JLB {ten and eleven months} plus an update on Reese

Here's the thing with living a full life-- there's no extra time to sit down and write about it.   Settle in for a long recap.

Our sweet Jack is eleven months old.  I'm not sure how the time passed so quickly and I'd like it to stop now.  Just like when big brother was this age EVERY stage is my favorite.  April was a doozy for our littlest love.  Multiple breathing issues and ear infections kept us at the doctor on a regular rotation.  Jack got tubes on May 1st, though, and combined with a daily inhaler and allergy meds seems to be doing much, much better.  It was a rough go for awhile and he was a trooper.

Currently he is crawling like lightening and into everything.  Much to my dismay, he shows no fear. If he's awake, he's moving.  In the last week he's started letting go and standing for a few seconds.  I know walking isn't far off so I'm considering having a bubble wrap suit made for him.  He also loves to take things out of containers or baskets.  Each morning when he finishes eating his bottle he makes a beeline for the toy basket and proceeds to throw everything in reach onto the floor.  Yesterday he discovered he could do the same with the blanket basket in his room.  I spend most of my day chasing behind him.

Jack is holding strong to his one solo tooth.  I keep thinking the others are coming, but they don't. His favorite foods are yogurt, string cheese, bananas, white beans, and sweet potato tots.  He also likes anything I'm eating :)

My favorite thing in the world is that he loves to snuggle. He tucks his little arms in and buries his face in my neck.  Being the favorite is simultaneously exhausting and the best thing ever.  He radiates joy and we are obsessed with him.

Onto Reese!  Our favorite six year old wrapped up the school year with a Seusstastic musical, a zoo field trip {I chaperoned-- #godblesskindergartenteachers}, jelly bean field day, and awards day.

The zoo was so much fun.  I rode the bus and had a group of kiddos to take around.  They were precious.  We rode the train and ate sack lunches.  It was so nice to be a mama for the day.  Reese was beaming from ear to ear and told me on the bus ride home his favorite part of the trip was me. The very next day was field day and Lofton helped with set up then tagged along for some events.

We can hardly believe he's going to be a first grader.  He can read-- like real books by himself.  It blows my mind.  He finished the year in the highest math and reading groups and we are so proud. He doesn't love doing things that are hard to him, but with some encouragement from his teacher really pushed through.

We have lots of things we want to do this summer {Reese loves a list just like his mama} but mainly we just want to be.  Reese said just yesterday he was happy to spend every day with me.  I know he might not always feel that way so I'm going to enjoy it now.  The kiddos also LOVE each other-- wrestling and laughing and rolling on the floor.  It's loud but so fun. I'm so glad to be home for the summer to soak up this time.

JLB {nine months}

Our littlest love is nine months old.

He is truly a LOVE.  His sweet personality continues to shine and we just lap it up.  He laughs at anything Reese does, talks to us and coos as if we are in real conversations, and squeals at people we encounter while we are out and about.  Jack gives big hugs and kisses and will occasionally give you a pat on the back.  We still love our cuddle time at night and I plan on rocking him well into his twenties ;)

On the development front, we are crawling lightening fast.  I swear it happened so quickly-- one minute he was scooting, the next crawling, and literally a day later he was unstoppable.  He pulls up on everything, too, which is certain to be the cause of many accidents in the future.  At school he stands in his crib and yells at the babies next to him.  Trouble maker.  

Although he still has no teeth, eating does not seem to be an issue.  Our favorites are bananas, white beans, sweet potato tots, yogurt and the ever popular puffs.  He eats some combination of real food/baby food three times a day and takes four bottles.  We've dropped {for the most part} his late afternoon bottle in favor of giving it to him in a sippy cup.  He loves to chew on the sippy cup, but drinking is hit or miss.

Bedtime remains the same and he's a champ sleeper.  I credit that totally to my strict scheduling early on. Naps aren't super consistent but he's a nosy baby and I think school is just a little too stimulating for him. At home he takes two fairly decent naps per day-- both in his crib.  At school he maybe naps for thirty minutes, twice.  Most afternoons I force a catnap on him when we get home from school.

