Lucas comes to me with a plastic pool toy, so proud that he has written on it with a marker. I looked at him disapprovingly and said that we aren't supposed to use this markers on toys.

He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "don't be bossy about this, mom. It's actually quite wonderful. I wrote my own name and I did a really good job."

Pause ( because I could not speak)

He says "you know that? So really don't be bossy, ok?" Exits room.

Wow.

Merry Christmas!!!

Hello my darlings!

I have so many fun things to fill you in on with my littles.  Elliott really has a tooth.  A bona fide tooth.  A sure sign he is growing up.  Sigh. 

Elliott is also so very close to crawling.  I mean it, so very close.  Lucas thinks he is teaching his brother to crawl and to talk, and it is hysterical to watch him get on all fours and really try to coach him.  So funny.

We had a marvelous Christmas.  Lucas really 'got' Christmas this year, and feels pretty confident that Santa is watching him ALL THE TIME, but not in a creepy way. 

Photos coming up!!

Photos to brighten a very ugly day.

And Elliott sleeps....peacefully!

I haven't been posting because I have been tired.  Really, really tired.  Elliott had decided that we were so fun, he wanted to play with us every 45 minutes every night.  It was awesome......for him.  So we did the dreaded Cry It Out, which we swore we would never ever ever do.  But we were just so desperate.  The good news is that he is happily going to bed each night and puts himself to sleep without a tear.  No kidding, just like 'they' say.  It really only took 3 or 4 nights, and he sleeps through with only one feeding.  Supreeeeeme!!

He has also started waving, and it is the cutest ever.  Still no teeth, but don't tell his next meal that.  He is eating like a boss. 

Lucas is doing great!  He is getting taller every day, and pants that I thought I needed to hem last month are just right now.  It looks like his shirts are shrinking in the night.  His favorite thing to say is that he can do something by his own self, and he isn't kidding.  He can do so much these days.  Like pick out the letters in his name out in the world, make his brother smile, set the table, he hates to leave a job undone.  We are reading the Little House books, just finished Little House in the Big Woods and are now on Little House on the Prairie.  He loves it!  What a nut.

Blah, blah, blah.....photos up next!!!

Visit soon!!!

More photos

Baking with Lucas

Some cut out cookies. And some bread!

He really likes eating dough.

What a week!

I am so thrilled that today is almost over.  My little Lucas got a shiner today.  Some horrible, awful, mean, icky big kid socked him one at the park today.  I am not taking it as well as Lucas is.  I feel so terrible, and I can only imagine what other bumps and bruises and tragedies large and small will befall him.  I hope I can weather those storms better than this one.

When Elliott had to stay at the hospital because of his jaundice, I literally thought I would never survive without him.  I stayed in the hospital with him, with no real clothes and no real food and no husband and no big brother.  It was awful.  Elaine came to the hospital in the middle of the night and made sure the nurses brought me food and compression socks.  Yes, my ankles were that big. 

I think sometimes about how lucky we are that we are so happy and healthy, and that it really does take these moments of discomfort and pain to remind ourselves how good we've really got it.  Ben and I say every day that we've really got it made, and we really do know it's true.

We are so fortunate to have our families, and to know that a kind word is never more than a phone call away.  We've got food to eat and share and an overabundance of 'extras'.  I am so grateful for all of this.

But my heart does ache when bad things happen to my good people.  I just hope this week takes it easy on us, I'd like to slow down and enjoy all these good times.  My guys are growing up so fast.

Eye candy

So much!

Wow.  Just like that, Elliott can sit up by himself.  So fast!  Such a big boy.  He really is learning so much and revealing his personality.

I can tell you that Elliott:
+  hates going to bed at night
+  loves bananas and avocados
+  has the ability to scream in such a way that melts your brain
+  has never met a stranger
+  is fascinated by his brother
+  loves the swimming pool and bath
+  would way rather sleep with a mom or dad than alone
+  does not like when you take a toy or food away from him (see note about brain melting scream)


Lucas continues to be supreme.  Just tonight he told me that I was pretty and my hair was looking sharp.  Why, thank you, kind sir!
We had a little buddy over and the boys were playing with the electric train set.  My little rule follower was getting pretty anxious when the younger boy tried to pick the engine up off the table, and I heard him say, "Oh, honey bun, you can't pick that off the table!"  I still can't stop cracking up.

We've been hanging out with Eleanor a bunch lately, and I can see that these three will be a real gang some day.  I love it!

Quotes

Lucas:  Mom, I sink my heart is turning into a dinosaur so I could eat up this house because it is so cute.


Me:  Lucas, what's wrong?
Lucas:  I am worried.
Me:  Whatever for?
Lucas:  I am worried about getting died.  I don't want to die and my stomach go away.
Me:  Oh, honey, please don't worry about dying.  That is a loooooong way away.
Lucas:  We might die in a fire.
Me:  The dinosaurs died in a fire, but we know that isn't going to happen because scientists may tell us long in advance.
Lucas:  Oh, ok.  I just worry about getting missed like the old big bampomps and his stomach.
Me:  I know honey, we miss old bampomps, but he lived for a really long time.
Lucas:  OK.

