slices of life, volume 2

 Slices of Life, volume 2

November 2, 2011

Tonight Aaron called for me to come upstairs after he was already in his bed for about an hour.
Me: What do you need?
Aaron: I need you to dry the tears on my cheeks that I crieded.

Oon the one hand, how do you say no to that? 
On the other, you seriously called me upstairs for that?

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July 10, 2012

Aaron was sitting with his shirt up and his torso exposed. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, "Just gettin' my nibbles." (read: nipples)
Oh okay. Carry on.

************************************************************************************************************** August 2, 2012

Aaron informed me halfway through an episode of Sesame Street that this was "not the perfect one for him".

************************************************************************************************************** August 29, 2012

Sam's Daily To Do List:

1) Play with every toy Aaron wants to play with, while he is playing with it - refuse the same toy once Aaron has given in or moved on.
2) Knock down every tower, structure, puzzle or configuration Aaron is working on.
3) Jump off every piece of furniture in the house - at least once, but several times is preferable, especially if injury is the result of the initial attempt.
4) Refuse all food offered on your own plate and only eat off of the plates of other family members - ideally, steal food off of Aaron's plate whenever possible.
5) Wrestle during any moments not filled by the previously mentioned tasks - preferably unsuspecting opponents, but anyone resting anywhere near horizontal is fair game.

************************************************************************************************************** August 31, 2012

While watching a tv show about talent shows...
 
Aaron: Is it my birthday soon?
Me: Yes.
Aaron: Maybe that's my talent.
Me: Having birthdays?
Aaron: Yes...and birthday parties.

Aim high, bud.

************************************************************************************************************** October 24, 2012

Aaron was playing with trains and was frustrated that Sam kept messing up the track.

Aaron: Sam, can you go play in Tutu's house?
Sam: [silence - keeps playing]
Aaron: Sam, do you want to go see Tutu for a little bit? Sam? Sam, can you go play in Tutu's house? Sam?
Sam: [silence]
Aaron: Sammy, go see Tutu. Go see her. Sam, do you want to see Tutu? Come on, Sam, go play with Tutu.
Sam: [silence - still playing trains]
Aaron: Sam, let me ask you - do you have any desire to go see Tutu right now?
Sam: No.

Right, well, that cleared things up.

************************************************************************************************************** November 9, 2012

Poor Aaron is sick and has a fever.
In an attempt to get him to take his medicine, my mom asked him what he thought would be a good reward for taking the medicine without crying.

Aaron: Um, maybe a trip to Ikea?

And, my work here is done.

************************************************************************************************************** January 17, 2013

Me: If you two can't be kind to one another, I'm going to have to separate you.
Aaron: Oh, Mommy, did you think of that yourself?
Me: ...yes...
Aaron: Well, that's what Mrs. M says too. Good job.

Mrs. M is his preschool teacher.
Apparently, I've earned Aaron's seal of parenting approval. Milestone.

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Sam

(Backdated and posted to the date it was written: July 12, 2012)


So, Sam.

Where do I even begin?

Well, he's 18 months old now.  How?  I'm not sure.  The past year FLEW by, while at the same time, it's hard to believe that this crazy, personality-filled little person is only 1.5 years old.  He's an enigma, our Sam.

What has he done in the last year?
What hasn't he done, might be a better way to phrase it.

He started crawling at six months.
Walking by ten months.
Straight up running ever since.
Sam has a LOT of energy and indefatigable need to be moving at.all.times.  He's so physically adept - he picks up physical skills quickly, usually from just watching someone once or twice.  He's already jumping off of things, climbing onto high places and generally exploring his world in a way that frightens me on a daily basis.  

His first word was around 14 months old, when he started saying..."iPad".  Of course. 

Added to his repetoire since then:

car
truck
ball
block
col-col (color/crayon)
cheese
various letters of the alphabet
various numbers
A-in (Aaron)
and his all purpose word "Buh buh buh", which really means whatever he wants in that particular moment.

So he's not very verbal, in the technical sense.  But he has absolutely NO problem with getting his opinions across.  He is...shall we say, 

(And that's where it ended.  It's probably just as well.  Sam, at eighteen months was, shall we say...a challenging toddler.  But, as is always the case with hindsight, it was worth it.  And I am SO glad that our memories hold onto the good and release the bad.  Once he started talking in full sentences, Sam turned into the most fun, sweetest, cutest little kid I've ever met (aside from my other children, of course).  But really, we often say that Sam spent the first two years trying to communicate and once he was able, it was like night and day.  We love you, Sammy!)

slices of life, volume 1

(I began this post back in July 2010.  I only had one child, so I'm not quite sure what I was doing with all my time, but anyway...

