Merritt's Newborn Pictures

Our favorite photographer and my dear friend, Jenn, came by when Merritt was about a week old to take some newborn photos and some of our family of SIX! There's lots of photos that kind of speak for themselves... so there may not be a ton of words. The most important words are: Jenn is crazy talented and my kids are crazy cute. I may be biased on both accounts.



When Finley stops being so busy being a knucklehead, he's really a cute kid.



And Keaton's basically cute all the time.



I die over these photos of my FOUR kids. FOUR! Dolls.



Braden is just a hoot around her--he says really funny things too. We were around another baby girl Merritt's age and he saw her laying down and said, "Does Merritt have a silly face?" Because he knew it wasn't Merritt's face--but assumed it was still Merritt. He also can't ever call her she--recently he told someone, "This is my baby Merritt. He's a she." We correct him so often... he knows that she is the right word but just can't seem to work it in there.





Minus one point for me holding her in a weird way--plus a million points for everyone else looking like a superstar.





We've never done a mushy newborn shoot before, and I'm in love with these pictures of my sweet husband being in love with our little girl! Seriously.



I'm getting them screen printed on t-shirts to wear every day. And printing them poster size for her college dorm room. I think she'll like it and will probably help her get lots of boyfriends.






Also special--me with the little girl I didn't think I'd ever have. We think maybe she looks like me, but I think people might just be humoring me in telling me that. She does snort a lot... which is something I do.





I'm now realizing that both she and I are wearing clothes that we borrowed--I've since upped my baby girl game quite a bit!



So many sweet details I don't want to forget--her long fingers and toes (perfect for playing the piano or pickpocketing, according to Lorelai Gilmore), her perfect lips, and folded over, floppy ear courtesy of being smashed in my belly.



Ugh. In love. I'm going to go back and stare at her face some more before she turns eighteen and leaves me forever. Having a girl last might be a problem...

Merritt || One Month

I can't believe she's been around for a month! And that a month ago I had all boys and didn't really even dream of having a girl. I think I've come to terms with the loss of my identity as a boy mom--it helps that this girl is the absolute sweetest. Except for maybe Keaton. He's so sweet.



I'm not sure if it's because we're veteran parents or if it's her temperament--but she really is an easy baby. She's rarely fussy, and when she is its remedied by picking her up or feeding her. She's the best.



She's still sleeps a lot--she hasn't really gotten in a nap routine yet. Wearing her in the Solly wrap almost always knocks her out and car rides normally do as well. She normally sleeps for a 4-5 hour stretch at night, and then 2-3 hour ones. She's sleeping in a bassinet beside our bed for as long as we can keep her there--her last stretch of sleeping is normally with us.



Merritt is doing well nursing too. She's pretty efficient and eats every 2-3 hours. She does tend to cluster feed in the evening, but I won't complain about her filling up if it means she'll sleep a bit longer at night!



World's strongest baby! Gun show! We think her eyes might be blue to stay and she has pretty much the same dearth of hair of her brothers. She's got some cheeks but they'll probably only stick around for another month or so.

Happy one month Merritt! I just realized that her name rhymes with carrot. I think we'll still keep it.

Merritt + Braden

It took me awhile to get used to pink things--and I feel like I've embraced it now. But that doesn't mean I don't still love navy! We painted a wall in our master bedroom a few weeks before Merritt was born--navy stripes in glossy and matte. I love them. And I love this little blue floral cardigan!



I ordered a handful of headbands--a few pink, but also, navy, gray, aqua and white.



Basically all I want to do is put her in different outfits and take pictures of her all day. And she can't even smile yet. We're in trouble when she starts smiling--I think the picture below is a fluke.



While Braden isn't quite as obsessed with her as Keaton is, he really does love her. He likes to hold her for a bit and give her kisses.  He exclusively uses male pronouns with her--we're working on reminding him that because Merritt is a girl, we say SHE. And HER.



With my siblings, the first and third look similar and the second and fourth look similar. If that happens here, I'll be delighted. I've always though Braden would be such a pretty girl--with the curls and the eyelashes and the round cheeks. Sigh.

Polka Dots and a Gold Headband

Basically, I like to put Merritt in cute outfits and lay her on cute blankets--this one I stole from Jenn. And wait for her to yawn since she won't smile.



Or pose like a superhero.



So, yes. She's the cutest ever. The end!

Keaton + Merritt

When Braden was born, Finley didn't care. And when Keaton was born, Braden and Finley did not care. But Merritt? Finley and Braden are both definitely more interested in her than with past babies--but Keaton LOVES her. He loves her.



If she's on the floor doing tummy time, he's right next to her. Chuckling at her. Sometimes he'll lay on her blanket and try to get me to bring her over. He's always up for holding her--something that no other kid has ever been interested in.



Keaton has an extremely small vocabulary--he doesn't have words for Braden or Finley but he has a name for Merritt--BAE. Yes, he calls her bae and its so cute. I shouldn't be so surprised at how much he loves her. Keaton definitely has his own personality--he loves hugs and kisses and is definitely our sweetest child. I'm so excited to him continue to love her and watch their little relationship develop.



Also he's the cutest ever. The blond hair and blue eyes. Gah.



I've was never worried about Braden or Finley accidentally hurting one of the babies--but I have to keep a closer eye on Keaton. I've seen him think about picking her up--and while he likes to hold her, his way of getting her off his lap is just to push her. So we are continuing to work on those!

Merritt's Sip and See

If you know me, then you know that I love a party. But more specifically--I love parties for other people. The introvert in me shies away from having parties for myself. But I have been incredibly blessed with wonderful friends in Beaumont--and they really wanted to throw a party. I kept referring to it as Merritt's Sip and See so I didn't feel like it was a party for me. All the gifts were for her... so I think I was right.



The party was so sweet and so pink! This cute little pink outfit arrived from my aunt and uncle the day before the party and was perfect! I just HAD to have this little pink flower crown for her--even though it was kind of huge and made it hard to snuggle her. I didn't get a great picture of her in it--but we had a reshoot a few days later. Of course.



The party was perfect--my friends said they felt like throwing a party for me was like cooking for Julia Childs. The party was full of my favorite things--pink and gold and monograms and sweets and flowers and most importantly, friends! The party was my mom's last day in town--she actually had to head home about halfway through the party, but I was so glad she was able to come for a bit!



I didn't get a picture with all the guests at the party--but here's one of the hostesses! The group on the left are my Junior League pals, and the girls on the right are from our bible study. And then everyone all together. I feel so incredibly blessed by all these ladies and all the ladies who came to celebrate our sweet girl. We've made such great friends where ever we've moved, but Beaumont is really in a league of its own. Maybe it's because people are nicer in Texas? Or that we've become more interesting and people like us more? Who knows. All I know is that the people here are great and it was so great to have so many of them come out to celebrate M!

Fourth

Oh my goodness it is HARD to take as many pictures of this girl as I did of the other three. It's hard.



I snagged a few when my mom was here--it is really special that there's another daughter!



I think I have formulated a plan for monthly pictures... that will start at 1 month. We missed 0 months and I am ok with that. She's such a pretty and precious little girl. I don't want to forget the way that one ear is folded down or her long ladylike fingers.



So far she has the best skin of any of our kids--the baby acne has been mild and there's been no cradle cap yet.



I'm still figuring out this bow thing--they kind of get knocked off when I hold her now because she has so little head control. But I'm optimistic we can dive fully in soon!