Camping Men

Jared was determined that Hilton should have his first camping experience before it got too cold. So the last Saturday night of my maternity leave Jared bravely set up the tent, got all the blankets and sleeping bags set up and went out for a night under the stars with Hilton.

I quite seriously jokingly pointed out that I would enjoy the night from my warm tempur pedic bed and said I'd see them back in the house around 1am. But to my surprise Hilton lasted ALL night long! Poor Jared was awake most of the night but Hilton had a great time and they both came walking in at 7:30am saying it was a fun experience. Hilton even said he wanted to do it again, Jared however said they'd probably wait until next summer. I was so impressed to say the least and glad that they got to have a fun man bonding experience before life got turned upside down again with me going back to work.

I'm sure Jared looks forward to many fun scouts and young men's camping experiences now, I know he's going to enjoy having boys as they grow up. And I'm glad they get a dad that's so adventurous and who loves the outdoors!

Graham Robert: 3 Months

I cannot believe I no longer have a newborn! Good news is he is still squishy and loves being held so I get tons of cuddles and I love it. Even if he won't fall asleep on my chest anymore, he has to be rocked to sleep and I love it. Graham has definitely expressed his interest in the world and constantly wants to be held facing out or over your shoulder so he can see what is going on. Heaven forbid you stop moving for a period of time. The baby carrier has really come in handy, especially on Saturday's when chores still have to get done. He loves going on walks, mainly in the baby carrier instead of the stroller so that he can actually see where you are going. He's getting a little heavy for that though.

Of note poor baby Graham got two infected ingrown toenails on the inside of his big toes and they had to be extracted. I won't post pictures but it was completely the most traumatic experience of either of my children to date. They gave him a local anesthetic but I don't think it was really working so as they were cutting out the toenails and I was holding him in place he was just writhing and it was so hard to see him in so much pain. They are however better now and I'm hoping that they will grow back no problem. Thank goodness it happened when he was such a young baby and probably won't remember that experience.

Currently Graham:

• Weighs 14.6 lbs
• Wearing 6 month size clothing
• Wearing size 2 diapers, but we're about to move him to size 3
• Eats 3-3.5oz every 3 hours most days some days he is incredibly fussy and doesn't want more than 1-2 oz. every hour - we're figuring it out
• Still waking up around 2-3am
• No longer likes to be laying down for his baths
• Still has eczema so I got special Aveeno lotion and baby wash for eczema which is helping
• Hair loss has stopped thank goodness
• Cradle cap got really bad and I had to start using Head and Shoulders once a week
• Loves to talk and smiles whenever he is talked to
• Is such a happy baby and we love having him in our family!

We've been so blessed with this little one, he is easy going for the most part and goes with the flow. He has gotten used to his crazy energetic brother and I think will be the calmer of the two although I'm sure they'll get into tons of mischief. And he's just so stinking adorable I just can't help myself. If all babies we're as good as Graham we'd have a million couple more of them.

Brothers

So we've officially had two little men in our lives for a quarter of a year (it sounds longer than three months right?) and I wanted to write our experience so far with two so we remember it if ever we forget.


Two is hard. No joke. Two is also fun, no joke. Two has seriously made me have to up my multitasking and preparation game like no other. The baby is sleeping? Start lunch for Hilton. Hilton is napping? Feed Graham and get in the one chance of tummy time all day. Both children are napping? I have no clue what to do with myself other than walk around and try to get things done that I can't do when I have one child at my feet and another in my arms...or go to bathroom for the first time of the day and then watch some Netflix. I can't truthfully admit say how I use my time when both children are napping, I can only say it goes by very quickly.

Hilton still shows his love for Graham, and frequently asks to hold him. He is rather wary of Graham and afraid of hurting him I think, but as long as we assist he's happy to give loves and (soft) hugs and kisses to his brother. He's so sweet and tender with Graham - normally - and I can already tell he will be such a great big brother. Hilton also becomes very concerned when Graham is crying which is so tender, he always says, 'Mommy, baby Graham is crying, can I go give him his binkie?' or, 'Can I go get him Mom?' and he often likes to come into the nursery while I'm putting Graham down for a nap. He's learned to be very quiet and whisper when I'm putting Graham to sleep. Hilton will often go fetch Graham's binkie or blanket if I ask him, he got a little confused about which diaper he was supposed to get and brought me one of his instead but he really is such a sweet little helper for me.

Graham has learned that watching Hilton play is rather entertaining as long as Hilton doesn't get in a throwing-Legos-for-fun-while-giggling kind of mood. There's usually some collateral damage when Hilton gets hyper (also maybe why he's afraid of hurting Graham) but Graham loves cooing at Hilton and it's clear he tracks him from across the room. Graham I think will be the calmer of the two, he gets a really stunned look on his face when Hilton screams or squeals loudly and surprisingly doesn't react to Hilton's loudness. Graham usually jibber jabber's in his carseat and Hilton watches him closely which is so sweet. Hopefully car rides with two stays sweet!

