Birthday Party 2013.

We hosted a small birthday party for the boys last weekend. It was a dump truck/construction themed party, and a very laid back event. We ordered fried chicken and balloons, I made a boys a special cake, and we spent the evening on our patio with lots of family members. Despite our initial disappointment that several friends/family members couldn't make it (new babies, new jobs & vacations, oh my!), my last minute jitters that there wasn't go to be enough food (there was more than enough!), and my husband's attempt to demolish a bees' nest right before party (well, they're still around!)......everything went off without a hitch! We had a wonderful evening, and I loved every moment of watching my boys thrill in their evening with people who love them. (I'm not sure that I've ever seen a child as excited for cake and presents as Nate was at the party!)


Happy Birthday, Nathaniel and Levi!! I love you both to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond!

3 years old.

Nathaniel is three years old today! Time flies when you're having fun, eh? I know how cliche it sounds, but it really does feel like just yesterday that he was a tiny little bundle in my arms. Now, he's in the 90th percentile for his height, and a nonstop chatterbox! Nate is the sweetest little boy, and I am so blessed to be his momma. He is silly and smart, and as energetic as any healthy three-year-old!

Nate LOVES cars and trucks! In fact, he loves them so much that whenever I ask him if he likes something (IE food, a color, etc), he replies, "No, just cars and trucks!" All day long, he plays with his toy cars and trucks--big ones, little ones, noisy ones, quiet ones. Fire trucks, dump trucks, tow trucks, race cars, police cars, ambulances, bulldozers, motorbikes, RVs! Oh, the boy loves his vehicles! He can even identify the different sirens when we hear them outside!

On the rare occasion that Nate isn't playing with cars or trucks, some of his other favorite activities include trains, playing in the sandbox (with cars & trucks), playing outside (with cars & trucks!), coloring (in his car coloring books!), playing play-dough (oh, yes, we have car/truck cookie cutters!), reading books, (Curious George, Berenstain Bears, Clifford, Winnie the Pooh, Little Critter, and I'm sure you can guess what else!). He also loves to watch DVDs, and he is allowed to watch one a few times weekly--usually Clifford, Veggie Tales, or Curious George. Nate loves to help, especially in the kitchen.

Right now, Nathaniel loves to talk about his "fwiends" (friends) all the time. He often tells me, "Mommom, you and me be fwiends!" or "Me, you, Daddad, and Yiyi--we all be fwiends!" He loves to remind us that we're all friends in this family--even Grover, Green Beans, and Smudgie! He loves to talk about his little pals at church, and his Unca Tim and Unca Matt fwiends too.

Speaking of friends, Nathaniel and Levi are the best of friends now! Sure, they bicker like siblings, but I love watching their brotherly bond growing. They play together daily, and Nate is Levi's biggest cheerleader as he learns to walk! When Levi cries, Nate runs to him and pats him gently while telling him, "Okay, Yiyi, be okay!" All of those sweet moments are just almost enough to erase the daily "No, no, no, MINE!" from my memories......almost!

As always, Nate loves his animals. He and Grover are inseparable, and they are hilarious to watch. Nate chases Grover, Grover chases Nate; they play ball and rope and chase some more! They are loud and boisterous, and might even include a small squirt gun in their antics sometimes! But, really, isn't that exactly what a boy and his dog are for?

Nathaniel is a great eater! He eats what we give him, and doesn't complain about it--too much! A few of his favorite foods include pizza, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese, blueberries, watermelon, banana chips, corn, and ice cream. He's not a big fan of green veggies (unless they're blended into smoothies!), meats (although they seem to be growing on him recently), or mashed potatoes. He drinks whole milk, as well as almond milk (He loves vanilla almond milk!).

Nate usually sleeps about 11 hours at night, and he takes an afternoon nap daily (usually 2 to 3 hours). He goes to sleep on his own, and sleeps straight through the night. Every night (& nap), he is allowed to take two small cars to bed with him, and I often find them clutched tightly in his hands while he sleeps.

