Almost 11 Months

This handsome little red-haired ball of energy is almost 11 months old today.

Half of my days are spent squinting at him, wondering where the time went. Then, an instant later, he flashes me a grin and takes off, intent on some crazy act of destruction.

(Think he looks too sweet for destruction?  Yeah, I thought so too... then he pulled my kitchen cabinet door off of the hinges).

He idolizes his sisters and is far, far happier when they're around to play with him.  I contemplated waking them up at 6am this morning when he was unusally cranky.  I didn't.  But I was right... as soon as they came out of their room, he brightened right on up.

Well, he almost always loves being around them... sometimes the fact that they're a bit bigger can totally exasperate him.  Well, it won't be long til he can dish the "love" back out.

His sisters do just about anything to make him laugh.  One of his most recognizable words is "jump"... most likely resulting from the absolute belly laughs he gives when the girls jump up and down like loonies around him. He cracks up every time.  It's a wonderful little tool to have in my back pocket to stave off that inevitable meltdown while shopping.

Actually, the kid is far more likely to be grinning than crying.  He's not much of a sleeper... in fact, he needs FAR less sleep than his sisters did at this age... but he's happy 95% of the time.  I can handle a small person's company if they're that jolly.

He gives kisses freely, complete with dramatic smacking sounds.  When he gets tired of smooches, he um, bites.  Not hard, but they're stealthy.  It's far less than he used to, but oy.  Watch that you don't put your fingers near his mouth. Now that he's found his tongue,  I'm just waiting for him to start licking people like his sister does, (thank you SHAUN, for teaching her that one).

He loves his Mama, no doubt.... but he'll reach for Shaun any day, even from my arms. And "DADA!  DADA!" is an perpetual exclamation when Shaun walks in the room.  I don't really mind. Because when Shaun scoops him up, that's generally 23 pounds that I don't have to schlep out of the cabinets or from under the table or in my closet.

He's my jolly, sweet, mischievous, delightful little man...  100% percent boy and hasn't even turned one yet. And I think that he's learning quite quickly that the quickest way out of trouble is with dimples and a grin like his.  Then I'm the one in trouble, I think.

I think I'm ok with that kind of trouble.  Now, I have to go put my kitchen cabinets back together.

Update - CJ... Ummm, 16.5 Months and Then a Bit?

Erm, My Dear, Sweet, Neglected Second Born,

I'm sorry?  I think this is the hallmark dawning of what it'll be like for you as the middle child.  Though, in all honesty, you're too loud to be neglected for long. You've yet to understand the meaning of "just a second!" and thus, our house often vibrates with the volume of your requests, "MO?  Mo?  MO?"  (more).  "EAAAAT!  EEEEEAAAT!"  "Hold?  Hold?  HOLD YOU?!" 

So really, we pay a good bit of attention to you.  Your dear older sister, patient as she is, often gets the short end of the stick.  Speaking of Miss Bean, I'm very excited to say that you've stopped beating the heck out of her quite as much.  I found that a nice deterrent is asking you to give her kisses when you're about to smack her over the head.  You LOVE giving kisses, so that goes over nicely. 

You give Sayer a ton of kisses too.  It's actually surprising to me to see how much you really love him.  From the moment you wake up, "BABY?" to the moments you hear him cry, "BABY!" to the moments when he is carried into your line of sight, "BABY!!" you're always looking out for him.  Nothing distresses you more than hearing him cry.  Well, nothing aside from being told, "just a second!"  We're working on that. 

It's funny, you've taken the transition of adding a new sibling better than anyone, I think.  I'm still having a hard time not thinking of you as my baby.  Even with your huge head.  (It really is huge.  I don't know quite how you walk around with that thing...  but good gracious, you're cute, so it doesn't matter).  You still have a few lingering baby traits, some pleasant (being rocked before bed), and some not too pleasant (diapers).   And you'll snuggle on your dad's lap or my own for as long as we'll let you.  Or until you see something in Bean's hands that you must have.

