Brooks at 2 months

Stats| 11 lbs 14oz (50%) and 22.5 in (35%). We've got another shortie on our hands. 

 Eating| Every 2-3 hours during the day. He'll take a bottle but will only drink maybe 2oz from it. He prefers it straight from the source. 

 

Sleeping| We are slowly getting into a little routine. It's hard being the second child and being toted around to activities for sister. Some days he takes good naps and other days I feel like he hardly slept all day. I've been trying to keep him up after 7pm and getting into a bath, play, eat and sleep routine. His last feeding is around 8:30-9pm and then he sleeps till at least 1:30am. He wakes anywhere from 1-2 times a night. He has recently started napping in his crib and once we get a second monitor, we are going to move him in there at night. He's a light sleeper so I think (hope) he'll sleep better once he's in his room with the sound machine.

 

 

Play| He loves laying on his play mat on the floor or talking to people. I wouldn't say it's with purpose but he can reach and hang on to his hanging toys. The swing and bouncy seat are only cool for about 5 min and then he wants nothing to do with them. Unless he's sleeping, then he'll sleep soundly in his swing.  He's full of smiles and coos when he wakes up and sissy can almost always get a smile out of him. Loves kicking his legs and flapping his arms.  Made these pics very hard to take with all his movement.

 

 Health| He got a great bill of health from his pediatrician.  She said he should be growing out of his fussy/colic soon. He has his good and bad days so I'm hopeful he'll be a better baby for good soon. Still on reflux medicine for his silent reflux. 

 

Likes| Talking, watching tv, bath time, eating and watching sister

 

Dislikes| Getting out of the bath, having a dirty diaper, his reflux medicine, his binky (for the most part) and not being held.

 

 Even if your a little fussy, your great big smiles and coos make up for it.  We love you so much baby boy.   

23 months

My baby is almost 2?! It really shouldn't come as much of a surprise with the way she's been acting lately. Woah that girl is learning how to push my buttons. I'm a little scared for the "terrible twos."  

Aside from the listening only when you want and throwing some legit tantrums, you are still a miniature mommy. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING I do with Brooks, you are sure to do with your babies. I give Brooks his medicine, you take the dropper and give medicine to your baby. I wipe his mouth with the burp cloth, that burp cloth is no longer mine to use. Brooks isn't in his car seat? Free game for your baby doll. A baby doll is with you 90% of the time and when one isn't, it's because I made you leave it in the car or house. Your such a good mommy to your babies and Brooks. You give him his pacifier when he cries and I'm busy and yell "eyes!" the second you see him wake up. And then it's "hi baby." Over and over.

 

 

You are my shadow. I love you child but for the love of God, you do not need to follow me around all day long. 

Me- "I'm going upstairs to grab a diaper."

Collins- "me!"

Me- "Stay down here, I'm gonna go turn on the oven." 

Collins- "Me!"

Me- "We are going to play with your friends today."

Collins- (I respond with yes or no after each one) "Me? Baby? Mommy? Daddy?"

 

 

She's been back to calling Derek "Dick" this past week. I love it. 

Seems like forever since we've been to the doctor for you. Not that it's a bad thing but I'm anxious to hear your stats. According to my measurements you are 24.5 pounds and 31 inches.

Some 12-18 month pants fit your short legs but 18-24 month ones are good too. 18-24 month for shirts and size 6 shoe. 

 The biggest milestone this month? Your potty trained!! You are a rockstar and  did so good with it. You are in underwear all day besides nap and bed time and even then you usually wake up dry. We are having some issues with getting you to poop on the potty but I have no doubt that will come. Hopefully soon!

 

You've been a great eater lately. Some of your favorites include sausage, scrambled eggs, apples, peas, cheez it's, veggie straws, pizza and cheese. Everything is better when served with a dip. We just stopped buying whole milk because I think you get plenty of calories from your ever growing appetite. You haven't been a huge milk drinker lately but you love your dairy foods. 

Sleep has been a little interrupted since potty training. You would cry at bed and nap time and wake up once in the middle of the night. I think it was all due to having to go to the bathroom and not wanting to go in your diaper. Now we take you potty before you go to sleep and that has been helping. Occasionally you will play in your bed for a good 30 min before falling asleep at night. It's been around 8:30pm that you fall asleep and wake up around 7:30-8am. Napping 1.5-2 hours around 12:45. 

