My Two Lovelies

These two boys have to be some of the cutest little dudes around, I tell ya. Thank goodness, too, because I'm feeling a little ick today. So much so that I'm shoveling cookies in to my mouth as I type. Blah. I know Chips A Hoy eater's remorse will soon follow. Double ick.

The boys are great. Preston is living up to the label ' terrible twos' fabulously. If I hear, " NOOOOOO, ME, ME, ME, ME" or incessant whining any more today I will surely turn totally gray by the time I finally make it to the bed for the night. Ooooh the autonomy and independence. Whew! It doesn' help he is also cutting his two year old molars. It's like a cruel joke played on millions on parents to have all of it hit them at once.

I would write that Preston 'enjoyed' his first gymnastics class last Saturday, but there was no enjoyment...for any of us, including his classmates. To say Preston had a melt down is an understatement. As a dutiful Mom I brought along the camera to take pictures of him bouncing around and loooving his first experience with other kids while jumping around. Well, I got no pictures. Kevin has planned to take the class with him as one parent is required to, but we ended up having to switch off, as Preston was a screaming hot mess. I know he must have been overwhelmed  and scared by all the directions, having a teacher and classmates in this huge gym with tons of other kids, but what came across was a screaming, throwing himself down on the floor, not listening to any direction, and screaming , " NOOOO!" over and over and over and over kid...for an hour. We were not prepared. We all left there exhausted, and admittedly a little let down. We were encouraged by other parents and them letting us know that their kids did the same the first few classes, and for us to keep coming. Whew! Thank goodness this will be a planned Daddy and Preston class. :)
Preston's birthday party is next weekend! We will be making some final preparations this weekend. His party will be at an indoor playland---which we're kind of rethinking now considering the gym experience. We may be in trouble. Hope things go much better!

Brooks is a growing little man! He is just daaaaarling, yall! He looks so much like Preston in some ways, and then totally different in others. I love that he is starting to smile and openly respond to stimuli with cooing and baby laughs. Melts my heart. He is now sleeping on his belly, he sleeps much better, and this week I've started putting him in the cosleeper that attaches to the side of the bed. I think we're both sleeping a lot better. I'm still waking him up at no more than the four hour mark to nurse at night---I know, I know, I so don't have to do this now, but I'm fearful of him sleeping through the night just yet or going long stretches because I really want to safeguard my milk supply, since it's not what it was with Preston. But after his 2 month check up, if he's still gaining like a champ, I'll stop with setting the nighttime alarms. I'm ready for more sleep, for sure! He is still taking a bottle from Dad at least every other night, and things are going okay there. I did take him to the chiropractor this week and got him a good adjustment, it seems to be helping his tummy trouble. Side note, I also go adjusted since I haven't been yet after delivery, AND MY PELVIC BONE WAS AN INCH OFF--Like one leg was sitting an inch longer than the other. The pelvic bone obviously moves and separates during delivery, but mine didn't go all the way back in place. No wonder I was having some pain down there!

Okay, gotta run, I have a fussy baby and Daddy calling. Much love to you guys.

Here are some pics to get you through the weekend. :)  23.5 months and 7 weeks! I  can't believe I am called Mamma by these two lovelies.

Feelin' Nutty

Sleep deprivation has certainly taken its toll on me. I'm nutty. Bonafide, nutty, I tell ya. :)

I'm feeling a little out of sorts lately, to say the least. Very much not myself. I do know my post partum thyroid results indicated that I'm slightly hyperthyroid right now, so that in conjunction with normal hormonal adjustments post partum could def be making this lovely mess. Sure hope it levels out soon.

The boys are great! Brooks is now six weeks old! He is growing great, and is smiling at us when we talk to him, which just melts me. He is dealing with some newborn reflux when he sleeps flat on his back. So we've been trying to elevate him at night. He also likes to take naps on his belly during the day. He sleeps great. For the past week he has been super super gassy and wakes for hours in the middle of the night with bad abdominal cramping and grunting. I can tell he is hurting, but no matter what we try, it doesn't seem to help him. I took him to the chiropractor yesterday to see if he could find some relief. The doc said his left back was very tight and could be causing some GI discomfort. So we're supposed to be massaging his back and I'll take him back next week for another adjustment. We also gave Brooks a bottle for the first time a couple of nights ago. He did excellent! He took the bottle then even nursed from me some right after. I really struggled with some negative and sad feelings about introducing a bottle, but I know it's just my wacky emotions, and him being willing to take a bottle is essential for me to have some freedom. Brooks is doing tummy time and I'm trying to keep him off of his head as much as I can. I still have not focused on any true routine or nap schedule, but I do try not to let him get over tired and if he's been up for more than an hour, I'll try to get him to sleep.

Preston is as busy as ever, and testing limits daily. He is speaking new words daily, and amazes me with how perceptive he is and how much he can put together on his own. He will be getting his first hair cut in the next couple of weeks, right before his second birthday. I'm torn on this one too. LOL I'm trying to hang on! But his hair is looking wild and very unkept, so I think it's time! But def bitter sweet. The last couple of days he has been a smidge more adventurous in his eating, and ate a crispy beef taco at dinner the other night! Whoo hooo! Sure hope this keeps up! After his birthday I plan to start focusing a little more on potty training him and see how he progresses since he's showing signs of readiness. He is loving getting to get out side more with some good weather and has been helping Kevin pull weeds and work in the yard. HE LOVES IT!


