Benjamin - 7, 8 and 9 months old

Wow, time has just flown by and I guess blogging has taken a back burner to all the summer fun we've been having!  Time to update!  :)

I love this kid.  Seriously.  He's the best!

Benjamin - 5 months

Better late than never!  :)

Benjamin - 3 months old!

Whoops!  I guess with all the excitement going on earlier this month with our trip to FL and my return to work I forgot to post Ben's 3 month stats!  Stay tuned for more!

Isn't this crochet crown adorable?  Perfect for my little prince!

Benjamin is 2 months old!!

Um, yeah.  It happened.  I blinked my eyes and two months passed by and the little newborn is no more...now he's two stinking months old!  (Literally).

As the picture above states, he's pretty much hitting all his age-appropriate milestones right on time (and some even a bit early).  He's SOOOOO close to rolling from back to belly.  He's mastered the art of belly to back and it has been interesting to try to get him the tummy time he needs.  So we've resorted to using the boppy some of the time.  You can see he's really strong and can get his chest up off the ground already.  His pediatrician was pretty impressed at his 2 month check up with how strong he was.

And as far as cuteness goes, he's off the scales!!  Especially when I can get him to try on some of my crochet creations, like this hat with the big button.  

He's finally growing out of his newborn sized clothes and starting to fit into his 0-3 month outfits.  He still fits in newborn sized diapers better than size 1, but I am going to start moving him up because he fills up the newborn sized diapers too quickly :)  He is also big enough now (finally) that I can start cloth diapering -- which is awesome!  I mean, how adorable is his bum in this Blueberry Minky?

I made this matching set for him and have been dying to try it on him and snap some photos.  The shoes were on the verge of not fitting, so it had to be this month's photoshoot (because lets face it, trying to take photos more than once a month is a little much for me).  :)

You can tell that he was not very amused with my antics.

And then, he started to get worried that he looked like a big nerd...he's very sensitive about how he looks to others...

He tried warning me that he wasn't happy....but I didn't heed his warnings.  I just kept snapping away...

And that's when he just unleashed his mighty fury.

Of course, I still took a photo.  Because even in the middle of a little tantrum, he's still 

SIMPLE ADORABLE!!

Benjamin - 1 month!!

I can't believe this little stinker is already ONE month old!  Where does the time go?  Oh yeah...it just flies by without you noticing it because you are in a daze dealing with a newborn in a house of 3 littles....THAT'S right..

But for the most part, little Benny has been a great baby.  He's fairly predictable about what he's crying about.  He tends to get pretty gassy if mom eats certain foods, so I've been trying hard to keep those things out of my diet (onions, garlic, salami).  Onions are in a lot of things (and they taste good), but I'd rather not deal with a fussy gassy baby!

He's also been a great sport with me using him as a model for all the new crocheted creations I've been making.  Here he's wearing one of my favorite hats I made for him.

He's got a lot of character, this one!  He's going to be a tough cookie around his two big brothers (that's a good thing).  He sure seems like he's practicing to stay strong already!  He rolls over from belly to back, and has almost made it from back to belly already!  When he's down for tummy time, he likes to dig his toes into the ground and push himself forward in a modified crawl!  One time he managed to make it across the blanket already!

He's been pretty solid in newborn sized clothing for awhile, but is just now exceeding the length of the outfits and needing to move into 0-3 months sized clothing.  He's still pretty skinny though, so some of the 0-3 month pants fit him lengthwise but not width wise and he shows some cute baby diaper crack!  :)

He loves tracking people's faces with his eyes, and he particularly LOVES the sound of his big brother Max's voice.  I think this is because little Max spent so much time talking to him while he was still in my belly.  It's truly amazing though...he can be in the middle of a fuss fit and little Max will go over to him to tell him its ok and he quiets down and opens his eyes and tries to find him. Absolutely precious.

He's pretty predictably eating every 3 hrs during the day and anywhere from 4-7 hrs at night (except for that lovely growth spurt the last few nights where he had me up every 2 hrs....grrr..).  But mostly he eats, plays a little bit and then sleeps.  I'm still napping him in his swing or bouncy seat downstairs in the AM, but have been laying him down in his crib for his afternoon naps, and he does great in there.  He's been sleeping  in the crib at night since he was about 3 weeks old.  He just did so much better in there than in our room...we are all getting better sleep as a result.

He's the perfect addition to this crazy family.  I may have always imagined myself as a mom to a girl, but I honestly wouldn't change a thing,  I'm loving this boy-crazy house!!