It will be the first in a new series.  I've been compiling funny little snippets of conversation from the boys over the past four (WHAT?) years and I'm going to post them, mixed with photos from the same time period.  I think these are the things we won't want to forget, the stories that will be remember as family lore, told and retold on vacations.  At least I hope so.

Without further ado...)



Slices of Life, Volume 1

We begin in July of 2010, when Aaron really started putting sentences together and coming up with independent thoughts.  And he was (is) hilarious.   

**************************************************************************************************************
 July 2010

Me: Aaron, can you pass me that puzzle piece?

(A minute passes)

Me: Aaron, can you please pass me that puzzle piece?

(Another minute passes)

Me: Aaron, please pass me that puzzle piece now.

Aaron: Have patience, mama, have patience.

********************************************************************************************************

July 2010

Me (snuggling Aaron before bed): Can I have a kiss?

Aaron (offers me his cheek): Mmmmmwah.

Me: How about with your lips?

Aaron (puckers up and moves in for the kill): Mmmmmm...

Me (feeling something cold and slimy, I open my eyes): That's your tongue, not your lips!

Aaron (giggling madly): Togue, no yip! 

This lovely interaction went on for a few months until he figured out what a kiss was.  Nice.

********************************************************************************************************

October 2010

(Aaron is leaning precariously off the edge of the couch.)

Aaron:  Mommy, say be careful (in a sing song voice)

********************************************************************************************************

October 2010

Phrases that Aaron says a LOT:

Hey, Mommy, are you awright?

Here, Tutu, dis for you. (while handing her something...usually a toy)

Oh, I miss you Bubber. (the only person he admits to missing)

Oh, _____, whey awe you?  (whatever he is looking for)

I yuv you.  (translation: I love you - generally requires prompting)

 ***********************************************************************************************************

January 2011

(While seeing me get ready to nurse Sam one evening.)

Mommy, what HAVE you got there???

(A few days later, after lengthy discussions about how Baby Sam drinks milk from Mommy and not milk from a cup, Aaron was again watching me nurse Sam.)

Is Baby Sam eating an apple?

I don't think he gets it.

***********************************************************************************************************

February 2011

(Tutu was showing Aaron how to play a certain game on the iPad.)

Tutu:  If you press here, the screen will get bigger.

Aaron: Okay, Tutu, if you say so.  (in a sing song voice)

***********************************************************************************************************

February 2011

Aaron: Aaron is getting REAWWY HUNGWY MOMMY.  REAWWY HUNGWY.  Let's eat cereal bar, PLEASE, Mommy. 

***********************************************************************************************************

February 2011

Aaron:  Mommy, what shape is dis?

Mommy:  I don't know.  What shape is that Aaron?

Aaron:  It's a heart!  Aw, how sweet.  What a sweet heart.  Is that such a sweet heart, Mommy?

**************************************************************************************************************

March 2011

Mommy:  Aaron, no whining.  You will not get what you want if you ask for it while whining.

Aaron:  Aaron cannot whine, Mommy.  And yet, Aaron is whining.

**************************************************************************************************************

April 2011

Aaron and I were doing a United States puzzle that has only the state capitals on the board, so you have to know what capitals match which states in order to put the pieces in correctly.

Mommy:  Hmmm, Jackson....what state's capital is Jackson?

Aaron: Dat's Mississippi, Mommy. 

Mommy:  Oh.  Hmmm, which one is Mississippi?  (kind of talking to myself, since my geography skills are not so good.)

Aaron:  It's dis one, Mommy (and picks it out of the pile of 30 states left.)

Mommy got schooled by a two year old on US geography.  Mommy who has a degree and certification to be a history teacher.  Whoops.

*************************************************************************************************************
July 2011


On the first day of potty training, Aaron is sitting on the potty, waiting for something to happen.
Suddenly, he yells "Did it work??!?!"  
We laughed and so now that's what he asks us everytime he goes.  Classic.


*************************************************************************************************************

a saturday morning

A few weeks ago, we spent a Saturday morning eating donuts, yard sale-ing, playing piano, doing puzzles and enjoying our little family.

