2 Months Old

Well I am about 10 days late but I am pretty impressed I writing at all.  Two boys are so much fun but we are busy!

Our sweet Charlie boy is 2 months old.  As much as we are trying to appreciate the moment because we know how fast this can go (hello, Paul is almost 3), time is still speeding past me.  He is already so big and I know it is just going to get worse.  I probably should just pack his room up for college. 

Charlie is the sweetest baby in the world.  He is totally spoiling us and if I did want to have a third baby (don't worry, I don't) I would have one tomorrow because he makes it look so easy.  His hair still sticks straight up and I love it.  His eyes are still dark blue and his belly is nice and big!

We went to the doctor for his two month appointment and he was about 11 pounds, which is still not very heavy but a giant compared to Paul.  He had to get his shots and I made Ryan drive all the way home from work to go with us and of course he only cried for 23 seconds.  Sorry Ryan.  But not really.  I hate that stuff.

Charlie is a good eater and likes his boob and bottle equally.  I think we are pretty lucky because I've heard about babies who refuse the bottle.  I am not sure what these moms do when they have to go back to work??

Speaking of work, I had to go back this month which was obviously a huge adjustment.  Of course I was the only one who had a hard time, and Charlie did great.  He went to daycare for the first time and Jackie told me that she tried to put him upstairs away from all the toddlers to take a nap.  But he wouldn't sleep.  When she brought him down in the midst of all the chaos, he slept like an angel.  Maybe because he is used to a high pitch screaming, trucks crashing, jumping on the couch environment. 

I hate to write about sleep because I know once you write about it, the sleeping gods screw with you.  But we have been really lucky in this department too.  For the last two nights Charlie has slept the entire night 9-5:30 ish.  Today I didn't have to work, so when he woke up at 5:30, I gave him his pacifier and brought him in bed with me and he slept for another hour.  Until his brother woke up, hopped up on my bed and started jumping scaring me to death that he was going to jump right on top of the baby.  Just getting that adrenaline pumping before 7 AM. 

He does like his pacifier but I don't give it to him at bedtime.  I don't know how we did that, but I am thankful because I don't want to keep putting that thing back in his mouth every second at night.  

The brothers are really sweet together.  Just a few minutes ago Paul told me to go away because he wanted to snuggle with his brother by himself.  Charlie just follows Paul around with his eyes and Paul is much more into his brother then I thought he would be. 

Charlie is really smiling and laughing and talking.  I just love the baby talk.  He really thinks he is saying some important things.  He loves laying on his activity mat and reaching for the animals.  He is getting better at tummy time, he will lift his head and look around, but he also just likes to lay down and take a little nap.  Lazy baby.

He is on a good schedule.  I am a schedule kind of person.  I tried not to be, but it is who I am .  I also tried to be a bassinet in my room kind of mom.  Guess what?  I"m not one of those either.  Charlie is in his crib and I turn off the monitor and just wait until I can hear him.  This just works better for me (I would say us, but Ryan literally cannot hear that baby cry in the middle of the night for the life of him).  Anyway, he eats the first time between 6-7 in the morning and then again at 9, 12, 3, 6.  His last bottle is at 9 right before going to bed for the night.  We do the whole eat, play, sleep routine and it works well.  His naps aren't perfect but his best nap is from 1-3 ish in his swing.  This works well because I put him in his swing and take Paul up for his nap.  Then I usually can have at least an hour to myself.  To watch the Kardashians on my DVR.  Big things happening here.  

He does like his pacifier but I don't give it to him at bedtime.  I don't know how we did that, but I am thankful because I don't want to keep putting that thing in his mouth every second at night. 

Some days are hard.  And long.  And sometimes I dream of day drinking mimosas and bloody Marys or reading all day or taking a nap whenever I please.  But then I see my two sweet boys loving on each other and I couldn't feel more grateful.  But honestly, time needs to freeze.  These wrist rolls and chunky thighs won't last forever. 

Holding hands.  I die. 