You're mastering the whole talking bit at a breakneck pace.  Before your nap today, you said, "pretzel, peas?" and handed me the bag.  I can pretty much guarantee that you didn't know the word "pretzel" yesterday.  I love watching the wheels in your head turn.  I think that most of all, you realize that words are the quickest way to get what you want.  And you're all about getting what you want.  So off you go.  You're nothing if not determined. 

You've entered into a bit of a cautious period, physically.  A few weeks ago, I was catching you as you would stand on the couch and walk straight off the edge.  I grabbed a stray arm to break your fall, thinking it was an accident.  Yeah, not so much.  You looked at me from the ground, grinned, and climbed up to do it again.  But in the last few days, you're far less likely to try new things in the physical realm.  Today, you stayed on a kitchen chair and howled because I wasn't able to get you down right away.  Two weeks ago?  You probably would have jumped.  I can't say I'm sad about this new development.  It certainly keeps my heart rate lowered.  But I have to admit, I kind of miss your breakneck crazy pace. 

You still prefer to run around buck naked.  I generally make you wear a diaper.  You recently threw a conniption about that and tried to take it off.  When you couldn't figure out the snaps, (THANK YOU FUZZIBUNZ), you tried pulling it down.  You got it to your knees before I had pity on you and let you have a few minutes of bare bottom time.  

You're charming and sweet when you want to be.  Between you and your sister, I think we meet just about everyone we encounter when we run errands.  You'll be thrashing around, trying to escape the stroller and then catch sight of a stranger making eye contact.  Immediately, you'll stop, grin and wave.  When you get older, you had better use that power to captivate for good, not evil.

Stay sweet, my spunky, quirky little second-born.  And stay a wee bit sassy... keeps life interesting.  :)

Love,

Mommy-o  (Because suddenly?  You've dubbed us Mommy-o, Daddy-o, and Baby-o :)

Sayer - 1 Month (And A Bit More)

Dear Sayer,

Happy one-month birthday!  And a bit, because well... with three kids, Mommy's a bit of a procrastinator.  As of today, you're 14.4 pounds.  You?  As a couple of people have said recently, you are a moose. 

 

But I think you're cute as a round chubby button. 

You'd think that being so big would mean you'd sleep solidly for 12 hours a night.  Hey, that's what all the old wives' tales say.  You don't.  But you do generally give me a good 5 hour stretch in the beginning of the night...  that's just enough to keep me going.  And really?  I don't mind a good snuggle session in the middle of the night. 

You're a tremendously good eater, (as if there were any doubt given your size).  I love that nursing generally comforts any crankiness, unless the crankies are due to gas.  Then I have to bounce you all over the place until you're gas free.

Speaking of gas, you are unbelievable.  I never knew a kid could wake themselves up with a fart.  For that matter, I never thought one of my kids would be able to wake their Daddy up from a sound sleep with a fart.  You've done both.  Several times. 

Your favorite place to sleep is in someone's arms.  I tend to carry you around through the day either freehand or in one of our slings.  I love that you're flexible enough to do that.  Being kid #3, you don't have much choice.

You had a case of acne bad enough to put a teenager's to shame.  I'm very thankful that finally passed.  Now your cheeks are that much more kissable.

I spend a fair portion of my day totally blissed out from the nuzzles I get to give and the sweet sighs and tiny smiles I get in return. 

It's been 6 weeks and I already miss those sweet first days fiercely.  So I'm grasping onto each day that comes with intentions to wring out every last drop of the joy I get from your babyhood.  If having three has taught me anything, it's that these baby days are fleeting. 

People told me that being the mother of a son elicited a different kind of love.  Verdict's still out on that, but I know that I love you more than words can describe. 

You're my goo-baby, always.

Love,

The One With The Boobs
(Because you probably identify with that more than anything, right now). 

Happy Birthday Sweet C!

Dear C,

Today you're ushering in your first hours as a newly minted one-year-old.  One year ago today, you were placed gently in my arms and I marveled at how small you were, (you really weren't that little compared to everyone else, but compared to your 28 pound sister, you were a peanut).  The stress I had been feeling over whether I'd love you anywhere near as much as I loved Bean melted away as you blinked your big eyes and stared at me every time I said so much as a single word.