Seriously, this kid is too much!  He sure does remember everything, and certainly misses his old bampomps.


2 hours after bedtime, I hear Lucas playing in his room.
I open the door and see him playing upside down in the bed and ask him what he is doing.  He just laughs.
Me:  Are you happy?
L:  Yes.
Me:  What makes you happy?
L:  Jungles.  And lions.  And when they see me, they are gonna say, Look at that kid.  He's gonna be a a farmer for halloween.  (giggles)

 

Halloween!

The weather has changed, and Lucas sure is excited for Halloween.  It is fun to see him really start to 'get' the holiday this year.  He will be a farmer, and is really looking forward to it.  I keep trying to convince him that he should wear a mustache, but he just says no, he doesn't want the kids to laugh at him.  Such a little man.

Elliott is *almost* sitting up by himself.  He leans waaaay forward, but now can't stand to lay down when he knows that sitting is out there...just waiting to be mastered.  No more mesh bath seat, he only wants to be sitting.  Which means that my wrists are aching from keeping his 21.5 pounds upright all the time.  I hate to wish away the time, but I will be grateful when my hands get a break from this moose!!  He has started to really laugh out loud and I do believe that a tooth is on its way from all of the drooling and chewing.  Solid foods are going great, but we've hit a little hiccup in the "I'm a great sleeper" express.  He seems to hate going to bed.  So much. Way too much.

I'll post photos soon! 
xoxoxoxo

Elliott!

OK, so I know that Lucas says some pretty crazy things, but I am sure Elliott is thinking them.  Soon, he'll be able to share all his thrilling insights.  Until then, I'll just have to share my insights about him with you. 

My littlest guy is a dream.  He is enormous, but I just know that his heart is bigger and mushier than his second and third chin combined.  I already hope and dream that his heart is never broken and his grins and coos are never interrupted with even a twinge of sadness.  I was reading a blog today that I really love, and this poem was included in a post, and it really made me think of the miracle of an emerging little person, part of me and Ben, but wholly his own.  Sorry to be so deep, but I am feeling deep today. 

Yours is the only face I recognize.

Bone at my bone, you drink my answers in.   

Six times a day I prize

your need, the animals of your lips, your skin   

growing warm and plump. I see your eyes

lifting their tents. They are blue stones, they begin   

to outgrow their moss. You blink in surprise

and I wonder what you can see, my funny kin,   

as you trouble my silence. I am a shelter of lies.   

Should I learn to speak again, or hopeless in   

such sanity will I touch some face I recognize? 

Almost six months old, and you can already see what kind of little guy he is.  He is patient and takes it all in.  He is rarely bothered by Lucas' near constant hugging and pinching and good-intentioned 'attention'.  He giggles but rarely just throws out major hiccup inducing laughter.  He can just stare at your eyes for ages and is great at reaching and pulling things to himself.  

Especially food.  This past week he has really starting to pack in the food.  As if he needs to gain weight, but whatever.  Lucas and I made applesauce from our freshly picked apples and of course there is always rice cereal.  He likes sweet potatoes and rice crackers too!  I have a feeling I only make large babies.  Really large babies.

Lately, I just can't stand how snuggly and dreamy he is.  I just want to drink that little guy up!

I don't want to ever forget...

watching Lucas with a new book.  He says, "what?!" in the same exact intonation every time you pull a book out of the bag and clenches his fist really high in the air and cheers.  So excited.  Can't wait to read every word, and then closes the book after and says 'I love it mom'.  And then he wants to read it again.  And again.  And again.  And again.  You get it?


I do want to forget his newly found rage against naps.  I swear it takes every ounce of patience out of me.  And then he sleeps for 2.5 hours after waking his brother.  Arg. 

Until next time, I will focus on the positive.

Solids!

Elliott is feelin it. Loves some solid food. And crackers. And anything you dare pass by him. I don't know if I can handle another growth spurt!!!

Tiny Tragedy

Lucas got his finger pinched by a bocci ball and the tip of his finger essentially popped off.  I had to cut the skin flap off.  He was so brave!  I would have been a mess, not as gracious as my guy.  He even told the little boy who did it that he still wanted to be friends.  Waaaaaay nicer than his mom!!  I wanted revenge.

In the car the other day, Lucas tells me:
I don't have any words in my mouth.  Somebody took all my words away and it makes me upset.  Want to share your words with me?
Me:  Of course I do!
Lucas:  Oh, thanks.  That's so nice mom.

WHAT!?!?!

Lucas:
I'm not gonna cry at school.  I'm not gonna get involved with that.

And finally today:
Me:  Oh, honey, looks like you had an accident in your bed.
Lucas:  No, mom.  My penis is just sweaty.

For real?  This kid is too much. 

Apple picking

What a fun day with my guys! More photos to follow, but these are of Lucas REALLY enjoying an apple fresh off the tree.