Yesterday I told Chloe to empty out her backpack and put her lunchbox away. She said, "My lunch was in a paper sack so I don't need to take care of my lunchbox." I said, "No, your snack was in a paper sack. Your lunchbox was in your backpack." It turns out she thought that the tiny back of pretzel crisps and tiny organic apple I packed for a snack were her LUNCH! She said that she decided to eat the pretzels for snack and "save" the apple for lunch, and at lunch she at the apple right down to the core. Later that night I emailed her teacher to tell her that I did, in fact, pack a lunch. She emailed me right back to let me know that she had even asked Chloe if she had more for lunch than an apple, and that Chloe responded the apple was all she had. Hahahaha. I cannot stop laughing about this.
Chloe said that there are swing bullies on the playground. The big kids apparently hog the swings and then tease the little kids saying, "Haha, you don't have a swiii-ing." So Chloe said the next recess she was line leader and ran straight for the swings, but STILL didn't get one. I asked why she didn't tell a teacher, and she told me that there are no teachers on the playground. I said, surly there has to be a teacher on the playground, but she said no, there are only construction workers. Bahaha. I'm guessing the playground patrol people wear green vests like the crossing guards. Today she told my mom that she gave her special ring to a construction worker. My mom called to let me know and thought I should probably have a talk with her about strangers. I assured her that the construction worker in question was in all likelihood a playground patrol.
Oh, and apparently, Chloe already has a husband named Adam. He is about 1.5 feet taller than her. He was getting bullied on the playground and she "didn't like it one bit!" This Kindergarten thing is just killing me!
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Chloe Goes to Kindergarten!
This morning Chloe ran straight for the playground when we got to school. After a few minutes she ran up to me and told me she had to show me something. I followed her to a picnic table. She had me squat down, and there under the table was a little, white, fluffy caterpillar hanging upside down. She picked it up and ran over to the mass of people waiting in line for the school bell. She held her hands out for all the kids and parents to see. She must have shown 30 people. I told her she could bring it inside to see if her teacher had a jar. I thought it would be a good test of character to see if her Kindergarten teacher - a veteran teacher of 25+ years - would agree to a jar, or require an immediate release. When Chloe showed her the caterpillar her teacher quickly replied, "that is wonderful, Chloe! Why don't I get a jar and we can put some grasses in there. Later, we can let him go outside." All the kids ran to the jar to see the caterpillar. Chloe was so proud.
On the first day of school her teacher indicated the day went well, except she had to have a little talk about listening. Her teacher said, "I think Chloe just wanted to do what she wanted to do. So, we will have a few talks about listening." That's my girl. Head in the clouds, stubborn as a mule, living in Chloe lala land.
My little Chloe Clover is definitely one of a kind. I can never find the words to truly describe her and her unique personality, but I love that on just the second day of school her teacher got such a great insight to her little soul.
I can't believe my first baby is in Kindergarten. She was totally ready for this, and I'm so proud of her for having such a strong, independent spirit. She couldn't wait. Poor Abram. On the way to orientation he said "Cwoie, I will reawwy miss you and your new school. I'm serious. I will," to which she replied with an eye roll, "ugh, I can't wait to get some space from Abram." Little turd!
But my big guy is doing a second year of 3's. This is his first year actually qualifying in age. I pick him up in about two hours and I can't wait to hear how his first day went. He is such a leader. He has an outgoing personality and immediately gets along playing with other kids. I think he is going to absolutely love preschool this year.
On the first day of school her teacher indicated the day went well, except she had to have a little talk about listening. Her teacher said, "I think Chloe just wanted to do what she wanted to do. So, we will have a few talks about listening." That's my girl. Head in the clouds, stubborn as a mule, living in Chloe lala land.
My little Chloe Clover is definitely one of a kind. I can never find the words to truly describe her and her unique personality, but I love that on just the second day of school her teacher got such a great insight to her little soul.
I can't believe my first baby is in Kindergarten. She was totally ready for this, and I'm so proud of her for having such a strong, independent spirit. She couldn't wait. Poor Abram. On the way to orientation he said "Cwoie, I will reawwy miss you and your new school. I'm serious. I will," to which she replied with an eye roll, "ugh, I can't wait to get some space from Abram." Little turd!
But my big guy is doing a second year of 3's. This is his first year actually qualifying in age. I pick him up in about two hours and I can't wait to hear how his first day went. He is such a leader. He has an outgoing personality and immediately gets along playing with other kids. I think he is going to absolutely love preschool this year.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Emmett - One Month
Emmett, you are already one month old! Your first week of life I swear you didn't make a peep all day, though you were up every hour at night. I couldn't believe what a sweet, perfect, well-behaved baby you were! I was in a lot of pain so you and I spent a lot of time just snuggling on the couch. Your Daddy said I better hold you as much as possible because you are the last baby. Amen!!
Your second week you started to get a little gassy and the only noises you made were grunts and groans. You always sounded like you were trying to take a big poop. You continued sleeping throughout the day and in just one hour increments at night. I swear that about half way through the night I wanted to cry! Thankfully, it was Christmas and we had lots of family around to help out. Grammy and Papa came over on Christmas and stayed the night. They came back for a few days around New Years Eve for my birthday and to help install our new kitchen backsplash. Both times I took advantage of their presence and slept in and took naps whenever I could. At one point I was so exhausted that I started feeling achy and developed a low grade fever. I forgot how hard it is to have a new baby!
In your third week we decided to start giving you gas drops. Those seemed to help you a lot, and while you still grunted and groaned, it wasn't nearly as often or as bad. I decided to stop sleeping upstairs and let you fall asleep downstairs to the sound of the television. I started sleeping next to you on the couch. This is what I did with Abram and it worked for you, as well. I started getting 3 hour stretches of sleep - sometimes even 4 hours! We tried putting you in every baby bed contraption we own including the swing, the bouncy seat, the pack and play, and the sleep and play. Eventually, we ended up using the sleep and play for bedtime. You'll sit in any of them during the day quite peacefully. You are really a good, sweet, easy-going baby.
You love your brother and sister. Though you can't smile yet, you sit in there arms as content as can be. At night I bring you up to say goodnight and they both get to hold you briefly. You just sit there awkwardly in their little arms, but seem happy as a clam. It's so cute!
Breastfeeding is going well. In the beginning I would estimate it took you 30-45 seconds to actually get a good latch. You would just rut around a lot before you would remember how to latch. That lasted about two weeks. It's so much easier to breastfeed the second and third child. Chloe did the same thing you did, but it was so hard and so stressful. I would try to put 47 pillows around me and would get so frustrated. With you, I could patiently let you figure it out. At three weeks you were a champ.
At your 4 week check up you already weighed 10 pounds 4 ounces!! The doctor was so impressed by your weight gain. When we left the hospital you were only 7 pounds 2 ounces. You are a champ! You started out in newborn diapers and newborn clothes. The clothes fit you except for the feet. You always had your little toes curled up in the feet of those newborn sleepers. you were only in newborn clothes for about a week. By the end of the first month you are wearing 3 month clothing and size 1 diapers.
We try to get you to take a pacifier, but you aren't really interested. Honestly, it pisses you off more than anything, and you often gag on it. You don't really need one anyway since you rarely ever cry. You are obsessed with the bath and shower. You have never once cried when I put you in a bath or shower. You always try to fall asleep in the tub because you are just so content. You are the sweetest little guy!
We are just so blessed to have you. I didn't even realize how much I would enjoy having a little baby again. You are just so good and we are so lucky that you aren't fussy. You love to snuggle and be spoken to. It feels like you want to smile at us. Chloe swears that you smiled your first smile at her in the car. I wouldn't be surprised. She is a silly one and I'm sure you are going to find her to be hilarious. Thank you so much for being my sweet boy. I love you so much!
Your second week you started to get a little gassy and the only noises you made were grunts and groans. You always sounded like you were trying to take a big poop. You continued sleeping throughout the day and in just one hour increments at night. I swear that about half way through the night I wanted to cry! Thankfully, it was Christmas and we had lots of family around to help out. Grammy and Papa came over on Christmas and stayed the night. They came back for a few days around New Years Eve for my birthday and to help install our new kitchen backsplash. Both times I took advantage of their presence and slept in and took naps whenever I could. At one point I was so exhausted that I started feeling achy and developed a low grade fever. I forgot how hard it is to have a new baby!
In your third week we decided to start giving you gas drops. Those seemed to help you a lot, and while you still grunted and groaned, it wasn't nearly as often or as bad. I decided to stop sleeping upstairs and let you fall asleep downstairs to the sound of the television. I started sleeping next to you on the couch. This is what I did with Abram and it worked for you, as well. I started getting 3 hour stretches of sleep - sometimes even 4 hours! We tried putting you in every baby bed contraption we own including the swing, the bouncy seat, the pack and play, and the sleep and play. Eventually, we ended up using the sleep and play for bedtime. You'll sit in any of them during the day quite peacefully. You are really a good, sweet, easy-going baby.
You love your brother and sister. Though you can't smile yet, you sit in there arms as content as can be. At night I bring you up to say goodnight and they both get to hold you briefly. You just sit there awkwardly in their little arms, but seem happy as a clam. It's so cute!
Breastfeeding is going well. In the beginning I would estimate it took you 30-45 seconds to actually get a good latch. You would just rut around a lot before you would remember how to latch. That lasted about two weeks. It's so much easier to breastfeed the second and third child. Chloe did the same thing you did, but it was so hard and so stressful. I would try to put 47 pillows around me and would get so frustrated. With you, I could patiently let you figure it out. At three weeks you were a champ.
At your 4 week check up you already weighed 10 pounds 4 ounces!! The doctor was so impressed by your weight gain. When we left the hospital you were only 7 pounds 2 ounces. You are a champ! You started out in newborn diapers and newborn clothes. The clothes fit you except for the feet. You always had your little toes curled up in the feet of those newborn sleepers. you were only in newborn clothes for about a week. By the end of the first month you are wearing 3 month clothing and size 1 diapers.
We try to get you to take a pacifier, but you aren't really interested. Honestly, it pisses you off more than anything, and you often gag on it. You don't really need one anyway since you rarely ever cry. You are obsessed with the bath and shower. You have never once cried when I put you in a bath or shower. You always try to fall asleep in the tub because you are just so content. You are the sweetest little guy!
We are just so blessed to have you. I didn't even realize how much I would enjoy having a little baby again. You are just so good and we are so lucky that you aren't fussy. You love to snuggle and be spoken to. It feels like you want to smile at us. Chloe swears that you smiled your first smile at her in the car. I wouldn't be surprised. She is a silly one and I'm sure you are going to find her to be hilarious. Thank you so much for being my sweet boy. I love you so much!
