Momma's Little Pumpkins

Every year around my birthday, we head to the pumpkin patch.  Kenny and I have been doing this since we started dating (don't we look young!?)...

This year was no exception and what better place to photograph my 2 little pumpkins than in a pumpkin patch?

Now we have to get to work on our jack-o-lantern designs...

Thirteen months old

Oh what fun this month was!  Max learned how to sleep all night, twirl around in circles, walk backwards and got to start eating dairy (yes, that meant Momma got to eat dairy again too - yipppeeee!)!  He's been all smiles for the most part, with the exception of a few bumps in the road with dropping the sippy cup and learning to like milk.He's such a little boy now, and not so much a baby.  As usual, that's very bittersweet.  While so excited to see who they will become and what they will learn next, I hate seeing them get so big so fast!  


This picture is so Max!  I'm not even sure I can describe why, but it's his personality to a "T."
 He's so playful and smiley, but he definitely is not afraid of a little mischievous activity either.  He is afraid of nothing, and so very very curious.  It could be a challenging combination!  but he keeps us all smiling and giggling, for sure!

We finally weaned from all nursing at about 12.5 months.  It was hard for us both actually, but we were ready I think and I'm so very glad that we waited until we were both ready.  I have so much I could say about nursing.  It's so hard and so amazing all at the same time.  I struggled at several points and almost gave up, but Max never really let me.  I'm glad he got to nurse as long as he wanted.  I do think next time, if there is a next time, I'll probably start formula a little earlier but continue to nurse as well.  But we'll see..what works for one doesn't work for another.  Jack never wanted to nurse at all and was on formula completely by 2 months old.  I don't regret that, as I think that's what he needed and clearly, he's turned out great.  But I'm very thankful for the time I had nursing Max.  We went straight to sippy cups and whole milk at 12 months, and it didn't go well at all.  Jack had no trouble giving up the bottle, so I hadn't really expected Max would either, but he did.  He wouldn't drink anything for a few days.  We tried every cup and the only thing that worked was Jack's straw cup, but even then, he'd only take a few sips.  Eventually, and with a lot of help from his teachers at school, he seemed to figure it all out.  About that time, we realized going all in with the whole milk was causing some tummy issues, so we backed off and mixed formula with whole milk or soy for a few weeks, just to get him acclimated.  We introduced yogurt, which went great and now, at 13 months, he's doing pretty well with milk.  He's still not loving it, like Jack does, and would definitely prefer juice, but he's taking it.  He has not yet given up his nighttime bottle.  It is just too easy.  He sucks it down and goes right to bed.  We're mixing whole milk and formula in there and we'll wait for his cues to cut that one out I think.  One step at a time!


He's sleeping all night almost every night.  Once in a while we have to go in and put his paci back in, but it's rare.  It's so nice!  He's also down to one nap which works well with our schedule on the weekends.  Some days, both boys are asleep for the same 3 hours and it's nice and quiet in the house!  Other days Max crashes early and is up about the time Jack is going down, but we'll get there!

He's still mostly into eating fruit, but is getting a bit more adventurous. We'll thank Mr. Glenn's cooking at school for that!  He gets to try so many new things there and seems to take to most of them very well.  His faves at home are grapes, peanut butter apple butter sandwiches, bananas, yogurt, corn and applesauce.  He's also in love with raisins and eats those for snack all the time.  He is also very interested in whatever Jack is eating.  That's not that many things, mind you, as Jack is a very picky eater, but whatever Jack has, Max is insistent he needs!  Jack is usually amenable to giving his food away as it means less that he has to eat...

 They are so cute together.  Max was here without Jack for a little while last week while Jack went to the fair with Grams and Gramps and Max was so lost.  Jack is so very sweet to him, it's no wonder Max loves him.  Jack is always looking out for him and teaching him to do play with his toys.  Jack shares everything with him, and the few things that we worry about Max choking on, Jack is happy to play with in his room.  It's VERY rare that I hear Jack complain abut Max taking something of him, but it does happen on occassion.  Jack's very good about offering Max something else though, and then taking his toy back.  I really really hope this isn't just a phase, though I know it can't always be so perfect...


Max LOVES balls - he is constantly chasing one around or giving it to you to throw to him.  It doesn't really matter which one, any will do.  He loves going up the steps and as soon as the gate is open, he's running towards it trying to sneak in.  He still loves the toys that light up or make sounds.  If it plays music, even better, he'll stop what he's doing and dance!  He's not interested in tv really, unless there's a song on.  


He doesn't have any new words, but he surely knows how to communicate what he wants.  He will come in the kitchen and stand near the counter where the drying rack is and just squeal, until I get him a pacifier.  He knows that's where they live!  He'll stand near the cabinet where the raisins are too and try to get it open.   In the evenings when we go upstairs for baths, he'll go right in the bathroom and head for the drawer with the bath toys in it and wait for someone to open it so he can throw the toys into the bath.  You have to watch out, or he'll throw his shoes and anything else he can find in there too! 