Nate is entirely potty-trained, and I am so glad! We usually wake him up to use the potty once at night (before we go to bed), and he stays dry while he sleeps. Woohoo!

Nathaniel's speech has really improved within the past few months. He is speaking in longer, more complex sentences, and is getting easier to understand by non-family members. A few days ago, I was in the bedroom, when I heard Nate yell from the living room. When I returned, we had this conversation,
Me: "What's wrong?"
Nate: "That watermelon hurt me!"
Me: "....a watermelon hurt you?"
Nate: "That pretend one!"
Me: "Oooh! How did it hurt you?"
Nate: "Me lay on it; it hurt my back!"

That conversation may seem simple (and so short typed!), but it caught my attention. When did this little boy of mine learn to speak so well? To tell me what happened--completely with words, not crying or motioning or objects or guessing games? Somewhere along this life, he's growing up on me. I'm noticing how big he seems now--how very much a little boy, and how I can't find any baby left in him. Except at nighttime, when I carry him back to his bed from the bathroom, and he snuggles his head on my shoulder.....oh, these last few moments of my oldest's babyhood are precious!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Nathaniel Isaac! I love you more than you can imagine, and you make me so proud! Keep on growing and learning; you are amazing!

1 year old.

Levi is a year old today! Just like that, my baby boy is one. There is a part of me that feels sad because this past year has gone by in such a flash, but then another bigger part of me feels like this is right. This is exactly where I've wanted to be all along! Of course I've adored my both of my babies, but I do so enjoy this older stage! My baby isn't such a baby anymore; he's getting to be more of a toddler every day--and I'm loving every second of it! He's curious and quick and silly, and he's the most perfect little boy in the world (along with his big brother, of course!). For a short 6 days, I have a one-year-old and a two-year-old! Good thing it's only for a week; I'm not sure I can handle kids that close in age any longer! ;)

Levi is a fantastically fun little guy who is always on the move! He is busy all the time, exploring and nibbing all over the place. He wants to know about everything, and he isn't shy about finding out! He checks out everything within reach (drawers, cabinets, boxes, bags, etc), and loves to crawl away as fast as he can when he's caught! He laughs all the time, and has even started purposefully trying to make us laugh. He scrunches up his nose with a huge smile when he's being funny--too cute!

Levi's favorite person in the world is his big brother, Nathaniel. He absolutely adores him, and always wants to play with whatever Nate is playing (Nate occasionally feels like sharing with his baby brother, haha!) It melts my heart to see them interact, and I am so very, very glad that we've been blessed with both of them. They love to make each other laugh, and smiles on their faces are enough to bring joy into our hearts--even when we can't quite understand the never-ending humor of a cup repeatedly flung to the floor or sniffing stinky toes!

Levi crawls and climbs, and he's beginning to walk too! He walks easily while holding onto things (furniture, push toys, holding hands), and can take up to three steps on his own. His balance is good, and I think he's going to take off on his own just as soon as he realizes that he can walk without nose-diving into Mommy or Daddy in sheer excitement!

Levi says several words, and will mimic lots of sounds. So far, he says Mama, Dada, kitty (key), Grover (Goga), hi (haaah), and cup. When he wants something, he points to it. Often, he accompanies his pointing with loud grunts and sighs to get more attention. Funny! He can wave and give kisses too.

Some of Levi's favorite toys right now include the xylophone that Daddy bought in Honduras, the police car with real lights and sirens, any push toy that allows him to walk (or run!), the toy cooking utensils for the play kitchen (He carries them around constantly!), and, of course, his stuffed monkey. (Sidenote: The above photo was supposed to be of the boys playing the xylophone, but, hey, a watermelon works too!)