Emmett's Birth Story
I think the hardest part about having kids at home during a full term pregnancy is just the uncertainty of when the baby is coming. Thankfully we have a wonderful family and support system. The problem is that system is located two hours away.
I began having contractions in the early hours of December 11. I texted my Mom and had her make the two hour journey to our house that morning. I continued to have light contractions throughout the day, but they eventually dwindled down to nothing by the end of the night. My parents took the kids home for the weekend thinking that some relaxation might help get things going. Our biggest accomplishment was that we wrapped all of the Christmas presents and went to a movie for the first time in some five years (Hunger Games). At around 8:30 pm December 15 (my due date) I had a few contractions. Reluctantly, I called my Mom and asked her to come over that night so that I didn't have to call her in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, nothing ever came of those contractions either! On Tuesday, December 16 at my 3:30 pm appointment my midwife checked me and indicated that I was 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. She stripped my membranes, and I began having contractions almost immediately. We had a quick ultrasound and non stress test to make sure baby was doing well.
We went to Smashburger for a spicy jalapeno burger around 6:30 pm hoping that might get things moving. While we were there I began having some stronger and more regular contractions that continued through the night. When we got home I did some laundry and Paul and I watched a movie. I insisted on matching every pair of socks. You know, otherwise the baby wouldn't come. I sat on the balance ball and took a bath. By 10:00 pm the contractions were so strong and were pretty consistently 5-6 minutes apart. By midnight I was starting to feel nervous that I was getting very far along in the labor and I suggested we go to the hospital. When we got to triage I told the nurse she might want to check me, because I thought I was probably a good 7-8 cm by the strength of the contractions. You can imagine my shock and horror when she informed me that I was only 4 cm!!! I was in so much pain, yet had only dilated 1 cm! I wanted to kick her in her smug face.
We were admitted immediately, which was nice. My nurse, Megan, did a 20 minute monitor on the baby while the midwife prepared the room for delivery and drew me a bath. I was in a shitty mood from being told I was only 4 cm. I felt a little embarrassed for going into the hospital and also a little weak for thinking things hurt so incredibly bad. I hopped in the bath at 2:00 am and was allowed one hour without monitors. The contractions I had for the 45 minutes I was in the tub were not nearly as bad as my stupid labor from 3-4 cm. I was feeling defeated and I told the midwife I'd like her to check me and if I wasn't dilated I would possibly have her break my water to get things moving. When she checked me she asked "well, how far along did you want to be? You are 9.0 cm!" She suggested we break the water and have a baby! I dilated from 4 to 9 in 45 minutes. I got out of that tub, like "fucking right." I wanted to mean mug that triage nurse.
I got out of the tub and situated myself on the hospital bed. For me, pushing is always the most dreadful part. Although I have to say that I didn't enjoy the labor much at all this time around. I wouldn't say it was my most painful, but this time I was really focused on the pain and was very fearful of pushing. Anyway, my midwife broke my water. Thankfully, the water was clear with no meconium. Shortly after that I had a contraction and she told me to practice pushing. I gave her three little baby pushes. I didn't need "practice" pushing. I mean, this wasn't my first rodeo. I knew that the minute I started to actually push that baby was going to actually come out. I decided that the next contraction would be "the one."
I prepared myself for what was to come, and as soon as the contraction started to began to push. I pushed for three 8 counts. I thought I would stop after the third, but then all of a sudden the urge to push took over my body. I screamed out "OH NO!!" and pushed with all of my being. The midwife said "The head is crowning. Slow down, Cas-, nurse get the-, Paul come-, the head is out, OH! there's the baby!" And just like that, the baby literally shot right out of me. She flipped the baby over so we could see that we had a baby BOY! She handed him to me and I put him right on my chest. It was 3:20 am.
He cried a little, but not much. He was very comfortable sitting right on my chest. She waited until the umbilical cord stopped pulsing and then Paul cut the cord. After that the really hard work started. They say you forget how painful it is to have a baby, but honestly, I never forget. I know it is painful. What I do always forget is how fucking horrible the after birth is. Because I push my kids out in a single contraction I always tear. This time I had a 2nd degree tear. The numbing shots hurt because the area is so tender and you can still feel a ton of pain during the actual stitching. This was by far the worst after birth of them yet, because I hemorrhaged immediately after giving birth. It was actually quite scary. I had to have a shot of Pitocin in my leg to get the contractions going, which didn't seem to work. The midwife had one hand basically scooping me out from the inside and the other hand shoving as hard as she possibly could on my stomach to get my uterus to contract. I cried out in pain the entire time. It was absolutely worse than the entire labor and pushing combined. It took at least 45 minutes to get the after birth resolved. I was shaking so bad and I felt like I was going to pass out.
When it was over everyone left the room and it was just me, Paul, and our new son. I breastfed him for about 30 minutes. After that the nurse returned and gave the baby his first bath and took his stats. He was 7 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. It was so nice to be able to hold him for so long before any of that took place. Chloe and Abram were taken from me right away to be cleaned up and weighed while I handled the after birth.
When the nurse left the room again we began to talk about names. The only boy name I had picked out was Jude Paul. Paul kept calling him Jude to see if we liked it, but I kept thinking he was saying "Jew" so we quickly decided against the name. For a brief moment in the delivery room we picked the name Lucas, but when Paul searched for the name's popularity he found it as #1 on the BabyCenter list for 2014. In fact, one nurse asked what we were thinking for a name and when we said Lucas a cafeteria worker happened to walk in and said "Girl, everybody be pickin that name lately!" Haha. We quickly decided against that name, too. We went to the recovery room without a name. The baby slept for 7 hours before he would wake up to eat again. We were all so tired!
The next morning Paul was perusing baby names on his phone when he suggested the name Emmett. I thought about it for a moment and said "I actually don't hate it." We tried it out for a few hours before the kids got there. My Mom brought Chloe and Abram up to the room and we asked them if they liked the name Emmett. Abram said right away, "Yes, this my brother Emmett." He said the name so clearly and so proudly that we decided that was definitely the name. It was so cute! He went to preschool later that day and told everyone about his baby brother, Emmett. We spent the next day discussing middle names and eventually decided to name him Emmett Paul.
For a few weeks I felt a little unsure of the name. We kept calling him "the baby." But as I finish this post 8 months later I can't see him as a Tyler or Jude or Lucas. He is an Emmett through and through. My perfect little sweet little baby boy, Emmett!
I began having contractions in the early hours of December 11. I texted my Mom and had her make the two hour journey to our house that morning. I continued to have light contractions throughout the day, but they eventually dwindled down to nothing by the end of the night. My parents took the kids home for the weekend thinking that some relaxation might help get things going. Our biggest accomplishment was that we wrapped all of the Christmas presents and went to a movie for the first time in some five years (Hunger Games). At around 8:30 pm December 15 (my due date) I had a few contractions. Reluctantly, I called my Mom and asked her to come over that night so that I didn't have to call her in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, nothing ever came of those contractions either! On Tuesday, December 16 at my 3:30 pm appointment my midwife checked me and indicated that I was 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. She stripped my membranes, and I began having contractions almost immediately. We had a quick ultrasound and non stress test to make sure baby was doing well.
We went to Smashburger for a spicy jalapeno burger around 6:30 pm hoping that might get things moving. While we were there I began having some stronger and more regular contractions that continued through the night. When we got home I did some laundry and Paul and I watched a movie. I insisted on matching every pair of socks. You know, otherwise the baby wouldn't come. I sat on the balance ball and took a bath. By 10:00 pm the contractions were so strong and were pretty consistently 5-6 minutes apart. By midnight I was starting to feel nervous that I was getting very far along in the labor and I suggested we go to the hospital. When we got to triage I told the nurse she might want to check me, because I thought I was probably a good 7-8 cm by the strength of the contractions. You can imagine my shock and horror when she informed me that I was only 4 cm!!! I was in so much pain, yet had only dilated 1 cm! I wanted to kick her in her smug face.
We were admitted immediately, which was nice. My nurse, Megan, did a 20 minute monitor on the baby while the midwife prepared the room for delivery and drew me a bath. I was in a shitty mood from being told I was only 4 cm. I felt a little embarrassed for going into the hospital and also a little weak for thinking things hurt so incredibly bad. I hopped in the bath at 2:00 am and was allowed one hour without monitors. The contractions I had for the 45 minutes I was in the tub were not nearly as bad as my stupid labor from 3-4 cm. I was feeling defeated and I told the midwife I'd like her to check me and if I wasn't dilated I would possibly have her break my water to get things moving. When she checked me she asked "well, how far along did you want to be? You are 9.0 cm!" She suggested we break the water and have a baby! I dilated from 4 to 9 in 45 minutes. I got out of that tub, like "fucking right." I wanted to mean mug that triage nurse.
I got out of the tub and situated myself on the hospital bed. For me, pushing is always the most dreadful part. Although I have to say that I didn't enjoy the labor much at all this time around. I wouldn't say it was my most painful, but this time I was really focused on the pain and was very fearful of pushing. Anyway, my midwife broke my water. Thankfully, the water was clear with no meconium. Shortly after that I had a contraction and she told me to practice pushing. I gave her three little baby pushes. I didn't need "practice" pushing. I mean, this wasn't my first rodeo. I knew that the minute I started to actually push that baby was going to actually come out. I decided that the next contraction would be "the one."
I prepared myself for what was to come, and as soon as the contraction started to began to push. I pushed for three 8 counts. I thought I would stop after the third, but then all of a sudden the urge to push took over my body. I screamed out "OH NO!!" and pushed with all of my being. The midwife said "The head is crowning. Slow down, Cas-, nurse get the-, Paul come-, the head is out, OH! there's the baby!" And just like that, the baby literally shot right out of me. She flipped the baby over so we could see that we had a baby BOY! She handed him to me and I put him right on my chest. It was 3:20 am.
He cried a little, but not much. He was very comfortable sitting right on my chest. She waited until the umbilical cord stopped pulsing and then Paul cut the cord. After that the really hard work started. They say you forget how painful it is to have a baby, but honestly, I never forget. I know it is painful. What I do always forget is how fucking horrible the after birth is. Because I push my kids out in a single contraction I always tear. This time I had a 2nd degree tear. The numbing shots hurt because the area is so tender and you can still feel a ton of pain during the actual stitching. This was by far the worst after birth of them yet, because I hemorrhaged immediately after giving birth. It was actually quite scary. I had to have a shot of Pitocin in my leg to get the contractions going, which didn't seem to work. The midwife had one hand basically scooping me out from the inside and the other hand shoving as hard as she possibly could on my stomach to get my uterus to contract. I cried out in pain the entire time. It was absolutely worse than the entire labor and pushing combined. It took at least 45 minutes to get the after birth resolved. I was shaking so bad and I felt like I was going to pass out.