We all figured that since I talked so much while you were in utero, you knew little else in the way of sound.  Judging by what a chatterbox you've become, it's abundantly clear that we share those genes.

Your first year was joyous in many ways and challenging in many others.  You were bound and determined to prove off the bat that you were very much unlike your older sister.  For the first few weeks, your bed of choice was a little nest made in a small down pillow while tucked neatly in the crook of my arm.  You always turned your face towards mine and I'd often wake to the sweet smell of your baby head as it rooted around, half-awake.

You slept a lot, then you didn't sleep at all.  You love being carried no matter the method though you will always prefer to ride around on my left hip, burrowing your head in my shoulder when you're uncertain.

 Thankfully, you're back to sleeping, and well.  Long ago, you shunned the pacifier for your first two fingers, and when you're particularly cranky or tired, you'll pop them in your mouth, search for your fuzzy blanket and crawl over to me for a snuggle.

You're starting to communicate in a bunch of different ways and get ridiculously persistent when you want me to acknowledge what you're trying to say.  The other day, you were pointing and waving over towards the sun room saying the same thing over and over again.  I was trying to have another conversation and in the lulls, I repeated your sound without really looking at what you were looking at and probably would have continued had you not tried to dive out of my arms.  When I looked at where you were trying to go, I saw your giant purple playground ball and I put you down.  You immediately crawled over to the ball, patted it, smiled, and said, "BAAAALL!"  So that's what you were trying to say.  Who knew?

In addition, you're regularly saying "Mama," "Dada," "Hi," "Bye," "Hello" (which means phone), "Dog," "Uh-oh," "I-want-down" or "Down," and "All-Done".  I'm sure it won't be long before you're chattering as much as Bean does.  Your poor little brother doesn't stand a chance.

 Your legs are apparently trying to keep with your vocabulary and you're starting to take your first steps.  We're most successful in getting you to toddle to us when Bean is in one of our laps.  She's by far the greatest motivation as she cheers louder than both of us.  And even if she didn't, I'm sure you'd be more about her approval than ours.  May she always give you a good example to follow

You are jolly, happy, and genuinely friendly.  You're not interested in letting anyone else get their hands on you if I'm around, but you'll happily grin and wave and charm the heck out of everyone who stops for even a moment to engage you.  And occasionally, you're the one to initiate and draw people in effortlessly with a grin or a drawn out, "Hiiii"

May this birthday be your happiest so far and may they only get happier from this year forward.

You are so very, very loved,

Mama

C - Eleven Month Update

Dear Mini-Shaun,

As you get older, you look more and more like your Daddy.  He's cute, so this isn't bad at all.  Funnier still is watching your personality change to be more like his too.  Mainly in how you two always manage to find mischief.  Your sister isn't exactly keen on this new development as mischief with you usually means tormenting her.  But she's adjusting.

You are absolutely in love with music.  I don't have a remote idea where you get your dancing skills since I'm most certainly rhythmically challenged and your Daddy isn't much better.  (He'd argue that... but really, we're not much on the dance floor).  I'll put on music and you'll immediately drop what you're doing, crawl to the radio and start dancing.  First, you wave your arms in a sort of "raise-the-roof" motion.  Then your head starts bopping.  And if they song is upbeat enough for you, you stand up, hold on, and go crazy. 

You're sleeping MUCH better lately.  Most nights you wake up once, and lately, it's been all the way around 5:30 or 6am.  That's a full night's sleep, kid.  That?  That's a nice little gift to give to your mother, even if it is a little late. 

You've started standing on your own for a few seconds at a time, which delights us and freaks you the heck out.  You definitely need to feel like you know what you're doing before you actually take a chance and do it.  That should make for some interesting years to come.

You're stubborn beyond belief sometimes, and you definitely know what you want.  Lately, you've been squawking your frustrations when your sister gets something for lunch that you think you didn't get on your tray.  I'm working on a solutions to lessen the crazy that happens at meals and so far, it's going alright.

