Kiddo update.

I've been a bad blogger! I need to do this update so I don't forget these things about the kids when I am old and grey. Too tired to wrestle with blogger for pictures, so just click the widget above to see recent ones. I am at least very good about keeping pics up to date.

Theo

He's 28 months old and before our very eyes, becoming more and more a little boy and less a toddler. He runs, he climbs, he never stops talking and he's even begun to kind of joke with us in his own way. He's really good at entertaining himself for small periods of time and can often be found sitting in his green chair in his room reading. We packed up the high chair and he sits at a booster seat at the table with us now, which he loves. That was kind of bittersweet since it's the last "baby" thing we had around for him (well, except the carseat, I guess). He still loves going to school and can now tell us what he did that day and what he had for snack. I think he's going to miss it when the school year ends in May. He adores his baby sister and often brings her things to play with. He always wants her to come with us and lets us know when "Lucy sad!" He thinks his grandparents are the best thing ever, often asking if we are going to their house and if we say no he says "maybe Friday?" He wishes he could see them every day, I think. Here are a few things he says that I don't want to forget:

"kee-pee": computer

"yuck-o": yellow

"want me pick you up"

"sit in the rock a rock a minute"

"oh! how 'bout ___?"

We've introduced time out since learning they do that at school, but he doesn't have to go often (I think we've put him there maybe 3 times). In spite of rarely using it he will often say "go straight to time out!" after being corrected. He doesn't seem to mind time out, but he gets the concept.

We've also begun letting him watch one show on TV - Dinosaur Train. He loves it. And, despite my intense hatred of licensed character paraphernalia, I did buy him three little figurines. I draw the line there, though! He gets so excited when it's time for dinos and it gets us 30 minutes to clean up the kitchen or take care of Lucy, so that's nice.

He's an awesome kid. Never had one tantrum (now watch, he'll have one tomorrow) and is loving, fun and easy. We are so lucky to have him.

Lucy

Lucy is newly 5 months old and the yin to our yang. Not in a negative way, but she is the opposite of her big brother, for sure. She's a tough nut. Fiesty, not terribly flexible and makes her needs known with no uncertainty. I'm pretty sure her first temper tantrum was upon exiting the womb. But when she smiles, she lights up the world. There is more feeling behind those smiles because they are hard won. She feels emotions deep and isn't afraid to show it. One day, our girl will rule the world.

She is like big brother in that she doesn't want to miss out on life by sleeping. She was doing pretty well and then we hit the 4 month sleep regression. We are coming out of that now and she usually gives us anywhere from a 5-7 hour stretch and then a 2-3 hour stretch and then we struggle to get her to sleep until 5:30 when we give up. She takes a nap around 7:15 and then three other naps throughout the day. She's napping in her crib now so we packed up the swing. She's still swaddled because that's how she is cued to sleep, but she can bust out of even the Miracle Blanket now, so I don't know how much longer we will do this. She puts herself to sleep for the most part, unless we've missed the window when she crosses over to being overtired and then totally loses her mind. She's still in our room at night because I have no desire to go downstairs to feed her.

She's still breastfeeding of course and gets 4 bottles a day on the two days I work. I pump twice at work and once every morning and so far have had no problems with supply. She's had absolutely no formula, which I am extremely proud of. We haven't started any solids yet and don't know when we will. Her gut is SO sensitive that I don't know if she will be ready for solids anytime soon. She's not showing any interest, so I am in no rush.

We put the excersaucer together and she likes it a lot. She's really begun playing with toys in the last week or so and tonight she put her own pacifier in her mouth by herself! Susan said she held her own bottle last week as well. She can roll both ways (has for awhile, though almost never rolls onto her belly, even though she can) and loves standing up with support from us. She's crazy strong. We have sitting up lessons, but she still arches back quite a bit and doesn't seem to like it much.

She's still on Prevacid and still has reflux. She still arches when she feeds. I will be glad (as will she) when she finally outgrows the reflux.

She is very attached to me, moreso than Theo was at her age. She will always want me if I am an option and since she's pretty tough, usually Susan doesn't seem put out by this. :) She's hard, but she's my girl. She might want to spend her life glued to my face but I try and remember that all too soon she'll be telling me to get lost and I'll wish for one more day to hold her. We are very lucky to have her.

We feel like we are getting into a groove with two and have even ventured out to eat and yesterday went to the zoo. And, oddly, Theo was out of sorts but Lucy did great - go figure. Sometimes I look at them and can't believe they are mine. I love them more than I thought possible and I know Susan does too. My friend Kelsi posed a question to think about what you are passionate about and I have to say, I am passionate about being a mama. I love it. I'm good at it, I enjoy it and even on days where I just want to freakin' pee in peace, I wouldn't trade these two for anything. They (and Susan) are my whole world. I love nothing more than being with my little family. I'm a lucky woman.