When it was over everyone left the room and it was just me, Paul, and our new son. I breastfed him for about 30 minutes. After that the nurse returned and gave the baby his first bath and took his stats. He was 7 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. It was so nice to be able to hold him for so long before any of that took place. Chloe and Abram were taken from me right away to be cleaned up and weighed while I handled the after birth.
When the nurse left the room again we began to talk about names. The only boy name I had picked out was Jude Paul. Paul kept calling him Jude to see if we liked it, but I kept thinking he was saying "Jew" so we quickly decided against the name. For a brief moment in the delivery room we picked the name Lucas, but when Paul searched for the name's popularity he found it as #1 on the BabyCenter list for 2014. In fact, one nurse asked what we were thinking for a name and when we said Lucas a cafeteria worker happened to walk in and said "Girl, everybody be pickin that name lately!" Haha. We quickly decided against that name, too. We went to the recovery room without a name. The baby slept for 7 hours before he would wake up to eat again. We were all so tired!
The next morning Paul was perusing baby names on his phone when he suggested the name Emmett. I thought about it for a moment and said "I actually don't hate it." We tried it out for a few hours before the kids got there. My Mom brought Chloe and Abram up to the room and we asked them if they liked the name Emmett. Abram said right away, "Yes, this my brother Emmett." He said the name so clearly and so proudly that we decided that was definitely the name. It was so cute! He went to preschool later that day and told everyone about his baby brother, Emmett. We spent the next day discussing middle names and eventually decided to name him Emmett Paul.
For a few weeks I felt a little unsure of the name. We kept calling him "the baby." But as I finish this post 8 months later I can't see him as a Tyler or Jude or Lucas. He is an Emmett through and through. My perfect little sweet little baby boy, Emmett!
Friday, November 7, 2014
Kid Update
Here is another partial post from around November 2013. Chloe would be nearing four and Abram nearing two.
Dear Chloe,
You are soon to be four years old. Just mulling over that sentence is enough to give me writer's block. I haven't posted about you in so long. Seriously, I can't find the words. As a good friend once said, "I imagine it is difficult to capture the essence of Chloe in words," and it is. Impossible, almost.
I don't know when or how it happened, but somehow you went from a toddler to a kid. You are constantly rolling your eyes. Sometimes just to be funny, and sometimes just to be a shit. A few months ago while we were lying in your bed just talking I said "well, duh." You asked me what "duh" meant, and I spent a few minutes trying to teach you. What I told you was to point to the green grass and ask, Is that blue? and when they respond with, No, it's green, you hit your head with the palm of your hand and say Ummm duh! Eventually, you gathered a deep enough understanding of the phrase to use in context. I created a monster.
You dress yourself in some variation of the same outfit every day: tights, poofy skirt, and shirt (if any of it matches, it's out of pure coincidence). You went through a phase about a year ago where you would only wear cat shirts. You are a little more flexible now - typically opting for Hello Kitty shirts, Ninja Turtle shirts, or anything that is two sizes too small or stained. You have a giant collection of hand-me-down poofy skirts, so finding one is never a problem.
You go to preschool twice a week. You love your teachers, Miss Ronda and Miss Susan, so much. Your best friend in the whole world is in your class, Ezra. He is basically one of the only kids you play with and you are so obsessed with him it's frightening. Your teachers are so amazed at how smart you are and especially at how strong you are. They say they have never had a kid in "3's" who can make it all the way across the monkey bars with no assitance. You are a beast!
Abram loves trucks, cars, tractors, and trains; he demands to wear shirts that display trucks, cars, tractors, or trains; and, he can say only the essential words: snacKK, coo-kee, juish, NO, and shoe. He is a shoe fanatic. I mean, seriously, it's pretty annoying. Kid has been throwing his shoes in my face since he was 14 months. Recently he acquired a pair of lace-up Spiderman shoes that are four sizes too big and untie/fall off constantly. We ended up hiding them after weeks of cursing.
**And, oh my gosh, that is all I wrote about my sweet boy. Poor guy! I recall a few things about this age of his, though. I don't recall exactly when we threw out the pacifier, but I feel like it was sometime around here. He kept chucking them all over the place and losing them. We finally decided that when he lost the last paci that would be the end of it. When he finally lost the last paci I recall he cried for it at night and during naps for at least a week. I was terrified, because Abram's best trait his whole babyhood was that he slept like an angel. He often put himself to bed for naps and he always slept through the night. Mostly, he just loved to go up and snuggle with Blanky and his paci. It's funny, in retrospect, how some of the smallest things are these terrifying parenting events in the moment. I think Abram still slept in the crib at this time, but not for very much longer. Eventually we moved the kids into the same bedroom and they were so thrilled. Abram loved having a big bed, but especially loved sleeping next to his big sister and best friend.
Dear Chloe,
You are soon to be four years old. Just mulling over that sentence is enough to give me writer's block. I haven't posted about you in so long. Seriously, I can't find the words. As a good friend once said, "I imagine it is difficult to capture the essence of Chloe in words," and it is. Impossible, almost.
I don't know when or how it happened, but somehow you went from a toddler to a kid. You are constantly rolling your eyes. Sometimes just to be funny, and sometimes just to be a shit. A few months ago while we were lying in your bed just talking I said "well, duh." You asked me what "duh" meant, and I spent a few minutes trying to teach you. What I told you was to point to the green grass and ask, Is that blue? and when they respond with, No, it's green, you hit your head with the palm of your hand and say Ummm duh! Eventually, you gathered a deep enough understanding of the phrase to use in context. I created a monster.
You dress yourself in some variation of the same outfit every day: tights, poofy skirt, and shirt (if any of it matches, it's out of pure coincidence). You went through a phase about a year ago where you would only wear cat shirts. You are a little more flexible now - typically opting for Hello Kitty shirts, Ninja Turtle shirts, or anything that is two sizes too small or stained. You have a giant collection of hand-me-down poofy skirts, so finding one is never a problem.
You go to preschool twice a week. You love your teachers, Miss Ronda and Miss Susan, so much. Your best friend in the whole world is in your class, Ezra. He is basically one of the only kids you play with and you are so obsessed with him it's frightening. Your teachers are so amazed at how smart you are and especially at how strong you are. They say they have never had a kid in "3's" who can make it all the way across the monkey bars with no assitance. You are a beast!
Abram loves trucks, cars, tractors, and trains; he demands to wear shirts that display trucks, cars, tractors, or trains; and, he can say only the essential words: snacKK, coo-kee, juish, NO, and shoe. He is a shoe fanatic. I mean, seriously, it's pretty annoying. Kid has been throwing his shoes in my face since he was 14 months. Recently he acquired a pair of lace-up Spiderman shoes that are four sizes too big and untie/fall off constantly. We ended up hiding them after weeks of cursing.
**And, oh my gosh, that is all I wrote about my sweet boy. Poor guy! I recall a few things about this age of his, though. I don't recall exactly when we threw out the pacifier, but I feel like it was sometime around here. He kept chucking them all over the place and losing them. We finally decided that when he lost the last paci that would be the end of it. When he finally lost the last paci I recall he cried for it at night and during naps for at least a week. I was terrified, because Abram's best trait his whole babyhood was that he slept like an angel. He often put himself to bed for naps and he always slept through the night. Mostly, he just loved to go up and snuggle with Blanky and his paci. It's funny, in retrospect, how some of the smallest things are these terrifying parenting events in the moment. I think Abram still slept in the crib at this time, but not for very much longer. Eventually we moved the kids into the same bedroom and they were so thrilled. Abram loved having a big bed, but especially loved sleeping next to his big sister and best friend.
Harry and the Hendersons
Here is part of a post I found in my "drafts" from about a year ago in October 2013:
I taught Chloe at an early age to watch television. I mean, I had her on a pretty strict training schedule. If you are wondering about the intensity of the daily regimen, I would compare it to something similar to training for the Olympics, or something like that. She got pretty good at watching television. She is a fast learner, and a dedicated athlete. We started with Sesame Street: baby stuff, literally. We moved on to Dora, then to her kind of sexy cousin, Diego. Things started to spiral out of control after I made the discovery that we had Nickelodeon. We never knew this, because we never bothered with the channels that were not delivered in HD, because it burns my eyes. We hit rock bottom I'd say somewhere in the middle of a SpongeBob Square Pants and Cow and Chicken marathon on Cartoon Network. I'm getting really off track here. Point is, Chloe is really good at watching TV whenever anyone needs a little break from her madness.
Abram, on the other hand, does not ever even glance in the direction of the glowy picture shows. He is immune to the beauty of it all. He is above it: the lowest of all forms of human entertainment. Why would he bother with the TV when he could be raiding the snack cabinet saying, "nack, nack, nack" or raiding the fridge saying, "cheeez, cheeez, cheeez" or raiding the pantry saying, "coo-kee, coo-kee, coo-kee." He hasn't yet figured out that eating while watching TV is the true American way. So, all of this, all of this babbling is just unnecessary, because what I really want to say is that we finally found a show that Abram likes to watch. It's a movie, actually, and if you were alive in the late 80's you might know of it: Harry and the Hendersons. This little dude will sit there with his giant, blue eyes glued to the screen for the entire movie.
That is where it ends. I totally forgot about that and it makes me sad that having two kids has basically derailed this whole blogging business. I'm going to do my best to jot down a few stories here and there to remember the little things. Like the movie that turned Abram into a TV watching genius. Add to that The Sandlot, The Goonies, Ghostbusters, and any other classic 80's/90's kid classic. Watching TV with Abram is so much better than watching it with Chloe. Kid's got taste.
I taught Chloe at an early age to watch television. I mean, I had her on a pretty strict training schedule. If you are wondering about the intensity of the daily regimen, I would compare it to something similar to training for the Olympics, or something like that. She got pretty good at watching television. She is a fast learner, and a dedicated athlete. We started with Sesame Street: baby stuff, literally. We moved on to Dora, then to her kind of sexy cousin, Diego. Things started to spiral out of control after I made the discovery that we had Nickelodeon. We never knew this, because we never bothered with the channels that were not delivered in HD, because it burns my eyes. We hit rock bottom I'd say somewhere in the middle of a SpongeBob Square Pants and Cow and Chicken marathon on Cartoon Network. I'm getting really off track here. Point is, Chloe is really good at watching TV whenever anyone needs a little break from her madness.
