Four Months!

Mr. Charlie turned four months on Sunday.  So what is our little guy doing now that he's 1/3 of the way to his first birthday (and yes, I have already started planning the big day, if only in my head). 

* Charlie has really become the happiest baby.  I know I've said this in earlier posts, but it bears repeating.  He smiles, coos, giggles and gafaws (if that's how you spell that).

*  He enjoys sitting up unassisted.  And even if he can only do so for a few seconds at a time he loves it.  Seriously, the kid pulls himself up to erect from a reclinig position.  At this rate he will have a six pack by the aforesaid first birthday party.  Maybe we should do a beach theme so he can show off his washboard abs. ;)

*  Speaking of muscles, it appears that Charlie has freakish strength like big brother, Beau.  The other day Billy screamed for me to come quick to see what Charlie was doing.  When I came in he was in his exersaucer and had both hands on one of the attached toys.  He was shaking the toy and trying his darnedest to rip it off the platform.  Guess what?  He managed to loosen the toy to where it was literally hanging from a thread!  I intervened before he ripped it off completely.  (On a side note, Beau did this to another toy on the exesaucer...but not until he was about six months old.) 

*  And while we're on the topic of the exersaucer, I thought it would be interesting to note that Charlie started in that contraption on the middle setting.  In other words, he was too tall/long to start out at the first level.  I can't wait until our four month appointment to see how much he has grown.

*  While he is devilishly handsome, he's still pretty bald.  I'm not particularly concerned because Beau was in the same boat at this age and look at that moptop now!  However, I am dying to know what color his hair will be.  Somedays it's brown.  Other days it looks blonde.  And still others it looks red!  I guess only time will tell.  One thing is for certain...he's got some gorgeous baby blues...for now. 

Have I mentioned how much he loves the fan?

Mommy's Project 52:2 Silly

When you have a nearly two year old energetic boy in your house, what isn't silly?  Beau's little personality has really taken form and it turns out that he is a big old ham.  (I wonder where he gets that...certainly not me.) 

I knew that one of the joys of being a parent was witnessing daily the completely uninhibited behavior of a joyful child.  What I didn't know was that it would give me an excuse to display my silly side as well.  I love to sing out loud and dance like a fool.  And guess what?  Beau seems to like my performances.  (And when he doesn't he is sure to tell me.) 

So what has been super silly lately? 

*  Beau does this spinning on his belly thingy in the bathtub and in his mobile art studio (which, by the way, has seen better days). 

*  He loves to dance, even when there is no music. 

*  He still thinks it is hilarious to offer you a piece of his toast/apple/tomato and then pull it away right as you are about to bite down on it. 

*  He also finds it funny to smear his food on his face...just when you think he's wiping his mouth clean. 

*  He *loves* the fan.  LOVES it.

*  He likes to sneak up on me while I'm in the shower and jump in. 

*He's rediscovered all his old toys and is not about to give them up to Charlie...at least not completely. 

* Whether in the tub or outside, few things are funnier than emptying water out of a cup.  Emptying water out of the cup and on to mommy or Charlie is one of those few things. 

* Tickling Charlie is a new past time and if he can illicit a giggle from his little brother, well then it has truly been a success. 

Music to My Ears

Beau has always been a talker...even if only Billy and I can understand what he is saying!  And, like most kids his first word was, "dada."  Dada was quickly followed by Paw Paw.  Then Maw Maw.  And in no particular order, Nan, Bone, Dee Dee, Izzy, Rob, Marc, and Charlie.  Hmmmm...notice anyone missing from this list?  Yea, mommy.  Gee, thanks, Beau. 

Sure, there were occasions when he would say, Maaaaa maaaaa, in a sad pitiful voice. But usually this was saved for times when he was really really tired or sick.  While it made me feel good to know he trusted me in these vunerable times, it sure would be nice if he called out my name when it was playtime. 

But recently he has had a change of heart.  Ahhhhh...it appears that he has a new favorite word.  A word that he screams out when he comes home from school...a word he calls out as soon as he wakes up...a name that he whispers while he sits in my lap watching Toy Story.  Beau's new favorite word???

Stroke of genius

Recently Beau has become a little preschool Picaso...a toddler Thiebaud...a daycare Dali.  In other words, he's obssesed with art.  And his medium of choice?  Why crayons, of course.  I was pretty laid back with his coloring, giving him a blank pad of paper and a couple of coloring books.  And then he thought the window sill and sunroom wall could use a splash of color...purple to be exact. 

Well I couldn't see myself repeatedly cleaning up a crayola mess and when I made Beau help clean up...he actually enjoyed it.  Only Beau would find a way to make his punishment enjoyable.  Sheesh. 

Then I had an idea.  The amazon box that I had forgotten to throw away!  I dumped Beau's crayons and papers in the box.  Then - PLOP - in went Beau.  I instructed him to color on the papers and the box itself.  Guess what?  It worked!  He LOVES this new invention.  He loves that he can color in the box.  He loves that he can color on the box.  He loves that I can pull it into any room of the house and he color in my good company.  We've affectionately dubbed it - Beau's Mobile Art Studio. 

You know, every once in a while I get this stuff right. 

**Bonus points for anyone who recognized the pun in the title...(I know Rebecca did.)*

Moving on up!

Today was Beau's first day in the two year old classroom at MLS, otherwise known as "the big boy" classroom.  In the big boy classroom you wear a uniform shirt.  You get to play with playdoh.  And you get stickers for good behavior.  All in all, it's just SOOOO much more sophisticated than the one year old class. (*wink, wink, nod, nod*)



SO grown up in his uniform shirt. 

