Brothers In Cahoots

It's no secret that Sayer is enamored with his baby brother. He can't walk by the baby without giving him a kiss or tipping his head to the side and asking, "I hold Zoen, Mama, I hold Zoen?"

Half the time, he'll "hold" the baby and say, "He's laughing, Mama, he's LAUGHING!" Sometimes, I'll peer down and Z will be grinning away, other times? Zoen is fully asleep.  But hey, whatever encourages a good sibling relationship!

Yesterday, Sayer was sitting next to me on the floor as I changed Zoen's diaper.  I got distracted by something shiny, (the more tired I am, the easier it is... we've had a lot of half finished tasks around here lately), and the next thing I knew, I felt something on my leg... that unmistakable wet warmth.  I shrieked and jumped backwards before covering Z's er, bits, with a diaper.

Sayer looked at me and dissolved into giggles.  Then he got down next to Zoen's face, grinned at him, and said, "Do it again, brudder, do it again!"

Thank goodness Z doesn't have the control to follow Sayer's commands yet, because I have no doubt that little one will do exactly what his big brother asks.  (Which, combined with Sayer doing near everything his sisters ask? Um, might be dangerous).

Zoen - One Month! And 5 Days

So, my sweet, snuggly youngest is already a month old.

I'm flat out in denial of this.

Thankfully, he still curls up over my shoulder to sleep and I don't plan on forcing that whole "sleep in his bed" thing anytime soon.

He perpetually looks surprised when he's really awake.  Either that or cross-eyed.  He'll figure it out eventually.  In the mean time, it CRACKS us up.

This kid is a lot like his oldest sister was as a baby... sweet, easy, mellow, relaxed.

But he's LOUD.  My goodness, he's loud.  I'll settle down in bed and be right about to drift off to sleep when I hear, *Snarfle snarfle, grunt grunt* "EHHHHHHH.  EHHHHHHHHH." *Grunt, grunt*  And inevitably, when I haul myself over to his bassinet to check on him, he's sound asleep. Of course.

He's loud when he nurses, too.  I settle down to nurse him and his grunts and sighs turn heads from clear across the room.  He totally reminds me of a piglet. (Don't worry, I think they're irresistibly cute, too).

And truly, at the rate he's growing?  That's apt.  We left the hospital with him at 7 lbs, 14 oz.  He's now 11 lbs, 8 oz. Ginormous.

When he's up on my shoulder, he has a way of wrapping one of his arms around my arm in a half-hug.

Not terribly clear, but the only pic I have of him doing this.

He's still a thumb sucker on occasion, something I'm encouraging, despite raised eyebrows from others.  Hey, he's my fourth kid. I've had a pacifier user, a finger sucker, and a kid for whom NOTHING but me would suffice.  I'll go on record saying that the kid who sucked her fingers was by far the easiest in the middle of the night.  So, we'll keep hoping for the thumb to become a nice, self-soothing habit.

He sleeps best when he's belly-to-belly with me, holding his head tipped back and his hands under his chin.  I'm not complaining. He's nice and warm. And the snuggles! I'm drinking in all of the delicious baby snuggles I can handle.

I usually write my updates to the kid I'm talking about, but this time? That would have gotten dreadfully sentimental... all the same, I will, for a second.

So, Z?  You're 100% adorable, completely sweet, and your belly button is totally shaped like a cinnamon roll.   Never doubt for a second how loved and cherished you are.

Love,

Mama

Things I'm Learning

Apparently, it's super fun for my 1 year old to interact with his 2 week old brother.

At least that's what I gathered from the giggles I kept hearing.

Then I rounded the corner and witnessed the cause.

Sayer would bop the sleeping Zoen on the stomach.  Zoen would startle and all of his limbs would splay outwards.  Sayer would crack up.  Zoen would relax and let his eyes close again. And, repeat.  Over and over again.

Sayer and I had a bit of a chat about how bonking your younger brother was NOT a good idea, regardless of how funny the reaction was.

Seeing as how I caught him doing it again 30 minutes later, I think I'm going to have to up the bodyguard patrol.

Sheesh.

Hey, Remember Me?

*Fixed to show the picture :)

Right, so last time you checked here, I was griping and moaning about being like, 11 months pregnant.  And now?

I've got the cutie on the outside.

We're currently dealing with our personal episode of the plague, (go figure that their second illness of the season happens to be the week the new baby comes home), but I can at least introduce the little man to you until we're all on the mend.

Zoen Nathanael  (rhymes with Owen)
8 lbs. 12 oz.
Born March 14th, 8:20am

He's mellow and darling and decidedly handsome, (according to his mother).

I'm going to steal a picture that I've already posted elsewhere for his intro, just because it's so blissfully cute and well, to be honest, I've done NOTHING in the way of photographing this kid with an actual camera.

(I know, I KNOW.  Give me a day or two, I'll get back to it).

So here's a flash to the future with baby Z... lots of these grins to come.  (And yes, I know it's blurry... but it's a smile!  Who can resist?)

So there he is, our little fourth born munchkin in all his adorable glory.  I'll have lots more in the days to come... story of his name, reactions of the kids, (they're a hoot!), and yes, pictures.

For now, checking in.