
Life is soooo good.

This picture is only a few weeks old but its kind of outdated since Beck doesn't even fit in those Jammies anymore!

On a completely unrelated and kind of sad note, TWO of my favorite spoons got eaten by the disposal today. Now they've got rough, tongue cutting scrapes all over them. :( I'm actually really sad about it! Life is still really good though.

"What is great about spring"

Hey ya'll, its me, Beck. I've been a pretty happy camper lately and I wanted to tell you all why. I LOVE SPRING! Here are some things I love about life lately.

Evening walks with my padres

lots of smiles all the time

I love cuddling with mom and my best pal, Penny

Here I am snuggling up in Mima's arms. Spring brings lots of visitors!! I was so excited that Mima came but sad that she got sick and had to go home early. See you soon though!

I also love hanging out while Daddy reads.

This is a typical "me" look. I am a pretty content guy (as long as I'm fed and the burps are out). Mom and Penny and I go out when its warm to enjoy the sunshine

My mom promised Aunt Tif some pictures but I promised Mom a walk outside so I had to make this quick. Hope you enjoyed them Tiffini! LOVE YOU!

For good measure

Here are some pictures of my adorable baby.
I'm his mom, I'm allowed to brag to the world that I think he is adorable.
Also, here are a few things on my mind.

-Beck smiles when you make funny noises at him!!! I can't get enough of that grin.
-Conference was amazing wasn't it?
-Chase and I celebrated the 4th anniversary of our FIRST DATE with the championship Duke vs. Butler game, Beck in between us, and Chili's dinner thanks to an old gift card.
-My mom is coming to hang out with us this weekend-wahoo!
-FINALLY we've got some warm weather and I'm loving it
-Thanks for all your ideas and advice about schedules/routines. It is SO helpful to hear how everyone else does things. Before we had Beck I read Babywise and I've been reviewing it the last few days. I also read "The Happiest Baby on the Block". They are slightly conflicting viewpoints and it kind of just confused me about what I believe. I like certain principles of each book but I've been sort of melding them together to come up with my own ideas. I really like the Sleep, eat, awake pattern from Babywise but I don't think my 5 week old could ever be spoiled so I don't like that. Anyway, we are figuring things out one day at a time and loving life. Keep the advice and ideas coming, I love em.

FREEZE!

I can't believe how fast time is flying, my baby is already 5 weeks old! He is such a sweetheart and is growing so quickly. It seems like every day he is bigger and looks different. Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time so that my teeny tiny baby can cuddle in my arms forever. Life with a newborn definitely keeps me busy! Right now I'm trying to figure out how to keep a schedule with a family member who has his very own schedule. For instance, we were 45 minutes late for dinner the other day. So here is my honest question, I need your ideas on how you deal with these little problems. Beck eats pretty regularly-every 3 hours from when he finishes his last meal. So I knew he would be hungry at 5:00 which was when we were supposed to be at dinner. I had two choices, I could either wake him up to eat at 4:15 or so and possibly be late for dinner, or just let him sleep and go to dinner, knowing that he would wake up with a hungary vengeance as soon as we got there. He ended up waking up on his own at 4:15 but he ate for so long that we ended up being super late for dinner. So embarrassing! Any ideas? How do you balance your baby's routine with life?
Penny has pleasantly surprised us with the new family member. She loves Beck and loves to cuddle when I am feeding him. In this picture she is resting her head on his feet-how sweet!

My two little buddies hanging out with mommy while I eat breakfast.

Beck got to meet his good friend Jude a few weeks ago, Jude was so cute and curious and just wanted to play with Beck. Don't worry Jude, it won't be long before you can play together!

Beck also met his first crush, cute Stella. This picture was the first time all night one or both babies weren't crying. We realized having twins would be really hard!

First time wearing shoes! Thanks Aunt Tiffini!

Here are some things about Beck at one month old that I don't want to forget.

-You love to cuddle

-Eating is your favorite thing and you are growing quickly because you eat so much!

-You sleep great through the night and only wake up when its time to eat

-At 5 weeks old you started sleeping 6 hours at night-WAHOO!!!

-You are a very alert baby and love to watch the world with wide eyes

-You aren't very good at taking naps during the day and will only fall asleep in someone's arms

-At 5 weeks you started giving us big grins (that weren't gas related)

-You're happiest time of day is in the morning after you've eaten

-You love to take naps lying on Daddy's chest

-You still don't like getting your diaper changed

-You love Mommy and Daddy and respond to our voices

on becoming a mom

Here is another masterpiece by Jalene. Like I've said before, this gal's got talent.

www.jtaylorphotography.com

Being a mother is such a joy. I know that I've only experienced it for a few weeks, but I still feel how much of a privilege it is to be entrusted with such a special little spirit. Yesterday when I was holding Beck while he fussed for food, I had the strongest impression that this is my calling in life. Motherhood is my mission. I've always known that I wanted to be a mother, I've always believed that there was no greater calling. Some people come to earth to accomplish insurmountable tasks and that is how they leave their mark. I know that I don't have anything grand to contribute to mankind to be remembered for, and that is okay. My mission is to raise children who can leave their mark on this planet...whatever that mark may be. My mission is to nurture, to love and to teach my children how to succeed in this life. To teach them to be kind to others; to know that they are a son/daughter of a Heavenly Father who is watching over them with love; to help them help others reach their potential; to surround them with love. I couldn't be happier to accept this calling. I know that motherhood will be hard most of the time, and I'm going to be figuring out how to do it as I go along. Luckily I've grown up with an amazing mom who prepared me very well for this time in my life. I hope I can follow in her footsteps in raising my kids.