 While Beau has a new teacher, Ms. Bobbie, there are some familiar faces there too. He was actually very excited to go to school this morning and when he walked into the classroom he never even turned around to see if I was still there. *sigh* Guess that's better than the alternative!

 

"Yes, I have been a good boy.  Thanks for the sticker."



"This seat taken?"

 

"Playdoh?  Don't mind if I do."



Buddies - Beau and Braiden

Say what?!

"Jenn Jenn did it." 

Beau, totally selling out his teacher for a fat lip he received when he ran into the bookcase at school.  Tsk, tsk.

So Long, Farewell!

Today is Beau's last day in the one year old classroom at My Little Sprout.  It is a little bittersweet.  I'm so happy that he is moving on to the "big boy" classroom.  But we'll truly miss Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Deborah. 

A little token of Beau's affection to his very first teachers. 

Ms. Jenn Jenn - We'll miss you!
(More on Beau's fat lip later.) 

Mommy Project 52:1 Teaching

This is the first of the 52 weekly entries for Mommy Project 52.  In trying to figure out what to write my mind first went to teaching the boys.  Seems obvious, right?  I mean, everyday, every moment becomes a teachable moment.  But then I thought about how much I've been taught through both pregnancies and raising the boys, so far. 

I've learned...

*  It is possible to love someone more than anything else in the world before you ever meet him. 

*  I can throw up two to three times a day, and still gain nine pounds in nine weeks. 
*  Stretch marks have more to do with good genes than anything else. (Thank you, mom!) 
*  Sleep deprivation can make anything seem funny...including projectile poop at 3:00 a.m. 

*  My husband is an even better man than I thought he was when we married. 

*  If you turn your head for even one minute, your three month old becomes a perfect canvas for your twenty-one month old's sticker art.  . 

*  No matter how cool the toy is, the best part of the present is always the box it came in. 

*  Nothing can quite prepare you for that first dirty diaper after your child starts solids. 

*  Daycare teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. 

*  Be careful what you say and do; your child is the greatest mimic. 

*  Knowing that one kiss from mommy can heal any boo boo makes me feel like Wonder Woman. 

*  Save your money on baby food cookbooks.  Every recipe is as follows - chop, steam, puree. 

*  If your friends give your one year old a box of percussion instruments for his birthday, either they do not have kids or you've done something to piss them off. 

*  Every chid is different and mine are polar opposites.

*  Bedtime might be my favorite part of the day. 

*  Little boy kisses are the best - even the big, wet, open mouth ones.  (Yikes, that doesn't sound quite right...but you know what I mean.) 

*  As much unsolicited advice as you receive when you are pregnant, you actually receive more when you are a parent. 

*  That being said, most advice-givers are generally good intentioned.  As such, it is best to smile and say thank you and to resist the urge to punch them in the throat. 

*  Sleep deprivation can also make you kind of snarky.  (See above.)

*  The laundry can wait.  The dishes can wait.  My little boy wants to dance to The Backyardigans...priorities, priorities. 
*  The only thing stronger than Catholic guilt?  Mommy guilt. 

 *  Nothing is more challenging, more frustrating, more exhausting, or more rewarding than being a mommy. 

Tiny Bubbles

Say what?!

"I wish he would poop at daycare too.  I feel like we're not getting our money's worth." 

Billy's commentary on Beau's propensity to "hold it" until he is back home.

Sittin' Pretty...kind of

Just the other day I had Charlie on our bed, propped up on some pillows while Billy and I got ready for work and Beau terrorized played with Murphy.  I walked by and something caught my eye...Charlie was trying to sit up.  Sure enough after a little straining and a lot of concentrating he had managed to get himself in an upright position.  A split secong later he was face first in the comforter.  But the point is - Yeah!  He's trying to sit up on his own. 

"Hurry, mom!  Take the picture!"

I tested his skill last night.  So what if he hasn't perfected it...he's well on his way.  (Maybe he overheard me say to his teacher that I didn't feel comfortable feeding him solids until he could sit up on his own.  How's THAT for motivation?)

"Uh oh!"

"Too late.  We can try again later."



Lay one on me!

Brotherly love. 

Say what?!

"I just wish someone would tell me I'm doing it all wrong." 

After three pediatrician visits, a conference with a lactation consultant and hours of research regarding Charlie's gas problem, you really get tired of hearing, "The good news is you're doing all the right things."  Still, it's odd to wish you're a screw up.  Ugh. 

I recently discovered a blog authored by a girlfriend of mine fron high school and was so happy I did.  Robin is witty and honest and I've really enjoyed her posts on babies and food (the design part is nice too...just not my thing).  I was participarly interested in her post from today.  She has decided to start her own "Project 52" and has invited her mommy and daddy bloggers to join in.  I just couldn't resist. 

Here's the basic idea, each week there is a theme.  On the Thursday of that week I will post something, anything related to that theme. It may be a picture, a note, a video, a poem.  Ok, maybe not a poem.  But you get the idea. 

I'm looking forward to my new weekly inspiration and I would encourage all my followers (all nine of you) who blog to participate too!  Half the fun will be seeing other's contributions to the project.  If you're interested you can link up your blog here. 

Mommy's Project 52 starts on August 4, 2011.  So stay tuned...

Say what?!

"Fine, Beau.  You can lick your brother's foot.  Just don't bite it."

With two boys under two, you really have to choose your battles carefully.