Hanging Around

We spent most of the week hanging around the house.  It was Lisa's first week of summer vacation, so that meant we saw each other every. single. day.  It was pure Mommy bliss to have her home!  And of course Evie and Emily had fun playing together.

Lots of water.  Lots of dumping.  Lots of fun.

Looking pretty cute in her suit

Playing with water has been the name of the game. 

Painting the deck with Daddy

Water is the only way to beat the hot summer days

Braylen is exploring everything. 

After a conversation with Jessie and Rachel, I realized that I too have hardly any pictures with the kids.  I always bring out the camera to take cute pictures of Daddy with them.  So I started the old hold-out-the-camera shots.

And then I realized how aged my face looks!  Yikes!  I kept this one blurry for a reason.

The hair pulling is out. of. control.  I wear it up every day, but he still grabs it underneath and yanks. 

Daddy's Day

I asked Jason if he wanted to do anything special for Father's Day.  He said nothing.

I did as requested.

I am a Grinch still.  There are way too many Hallmark Holidays.  They overwhelm me.  Everyone changes their Facebook picture to their dad, writes some message for all of the world to read about how great their husband is and dad, everyone asks what we did special for Father's Day.... it all makes me cringe with guilt.  So again this year, I did nothing.

Luckily Evie made a card for Daddy at school to make up for my laziness.  I wrote an extra message.  Jason teared up.  Thank you MDOW!

The kids wore Daddy attire. 

What's the first thing you notice? 
Holy matching "butt chins" batman

Daddy washed his car.

We went to the mall and Daddy bought new sneakers.

Daddy had two beers at DuClaw.

Mommy drove Daddy home.

I would call it a day about Daddy!


Maybe 2014 will be the year I will have my stuff together....

Braylen's Half Birthday

Braylen has entered into my favorite stage; 6 months until about the terrible 2 business begins.  Those rough newborn days and nights are well behind us at this point.  We. made. it.

Still got the chunky legs, but I think he's gotten longer.
He's wearing 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.

This month is all about grabbing everything in sight.  Plates, napkins, toys, hair, cellphones, etc.

Paper towels were the next item after the bag of garlic

Whatever keeps him happy while I make dinner. 

After grabbing, he puts that item in his mouth

Sophie makes a return as the favorite teething toy

No teeth yet, but he found his toes!

Evie has been more gentle playing with Braylen recently.  She makes him smile and laugh.

Reading books together

Evie "reading" to Braylen

Braylen is working his way through purees.  So far he has tried carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, and bananas.  Sweet potatoes are his favorite.  On the menu for this week: apples, pears, butternut squash, and prunes (if needed).  He follows our forks with his eyes.  This boy is ready for the real deal!

The biggest change this month has been sleep.  Since Mother's Day (just shy of 5 months old), he has been up only once a night and most nights sleeping straight through until 5 or 6 am.  7-10 hours of solid sleep has made everyone in this house much happier.  He goes down between 7:30-8 pm.  If we are out and about, he will nap in the car, but as soon as the motion stops, he's up.  If we are home for a morning nap, he will take a 1-2 hour snooze.  I have both kids napping at the same time in the afternoon- usually 1-3.  I am really happy with the routine we have going and how easily he adapts to sleeping in different houses or on the fly.  He also doesn't want to be rocked to bed anymore.  A quick snuggle and he wants to be in his bed.  Yes sir!

I am so cautious about leaving Braylen alone on the floor with Evie around, that I didn't realize he could sit unsupported for a bit.  I wouldn't call him a full out sitter yet.  I am giving him more time to strengthen his core.  I hope he will be more sturdy when we go to the beach soon

Leaning...

.....leaning....

...crash

Braylen has such a pleasant and sweet personality.  I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mommy to a little boy.  He melts my heart.  I am enjoying my boy snuggles while they last.  I think he's turned into an adorable little bundle of cuteness.  (I know he was a little goofy as a newborn...)

Under One Roof

Before kids, Jason and I were out of town at least once a month, if not more.  We really enjoy visiting our college friends near and far.  But since we have all started having kids, it hasn't been as easy.  Guest rooms have turned into baby nurseries and after a long week, who really has the energy to pack up half their house and run the risk of babies (and therefore all of us) not sleeping for the weekend?

Well, we took the plunge and tried it out. 

Four adults, two toddlers, two babies, and one dog all slept amazingly well under one roof for one night!!

The dads presented the moms with an agenda for the day, which consisted of TIME OFF!  It was like Mother's Day, a month later.  How was my 2nd Mother's Day?  Wonderful!  What did I love about it?

* Finally spending the money and time to get my haircut.  I could let someone shampoo my hair all day.
* Not serving anyone lunch
* Uninterrupted conversation for longer than 30 minutes
* Having the dads plan and serve dinner
* Sushi by candlelight at 8:45 PM

Not only do we adore Jerry and Kristen, now we have kiddos close in age.  Evie and Brendan are 10 days apart.  Braylen and Collin are 4 months apart.  Everyone will have lifelong buds! 

Lots of new toys to check out

 


Oh Evie, you will be trouble later in life



For the townhouse dwellers, having a big fenced in backyard is pure bliss.

Moon bounce.  Go big or go home at the Wik's!

Entertainment for hours

LOL.  Brendan is helping Jerry pick up dog poop and Evie is mowing

Things sure have changed since these days...

