tomorrow, he's one

Tomorrow, baby Deuce will turn one! I can't believe how quickly this year has passed. He's been such a joy, and watching him and Squirt grow together has been such a blessing <3

 

 

 

 

Goodnight, baby Deucey. Tomorrow you'll be one!

four-ish

A couple weeks ago, Deuce passed his four month mark. (I'm not really sure how to define each month... Did he turn four months old at 16 weeks, or not until 10 February? Either way, he's over four months old now.) He has started babbling (usually incessantly at 0500 hours on the dot). He's also quite recently discovered that he can grab things and put them in his mouth. The fun is about to really begin! Be careful if you get too close - he will grab anything and everything. And don't let his diminutive digits fool you; he has the grip of a sliver back gorilla! Despite frequent hair-pulling incidents, Squirt is growing ever more fond of him. I wake up most days to find them snuggled up together. This morning, when I went into the room to wake Squirt, I found she was already awake. She was snuggled up to Deuce quietly singing him a song about how he was her "best fwiend fo-ebaaaah." 

 

D-guy at 16 weeks, with Squirt getting her hit of baby head. (That smell is addictive!)

 

 

 

Shortly after he passed four months (both possible dates), Deuce finally got a spot in Squirt's daycare! I was ecstatic. Squirt was ecstatic. EVERYONE in the family was ecstatic. He'd been going to a different daycare since the end of January and, while the teachers were so sweet, it was a massive annoyance, because we had to go so far out of our way every day to get there. Now, the kiddos are in the same center, saving us so much time and headache every single day! To top it off, Deuce is with the same caregiver as baby Squirt. She is so gentle and protective of "her babies" and always made me feel comfortable about leaving my baby. She marvels every day about how much alike my babies look. It's so special to me that he's with her.

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for baby-guy's first day at Squirt's "school."

Squirt. Oh, Squirt. She is almost four, and seems so grown up right now in many ways (indeed, she often insists that she is  a grown up). She is becoming more independent and fiery, which can be great and is something I hope to encourage, but it's lead to countless power struggles. Still a tiny kid in a big world, she's seeking to have more control over the world around her - what she eats, what she wears, what she does. Unfortunately, her "control" efforts are to not eat (at all, unless it's burgers or "noogles"), wear sleeveless sundresses during a snow storm, and stand outside of daycare, refusing to go in with bone chilling, 40 mph winds. I try to let her have as much say in things as is reasonable, but so much of the time, she wants things that are unreasonable and it turns into a fight. It's frustrating for both of us. I'm struggling to find gentle, positive ways to parent through this challenging period...

On the other hand, while she can be quite the monster to dad and I, she can also be the sweetest thing. Yesterday, Dad took her to the park and they had a wonderful time. She told him that she loves holding his hand (usually, she's telling him she's "not [his] friend"). A few nights ago, she charmed us for half an hour by singing adventure stories she made up while dancing and waving around a little wand. She still has her little toddler voice, complete with adorable mispronunciations, but her vocabulary is surprising. One of her favorite words right now is "actually". I must resolve to start using more diverse language around her. Her dad continues helping her learn Danish words. Listening to her try to repeat some of the words is more amusing than trying to repeat some of them myself (he says I sound like a baby alligator - not sure how he knows what they sound like...).

 

 

Stunning Squirt.

Golden sunrises and rainbow diapers - the story of my life right now...

blissful blur

As we welcome in the new year, along with it's beautiful possibility, we also celebrate the third month Deuce has been in our arms. These three months - indeed, the entire year - have passed by so quickly; in hindsight, it was a blissful blur of snuggles, sleeplessness, and growth filled with kisses, tears, and smiles. I wish I could have frozen time and lived forever in that special bubble but, alas, that chapter has, all to quickly, closed, and it is now time to step back into the real-world.

Since it was such a surreal blur, I can't seem to gather the words to describe these last three months. Here are some highlights to, hopefully, provide a glimpse into this tender time. <3

10 October
Baby Deuce was born this afternoon, fast and furious, at 1500 hours. He looks just like his sister did <3

12 October
Everyone survived the first night together. Squirt has a lot of big emotions, but is head over heels for Baby Deuce. Dad-o and I had to tag team a particularly nightmaris diaper, though...

