Wordless Wednesday.

Why I'm glad for digital photography...

Been wondering why all of my recent shots of Levi are either during mealtimes (ah, the confinement of a highchair!) or just a blurry image of his backside toddling away? Yeah, getting a decent photo of a nonstop almost-15-month-old is not as easy as it seems! A few days ago, I decided that as his momma, it really is my job to document this completely adorable stage of his life a little better than this:

So, I popped him into the glider, and started snapping pictures! I mean, how hard can it be? It'll only take a few shots to get an perfectly-centered, non-blurry, totally awesome one of that adorably ornery grin...right?


Okay then. So maybe he needs a role model? I added his big brother to the glider, and continued with my photo shoot.... "CHEESE!"


And, suddenly? Ah, SWEET VICTORY!!

(Totally worth it!)

All because of a little cheese.....

My Dearest Nathaniel,
I need to write this letter to explain something to you, and I very much hope that you read it someday. You might not remember the things that I'm talking about by then--but you might; I know that I will. You are the Big Brother to an adorable little dude. Levi is an amazing little guy who is learning so very many things right now--and he's too stinkin' cute while he does it! It is often that I'll smile and clap for him, cheer him on, or tell Daddy to watch him. He is learning, growing, and way too cute for his own good--and we are incredibly proud of him! You, like any big brother are very often jealous.
Nate, I want you to hear this loud and clear: WE ARE SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU! You are an amazing and incredible boy! You are talented and sweet and adorable, and you have surprised me with your accomplishments more times than I can count. There is no person, thing, or accomplishment in this world for which I am more proud than of you and your brother. Truly. I think that you know that, but it's hard to remember sometimes when it's the baby who's getting the praise. And, who could blame you? You're only three years old! I'm sorry that you feel left out sometimes, and I will try harder to point out more of your own accomplishments.
Nate, there is one thing in particular for which I am constantly amazed by, and I am truly so proud of you for. It is your obvious love and adoration for your baby brother. Oh sure, there's some brotherly bickering thrown in for variety, but the two of you are really an inseparable pair.
Even at this early age, I see you filling your "Big Brother" role around the house by looking out for Levi, helping him along, and always including him in your requests. Always, always you include your "Yiyi".
"Mommy, me and Yiyi have a snack, please?"
"Me and Yiyi watch a movie?"
"Me and Yiyi go play outside?"
"Me and Yiyi.....?"
The questions are endless, but they're always requests for "me and Yiyi". My heart melts when I hear you request a treat for your little brother who likely wouldn't even notice if he was left out sometimes. I've tried to remember when you started this, but I can't. There was never a time when I had to prod you to include your brother; he's just always been a part of your life, and you don't leave him out. You are amazing!
Today, while I was making quesadillas for lunch, you asked me for a slice of cheese. As always, you asked for a piece each for you and Yiyi. Like I often do, I sliced two chunks of cheese off, and handed them to you. Normally, I try to make the pieces of cheese exactly the same size (for obvious reasons); today, I wasn't paying much attention, and they were not even. Like, not even close to being even. Not a big deal, I thought, Levi will never know that his slice is smaller. Right? I watched you hurry over to your brother, then pause and look at the two pieces of cheese. You hesitated for just the slightest moment, and I knew that you saw the difference. And then, you gave that bigger piece of cheese to Yiyi Baby.
Oh Nate, I could have cried right there, I was so proud of you! What a generous and kind thing to do for your brother! You might be thinking now, "Okay, Mom, it was just a little bit of cheese....so what?" It was so much more than cheese, my dearest, it was an act of selflessness for your little brother--one that you didn't think anyone would ever even know about. (You never mentioned it to me at all!) For a three-year-old, it was a BIG DEAL. And, I am so very, very proud of you!
Nathaniel, I might not clap every time you finish a bowl of oatmeal, and I might not snap photos of you every time you walk around with a blanket on your head....but that doesn't in a million years mean that I'm not so proud of you that I could bust! It simply means that you are older, and your accomplishments are more mature and grown up. You are an incredibly kind and sweet little boy. I love you! Your love for your brother only makes me love you more, and I pray that you both remain as close as you are right now for always.
I love you to the moon and back,
MomMom

Wordless Wednesday.

Christmas Photo Fail.