Well, most days at least!  :)

Project 366: Week 41

281|366 - Oct 7, 2012 -- max and his dad ran the Lakefront Marathon

282|366 - Oct 8, 2102 -- door installed!

286|366 - Oct 12, 2012 - isn't this what cupholders are for?

287|366 - Oct 13, 2012 -- max at swimming lessons

Project 366: Week 29

197 | 366 - July 15, 2012 - saying goodbye to another year on the Vineyard.

198 | 366 - July 16, 2012 - Sam's ice cream mustache.

199 | 366 - July 17, 2012 - one of the crafties I made for my BFF's wedding shower.

200 | 366 - July 18, 2012 - playing outside

201 | 366 - July 19, 2012 - bandaids on knees = summertime fun

202 | 366 - July 20, 2012 - little Max gives his bike a spin.

203 | 366 - July 21, 2012 - look at what we saw on the kid's activity sheet at Perkins!

Project 366: Week 23

155 | 366 June 3, 2012 -- the boys are sporting their new police badges that they received after helping out during an emergency at the baseball stadium.

155 | 366 June 3, 2012 - Sam was helping me indulge this afternoon!

156 | 366 June 4, 2012 - Daddy and Sam are wearing matching Hard Rock Copenhagen t-shirts!

157 | 366 June 5, 2012 -- Max's lunch box for cold lunch days

158 | 366 June 6, 2012 -- the view from my office window...

159 | 366 June 7, 2012 -- little Max and I are trying have Mommy Max days at least once
a week. 

160 | 366 June 8, 2012 - my running companion looks a little more tired than me.

161 | 366 June 9, 2012 -- the perfect end to a perfect day.

161 | 366 June 9, 2012 -- I participated in my first mud run this year -- SO much fun! (more on this later!!!)

Video updates - June 2012

I tried taking videos of the boys for Fathers Day....but (as often happens) it didn't turn out as picture perfect as it appeared in my head. So, we made a different crafty for Dad instead and called it a day. Looking back, the videos are kind of cute....so at least they won't go to waste because I'll share them with you here.

I do have a few other funny ones I snapped on my new phone (hello, Siri!) which really makes picture and video taking so much easier! Everyone teases me that I always have my phone on me....but hey! I don't miss a moment, do I??

And don't worry, I haven't forgotten those pesky 2012 goals...and I know I owe you an update. I've made a lot of great progress that I can't wait to share! But you'll just have to be patient because there is a lot of life living going on around these parts...and I don't want to miss a second of that!!

Max age 4.5 -- what a silly boy!

 

Sam age 2 -- what a sweetie!

Sam is TWO - the stats (Part 1)

So, despite my very best efforts to try to "forget" the day so it wouldn't/couldn't happen, it did anyways....Sam turned TWO.

Why does two feel like a such a milestone birthday of sorts?  It is certainly more so than one for me, personally.  At two this once co-dependent, stationary (at least in our house), and mostly non-verbal baby has become a PERSON -- one that wants to strike out on his own path, go where HE wants go and most certainly will TELL you if he thinks it should be done in a different way.  Oh yes, two is VERY different from one....

Not different in a bad way, entirely...just...different.  And, for me personally, it is also a reminder that I am going to have to 'let go' of this little one (sooner than I think) and let him become his own person.  And oh boy, Sam is definitely his own little person! You know, this whole diatribe shouldn't be too unfamiliar for anyone who knows me well or has followed this blog since I started.  Ironically (or coincidentally) I had a very similar thought process and outpouring of myself right before little Max's second birthday also!

At two, his official stats are:
34.25 inches tall (50%)
26 lbs 8.5oz (30%)

Oddly enough, those stats are almost SPOT ON with little Max's two year stats.  And while I looked back to confirm that, I had a few moments of reminiscing and watching videos and remarked in my head just how similar these two little men are at this age....and yet, again so DIFFERENT.  It is uncanny, really. 

-  At two, Sam is still pretty mellow -- not as mellow as he was two or even a year ago -- but definitely a different personality than Max was at this age.  Different = not better = not worse. 

-  Most of the time he is a pleasure to be around and can elicit a smile out of most anyone.  He is a lover of all and quick to show affection and pretty much wins over anyone he wants to
.
-  He has the cutest quirk of trembling his ENTIRE body when he gets excited about something (if he's in a vertical position, this trembling could be mis-construed as 'humping' -- but of course that just makes us laugh even more so he keeps doing it, LOL).

