Sleep Cycles

I love watching him on the monitor

We've reached a milestone:  Hans is in his crib at night.  The boys are now sharing a room.  Sounds so cute and cozy, but the reality is there wasn't any other option.  We're not saving that third bedroom for an office or a playroom or a man cave....there is no third bedroom in this apartment. 

Hans transitioned from the cosleeper right next to me to the travel crib three feet from me around 12 weeks.  He was holding on to one middle of the night nursing and I pretty much knew it was because he'd wake, lift his head, and see me.  Naturally his thoughts upon seeing me at 2am wandered straight to wanting the boob.  So I kicked Charlie out of the bedroom for a few nights and positioned myself on his side of the bed, out of sight.  Sure enough one or two nights and there were only a few whimpers and he began sleeping straight through. 

Sleep through the night.  CHECK

When I decide to do something I really do it, so I rode the wave of momentum and moved the boy right to his crib after that.  The first few nights were rocky, as to be expected.  Freddie handled the middle of the night endless screaming with grace and his fingers in his ears and pillow over his head.  The kid's good for a laugh even when I'm pretty much at the end of my rope. 

Freddie's been rather excited about having Hans in the crib next to him.  He's been telling me he is more than capable of soothing Hans at night and promised to return to his bed right after telling him "It's ok, Freddie's here."  Sure enough, he's gotten up to soothe him "in the middle of the night," around 5am.  My heart literally explodes with love, pride, happiness, I don't even know what, when I hear that little voice at 5am (Yes, 5am!) through the monitor talking so sweetly to his brother. 

It's been about a week now though, and at 5am I just really want everyone to still be sleeping.  Day before yesterday at 5.30 am the voice through the monitor called "Mama, Hans is pooping. Can you come get him?"  And this morning Freddie skipped the sweet talk, ran past The Daddy's side of the bed, and grabbed my foot.  "Hans is awake.  Can you come see?" 

Hans' circadian rhythms (and bowels and TEETH) seem to have him stuck in an early wake up pattern.  I also think he's not quite used to being in the crib yet and he becomes alert during those early morning sleep cycles rather than allowing himself to doze another hour or so.  I've shifted the bedtime later as well as earlier with not much success in altering the wake up time, although everything will be all shook up next week when we travel.

Even worse than dealing with one kid awake at 5am is dealing with two kids awake at 5am.  And even worse than that is dealing with those same two kids and their Mama at 5pm.  Poor Charlie coming home to a house full of grumps. 

I'm trudging on.  I mean, what else can I do?  It won't be like this forever.  Right???

Weekend Numbers

1 trip to the candy store
18 dollars spent
1 giant lollipop
100 licks consumed
1,000,000 left to go
2 sleeping babies in view on the monitor
3 pieces of "macaroni pizza" consumed by Freddie (translation:  pepperoni pizza)
2 hours at the museum
40 minute IMAX film (Born to Be Wild -- a hit with both boys, as well as Mama and Dada)
2 hour walk (round trip) through the park to the museum
2 guys using tools
1 Home Depot trip
10 new tools requested
1 completed project
4 tram rides

Peek A Boo

He's been initiating peek-a-boo for a while now and it is so much fun for all of us.  Freddie got out of the tub in record time so he could play too.  And then I showed him how he used to do the exact same thing.

31 Weeks

Got it up on Thursday!

You're 7 months old.  I'm estimating you to be about 17 or 18 pounds and pretty close to the 50th percentile these days.  We'll confirm this with Dr. G at the end of February, but for now you are our Chubba Wubba.  Or Freddie's Hansie Wansie. 

Get me down!

You're eating bagels and cream cheese for breakfast now!  Well little bits of Mama's bagel and cream cheese.  You like to smack and suck to get the cream cheese off.  You've also had toast and butter or jam, bits of cantaloupe, banana, puffs, and potato.  I usually see the relief in your eyes though when I start spooning the purees into your mouth.  Finger foods aren't getting to your mouth fast enough quite yet. 