Jack has had three ear infections in the last three months and tubes are probably in our future.  We hate to see him in pain and also hate the idea of his hearing being impaired {been down that road before}.  We will head back to the doctor in a month for a recheck to assess our next move.  He also seems to suffer from the same allergy problems as big brother.  Breathing issues are a bear, but at least we feel very educated and equipped to handle them.

All in all I'm still constantly amazed at how wonderful it is to be this baby's mama.  Something about loving this second baby is so different than the first.  More freeing, maybe?  Less anxiety because I'm more confident?  I'm not sure how to articulate it.  I just feel so blessed that he is the baby God intended for us.

Weight:  22 pounds, 12 ounces
Length: 28 and 1/2 inches
Head: 18 and 1/2 inches
Size 4 diapers, 12-18 month or 18 month clothes {he has a long stride}

February update

Hi strangers.

Kindergarten homework, plus the dropping of mandatory rest time, threw my favorite big kid for a loop in January. We're back into a groove for now and his hard work paid off.  He's moved up to a higher reading group.  We are so proud of him, not because of the higher group {although that's impressive and exciting} but because he really had to put forth some effort to get there.  Reese is morphing into a big kid right before our eyes.  

We've also had a round of yucky colds, plus an ill-timed meeting with our old friend rotavirus.  Jack handled being sick like his usual happy self, but missing work and coordinating who's taking care of who is always a beast for Lofton and I.  I'll update more on Jack in an eight month post, but he's scooting like a professional.  I turn my back to hang up clothes only to find he's made it across the room and is trying to stick his fingers in a light socket. I'm certain he's the reason I feel every bit of my 32 years.  

As I work, painters are at the house painting the ceilings and family room.  This will put a wrap on our impromptu kitchen remodel which spiraled into a family room revamp,including the taking down of a wall.  As disruptive and messy as construction projects can be the improved functionality in our kitchen and overall refresh of the look has been really nice.  I was not sad to see the green walls and navy laminate counters go.  I owe the blog some pictures and when I find my camera battery and some sunlight, I'll deliver.  

Life is full, but life is also really great.  I'm trying to embrace the season we're in and give myself a little grace.  I've been saying no to extra commitments and focusing on just being at home with my people.  It feels nice :)

JLB {six months}

Didn't I just post about month five?

Half a year flew by in a blink.  Our sweet boy continues to get sweeter, if that's possible.  I often tell people I'm not sure how we lucked up and scored such an angel baby.  He rarely cries, is content to just go with the flow, and aside from a few sleep regression issues is an absolute dream

This month the rolling over really took off.  I can no longer just leave him on a blanket and expect him to stay.  This has made things like laying him on the bed or couch obsolete.  We've also had to start strapping him onto the changing table and into his swing.  The kid wants to move. He will lay on the floor and flail is arms and legs just hoping it will propel him forward.  In due time, my love.

Jack can also sit up sort of.  He still needs some support otherwise he topples sideways or forward, but sitting unassisted isn't too far off.  We would use the bumpo to help him but his thighs are too big and he gets stuck {true story}.

Our main excitement this month came from the introduction of some food.  Currently Jack eats a pouch of baby food each night around 5:30.  His favorites are pears, apples and brown rice or apples, butternut squash and prunes.  We've tried a few others also.  He started with half a pouch and quickly escalated to a full pouch.  I'm sure, just like with Reese, we won't be on baby food for long.  He's decreased his afternoon bottles by a few ounces { on his own}, but otherwise his formula intake and schedule have stayed about the same.

Jack has become more aware of his surroundings this month which is both a good and bad development.  He's discovered the dogs and studies them intently whenever they are near.  He'll also play with a toy or book for a few minutes, which is fun.  He babbles and coos, laughs and grunts.  He will also yell in protest when he's unhappy or we aren't paying enough attention to him.  Whereas before he was content for anyone to hold him, he's definitely started developing a preference for certain people.  Stranger anxiety is beginning,  I believe, although he generally warms up quickly.