Levi's favorite foods are watermelon, macaroni & cheese, crackers, and sweet potatoes. He eats almost everything that we eat, and there are not many things that he doesn't like. He has been drinking whole milk and almond milk from a sippy cup with his meals for a few weeks now because he's reduced his nursing sessions drastically. He still nurses at naptime and bedtime, as well as during the night. Typically, his "during the night" feeding only consists of one feeding around 6 am, but recently, it has been every couple of hours throughout the night because he's teething.

Speaking of teeth, Levi has eight (and a half?) teeth. He is in the process of getting all four molars right now, which has contributed to many night-wakings recently. We have had good results in treating his discomfort with an amber teething necklace and Hyland's teething tablets. Occasionally, I do give him ibuprofen when he seems to be in too much pain to sleep soundly.

Levi typically sleeps about 12 hours at night. He takes one afternoon nap during the day, which is usually two to three hours long. He still sleeps in the pack 'n play in our bedroom since he still wakes up during the night. He usually sleeps on his belly, but moves all over the pack 'n play!

Levi, I am so proud of you! You are an amazing little boy, and I know that your determination and fervor for life will take you far. You are sweet and loving, and I am blessed abundantly to call you mine. I love you, Sweet Baby Yiyi! Happy Birthday!!

(Notice those kitchen utensils constantly in hand.....little future chef?!)

Just one year ago...

One year ago today, Eric told me that he was taking our family out to dinner for the evening "because it might be our last chance as a family of only three!" I thought he was crazy, but wasn't about to turn down the opportunity to not cook dinner at 39 weeks pregnant! We ate at Applebee's, then stopped at Nate's favorite store--the pet store to visit the kitties! Afterward, feeling guilty about skipping my evening let's-get-some-contractions-started-and-maybe-I'll-go-into-labor walk, I insisted that we take a stroll. We walked around the plaza, window shopping and chatting. It was hot outside, and [as usual] I did start contracting a little bit. But, as usual, they stopped as soon as I stopped walking and got into the car.
We came home, got Nate into bed, and watched a bit of television. We went to bed later than normal, and I was glad to finally slide into bed. Then, just in those final moments before sleep came, I felt the baby squirming around. Obviously, I knew the feeling well, but this was particularly noticeable because it was much more movement, very fast, and stronger than normal. I smiled and closed my eyes, thinking that the baby must really be having a party in there tonight. Then, I felt my water break! Just like that, no contractions, no tricks, no medical interventions, nothing at all. Just a little pop, and I was in labor--and my body was doing it all on its own! More importantly, I was having a baby very soon! It was hard to rest with the adrenaline pumping through my body, then by the time I'd relaxed enough to rest, the contractions were getting too strong to sleep. Eventually, I was able to fitfully doze off for a couple of hours, waking every few minutes to drowsily time contractions, but falling asleep before the next one began. By the time the sun began to rise on August 11, I was up out of bed and ready for our family of three to become a family of four!
Continue reading Levi's birth story here....

Teething Tips.

I've had several people ask about Levi's new "bling" recently, so I thought I might as well write up a blog entry about it. And, then I figured, hey, while I'm at it, I'll do a whole post about teething! I am by no means an expert on the subject matter, but I've gone through this with two babies, so I've got a few tips to share. And, as parents, we can all use all the help with teething babies we can get, yes? I will preface my post with this little gem that I came across.... (Pretty accurate, in my opinion!)

Levi is presently in the throws of Stage 3, and he's not happy about it! As any parent can attest, molars take forever to completely erupt. (We've got two partially erupted as of yesterday!) For weeks now, we've been doing all that we can to relieve the pain and discomfort so that we can all enjoy our days (and sleep at night!). This is a list of the teething remedies that I've tried, and a brief description of each. If you've got any more tips of tricks that worked for your child, I've love to hear them!