More bagel, please.

Freddie's room is now "the boys' room."  You've officially taken up residence in the crib.  We've had a couple rough nights adjusting and we're still trying to shake the early wake ups.  Hopefully another week or two and it will be smooth sailing.  Freddie is tickled to have you in the room with him.  He explained for days and days that he was capable of getting out of bed, climbing on his stool, and saying "it's ok, it's ok, it's ok" and then returning to his bed if you cried during the night.  He's been a real sport during the transition sleeping with the pillow over his head or fingers in his ears. 

Your favorite activity is gazing out the window.  Standing you on the window sill and chatting about everything we see is a sure fire way to please you.  Freddie acting silly definitely rates high on your list of favorite entertainment.  You're pretty needy on the days he's off at school. 

The bottom left tooth is up and from the looks of it your mouth is going to be pretty crowded.  Just like Freddie, this one's come up on an angle, I assume to allow room for the others to cram in.  I'm hoping more teeth fill in that smile soon.

Lovin'

• Lego creations
• School stories
• Date night in front of the TV with my husband
• Spring concert tickets
• Costume planning
• Independent dressing and shirts on backwards
• One tooth grins
• Parenting discussions
• Double booster seats at the table
• Meals as a foursome
• "Making Groceries" card game (Go Fish, NOLA style)

Morning Giggles

Museum Day

To avoid the snow and cold on Saturday, we checked out the hot, humid, butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum.

It is definitely a tropical climate in there and while I loved having that "glisten," Charlie was downright hot.  It made me miss having a garden to tend and butterflies to watch in our own backyard.

Freddie didn't have much patience waiting for the butterflies to sit still so he could check them out, so onto the dinosaurs we went.  We visit the 4th floor each time we visit as well as one other part of the museum.

This is pretty much how he looks all the time in there...mouth open and map in hand.

Getting out in between morning nap and afternoon nap is a challenge.  I feel like the time passes in a blink, and it's a whole-lotta work getting out of the house with two of them.  Lots of schlepping and corralling and some crying from all parties involved, but in the end I'm (usually) glad we did it.

No point in living in NYC and not taking advantage of all that it has to offer, right?  And I can say bringing Freddie out and about has really contributed to his independent nature and curiosity.

It won't be much longer before Hans will be right there with Freddie. For now he was content to jabber as we strolled along.

Take our picture, Mama

Snow Day

Winter finally arrived in the city Saturday morning.  We've been enjoying "warm" 40 degree days until this weekend when temperatures dipped below 30 and stayed there for 48 hours straight.  We got just enough snow to cover the ground for sledding.  We planned a morning in Central Park at Pilgrim Hill, complete with hot chocolate and bagels, but switching Hans from the travel crib next to mama to his crib next to Freddie meant less than adequate sleep for everyone so we stuck close to home instead.  The "big guys" dressed for the snow and headed out with skis and sled.

When he's excited he starts giving kisses

See ya later, Mama.

Hans napped and I watched from the window.

Somewhere on the little hill before it got crowded

They trudged out to the sledding hill.  Freddie's been spending lots of time on his skis around the house but he wanted the speed and safety of his sled.

Charlie didn't get any sledding pictures.  He was too busy chasing the sled and preventing collisions.  We're expecting temperatures back in the 50s and rain this week, so this may be it for winter.  The snow's fun, but I'm not complaining!

30 Weeks (and 1 day)

You're not very interested in sitting for pictures any longer, my Chubba Wubba.
 

You're moving all over these days, ending up across the room and fussing with some frustration that you're not getting closer to your intended destination.

You have one lone tooth poking through.  Not really much sign of any others.

Eating is one of your favorite past times.  You love yogurt and if its in sight you must have it immediately.  You refuse all other foods if you know yogurt is on the menu.  You're nursing 4-5 times a day and eating three solid meals a day. 