Abram, on the other hand, does not ever even glance in the direction of the glowy picture shows. He is immune to the beauty of it all. He is above it: the lowest of all forms of human entertainment. Why would he bother with the TV when he could be raiding the snack cabinet saying, "nack, nack, nack" or raiding the fridge saying, "cheeez, cheeez, cheeez" or raiding the pantry saying, "coo-kee, coo-kee, coo-kee." He hasn't yet figured out that eating while watching TV is the true American way. So, all of this, all of this babbling is just unnecessary, because what I really want to say is that we finally found a show that Abram likes to watch. It's a movie, actually, and if you were alive in the late 80's you might know of it: Harry and the Hendersons. This little dude will sit there with his giant, blue eyes glued to the screen for the entire movie.
That is where it ends. I totally forgot about that and it makes me sad that having two kids has basically derailed this whole blogging business. I'm going to do my best to jot down a few stories here and there to remember the little things. Like the movie that turned Abram into a TV watching genius. Add to that The Sandlot, The Goonies, Ghostbusters, and any other classic 80's/90's kid classic. Watching TV with Abram is so much better than watching it with Chloe. Kid's got taste.
The Severed Arm
Last week we visited Matt and Sara in their new house. Sara must have been in the middle of putting
away her Halloween decorations and the first thing Chloe noticed upon entry was
the bloody, severed rubber arm lying in the middle of the living room. Terrified, she ran and hid. Upon the realization that Chloe was scared of
the arm, Paul seized the opportunity to chase her around the house with it
while she literally screamed in horror.
Later that evening we sat in the basement listening to a Bob and Tom
song called TOAST! The adults lounged on the couch cracking up
at the song. Chloe sat and listened,
occasionally smiling and forcing a laugh.
The next day Chloe said to me, “Mom, remember when Matt played that song
about toast? Well, while he played it I
kept imagining that the arm was upstairs dancing.” She laughed a little. I held mine back. I told Paul about it later that night
basically ending the story in tears from laughing so hard. I told him I just envision her sitting there
in that basement looking at all of the stupid, stupid adults as they laugh and
laugh, because don’t they know there is a
freaking severed arm upstairs dancing in the office? I love moments like that to remind me
what it feels like to be a child. Like,
50% thinking your parents are the best people in the whole world and 50%
thinking your parents are just enormous assholes.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Rocking My Big Boy
You have always refused to be rocked or cuddled to sleep, Abram. I cannot read a full page of a board book before you do a full body twist/Jackie Chan roll and dash down the hallway. At 17 months you have never listened to a full book. At this same age your sister was reading Dickens. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but seriously, ever since you figured out how to walk you are the craziest dude.
Well the other night we put you up in your crib with your paci and Blanky. You were happy to lie down with them like always, but after about 20 minutes I heard you screaming. I ran upstairs to find that you were having a Stage 5 meltdown. I grabbed you out of your crib and brought you to the glider chair. I wrapped you up tightly in Blanky like I used to do when you were a baby. I put your pacifier in your mouth and gave you an extra one to hold, because that's how you like it. I stuffed the little pacifier handle up and under your nose, because that's how you like it. You are a creature of habit, and I know you well.
I started singing to you, and instantly you stopped crying. I sang you a whole mess of songs. I sang and I sang and I sang until your breathing slowed from intense gasps to calm, steady draws. You smiled at me. I smiled at you. I asked, Are you ready to go night night? and I was floored when you responded with a giant grin and a No. I said, Do you want to rock with Mommy a little longer? You smiled and nodded your head Yes. I couldn't believe it. You understood what I said.
So I sat there talking to you all about your day at daycare and my day at work. I recalled our evening jumping on the trampoline, playing ninja, playing campfire. I reminded you of how we walked uptown to get real ice cream, and how you would have eaten an entire gallon had we let you. You have such a sweet tooth. I told you about the bath you desperately needed the minute we returned home. You smiled at me the whole time I spoke to you. When I was done I said, Now it's time to go night night. I brought you in your room, told you I loved you, and kissed my pointer and middle finger before touching them to your forehead - like I always do. I closed your door and you slept through the night.
I don't know what it was about that night, but I don't ever want to forget it. It was the first time we ever had a real conversation where I realized you might actually understand what I was saying. It was the first time you have ever let me rock you (even when you were a little baby). I just loved it, and I just love you.
Well the other night we put you up in your crib with your paci and Blanky. You were happy to lie down with them like always, but after about 20 minutes I heard you screaming. I ran upstairs to find that you were having a Stage 5 meltdown. I grabbed you out of your crib and brought you to the glider chair. I wrapped you up tightly in Blanky like I used to do when you were a baby. I put your pacifier in your mouth and gave you an extra one to hold, because that's how you like it. I stuffed the little pacifier handle up and under your nose, because that's how you like it. You are a creature of habit, and I know you well.
I started singing to you, and instantly you stopped crying. I sang you a whole mess of songs. I sang and I sang and I sang until your breathing slowed from intense gasps to calm, steady draws. You smiled at me. I smiled at you. I asked, Are you ready to go night night? and I was floored when you responded with a giant grin and a No. I said, Do you want to rock with Mommy a little longer? You smiled and nodded your head Yes. I couldn't believe it. You understood what I said.
So I sat there talking to you all about your day at daycare and my day at work. I recalled our evening jumping on the trampoline, playing ninja, playing campfire. I reminded you of how we walked uptown to get real ice cream, and how you would have eaten an entire gallon had we let you. You have such a sweet tooth. I told you about the bath you desperately needed the minute we returned home. You smiled at me the whole time I spoke to you. When I was done I said, Now it's time to go night night. I brought you in your room, told you I loved you, and kissed my pointer and middle finger before touching them to your forehead - like I always do. I closed your door and you slept through the night.
I don't know what it was about that night, but I don't ever want to forget it. It was the first time we ever had a real conversation where I realized you might actually understand what I was saying. It was the first time you have ever let me rock you (even when you were a little baby). I just loved it, and I just love you.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
SING, SING, SING!!!
I stopped breastfeeding Chloe before bed at 13 months. In place of our sweet, cuddle time I started rocking her before she fell asleep, and - to my great surprise - I began singing her songs. I was really embarrassed when I first started singing to Chloe, partly because I couldn't believe I was just now starting to sing her songs after a whole year for crying out loud, and partly because I'm just a terrible singer. Honestly, even my humming voice is cracky and bad.
But there we were... just me and Chloe, and one day I just started singing. I couldn't even think of what to sing, but once I started I found it difficult to stop. All of these childhood songs came rushing back to me. I'm going to write down some of the songs I sing in case my kids are reading this some day trying to remember the songs Mommy used to sing.
1. How Much is that Doggy in the Window (for which I also made up a second verse for the kitty in the window)
2. Do Your Ears Hang Low
3. Down by the Bay
4. You are My Sunshine
5. The Wheels on the Bus
6. This Old Man (which is "Grammy's Song")
7. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
8. Away in a Manger
9. ABC's
10. Apples and Bananas
11. Old MacDonald
12. BINGO
13. Humpty Dumpty
14. Bimbo, Bimbo
15. I'm Not Perfect
And about a million other songs I just make up whenever Chloe asks me to. Like, Puppy Dog, Puppy Dog, Walking Down the Street RUFF! I just sing and sing and sing, and seriously, I find it hard to stop, because when we are singing my kids are SO happy. I'll sing all the way through Costco just to keep them entertained. I'll sing at the checkout, stop to pay, and proceed singing. When we get back to the car I blast "Toddler Radio" on Pandora through the speakers, and we just SING! Wiggles, Mickey Mouse, Berkner... baby, I know ALL the lyrics!!!
I seriously think back to that day I made the decision to start singing to Chloe. I remember when I was done singing to her that first night I sat there quietly for a moment just kind of blushing. I laughed a little, shook my head, and thought... holy shit, I'm a MOM. You bet your ass I am.
But there we were... just me and Chloe, and one day I just started singing. I couldn't even think of what to sing, but once I started I found it difficult to stop. All of these childhood songs came rushing back to me. I'm going to write down some of the songs I sing in case my kids are reading this some day trying to remember the songs Mommy used to sing.
1. How Much is that Doggy in the Window (for which I also made up a second verse for the kitty in the window)
2. Do Your Ears Hang Low
3. Down by the Bay
4. You are My Sunshine
5. The Wheels on the Bus
6. This Old Man (which is "Grammy's Song")
7. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
8. Away in a Manger
9. ABC's
10. Apples and Bananas
11. Old MacDonald
12. BINGO
13. Humpty Dumpty
14. Bimbo, Bimbo
15. I'm Not Perfect
And about a million other songs I just make up whenever Chloe asks me to. Like, Puppy Dog, Puppy Dog, Walking Down the Street RUFF! I just sing and sing and sing, and seriously, I find it hard to stop, because when we are singing my kids are SO happy. I'll sing all the way through Costco just to keep them entertained. I'll sing at the checkout, stop to pay, and proceed singing. When we get back to the car I blast "Toddler Radio" on Pandora through the speakers, and we just SING! Wiggles, Mickey Mouse, Berkner... baby, I know ALL the lyrics!!!
I seriously think back to that day I made the decision to start singing to Chloe. I remember when I was done singing to her that first night I sat there quietly for a moment just kind of blushing. I laughed a little, shook my head, and thought... holy shit, I'm a MOM. You bet your ass I am.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Chloe Notes
For a little while I was taking time to jot down a few stories about these crazy kids. These are all a little old now, but I figured I ought to post them anyway.
January 27, 2013 - Chloe is obessed with cats. Cats are probably her most favorite thing in the world right now. Maybe even higher on the list than Papa. We were visiting our friends who have a cat named Zoe. Chloe spent maybe 70% of her weekend chasing the cat around the house. She had a conversation with me that went something like this, "Mom. Mom. MOM. Cats have TAILS! Cats have buttholes under their tails. Cats have poop on their buttholes. I have a butthole, but I don't have poop on my butthole. Cats have FUR! Cats are soft and you have to pet them like this. Cats have up ears. I have side ears. I LOVE CATS!!"
February 3, 2013 - Chloe is obessed with informing me that girls have a penis and boys have a vagina. Except it sounds more like "boys hab a penis and girs hab a bagina." Somehow every conversation can be brought back to those two anatomical parts. Griffin hab a penis. Abram hab a penis. Daddy hab a penis.
February 10, 2013 - This morning Chloe and I were sitting on the couch. She was playing with a toy laptop, and I was talking to my friend, Lydia. I overheard the following:
Laptop: What do you like to play?
Chloe: Outside.
Laptop: Who is your best friend?