As much work as having two so close together is, I've loved it and I think it will continue to get better and more rewarding as they get older. Especially once they can really start playing together. I'm excited to see what good brothers they will be in life, and I love to see how different their personalities already are. I hope they are ying and yang for each other and that they have each others backs.

This is Graham's confused face. 'Mom why do you have me still swaddled and are not holding me?' 

Sharing his toys with Graham. Such a sweet big brother!

Look at how Graham looks at Hilton! I just love it

Helping mom by getting the wipes

The first time Hilton requested to hold Graham after being home since the hospital. Hilton was a little scared initially, but I think having Graham smiling up at him really helped. Hilton now frequently says, 'I love you baby Graham'

Halloween 2016

Hilton man learned to growl this year and delights in doing it to 'scare' people (and invisible monsters) all the time. We figured being a lion would be a perfect fit to show off his new skill. Instead he became a little bit of a cowardly lion while trick-or-treating because he was afraid things would jump out at him on the doorsteps at houses, but it was a fun time and I love seeing him so cute and into being dressed up...even if I did have to bribe him with candy to put on his costume.

Poor Graham was going to be a monkey, but he ended up napping through Halloween which was OK because it meant we got to have a bit more fun with Hilton

p.s. I'm not entirely sure why I had a stink eye in this photo, but we'll just say I was super excited to smile for the camera...either that or Jared was pulling some kind of shenanigans from behind the photo taker...

Cornbelly's 2016

Guys, this is the first year we have gone to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving point and I'm telling you, it is WELL worth the money. It's a little expensive for adults to get in but there are so many fun activities for little kids and since it's only once a year we decided to go for it.

 

The biggest reason why we went this year was they had a special Saturday where John Deere supplied all kinds of new tractors for the kids to climb on and play. Hilton is OBSESSED with 'monsters' (machines) as he calls them and 'tactors' (tractors), so I knew this would be such a dream come true for him. He was a little sad he couldn't turn them on and drive them home but when I explained they were 'out of gas' or 'broken' he proudly exclaimed that we should go get some gas or he was going to fix them so they could get better. It was the most precious thing, I love this little man. He is so entranced with everything that goes so this was a blast for him. 



 

They also had tons of fun activities that we wouldn't normally do anywhere else which was great. Hilton tried his muscle at the bell thingy (what is it's real name?!)

And proved how nimble he was at the duck racing which was so fun

And of course we had to get a picture with the ginormous pumpkin. I'm sure every kid wanted to take it home with them like Hilton but we explained that it wouldn't fit in the car and daddy couldn't carry it and he decided his demands weren't possible

The one thing I don't have a photo of that Hilton insisted on doing THREE times was going down the big slide on the cloth sacks. He squealed the entire way down which was so fun. I'll see if I can find a photo and add it.

 

Cornbelly's, we'll be back next year!

Graham's Baby Blessing: Oct. 9th, 2016

Our sweet Graham Robert was blessed on October 9th, 2016 and was given such a beautiful blessing by his father. We were so grateful to have so many wonderful family and friends come and support our little family. I'm incredibly grateful to my mother and father who helped me so much this day with having everyone over for refreshments afterwards. I'm also incredibly impressed that everyone pretty much held it together and no meltdowns occurred for either of my children.

Love my sweet little family!

Proof below that my oldest child actually does smile for photos every once and a while

And proof below that he doesn't get that skill from his father ;)

 

 

From left to right, Grandpa and Grandma Mills, Mom, Great Grandpa Smith, Dad holding Graham, Great Grandma Smith, Grandma Smith, and Great Grandma and Grandpa Irvine

 

Graham Robert: 2 Months

Our sweet little munchkin is two months old now. Time is going so fast I don't want this period to be over. I love having an infant discovering the world, but there's just something about a newborn with their sweet cuddles and smells. I love the newborn breath and sweet first coos. Graham has been an incredibly perfect newborn as he has only woken up 1-2 in the nights since birth and I hope that continues especially once I'm back to work. Graham is starting to have issues with naps, we fight almost every nap to have him sleep longer than 30-45 minutes. But he's just so inquisitive about the world and wants to be part of the action! He is growing like crazy which is also bittersweet because my little newborn isn't so little anymore!

Currently Graham:

• Weighs 12.5 lbs (double his birth weight almost!)
• Wearing 3 month size clothes
• In size 2 diapers
• Eats about 3-3.5 oz. every 2 hours
• Still waking up at either 2 and 5, or just once at 3
• Is starting to 'talk'
• Loves to be tickled
• Loves his baths
• Has some eczema that's easily fixed with lotion
• Has lost some hair on the sides and top but the back still has a lot
• Likes his carseat now, still hates tummy time

 

And just to show the size difference between my boys - neither of which were happy about this photo...