Max is full of life and spunk and smiles...it doesn't get any better than watching him take control of his world.  He's gonna live right up to his name it seems...watch out world, here comes MAX!  We love you sweet pea!

Jack the Green Bird

As soon as we got back from the beach, Jack flew the coop from Orange Birds to Green Birds at school.   Here he is on his very first day!

He'd been looking forward to this move it seemed, since many of his friends had either recently moved to Green Birds or were moving right along with him.  I was a bit apprehensive because every time we've moved rooms, it's not gone particularly well.   When he moved into Chickadees, he'd been "laid off" with me for 5 months, so that was expectedly hard.  Then he moved to Orange Birds literally the week that Max was born.  Again, no one really expected that to go great.  This time, I was super hopeful we'd have an easy transition that would help Jack realize that not all big changes like that are bad or things that you need to worry so much about.  I moved twice as a kid and didn't handle either move well, so I'm not surprised at Jack's reaction, I was just hopeful we could change it.  I'll be honest...it hasn't gone great.  There have been many tears.  Many mornings he woke up and before he was even out of bed, he'd mutter that he didn't want to go to school, or that he just wanted to be an Orange Bird again.  It broke my heart.  Over and over and over.  And, I only had to drop him off once.  Kenny does that every morning and so he's the one that had to leave him in tears most mornings and then find a way to focus on work.  It's hard.  We tried a lot of things, but like most things, time seems to have been the only healer.  


This week, one month later, Jack got dropped off more days than not, without a tear and without a "Daddy, don't leave me!"  YAY!  It's not that he's not happy while he's there.  His teachers constantly tell us that he's fine once we leave and he comes through the door every evening with a great big smile on his face, dying to tell me all the great stuff he did that day. I think for him, it's all about not feeling secure.  In Orange Birds, he was one of the oldest and was kind of in charge.  He knew at every second what was coming next and what all the rules were.  In a new room, with so many kids and new things to learn and understand, I think he was just out of his element.  That's something I completely understand and sympathize with.  In starting a new school or job or anything really, I'm just not comfortable until I understand it all and know what to expect.  


We've also been very spoiled in that Jack has not only had amazing teachers but they have been so warm and loving and offered him so many snuggles and hugs.  His new teachers, while I don't know well just yet, I'm sure are also amazing and loving, but Jack doesn't have that relationship with them just yet.  They are still new to him and that relationship too will take some time to build.


At any rate, we are getting there!  And I'm really proud of Jack, because I know how hard it has been and how brave he has had to be.  


At back to school night we got a chance to experience his world a little bit and understand a bit more about what he's learning and how.  I am fascinated with the things he knows and how quickly he picks up on them.  At the beach, Jack asked where the water in the puddles went when the puddles were gone.  He thought it melted.  Kenny explained the different states of matter basically and how you get from one to the other and now Jack talks about how water evaporates!  He's 3!  He went from recognizing a few letters from his name to knowing almost all the letters in the alphabet and being able to figure out what things start with.  He can pick out his name in the magnets on the dishwasher too!

And his art...my goodness!  Look!  He draws faces with eyebrows and teeth!  

This one he even cut out by himself when he was done!

This one isn't a face, but a xylophone...and a pretty darn good one, if I do say so myself!

And a dragon on the magnadoodle at school!

His teachers definitely get all of this credit!  Kenny and I can't draw a thing.  His school is full of very artistic people and they have clearly rubbed off on him.  Thanks guys!

Unrelated to school, but in cute news,  every day he calls me on the way home from school to tell me they are crossing the bridge, so I can have dinner ready.  It's SO cute!  He tells me where they are and then starts telling me all about his day.  I can't understand a lot of it because he's going so fast, but he's just so excited and it's so cute to hear his sweet voice on the phone.   


Since I don't often update the blog about the ins and outs of Jack's life anymore, here's a few details to help me remember:


He still naps great - though he only gets 1-2 hours at school during the week and then not usually more than 3 on the weekends.  He sleeps from about 8PM to 6:30 AM.  He loves reading books and going to the library.  Right now his favorites are Halloween Kid and Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent.  He's pretty sure he IS Spiderman and loves watching the old cartoons on DVD.  He's still a picky eater though he eats more than he used to.  If he finishes what's on his plate, he can have a chocolate treat (a Hershey's kiss or a few M&M's usually).  Many nights, that's not even enough to get him to clear his plate, but sometimes it helps.  I don't really care if he eats it all, I just want him to try it all.  He's getting better - he'll eat some chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and one certain kind of pizza in addition to his old standbys, yogurt, cheese, pesto pasta, beans, bananas, applesauce, almonds, and the very fave, peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches.  He'll also eat corn, peas and green beans, but he won't ever ask for them. He LOVES milk.  His favorite color is green.  He is still pretty attached to his blankie, and now often calls it "blank, blank."  He also still sucks his thumb, though only when he's sleepy at least.  He wears 3T clothes, though some of the shirts are getting too short and the pants HAVE to have an adjustable waist as he's nowhere near big enough to hold them up without it.  