Chloe: My Mom.
Heart. Melt.
February 11, 2013 - This morning I was getting ready in the downstairs bathroom. I always pull Abram's high chair over to where I'm getting ready. I toss him scraps every now and then to keep him occupied. A raisin here, a blueberry there. Graham cracker. Banana. As long as I'm feeding him he is content. Well, for whatever reason this morning he was being a grump and was throwing everything on the floor. Chloe came over, threw her hand on her hip and said, "NO, NO ABRAM! Do not throw your food on the floor. You naughty, naughty boy. Now Mommy is going to have to clean all this up!!!"
February 12, 2013 - It was a rough morning, this one. For some reason Chloe peed the bed TWICE last night. She never pees the bed. She never has. She has been an expert at potty training since she started. She has never worn a pull up, wakes up in the middle of the night if she needs to go, and can hold her pee forever in the mornings. I'm not sure why she peed twice last night, but the second time was directly on the mattress, which was super awesome. It really got the day started off right.
When Abram woke up he woke up screaming his balls off. He would not stop screaming. Crying, screaming, sobbing. Nothing I could do could stop him, so finally I just let him sit there crying. I asked Chloe if she could figure out what was wrong with him. He followed her into the kitchen and she poured a bag of raisins out on the floor. I nearly yelled at her, but I realized that he had stopped crying for the first time in 45 minutes. She emptied the rest of the cherries out on the floor. I told her that was enough. He was laughing. She said, "There, Mom. Now he is happy!" Damn. She's right.
I ran upstairs quickly to grab our clothes and shuttered when I heard what sounded like chip bags. Sure enough, when I came downstairs I found a pile of pita chips, tortilla chips, saltine crackers, and Cheerios added to the raisin/cherry mix. Nice.
January 27, 2013 - Chloe is obessed with cats. Cats are probably her most favorite thing in the world right now. Maybe even higher on the list than Papa. We were visiting our friends who have a cat named Zoe. Chloe spent maybe 70% of her weekend chasing the cat around the house. She had a conversation with me that went something like this, "Mom. Mom. MOM. Cats have TAILS! Cats have buttholes under their tails. Cats have poop on their buttholes. I have a butthole, but I don't have poop on my butthole. Cats have FUR! Cats are soft and you have to pet them like this. Cats have up ears. I have side ears. I LOVE CATS!!"
February 3, 2013 - Chloe is obessed with informing me that girls have a penis and boys have a vagina. Except it sounds more like "boys hab a penis and girs hab a bagina." Somehow every conversation can be brought back to those two anatomical parts. Griffin hab a penis. Abram hab a penis. Daddy hab a penis.
February 10, 2013 - This morning Chloe and I were sitting on the couch. She was playing with a toy laptop, and I was talking to my friend, Lydia. I overheard the following:
Laptop: What do you like to play?
Chloe: Outside.
Laptop: Who is your best friend?
Chloe: My Mom.
Heart. Melt.
February 11, 2013 - This morning I was getting ready in the downstairs bathroom. I always pull Abram's high chair over to where I'm getting ready. I toss him scraps every now and then to keep him occupied. A raisin here, a blueberry there. Graham cracker. Banana. As long as I'm feeding him he is content. Well, for whatever reason this morning he was being a grump and was throwing everything on the floor. Chloe came over, threw her hand on her hip and said, "NO, NO ABRAM! Do not throw your food on the floor. You naughty, naughty boy. Now Mommy is going to have to clean all this up!!!"
February 12, 2013 - It was a rough morning, this one. For some reason Chloe peed the bed TWICE last night. She never pees the bed. She never has. She has been an expert at potty training since she started. She has never worn a pull up, wakes up in the middle of the night if she needs to go, and can hold her pee forever in the mornings. I'm not sure why she peed twice last night, but the second time was directly on the mattress, which was super awesome. It really got the day started off right.
When Abram woke up he woke up screaming his balls off. He would not stop screaming. Crying, screaming, sobbing. Nothing I could do could stop him, so finally I just let him sit there crying. I asked Chloe if she could figure out what was wrong with him. He followed her into the kitchen and she poured a bag of raisins out on the floor. I nearly yelled at her, but I realized that he had stopped crying for the first time in 45 minutes. She emptied the rest of the cherries out on the floor. I told her that was enough. He was laughing. She said, "There, Mom. Now he is happy!" Damn. She's right.
I ran upstairs quickly to grab our clothes and shuttered when I heard what sounded like chip bags. Sure enough, when I came downstairs I found a pile of pita chips, tortilla chips, saltine crackers, and Cheerios added to the raisin/cherry mix. Nice.
Abram - 15/16 Months
Hey bud. You are already 16 months old (actually, I wrote this at 14/15 months, updated it to include 16 months, but now you are nearly 17 months... eek!). I missed the last many months of updates, and for that I am sorry. Lately, it seems I don't have a single spare moment left in my life to update this darn blog. Ever since your first birthday I have been spending my mornings working out or cleaning the house before you kids wake up. I'm writing this now while you nap. Chloe is by my side "helping" me with my paper notebook, which I have been using to jot down tidbits about you kids. What she is actually doing is kicking me and trying to touch the buttons with her toes. And she is saying "say, 'you don't know how to open that notebook. You are only three.'," which is her "thing" right now, because she does know how to open the notebook, and the joke's always on me.
You have come so far over the past few months. You started walking between 13 and 14 months, and while you still look a little drunk while you walk, you are getting so much faster - like, almost running. You are surprisingly clumsy, but that is just me comparing you to your sister at your same age. You are probably just normal. Regardless, you are always bumping your head on things. Right now you have a scratch across your forehead and a bruise on your cheek. Add that to the eczema below your eyes and your adorable face is pretty banged up. It doesn't matter, though, because everywhere we go people always comment on how cute you are. You are such a cheeseball, smiling at everyone. Here is a video from when you first started walking.
Now that you can walk you are so busy! You remind me of a pinball machine, always bouncing around the room from one toy to the next. Your daddy taught you how to go up and down the stairs, and even though Chloe is always reminding you to "turn around" when you go down the stairs, you still insist on trying to go down the stairs face first. You try to go down on your butt and flash your little shit grin.
Your favorite thing in the entire world is your pacifier, and like any true addict, I'm convinced you would choose that pacifier over your family, food, water, or shelter. My rule is to keep the pacifier in the crib, but in the mornings you have started throwing massive tantrums when I take it from you. We let you have it in the grocery store or car, because you would seriously just sit there for an entire lifetime being a perfect angel as long as you had that thing in your mouth. You also love the crooked, blue and white, polka dot blanky Grammy made for you. She hates that crooked blanky, but you don't see a single flaw in it when you snuggle up to it.
Other toys/things you love right now are super random, and it makes me laugh when I think of you always carrying them around. They are as follows:
1. The doll house toilet
2. The Christmas snow globe
3. The stethoscope
4. The stuffed dog
5. These shoes (which at 16 months you would wear 24/7 if given the choice)
You love sitting in kid chairs. You love playing in your sister's room, because she has a Pottery Barn chair, a rocking chair, and two pink princess folding chairs. With the stethoscope around your neck and the doll house toilet in hand, you go from chair to chair, stopping only to dance to the beat of the snow globe music. You love to dance, but your only move is to walk in a circle while waving your arms and clapping your hands. It's super cute, though!
You are such a good eater. Your all time favorite food right now is a pile of shredded cheese. You go to the fridge and point at the cheese drawer. You also love Greek yogurt. In March, your Papa let you feed yourself Greek yogurt, and ever since then you insist on doing it yourself. Things get pretty messy, but you are so proud of yourself!
You also love pancakes and berries. You have such a sweet tooth. On Easter Sunday you refused to eat anything that wasn't candy or chocolate. You were just completely out of control. The next day I found all kinds of tin foil in your poop, because you were trying to eat milk chocolate eggs with the foil on and everything. You crazy baby!
Your favorite person is easily Chloe. You think she is so funny. She will pretend to hiccup and you will laugh so hard you actually get the hiccups. She can get you to stop crying by just making a funny face at you.
You used to be a total Daddy's boy, because Chloe was a total Mama's girl. She never let me hold you or play with you, because she was so demanding of my time. When we got back from vacation she took her anger out on me and became a Daddy's girl. As a result, you and I have gotten loads of snuggle time, and most of the time you chase me around the house wanting to be picked up and snuggled. Something cute you do is walk over to me when I'm sitting Indian style on the floor and just plop your little butt down in my legs. Then you just sit there, like that was a seat made just for you. I love to kiss you on your neck behind your ear. You have these wild curls on the back of your head, and you are just irresistibly cute.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Abram - 12 Months
At your 12 month well-baby visit you weighed 22 lbs, 10 oz. (47th percentile), you were 31 inches long (83rd percentile) and had a head circumference of 18.75 inches (82nd percentile). You have always been pretty consistent. Long, skinny body with a large noggin' on top.
At your visit we received some disappointing news that the vaccines you received at your 2 month visit were stored at 31 degrees instead of the recommended 35-46 degree range. The vaccines were stored at that temperature for several days, and, as a result, were deemed ineffective. After spending an entire day on the Internet looking for a solution that wasn't to revaccinate, I had the nurse send me her research. All of the vaccine manufacturers recommended revaccination based on studies that showed the vaccines to be ineffective. We decided to go ahead and revaccinate on two of the shots during Chloe's 3 year check-up, and you should be all caught up by your 18 month visit. I can't believe that this happened to you. I'm so sorry.
We had your first birthday party at your Grammy & Papa's house. Your Daddy picked a football theme. I wanted to do a little decorating, but didn't want to get caught up in the details. Luckily, your Aunty Kelly recently held a big tailgate birthday bash for Matt, and she was thoughtful enough to let us borrow her awesome decorations! Grammy made you two cakes: a football and a helmet. She also made you cupcakes. I decorated about six of them, which was the extent of my contribution. I was very busy cooking and decorating. In an unfortunate twist of events, your sister came down with her second strain of influenza of the season. Daddy volunteered to stay home with her. They watched every movie under the sun while I frantically attempted to cook a meal for 50+ people. Thankfully, we had planned a menu that was crock pot friendly. With Papa's help we managed to serve pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches, Italian beef sandwiches, taco salad, and all the fixins. The party went off without a hitch, but everyone was missing Daddy and Chloe. We checked in with them throughout the night using Facetime, but nothing could replace the other half of our family. It seemed like you were looking for Chloe everywhere you went, and I didn't notice you acting like yourself until little Gwen came over to play with you. She must have reminded you of your big sister, because you took off after her and attempted to hang with the girls for the rest of the night.
