We're back, and bigger than ever! If you've been keeping up on Facebook you'll know that Nora had her first birthday, started walking, and grew hair! I just discovered the blogger app which I hope will allow me to post more often. I miss having this outlet to show the kids off!
Without further adieu, here they are today!
Nora's entering the warp-drive of babyhood. She now has her two bottom teeth, and the top right one is out (though still very little). The top left one is almost through I think, too. These teeth are coming fast and furious, it seems.
A couple of weeks ago I went to get her when she woke up and found her sitting upright. I didn't know how she did it, but now I do - she can push herself back from a tummy position into sitting. It's actually how she gets around right now - she can get on her hands and knees and rock a bit, but she moves around by leaning forward, then sitting back up, then leaning forward, etc... it's not fast, but it is effective.
In response, I have set up the cosleeper upstairs in the hallway as a playpen for when I need to shower, and the pack'n'play is in the living room for when I need her contained. And since we are still living in a construction zone, that is much more often than when Joseph was starting to move around!
Things are about to get very interesting around here!
In note-worthy news about Joseph, he declared me to be his Best Friend the other day. I think that tops the "best moment as a mom" category besides maybe pushing babies out! Toddlers are pretty amazing - the highs are SO HIGH, but the lows are pretty low. Luckily we're blessed with a pretty amazing little guy.
We tried doing swimming lessons with him last week, but only lasted 2 days. The "lessons" were pretty much a joke, and he hated them, so I said he didn't have to go. We'll try a different program in the winter or next year.
Gratuitous Kidlet Pictures (many more awesome photos on smugmug from 4th of July... not sure I'll get around to recapping it here):
Having two children reminds me all the time that my children don't always reflect my ability to parent - for better or worse! The latest case-in-point: potty training.
Joseph has been in undies for several months, now. He does OK, but his underwear and the diaper sprayer on the toilet are intimately aquainted. The kid does not like to poop on the potty.
In contrast, Nora, my SEVEN MONTH OLD has not had a poopy diaper in about 3 weeks. What the what? I know, right? It's as simple as this: she grunts a particular way. I say, "Oh, do you have to poop?" and take her to the bathroom. I sit her on the seat, and she does her business. The end. It could not be any more awesome (well, maybe if I could figure out her pee queues also).
I don't think I should take credit for Nora's success any more than I have the burden of Joseph's reticent nature. It just is. Everyone tells me he won't go to college in diapers. We'll see! We started a sticker chart in a last ditch effort to appeal to his material side. He's been eying a particular car carrier and I've promised it to him if he fills up his chart (10 stickers).
I ain't too proud to bribe!
Joseph just put 2 pieces of paper on the table to see if the wind would blow them off (it's windy here today and our windows are open).
Love the inquisitive mind of the child!
Wow, this week Nora really has turned on the charm! She's started making these super-adorable baby girl noises. (I remember them from my mom's group baby girls - I was always amazed at their sweet little voices!) She's sitting up safely now, and loves to lunge for stuff already. I'm nervous that my baby "golden age" is going to be short this time around! We went out to dinner tonight and she sat in the high chair by herself, and last week she rode in the grocery cart for the first time! I can't believe how she's growing.
Joseph seems to have turned a corner the last few days, too (knock on wood). Tonight he went to Nora and gave her a hug and kiss - on his own. For no reason. Multiple times. Baffling. And wonderful. I hoe this lasts for at least a few days. Ha!
By the way, Joseph's manners are improving, too. He's doing a lot better with not whining while asking for things, uses please and thank you without prompting often now, and was super well behaved out at dinner. We've never had too much trouble with him, but I can really see the improvement in his behavior after the last few weeks of horribleness!
<3 my babies!
We went to the museum of natural history today, and Joseph had tons of fun! At first, he was afraid of the dinosaurs, but he did ask to go back to see them. Some were "too scary" but he liked the t-rex, triceratops, and sauropods. The museum was phenomenal, by the way! Highly recommend if you are ever in the area.
Toddler language is just about the funniest/neatest/most interesting thing I've observed for a while! Since they say everything out loud, you really get a feel for how their language develops. I can't believe just a couple of months ago I was talking about Joseph's "first" conversation. His language has exploded! Some of the funny stuff he says has to do with his vocabulary. I was always told that I used "too big" of words when I was a kid, and I think Joseph will be the same way. He also has superb manners, when he remembers to use them! Lots of please, thank you, may I, etc...
From the grammar standpoint, he works hard to get things right - sometimes going too far in one direction. Right now he understands "yours" but instead of "mine" uses "mines" (makes sense!).
