Sketchbook Pages: Week 8 + 9

I'm still working on incorporating sketchbooking into my daily routine. I'm trying my best - it's just hard to find time and energy when you have a little person around to entertain (and feed)!

2/18 + 2/21 Monster friends

2/25 Maze runner
2/22 Mark making

2/26 Washi wonder
2/26 1 month

2/27 Plant kindness
3/4 Love life

List of supplies:

• various scrapbooking papers, stickers 
• masking tape 
• washi tape
• Pilot Precise V5 pens in various colours 
• Faber-Castell PITT artist pens (orange 113 and indanthrene blue 247) 
• Sharpie paint pens (white, silver, gold) 
• Prismacolor Premier (crimson red)

2 Months Old

Marc turned 2 months old on Sunday. I can't believe how fast time is flying by - he's growing and changing so quickly. At the same time, it feels like we've had him forever! I can barely remember what it was like being 9 months pregnant, never mind what life was like before we conceived. It all seems so long ago...

I don't break out my good camera very often (my phone is getting a workout though!), but I do want to at least use it for these monthly photoshoot. It will be so nice to look back on these and remember how tiny he was.

These "blue" photos were taken at 8 weeks (last Thursday).

And then these "white" photos were taken on Sunday:

I know I'm biased, but he's pretty darn cute!!!

Marc really hit some major milestones this month: he can lift his head like a champ (as seen above), he's sleeping in his bassinet (instead of in bed with us) almost all night and for most of his naps, he's no longer fitting into his newborn clothes (except the onesies), he's "talking" up a storm and we've made some big strides with breastfeeding. On that last note, we are currently working on weaning off of formula. I wish we had never been convinced to supplement in the first place... he's just a small baby and gains weight slowly with or without formula. But now that we're really getting the hang of things, we're slowly cutting down and it's going well.

Marc loves his playmat/jungle gym (especially the light-up, music-making elephant), taking a bath and snuggling with mommy in the sling. Marc hates his swing, getting out of the bath (so cold!) and not much else. He's still a pretty chill baby!

So much love! I can't wait to see what the next month will bring.

2017 Goals: February

We are well on our way into March, but I thought it would be worthwhile to look back on my progress for February. I certainly didn't have as much time to focus on some of these, but I'm pretty happy with what I was able to accomplish considering.

17 GOALS FOR 2017:

1. Read 30 books. (6/30)
2. Finish 2 cross-stitch patterns. (0/2 - basically done the Woodland Sampler, just want to modify a few of the summer panels)
3. Finish Amber art book and start a new one. (no progress)
4. Take monthly baby and family photos. (2/12 - except for the family photo, need more of those)
5. Journal or sketchbook daily. (17/28 - not back considering)
6. Set a schedule for blogging (weekly) (2/4), crafting (daily) (17/28) and getting out of the house (3-4x weekly) (3/4 - one week I only made it out twice).
7. Make and freeze meals for post-partum. (done - will blog later)
8. Gather 10 good crockpot recipes. (3/10)
9. Set a routine for exercising (3-4x weekly). (0/4)
10. Catalogue library. (no progress)
11. Host Thanksgiving. (not there yet)
12. Organize, declutter, minimize, purge. (no real progress)
13. Figure out cloth-diapering (not there yet), nursing/pumping (still working on both) and making baby food (not there yet).
14. Stay in touch with friends while on maternity leave. (yes)
15. Tackle a new "kitchen challenge" monthly (challenging recipe / technique). (0/12)
16. Be intentional deepening relationship with Pat. Set weekly date nights. (4/4 - counted having a few moments to ourselves while Marc is not in our arms)
17. Plan a family trip (overnight, not counting grandparents' house). (not there yet)

1 Month Old

Marc turned 1 month old on Sunday, February 26th. It is incredible to think that he has already been with us for a whole month! It still seems so surreal... although we are settling into a routine (more or less), it is still mind-boggling to think that we are parents! To this perfect little man no less! And really, we are beyond blessed. He is such an easy-going baby - he barely fusses, eats and sleeps like a champ, and is just all around so sweet!

Here are a few photos I took to remember his first month with us.

He's so tiny, and yet he's already changed so much! He's putting on weight, as evidenced by his chubby cheeks. He's losing his hair too, which makes him look like a little old man, especially when he makes his serious frowny face. He makes the sweetest little noises and is just starting to smile. He still isn't sleeping in his bassinet - he'll only go about 10 minutes sleeping independently on his back - but we're working on it. He's starting to enjoy his swing and playmat and really loves being in the sling/wrap while I walk him around.

We went on our first walk last week (using the sling) and he slept the whole way. Last weekend we also went on our first outing (not counting doctor's appointments), and he was so good - wide awake in the car on the way to Babies'R'Us, and falling fast asleep in the store, not waking until we returned home. We are slowly getting the hang of being parents and I'm so in love with watching Pat interact with Marc. He's such a good father!

The days go by so fast - I want to savour every second. I know I'm going to miss him being this small and yet I'm so looking forward to watching him grow. I just wish it wouldn't happen so fast!