Legwarmers concert

Jerry has been through many fine and not so fine moments with us.  I am so glad he is Jason's best friend.  He's a good guy to have in our lives forever :) 

Christmas 2011.  Two kids...

June 2013.  Four kids...

Our trial run of all staying together went really well.  Four make-shift monitors on little ones in four different rooms was comical.  It was a fun guessing game which phone or monitor was transmitting a crying child. 

Someday we might live in the same 'hood.  Until then, we have to stay good-bye to our good friends

Summer School

Today was Evie's first day of preschool!  The community center 2 minutes from our house has a program called "Mother's Day Out of Westchester (MDOW)" for little ones starting at age two.  Evie will go every Wednesday for 8 weeks from 9-12.

I changed her outfit three times.  I knew my mother would yell at me for not putting her in a dress, but it was a little cool out.  I wasn't feeling any of her dresses for a mid-60's type morning.  I ended up putting her back in the original outfit I picked out.  She might be a little chilly in sleeveless, but it would have to do.  She looked cute

Evie was very excited about wearing her Elmo backpack to school.

The morning was a big blur to me

 
I had a nervous stomach and got slightly choked up at times while getting her ready.  Suddenly I wished I asked more questions at the open house!  Do they have snack?  Do I bring a straw cup for her?  Will she have some down time just to look at books?  AHH!

No anxiety here.  She's ready to go

She proudly walked into school.  She clung to me when we reached the classroom and shed some tears.  Miss Heather, the teacher aide, picked up her and was very sweet to her.  Mom, exit stage right.  Before I left I told Miss Heather that her straw cup was in her backpack.  She looked at me oddly and asked if Evie couldn't drink from a little cup.  Well, she probably can if you want water all over the place!  I wanted to justify why my daughter can't drink from an open cup yet (like I have a 5 month old too and can't handle one more mess right now), but I simply said "she just turned two"

My three hours with Braylen went super fast.  We went to Trader Joes and spent the rest of the morning preparing for the afternoon.  School is so close I set up our lunch on the kitchen table before I left.

When I arrived in the classroom, Evie was sitting with the other kids on the rug.  She instantly fussed and cried my name when she saw me.  Miss Julie, her teacher, said, "She is REALLY (I was waiting for cute or adorable or something to that effect) tired."  When I asked Miss Heather how it went.  She said she was "really tired" too.  As Evie fussed and tore apart a library book (first time EVER) over the next hour at home, I realized "really tired" was probably a nice way of saying my daughter was a hot mess.

Evie opened up her backpack at home and hung her fish craft on the refrigerator.  She got very upset with me when I took her name off her back. She kept saying "back, back!" and pointing to her back. 

All day I have been struggling with what they said to me.  I feel like I didn't prepare her enough for school.  She was probably so frustrated having to follow directions and interact with 11 other kids.  She barley makes it one hour at the playground.  Three hours was definitely a lot for her.  And her water bottle didn't look touched.  She was probably hungry and thirsty.  We snack 2 times over three hours at home.  It eats me up to think I am the parent of that kid.  I have no idea what really happened at school- Evie can't tell me.  I think I will arrive a little earlier next week and peak in on her.  I really hope I am wrong that Evie was a terrible two the entire time....  this is why I am sending her to school though; I want her to be prepared for real preschool since she will be one of the youngest and smallest kids. 

I need to make friends with other moms at MDOW stat.  I feel so clueless about what goes on there!  Encouraging and uplifting comments for the confidence shaken mama, please.

You Do The Math

Evie's stats at 2 years of age:

Height: 32.5 inches (16%)
Weight:  22 lbs. 5 oz (4%)
Head Circumference:  47.5 cm  (50%).  I think Evie has a really small head so I was pleased to see this percentile "normal"

For the record- I was in and out in 20 minutes TOTAL!  No wait for nurse, no wait for Dr. Burke, and no shots.  A first for sure.  Another first- Evie did not cry once.  She was very pleasant and cooperative. 



Here's my word problem for you to figure out:

At 24 months Evie is 22 lbs. 5 oz.  She weighed 20 lbs. 2 oz at 18 months and 18 lbs. 8 oz at 12 months (for those of you who want to see her rate of growth) 

When weighed last week at G and Poppop's house, Braylen was 17.4 lbs.  We'll call that 5.5 months old.  He weighed 15 lbs, 10 oz at 4.5 months. 

You can make a system of equations and do the math, or you can make an educated guess.  When will Braylen weigh more than Evie??

My guess from the beginning was when Braylen is 9 or 10 months old.  I am holding strong to that time frame.

... And the Process Begins

It's time for Braylen to move beyond cereal and start purees! 

A huge thank you to my neighbor, Melanie, who kindly lent me her snazzy baby food maker.


Put in water and food in basket.  Turn on

 

When orange light goes off, dump food from basket into mixing cup

Minutes later, one machine later, pureed carrots!

A few minutes later... happy baby

See how it went down-

How did it come out?  Eh, Braylen has been screaming for the last three days like I haven't heard in a while.  The poor guy is really pushing to poop.  Carrots?  Teeth?  Both?  I am treating both- teething tablets and gas drops.  Good-bye breast milk, seedy poops.  Hello, somewhat solid ones!  (and needing 17 wipes to clean his hiney...)

Next up- sweet potatoes.  I like to see how badly I can stain everything orange at the first go around.  We'll move to green stuff next week.