At 12 months you still refuse to walk!! It is amazing, because you can crawl to the middle of the room and stand up without holding on to anything. We have seen you take a few steps before, so we KNOW that you can do it. It is amazing to me that you refuse to walk. You know what you want? You want someone to hold you so that you are facing out, then you point to where you want to go. You get so pissed if we set you down when you expect to be escorted somewhere. You just want someone to sit on the floor with you and not move. Come on kid, JUST WALK ALREADY!!!
We decided to start you on Vitamin D (whole) milk and to gradually phase out your bottle, leaving the night time bottle for last. You are obsessed with your pacifier, so I think that will be a tough one to cut. We are doing our best to keep your pacifier only in your crib, but gee sometimes it sure is nice to cork you with it in a store, restaurant, or vehicle. For the record, you literally have six different kinds of pacifiers. You will use any pacifier brand of any size/shape/color. You do not pacriminate.
You aren't really saying anything. The only person you really make an effort to call to is your Grammy. You basically just call her Mamama, which is super annoying and strikes me right to the core with guilt. You are completely obsessed with her, which works out well because Chloe has already placed her claim to Papa. You give her kiss after kiss and would go to her over anyone else in the room. I love her lots, too, so I can't blame you.
You can climb up and down the stairs, but we don't trust you on them alone. You don't seem to be as coordinated as your sister was at your age. You refuse to watch television or sit for a book. I forgot how long those months are between 12 months and 18 months, when kids get into everything, and nothing - not even Elmo - can stop them. I remember praying that your sister would just please, please start watching television. Just 20 minutes, please. One episode of Dora. Pretty please? I don't even remember when she started watching television. I'll have to go back and look. All I know is that you are a super busy guy who doesn't even notice the television, so I'm guessing its going to be a while for you.
You've got two new teeth coming in on the bottom. That will make eight. Your plugged tear ducts seemed to clear up for a few months, but all of a sudden they seem to be back in full force. You always have what looks like eczema under your eyes. They are always red and puffy and I think everyone thinks you have pink eye. I hope they clear up for you soon!
Happy first birthday to my little guy. I can't believe it's been a year. I was feeling very nostalgic on the day of your first birthday. All throughout the day I thought about what I was doing exactly a year ago. I love recalling your birth - such a special day. I always look at your sister and think that I can't imagine you being that big. Now I look at you and I think I can hardly remember you being that small. Thank you for being such a sweet boy. I love watching you grow. Being your Mommy is such a blessing.
At your visit we received some disappointing news that the vaccines you received at your 2 month visit were stored at 31 degrees instead of the recommended 35-46 degree range. The vaccines were stored at that temperature for several days, and, as a result, were deemed ineffective. After spending an entire day on the Internet looking for a solution that wasn't to revaccinate, I had the nurse send me her research. All of the vaccine manufacturers recommended revaccination based on studies that showed the vaccines to be ineffective. We decided to go ahead and revaccinate on two of the shots during Chloe's 3 year check-up, and you should be all caught up by your 18 month visit. I can't believe that this happened to you. I'm so sorry.
We had your first birthday party at your Grammy & Papa's house. Your Daddy picked a football theme. I wanted to do a little decorating, but didn't want to get caught up in the details. Luckily, your Aunty Kelly recently held a big tailgate birthday bash for Matt, and she was thoughtful enough to let us borrow her awesome decorations! Grammy made you two cakes: a football and a helmet. She also made you cupcakes. I decorated about six of them, which was the extent of my contribution. I was very busy cooking and decorating. In an unfortunate twist of events, your sister came down with her second strain of influenza of the season. Daddy volunteered to stay home with her. They watched every movie under the sun while I frantically attempted to cook a meal for 50+ people. Thankfully, we had planned a menu that was crock pot friendly. With Papa's help we managed to serve pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches, Italian beef sandwiches, taco salad, and all the fixins. The party went off without a hitch, but everyone was missing Daddy and Chloe. We checked in with them throughout the night using Facetime, but nothing could replace the other half of our family. It seemed like you were looking for Chloe everywhere you went, and I didn't notice you acting like yourself until little Gwen came over to play with you. She must have reminded you of your big sister, because you took off after her and attempted to hang with the girls for the rest of the night.
We decided to start you on Vitamin D (whole) milk and to gradually phase out your bottle, leaving the night time bottle for last. You are obsessed with your pacifier, so I think that will be a tough one to cut. We are doing our best to keep your pacifier only in your crib, but gee sometimes it sure is nice to cork you with it in a store, restaurant, or vehicle. For the record, you literally have six different kinds of pacifiers. You will use any pacifier brand of any size/shape/color. You do not pacriminate.
You aren't really saying anything. The only person you really make an effort to call to is your Grammy. You basically just call her Mamama, which is super annoying and strikes me right to the core with guilt. You are completely obsessed with her, which works out well because Chloe has already placed her claim to Papa. You give her kiss after kiss and would go to her over anyone else in the room. I love her lots, too, so I can't blame you.
You can climb up and down the stairs, but we don't trust you on them alone. You don't seem to be as coordinated as your sister was at your age. You refuse to watch television or sit for a book. I forgot how long those months are between 12 months and 18 months, when kids get into everything, and nothing - not even Elmo - can stop them. I remember praying that your sister would just please, please start watching television. Just 20 minutes, please. One episode of Dora. Pretty please? I don't even remember when she started watching television. I'll have to go back and look. All I know is that you are a super busy guy who doesn't even notice the television, so I'm guessing its going to be a while for you.
You've got two new teeth coming in on the bottom. That will make eight. Your plugged tear ducts seemed to clear up for a few months, but all of a sudden they seem to be back in full force. You always have what looks like eczema under your eyes. They are always red and puffy and I think everyone thinks you have pink eye. I hope they clear up for you soon!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Abram - 11 Months
Little buddy... it has been a rough few months. It seems someone in our family has been sick since Thanksgiving, which is part of the reason I am so behind in my updates. We have suffered through a round of the stomach flu, standard flu, strep, and croup. In fact, on December 9 your Daddy and I decided that a trip to the ER was in order. Your cough sounded much like that of a dog, and even the littlest cough resulted in crocodile tears. We got to the children's hospital around 9:30 p.m. and waited in line with a kid whose face was swollen nearly shut, a boy in a wheelchair, a boy who was wheeled in on a gearny, and a boy who was bleeding from the head. All boys. I get the feeling that we are going to have many, many more trips to the ER. You were given a steroid and a dose of Tylenol, and were feeling better in a few days.
When you are feeling good you are one happy guy. You love to be the center of attention, and you are always smiling. You know your way all around the house. You crawl at lightening speed and walk your way along the couch. Every now and then I'll catch you getting ready to take a step, but you still can't land it. You did take a step and a half on your own on December 12. Everyone got to see it, so it was really something special. You get so proud of yourself. Your entire face smiles when you smile, and you clap your little hands. Your laugh is so funny. You have a fake laugh that I really can't describe. It is a grunty, machine gunny, forced laugh. But your real laugh is a deep belly laugh that melts my heart.
You have a dream baby schedule. You wake up a 7:30 or 8:00 a.m., eat breakfast, play, take a nap, eat lunch, play, sometimes take another nap, eat, play, bath, and are begging for sleep by 6:30 p.m. At bedtime we make you a big 8 ounce bottle, fire up the vaporizer, and rest easy until you wake again the next morning. I just can't believe how lucky we are to have such an easy going guy! You are SO DIFFERENT from your sister.
You are so rough. You love to pull hair and you are SO MEAN about it. You pull, wait for the scream, laugh, pull harder, laugh, pull even harder, laugh even harder. You like any toy that involves hitting something with something. You love to play ball, and I have to say you are really good at it. You can bounce the ball, roll the ball, wrestle your sister for the ball, etc.
You and Chloe are playing pretty rough these days. For some reason you think it is funny so I allow it to happen. Sometimes I catch her trying to help you walk. It is hilarious, but also quite scary, so I do not often allow it. Sometimes when I need to give myself a break I put you in your high chair for a little "baby time out." It is pretty much the only place I can contain you anymore since you have always refused to sit in a bouncer or exersaucer. Chloe will play with you by hiding behind the chair and popping up on either side of you. This makes you laugh and gets her excited. Eventually, the game turns into her slapping your cheeks, which you - for some reason - think is hilarious. You two are crazy. You love to play with her, and when she lets you, you play so well. The problem is that she gets so annoyed of you and ends up being really mean to you. I try to play with you instead, but then she gets jealous. It's a bit of a learning process.
You are still wearing size 4 diapers. You have six teeth. You have dark blond hair with a rooster tail. You are long and lean, and I think you'll be built like your Dada. You wear 12-18 month clothing, but your pants are often falling off. I think you lost a little weight from all of the sickness. You are obsessed with fruit, and when we give you vegetables you just chuck them on the floor. What is this garbage? You are obessed with going up stairs. You think it might be a good idea to go down the stairs head first, so your Daddy is working with you to show you otherwise. He taught your sister to go down the stairs in one day, but you are just so wild and carefree I think it is going to take you a little longer to learn.
Christmas Tree shopping was freezing and you HATED it.
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| First Thanksgiving at Aunt Kendra's House |
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| Most of your second cousins. Missing: Leo, Bo, and Timothy (Eli) III |
You have a dream baby schedule. You wake up a 7:30 or 8:00 a.m., eat breakfast, play, take a nap, eat lunch, play, sometimes take another nap, eat, play, bath, and are begging for sleep by 6:30 p.m. At bedtime we make you a big 8 ounce bottle, fire up the vaporizer, and rest easy until you wake again the next morning. I just can't believe how lucky we are to have such an easy going guy! You are SO DIFFERENT from your sister.
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| I'd say that went well.. |
You and Chloe are playing pretty rough these days. For some reason you think it is funny so I allow it to happen. Sometimes I catch her trying to help you walk. It is hilarious, but also quite scary, so I do not often allow it. Sometimes when I need to give myself a break I put you in your high chair for a little "baby time out." It is pretty much the only place I can contain you anymore since you have always refused to sit in a bouncer or exersaucer. Chloe will play with you by hiding behind the chair and popping up on either side of you. This makes you laugh and gets her excited. Eventually, the game turns into her slapping your cheeks, which you - for some reason - think is hilarious. You two are crazy. You love to play with her, and when she lets you, you play so well. The problem is that she gets so annoyed of you and ends up being really mean to you. I try to play with you instead, but then she gets jealous. It's a bit of a learning process.
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| UICA with Dawson. Wait, this is the amazing Yedi? |
Christmas Tree shopping was freezing and you HATED it.