The plural can trip him up, too. Today he had one noodle on his spoon and said "Here is one mac'n'chee". Then he had 2, and said "Here are two mac'n'cheese". So obviously "mac'n'chee" is the singular. LOL!
I love watching him develop... things have definitely been improving around the house in the last few days with our moods!
Both of my babies LOOOOOVE to swing! We got a little swingset for the back yard, which I put together a couple of weeks ago. Joseph and Nora are really getting a lot of use out of it. Joseph's favorite is the "air glider", I think he's still kind of nervous on the big-kid swings.
Today we went to the doctor for Joseph's physical. He was a champ! We'd read Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor yesterday, and he was very excited.
He weighed in at 26lbs (3% from what I can tell on the charts) and 38.5" (75%). So I guess he had a growth spurt, as he was usually around 50%. The doctor was happy with the variety of food he eats, as well as his language skills and physical appearance. Not one comment about feeding him more or putting weight on him - hooray! Have I mentioned how much I love this doctor?!?
Joseph did get his MMR finally today (we were waiting for him to top 25lbs). He knew that he was getting a shot and that it'd hurt for a little bit, but I think he was pretty shocked when it happened. He didn't cry during the shot, but I think when the pain didn't subside right away he got a little frightened and then started crying. Poor buddy. He commented several times that "it hurts" afterwards. He got a cookie for being brave.
In other news, I went to parent-teacher conferences at preschool today! It was fun to hear how great he is. Hahaha. He's doing awesome at school and learning lots!
All About Joseph - Answered by me, because he's only starting to understand "favorites". He'll get to play next year.
1. What is your favorite color? Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Mater the Tow Truck (This was a hard one! Depends on the day)
3. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes
4. What is your favorite tv show? Thomas the Tank Engine (Splish, Splash, Splosh episode)
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Mac'n'Cheese
6. What is your favorite outfit? No preference, but we prefer wind pants for stretchy waists that fit better
7. What is your favorite game? "Here he comes, there he goes" (he runs away and towards me and I say that). Other favorite is being Lightning McQueen and racing Daddy and Mama around the house.
8. What is your favorite snack? Crackers, raisins are a close second.
9. What is your favorite animal? He talks about manta rays A LOT.
10. What is your favorite song? Skinimarinky dinky dink. Also loves the Thomas theme song and See How I'm Jumpin' from our Music Together CD.
11. What is your favorite book? Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things that Go".
12. Who is your best friend? Daddy
13. What is your favorite cereal? Quaker Toasted Oatmeal Squares (or "Square cereal")
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run around the tree after preschool with his friends.
15. What is your favorite drink? Water (we still only do water and milk). Well, unless you count milkshakes. ;)
16. What is your favorite holiday? His birthday - he's just starting to get holidays
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Sea horse and brown bear are necessary. Also has mr. bear, panda bear, blue bear, doggy, and bunny in bed.
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? We had pizza - his favorite
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Based on interest, definitely a garbage truck driver.
Yes, my little man is THREE! This is the first "holiday" he's really understood, and I owe that to preschool. Several of the kids have had their birthdays in the last 2 months, so Joseph was VERY excited to be the one getting sung to and getting to hand out his gifts to his friends (play doh).
We started out the morning by going in to Joseph's room to sing happy birthday when he woke up. He got out of bed and crawled under it while we sang! I guess we weren't that great.
Then he had the first of many temper tantrums about Nora "being loud". It's a major issue in our household as of late. Unfortunately, I can't make a baby be quiet, and I apparently can't keep Joseph from dissolving into tears, either! Sometimes Mama can't win.
Anyway, we'd forgotten one of Joseph's presents at Christmas (it was hiding a little TOO well in a closet) so we had that out for him when he got downstairs. He was pretty excited to see "big Thomas".
This week, Nora began blowing raspberries. It's pretty funny, and Joseph likes it. Today he said that Nora was blowing... "blueberries". Pretty close! Nora is kind of laughing, now. It is coming out more like a whine/cry, but I'm sure belly laughs are around the corner!
As for Joseph, I'm pretty sure we can cross "doctor" off the list of probable careers as he gags every time he sees a little milk on her chin. I think he's a bit weak in the stomach. Ha!
Yesterday, Joseph woke up from his nap and Nora was still asleep. Joseph has been waking up pretty grouchy lately, and likes to snuggle for a while, so I took him into my bed. We snuggled and I started asking him about school. He never really says much about it, but this time I took a "what happened next" tactic starting from when he took his coat off. He told me about several things that he did in his day that way! It was the first "conversation" I think we've ever had. Sure, he talks a lot and we say things to each other, but this was back-and-forth sustained talking. It made me so happy!