Jackaroo also realizes now when I leave the room.  He scrunchies his face up and furrows his brow then angrily protests until I return.  It makes cooking dinner difficult.  I've continued to embrace this second child on my hip lifestyle :) I'm certain part of his nighttime waking is also due to this development.  Frequently when we go into his room during the night he stops his fussing and gives us a big grin, as if to say "Hi, I was just lonely in here without you."  It's both maddening and adorable.    

Stats:
Weight: nineteen pounds, fourteen ounces
Wearing: size 3 diapers, 9-12 month onesies, and 12 month longalls or bubbles

merry christmas 2014

Life with two kiddos is busy and the holidays certainly add to that. This year, I {and Lofton} made the decision to say no a lot. No to extra errands, parties, commitments. We, and our kids, are healthier and happier when we stuck to our routine as much as possible.

With Jack's surgery scheduled for the 30th (more on that later), we made the choice to celebrate Christmas in Pensacola with my parents the weekend before Christmas. We then travelled to Lagrange for a night to celebrate with Lofton's mom, grandparents, and brother's family. That left us home on Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day.

We went to church on Christmas Eve where Jack competed with the preacher for attention, we made a gingerbread house, left out a Christmas tree cake for Santa {the struggle to make cookies was real this year} and then snuggled into bed.  Santa came early for our little lambs.  Reese got a new bike {which he did not ask for}, some books and Legos.  Lofton and I gave him some new shoes and a field goal for the yard.  Can I tell you how much he loves that field goal?  Best $14 I spent all year.  Jack also got a riding toy-- a rocking giraffe.  He's too little for it now but I'm sure he'll be sitting on it soon.  He also got a few books, some spoons and a slew of new pacifiers.  

Christmas Day was quiet with just the four of us but also nice.  I cooked while Jack napped and the boys played in the yard, then we played a zillion rounds of Uno.  

Our favorite part of Christmas this year was reading our Advent book each night.  It's hard with a six year old to maintain a balance of Santa fun and Jesus but we certainly try.

These two fill my heart to the brim.  And that bottom picture is perfection to me.  Reese being his silly self and Jack along for the ride.  

JLB {five months}

This picture cracks me up.

Jack is literally the most pleasant baby I've ever encountered.. except the moment I took this picture. Such is life, though.

Month five included much of the same for our sweet babe.  Eating and sleeping like babies do :)

This month brought more mobility which did interrupt his sleep briefly, but we are back on track now.  He likes to scoot all over his crib and would then get frustrated when he couldn't get back to his sleeping spot.  We finally just stopped playing his game {seriously I would go in and he'd be laying on his back back smiling in the middle of the night} and he seems to have worked out his issues.

He can now roll not just from his front to his back, but also from back to front.  The first few times he rolled it was in an attempt to get closer to Reese, his favorite person, but now he does it regularly.

Reese makes this kid laugh like no other.  Jack is the happiest when Reese is right next to him.  This works out well as our oldest is a born entertainer.  Jack doesn't find me nearly as amusing, but continues to be his most content when perched on my hip.

Our daily schedule has stayed pretty much the same.  He wakes up around six and goes to bed around seven.  His naps aren't super predictable but he's generally so happy that it doesn't matter.  And if being a non-predictable napper is a trade off for good nighttime sleep, I'm fine with that.

We tried introducing rice cereal and that was a bust.  I don't have strong feelings about him eating it so we just moved on.

Knock on wood, we haven't been to the doctor {at least for this child} since his four month shots so I don't have an updated weight.  He's wearing primarily nine month clothes, with a few twelve month longalls to accommodate his stride length.  Still in size three diapers :)

thankful

It's hard to believe that this time last year I was violently ill and wishing away the days until June.  Five months in to parenting two I can say that our days and hearts are much fuller, the bags under my eyes are vast, and I usually need an extra kick of caffeine at some point during my waking hours.  But these watching these kiddos love on each other is worth every single minute.  

My heart is full of gratitude for the people I get to do everyday life alongside.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.