Hyland's Teething Tablets
These are, by far, my favorite teething product. I've used them for both boys, and have had success every time. Hyland's Teething Tablets are a homeopathic remedy that relieves the symptoms of teething (swelling, etc). They do not numb anything, and they certainly do not contain benzocaine! If you're interested in the ingredients (and their purposes) or about homeopathy, click here. The only time (for either boy) that teething tablets have not been enough to relieve the pain of teething has been at bedtime when the molars are coming in. We absolutely love Hyland's products, and I would recommend teething tablets to anyone with a baby!


Baltic Amber Necklace
This is the most recent addition to my "teething arsenal", and also the one that I've been most questioned about. Yes, my youngest son is wearing a necklace. It's a beaded necklace made of Baltic Amber, which has been used for centuries as a natural pain reliever. When the amber warms upon skin contact, it releases succinic acid, which reduces pain and inflammation in the body. The necklace is not to be chewed on for teething, but rather just worn against the skin. More information here. Levi's necklace was made specifically for young children, and it is knotted between each bead so that in the event of the necklace breaking, only one bead will fall off to reduce the choking risk. It also has a safety clasp so that it will pop open if pulled hard enough--to reduce to likelihood of strangulation.
Since putting on his amber necklace, we have noticed a significant decrease in night wakings. Also, we are still using teething tablets, but only for bedtime. (Before the necklace, we were administering teething tablets around the clock, and ibuprofen at every bedtime.) The amber necklace hasn't eliminated all of the discomfort of teething, but it has helped dramatically.


Food
Food might seem like the most obvious way to reduce teething pain, but it isn't always such. Often times, babies/young children will refuse to eat when their mouths hurt, so mealtimes can become a challenge. Purees and other smooth foods can be good since they don't require chewing--and are especially welcome when chilled. On the other hand, babies who enjoy chewing to relieve teething pain can take advantage of mealtimes to gnaw uninterrupted. Cold cut-up fruit is a good choice, as are teething biscuits (We like homemade or Earth's Best).


Frozen Fruit Pops & Smoothies
These, obviously, fall under the category of Food, but since they're such a hit around here, I figured they deserved their own blurb. To avoid the high sugar and dye contents of store-bought popsicles, I make my own for the boys. They're easy to make, and much-loved as treats! Best of all, the cold numbs the painful, swollen gums of a teething baby! Since I use 100% fruit, I have no problem at all allowing the boys each a smoothie each morning for breakfast and/or a popsicle every single evening after dinner. My recipe is simple: throw any mixture of fruit into the blender, blend until smooth, and there you've got a smoothie! Pour it into popsicle molds, and freeze, and you've got popsicles! Easy, huh? If I'm feeling really crazy, sometimes I'll add yogurt, almond milk, or peanut butter into the mix. And, a little top secret parent info? You can blend spinach, kale, and/or avocado into ANY smoothie/popsicle mixture, and you CANNOT taste it (kale has a stronger flavor, so be a little more discerning with it!)! Yes, it will turn your smoothie/popsicle a disqusting-looking shade of green or greenish-brown, but it will still taste sweet and fruity--I promise! Some of our favorite flavors: banana/strawberry/yogurt(spinach/avocado), watermelon/blueberry/strawberry, banana/peach(spinach/avocado), banana/peanut butter/yogurt/almond milk (avocado), mixed berry/banana (spinach/kale). The thinner your smoothie (higher water content), the more solid it will freeze. Popsicles are made best with a smoothie that is about the consistency of a milkshake (bananas and yogurt are both good for thickening smoothies/popsicles).


Sophie the Giraffe
Sophie the Giraffe is a teether, plain and simple. We got it when Nate was a baby, and both boys have enjoyed gnawing on it since. I like Sophie more than other teething products for a number of reasons--first and foremost, Sophie is made of natural rubber and decorated with food-grade paint. It is stimulating for babies to explore (visually appealing, lightweight, and squeaky!), and super cute for parents. I've heard Sophie called "a really expensive doggie chew toy marketed to babies", and I will admit I was skeptical at first. But, after having two babies who are huge Sophie fans (Nate more so than Levi), I will say that Sophie is absolutely worth the money! Another benefit of Sophie is that the different shape (a giraffe!) allows babies to chew with the front OR back gums while teething; many conventional teether shapes aren't really conducive to being chewed in the back of the mouth.