14 October
Well, it had to happen sooner or later. My son just peed on me during a diaper change. Pretty impressive range for such a little dude. Missed my face, at least.

16 October
Deuce lost his cord last night. Stop growing up so fast!!!

17 October
Deuce is already one week old! It's been so surreal and I think I'm still in shock from the birth (recently learned there's actually a name for what happened - precipitous labor). It feels like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant. What a crazy year so far!

Venturing out to a little fall festival. 

How is one expected to "sleep when baby sleeps" when this is too cute to miss?

Getting ready to take a bath together. The washcloth is because of lessons learned the hard way...

Relaxing.

<3

 

21 October

"My newborn son can apparently hold his own head up. Huh. His sister could do that, too." -Dad-guy

 

30 October

Squirt asked to hold her bruddah for the first time tonight. She didn't want to give him back! He'll be three weeks old tomorrow!



 

7 November

Baby Deuce got me up at 5am, chattering and babbling away. It's hard to be mad at him, because he keeps making the craziest, cutest faces, every now and then with the teensiest smile. He's gained two pounds since he came home, and is now as big as Squirt was at birth, though he's ahead of her on a few things - he's already had his first cold and his first hike. I can't believe it's been a month! It's surreal.
 



One month old. They're plotting something...

Seasonal babywearing.

How I manage to get ready for the day with this early bird.

A warm fall morning at the zoo. She loves the "giraffeses".

 

My tiny hunk getting ready for a pub date with daddy.

 

9 November

... my 30 pound daughter just deadlifted my 25 pound kettlebell!

 

Me: "Did you have a good day at school, Squirt?"

Squirt: "No. I had a bad day."

Me: "Oh? What made it bad?"

Squirt: "It just was." ... I've totally been there, sweetie girl.

 

Relaxing together.

 

She now often asks to hold him, even though he's a third her weight.

 

17 November

When I picked up Squirt at school today, she told me that she "really, REALLY missed bruddah" and proceeded to cover his cheeks in approximately one million kisses.

 

She adores him <3

 

She was all over the place when we visited the children's museum.

 

Playing with my old Popple.

 

1 December

"Wanna put your infant/toddler to sleep? Take two Tom Waits and call me in the morning." -Dad-guy 

 

5 December

Baby-guy is two months old today! Hod did that happen?! Time flies by way too fast.

 

 

8 December

Deuce just chuckled in his sleep with a big ol' grin on his face.

 

"Mommy, my poop has wings and flied away. It's gone now." -Squirt, in response to a query about her needing the potty

 

9 December

I thought I'd have more than two months to worry about this sort of thing - Deuce just rolled himself off the couch. He's ok. I'm annoyed. Squirt's totally freaking out that he might have hurt himself. Sheesh... 

 

I *finally* caught a smile!

 

Poppin' tags at the thrift shop.

He's trying SO hard to squiggle around.

 

19 December

It's been a tough week. Found out hubby's dad passed away, had another one of my bestest of besties move away, and returned to work. Somehow, we all made it through, though I'm not sure how. In more uplifting news, Baby-guy is a full ten weeks old today. His smiles and snuggles fill our hearts to overflowing.

 

 

A Christmas miracle! Napping at the same time!

This goofy grin...

 

"My son does most emphatically NOT approve of my Chewbacca imitation." -Dad-guy

 

2 January

Deuce is already three months old!

 

Squirt makes him laugh.

 

"I guess he's kinda cute." Dad-guy

12 January

Last night, as I tucked her into bed, Squirt wrapped her arms around me and said, "Momma, don't ever, ever die. Promise me." I hugged her super tight and told her I'd do my best...

 

"Mom! There are tiny, fluffy ice cubes falling from the sky!" -Squirt

 

 

 She finally figured out winking! (Sorta...)

 

19 January

Squirt won a toy from one of those evil, impossible claw machines on her very first try (ever). And not just any toy, but the one she actually wanted!

 

 

20 January

Deuce starts daycare today...

 

Bittersweet.

 

What a crazy year we have ahead of us!