Oh me, he's getting so big.  I'm so very proud of him and the boy he is turning out to be, but I sure hope he won't outgrow wanting snuggles anytime soon.  He will often look at me and say "I haven't had ANY Momma snuggles today!"  And this Momma is always happy to drop whatever she's doing and oblige.  ALWAYS.  I love you Doodlebug!

Happy birthday to me

This...THIS...made my birthday so special already!  I am SO proud...Jack made it all by himself!  Daddy supervised but swears Jack wrote it all by himself!

The flowers and hugs and "happy birthday song" were icing on the cake, but this made my day!  Thanks guys...I love you too!

ONE Year Old!

The second one really does seem to do everything faster, but then again, the time seems to go so much faster too.  


I will admit that there were times when I wasn't sure we'd ever get to the toddler stage.  Most of those moments were at 3AM when I was so tired and Max was wide awake. But today?  Today I feel like it was just yesterday that I was snuggling Jack extra tight on September 8th, 2010 because I knew I was headed to the hospital to deliver Max in just a few short hours.  

I cannot believe Max is ONE!  

He's loving it too!  He just giggles and smiles pretty much all the time.  He's very happy and so very adventurous and brave.  He is into pretty much everything these days - you really can't take your eye off him for a second, but he's also learning so much, so fast.  I had forgotten this stage, where they literally soak in everything that happens and figure things out at lightning speed.  It's so much fun to watch!  

The 12th month wasn't an easy one, though we definitely came out on top.  I think it was mostly an issue with teething, as he got 4 new teeth on top over the course of about 6 weeks, but he was a bit fussier than usual.  He did perfect his walking though, which gave him a little reprieve from the reflux since he's upright more often than not. 

He was still taking 2 good naps every day but still not sleeping all night.  We continued to nurse at bedtime and anytime he got up during the night but he got bottles or formula during the day.  Eating was hit or miss, unless you were talking about fruit and then, he was all about it!  I even asked the pediatrician at his 12 month checkup if it was a problem!  She insisted that nothing bad ever happened to anyone from eating too much fruit and as long as he was getting protein and fat too, to let him have all he wanted!

Speaking of checkups, the stats were:
21 lbs 10 oz (25th percentile)
30.5 inches long (60th percentile)
19" head circumference (90th percentile)
He was deemed slightly anemic so we're on a little iron supplement but apparently that's pretty common for babies who are nursed so long.  He seems to really like the supplement (!) so that's good news!  Other than that, he got a great report.  We're still on the Prevacid once a day and going to stay on it as we try and add milk into his diet.  She did suggest dropping to one nap, so we'll see how that goes.  We're hopeful it'll help him sleep all night! 

He really is super sweet though and very patient.  I'm sure some of that has to do with the fact that we can't as often drop everything and get what he needs, like we did with Jack, but I think part of it is just him as well.  Don't get me wrong, when he wants something, you'll know, but he's pretty easy to please.  In this next picture, he's watching Jack...he loves his big brother so much and so closely watches his every move.  We can only hope that they stay so in love with one another.  

This picture cracks me up!  He is starting to make some of the same expressions Jack does...

He's still only saying Mama and Dada at the moment but seems to use them correctly.  We've let him become a bit too dependent on the paci again since it seems to help with the teething pain, so I imagine that's delaying his speech a tiny bit.  Hard to talk when your mouth is plugged up!

He had a little family birthday party when we got back from the beach that was a lot of fun!

He got lots of great gifts, but he fell in love with this hat...

And check out his dance moves!  This never got old by the way - I think we've sung Happy Birthday more in the last month than we have in our lives!  He still stops whatever he's doing and dances!

We tried cake again...

 and got the same result...almost exactly!  Oh well!

Isn't his shirt super cute?  Our friend Brooke, who sold Kenny my engagement ring, made this little shirt for him. And a cool shark one for Jack! It meant a lot to us Brooke, thank you!  

It was a fantastic way to celebrate an amazing year!  Thank you Max, for all the love you've given us, and for all the fun.  I wasn't sure how I could possibly love another child as much, but you've shown me how easy it is and made me wonder how we lived so long without you. My heart is so thankful for you.  I love you my sweetness, I love you to pieces and just can't wait for all the seconds and minutes and years to come.  I know there will be more smiles than we could ever imagine.  Happy birthday Max!