Ibuprofen
This is usually my last choice in teething remedies, simply because I like to avoid medication whenever I can. That being said, if either boy is in pain, and I can't help in any other way, I will not hesitate to give them ibuprofen. We always use the dye-free kind; it's still flavored, just a cloudy white color, rather than fire engine red! Obviously, this is the strongest teething remedy on this list, and it has always worked to give my boys the relief that they need to rest peacefully. Sidenote: The reason that we choose Ibuprofen, (rather than Tylenol) is that Tylenol depletes glutathione in the body. Glutathione removes toxins from the body, and therefore, a shortage can make illnesses last longer (not good for anyone, particularly a grumpy teething baby who is putting all sort of germy things in his mouth to chew!).

Calcium
Since calcium is essential for growing teeth, it is recommended that teething babies' calcium intake is high. A calcium supplement works, but we have found that simply boosting calcium intake is effective as well. Obviously, dairy products are good sources of calcium, and so are almond milk, fortified cereal, and molasses. If you're nursing, increasing your own calcium intake will increase your baby's.


Another teething remedy that I've heard works is diluted lavender oil rubbed along the jawline on the outside of the cheek. You can dilute it in coconut oil or olive oil, and rub on every 15 minutes until the pain subsides. I have not used this method, but have heard that it is very effective. If you've tried it, let me know how it worked!

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One teething remedy that I do NOT use is Orajel or any other gel that contains benzocaine. I wrote a blog about the risks of benzocaine here. There are some teething gels on the market that do not use benzocaine (Orajel Naturals uses clove oil, and Hyland's also carries a gel product), and I have used them occasionally. In my experience, the gels are effective, but not for very long--and most babies aren't fond of the numbing effect (but, nor are they fond of the discomfort of teething!).

Happy Monday!

Someday....

My Precious Boys,
Someday, you won't be so little....and, I can't really decide whether I like that fact or not. Nevertheless, it's a fact; life goes on, and little boys grow up. I know that I will miss you at these ages and sizes, but I'm also so excited to get to know the bigger you(s). There are so many things about you both right now that I don't want to ever forget, and yet so many things that I can't wait to see.

I will miss the way that you talk now, Nate. I love the way that you always say Me and Him and Her, instead of I and He and She. I like the way that you can't say Rs or Ls properly, and I adore the "Oh wow!" that comes from your mouth 100x/day. I like how you get over-the-moon excited about the little things in life like taking walks and going outside to play. (You even tell me, "Me escited!") I love the way that you run up and give me hugs at the most random times, and that you still only want me when you're hurt or grumpy. I love your laugh. I love that helping me in the kitchen is one of your favorite things--especially when we use the mixer! I love your passion for cars, and your interest in all things vehicle-related. I love your sweet, shy smile, your dimples, and your funny little toes. You're so smart and inquisitive, but also shy and careful. I adore your relationship with your little brother--the way that you bring him toys (often to keep him away from whatever you're playing with), gently pat him when he cries, and snuffle on his toes to make him laugh. I love your adoration for books, and I will so miss reading stories to you someday. I love the way that you beam with pride over your accomplishments, and the way that you try so hard to make me and Daddy happy. You're an all-around amazing kid, and I love you to the moon and back!

