Nice and Warm

Dear children,

Despite all those slow, peaceful, sleepy moments that come with having a newborn and being able to nap during the weekends, life has been coming at us quickly since you arrived, Julia. It's hard to keep track of all that we do: little things like Mommy/Daddy/Aidan dance parties evaporate into the ether, but will never be completely gone. Big things like first trips to Target or the Zoo or the Museum are eternal while we experience them, but recorded to nostalgia as soon as their over. It's hard to keep up with every detail; and I definitely try to. But, there's something so nice about losing a few details and, instead, being covered and warmed by a quilt made up of all these day-to-day experiences. Every little victory over an upset gassy baby, and every little defeat like being told "no" and "leave" by a cranky two-year old meld together into one big blanket. And, all-in-all, the patchwork is working well.

Here are some patches I remember.

Julia, you're growing bigger every day. You also sleep alot. These two are definitely related.

You sleep while wrapped to Daddy.

You sleep while wrapped to Mommy.

You sleep at the Grocery Store, you sleep at a family-fun trip to the mall.

But this is very, very good. The more you sleep, the more you grow!

You used to be a teeny weeny handful.

And now, a few weeks later, you're a bit bigger of a teeny weeny handful:

(don't worry, I do have a lot more than one shirt).

You're a month old already, and getting stronger, cuter, and more alert every day (that is to say, when you are awake, you're more alert!).

While your brother really wanted nothing to do with a pacifier, you, young lady, are loving yours. Giving it to you was not a decision that came lightly. Quitting a passy can be a tough thing for a kiddo. But, from the number of times you were just needing to suckle for comfort and not food, your Mom knew that you might need some additional comfort away from her breast. So, we experimented with a passy...and immediately, so much of your night time fussiness (oh yeah, did I mention there was night time discomfort and fussiness? no? well, there was) instantly went away. You just needed some additional comfort. And it didn't take long for everyone in the house to learn that!

(Don't worry, I'm wearing shorts. I promise).

Aidan, you're continuing to grow to. And sometimes growing up is hard to do; sometimes you get frustrated and terribly upset, like when the carousel ride at the zoo was over. But, that's understandable: the carousel was incredibly fun. It was amazing to watch the pure sense of wonder on your face when the carousel started for the first time.

It was less fun to deal with the aftermath, but deal with it we did. And that in itself was amazing. You and me (and Pops) worked together to get over the 'end' of the ride and we went on to have a really rewarding and fun day at the zoo together.

It's little victories over adversity like that that amaze me about the toddler experience. You're able to fall down, get hurt, but get back up and keep on playing. And, with you Aidan, the victories far outweigh anything else.

Lately, you've been really amazing us with your brothering skills. You tell lots of people about your sister, Julia, and you love to kiss her and hug on her.

You are getting protective over her as well, and start to get concerned when she's upset.

One day I came home from work while Mommy was cooking a delicious dinner. Right as I got in, Julia was starting to get fussy. While I was putting my stuff down and taking my jacket off, she began to cry. Okay, okay, she began to CRY LOUDLY! You got concerned and came over to tell me what to do.

"Green Daddy, Green!"

Me, being dense, didn't get it.

You, being clever and patient showed me. You went and grabbed her pacifier (which, cleverly, you called "Green" (this is something you do when you don't know an object's name...you simply refer to it's color...for instance...the carousel you wanted to ride was "Pink! Yellow! Pink!")). So you grabbed her pacifier, handed it to me and went to Julia.

"Green, Julia, Eat it! Eat it, Green, Julia!"

Moments like this really make you feel like your doing something right as a parent. You were concerned for your sister; and you knew how to make her feel better.

Days later you'd removed me from the equation altogether...trying to push the pacifier in her mouth yourself. We're working on that one.

Your cleverness and imagination never cease to amaze me. Whether you're turning into a kitty to get away from a fee-fi-fo-fumming giant, or turning into a monster or a witch simply by putting a marker cap on a pinky finger, you're always using your imagination. (and cracking us up)

One day I asked you what a plane does. "Zoooom...up high!" Was your answer!

And recently you've improved the alphabet to be more in line with your interests. "T,U,V" has been completely replaced by "DVD." 

Life comes at you quick, especially when you have two children, two loving doglets and a beautiful wife in the home (and don't forget about grandparents, aunts, uncles, birthdays, cousins, new babies and impending holidays), but at the end of the day, the really important things have a way of sticking around, and the rest just make you feel nice and warm.

