* One Month *

It's so hard for me to believe that 4 weeks ago tonight, I gave birth to my handsome boy (not sure if we celebrate his one month birthday on the 28th or today...so I'll go with today). Steve and I left our house a month ago as the two of us and came home two days later as a family of three. Because of Raleigh, our lives have changed for the better and we like it...a lot. As with any major change, we've had our ups and downs, but each perfect day and each rough patch are completely worth everything that we have in this moment.

Here are just a few of the things about my son that make me swoon...

His alert/attentive eyes. We spend at least some time everyday outside (his favorite place besides for his changing table) and I swear he hardly blinks. If he could talk, I think he'd tell me that he loves the sun and fresh air...just like his mama.

The way he smiles when he's dozing off. The other day I was laying next to him out on the lawn in our yard and actually heard a little laugh...melted my heart and I can't stop talking about it now.

His stretches when I unswaddle him in the morning and then the cuddles in our bed just before his Dad leaves for work.

The way he stares at me when I feed him. I chat with him while he eats and constantly wonder what he's thinking about.

Raleigh - we love you for so many reasons, but mainly for the happiness and joy that you've brought to our entire family. At 8:21 tonight, your dad and I will be toasting you and remembering that moment when we first laid eyes on you - happy 4 week birthday, Snugs.

A couple of nights ago we got dinner to go and ate at Cove Beach in Normandy Park on Puget Sound. The photo of Steve and Raleigh is my new favorite.

Playdates Galore

Ok, so I get that my sweet boy doesn't really know how to play yet...or make eye contact with anyone for longer than a second, but we've had ourselves a boatload of playdates over the past few weeks and I really don't want them to ever end. One day he'll understand what a playdate actually consists of and will most likely wish that I weren't tagging along, but until then I'll use these get-togethers to catch up with my girlfriends and swoon over the kiddos.

Raleigh celebrating his one-week birthday with his buddy Brady


Hanging out (I think he slept through the entire visit) with his cousins Paul and Olivia


With his #1 girl Miss Ava


At Kelsey Creek Park with Tristan, Addi, Eden and Ava - Raleigh was a bit tuckered out from this adventure, but not tired enough to enjoy his first experience at Red Robin later in the day.




With the two boys that are the closest in age to Raleigh - his twin buddies Wyatt and Smith who were born 12 hours after him. I'm sad I didn't get a photo of Wyatt and Smith's older brother Walter with all of them.

Megs was so sweet and came up with Ave from Bend and spent the weekend with us - it was perfect and exactly what this exhausted mama needed. She nurtured Raleigh like he was her own, made dinner and just relaxed with us. Thank you Megs for give this new mama the perfect weekend.

Quality time with Auntie Megs

At less than 3 weeks old, Steve decided it was time to teach Raleigh how to work in the garden and potentially take his first steps...not sure how much interest he had in either activity.

Love For My Boys

Five years ago today (when I least expected it) my life was changed forever when I met the man that I would spend the rest of my life with.

Because of that chance meeting, today we also celebrate the birth of our sweet boy - three weeks ago.

As each day passes, I fall deeper and crazier in love with these two.  Thank you to my husband and my son for making me the wife and mama that I am today - I love you.

Must Haves...Baby Edition

I'd feel selfish if I didn't share a few of my current "Baby Must Have Items"...so here they are...






1. Fisher Price - Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper: This item was first introduced to me by my dear friend Rothie (who is a mama to twins) and then we received one as a gift from my other dear friend Court. This is Raleigh's current bassinet - he loves it and so do we. It fits perfectly next to our bed and is easily accessible for me to get him in and out in the middle of the night.

2. Mommy's Bliss - Gripe Water: In our house we refer to this as holy water because one rough night (the first day we introduced Raleigh to formula) our boy decided he needed to scream/cry for two hours straight due to an upset tummy (we're assuming) and this wonder juice saved our family. A huge thank you to my savior Megan for mentioning Gripe Water and for responding to my text at almost midnight to confirm what we needed to buy during our midnight run to Walgreens.

3. Playtex - Drop Ins: The best bottles for a newborn that is both breastfeeding and eating from a bottle. Quick to clean and excellent for sucking, swallowing and breathing for a newborn baby.

4. NoseFrida - The Snotsucker: Best invention ever for a baby with a stuffed up nose. The idea seems a bit far-fetched...sucking snot out of your babies nose with your mouth, but it's seriously brilliant and MUCH easier to use than one of those blue ball suckers that the hospital gives you. Thank you again to Megan for this fabulous gift.

