January 6, 2017
You are such a little squink. Every day for the past couple days, you have gone into the drawer in the living room where we keep the Shopkins, selected the exact same assortment of them as the day before, and carried them around the house all day, either in your hands or in a little container. You are too funny.
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February 20, 2017
Sorry, little one, but I’m afraid you’ve caught Lana’s germs. She’s had the stomach flu for the past day and a half, and now you have a fever over 101. You felt really hot when you woke up this morning, but you had no fever and acted and played fine. But then you fell asleep for almost our whole run after we dropped Della at school and seemed very sleepy all morning after that, so I took your temp right before nap and sure enough, 101.4 and 101.2. So I gave you a little ibuprofen before putting you to bed in the hopes of nipping this in the bud. I doubt you’ll start throwing up, too, but hopefully you can sleep ok. My poor little bean.
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March 11, 2017
I’m pretty sure you’re learning how to count, lovebug. Whenever I start counting something for you, you follow right along with the one, two sounds, but then all the following numbers kind of sound like two, too. But it’s a great start! I’m so proud of you, my smart little cookie!
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March 15, 2017
I know I say this a lot, but you are seriously the smartest baby I’ve ever known. Two days ago, we had a big snowstorm and got probably a good foot of snow. It’s beautiful, but it’s also March, so I wasn’t a big fan. Anyway, you guys adore playing in the snow and you really wanted to go out and play with your sisters at our neighbors’ house, so I got you all bundled up and Daddy took you out to play. You loved it! Daddy took you on snow tube rides, you helped your sisters make snowballs, the whole works. Then yesterday afternoon after your nap, you were getting a couple little footballs out of the toy drawer and wanting me to spin them on the floor for you. One was Badgers and one was Packers, and we were talking about the logos on each. When we were talking about the Packers one, you got all excited, paused and thought a second, looked up and pointed out the little window by the front door, said your version of Packers, pointed to your hands and held them up saying your version of mittens, then pointed toward the back door and said snow-snow and Dada and Lana and Della. You remembered all about your playing out in the snow with everyone the day before and put that whole scene together once you saw the Packers logo on the toy football and connected it with the Packers logo on the mittens you had worn over your sleeves when you played outside. That’s what started your whole little conversation there. Incredible, my love.
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April 18, 2017
Aw, sweet boy. You’re sick again, just 2 weeks after your last bout of the flu during our Key West vacation. Your sisters and I flew home from Tucson yesterday afternoon and night, and you started feeling warm on the planes. I gave you a dose of ibuprofen before each one, you slept through almost the entire second flight, but you woke up happy and seemingly fine. We got home late, after 9:00, and you were very warm and lethargic by the time you finally got to bed around 10. Then you woke up throwing up twice throughout the night and probably didn’t sleep more than an hour or so total. Oof. You’ve been so thirsty the whole time, though, drinking water almost every time you wake. I hate seeing you like this, so I hope it passes quickly.
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May 1, 2017
You turned 23 months old yesterday, lovebug, which means in just a few short weeks you’ll be 2 years old! What?! How have you gotten so big, and where have all my babies gone?
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May 9, 2017
Your new favorite saying is “see ya soon, ya big baboon,” and you love saying it at all possible times. Fortunately, right now it still just sounds like a string of gibberish, with a word that sounds like “baboon” on the end. You have also started standing up on a stool, clearing your throat, and putting on a little pretend presentation, just like Lana used to do. It’s so funny!
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May 11, 2017
How could I have forgotten to post about this, my love?? This is big news! One week and one day ago, on May 3, I finally moved you out of our bedroom! Hooray!! The plan all along had been to move you into what was currently your sisters’ bedroom when the upstairs was finished and they moved up there, but that may never happen. And you couldn’t live in mine and Daddy’s room until you go to college. So I’d finally waited long enough. You had started waking up almost every night and insisting on getting into our bed, which is ridiculous. You’re almost 2. Even Lana got out of our room shortly after she turned 1. I knew we could get all 3 beds in there; I just wasn’t sure how aesthetically pleasing it would be. But I fiddled and finagled, and I was able to easily fit your crib and your sisters’ 2 beds, plus all the other furniture that was originally in there in there, and there’s actually more room in that bedroom now than when it was just your sisters! I did decide to move the glider chair into our bedroom because that was just too awkward sitting in the middle of your guys’ room, but the gliding ottoman for it stayed. And so far you’ve loved being in there with your sisters. You all sleep well at night, and you and Lana still nap at the same time, just like she and Della used to do in there. It’s a miracle! Small house, shmall house.
And another big doing for you, little one – last night was your last bottle of milk. Yes, you could have stopped taking a bottle at bedtime months ago, but in all honesty, I’ve been lazy and haven’t wanted to put all the bottle stuff away. So tonight you just drank milk from your cup at bedtime and were totally fine. No sweat, lovebug.
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May 31, 2017
Happy 2nd birthday, sweet boy!! 2 years ago yesterday, I was getting my hair done and telling my stylist that once I made it through my appointment you could arrive at any time (you weren’t due until June 10). You must have listened and been excited, because you were born the very next day! And here you are now, a big 2-year-old! You are the silliest little boy I’ve ever known, and I think your life just gets more fun by the day, running around with your big sisters. We love you so much, little one!