- He will repeat ANYTHING you ask him to -- which can be a source of fun (if little Max isn't around of course).  And yes, we do realize that we will have to stop this fun game in due time.

- He loves playing catch and throwing things.  He is still obsessed with basketball and loves to 'bounce bounce bounce" the ball and then 'shoot it'.  He is actually a pretty good shot and has quite a throwing arm on him.  His hand-eye coordination is really advanced -- the doctor even commented on it at his two year appt.

-  He also impressed the doctor when she told me at the end of the appt that a two year skill we could start working on his jumping on two feet and Sam, hearing the word jump, started jumping across the exam room.  The doctor laughed and said "well, I guess you've already got that one checked off."

- Has a super LOUD wail when he is upset about something that usually culminates in a HUGE lower lip POUT.  It is definitely DEAFENING and yet still humorous.

- Loves eating, drinking, and food in general.  Just when you think he's done (and he tells you he's done) he comes back for more.  I am actually surprised he is only a few ounces heavier than little Max was at this age. 
-  Has started taking interest in potty training (ok, maybe not the potty training, but the M&M rewards more).  We've pooped and peed on the potty, but not regularly or with any consistency.  I am actually REALLY ok with this -- having one late potty trainer, I actually appreciate a child that potty trains when they are able to do the entire deed by THEMSELVES and without MY HELP.  But, I will continue to encourage him, regardless.

-  Loves singing songs -- still mostly with made up words (some are the right ones) but usually with the correct melody.

- Loves books and reading.  His favorites lately are:  The Hungry Caterpillar, The Giving Tree, The Foot Book

-  Can count to three consistently -- tries to count to 10, but that usually ends up like "one, two, three, seven, ten"

-  Knows all his colors now and loves to shout them out as descriptors of items

-  Has the cutest little whisper voice that he only uses when I want him to use his normal voice and NEVER uses when I want him to use a quiet one....LOL.

-  Has moved on to his 24 months clothing and can wear some 2T shirts -- but the 2T pants are still way too long and will likely be too long for awhile yet.

-  Loves his green blankie as much as little Max still loves his blue blankie.  Both boys have taken to calling them their ba-bas now.  Sam is obssessed with the BIG tag on his blankie, whereas Max loves the LITTLE tag.  Both boys have to be clutching their respective TAGS in their hands before falling asleep -- how funny that they both have this same habit...

I'll be back with a later post with pictures and videos of his actual birthday festivities.  For now to tide you over, here is a video of Sam -- his first "Official Age Interview"... so without further adieu may I present you with Sam at Age Two:

Sam sings his ABCs

Isn't he just adorable?  He's trying SO hard to sing along.  I LOVE HIM!

 

Sam - 20 months (yes, I know it's late)

Just in time for Sam's 21st month (yesterday), I bring you some 'all about Sam' at 20 months. The poor kid has fallen victim to 2nd child syndrome and I'm embarrassed that I can't even remember the last time I posted an update just on him.  I hope he doesn't hate me when he gets older... :)

So, I'll start with some stats:
At his 18 month appt (he was closer to 19 months at the time) Sam was:
height = 32.25" - 35%
weight = 23# 14.5 oz - 20%
head circ = 48 cm - 50%

He's a little lighter and a little shorter than his older brother at the same age, but has a bigger head.  LOL

In honor of his '20 months' I have compiled a list of 20 things about Sam I'd like to remember:

1.  Calls his big brother 'Mai' and uses his name quite frequently to ask us where Mai is, or to tattletale on Mai -- both of the boys are big tattle tails (although it is hard not to laugh at their tattle tailing at times  e.g. "Mom, Sam is looking at me...).  They do play together pretty well though, and Max is surprisingly tolerant of Sam.  They go on quite a few 'adventures' together which usually involve toys 'flying' around the house (like the house in UP) ...  Sam wants to do/have whatever big brother is doing or having -- so we do have to break up a few 'sharing' wars....

the boys on their 'puters' -- notice each has their own now....

2.  Sam is an AWESOME eater (Max was too at this age) and really enjoys digging into his foods.  He eats completely independently now -- with his own fork and spoon (doesn't like to accept help either).

3.  Is very good at asking please (PEAS!) and more -- and still signs along with these requests which melts my heart, especially when he starts frantically signing please over and over.  His 'tank u' is very sweet and spoken very softly.  LOVE it.  He likes eating food in 'cuppies' and will pull a 'cuppy' out of the cupboard and ask for 'cackers or sea-eral'

4.  LOVES all kinds of balls -- like obsessively LOVES them.  His favorite, by far, is the basketball and Max bought him a regulation size ball that I swear he would sleep with if I let him (which I do not).  He can play catch (and can actually catch the ball) and loves to kick his mini soccer ball around the house.