You're finally getting the hang of the sippy cup, but you don't drink much.  I'm trying not to let that drive me crazy.

Bean is your best friend.  You love me more than life, but when it comes to playmates, Bean's your buddy.  Bean's starting to warm up to the idea of playing WITH you instead of trying to protect her playthings FROM you.  I love when she goes out of her way to make you laugh and even more, I love hearing your laughter bubble up and out of you and hear her laugh along.  One of my greatest hopes is that you both will realize how much of a gift you have in each other. 

We're going to toss a brother into the mix soon, and in so many ways, I can't imagine a better situation.  You'll always have your big sister for your girl bonding and now?  A little brother so close in age that you guys will feel like twins one day.  Just make sure he grows up knowing how to treat a lady, ok?  You and Bean make sure of that. 

I can't get over the whole reality that you're going to be one next month.  You're still such a peanut of a kid.  But you're fast entering the splendid world of toddlerhood and knowing you?  You'll continue full steam ahead and never look back.

Love always,

Mamamama

C Update - 10 Months

Dear C,

Hey big ole 10 month old!  This past month I think you've changed more than any of the other months combined.  You're getting all sorts of rolls again, which absolutely delights me.

(It also provides you a few extra places to hide your cheerios).

You're starting to talk a lot more, which is pretty awesome.  So far we have "Mama," "dog," "uh-oh" (particularly when she drops something completely on purpose.  It's a good thing she's cute), "el-o!" (Often said holding something to her ear like a phone, "hello!"), and "bye!"  I love watching you discover how to make sounds and delight in how those sounds make words.

 

You're pulling up on everything and cruising all over the place.  On several occasions, you've used my legs to stand up and stayed up on your own for a few seconds before plopping down again.

 

You're consistently sleeping through the night (FINALLY!) with only one waking and that's recently been because you're sick.   I can't even begin to tell you how amazing this makes me feel.  Except for the first few days, my body didn't know what to do with itself and I totally felt worse than when I wasn't getting sleep.  Weird, eh?

 

You put EVERYTHING in your mouth.  Every-Thing.  Lately, if I catch you about to put something in your mouth that shouldn't be there,  I can call your name and you usually hand it to me instead.  Small blessings, considering some of the things you get your hands on.  Why do I need a vacuum, I have you!

 

You still prefer me to anyone, though your Daddy is a very, very close second.  I love that you'll snuggle up to him just as easily as to me, most times.  I can't say he complains about it either :)

 

(I promise she's FINE in this pic.  Shaun was taking some pics of our slings and wraps for a future post and caught me mid-placement (mid-wrong-placement, actually, but that's neither here nor there).

I still can't believe you're so close to being one.  And walking.  And getting into things.  Eek!


Stay silly, Second Born.  Love you always,

Mama

Baby, C, and Sleep!

What do they all have in common? 

Um, I don't really know.  But I figure I owe an update on them!

Visited the OB yesterday and everything checked out fine!  I had been a tad stressed out because I haven't yet started to feel this little one moving around.  With Bean and C, it was by 15 weeks.  The OB said this could be for a number of reasons, but so long as the heartbeat was strong, baby's fine.  And so it was. 

I'm 17 weeks and a few days or so and I've gained 2 pounds.  If you add on the weight from the cheesecake I ate yesterday, it might be 11.  Heh.

On March 16th, we have a sonogram.  Any bets on the sex of this munchkin?  And no, I'll preempt the probable question, we are not hoping for a boy because we already have two girls.  Girls are great too!  We're hoping for a healthy baby.  Don't even get me started. 

C is doing quite well despite teething in FOUR places, (two have popped through), and has unofficially chunked up to be close to 18 pounds.  Making up for lost time, it seems.

She's related to sleep since she suddenly started actually sleeping.  I think her body is FINALLY satisfied with the amount of foodage she's getting.  Thank goodness.  For several nights, she's crashed and not woken until 10 or 11 hours later.  If I could coordinate my bladder to her waking, it'd be gold.  All the same, I'm so unbelievably happy that she's starting to sleep I could dance a jig.

