Not for the faint of heart...

You can't make this stuff up, as my friend, Angela, would say....

We were running late, of course, to get out the door to the bible study at church. K gets very still. Says, "maaaaaaamaaaa" and then throws up ....not only that, he conveniently catches it in his hands....

Then, looks at his sweet, precious brother...

yes....

he wiped it on B's head....

seriously....

See ya next week bible study...

Sweet Cheeks

Squeezable, kissable, edible

Dah dah dah dah dah

This took place while the boys were napping (obviously, B had better things to do than nap...) :)

Update on the doctor...

No ear infection...no more fever...Just congested...

We're not really sure what is going on. I'll most likely make a chiro appointment for this week (ok, for both of us!) ;-) And talk with her about it...

Our Sorry Attempt

I normally save blogging for when the boys are sleeping or there's another pair of hands to help, but this had to be shared...

K was getting a lil hyper in making his brother laugh this afternoon that he threw something across the room and it hit me. Thankfully, it was a very lightweight flimsy object and not, say, his plastic bongos!

So I told him to come to me, informed him that he hit me and that he needed to apologize...

He looked at me and grinned.

I said, "Keaton, are you supposed to throw toys?"

These beautiful eyes looked up at me and he had a huge grin and very matter-of-factly said, "YES!"

I couldn't help but bust out laughing...

So I asked again, shaking my head 'no' while I asked if we were supposed to throw toys. He got the right answer.

So I asked him to apologize and that sweet, sweet, "Ary "come out.

I couldn't help but laugh again :)

Back to my boys....

6 months!

I can't believe it has been 6 MONTHS since my lil sugar lump was born!!!

He's huge. I had a lady in the bathroom at church this morning, while I was changing his diaper, ask if she could chomp on his thighs - this wasn't weird to me because I think about eating him everyday! haha! :) He is quite a chunk and I love it!

He's so far had oatmeal, bananas and avocados. Sweet potatoes will enter the menu tomorrow, followed by apples. The boy loves to eat :)

He's getting very active on the floor, but not crawling yet (whew!) Last night, he looked like a break dancer spinning around on his belly and scooting everywhere!

He still loves screeching...it's still loud ;-)

He's getting the "mmmm" sound down perfectly, and the other day, I opened the pantry and he said, "Oh!" haha! :)

He loves flirting with the ladies, batting those gorgeous eyes at them and showing off his two front teeth!

So far, it's only those two, but I keep having VERY vivid dreams about there being more...and those more...hurting me ;-)

He still loves his jumperoo. He is more 'content' if I walk away now (which is wonderful!) He loves playing on the floor with Keaton (or I should say, Keaton loves playing on the floor with him!)

He's in Medium, but could sometimes use Large, cloth diapers (size 4 in disposables) & wearing 12-18 month clothing.

So, that's the latest on my sugar lump :)

He has to beat his brother...

I thought we were in the clear with our lil piggy!

Keaton rolled over at 6 weeks and didn't stop. B didn't roll til roughly 5 months - I was perfectly fine with this!

Keaton crawled right at 6 months and started pulling up and cruising the same weekend. B started scooting today - he made it across the room in less than 2 minutes. As I sit and type this, he is spinning in circles on his (poor, bare, because his 12 month PJs are too SMALL) belly - SCREAMING at the floor as he pushes up on his toes and tries to get on his knees. He turns 6 months on Sunday - trying to catch up with big brother?

sigh...

Bananas & the Sleep Saga

Benjamin had something other than oatmeal today.

Backing up (and buckle up - this doesn't 'flow' as smoothly as I'd like). We started solids (oatmeal) about a week ago because B continued to wake throughout the night after having been sleeping through the night for MONTHS. We were hoping this was our answer to more sleep. Alas, it's been the opposite. If anything, we've been getting LESS sleep. Way. Less. Sleep.

I was a tad hesitant to use the HappyBellies oatmeal because of the probiotics but, it sounded so great (and IS!!!!) (in case you don't click back to see my post, or can't find it - I think it's just a one sentence blurb...I'm NOT AT ALL against probiotics! We were giving them to B when we were dealing with thrush and it seemed to really upset his tummy (or just him in general). He'd be PERFECTLY fine if I didn't give him any. If I DID give him some, he'd be a mess that night and not sleep, but stay up and scream most of the night).

But, the more B eats the oatmeal the less he sleeps and the more he's up at night fussing! It's to the point where we deal with the fussing by nursing him (ie: me nursing him) and Zach giving him a bottle...then at 3, Zach just brings him in our room and lets him sleep on him and then I nurse him at 530 and we get another hour or so of sleep. By doing this, so it stays quiet, I'm sure we've 'created a monster' and made B think this is OK...well, it's not.