And with winter settling upon us now, it's a great feeling to always be nice and warm at home with your mother, and with both of you.

I love you both to a million, billion, trillion pieces and I can't wait to see you tonight. 

(Upset) Tummy Time: Halloween and Working Out

What do Buzz Lightyear, a little Kitty Cat and a lot of upset tummy times have in common?

Halloween 2012 and Introduction to Tummy Time!

We had a wonderful Halloween! Tammy, Bryan and Luke invited us to crash their neighborhood party and then go trick-or-treating. So I rushed home, put on my costume and we headed over.

Aidan, your Mom had been discussing Halloween with you all day, and you were eager to tell me all about it. When I walked in the door, you were ready to go and said "CANDY HOUSE!"

On the way, I asked you what was about to go down. You seemed to have a pretty awesome grasp:

So, we landed in Luke's new neighborhood, and got everyone in their Halloween costumes before the festivities began and the costumes slowly got soiled, sticky and destroyed. Your Mommy and I did a great job on your costumes this year, if I do say so myself. Your Mom crocheted your Buzz helmet and papier mached the jet pack, and I painted it! Julia, your Mom crocheted your costume too!

(your Mom also painted my costume).

So, may I introduce the winners for best costumes for 2012 Halloween:

Little Kitty Cat:

And her Space Ranger Protector and gatherer of much candy, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command!

Mid-"Infinity and Beyond"

Luke was happy to see you and some of the other children were very happy to meet you!



Then the costumes came off, because the kitty didn't like her hat, and there was a Bounce House for Buzz. Aidan, you had a blast playing with Dinosaur Luke and the other kiddos on the bounce house!



Then bouncing, plus hot dogs plus two cup cakes tested the limits of Buzz's iron fortitude, and the dress whites of a space ranger's uniform got sullied a bit by some upchuck.

But that doesn't get in the way of a Space Ranger's sacred duty to collect candy! So when the sun set, Julia and Aidan, the three of us were off with Mommy, Bryan, Tammy and Luke to Trick-or-Treat! And Julia, you didn't really seem to know or care where you were until you got hungry and Mommy had to go feed you in the car. But Aidan, you were in your element!

As you and Luke went from house to house, filling up your pumpkin buckets, you really got the hang of it. You liked ringing the doorbells (which made me realize how tall and grown up you are!)



and you said "Trick or Treat!" Or sometimes just "Candy!" You'd say 'Thank you' and 'Happy Halloween!'

But, you were all business. There was no time for small talk. You'd proudly announce to each friendly neighbor, "Next House!" and we'd move on!

Finally, jackpot, someone gave you a lollipop and that pushed you over the edge: best night ever!

We said goodbye to Luke, Bryan and Tammy, as Dinosaurs need their sleep.

But you were determined to go to more next houses! So as Mommy went to feed Julia in the car, you and I went to even more houses! You may have been a bit sticky, and bit tired, but you would not take no for an answer. Even as you sat in someone's front yard for a breather, you were ready for more and more houses!

So we loaded up the car, and headed home and you and I went out Rex-and-Buzz for even more houses!

You milked your lollipop for the next several blocks, and stayed excited as we looped around our own neighborhood, having the time of your life.

You may have started to show signs of fatigue, especially when people had the gall to dare not to be home, but you were mostly in high spirits and loved this special night. I loved it too.

Finally, with pumpking bucket full, we looped back around to the final house of the night.

We went inside, showed off our new bling and sweets, and then hurried off to an all-important bath and then bed. This Space Ranger had a huge night and was up waaay past his bedtime.

But it was way worth it to see that smile.

And I think it left an impression on you as well. This morning at 6:30am, almost a full week after Halloween, you climbed in bed with us after playing on your own for a while. Clearly you had been playing with your Black and Decker toolbox, because you came to bed with an orange tool tray and some nuts and bolts. You started doing your early-morning talking fest, where you free associate your mind with fun words. You came to bed telling us about the tool tray.

"Red! Red! Red!" Then you decided it was Orange. "Orange! Orange! Orange Bucket!"

Then it got good. "Orange Bucket. Orange Bucket? Candy! Trick or Treat! Costume. Buzz Lightyear! Halloween!"

Awesome!

And with good cause too: Halloween is awesome. Except that between your loot and the leftover candy for trick or treaters, we now have a pantry too full with delicious candy.

Your Mom and I may have beena  bit too overzealous one night and both wound uip with upset tummies after eating one too many fun-sized candy bars. They didn't seem so fun after the fact.