When you aren't playing with your babies your usually looking at pictures on my phone or taking pictures of your babies with my phone. I delete about 60 pics a day of ones you took. You also like cooking in your play kitchen and pretending to make mommy coffee with your baby keurig. You have a better coffee maker then I do! You love shutting the lid and turning on mommy'a real coffee pot as well. We don't dare give Brooks a bath without you taking one with him and your not letting anyone walk out the door with him. Glad you still love him even through his crying and constantly needing my attention. 

 

 

You have quite the personality and I wouldn't change it for the world. Your a little girl with a big heart and I love you every second of every day. 

5 on Friday

1. Collins is potty trained!!! It's been almost 2 weeks since we started the process and I am ssoo happy with how great she did. The potty accidents stopped less then a week from when we started but we are having #2 issues. She won't go on potty has been holding it in for 3 days now. And she has cried once  in the middle of the night, every night since we started. I think because she has to go potty so I suppose the bedtime diaper needs to go and we'll have to buck up and leave her bedroom door open so she can go. Waking up with her beside my bed really freaks me out. 

2.  I watched my nephew 2 days this week while his school was closed and we had so much fun with him. My sister rocks and brought us this goody bag for watching him. This new coffee lover is giddy for my giant coffee mug and Collins went to bed with her cat ears on. 

3. It wouldn't be October without countless trips to the pumpkin patch. We made our 2nd trip yesterday and besides the 500 students, bees galore and cold (paid) lunches, the kids had s great time. How cute is Collins and her friends in their matching leggings? I die every time I look at this pic. 

4.  Little man is finally getting over being a fussy/colicky baby. I'd hate to jinx myself since most people say it lasts about 3 months and he isn't quite to 2 months, buuuut he has been so smiley and chatty lately. His smiles and voice melt me to a puddle. Please stick around happy baby. My blood pressure would appreciate it. 

5. It's Friday, baby is currently sleeping on my chest and sister is napping. Cleaning can wait cause babies don't keep. 

Pumpkin patch

My brothers reality group hosted a Fall festival at the pumpkin patch this weekend. They treat their clients SO good and are always putting events together. This was the second year it's been at Kaulkner's Pumpkin Patch here in KC. I've been to s few pumpkin patches and this has been one of the best. Collins was beyond thrilled to ride a real horse and get her face painted. The ballon guy? Amazing. He is so good with the kids and put on a magic show as well. Brooks slept pretty much the entire time but he'll be up and running around at it next year.

 

Let's take a look at last years pic first

A year later (and Collins and Derek in basically the same outfit)

5 on Friday!

I'm excited that this link up party has started again.  Great way to compile all my thoughts into 1 post!

1. Yay for Fall!!! We are going to miss our afternoons at the pool but I won't be complaining about the cooler weather, yummy candles, pumpkin patches and Halloween! Collins points out every pumpkin we walk by so she's going to freak when we go to a field full of them!

2.  Potty training is happening this weekend.  We are giving the 3 day method a shot and we have high hopes of getting one of the kiddos out of diapers.  She goes almost every time we stick her on the toilet so I'm hoping she catches on to TELLING us when she needs to go.  I'm not so much looking forward to being stuck at home all weekend cleaning up accidents that are bound to happen.  Wish us luck!

3. He's now 6 weeks but let's go back to the day we brought him home and these oh so adorable pics my sister snapped.  It was a last minute thing but I'm so happy she captured these moments.  I want that tiny baby back!!!

4. 2nd birthday planning.  Halloween, birthday and then Christmas.  Craziest time of the year for us.  I finally picked a theme for her party and I'm anxious to get started on it.  My "doddy" (doggy) lover is getting her wish! I was hesitant to go with this theme but after scoring pinterest, I think we can make it girly and cute. 

5. Can't say I've stayed up for these nail biter games but so proud of our Royals.  It's been 29 years since they've been in the playoffs so it's a big deal around here.

 

22 Months

 

Well that month flew right on by.  This past month is a little foggy due to the newest member of our family.  You have taken on your new big sister role better then I could have ever imagined.  I had a feeling you would love him but you are always coming up and telling him hi, kissing his head and asking to hold him.  He's been a fussy baby but for the most part, you tolerate me having to hold and feed him most of the day.  Your always right beside me, usually rocking or feeding your baby doll.  There have been a handful of times that you've pointed to his seat and said "there" cause you want me to hold you instead of him.  Luckily daddy has been home most of these times and I've been able to give him the baby and hold you.  Other times your ok with me holding you and him at the same time. 

You've taken your love for your baby dolls to a new level.  Everything you see me do to Brooks, you do to your babies.  You say they stink and change their diaper (you insist on using real wipes and diapers), nurse them and swaddled them in blankets and put them in Brooks swing, car seat, play mat, anywhere he isn't.  You sleep with approximately 10 babies, a few stuffed animals and usually 2 books. I have to go in and move everything after you fall asleep. 