So tonight, we get mean. B gets to Cry It Out (CIO). If I felt there was something, anything wrong with him, this wouldn't be happening. I have known everytime either has had an ear infection. I can tell when they're sick. It's not a growth spurt (I can go pat his butt for 3.2 seconds and he's back to sleep....until I walk away). He just wants to be near us. And that's fine....but we aren't sleeping that way.

So we're starting that...

And we also gave him less oatmeal today too in hopes that this helps. He got it at breakfast. Lunchtime, we were out with family so he didn't get it then, and then at dinner, we gave him bananas, which he loved - who wouldn't?!

I admit, it was so wonderful to "make" his food (again...not that I've made HIS food before, but I did Keaton's) Granted - I started with the easiest - mash add water (no breastmilk on hand since piggy has drank every drop I've ever pumped....so much for my stash!) stir, watch baby go ...bananas (har har!)

Of course, we forgot a picture....chalk it up to being beyond exhausted...

So...wish us luck tonight!

Benjamin

is rolling rolling rolling...both ways.

He's stealth though. We missed the first time he went back to belly & I just missed him go belly to back...

It's about to get crazy!

Check back tonight for K's 22month update!

"Oh Wow"

I'm normally pretty anal about what Keaton eats. I mean, we're NOT healthy eaters, but I don't let him drink juice, have lots of sweets or anything like that. If I'm having a dessert, I'll let him taste, usually the least sugar-filled part of it...

Well, the holidays have ruined that. He's been eating Sandtarts with me, we stand by the Peppermint Marshmallows and munch all day...

Wednesday was the straw that broke the camel's back though...

When my mom was in town last weekend, she bought us some egg nog. The only time I notice it was when I'd open the fridge for meals, and I couldn't drink egg nog with meals...it has to stand alone!

Well, I went to get Keaton's sippy out of the fridge and I saw it. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to have a sip!

So I poured myself a cup and wouldn't you know, Keaton turns around - he knows something is amiss. He is being left out!

I looks and says, "Guh" (which I'm thinking this time meant, "Give" haha) I said, "Say please" (Forgetting that he has that one down now...) "Peeeeease" So I give him a tiny sip.

This is my son. I know he was birthed from me if for no other reason the second that delicious, thick drink touched his tongue, his eyes lit up and "OH WOW" escaped his lips - complete with a tummy rub, followed by "yummy yummy!" hahahahahah, I love it!

I had to chug the rest and show him it was "all gone" so he wouldn't beg for more (ie: wailing and gnashing of teeth!)
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Benjamin discovered his voice a week or so ago. If you see us and we have blood pouring out of our ears, that's what is going on. This kid can screech! I don't remember Keaton being this loud - of course, up until this point, he'd spent the better part of his short four months screaming and crying all day....and all night. So, noise was kind of relative by that point. But B is loud. That's the only way to describe it.

When I taught pre-school, one of my 3 year olds had given me an ornament (I'm thrilled her mom wrote her name and the year on the back - I will never forget Meredith McGimsey...Seriously. I loved those kids. I can see the whole class now...Noah, Beth, Carter...ok, I won't name all 13, but I bet I could! haha!) Anywho, the ornament. It's a felt bear and super cute. Well, I was sitting at the "tree" tonight with B and he starts YELLING at this bear, grabbing for it. I tried to show him lights and other shiny ornaments...He'd push them out of the way to get to that bear! It was hysterical!
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I keep thinking of things to brag about them throughout the day and when I sit down to write, I can't remember it all...

Oh well...maybe tomorrow. :)

Raleigh, We Have a Problem!

I don't know which problem is worse, so I'll start with the first born.

Keaton, my little eating machine, has finally decided that eating is not needed anymore! I was really hoping we were going to skip this stage of toddler-hood! Now, since he did eat an entire PB&J sandwich at lunch and even asked, by signing, for more, it very well could be that his cold is just causing too much drainage to eat...but this has been going on for a week now. The child only wants to eat, teething biscuits, waffles and toast! I did get some encouragement from this site and this site (as well as some BTDT -been there, done that- mama's on facebook!) Any other advice is greatly welcome :)

Benjamin is a mama's boy! Susan, my mother-in-law, commented this weekend on how much B seemed to really enjoy the close contact (while being in the wrap) and just being held and snuggled close in general. Now, I love this as much as the next mama. However, yesterday, B was napping in the swing and I was snuggling on the couch reading with K. B woke up and I just happened to look over about that time. He looked at me, stuck out his lip and started pouting. I put K down and B started grinning. I picked up K, the lip and pouting. I put K down, he grinned!!

Ohhhhh boy! These guys are going to keep me on my toes!! :)

Here are some pictures:

B in his bumbo!

Cheesy grin from my sweet pea

My chunky almost 4 month old!