Your other favorite part of the day is giggling with Freddie.  I love seeing the two of you together.

It won't be much longer before you're following him all over the house.

Your sleep is fantastic these days, sleeping 11-12 hours at night and taking two naps a day.  The best part is you wake up smiling.  I love this.  I hope this keeps up through our travels in a few weeks.

You're going through a "mama phase."  I must be in your sight at all times.  Kinda difficult and pretty pathetic when you put out that lip and cry when I walk away from you.

We love you, Chubba Wubba...big as the wold. 

Lovin'

• The artist and his daily projects
• Cheerios crunching under my feet
• Where's your penis, Mama?
• 12 hour sleeps
• Packing lunches
• Summer planning
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Stillness
• Organization that works
• Back cracking hugs

A New Perspective

He's sitting!  Things must look nice from this angle.  He's been insisting on performing his new trick several times a day. 

Sweet Sleep

Not a day passes that I don't watch each boy for a few minutes after they've fallen asleep.  I don't imagine this will stop any time soon.

29 Weeks (and 1 day)

 

Well, all of your weekly photos are going to have to be +1 day I've decided.  Friday is the new picture day because you really like having Freddie here and he is a big help.  With Freddie in school two days a week you can get a little lonely although I think it is really nice to be able to sit and really look at you.  When we go to pick up Freddie though you start flailing all of your appendages until he comes over and loves on you.  I love that.  Love, love, love it.

My favorite development of yours this week is you are smacking your lips (or clicking your tongue?) and it sounds like you're giving kisses!

You are getting more mobile trying to inch forward but you usually end up stuck in reverse, reminding me a little of your big brother. 

Biggest news is that perhaps by the end of the day your first tooth will have finally cut through the gums.  I've felt it pressing there for a few weeks, as have you and you've let us know about it, but it is finally to the point where I can see it right under the surface.  I hope the others make their appearance quickly so we can just get this teething thing behind us for a while. 

Lovin'

The boys' bathroom

• Toothbrushes
• Little tools and toolboxes
• Football on the tube
• King cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Upcoming travel plans
• Phone calls from friends
• "Will you snuggle me, Mama?"
• Sunshine
• Socks without holes
• Cold beer
• School days
• Round bellies

6 month well visit

6 month well visit at 6 months, 2 weeks, 3 days:


Stats:

• Weight:  16 lbs 2 oz (17th percentile up from 2nd percentile at 4 months)
• Length:  27 inches (53th percentile up from 40th percentile  at 4 months)
• Head circumference: 43.5 cm (45th percentile up from 35th percentile at 4 months)

Vaccinations:

• Rotovirus, 3rd dose
• Hib, 3rd dose
• DTP, 3rd dose
• IPV, 3rd dose
• PCV, 3rd dose 
• Influenza
• Note:  Held off on Hep B today since flu shot was added.  

He looks great.  Dr. G was pleased to see the increase in the percentiles.  No concerns.

I have to admit I have been going back and reading lots of Freddie's posts to compare.  Need to stop the comparing, but wish I had read Freddie's 6 month well visit post prior to Hans' appointment.  Freddie began lead tests at 6 months and while I think we are low risk living in a new building I do want to ask Dr. G about testing (just the finger prick not venous for now).  No reason not to as far as I'm concerned. 

And since I brought up the whole comparison thing Freddie was in the 5th-10th percentile at this point with the exception of his noggin which was in the 50-75th percentile.  Freddie was also far more mobile, holding to stand independently, and was sitting with a great amount of proficiency.  While Hans is not yet there, I'm not worried.  I need to keep in mind that Freddie hit lots of physical milestones early and Hans will do everything on his own schedule. 

Freddie looks/sounds great as well.  

Next visit:  February 27th to administer 2nd dose of flu shot and 3rd Hep B dose.

28 Weeks

Yeah, I totally missed last week.  I suppose you're used to my general laissez faire attitude by now.