The camera went on the fritz, and I'm trying to get it fixed, so I've lost all the pics I've taken this week. ( sniff sniff). But here is one of Brooks. :)

My brain is also on the fritz, and I'm feeling really out of it lately, so sorry about the short post. Love you all.

Brooks @ 6 weeks!

One Month Has Come and Gone

Just a quick note to update you guys. Both boys are actually asleep at the same time, and Brooks is stirring, so gotta back it quick. :)

Man, does time fly, or what! I can't believe that Brooks turned 5 weeks yesterday. It still feels like I'm anxiously walking around wondering if I'll ever go into labor some days. Just a reminder to live in the moment and to soak all of its goodness up, because time passes...quickly.

Brooks is doing really well. I just took him in for his one moth check up and he is growing like a weed. He is now 10# and 23 inches long, which is a two pound gain and two inches grown in a month. AWESOME! So no worries about this guy eating enough. I worked really hard to feed him every two hour around the clock in order to get through his super super sleepiness, and it paid off! The doctor was shocked.

He is in the 90th percentile for his height. The doc asked who was tall in the family. Uhhh...not really anyone. She said he also has a really long torso, so she's betting on a tall guy. He is in the 57th percentile for his weight and his head circumference is in the 19th...which I totally expected. Both boys have their Daddy's small head. He is now in size 1 diapers and in 0-3 month clothes. :)

Brooks is still not on any "real" schedule, and I haven't pushed one. He's still such a little guy.  But I'm working towards paying attention to his trends  so I can better work my days. It's been just all over the place with the two, especially since Brooks like to be held or worn alllll of the time. He does not like to be put down. I've learned I can do anything wearing a baby! Literally, anything!

We are still cosleeping, although I'll be working towards getting him used to also sleeping without me soon. Although I LOVE cosleeping, def not ready for it to end just yet. And we will be introducing a bottle this weekend too. Fingers crossed all of that is easy easy. Brooks is now smiling in response to us talking to him, and also staying awake for about and hour at a time, before he wants to go back to sleep, even if for a bit. I am still feeding him every two hours or so, unless he wants it sooner, during the day, to help him hopefully sleep longer at night, and I'm not letting him go past 3 or 4 hours at night without eating. I know he's totally able to be left to signal me to eat at night, but I'm trying to safeguard my milk supply, as it's a lot lower this time around. ...and I don't want my period back any time soon! Gotta keep up with some good night nursing! :)

Preston is so a two year old these days. Man, he is full on whiney and everything is, " Nooooo...Me!"...over and over and over, no matter what we say to him or ask him. But we're working through it. He is showing that he may be a little jealous of Brooks, and doesn't love that he often has to wait for things he's asking for because we're doing something with the baby. When this happens he will try to pull the baby off of my lap or unlatch him from nursing in order to free me up for him. :) But over all, he has done outstanding! He is totally coming in to his own and demanding independence though. Quite the little personality and disposition. He is still not eating hardly anything, so I'm trying to supplement with protein and fruit/veggie drinks, along with his multi vitamins. I will work super hard to ensure Brooks is a much more diverse eater! So stressful. I'm hoping that once Preston starts preschool this summer it will help to see other kids eating. He will also be starting gymnastics hopefully next month. Sooo excited for him!! He is going to love it. I will def take a lot of pics!

Kevin and I are well. Still putting finishing touches on the house,and about to start having a back patio built. We loved ours back home, and I def want a place to take Preston this summer. This boy is so ready for some outdoor time. He was helping Kevin pull weeds this weekend, and he could not have been happier and threw a terrible fit when it was time to finish.

On a very bad note, we are experiencing a stink bug infestation IN THE HOUSE! I'm not kidding. This is no joke, and it is absolutely disgusting. We have been working with the builder, the pest control guy, the AC company, because it seems they chose to " overwinter" in our house and get into the walls and structure during construction. So they pour through windows, exhaust fan vents, ac vents, you name it. Kevin has worked outside sealing up the house for the past three weekends, and they are still here. We have our widows completely taped up on the inside. It's ridiculous, and about to make me lose my mind! They are really bad in Brooks' nursery and have been found in his crib. Hence, one reason he will not be moving out of our room for a long while! Please pray. I know it sounds silly, but it's really quite the deal for us and causing a lot of stress. They are apparently almost impossible to get rid of and the pest guy says they come back year after year to the same locations. NOOOOOO!  They are a huge problem here in GA.

OK, so there ya have it! Miss and love you guys. Here are some current pics!

Brooks is 5 weeks and P is 23 months! Silly brother!

loooove!

5 weeks . I am totally in love, you guys!

Big Bro helping out with tummy time

They look so much a like!

 Look, I have a real kid now!

 He loooves to read. Readers are born on the laps of their mothers, we have read to him and with him from birth, and so far it shows. Hope this keeps up!

My little old man. :)

There ya go!