Noah: 3 Months

*I wrote this post yesterday, April 9, 2014.


Dear Noah,

Today you are 3 months old.  My, my, time sure does fly!  You are the sweetest little baby and I love you to pieces.  You have the most contagious smile, and you are quick to share it when you catch someone's eye.  You are quite the social butterfly, and you're always looking for the next face to focus on.  When you catch someone's eye, you tuck your chin in and give a bashful grin.  It's the cutest thing! 

You are a content baby and you are very pleasant and happy most of the time.  When you're not happy, it can pretty much be attributed to one of the following:  hunger, gassy, or tired.  Your cry is loud, but that's okay.  Babies cry, so it's fine that you do too.  :)  You are a baby, after all.  You do seem to be a bit gassier than your older brother was at your age.  I hope you grow out of this because we all feel so bad for you when you have gas pains. 

You LOVE to be swaddled!  Your swaddle blanket is just the ticket to keeping you nice and snug for naps and nighttime.  You are a warm baby and you like to be cuddled, snuggled, and bundled up.  Grandma Chips says that earlier this week, you were fussy and she needed to fold some clothes.  So, she set you down and handed you two warm-from-the-dryer towels.  She said you grabbed onto those towels with your very strong grip (and I do mean strong) and pulled them up to your face, where you held them for a long while.  She said your fussiness disappeared and you were a very content, warm baby!

You bring us such joy and peace.  You are the perfect addition to our family, and I can't imagine life without you.  I am so thankful for your demeanor and for the laughs you bring into our lives.  We are more complete because of you. 

Here are some stats for you this month:

Diapers:  We graduated you up a size.  You now wear size 3 diapers.  Although your waist is still small enough to accommodate the size 1-2 diapers, your poops are a little far-reaching and you needed some extra space so we wouldn't have to change your clothes 4 times a day. (You think I'm joking). 

Clothing:  You are comfortably in size 3 month and 3-6 month clothes.  Your feet are still a little too small for the size 3 month socks to stay on.   At nighttime, we dress you in a onesie, socks, and put you in your swaddle blanket.  Since you run a little warm, we don't put you in pajama sets very much. 

Feeding:  Before I leave for work, I will nurse you (this is between 4:30am and 5:20am ideally).  You drink three 5-ounce breastmilk bottles during the day while I'm at work.   Around supper time, I nurse you.  At bedtime, we started giving you a 4-ounce formula bottle, and I pump.  The formula, since it takes you longer to digest it, holds you over THROUGH THE NIGHT!  Yes, you read that correctly!  You are no longer fed during the night.  Which leads us to the "sleeping" category.

Sleeping:  Just in the past couple weeks, you have slept through the night a couple times.  The formula bottle you receive at bedtime holds you over through the night.  Now, this morning you woke a few times because you wriggled your right arm out of your swaddle blanket and that arm got cold.  And you ended up waking at 4:00 to be fed.  So I fed you a little bit then and again at 5:20 right before I left.  I am so excited that you're nearly sleeping through the night!

Talking:  You are such a vocal baby!  You coo at us and your face is very animated when you do so!  I always act like I know what you are saying.  It is very important for a person to feel like they are important, and you are surely important!  :)  I LOVE hearing you coo and watching your facial expressions.  They are beyond precious.

Brother:  You have such a great big brother!  He loves to take your pacifier out of your mouth, and instantly put it back in your mouth.  When you catch his eye, you give him such a huge smile!  We have already captured moments with the camera of the two of you smiling at each other.  You will be best friends, I just know it. :)


You are such a joy, dear one, and I love you so very very much.  I am beyond pleased to be your mommy and I look forward to every day with you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I mean, seriously?!?! You are adorable! 

 

 

 

I love you, sweet Noah!  Love, Mommy

 



Michael: 19 Months

*I wrote this on Saturday, March 29, 2014.

Dear Michael,

Yesterday, you turned 19 months old! Time is still flying! When will it slow down?

We have moved in with one set of grandparents this past week.  Overall, you have adjusted well. I am very proud of you.  We have gone on a couple walks in the evening since we moved in.  You ride in your little green truck.  We make a stop down the hill at the house of another set of grandparents. You think it's funny when Daddy pushes your truck, and holds the leash for Akuna, and has "mock races" as we walk. 

In a few weeks, another set of grandparents is coming to visit!  Your life is full of family and we love it! 

We don't have another doctor appointment for 5 months, so we have to just estimate your height and weight.  I think you are still in the 25 pound range, and probably around 34 inches.

You love to eat food! But you prefer to only eat foods you already know you like-- (peach cups, cookies, Nutrigrain bars, Cheerios, bananas, Mac-and-cheese, pudding, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, goldfish crackers, and applesauce.). We discovered tonight that you will eat cheese ravioli if it is heated in the microwave.  :) I tried giving it to you at room temperature and you were less than impressed.  You practiced your fork skills by jabbing the ravioli and swirling it around your high chair tray.  Daddy suggested that we heat it up a little bit, and that was the ticket! Daddy knows best! You quickly ate a good amount of ravioli and alternated saying "oh! oh!" and "mmm!"

You are all-boy! You LOVE to be outside! You play with dumptrucks, Hot Wheels, little toy dirt bikes, and wooden cars.  You love to sit in your Cozy Coupe. You wave and tell us "bye!" as you get in the door.  :)  We respond by telling you to "have a good day at work!"

You love to take baths.  You'll say "bath bath" if we even mention the word! You get a bath nearly everyday because you love it so much!  You love to hold the rinse cup and fill it up with water as the tub fills up.  If you and Noah take a bath at the same time, you'll pour water on his leg from one of your bath toys. As the water drains from the tub, you will lay down in the tub.  When I hold out the towel to ask if you're "coming up?" you'll close your eyes and you don't think I can see you. :) This is precious! I'll say "where's Michael? I thought he was just right here taking a bath!" and you will giggle and be so proud of yourself for 'hiding from mommy.' :)

You like walking up to things and people and sniffing them and saying "mmmm!" This cracks me up! We mimic you and say "shoo-wee!" This gets lots of giggles from you!

You are fantastic at bedtime! We put pajamas on you, brush your teeth, read a story, turn on your nightlight and make sure you have "mommy blankies" in your bed.  With a prayer and kisses on the cheek, we put you in your bed and you snuggle right to sleep!  You sleep all through the night--roughly 11.5- 12 hours.

I absolutely love love love being your mommy! You are such a joy! Even during your temper tantrums.  During this season of our lives, we are undergoing a lot of stress and I know that must be a hard for a toddler to handle since it's hard for me as a mommy to handle.  So, I know there will be tantrums.  And I also know that this too shall pass.  You have wayyy more sweet times than tantrum times, and for that I am so very grateful.  You are precious, dear Michael, and I love you ever so much!

I love you!

Love, Mommy