5. Simple Wishes - Hands Free Pumping Bra: If you're going to use a breastpump, that isn't hands free, you'll definitely want to purchase this bra...for your sanity. Otherwise, you'll end up sitting there for hours on end with your hands confined to holding the pump bottles. With this sexy ridiculous contraption you'll be able to take care of odds and ends while you pump. You may also want to purchase ear plugs to avoid the horrible sound of the pump.

6. Mustela: I've only used the foam shampoo and the vitamin barrier (butt) cream so far, but I'm in love with these products and so is my boy. He smells just oh-so-good and his dry skin is thanking me for just a bit of hydration.  I look forward to trying out the rest of the products soon.

My Little Snugs

In the past 12 days since Raleigh's birth, I've called him about 10 different names, but the one that seems to stick the most is Snugs. I mean look at this little guy...he's the snuggiest babe I've ever seen.

I feel so lucky that I get to snuggle and kiss his sweet cheeks all day long and feel even more thankful that I get to call him my son.

Thank You Mom!

I’ve only been able to look you in the eyes for 10 days, but we’ve bonded for the past 10 months. Word has it that you have dreamt about having me as long as you can remember, and I could have only wished to come in to the kind Love you shower upon me.

You have taken every precaution to help me grow into the healthy little man I am today – even though it resulted in great sacrifices including missing your Stevie Nicks concert, less ‘Journey performances’ on the dance floor and a shift in your social life to accommodate more ‘growing time’ for me.

I look around my room and see your love expressed in so many ways. You have devoted so much energy into creating the perfect nest for me. How did you know that I would share the same nautical taste as my Daddy? And watch out ladies - my wardrobe is out of this world!

Your tender love for me in the past week and a half has made me realize that I am truly the luckiest little man. You have shown amazing patience as I figure out life beyond the womb. You have been there to comfort me with a warm kiss, embrace, and smile when my patience wears thin. Thank you!

I know we were meant to be together. I look forward to growing with you, bonding with you and for you to show me how to get along in this world…

I LOVE YOU MOM!

~Raleigh

P.S. Dad - Thank you  for helping me write this.

True Love

As I sit down at the computer for the first time since last Wednesday, tears of joy and happiness stream down my face. I look down to see my sweet boy staring up at me with his gorgeous eyes and big pursed lips. I collect my thoughts and try to put my emotions to words.

Last Wednesday, Steve and I dreamt about the changes and wonderful things that the following day would bring - we had no idea about the love that was about to enter our lives.

You can't truly imagine what parenthood is like until it happens to you and last Thursday evening all of those imaginations became reality and it was the greatest feeling I've ever had in my life.

Here's the story of our sweet son's arrival...
7am Thursday morning we checked in to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue for my scheduled induction (41 weeks - a week past due). Soon after arrival, I was hooked up to the heart rate monitor and contraction monitor and given an internal pill to get my contractions going. By noon, I had dilated to 2cm and was then given Pitocin to speed up the process. Around 3pm I was given an epidural for the contractions and only dilated to 4cm. Immediately after the epidural was administered our boy's heart rate dropped drastically and caused for a bit of commotion and urgency in our room. Suddenly, the Anesthesiologist, my doctor and five nurses were in our room contorting me into various positions in an attempt to stabilize his heart rate. About five minutes later his heart rate was back to normal and things were good. This scared both of us, but we knew we had to stay calm for our boy. At 7pm my doctor came back in to my room to check my progress and not much was going on. I was on track for contraction, but had only dilated to 4cm and did not seem to be progress and every time I laid directly on my back his heart rate would drop, slightly. My options were to continue as we were and see how the contractions would continue or go in for a c-section. Steve and I were concerned that a vaginal birth would cause too much stress on our boy because of the slowing heart rate so we opted for the c-section. Both of our families were already at the hospital, waiting on pins and needles for the news of the arrival of their sweet grandson and nephew.

At 8:21pm on Thursday, April 28, our lives were changed, for the better, forever and Raleigh John Rinabarger made his grand entrance at a whopping 7lbs 1oz and 19.5 inches long. This first photo is the very first look we got of our handsome boy and I've never seen anything more perfect in my life. The love that filled our hearts at that split second is indescribable. Of my 31 years of life, I can say with all of my heart that the moment I laid my eyes on my son was the greatest moment of my life.

Mr. Raleigh is now requesting that we head off to bed (at least for the next few hours), so I must sign off, but I'll post more photos very soon. A million and one thank yous for all of the love and support we've received from our friends and family.  Raleigh is a lucky little man to have all of the amazing people that we have in our life now in his life.