Here's some pictures of Daddy and his littlest piano student. 
 

At first, Aaron could not be enticed into some family piano time.  Instead, he was doing puzzles.

Meanwhile, Sammy was jamming.

 I'm clearly saving these photos for when Sam's on American Idol Season 30.  HA.

Eventually, Aaron abandoned his puzzles and made his way over to where the action was.

 I love how intent they both are here.  What lucky boys to have such a talented Daddy.

 Some more head pats.  Who needs a puppy when you have a baby brother?

All three playing.  It's a real shame you can't hear the dulcet tones.

Then, I decided to take some photos of Sam, since he had just turned four months old a few days before.

Anytime Sam sits in the Bumbo, two unfortunate things happen:

1.  He poops.  That's probably TMI.  But seriously, gross.  Because, and this may or may not surprise you, the laws of physics do not apply in a Bumbo.  GROSS.

2.  Aaron tries to sit on Sam.  I can't figure out why.  I'll say, "Aaron, we do not sit on Baby Sam."  And he'll say "Maybe just on his feet, Mommy."  

I'll say, "No, you may sit next to his feet, but not ON his feet."  And he'll say "Oh okay."  

And then try to sit right on him.  

 

But don't feel too bad for Sam...the time of reckoning is coming.  Sam's on track to outweigh Aaron in a few months and I'm sure he'll pay him back ten fold.

See, he's already getting a few good pushes in.  Play nice, boys!

Here's to Happy Family Saturdays!

old school giggles

We were looking through some old videos today. I probably blogged this before, but man, it gets me every time. Maybe I should post this on You Tube so we can meet the 'Charlie Bit My Finger' kids.

my boys

I had big plans for a double bunny ears post this year.  Unfortunately, Aaron had other plans.  And his plans did NOT include wearing bunny ears while Mommy took pictures.  Lame.  His plans do, generally, include being ANYWHERE that Sam is, so I knew I was taking pictures of Sam, somehow Aaron would end up cooperating too.  

So I settled for some sweet brudder pictures.  I was able to ease the pain by dressing them in matching polos.  Not as cute as bunny ears, but pretty cute all the same.

As I said, they started out as Sammy pictures...serving also as a trap to lure Aaron in.

Sammy enjoying the spotlight.  

But my plan is working quickly...see him in the left corner?

 Got him!

 Uh, maybe not quite like that.

 Better...but my lens wasn't able to take clear shots of both kids at varied depths, so we'll have to reconfigure.

 Baby in front, big boy in back.  He's just checking on Sam to make sure he won't fall over.  Sweet boy.

 It looks like they are conspiring here...maybe I should rethink this.

 Finally, I put Sam on Aaron's lap.  Sam looks kind of uncomfortable, but we'll go with it.

 My boys.

Ha.  Seriously boys, get over it now.  I'm not going to stop.

 Success!

 Yay!

 I can't really tell if Aaron's doing a cute face or patronizing me again.  We'll go with cute.

 Hmmm...maybe not.

That was about the point that I set Aaron free to roam.  Sam, being unable to express his protest in words or action, was then subject to the bunny ears.  Love it.

 Again?

 Heehee.

 Happy bunny-baby.

Okay, it's over.  Good enough.

And finally, I posted this on Facebook...

Do you see a resemblance?  I see it maybe in their chin, cheeks and awareness that their mommy is a loon. Too bad for you, boys, the ears will be back next year too.

How about here?

Hoppy Spring!

four months old

Sam!  You are four months old today!  And I'm posting!  And I took your picture!  WINNING!!!

Yeah, I feel pretty good about it too.

So here's what Sammy boy is up to these days.

-Smiling and laughing.  Although that above picture is VERY cute, that's not really how he smiles.  Well, it is, obviously, but there is this split second, right before that above smile where his whole face just crumples up into joy.  

 

  

Kind of like that, but...smilier.  It's almost impossible to catch on camera, because it's just a quick moment, but it's so sweet.  

This shot is blurry and not really his best angle, but it comes a little bit closer to depicting that moment.  But only a little bit.  Maybe a video...someday.

-Holding his head up.  In the past month, he's come a long way.

At the beginning of April:

Head tilt, still kinda leaning the head back or on whatever was close. 

Better, but still a bit flopsy.

And now, look!  Like a champ!

 What you lookin at Mama?  Classic Sam face.

