The Séamus Weekly - week 20

If this were a pregnancy...we would be half way through it.  But this isn't, Séamus is here, he's born and he is 20 weeks old!  He is still such a happy baby, loves to eat, and do all the things.  We are doing our best to still do all of our Christmas traditions, though we're a bit more busy than we have been in years past and as I'm on my "minimalist" mission, we seem to pairing down on some of our Christmas Activities this year and honestly, I'm not mad about it.  I digress...this post is supposed to be all about Séamus and little bit about me and the girls (sorry Thomas).

Eats: little man is still all about the boobies and I am so thankful for it.  I think that ever since our doctors appointment I've had a heightened awareness to our nursing sessions, and have been beginning to wonder about how much I am producing.  But I can't let that get to me or consume me so I choose to do the best I can and focus on each of our nursing sessions and to fully embrace and enjoy it.  He is still nursing multiple times a day and we are down to about 2 times at night.

Sleeps: I don't know why I try to do something different when what we're doing is working.  Séamus prefers to be swaddled, and I just need to go with it.  So if he is swaddled he naps pretty good (most of the time), I am thinking that I want to start having him nap in his crib so I will start that this week. He is still in our room, he starts the night in the SnuggleMe that fits in the Halo, and then when he wakes to feed I just bring him into the bed and he finishes out the night in there.  I am pretty sure that his longest sleeping stretch is when he first goes down around 7:15 and then wakes I think between 11-12, though I rarely look at a clock.

Goes: we went to Enchant Christmas this week and it was so beautiful and amazing.  Séamus spent most of the time in the Ergo with me, then he hung out with Thomas while Ellie and I went Ice Skating.  I hosted my annual Ladies Holiday Tea and he was the perfect little gentleman getting all the loves from the ladies.  We went to Wiggleworks and had a baby play date and then to the Library for Play Group.  I also had MOPs so we did that thing too.  We did what we could to keep ourselves busy while also laying low as much as possible.

Does: he started to blow bubbles/raspberries and it's just the best ever!! I was able to get a video of it and it makes my heart so so happy!  He is rolling over from back to tummy all the time and just loves to be on his tummy looking around.  He is quite the wiggler, he doesn't stay in the same spot on the floor anymore.  He loves the bumbo and the exersaucer.  He can almost sit up on his own and I just love helping him work on it.

Wears: I went through his dresser and closet and pulled all of the 0-3 tops and chose my favorites and put the rest in a bag to sell.  Then I got out all of the 3-6 months that we had and Oh My Goodness!! They are all so cute, fit him well, and now he has so many long sleeves!!  

Mama:  I am still loving breastfeeding and spending time with my kiddos every day.  It's crazy how different our schedule is now that Ellie is in full day kindergarten every day.  I have become quite the homebody (well I have always been - who am I kidding) and am really focusing on just enjoying our home and nurturing the relationship between Finnley and Séamus.  I have also been focusing on Oils and I cannot tell you how much this business is giving me life!  The relationships and community that I am gaining from it is so so good.  It almost reminds me of when I was in high school and was quite the social butterfly.  I have been craving for something like this for a while, the wind got pulled from my sails for several years dealing with infertility and the continuous loss of my teaching jobs (thanks budget cuts), but now I see it all so clearly.  This is what I was meant to do.  Never in the 6 years of my teaching career did I wake up in the middle of the night with ideas and passion, or have my mind so excited about something.  It's just unbelievable how much purpose your life can have when you find something you're passionate about.

Sisters:  Finnley is just totally obsessed with Séamus as usual.  She is becoming quite the little sweetie to be around.  She has such a kind heart and is truly a very helpful and sweet girl. Finnley is so observant and loves to serve.  She will always turn the light on for me, bring me my 

phone/keys/purse or put out my shoes for me.  Recently she loves to be carried (probably has something to do with the babe always being in our arms) and I think we are very near to potty training!!

Ellie is still the best big sister.  She is always including Finnley in all that she does, draws pictures on all the paper, and loves to kiss Séamus every chance she can get.  She is an expert at washing her hands, keeps me on track with our routines, and is the sweetest heart.  She shares with her sister, has the biggest imagination and notices when I forget to move that darn elf...she has been singing Christmas songs and is so freaking close to losing her first tooth, which is completely disgusting to me.  Don't worry once it's out I'll be fine, I just have a super hard time watching her wiggle it.  She loves that and will bug me about it all the time...that's how I know I'm raising her right 😉

Previous Weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19

Finnley at 20 weeks

Ellie at 20 weeks

♥ Ashley

Our December Weekend

Hello hello!!!  I can't believe how quickly December is going already!  Our Elf has arrived (though she didn't bring breakfast yet...) and has been pretty lazy by staying in the same spot a few days...Ooops!! Ellie is noticing and so we have to up our Elf game!!

It's crazy how much having Ellie in school every day has changed our schedule and how we've tried to scale back our calendar.  Time slow down!!! I put up our DIY advent calendar this weekend but haven't even figured out what's going into the pockets 😳.  Maybe it's my new switch over to minimalism, where we don't have to do all the things? I have no idea but I've also been scaling back our holiday decor and got rid of two boxes of Christmas decor already this year!!  And don't you worry....our home is still extremely festive 😉

This weekend was one of my favorites!  We did two of our yearly traditions: my Ladies Holiday Tea and our Christmas Outing!!

Ladies Holiday Tea

I think this was my 9th year hosting and it is so much fun!! Over the years I've gotten into a groove and it gets "easier and easier" to put everything together to host!  I love just getting together with my favorite people and having a chance to all catch up!!  Ellie loves it every year and this year Finnley was a great Hostess as well.  Séamus got to be the sole boy this year (because boobie baby) and he was quite the gentleman and charmer of the ladies!