Chloe, on the other hand, LOVED it.
Abram - 10 Months
Chloe is screaming downstairs and I can't focus on your ten month update. She is obsessed with Mommy. She is screaming, "I want my MOM!" and your Daddy is saying "Mommy's not here." I heard her come up stairs so I hid under a blanket. She walked in here and stared at the blanket. She was probably 99% sure it was me under there, but what if it wasn't? She just couldn't risk it. I just wanted one night, ONE night to write a quick update about you. Don't get me wrong, I love putting her to bed. I love reading books. I love singing. I love getting a thousand hugs, a million kisses. I just wanted this rare little window to of time to write a quick update about you, but instead I can only write about her, because it breaks my heart to hear her crying for me.
Guess what? You also love your Mommy. In just one month you went from Daddy's boy to Mama's boy. Our days of breastfeeding have come to a bittersweet end. You didn't seem to mind at first, but now I sense that you want something more from me - something I can no longer give you. I wonder if you still associate me with milk, because if you see me you go crazy for me. You start crying and throwing a fit until I come pick you up. Sometimes picking you up just isn't enough. You start leaning over like you want down. I put you down. You cry. You pull at my legs. I pick you back up. You want me to hold you every minute, but you are getting so heavy! Sometimes you snuggle your head between my shoulder and chin. I lay my head on yours and the world stops. The moment is over before anyone can even see it, because it is only ours to share.
You know who else you love? Your Grammy. Besides a little girl you just met named Ocean, your Grammy is the only girl you have ever graced with kisses. You don't even give me kisses. Your kisses are hilarious: open-mouthed and drooly. You get so excited when Grammy arrives each Thursday. You make a beeline for the door, and she can barely put her things down before you are crawling up her legs. Chloe runs for Grammy's bags and starts rutting through them looking for the Kindle and smoothie.
Your Grandma Bob and Grandpa T have been coming over to watch you on Wednesdays. Your new daycare was supposed to have room for you two on Wednesdays, but for some reason she wasn't super realistic about that promise, because we have been going for nearly two months, and still no Wednesdays. It has been really fun for you kids to see your other grandparents, though. They always bring fresh fruit and candy. Who doesn't like fresh fruit and candy?
At ten months you are pulling yourself up on everything. You are creeping along the furniture. You know your way around the house. If I sit you down in the living room and walk to the kitchen, you will follow me. You love you play with your sister, and you think she is hilarious. She is starting to get pretty rough with you. She splashes your face with water in the tub. Most babies would cry, but you LAUGH. You are getting pretty good with a sippy cup. You love to drink water from my cup. You wear size 4 diapers and eat only table food. Your favorite food is bananas. I can just give you the whole peeled banana and I swear you devour it in about 20 seconds.
Your first Halloween was sort of a flop. We went shopping for costumes about a month prior, and your sister picked a cute pink and blue monster costume. I ordered you a matching blue monster costume. We learned that it is better to pick costumes at the last minute, because by the time the first Halloween party came around Chloe wanted to be a cat (you were a dinosaur). She then changed her mind yet again on the night of Halloween saying she wanted to be Supergirl like last year. Halloween was freezing cold with light rain. Terrible weather for kids and babies. We put you in the body of the monster costume, but you refused to wear the head part, so we used your sock monkey hat instead. We put you in the Baby Bjorn and did a quick loop around the neighborhood.
You were kind of ticked about getting your pictures this month. It is tough to get a good picture of such a fast little guy, but I managed to get a decent one.
Guess what? You also love your Mommy. In just one month you went from Daddy's boy to Mama's boy. Our days of breastfeeding have come to a bittersweet end. You didn't seem to mind at first, but now I sense that you want something more from me - something I can no longer give you. I wonder if you still associate me with milk, because if you see me you go crazy for me. You start crying and throwing a fit until I come pick you up. Sometimes picking you up just isn't enough. You start leaning over like you want down. I put you down. You cry. You pull at my legs. I pick you back up. You want me to hold you every minute, but you are getting so heavy! Sometimes you snuggle your head between my shoulder and chin. I lay my head on yours and the world stops. The moment is over before anyone can even see it, because it is only ours to share.
You know who else you love? Your Grammy. Besides a little girl you just met named Ocean, your Grammy is the only girl you have ever graced with kisses. You don't even give me kisses. Your kisses are hilarious: open-mouthed and drooly. You get so excited when Grammy arrives each Thursday. You make a beeline for the door, and she can barely put her things down before you are crawling up her legs. Chloe runs for Grammy's bags and starts rutting through them looking for the Kindle and smoothie.
Your Grandma Bob and Grandpa T have been coming over to watch you on Wednesdays. Your new daycare was supposed to have room for you two on Wednesdays, but for some reason she wasn't super realistic about that promise, because we have been going for nearly two months, and still no Wednesdays. It has been really fun for you kids to see your other grandparents, though. They always bring fresh fruit and candy. Who doesn't like fresh fruit and candy?
At ten months you are pulling yourself up on everything. You are creeping along the furniture. You know your way around the house. If I sit you down in the living room and walk to the kitchen, you will follow me. You love you play with your sister, and you think she is hilarious. She is starting to get pretty rough with you. She splashes your face with water in the tub. Most babies would cry, but you LAUGH. You are getting pretty good with a sippy cup. You love to drink water from my cup. You wear size 4 diapers and eat only table food. Your favorite food is bananas. I can just give you the whole peeled banana and I swear you devour it in about 20 seconds.
Your first Halloween was sort of a flop. We went shopping for costumes about a month prior, and your sister picked a cute pink and blue monster costume. I ordered you a matching blue monster costume. We learned that it is better to pick costumes at the last minute, because by the time the first Halloween party came around Chloe wanted to be a cat (you were a dinosaur). She then changed her mind yet again on the night of Halloween saying she wanted to be Supergirl like last year. Halloween was freezing cold with light rain. Terrible weather for kids and babies. We put you in the body of the monster costume, but you refused to wear the head part, so we used your sock monkey hat instead. We put you in the Baby Bjorn and did a quick loop around the neighborhood.
You were kind of ticked about getting your pictures this month. It is tough to get a good picture of such a fast little guy, but I managed to get a decent one.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Chloe Conversations
I could write an entire blog about the shit Chloe says. Lately, she has been such a jabber mouth. You just cannot shut that girl up! I thought I'd try to jot down the first things she says each morning, because, in a state of half consciousness, I forget our morning conversations about as quickly as a dream. Before 6:00 a.m. Chloe just reminds me of a little wind up doll. It's like all night long someone has been slowly, carefully winding the little twisty thing on her back just to the point where it cannot be turned even one more click. Then BAM! She is awake. WIDE AWAKE. And this morning she says:
Mom. Mom! MOM! There is my pool towel (pronounced something like tow-ya, because she still cannot pronounce her "l's"). My pool tow-ya is on the door. Yook. Yook! YOOK! *walks over to light switch, turns on light switch* *wincing, hands shield eyes* See, yook! My pool tow-ya! Mmmhmm. *quickly turns off light* My tow-ya is blue and gween with stwipes on it. Oooh. I use my tow-ya when I go swimming. I go swimming because I a big gir. Yup. Yet's go downstairs, Mom. Mom, get up. Okay, okay. *walking downstairs, points to magnet on fridge* Yook! That's Charyee Brown. Yes it is ChHEY! I can wink! *blinks* I can wink, Mom. *blink, blink* Can you wink? Yes, I can wink. Can you? Yes, I already did!!!
Mom. Mom! MOM! There is my pool towel (pronounced something like tow-ya, because she still cannot pronounce her "l's"). My pool tow-ya is on the door. Yook. Yook! YOOK! *walks over to light switch, turns on light switch* *wincing, hands shield eyes* See, yook! My pool tow-ya! Mmmhmm. *quickly turns off light* My tow-ya is blue and gween with stwipes on it. Oooh. I use my tow-ya when I go swimming. I go swimming because I a big gir. Yup. Yet's go downstairs, Mom. Mom, get up. Okay, okay. *walking downstairs, points to magnet on fridge* Yook! That's Charyee Brown. Yes it is ChHEY! I can wink! *blinks* I can wink, Mom. *blink, blink* Can you wink? Yes, I can wink. Can you? Yes, I already did!!!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Abram - 9 Months
Abram, today you are nine months old, and even though I love watching you grow, I can't fight this overwhelming feeling of sadness. I look at you, and you are so big, and I keep asking myself where has the time gone?
All of your little successes - smiling, holding your head up, rolling over, sitting up, clapping - I have welcomed them. I have cheered for you and kissed your sweet cheeks to celebrate each milestone. But this month something is different. This month you made the executive decision to crawl, and in seconds you transformed from my little baby sitting in my lap to a curious, adventerous, baby/toddler hybrid.
This sadness, it happened to me with your sister, too. I get to thinking I've missed out on too much by choosing to have a career. I get to thinking that I can't remember one single memory of you other than the moment I first held you in my arms. I miss you, my baby you.
I try to breastfeed you in the morning and at night, but you hate it. You can't stand to miss one second of excitement, and I fear our days of breastfeeding are nearing an end. You much prefer to hold your own bottle. When you see a baba you go crazy for it. You are too big for a baby carrier, so we usually put you in a stroller or shopping cart when we take you out. I shake my head when I look at you swinging your little feet like a kid. We haven't fed you a jar of baby food in the past few weeks. Why bother when you prefer to eat pieces of steak, noodles, veggies, berries, yogurt, and almost everything else on the food pyramid?
You can finally crawl. You are mobile. You are dangerous. You are excited! You clap. Say da da da, ma ma ma. You wear 12-18 to 18-24 month clothing. Size 4 diapers. You sit, crawl, kneel, crawl, puuuuuuuuull yourself up. Laugh!! So much laughter!! You have FOUR teeth, with more on the way.
Chloe is your favorite person on the planet. She loves you so much, but probably not as much as you love her. She says to you every morning, "Aaaaabomb. Gooogooogaga. Gooooooogoogaga," and you crack up laughing. You love your Dada second. You are such a Daddy's boy. You'll sit on his lap and chill out watching football. You love me maybe third, but that's okay. It's a pretty good group - your top three.
You are starting to have some separation anxiety. We can't leave the room without you freaking out. A neighbor asked if you would cry if she held you. I was sure you wouldn't mind being such a chill guy and all, but you certainly DID mind. Your little heart was broken. When you are sad you stick your bottom lip out as far as it will go and then wait for it... wait for it... WAAAAAAAH!