B in the onesie K wore 8 days before his 1st birthday!!!

"Oo-OO"

says the monkey. And in our case, our little Monkey :) Keaton has started making a monkey noise whenever we see a monkey (note: Monkey's are not often seen in this part of NC, merely in books and on toys) :)

He's expanding his vocab everyday. I'm simply amazed at what all he can "say" (I have to translate most of his words...but the fact that he's associating the same sound, usually the correct sounds, with an object or idea, is awesome). His favorite word is still "No" :) His newest is "Bah" for bath.

He has started signing milk (one that I never showed him, except in his sign language book!) in addition to more, eat, done/finished, light (sometimes), drink (sometimes), hi/bye (haha), and it seemed like there was another one, but I can't remember right now.

Benjamin had his vaccination visit today (we're spreading out his shots so he doesn't get a ton in one visit. It means more trips in, but, I feel better about it this way - I'll write more on this later) He just got one and took it like a champion :)

I was also curious as to his weight because he is wearing 6-9 month clothing (Not entirely, but some things, depending on the fit)... My little chunk at 3 months and 6 days weighs in at.......

16lbs. 1oz.!!! This is "nearly off the charts" (97%) for his age. (K weighed 16lbs. at 4 months) Unbelievable!

I want to apologize for not posting a lot of pictures recently. I've been taking them, but when ever I upload them to Blogger, they post all weird and if I try to caption them, they go out of order...I'm not stupid but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong!! It's RATHER frustrating and I keep meaning to shoot someone an email at Blogger, but...I keep putting it on the back burner...along with calling PlaytexBaby about sending me a new pump since mine died :( going to our old apartment and visiting the Hahns and Macks!!!!...and about 18 other things!!

Pictures

Benjamin & his Buddha belly :)

Keaton...being Keaton :)

Thriller ;-)

Thanks to JLeigh for letting me borrow the wrap - one day I'll make it to get my own fabric :)

Full-length wrap

I guess he can!

At our pedi's office, at certain ages, we have to turn in an Ages & Stages form. One of those ages is 18 months, which is all too quickly approaching! One of the questions on this form was "Does you child use a spoon correctly and get most of the food in his/her mouth?" (something along those lines...)

We've been giving Keaton a spoon to use for months, but we've honestly never paid attention (we really usually just gave it to him to entertain himself while we ate!) So we tried this weekend and he did OK with it.

Yesterday, when I went to give him his probiotics in the applesauce, I decided to let him do it himself....

And one of the B-man...this was pre-swing batteries dying yesterday...what a long day it was!!!

A CALM Monday!!!!

I can't believe it's been a "normal" day! Well, it's only 150pm, so I guess there's still plenty of day left! But the fact that we've yet to go to the dr. today - for the first Monday in 7 weeks!!!!! I'm VERY excited!

Really, the only thing I've done, other than eating, feeding, reading and snuggling with B, is get more diapers for K ordered! He's pretty much outgrown all of his current stash! B is slowly getting that way! I think we're going to sell the newborn ones and order the next size. Then, for the next one (which IS NOT on the way!!!! haha!) we'll just use disposables until he/she can fit in the ones we have. They're so little for such a short time. And if I would have looked at how long K was "little" I would have realized this! But since they've really only been used for about 3 weeks, we should be able to get most of the money back and get a decent amount of bigger ones for B until he can fit in what we have for K.

Our scale isn't the best, but I'm curious to know how much B weighs. On the scale last night, it said 13.5 lbs...but, before his 1 month appt. it said he weighed 10.5lbs. (when he was really 9lbs. 12oz.) so...it could be right..or wrong! I'm just very curious because he was in a 0-6 months shirt last night...and his big ol belly was all hanging out! :)

My mom snuggling with Keaton when he was 7 weeks...

My mom snuggling with Benjamin at 6 weeks & 2 days

Bebe brought down the Keaton-sized chair and he LOVES it! He spent most of the morning in it reading!

Love those gummy grins!!!!

Me: "Keaton...stand next to your brother so I can take your picture"
Keaton: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

This could be titled:
1) Brotherly Love
2) Keaton, Be Gentle
3) Why we can't get germs out of this house!
It is so sweet though! He gets right in his face and makes a kiss sound :)

3/4 of the family!

And to end with a funny story. Last night, Benjamin woke up to nurse (I can't remember if this happened at 1 or 4...) but, he was screaming for a minute or two before Zach got him...(which I think I punched you to get up...sorry, honey!) Zach changed his diaper and brought him in the bedroom for me to nurse him. About a minute later, the house is all quiet...and you hear Keaton scream, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" (think "STELLLLLA" & A Streetcar Named Desire) I could NOT stop laughing!!!! It was absolutely hysterical!