The Big Boy Bed

This summer we tried Paul out on the big boy bed.  It did not go well.  He was up at 2:00 am breathing in my face and scaring the shit out of me!  We went back and forth a few times, until I got Ryan up and then they went back and forth many times.  The night finally concluded with me sleeping in the big boy bed with Paul, which if you ever have slept with a toddler know that is asking for the worst night sleep of you life.  The next day I put him back in the crib.  Clearly he wasn't ready.  And more importantly I did not have the diligence to follow through.  I was ending the first trimester, tired, and Paul slept so well in the crib I don't know why I was trying to fix something that wasn't broken.

But then this new baby boy's due date crept closer and closer. I thought about just buying a second crib but I guess telling people that my close to three year old was still in a crib was slightly embarrassing.  Plus, I think I should spend that money restocking my home with red wine rather than another crib.  Am I right?

This time we talked up the big bed a little more.  We added a headboard, foot board, and Lightening McQueen side rail, trying to make the bed resemble more of a crib.  We bought Lightening McQueen sheets.  We prayed.  And guess what?  He did fantastic.  He has never gotten out of his bed at night and still waits for us to come get him when he wakes up.  During nap time I do hear him jumping off the bed and doing God knows what, but the major goal of nap time for me is to catch up on my DVR in peace, so as longs as he stays up there I don't really care.  He does seem to fall asleep eventually and the jumping session has been a little shorter, so we will see. 

I do have to say he looks so cute curled up in his big bed and when we go get him he is always very proud of himself, declaring that he "stayed in my big boy bed."  So we switched the white crib into the new baby's nursery and now I will have plenty of money to drink with.  A win win. 

 

The infamous bed with a race car decal above.  He loves it.  

 

The new roman shades that help make his room extra dark.  With the time change, we have had to wake him up at 5:00 from nap time.  In his defense, it is rather cozy in there! 

 

His new dresser with wire lines above to hang all our letters.  Yes, we have been working on our letters since September and are only up to "E."  We did F today.  When I am off I will always choose a play date over letter learning.  Don't judge.

Baby Bump- 34 Weeks!

How far along: 34 weeks. His skin is smoother than ever.  His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well! 

How big is baby: About 4 3/4 pounds and almost 18 inches long.  Like an average cantaloupe! 

Sleep: It is okay, some nights are better than others!  Switching sides is sort of a production, and I have to fully awake to make the switch.

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: Yogurt, apples and Halloween candy!

Exercise: YOGA! I love the yoga barre class.  Today I was late and everyone thought I had had the baby.  So funny! 

Gender: BOY!!

Movement:  Yes.  They are getting firmer and more powerful!

Worries: I don't know if I had any new worries this week.  I am still wondering what position this baby is, even though we have 6 weeks to move. 

What I'm loving: Fall break! It is so nice to sleep in a bit (today the entire family slept until 8:15 AM) and have time as a family.  Today Ryan and I went to lunch ALONE and it was perfect.  I also took him to Ikea... it was a special day! 
 

Symptoms: I don't want to hear from strangers how hard 2 kids is.  This is similar to when people say "enjoy your sleep" when you are pregnant with your first child.  There is no reason for these sorts of comments.  Most people have siblings and many people have done this.  I have no delusions that this won't be hard, but I am also confident that we will be fine.  Tired but fine. 

What I'm looking forward to: Ryan finished painting the nursery and now we are working hard to get it all pulled together!  Our colors are gray, orange, and blue!  I can't believe there will be a little baby sleeping in there in less than 6 weeks (hopefully)!!!

Best moment of the week: Paul moved into his big boy bed!  Tonight is the first night, so I will have to report back and let you know how it goes.  He looks so cute in that big bed, and he was pretty excited to show his stuffed monkey his Lightening McQueen sheets.  He hasn't gotten out yet and I hope he doesn't wake up at 5 am.  The clock that changes colors when it is time to wake up is on the way.  I wish we had a video monitor to spy on him!

A Fall Day!

My parents watched Paul while I went to the doctor and checked on Baby Boy #2 (everything looks good).  When I pulled back up to my parent's house, my mom was sitting on the porch.  Alone. Apparently the three of them had gone for a walk when Grandma was instructed to "go back home" while Paul finished his walk with G.  Isn't that nice?

Before my mom was exiled, they took these great pictures.  They look like his first day of school pixs!  I can't get enough of his popped collar and smile.  He looks so big.  He looks like a big brother!

 

So cute my little man!  And this weather is amazing... but of course the forecast predicts snow for tonight.  Happy Wednesday everyone!