Ok, I did. 

That shouldn't surprise anyone. 

What's going on with you?

I May Be A Space Cadet

But I haven't forgotten... this time.

I'll post C's 9 month update tomorrow after we go on into the docs and get her checked out for her well-baby visit.  Included in that visit?  A weigh-in.  I'm thinking we'll have some good news to report.  :)

In light of our holiday week, we're spending a lot of time together as a family and as a result, posting may be light around here.

In the coming two weeks, expect a few more Christmas card rejects, a SmellyWasher product review, a TJ Maxx and a Marshalls review and a continuation of my baby product run-downs.  In between, you'll have a few anecdotes as usual.  :)

Enjoy the holidays, everyone!

C: 6 Months

Happy half birthday, munchkin.

You decided that you would celebrate by suddenly being able to sit up for long periods of time.  Seriously, from one day to the next, you went from wobbling all over the place to "yup, I'm so TOTALLY a pro at this."  You'll be ready to compete in the sit portion of the baby olympics in no time.

(Um, they totally have those... I can't decide if I'm really disturbed by the yelling and cheering or really disturbed because they're racing BABIES!)

Anyway, I'm not putting you in the baby olympics, don't worry.  There's probably more than enough out there for me to embarrass you with without having to purposely seek out chances.

You've definitely entered into the "MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY" phase of life.  I generally don't mind because half the time, I'm around anyway.  You've been known to throw a complete fit and when everyone is convinced you're tired or hungry, I'll come get you and instantly, you'll stop.  Your Daddy just shakes his head when this happens.  He knows you have me wrapped all up with you.

Hey, I don't know that I'd be so secretly in love with how you do this if you didn't also decide this was the time to start reaching out for me.  Next to a baby grin, having a little one put their hands out for you to pick them up or hold them is seriously one of the most awesome baby things in the world.

You took your first plane trip and vacation ever and was probably the best traveler out of the four of us.  You ate, snoozed, and smiled at everyone.  That's a good day in your life.

While we were there, for the first time since you were very, very small, you fell asleep with your head on my shoulder.  I would have dissolved into a gooey Mom-puddle on the floor, but I think that would have woken you up.

Since the trip, we started solids and you're sort of apathetic about the whole experience.  More often than not, you like to shower me with whatever you're eating by starting to talk when you have food in your mouth.  Note: "Bababababa" does a really good job in helping you spray your food.

Your sleep habits are SLOWLY changing.  I'm at a crossroads with you right now...  We're still waking up a bit during the night and most times, you're not hungry.  Many would say to let you cry it out, but you get so darn amped up and hyper that I just don't think that's what needs to happen.  Yet.  We'll reevaluate in a few weeks.  It's funny, since I began considering what I would need to do to get you to sleep on your own through the night, you've slowly been starting to fall asleep on your own and settling yourself in the middle of the night without me having to go in there.  I think you're just on your Own Program.  So long as it continues on the upswing, I'll go at your pace.

You're still tormenting your sister whenever you get a chance.  She doesn't really mind, though she makes a pretense of being all mad.  Well, at least I know she loves the pieces out of you.  If I'd let her, she'd carry you all over the place and pretend you were her personal doll.  Except, since her dolls tend to have mysterious accidents in their strollers or end up head first in a drawer, I'm not too inclined to let her... yet.

You're very cheerful and don't really fuss at all unless you're tired or hungry.  Well, or if you see Mommy and you're being held by someone else.

I'm sure you've figured this out, but I'm pretty powerless when I hear you get upset.  Please try really hard not to use that against me?

You're super close to crawling.  You've got two arms ready and one leg underneath of you.  Get the other leg up and you'll be on all fours.  It seems that you've paused in your pursuit for the traditional crawling, mainly because you've found other methods of movement that get you right where you want to go, (which is often where Bean or I DON'T want you to go).

I give you a few weeks and I'm guessing you'll be off like a rocket. 

Look out world, this one's a firecracker.

Love always, even in the middle night,

Mama