 

It's probably just because of the new baby but you seem a lot bigger this month.  You've been a bottomless pit so I wouldn't be completely surprised if your having a growth spurt.  I've started getting you some clothes for Fall and I'd say 18 month clothes will probably get your through Fall.  You can get by with 2t shirts but no way can your short legs fit in 2t pants.  Even 18 month ones can be long.  I've debated busting out your pants from last Winter because I'm thinking they'd still fit. Some size 5 shoes fit but mostly 6's.  I can't freaking wait to put you in some boots!

Your getting over either a cold, allergies or just a little sickness from teething but you've been sleeping like a rockstar.  About 8pm-8am and taking a 2 hour nap.  Now if I could just get brother on the same schedule, we'd really be set.  Your last 4 teeth have broke through so you should get a little break before the 2 year molars start coming in.

 

We're gonna give potty training a shot next weekend.  You go almost every time we put you on the toilet and are all about taking your pants off and on.  Not buying diapers for 2 would be great but we won't push it if you don't handle it well.  You adjust pretty well to new things (besides losing the pacifier) so I'm hoping we'll have minimal accidents and you'll be potty trained in no time.

You call daddy "dick" (Derek) most of the time and he doesn't appreciate it. I think it's hysterical. You really try and repeat words but usually they sound nothing like the real word. It amazes me that you can say 3 word sentences but can't repeat simple words. We'll keep trying and see what doctor says at your 2 year appt. I think your doing just fine though. 

 

You've probably spent too much time on my phone the past month while I've been feeding brother. You prefer YouTube videos over any of the apps I've downloaded. Videos of dogs and kid songs are requested 1000 times a day. Now if only we could get you to watch more then 5 min of TV. Yes, parents of the year for begging our child to watch TV. Everyone needs a little break sometimes. 

We love you baby girl and are so very proud of the way you've adjusted to our new family.  Your the best big sister and we love you so very very much. 

Brooks at 1 month

 

We survived the first month! I think most people say the first 3 months are the hardest but I'm hoping it's not really that long.  Brooks has been a great addition to our family but the poor guy hasn't been happy for the past 2-3 weeks. We went for his 1 month visit this week and he got a prescription for reflux. He doesn't spit up but he swallows really loudly and then screams. That and painful gas pains have him pretty upset. Hoping the medicine will make him feel better. It seems to be already!!

Stats| Weighed in at 10 lbs 1 oz (55%), 21 1/4 in (50%) and his noggin was 15 in (50%). Average all around.  He very light hair (and hardly any of it) and blue eyes. I'm pretty sure his blue eyes are going to stick around. So he looks like daddy but has my hair and eye color (I was a blonde growing up) and Collins looks like me but has Derek's hair and eye color. He is wearing 0-3 month clothes but I don't think he'll be in them too long. 

 

Eating| The boy would eat all day if I let him. He was a big snacker in the beginning but I'm finally getting about a 2-3 hour window before the next feeding. He's been eating around 9pm and sleeping till about 2am and then again around 5am. Back to 2-3 hours after that feeding. 

Sleeping| I mentioned above his night routine and he hardly wakes up for those feedings. I feed, change his diaper and  feed him a little more before putting him back down. He sometimes stirs but will put himself back to sleep. He sleeps the majority of the day but is awake for about 1-2 hours in the mornings and evenings.  Sleeps mostly in the rock n play (night time too) and sometimes on the couch or in his crib on his belly for naps. I know it's a no no but I only let him sleep on his belly when I am awake and can watch him. 

 

 

Play| Now that he's awake more, he's been enjoying play time. He loves to lay on the floor and stare out the window and look at his toys. He showed the doctor his smiling skills and she said he shouldn't be doing that till 2 months. He's advanced already :) He can get some coos out if he works really hard but mostly grunts and farts. All boy. 

Health| Upon many recommendations, we took him to see the chiropractor in hopes of getting his gas pains figured out. He adjusted his pelvis and showed us a couple belly rubs to do. Our doctor said to limit gassy foods and to use the gripe water and gas drops we've been using. Overall, he looked great and he left without any shots! 

 

 

Brooks, you've made us so very happy in the short amount of time you have been here. We all absolutely adore you and can't get enough of your snuggles. Everyone usually has to fight sister for you because she's a big baby hog like her mom. You've had a bit of a rough month but we're gonna get that all figured out and hopefully you can be a much happier boy. We love you so much and are so glad your here!