Oh, and Nora is *almost* laughing now - I took her to her first baby storytime during preschool yesterday morning which she seemed to enjoy well enough, and we read a book together and did some songs last night while T.J. and Joseph played upstairs. It was fun to be in the "baby" stage again for that short while.
I'm feeling very lucky lately!
Even the first born milestones take a back seat if they don't make a big show about it...
Joseph got all of his molars! I did notice several months ago that one was starting to come in, but after that I'd only sort of half-heartedly look for them (it's not that easy to peek that far back in a toddler's mouth - and I'd hate to waste the cooperative time without a toothbrush in there!). Well, tonight I asked Daddy to count, and he has all 20 teeth! Either they came in easy, or we attributed the problems to something else. I do remember him having a fever once (maybe right after Nora was born?)... but that's about it!
We're done with baby teeth for a month or so, and then we can start the process again! Ha!
Than getting cheered on when you're sitting on the toilet by your almost 3-year old.
Joseph gets just as excited when "I make it" as when he does. Haha! He's my little cheerleader.
We're giving potty training (for Joseph) a real try this weekend. Wish us luck!
"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction"
It's not just physics, apparently. As wonderful as Joseph's morning was, I sat through 15 solid minutes of sobbing - by BOTH children - on the way home.
Nora regularly cries a bit in the car. It's NORMAL. Sometimes, Joseph could care less. Sometimes, he cries, too. Today, he had a full-blown meltdown. She stopped crying, he kept crying. So then she'd cry more, and then he'd cry louder and longer - as if it were a competition. On it went for the entire car ride, unloading, diaper changes, etc... I sent him to his room to calm down, which sort of worked, but it took nearly the whole time I was getting Nora changed and settled.
Advice on this behavior? In the past I try to empathize to get him to stop (mostly so it'll allow Nora a chance to calm down). Today I opted for silence vs. screaming at him to shut the ^*#& up, since that's not the parent I want to be, and would have been unlikely to work anyway.
He tells me that he "feels sad" and I try to suggest things that will cheer him up, but mostly I think he "feels sad" because it's likely to get an empathetic response. I don't want to be mean and unresponsive and teach him that it's not ok to share his feelings, but I would like to help him get out of these funks more quickly.
Did I mention that I'm sick, too? My fuse is a little on the short side today.
Oh, the tears. Before Nora was born, I worried that her cries would upset Joseph. They do every once in a while, especially in the car. The much more likely scenario, lately, has been Nora crying because Joseph is!
Is there a more helpless feeling than a mom trying to comfort 2 small children? :P Yes, I'm sure there are many, but good grief - that is not an easy task. The tried and true boob-in-mouth technique for an infant is much harder to pull off when you are trying to snuggle an almost 3-year-old at the same time!
Given Joseph's new penchant for being "sad" and on the brink of tears with anything ranging from being awake to having to walk out the door, I'm sure I'll get used to this new challenge, too!
Today we went down to the Carnegie Science Center. It was really fun, and we only go through a few exhibits so we'll have lots to enjoy with our new membership (thanks J&P)
Joseph LOVED the train exhibit, and we did, too, to be honest. It was enormous and amazing. Check out the pics I took.
The evening has been full of tasks - cooking, cleaning, organizing, and hair cutting (you'll see Joseph's new 'do the next time I take his pic!). Nothing extraordinary to report, but boy we feel worn out!
Nora does, too. She's been asleep since 5:30pm. Last night she slept from 6:30pm-7:30am, and that was just when Joseph got up so she did, too. The poor girl doesn't get much sleep during the daytime, though. Not like her big brother, when Mama could just sit and rock him all day long!
Nora is really starting to become a little person - lots of cooing and chatting, likes to play with her toys, and loves to watch her big brother! She's a feisty little thing and doesn't take no for an answer (just like her Mama).
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I'm feeling overwhelmed by how backlogged I am, so I'm just gonna try and move forward. That might mean just a little info about what is happening in our lives for now, rather than well thought out posts. As it is, I'm typing this at 12:30am with a baby crooked in my arm nursing!
Highlights of the last few days:
- Joseph went to school the last 2 days w/o tears!
- Nora (inadvertently) rolled from her belly to her back today. It was a complete accident on her part, but it was really cool! She was unfazed. Joseph thought it was HILARIOUS and couldn't stop laughing. I was amused and grabbed the video camera in case it happened again (no such luck)
- Joseph is singing a ton (Santa Clause is Coming to Town is his fav, but he's learning and repeating new songs from school, as well as the Thomas intro). Nora is babbling and cooing a lot now. So sweet!
Well, Joseph started preschool this week. ::Tear::
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