Our "Easter-versary" :)

Well, here it is... April 24th. As I sit here writing my latest blog, I am struck by how much significance this day has:


Our one year wedding anniversary: I can't believe we got married a year ago today!!! Last year, Bill and I thought we couldn't love anyone more than each other as we vowed to take each other for the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is no way we could have known that on our one year anniversary, we would be holding the greatest joy of our lives, and that there was indeed someone that we could love more than we love each other. I can't imagine spending our anniversary without little Drew!

Easter: The day Jesus rose from the dead for my salvation, so that I could be free and have everlasting life. So that I can teach my son to walk in the way of the Lord, so that his life may be fulfilling and so that one day we will rejoice together in heaven. Knowing that my heavenly father willingly gave his life on the cross for me has so much more of an impact on me now that I am a mother. I would do anything for Andrew!

Easter at Sito & Gramps (12 weeks old)

This was such a busy weekend for us! We took Andrew to celebrate Easter with Bill's side of the family on Saturday. So many of his family members had yet to meet the little guy in person. He was SO well behaved and everyone commented on what a sweetie he was. I'm sure part of it was due to the fact that Friday night he got 8 straight hours of sleep (WOW!) and then went down for a 3 hour nap after his morning feeding. No wonder he was so happy!

Bill with his goddaughter, Emily, and baby Drew

On Easter Sunday, we woke up early (after another 8 hours of straight, uninterrupted sleep!), to find that the Easter Bunny had visited the Pantuso household for baby Drew! Drew's basket had a cute onesie (that says King of the Crib), a couple board book classics (Guess How Much I Love You and Pat the Bunny), socks, and chiller teethers. We were off to church for the first time since Andrew was born. Two good days in a row was obviously too much to ask for. We were "those" people at church with a crying baby, having to get up about every 10 minutes to take him out to calm him down. The fussiness continued at brunch at my mom and dad's and again at Easter dinner at my Aunt Gina's with my mom's whole side of the family. There were some moments where he was calm, but I didn't take many pictures on Easter because he was crying most of the day! I even had this cute baby blue onesie for him to wear with a puffy bunny on it that said "Happy Easter". Every time I tried to get a picture of him in it, he would cry and squirm and you couldn't read the shirt. Then he spit up all over it at my aunt's house. Oh the joys. We got him home and he was so tired.... he was falling asleep eating. Bill swaddled him up and put him down for the night. Here's hoping for another 8 hour night!

The Easter Bunny came for baby Drew! 

Cousin Leah with Drew

Cousin Sam with Drew

Mesmerized by the ceiling fan!

Wardrobe change! With Auntie Desi in the sleeper she got him. 

The life of a socialite is SO exhausting! 

What else is new in Drew's world,  you might ask??? His HANDS! He has discovered that his hands are very interesting to look at and very tasty! He prefers sucking on his whole fist as opposed to the pacifier. If you put the paci in his mouth, he will make a very grumpy "stink-face" and spit it right out. I guess we won't have a problem weaning him from the paci! His new "pose" is blocking his face with his hands or having his fist near or in his mouth. Sometimes he gets both fists near his mouth and he looks like a chipmunk. Such a cutie.

Another milestone we hit (not because we wanted to) was the introduction of formula. Drew just loves to eat and I was stressing myself out because it has been so hard to pump at work and make what he needs. I put so much pressure on myself that it was affecting me physically. Finally, I just said "enough is enough" and started introducing about one bottle of formula per day. Drew loves it and it has given me so much relief, knowing that if I have an "off" day, I've got a backup plan. He's still receiving about 80% breastmilk, which is the most important part to me. I want him to have it for as long as I can make it! The benefits to him are phenomenal, and it's not so shabby for me either! I've lost all the baby weight plus some by just breastfeeding alone. With all the stuff that's going on with my back, I haven't been able to exercise... so thank God for burning those extra calories!

First bottle of formula (4-17-11)

A year ago, I would never have dreamed that I would be sitting here writing a baby blog on my "Easter-versary". I'm just so thankful for the blessing of a happy, beautiful, healthy child. He makes me look forward to what the next year of married life will bring!

Kickin' in the crib