This morning while I was tackling last night's dinner dishes and sopping up a breakfast disaster, Tanner was eating a snack at the table and Crew was sitting on the floor crying from loneliness, neglect, and exhaustion.
I had already told Tanner that he could play Wii while I cleaned up the kitchen. Tender brother that he is came up with a win-win-win solution.
Tanner: Mommy, when I'm done with my snack, can Crew come with me while I play Wii? He seemed really happy when he was playing with cars in the playroom yesterday.
Wow, he's sweet. And "sweet."
I decided to let Crew go nuts in the playroom with Tanner and they were both very happy indeed. Tanner with Lego Star Wars and Crew with his cars. Within 40 minutes, exhaustion overcame him and I scooped up the tiny floor sleeper and put him into his crib.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Morning Milestone
Guess who I found sitting up in his crib for the first time this morning????
Too bad it was a surprise awakening at 6:15...
In related news: he also fed himself about 1/3 of his bottle this morning. I held him, of course, and he dropped the bottle a few times. But when I handed it back to him, he tossed it in his mouth and held it there for a respectable length of time. Good boy.
Too bad it was a surprise awakening at 6:15...
In related news: he also fed himself about 1/3 of his bottle this morning. I held him, of course, and he dropped the bottle a few times. But when I handed it back to him, he tossed it in his mouth and held it there for a respectable length of time. Good boy.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
He Sits
It's official. He can now sit himself up whenever he feels like it! Yay!!! He is also rolling around the house, from room to room, carpet to hard floor and back again. Mobility makes us smile.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
More Haiku For You
Crew retched once again
Even with puke out his nose
He is very cute
******
After cleaning puke
Daddy steps in someone's pee
He is not happy
Even with puke out his nose
He is very cute
******
After cleaning puke
Daddy steps in someone's pee
He is not happy
Matchy Matchy and the Road to Healing
There are many reasons that Crew and Tanner have never been dressed in matching outfits. One is that they have always been so far apart in size that it hasn't been much of an option. The other reason is more emotional.
When I was in the hospital after the birth of Dex and Crew, one surprisingly intense anxiety I endured was the awful anticipation of facing the matching outfits that we had bought or had been given to us for our boys. Having to put Dex's clothes away was extremely difficult. It was important to me that I do it myself, but it wasn't easy. In fact, in a few cases I couldn't even bring myself to dress Crew in certain outfits because I had imagined too often how they would look together in their matching or coordinating duds. I eventually had to tuck Crew's outfit away too, unworn, unable to overcome my demons.
Kinley and Tanner have shared a room since the day we brought Tanner home. It's worked for us. Crew, on the other hand, has had his own room since he came home from the hospital. Last year when we moved to our new house, we discussed our future bedroom arrangements. We figure that eventually Kinley will have her own room and the boys will share. The first time that it occurred to me that Tanner and Crew will be sharing a bedroom, I cried. A lot. I always expected Crew to share a room with his brother... just not this brother.
A few months ago, I bought matching pajamas for my boys. Ever since they ran across them in my bedroom, Kinley and Tanner have been begging me to dress the brothers in the matching pajamas and take pictures, totally oblivious to the emotional landmine they were asking me to navigate.
I've been putting it off, of course. Nevertheless, with much pressure from Kinley this week, I squared my shoulders and did it. It wasn't nearly as hard as I had feared and they look awfully cute, don't you think? I only shed one solitary little tear.
These are the beautiful brothers we have to work with in this mortal realm and they are treasured blessings. It's not weird to dress them in matching or coordinating outfits and it's not a slight to their missing brother. Dressing them in matching outfits is one tiny and begrudging way of expressing acceptance for who we are. And who we are not.
One more demon defeated.
When I was in the hospital after the birth of Dex and Crew, one surprisingly intense anxiety I endured was the awful anticipation of facing the matching outfits that we had bought or had been given to us for our boys. Having to put Dex's clothes away was extremely difficult. It was important to me that I do it myself, but it wasn't easy. In fact, in a few cases I couldn't even bring myself to dress Crew in certain outfits because I had imagined too often how they would look together in their matching or coordinating duds. I eventually had to tuck Crew's outfit away too, unworn, unable to overcome my demons.
Kinley and Tanner have shared a room since the day we brought Tanner home. It's worked for us. Crew, on the other hand, has had his own room since he came home from the hospital. Last year when we moved to our new house, we discussed our future bedroom arrangements. We figure that eventually Kinley will have her own room and the boys will share. The first time that it occurred to me that Tanner and Crew will be sharing a bedroom, I cried. A lot. I always expected Crew to share a room with his brother... just not this brother.
A few months ago, I bought matching pajamas for my boys. Ever since they ran across them in my bedroom, Kinley and Tanner have been begging me to dress the brothers in the matching pajamas and take pictures, totally oblivious to the emotional landmine they were asking me to navigate.
I've been putting it off, of course. Nevertheless, with much pressure from Kinley this week, I squared my shoulders and did it. It wasn't nearly as hard as I had feared and they look awfully cute, don't you think? I only shed one solitary little tear.