Soon we'll try sitting him up on his own.  He has done a little bit of the tripod sit, but it mostly ends on his face...and he's not a fan.  In fact, today he fell into my water cup.  Like actually into it.  The cup stayed standing (it was wedged in between two couch cushions) and he fell onto his face from a sitting position and one arm landed, plop, right into the water.  He was less than pleased.  Okay, we'll give tripoding another month.


-His brother.  Sam is into his brother.  Maybe not as much as his brother is into him, but pretty close.  He busts out a big grin any time he sees Aaron, even when it looks like Aaron is about to encroach on his personal space.

 It looks like Aaron's about to walk on Sam, but I assure you, he's not.  No, he's trying to sit on Sam's feet...in order to be as close to him as possible.  You know, how you do.

The only time Sam is NOT pleased to see Aaron is when Aaron wakes Sam up by screaming or poking.  Turns out that 4 month olds are easily disgusted when awoken abruptly.  I mean, no one LIKES getting woken up from a deep sleep but some people are...grumpier than others.  Downright mean, really.  Sam gets that from his father.  True story.  G.R.U.M.P.Y.  The other evening, Sam was sleeping on me while Isaac and I were watching TV and I wanted some chips.  I asked Isaac for them and he sat straight up on the couch and said "I am sleeping."  And laid back down.  Oh, okay.  GRUMPA.

Anyway...

-Sam's discovered the wonder of the Jumperoo.

His face looked like this the entire time he jumped for the first time.  Concentration.  And that may be the beginnings of a pointy slicer I spy there.  Only time will tell.

He's are still a little bit too short for some real good jumpin' but with a pillow propped under his legs, he will sit there for a good bit and have a grand ole time with the animals and toys.  

I'm sure you can use your imagination as to how interesting the bigger boy finds this as well.  We've established that Aaron may NOT get into Sam's seat, but we're still working on not shaking it violently while Sam is in it.  

Speaking of the bigger boy, 

Same jumperoo...same face...different baby.

December, 2008

-Sam LOVES to talk.  He's much more vocal than I remember Aaron being.  He does this crazy little yelpy noise to catch your attention and then just starts chatting away.  I've mentioned before but he also giggles like Ernie from Sesame Street.  Aaron likes to run up to Sam and say "AH GOO, SAM, AH GOO."  And most of the time, Sam responds with an "Ah goo" right back at him.  Chatty, this one.

-Drooling is also pretty high Sam's list of activities.  He kind of blows raspberries all the time, sometimes even with the accompanying noise.  Aaron says, "Mommy, Sam is spuh-illing.  Can you clean his face?"  Apparently his delicate sensibilities are offended by Sam's behavior, but so far, it doesn't seem to bother Sam. 

-In the interest of full disclosure (see my treatise in the post below), now would be the time to mention that this past month has not been friendly in terms of Sam's sleeping.  At the beginning of the month he got very, very fussy, so I took him into the doctor's to see if he had an ear infection.  It turns out, from my description, the NP was able to diagnose him pretty quickly with silent reflux.  Basically, it's reflux without the constant spitting up.  His stomach acid is traveling up and then he's swallowing it back down, making it burn his esophagus twice.  Poor baby.   Due to the fact that he's gaining weight like a champ, the doctors are reluctant to put him on any kind of prescription medicine for this issue, so we're currently trying some more practical measures to try to ease his pain - sitting up after nursing, lying upright or on his tummy, nose drops.  We've seen some results from these things, but he still struggles with his naps during the day.  I don't remember having this hard of a time with Aaron...but I'm very aware that a) they are different kids/personalities, b) Sam has these physical issues, and c) that Aaron started out in a much...quieter environment than Sam is currently living in.  So, alas, we are pushing through and hoping that his reflux will get better as he gets older and that his naps will start to be more consistent as time goes by as well.

In the meantime, he's keepin the cute coming, so that I don't mind having to hold him for 18 out of 24 hours a day.

Hey baby, four months looks good on you.  Keep it up.

Oh, and I'll be back with his stats after his well visit next week.  Although, at the sick visit that I mentioned before, he weighed in at a whopping 15.5 lbs.  To put that in some perspective, Sam was 3 months old at that appt.  Aaron weighed 15.5 lbs at his 4 month appt.  So Sam, having started out 2 lbs LESS than Aaron, caught up to and then surpassed him within three months.  And Aaron was no shrinking violent.  High five, Sam, way to eat.