I dressed the boys in their cute little coordinating outfits, popped them in the glider, and attempted to get a few decent shots. Maybe, just maybe, one of them would be Christmas card worthy!


....or maybe not!

In Nate's words, "UH-OH!"

These babies are not the same....

Nate, 11/1/10

Levi, 10/31/12

These babies are not the same. Sure, you might think it's obvious now, but I didn't exactly realize it until recently. For some reason, I had it in my head that Baby #2 would be born to look and act exactly like Baby #1 had at birth. That didn't happen (Although I do think that they resembled one another in the way that siblings often do!). I thought that Baby #2 would follow exactly in his big brother's footsteps as an infant/toddler. I had no real reason for this belief, except that Baby #1 was all I knew about babies, so I presumed that Baby #2 would be similar. In reality, these babies are not very similar at all.

Nate loved his carseat; Levi hates the carseat.
Nate liked to be rocked to sleep; Levi must be walked/jiggled/bounced OR left alone in his bed.
Nate only slept swaddled in his swing or in my arms; Levi sleeps on his belly in bed.
Nate wanted to sleep in bed with Mommy and Daddy; Levi doesn't want anyone near him while he sleeps.
Nate was happy to be held by anyone willing when he was tired; Levi firmly believes that Mommy's arms are the only ones that comfort him.

Are you sensing a pattern here? My boys have completely different personalities when it comes to SLEEP. I'm sure that they will differ in far greater ways in the future (but at 2.5 months, it's all about sleeping and eating!). Even at this early age, Nate and Levi share so many things: a Mommy and Daddy who love them unconditionally, a safe and warm home, their genetic makeup, and the most darling chubby cheeks imaginable!
I've always heard that you shouldn't compare siblings, but it's impossible not to do so sometimes. And, there are no rights or wrongs between my boys, just differences and similarities--all of which I love. I think I thought/hoped that Levi would be just like Nate because I already knew how much I loved Nate. Now, I'm finding out that Levi is different, and I love him just as much. No matter whether my boys grow up to look like twins and share every interest or are polar opposites in every way, it doesn't matter. I love them both more than I could have ever imagined. They are each perfect in their own way, and I wouldn't want it any differently.

Watching Them Love.

Eric and I are coming up on our 4th wedding anniversary soon. Before we were married, we dated for several years--and before that, we were good friends. I've loved him for a long time. Nathaniel is 2 years old. I've loved him since long before he was ever born. But now, I love them both a little differently because I get to see them differently.
A new baby changes the whole dynamic of a household, and it's a beautiful thing. I've known Eric as my husband, my partner, my best friend, my other half--but, now I see him in a totally different role: a father, first of one, now of two. He's an amazing daddy, and I get a front row seat to watch daily! Nate was my first baby--the one who made me a mommy. Now, I get to watch him be a big brother--and he's awesome! Watching them love is such an incredible, indescribable thing. I wish there were words to tell you how it feels to watch my husband be the best father that he can be because he loves our boys that much, but there are no words. I wish I could describe the pride and joy that I feel when I see my oldest son loving on his baby brother. And, the fact that the baby saves his biggest smiles for his big brother? Incredible. Being a momma is such an awesome reward, but watching my loves love each other is the ultimate.

Our weekend.

We kicked off our weekend with a bonfire on Friday night. My parents and brothers came over to our house, and we had a wonderful time! Both boys experienced their first fire (Levi slept through most of it!), and Nate made and ate his very first s'more--a big hit!

In other news, our little Levi SLEPT LAST NIGHT!! I truly believe that his screaming for hours at night simply stems from being overly tired (and therefore unable to fall sleep OR stay asleep). We've found that he also doesn't like to sleep in his swing, in our arms, or even in bed with mommmy (weird baby?). He likes to sleep in his pack 'n play, on his belly. I didn't think Levi would like the pack 'n play because Nate didn't like it. And, as much as I've resisted letting his sleep on his belly, I'm giving in. He slept last night from 8:30pm until 9:00am, only getting up to eat (and immediately going back to sleep). Oh, what a blessed night of rest we had!

Lastly, I want to brag on my boys! Nate loves to hold his baby brother, who gives us this giant smile every single time he's in his big brother's arms! They're best buds already!