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June 10, 2017
We had your 2-year well check last Friday, my love, and here are your official 2-year stats:
- Height: 37″ (98%)
- Weight: 30 lbs. (73%)
- Head: 50 cm
- BMI: 15.4 kg/m2 (17%)
Unfortunately, you’re going through a bit of sleep regression here. Starting about a week ago, you cry almost every time you go to bed, naps and nights, something you’ve really never done. You either want more kisses from your sisters, milk, to sit with me or Daddy, or who knows what. I really hope it ends soon, because I hate seeing you so upset when I know you need to be sleeping. Fortunately it doesn’t last terribly long, but it’s still no fun, sweet boy.
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June 28, 2017
You peed on your little potty seat tonight! I couldn’t believe it. I brought the thing up from the basement a few days ago just to start thinking about it but not really expecting anything to happen anytime soon. You actually sat on it when I brought it up, but nothing ever came out. Tonight before showers, though, you wanted to try it again, so I figured why not. I had to get you undressed anyway. So you sat down, I had you scoot back and put your knees together so pee didn’t fly everywhere, then I turned to help Lana with something so she could get in the shower, too. A few seconds later you stood up and the bowl was full of pee! I was absolutely shocked. Your sisters were so excited, and Daddy and I were so proud! I honesty expected it to be empty again, so that’s why we weren’t really paying attention while you were sitting there. But you surprised us all, you cute little thing. Way to go, sweet boy!
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July 23, 2017
I finally saw both your upper 2-year molars today. Well, around today, because I’m really writing this a few weeks later, after we got home from Canada, and I don’t remember the exact day that I saw them. But I’ve been waiting for them to come in for a couple months now, so I was happy to see them up there. It could explain your extra slobber lately, too. Neither of the bottom ones is poking through yet, but I’m sure they won’t be far behind.
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August 8, 2017
Della saw your first bottom 2-year molar coming in tonight as she was brushing your teeth. Yes, I have enlisted your sisters to help you do almost everything. 🙂 It’s your bottom right one, so now we’re just waiting on the bottom left and all 4 will be here.
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August 30, 2017
You love to read books on your own, and your new favorite thing is to start all your readings by saying, “So…” And when you get to something that you don’t know what it is, you say, “Mama, huh?” So all through your books, it’s, “So. Mama, huh? Mama, huh?” It’s extremely cute, but after about the 780th “Mama, huh?” I try very hard to keep going with answers for you. Then tonight you did about 400 consecutive somersaults on the play rug in the living room. You are such a cute and entertaining little kid!
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September 1, 2017
It’s finally there, my love! Your 4th 2-year molar is coming in – your bottom left.
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September 6, 2017
Much to Daddy’s delight, you had your 1st haircut today. Grandma Jenni was up the past couple days to watch you while I had Lana’s staggered start days for K4, and she agreed to play first-cut barber, just like she did for your sisters. I have been the one holding off on cutting your hair this long, because I really love little boys with long curls. However, yours were more long scraggles than curls. So I finally caved and agreed to let the locks go. And once I saw the finished product, I couldn’t believe I waited so long! I can see your neck, ears, and cute little head shape. You look so adorable!!
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September 18, 2017
You are the silliest little kid I’ve ever known, my love. This morning I was doing my exercises in the living room while Lana was at school, and you wanted to play school, too. So I got your little dinosaur backpack out of the closet for you; you put a couple trains, dinosaurs, some fake money, and your pacifier in it; and you went to school about a dozen times. Each time you’d have me put the straps on your back, then you’d say, “Bye! School,” and walk into the dining room or kitchen or wherever you happened to go that particular time. You were having so much fun going to “school” just like your big sisters.
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September 27, 2017
You are so funny. This morning before school, you were sitting with a tiny book and a big, gray stuffed elephant of Lana’s, and you were holding the elephant under your arm so that he was reading the book with you. It was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen!
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October 12, 2017
You are seriously the most adorable, my love. Right now you’re sitting on the couch playing on your tablet, and all of a sudden I heard you saying, “Bear, bear.” You’re reading along to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? I am so impressed! You’re following along with all the words and animals in order, and when you got to the page with all the children on it you wanted me to count them like we always do when I read it to you. I love it!
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November 12, 2017
Well, I tried potty training for about a month, but now I’ve given up for a bit. You did ok – some days were great and you would set up your toilet and go all by yourself, others included poop and pee in multiple pairs of undies. But you now know exactly how to do it, so I’m hopeful that when we come back to it you’ll be more ready and able. I remember having to take a break when we started potty training with Lana, too, and when we started it back up again she had no problem. We’ve started saying how the babies are going to wear diapers and you’ll wear your undies again, so maybe a few months off will do some good. Good job learning, though, little one!
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November 14, 2017
You are such a funny little boy. You have finally stopped waking up crying all the time, and in the morning you love to wrap your arms around my neck in a big squeeze and say, “Good Mama. Good babies.” This morning you woke up early, when my alarm went off, and when I came in your room you had a big smile on your face and said, “Good morning!” I love you so much, you little squirt!
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December 12, 2017
Last week we had a few light snow flurries, and when we got home from dropping your sisters off at school one morning, we stood in the front yard catching them. They weren’t falling fast enough to catch them on our tongues, so I would point them out to you as they fell on our sleeves or my gloves. Each time, you would pick one off, eat it, say yum, then squeeze my neck in a huge hug. You are so cute, my love!