5.  We're working on his colors, and he knows them -- but not consistently.  Much like Max, his favorite colors at this age are yellow and blue.

6.  Calls all letters and numbers 'A' -- and likes to point out 'As' everywhere -- on shirts, on the TV, in books, in the bathtub, etc.  LOVES the ABC song and I hear him singing the tune of the song often with just the word 'Mom'....so sweet.....

7.  Is very adept at climbing onto things and is very fearless and brave and does it without thinking (we actually never had to worry about this with Max).  I just about freaked when I saw him standing on top of the coffee table one morning. He laughed at me.  Devil child.

8.  Sleeps GREAT.  Down without complaint around 7-7:30 each night and sleeps until 6-6:30 am (if he's not up already we have to wake him up by that time for school).  He takes one nap a day, in the afternoon for 2-3 hrs at a time.  Even if he wakes up earlier than we want to, he is generally very good about hanging out and playing in his crib for awhile.

9.  Is not shy AT ALL.  He loves to give hugs and kisses and is very trusting and obedient when I ask him to hug and kiss people.  Rarely has he balked at my request -- for example, on Xmas eve, we were over at a friend's house and he hugged and kissed most of the people there goodbye -- many of which he had never met before (and I caught him giving Grandma a big hug of the leg that night too when no one else was around!).  Love my little love bird.

10.  Gives me huge neck squeezes, open mouthed kisses, and nose kisses when I ask him to.  I ask him frequently.  Who wouldn't?

11.  Loves to pick out his own diaper -- cloth diaper -- because he loves the colors and patterns.  His favorite is the giraffe diaper.  I don't blame him, it is my favorite too.  He'd wear cloth diapers all the time if we could let him -- but daycare won't let us use them there....

12.  Has started to give huge cheeser smiles when we take pictures -- which is much better than his expressions in pictures in the past where he just sat there staring blankly at the camera, LOL.

13.  Still fits into his 18 month clothes and most of the 24 month clothes are much too big in his waist and length for his legs.  I still have to roll up some of his 18 month stuff!  I finally gave in and packed up most of the 12 month clothes, but he still wears a lot of those shirts.

Sam and Connor in their matching jammies on xmas eve

14.  LOVES stuffed animals -- he sleeps with two ellies (elephants), pup pup, monkey, worm, bear and of course, ba-ba.

15.  LOVES 'boo-cks" (books) and has to read at least 3 each night -- he would keep reading them over and over if we let him.

16.  Has started to sing along (melody wise, not necessarily word wise) to many of the songs I sing to him.  Some nights, he lays back in my arms and looks up at my face and puts his finger on my mouth while I sing the songs.  He gets a kick out of watching my lips move and asks for more and more.  He really loves Mary had a Little Lamb right now and asks for the 'mary lamb' song.

17.  Loves to help around the house and vacuums, sets the table, cleans up toys (sometimes without being asked).

18.  Loves to slide down stairs on his belly and goes so fast sometimes that I worry about rug burn on his belly (especially now that he has a full set of stairs to go down between our second and first floors!)

I swear it was just a candy cane, Mom!

19. Loves having water poured over his head in the bathtub -- it takes his breath away and he struggles to catch it, but sometimes he asks for 'more' before he's even caught his breath!  It is hilarious -- especially considering his older brother screams 'my eyes! my eyes!' if even a drop of water gets near them.  I NEED to get a video of this.  He's been doing it for awhile, and I never get tired of it!

20.  His vocabulary is exploding and he is starting to use more multiple word sentences and phrases.  He speaks in a very soft whisper voice when I ask him a question, but has a much louder and DEMANDING voice that he can and does use frequently.  Those times are usually preceded by a loud "MAAMAA!"  It seems that most every sentence he uses starts with MAMA!  That's ok...I don't mind having Momma's boys....truly....

Seriously, how did I get so lucky with two such remarkable boys?  I love these kids...I love watching them grow and learn and become their own little people.  As much as they are alike, they have so many wonderful differences...and I love them for both the similarities and what they don't have in common.  What was I worried about when I cried right before Sam was born and said to myself that I wasn't sure if I had enough love in my heart for two babies?  I have PLENTY.  My heart just grew to carry it all.