So, we learned our lesson and have been limited to one a day.

Speaking of upset and tummies, Miss Julia, you might have slept through Halloween (which is a-ok!), but you've been working on your tummy as well. Aidan gathered all the treats on Halloween, but you are working on a new trick!

 That's right, you're holding your head up so well, that we decided it was time to try Tummy Time and Playmat time!

So in and around the night of your first Halloween, was your first Tummy Time! And, as to be expected, you got a little upset. But, that's okay: tummy time is a hard work out, and you did fabulously on your first go, and even better each subsequent time!! 

Your Mom and I have been so proud of the super displays of awesome baby-ness you've displayed during tummy time. You're growing so fast..too fast. And before you know it, if you keep this tummy time up, next thing you know, by next Halloween you'll be cruising the neighborhoods, gathering candy and getting upset tummies with the rest of us!



Homecoming, Milestones and Visitors: Julia's first 3 weeks

Julia,

You were born on October 11, 2012 (10/11/12- coolest birthday ever!)

And on October 15, 2012 we finally got to bring you home!

The homecoming was initially very hectic. We walked in the front door and Preston came to greet us and his eyes were all cloudy and blue! Did he go blind in 4 days? Will he be okay? What's wrong with him? So, I unloaded the car really quickly and immediately took Preston to the vet.

Turns out that the Turkey just got into something and irritated his eyes. So I got antibiotics and eyedrops for him and came stumbling home. He was going to be just fine, and his eyesight was perfect.

So, then I got to come home, and Aidan came home too, and we got to enjoy our homecoming night together.

Your brother liked having a car seat in the house again. And swore to protect it with his life.

Over the next couple of days you had visitors galore! We were happy to welcome them, and they were happy to hold you and meet you!

Aunt Nessa:

Henners (Mommy and Daddy's College buddy!):

Mommy's co-workers:

Neighbors too!

Kai and Cole:

Dorothy:

Bryan, Tammy and Luke:

Uncle BJ and Aunt Kari came by again too!

You even got to meet Aunt April, Uncle Taff, Autumn and Addison - they came in all the way from Houston to meet you! Aidan had so much fun playing with the cousins, and you mostly slept, but you will LOVE playing with these guys too!

Of course, you got to spend a lot more time with your grandparents, especially Yaya who stayed with your Mommy and Aidan when I had to go back to work.

 

Now, you didn't think your little brother would have left you alone, did you? No way! A lot of your time at home is spent with your big brother! He wants to hold you, sing to you, read to you, cuddle up to you, talk to you while you're eating (Eat it, Julia! Nipple, eat it, Julia!), kiss you, lick you (yes, you read that correctly), and he really wants you to sleep in his bed. But don't worry, you're safe sleeping in your co-sleeper and cradle with Mommy and Daddy...for now.

With all these visitors and family members, it may seem like your homecoming isn't really about you, but, baby, it is. Everyone wants to just hold you, be with you, meet you and get some of that baby magic!

Being home is the first new beginning. You get to try on and spit up on as many different adorable outfits as you want! Some days you go through more outfit changes than a fashion model! And your Mommy and I do definitely have fun playing a bit of dress up, and adoring you

in hats....

6 days old!

in bows...

5 days old

in pinks...

7 days old! A grab from our photo shoot-- more on this later!

and yellows...

10 days old!

 

2 weeks old!

And these first three weeks have been filled with milestones:

• You had your first bath (with a very concerned big brother watching closely):

• At your 5-day check up we discovered that you had regained birthweight (7lb 13 oz)! 




• At your 14 day  doctor check up you had almost gained a pound and grown .5 inch taller. 8 lbs 10 oz; 21 inches tall- Putting you in the 75 percentile (and putting you in a class of champion eaters and growers: by 14 days, most babies are only expected to have just then regained their birthweight!)



Day 14!

• On day day 19, - drumroll please- your umbilical cord fell off and you started really holding your head up super well!



Look at that cute Belly Button!



Hold you Head up!

• Compared to your big brother at the same age, you're sleeping like a champ! Granted, you have your moments, but for the mos part, we're all getting pretty good sleep. We were the Walking Dead by this point with Aidan!

In some ways, I can't believe it's already been 3 weeks. It sems just like yesterday you were born, and just the day before that we were peering at your sonogram trying to figure out who you'd be.

In other ways, I can't remember life without you, and it seems like you've always been here with us.

You're an amazing little wonder already, and we can't wait to share this road with you. Together, as a family!