A few last things... You started a new daycare this month. I'll have to tell you all about that in a separate post. We have a new carseat on the way for your sister. You are going to graduate from your little bucket and move up to her old carseat. I can't believe how long we stuffed you in that seat! I don't know if I mentioned it last month, but you also graduated from your bath seat to sitting in the tub. You take baths with your sister and laugh when she splashes your face with water.
You are a great sleeper. We are probably going to regret it later, but we put you in bed with a bottle, a blanky, and a pacifier. You drink your bottle yourself, pop in your pacifier, and pass out without a peep. You sleep through the night - you always have. You never cry when you wake up. You just coo and coo. A funny thing about you is that you chuck your pacifiers out of your crib, so once a week we pull the crib away from the wall to find a slew of pacifiers. It's like a little island of lost pacifiers.
I have a lot of great pictures of you. I really do. The problem is that I wrote this post when you were nine months and now that you are almost ten months I am actually going to publish it. I uploaded a few subpar pics from my iPhone (it's a 4, if you are wondering) and will upload some great ones at a later date. I love you so much!!! My sweet boy!
*Update: I actually did post pictures of you. I can't believe I made good on my promise!!
All of your little successes - smiling, holding your head up, rolling over, sitting up, clapping - I have welcomed them. I have cheered for you and kissed your sweet cheeks to celebrate each milestone. But this month something is different. This month you made the executive decision to crawl, and in seconds you transformed from my little baby sitting in my lap to a curious, adventerous, baby/toddler hybrid.
This sadness, it happened to me with your sister, too. I get to thinking I've missed out on too much by choosing to have a career. I get to thinking that I can't remember one single memory of you other than the moment I first held you in my arms. I miss you, my baby you.
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| Sitting in the cart at Costco. You are SO BIG! |
I try to breastfeed you in the morning and at night, but you hate it. You can't stand to miss one second of excitement, and I fear our days of breastfeeding are nearing an end. You much prefer to hold your own bottle. When you see a baba you go crazy for it. You are too big for a baby carrier, so we usually put you in a stroller or shopping cart when we take you out. I shake my head when I look at you swinging your little feet like a kid. We haven't fed you a jar of baby food in the past few weeks. Why bother when you prefer to eat pieces of steak, noodles, veggies, berries, yogurt, and almost everything else on the food pyramid?
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| Sorry abou the pink bib, dude! |
Chloe is your favorite person on the planet. She loves you so much, but probably not as much as you love her. She says to you every morning, "Aaaaabomb. Gooogooogaga. Gooooooogoogaga," and you crack up laughing. You love your Dada second. You are such a Daddy's boy. You'll sit on his lap and chill out watching football. You love me maybe third, but that's okay. It's a pretty good group - your top three.
You are starting to have some separation anxiety. We can't leave the room without you freaking out. A neighbor asked if you would cry if she held you. I was sure you wouldn't mind being such a chill guy and all, but you certainly DID mind. Your little heart was broken. When you are sad you stick your bottom lip out as far as it will go and then wait for it... wait for it... WAAAAAAAH!
A few last things... You started a new daycare this month. I'll have to tell you all about that in a separate post. We have a new carseat on the way for your sister. You are going to graduate from your little bucket and move up to her old carseat. I can't believe how long we stuffed you in that seat! I don't know if I mentioned it last month, but you also graduated from your bath seat to sitting in the tub. You take baths with your sister and laugh when she splashes your face with water.
You are a great sleeper. We are probably going to regret it later, but we put you in bed with a bottle, a blanky, and a pacifier. You drink your bottle yourself, pop in your pacifier, and pass out without a peep. You sleep through the night - you always have. You never cry when you wake up. You just coo and coo. A funny thing about you is that you chuck your pacifiers out of your crib, so once a week we pull the crib away from the wall to find a slew of pacifiers. It's like a little island of lost pacifiers.
I have a lot of great pictures of you. I really do. The problem is that I wrote this post when you were nine months and now that you are almost ten months I am actually going to publish it. I uploaded a few subpar pics from my iPhone (it's a 4, if you are wondering) and will upload some great ones at a later date. I love you so much!!! My sweet boy!
*Update: I actually did post pictures of you. I can't believe I made good on my promise!!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Abram - 7 & 8 Months
I apologize to my little Abram, for I have failed you when it comes to monthly pictures and updates. Seven months came and went without a single monthly picture or post. As a result, I'm going to attempt to compare your eight month self to your seven month self.
Things changed for you over the course of a month. They did. In the beginning of the month you could sit up on your own with some coaxing, but you would often topple over in an effort to get someone to hold you. That sitting up business just takes a lot out of a young man, and, let's be honest, you much preferred to have your head resting on a nice bosom. At eight months you have finally broken down and summoned the ability to sit up on your own without throwing your head backwards with great force. Only, sitting is kind of boring, and a small part of you really wants to crawl, but then there is that whole exerting energy thing. It goes against your whole "super chill dude" persona. So at eight months if you really want to get something you just roll around the floor, left, right, over, back, up, down until you finally reach that thing you are reaching for. Or sometimes you just sit there, clap your hands, smile your giant, adorable smile, and hope that your sister or someone will just bring it over to you. If you could pick, you would munch on papers, shoes, wires, and boxes. Anything non-toy will do just fine.
At seven months we were still feeding you mostly baby food and a few baby puffs twice a day, plus a few bottles. And, GASP! You started eating one bottle of the devil's power at seven months. That's right, your Mama started cheating with some formula. You don't seem to care much, and I feel a new sense of freedom. Like some of the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders, because if I forget to bring the milk or refrigerate the milk or freeze the milk - the milk, milk, milk - you aren't going to die. By eight months you are eating pretty much everything including some table food. You love to eat. LOVE to eat. We added a lunch meal at eight months. You love the squeezy pouches of food and you inhale them in less than 15 seconds. It's impressive! You can feed yourself a bottle at eight months. Sometimes we just toss one in your crib. We never would have did that with your sister, but with the second kid, well... with the second kid it's all very different.
You got your bottom right tooth at seven months and a matching bottom left tooth at eight months. For such a cool, easygoing dude you are kind of a super wuss when it comes to teething - especially at night. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but you started to suck a little at sleeping when you got your first tooth. Nothing much has changed from seven months to eight months in the sleep department. We stopped swaddling you, because this summer was 800 degrees from the end of June to just recently. You did fine with that, and some nights I put you in your crib wide awake and you just fall asleep like a good, sweet boy. No tears. No screams. But then some nights you scream your little balls off. We cannot rock you or give you a bottle or calm you down in any way, and I will never forget the one night where I just gave you a big dropper full of Tylenol, closed your door, closed my door, and fell asleep listening to your cries. There was just nothing I could do for you. You are like that sometimes. Once you get worked up and start crying there is just nothing anyone can do for you. You may have the Tithof temper on you. The bright side is that once you fall asleep you stay asleep the entire night. Good boy.
You and your sister started at a new daycare at seven months and you held out for about a month without catching daycare cooties, but by eight months you have that signature daycare runny nose. You had a hard time with all of the noise and screaming at Lana's house, but by eight months you are much better around loud noises. You are such a good boy during the day. You pretty much never cry and you are always smiling. I could take you anywhere and I would never worry even once that you'd be fussy or have a Chloelike meltdown.
At seven months your hair started to come in thick, and by eight months you have a sweet, little, blond rooster tail on the top of your head. You have giant blue eyes. They take up half of your head, which is saying a lot, because you have quite a noggin' on you. You are so stinking cute I can hardly stand it. People swoon over you wherever we go. You look just like your Daddy.
You took your first trip to the ER at seven months. Chloe accidentally snipped your finger with scissors, and you ended up with three stitches. You were such a good boy at the hospital. You hardly cried at all. The doctor was in shock. He said if every baby was like you that the anesthesia department would be out of business. You are my sweet boy.
Here are your seven and eight month pictures.
Things changed for you over the course of a month. They did. In the beginning of the month you could sit up on your own with some coaxing, but you would often topple over in an effort to get someone to hold you. That sitting up business just takes a lot out of a young man, and, let's be honest, you much preferred to have your head resting on a nice bosom. At eight months you have finally broken down and summoned the ability to sit up on your own without throwing your head backwards with great force. Only, sitting is kind of boring, and a small part of you really wants to crawl, but then there is that whole exerting energy thing. It goes against your whole "super chill dude" persona. So at eight months if you really want to get something you just roll around the floor, left, right, over, back, up, down until you finally reach that thing you are reaching for. Or sometimes you just sit there, clap your hands, smile your giant, adorable smile, and hope that your sister or someone will just bring it over to you. If you could pick, you would munch on papers, shoes, wires, and boxes. Anything non-toy will do just fine.
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| Seven Months - I HATE CRAWLING!! |
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| Eight Months - I love to eat! |
You got your bottom right tooth at seven months and a matching bottom left tooth at eight months. For such a cool, easygoing dude you are kind of a super wuss when it comes to teething - especially at night. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but you started to suck a little at sleeping when you got your first tooth. Nothing much has changed from seven months to eight months in the sleep department. We stopped swaddling you, because this summer was 800 degrees from the end of June to just recently. You did fine with that, and some nights I put you in your crib wide awake and you just fall asleep like a good, sweet boy. No tears. No screams. But then some nights you scream your little balls off. We cannot rock you or give you a bottle or calm you down in any way, and I will never forget the one night where I just gave you a big dropper full of Tylenol, closed your door, closed my door, and fell asleep listening to your cries. There was just nothing I could do for you. You are like that sometimes. Once you get worked up and start crying there is just nothing anyone can do for you. You may have the Tithof temper on you. The bright side is that once you fall asleep you stay asleep the entire night. Good boy.
You and your sister started at a new daycare at seven months and you held out for about a month without catching daycare cooties, but by eight months you have that signature daycare runny nose. You had a hard time with all of the noise and screaming at Lana's house, but by eight months you are much better around loud noises. You are such a good boy during the day. You pretty much never cry and you are always smiling. I could take you anywhere and I would never worry even once that you'd be fussy or have a Chloelike meltdown.
At seven months your hair started to come in thick, and by eight months you have a sweet, little, blond rooster tail on the top of your head. You have giant blue eyes. They take up half of your head, which is saying a lot, because you have quite a noggin' on you. You are so stinking cute I can hardly stand it. People swoon over you wherever we go. You look just like your Daddy.
You took your first trip to the ER at seven months. Chloe accidentally snipped your finger with scissors, and you ended up with three stitches. You were such a good boy at the hospital. You hardly cried at all. The doctor was in shock. He said if every baby was like you that the anesthesia department would be out of business. You are my sweet boy.
Here are your seven and eight month pictures.
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| Seven Months |
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| Eight Months |
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