You gotta do what you gotta do.

Before you have a baby you try to make as many plans as you can without really knowing how your life is going to change. Thankfully, Chris and I made a lot of great decisions and have had a lot of help from family and friends which has made the last few months with Gabe the best in our lives. However, two of our best laid plans haven't worked out quite the way we thought they would. It's not a bad thing, it's just a change in expectations.

First was the decision to breastfeed Gabe. There's no arguing with everything you read or hear about feeding your baby: the absolute best is breast milk. With that in mind, we did everything we could to make it work for us. So, why the change in expectation? Well, we were a little too successful with the breastfeeding. So much so in fact that not only will Gabe not take a bottle of breast milk, he won't even take a pacifier. This leaves me feeding him from the breast only and without a break for more than about two hours at a time. As you might imagine, that makes it a little difficult to go out to dinner and a movie which was virtually a weekly ritual in this household. It also brings us to our second change in plans.

Prior to Gabe's birth, I was planning on returning to work part time. Now, however, it's not really practical for me to do so until next year(ish). We intend to reassess the situation when Gabe is 1 and eating solid food. This wasn't an easy decision to make. Yes, being home with Gabe is wonderful but deciding to stay home for at least a year was a hard decision for me. Work would have been a good outlet and a break from being home. Also, I had some fantastic, loyal customers who I can't help but feel I'm letting down (if you are reading this please feel free to contact me and we can work out some hair care at home if you don't mind Gabe coming along for the ride. becca.j.thompson@gmail.com). I just thank God that Chris and I are able to make things work without the contribution of my income.

Being home with Gabe this year is going to be the most difficult but also the most rewarding job I will ever have. I'm looking forward to it, I just wish he wouldn't grow up so fast!

Having said all that, are there any moms out there who want to set up some play dates?

Day at the Dallas Arboretum

We spent Sunday afternoon at the Dallas Arboretum with Jessica, Stephen and Stella. It was a beautiful day out and we had a great time. It gave us a great opportunity for a picnic so we took it! Here are some pictures of our day.

Gabe got hot so he spent the second half of the day in his birthday suit.



Taking a lunch break.



Hanging out with Daddy



The Stella monster coming to get Gabe.



Gabe and Stella having fun together.



We look forward to many Arboretum excursions in the future.

Stubborn but still cute

Gabe is now officially a boob only kid. He stopped taking a bottle a few weeks ago which hasn't really been fun for me. We have tried everything possible, different bottles, different nipples, cold milk, warm milk, fast flow, slow flow...uggg nothing. The boy just loves his mommy. I can't blame him, but come on little dude: can't you give me a break just once in a while? We have even, dare I say it, starved him. But he held out for a record breaking 12 hours before I finally gave in and fed him, without the bottle. So now I think I have been broken, I might just have to face the fact that for the foreseeable future I will never be apart from my cute little man. We're connected at the hip, or boob, whatever.

On to a more positive note...
Gabe got to meet his adorable new best friend, Sara Paige. Gabe likes younger women. :-) This is where it is nice to have a boy. Brad and Jenny are in for some trouble with their two gorgeous little girls.