These are the beautiful brothers we have to work with in this mortal realm and they are treasured blessings. It's not weird to dress them in matching or coordinating outfits and it's not a slight to their missing brother. Dressing them in matching outfits is one tiny and begrudging way of expressing acceptance for who we are. And who we are not.
One more demon defeated.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Dinner Darling
Will someone give that kid a bath?
Would you believe that he was not feeding himself? He made this delightful mess while I was spoonfeeding him. It actually got worse before the end. 
Would you believe that he was not feeding himself? He made this delightful mess while I was spoonfeeding him. It actually got worse before the end.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Our Baby SITTER
Crew continues to make great improvements in his gross motor skills. In an exciting update: Four times in the last week he has sat himself up all by himself, going from a laying down position and shoving himself up to his bum. I never realized what a huge accomplishment that is for a child until my child didn't do it. We've been working really hard on it for several months and it looks like he is about ready to make this independent transition skill a permanent part of his life!
Pretty soon we are going to have to lower his crib mattress down from the "newborn level". Last week I had to raise the side for the first time ever, just in case he figured out how to sit himself up and lean over the rail. He hasn't sat himself up yet in his crib, but I have a feeling it's coming soon. I've never put that siderail up before. He's never needed more than a 4-inch barrier to keep him safe, contained, and trapped. It's kind of exciting to see him being all risky all of a sudden!
He has also started rolling himself over to light sockets and poking his little fingers where they don't belong! We busted out the socket covers this weekend.
We're baby proofing! For CREW!!! I'm so excited!!!
As far as crawling, he continues to take tiny but important strides toward that end. One thing we do is place a toy off to his side and just out of reach. We've been encouraging him to pivot up onto his knees to get his toy and he now seems to be more comfortable on those pesky knees than he has been in the past. His strength continues to improve and he will now pivot right up onto those knees without assistance, returning quickly to sitting position before we can do anything really crazy, like make him try to crawl or something.
His rolling skills have exploded in the last month or so. He tumbles around the room as fast as lightning, cracking us up in the process. It took him a long time to accept rolling as a viable mode of transportation, but he's now definitely hooked on the independence that rolling has brought into his life. He still only rolls one direction, but it seems to work for him. He spins and pivots all over the place, venturing off the carpet now and then.
We're super proud of our little guy. He works so hard for his accomplishments and has such a happy disposition (when he isn't teething). Along the way, his conquering spirit continues to manifest itself in so many ways.
Love you, Crew.
Pretty soon we are going to have to lower his crib mattress down from the "newborn level". Last week I had to raise the side for the first time ever, just in case he figured out how to sit himself up and lean over the rail. He hasn't sat himself up yet in his crib, but I have a feeling it's coming soon. I've never put that siderail up before. He's never needed more than a 4-inch barrier to keep him safe, contained, and trapped. It's kind of exciting to see him being all risky all of a sudden!
He has also started rolling himself over to light sockets and poking his little fingers where they don't belong! We busted out the socket covers this weekend.
We're baby proofing! For CREW!!! I'm so excited!!!
As far as crawling, he continues to take tiny but important strides toward that end. One thing we do is place a toy off to his side and just out of reach. We've been encouraging him to pivot up onto his knees to get his toy and he now seems to be more comfortable on those pesky knees than he has been in the past. His strength continues to improve and he will now pivot right up onto those knees without assistance, returning quickly to sitting position before we can do anything really crazy, like make him try to crawl or something.
His rolling skills have exploded in the last month or so. He tumbles around the room as fast as lightning, cracking us up in the process. It took him a long time to accept rolling as a viable mode of transportation, but he's now definitely hooked on the independence that rolling has brought into his life. He still only rolls one direction, but it seems to work for him. He spins and pivots all over the place, venturing off the carpet now and then.
We're super proud of our little guy. He works so hard for his accomplishments and has such a happy disposition (when he isn't teething). Along the way, his conquering spirit continues to manifest itself in so many ways.
Love you, Crew.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Beach Bums
Crew doing a little sunbathing.
Crew thought the sand was fantastic. He tossed it all over the place, getting it in his hair, his ears, and all kinds of other interesting places. He had a good scrubdown before his nap.
I like summer. Who knew?
Crew thought the sand was fantastic. He tossed it all over the place, getting it in his hair, his ears, and all kinds of other interesting places. He had a good scrubdown before his nap.I like summer. Who knew?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Independence Day
Crew love love loved the lights and sounds of the holiday weekend! Don't let the face fool you. He has an oogie on his finger.
Happy Independence Day and God Bless America!!
Happy Independence Day and God Bless America!!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Nonverbal Communication
I am writing this with smashed peas and oatmeal in my hair. Tiny Tyrant didn't like his breakfast this morning.
Though really, who could blame him?
Weirdly, it's usually one of his faves.
Not. today. Clearly.
Though really, who could blame him?
Weirdly, it's usually one of his faves.
Not. today. Clearly.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Life's Simple Pleasures
Perhaps if he can't have a puppy (and believe me, he can't have a puppy...)
I could use the container drawer for motivation... Go, Crew!
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