Likes:

• Your brother.  You smile ear to ear when he enters the room.
• You're also pretty fond of your father.  When Dada walks in the door in the evening and I am holding you, you throw your body in his direction as if to propel us over to him.
• Looking in the mirror gets you laughing.  Today you discovered a mirror on one of your toys and you cackled looking at yourself.
• Everything must be examined, up close.  I've enjoyed watching you look at your hands and discovering that they are yours and they are attached to you!
• Raspberries on your belly...you'll pooch that belly out as if to say "do it again, Mama."
• You *love* food, especially yogurt.  You get pretty angry if you see the yogurt on the table and I dare offer you anything but a bite of yogurt. 

Dislikes:

• You're not very fond of the bumbo chair.  As a matter of fact you hate anything that pushes you into a sitting position.  That may be why you're not anywhere near sitting on your own yet.
• Being left alone.  You are used to having action at all times thanks to Freddie.  
• Green veggies

Working on:

• Sitting up.  You're not loving being bent into the sitting position and you do little to hold yourself up.  Sometimes I can get you into the tripod pose where you support yourself with one arm between your legs but only for a few seconds.
• You've been getting the cup spout to your mouth and gnawing on it just enough to get a bit of water into your mouth.  This surprises you each time.
• I've started the puffs on the tray so you can work on your pincher grasp.  You tend to paw at them and get them stuck on your sticky palms.

Vocabulary:

• Mama mama mama
• Brrrrmmmm
• Eeeeeeeeee
• And some general screeching that I just love and makes everyone smile.

For my record: Sick Visit

Freddie has been running fever for the past five or so days.  Mostly about 100 degrees,  but peaking at 102.5.  He's refusing anything to control the fever after our last medicine fiasco.  He did request a shot, however.  Sigh.

Went to see Dr. G today although his fever's been at or below 100 the past two days with the exception of the middle of the night.  She suspects a virus, again.  His ears, nose, throat look fine and his lungs are clear.  She wants to wait and see, and advised rest. 

Recovering

The holidays are over.  And we're home.  We're finding our routine, catching up on sleep, and trying to shake the runny noses, coughs, and fever. 

We're slowly opening packages and presents and cards.  We're thankful for the generosity of family and friends. 

The decorations will slowly come down this week but I think I'll leave the cards up a bit longer before binding them in a book to toss into Freddie's book bin.  I like seeing everyone's notes and faces hanging in the living room. 

It's a new year and I'm not thinking of doing much different.  2011 was good to us, and who wants to mess with a good thing.

Tigey Sleds

Not much snow in Vail this year, but Tigey got in a few good runs on the sled.

He Skis. Sort of.

Freddie was quite excited to get on skis this trip to Vail. He was pumped to be suited up and headed to the mountain.  Charlie and I, on the other hand, were worn out getting everyone out the door.  Long underwear, fleece, snow suit, boots, hats, mittens, glasses, times two and then someone has to potty and I can't find the camera or the car keys.  I'm seriously going to be that mom who pushes my kid to be a swimmer.  Speedo and goggles.  The simplicity is beautiful. 

When we were finally out the door Freddie was bubbly with excitement.  He wanted his skis.

He got his boots and walked amazingly well in them.

And off we went to the mountain.

We have been talking about skiing quite a bit, watched videos on youtube of toddler successes and failures on skis, and talked about trying again and again and again.

He was ready.  But he was scared.  He skated only a few feet forward before he wanted off.  No more skiing.  He wanted the cheetos in his lunch.  And that was it.

It reminded me of him wanting to go down the slide but he just couldn't muster the courage.  We held on to the skis to try around the house, and he did talk about his skis (these are MY skis) and wanted to put them on in the house, and we realized that it's going to take some warming up to the idea, like most everything.  Unfortunately it's not looking like we're going to be having much snow in NY this winter (Did I just type that?!?!) but I have ordered some little skis for him to call his own and get better acquainted with the idea of skiing.  He can put them on with the speedo and goggles that are on order.