My little Levi, I will miss your baby chub. Those roly poly legs and that round little tummy make me swoon. I love your wispy baby hair, and the way that you scrunch up your nose when you're trying to be funny. I love the way that you wave, and the way that you say "nyum, nyum, nyum, nyum!" when you're eating. I love that you are so determined and full of perseverance. I love your laugh. I will miss nursing you to sleep at night, and the way that you wake yourself up giggling at your own burps. (You're definitely a boy!) I love your cuddles and your adventurous demeanor. I love the way that you crawl everywhere as quickly as you can, and climb everything within reach. You are such a little explorer, and I love your fascination with the world. I love the way you wave at yourself in the mirror, and throw your arms up to show me how you're "SO BIG"! I love the way you say Mama, and I love the way that you beam with pride when you say a new word. Your personality is so big for such a little guy, and you impress me every single day with your creativity.

My sweet, sweet little darling boys, you are both such a joy. You are our greatest blessing, and we cannot imagine life without either of you. You're so perfect for our family--each in your own way. I love being with both of you--together and apart. I love your voices and your humor and the sound of your laughter. (Oh, your laughs!) I love that God has blessed with with you, and I couldn't ask for better (or cuter!) sons. I love both of you forever and always, no matter what.

XOXOXOXOX,
Momma

I'm still THAT mom....

I recently came across this post from over two years ago. It's a blog entry about how much I thought I knew about parenting before I became a momma, and how much I would have judged future me had I seen myself raising my boy beforehand. Interestingly enough, I was pretty spot on with my "prediction" for our parenting of future theoretical Baby #2. We do treat him a little differently than we did/do our oldest, but not necessarily because we made mistakes or did things wrong the first time around. We do things differently because he's a different person. (On the other hand, because we're the same old parents, we do a whole lot of things the same old way!)
The things that we do differently with Levi are indeed things that some people might consider our "mistakes" with our first child--co-sleeping and pacifier use are the two biggies that come to mind. Nathaniel slept in our bed until he was almost two years old, and he used a pacifier until he was about 18 months. I don't consider either of those decisions to have been mistakes, and I don't regret that we did either one of them with Nate. Nor do I regret that we don't co-sleep or use a pacifier with Levi! The reasons that we did/didn't do those things with our sons are simple; we did what was best for each boy. Nate needed to be close to us, and he used the pacifier to soothe himself. Levi wanted his own space, and he had no interest in a pacifier. We gave both boys the same options, and they both made their own decisions. They're different people, and will make different decisions for rest of their lives; why were we surprised that they started being different as infants?
On the other hand, there are many ways in which my boys are very similar. And, as far as making "mistakes" as a momma--well, I think that mistakes aren't necessarily a bad thing. (How else would we learn?) But, on that same note, your mistakes might not be mine--and vice versa. I rocked Nate the sleep for every single nap until I was too pregnant to hold him comfortably in the glider. Mistake? Some would say so. But, for us, it was not a mistake at all. I have never regretted that I did that, and he had no problems transitioning. I absolutely still rock Levi to sleep for his naps and bedtime now, and it's not a mistake at all. Both of my boys can/could put themselves to sleep alone...but, they'll have years to do that; why shouldn't I enjoy the rocking and snuggles while I still can?
There are lots of other things that I do as a momma that I'm sure lots of people would judge and whisper about. So what? I'm doing the best that I can for our family, and I'm not hearing any complaints from my boys! (Yet!) Being a parent is hard work, and there isn't any textbook answer for raising good children. Every single momma is different, which is a good thing because every single baby is different too! I studied a bit about the Nature Vs. Nurture Effect while I was in college, and always tended to lean a little bit more on the Nurture side of the spectrum. Now that I've had two [very different] babies, I understand the Nature argument a little more. Clearly, there is no real "answer" to the debate, but it's an interesting concept.
As a mother, I love comparing my boys to one another, particularly at similar ages. I don't do it to see who's ahead or behind, but rather just to see how they're different and the same. My precious boys are opposites in so many ways, but I love how they both fit perfectly together into our family. We never knew it before, but these are the exact two little boys that our hearts were missing before they came along! And, even though our parenting might be spotted with "mistakes" here and there, our boys are growing up to be super, awesome little guys!