I served Orange Oil Brownies, soft Gingerbread Cookies, assorted cheeses and meats, and then scones with jams!  We had wine and tea (obvs) and the Wellness Tea was a total hit!  

Wellness Tea:

cup of tea

1 drop Thieves Vitality

1 drop Lemon Vitality

1 drop Copaiba Vitality

Spoonful of Honey

Our conversations were so much fun, the girls loved having people over and I've never gotten so many compliments on how my house smells.  I was diffusing Christmas Spirit and Pine.

Christmas Outing

This year we went to Enchant Christmas and it was so freakin cool!!  It's located at Safeco Field and all of the lights were just mesmerizing.  The girls had so much fun running around, finding the reindeer, and checking out the lights.  Us adults had a great time just watching the excitement of the kids!  Ellie and I got to go Ice Skating and it was so much fun!  I loved how the rink was laid out...more like a winter stroll than a big oval.  All the people skating had a great time, Ellie was brave and tried skating all on her own...she fell a few times but was determined to "go fast"!!!  I love how there were people of all ages out on the ice just trying to figure it out and having the best of times. 

Finnley had so much fun hanging out with Nanny and Papa and Thomas was a champ holding onto Séamus and my phone!

Making these memories with our kids is so important and I hope that they will feel the holidays are special for years to come (no matter how distracted we are).  It was just so nice to take a break and just enjoy the season!!

♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 19

These weeks are going by so much faster than I anticipated.  I seriously feel like I just wrote last weeks post yesterday!!  Séamus is now 19 weeks!! It's hard to believe it.  This week we had a blast hanging out with each other.  Finnley is still attached to him, but is becoming a little bit more gentle.  Ellie still showers him with kisses on the daily hourly.  And true to form Séamus is just so very happy to be alive!

Eats: I have been upping my intake of water and making sure I'm eating enough calories (and protein) I have also been more diligent on rolling on Fennel oil and taking my thyroid meds on a stricter schedule.  Baby Boy is still nursing but seems to be intaking more at each session.  He still squeals when its nursing time and the googly eyes he gives me just melts my heart.  He is still nursing during the night but settles back down nicely.

Sleeps: his napping has been all sorts of whack this week due to a busy schedule...and I'm trying to get him to sleep without a swaddle.  It's not working in my favor but we'll just keep doing what we're doing.  Whenever Séamus does sleep he wakes up happy and content.  He has still been waking a couple times at night to nurse but goes back down quickly.  We have had a couple of nights where he has slept very well...just trying to remember what we did so we can recreate that every night!!

Does: little man has been doing awesome at Tummy Time, he rolls from back to front, plays for a long time in his exersaucer, still hangs out in the swing from time to time and loves to bat at the toys on his playmat. He's been chewing on his fingers and drools like a St. Bernard 😂, he will take his paci and just loves to be held and cuddle.  He has also really been enjoying "standing" and is just so happy most of the time.

Goes: we spent time at our nanny house, Séamus assisted me at a holiday bazaar on Saturday (where I welcomed more members to my Oils team!!!), we had a family trip to Trader Joes, had a Costco run, and saw Santa!!! Ellie and Séamus were total fans...Finnley was happy as can be until it was our turn!!! Séamus and I took Ellie to cheerleading.  We made it to Play Group at our library and both Séamus and Finnley had a fantastic time!

 

Wears: each time I put on one of his onesies I think it's a bit tight...so that means it's time for a dresser clean out and to switch him into his 3-6 month clothes!!! He is still in size 1 diapers but they're getting snug on him - we still have almost a whole box left so I'll have him wear those out and then order size 2 next time.  I mentioned last week that I want to switch brands/types and I'm leaning toward the Pamper's Pure.  If you have any other recommendations I would love to hear!!

Mama: I have to admit I am still on a high from this past weekend's success at the holiday bazaar! I just love welcoming new members to my team because it means one more household is jumping on their wellness journey!! They are going to help eliminate toxins and chemicals in their homes and support their family in ways they never imagined they could!  I am also so so thankful and grateful for all of the support I have received from every one of you about Séamus and my breastfeeding.  I poured out my heart this last week and you are all so freakin amazing!! I am just thankful that I can still nourish him and will for as long as I can.  I am doing what I feel is best for both of us and I just have to tell you how heartwarming it is to have a band of women come together and support each other!! Y'all are the best!

Sisters:  Finnley loves to laugh, scream, and squeal at the highest of decibels ever.  I rolled our Magic Unicorn Roller on her before we left to go to the library this week and she had thee best time ever.  She usually is pretty nervous when we walk in (hello chaos) even if we're the first ones there.  She attaches herself to me and is very worried.  NOT THIS TIME!!! she spent most of the 90 minutes we were there away from me playing with new friends and toys.  It was the most amazing (and freeing) experience ever to watch her just be so confident and able to play!!  This hasn't happened before...it's all because of our Oils. No. Doubt. About. It.!!!

Ellie keeps passing all of her reading tests and has begun to spell out words to us.  She "enjoys" doing her homework and art has given her a new spark in life.  Her drawings are getting so much better and she is becoming more detailed.  Also I am so happy to share that she is now using more than one color on coloring pages and stays "somewhat" within the lines.  She loves to try to do things independently and is hands down the very best helper ever!! She loves so hard and that's one of my favorites!!

Previous Weeks:

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18


Finnley at 19 weeks
Ellie at 19 weeks

♥ Ashley