Vacation

So after we survived the earthquake*, and Hurricane Irene**, who left us without power for over a week, we hit the road for the beach!  


We went back to Hilton Head, and this time, we had TWO little ones!  Last year, I was hugely pregnant and Jack got sick, so it wasn't the most relaxing beach vacation ever.  This year we knew we'd have our hands full, so we were so excited that Grams and Gramps were up for making the trip with us!  We were even more excited that the Weavers were also able to join us for a bit.  They are always so kind to let us stay in their beautiful beach house but we don't usually get to hang out with them while we do it.  What a treat!

It SO was nice having extra hands and ears to respond when the little guys needed something.  Taking kids to the beach is a lot of fun, but not very relaxing.  The more hands you have to help, the better!  Kenny and I even got to go to the pool alone a few times and out to eat without kids!  YAY!


Jack is really into superheroes and he decided shortly after we arrived who each person would be.  Tommy was Lizard Man, Patti was Incredible Hulk (!), Gramps was Batman, Grams was Kraven, Max was Wolverine, Kenny was Captain America and I...I was Wonder Woman!  He rarely called people by their actual names all week!


We watched a lot of Spiderman, read a lot of books and worked a lot of puzzles...

It rained a couple of mornings so we went to The Sandbox, their Children's Museum.  Jack didn't want to leave, at all.  He loves it there!

We also spent a lot of time on the deck and in the backyard at the house.  The weather was wonderful...warm and breezy.  Not too humid.  It was perfect deck sitting weather.  September is a great time to go to the beach!  Too bad in just TWO years we'll Jack will be in kindergarten and we won't be able to go then.  TWO years!

The house is on the golf course and Tommy took Jack out to play...in his pajamas! Jack fell in love with being in his jammies on vacation.  I'm not sure what's so uncomfortable about his regular wardrobe but he either wanted jammies or his bathing suit.  On vacation, anything goes in my book (well, most anything anyway!), so he got to play golf in his jammies!

He played with these things on the deck a LOT.  An alligator statue, lots of shells and a bucket full of golfballs and he was entertained for hours.  

 Max took a little more work, but he loves being outside too...

Of course, we also spent a lot of time playing at the beach!  Jack loved playing in the sand and the water this year.  He was just so happy to be on the beach and with Grams and Gramps!  We took a picnic lunch for him most every day and he'd just sit in his chair and eat it all up and go right back to playing.  He loved every minute!  Grams asked him at some point if he liked vacation and he said vacation was SO FUN!  He really was in heaven the entire week!

Max loved it too!  He'd wander around, chase birds, eat sand (the paci was there to help deter that!), drink ocean water, play in the sand and just smile, smile, smile.

I promise the bottle was empty...I'll let him drink ocean water (!) but not beer! :)

Jack and Grams and Gramps found lots of sea creatures...

On the first day, Gramps went for a little walk and came back with 3 squid that had washed up on the shore.  He showed them to Jack, who snatched them right up and began playing with them.  I was amazed - he's not usually quite so willing to touch something he's not touched before.  He played with them for quite some time, just tossing them here and there, putting them in his buckets and burying them in the sand.  Kenny and I watched, in amazement until we realized, he had no idea they were real!  We waited until we got home for lunch to ask if he would touch a real squid and he just laughed and laughed and said NO!  It was pretty funny.





Jack drew a jellyfish in the sand...

They even spotted an alligator in a pond near the beach!

Not only was it vacation week, but Max turned ONE while we were there!  More on that in another post, but we did have a little party for him, of course!  Jack made cupcakes...

And we all waited to see what Max would do...

Not a fan...

But don't worry...he's still happy to be ONE!

And for the record...this one...he didn't want anything to do with cake on his first birthday either, but now...just look...he LOVES it!

It wouldn't have been a party without presents...

It was a wonderful week and I can't think of a better way to have spent Max's first birthday!  Thanks again to Grams and Gramps and of course the Weavers!  It wouldn't have been anywhere near as much fun without you!

*Kenny and I were working and Max and Jack were at school when the earthquake hit.  It was a bit disconcerting as it seemed to last several seconds and my building shook quite a bit.  Kenny was in the field but felt it as well.  Jack and Max...we got an email from their school right after it was over that said they were fine and they both slept right through it! 

**Miss Irene was scary.  She hung around a while too and it was a bit challenging keeping everyone entertained in the dark.  We lost power around 2PM, and just after that, a huge tree fell on our street.  Our neighborhood got hit really hard...

We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in fear, but are happy to report we lost no trees and all lived through it.  We were quite lucky.  We didn't have power for what felt like forever...a week is a long time!  We ended up leaving for the beach even though the power was still out after we spent 4-5 days with Grandma. Thank goodness for Grandma!  She housed us and fed us and ket the boys so very happy.  THANK YOU!