Love letters from Beck

Dear Momma and Daddy,

Thanks for waking up with me 3 times every night. Thanks for waking me up every now and then so I can play. Mom, thanks for feeding me every 2 hours for an hour even though it hurts really bad. I love your kisses and morning snuggles. Dad, I love the funny songs you make up and sing to me every day.

Love, Beck

Dear Mima Enzler,

You really saved the day when you and Papa came last weekend. I wish you could have held me more but next time I won't be under those dumb lights. Mom and Dad sure loved the help and dinners that you made for them! I am having so much fun being dressed up in all the knitted outfits you made for me. I miss you and can't wait until we get to hang out again.

Love, Beck

Dear Papa Enzler,

Thanks for being so cool so I can have a cool middle name. I LOVE the cradle you so lovingly made for me. I esspecially like that it rocks me to sleep. You might not realize it, but I can feel the love that was put into it as you hand crafted it. Miss you,

Love, Beck

Dear cousin Jen,

I sure love the beautiful quilt and cradle bumpers that you made for my cradle. I love the soft blanket so much that I peed all over it the first time I snuggled in it! Don't worry though, Mom and Grandma cleaned it up and its as good as new. I can't wait to meet all my second cousins in person!

Love, Beck

Dear Aunts and Uncles,

I love having so many cool people around me all the time. You have each helped hold me when I needed snuggling. I'm sorry I had jaundice when you all came to see me last weekend. All I wanted to do was be held and cuddled by you but instead I had to stay in those dumb lights. Our sleepovers sure were fun though. Mom and Dad say you saved their lives by taking shifts with me at night. Because you were there, my eyes were safe and sound and you kept those goggles on me so well. Can't wait until we get to play next time!

Love, Beck

P.S. Kaela and Lincoln were so wonderful to take night shifts with me, but Garrett and Jalene REALLY earned big points for staying up...can't wait until you're officially my aunt and uncle!

Dear Grandma and Grandpa Taylor,

Mom and Dad have told me how much you've helped them out lately. You were such great nurses to Mommy when her ankles were sprained. You have brought them dinners, driven me and mommy to all of our doctor appointents, watched me under the billi rubin lights, not to mention all the holding and snuggling we've gotten in. I sure love you guys and hope to see you as much as possible before you move to Oklahoma in July.

Love, Beck

Dear friends and family that I haven't met yet,

I can feel your love from all over the country. Thanks for all of your well wishes and prayers. I can't wait to meet you soon!!

Love, Beck

Surprise! Welcome Beck James Taylor

Once again, life shows me that I can't plan everything...and once again, I am reminded that Heavenly Father's plan is much better than mine anyway.

First the pics of our new edition, details of his arrival to come! Chase and I happily welcomed a brand new member of our family on Monday March 1, 2010

He weighed 6 lb 10 oz
20 inches
Proud new father (Chase couldn't stop beaming)

born at 10:00 am, 6 lb 10 oz 20 inches

Welcome to the world!!!

Beck James Taylor
We are pretty biased, but we think the is the cutest thing that we've ever seen. I can't even tell you how wonderful it is to have this little guy around. It is a lot of work yes, but we just can't stop staring at him!

On our way home from the hospital

Its funny but your whole world changes when you bring a baby into your family. It was less than a week ago that it was just me and Chase living our life. We were preparing to bring our baby into the world yes, but you just have no idea how your perspective changes once that new little spirit enters into the world.

For those who are curious, here is the gist of our experience bringing Beck into the world. It seems like its always an adventure with us! Quick background details... Chase's work benefits kick in March 1 at midnight. We've known this the whole pregnancy, but I really wasn't very worried about it since I wasn't due for a week and a half after that. Most first babies come late anyway right? I had my 38 week check up last Friday and my blood pressure was sort of high. It had been high for a few weeks but I didn't have any other danger symptoms of pre eclampsia so I wasn't concerned. It surprised me at this appointment when the doctor was all of the sudden acting like it was a big deal. In my mind, I still had 2 weeks (at least) until this baby came and I felt fine so there was nothing to worry about. They did some blood work and sent me home without much other fuss. A few hours later I get a call from the nurse saying

1. My blood pressure is to high

2. I can't get an epideral because my blood platelets are too low

3. I need to deliver the baby tonight, and she asked me what time I wanted to come in.

As you can imagine, I am FREAKING OUT right now on this phone call. All I can do is stutter that I needed to check my schedule to see when we can come in (Did I really think I could say I couldn't give birth because I had plans?!!) In my head I'm thinking:

1. I can't have him tonight, the bathroom is dirty.

2. I can't give birth naturally, I haven't prepared!

3. This baby will cost us THOUSANDS more dollars if I have him before March 1.

4. Wait, did she say NO EPIDERAL???!!!!!

To make a long story short, they agreed to let me go on complete bedrest from that moment on and monitor me closely to try to wait to deliver until March 1. So Sunday March 1 at 12:01 Chase and I checked into the hospital and they induced me. Labor went well and everyone is happy and recovering well. Now that it is all said and done, I can't imagine not having Beck in our lives for a few weeks still.

I wrote all about the details of our labor and birth experience but decided that I'd rather not post it for the whole world to see. It was such an incredible and special experience that I would be happy to tell about if anyone wants to chat about in person or on the phone.