Jack {Four Months}

+ 16 lbs (68%) and 25.3 inches (63%)
+ Wearing 6-month clothes
+ Is so close to rolling back to front.  He can get his legs and tummy over but can't quite pull his arm through to get his shoulders over.
+ He's hit the dreaded four-month sleep regression and is waking up two or three times a night
+ Likes smiling.  Smiling is his favorite.
+ Giggles require a little more effort than smiles, but we're getting more and more of them
+ Is very alert and loves watching everything going on around him
+ Drools an insane amount
+ Likes: playing in his baby gym, watching his brother play, "talking"
+ Dislikes: being alone when he's awake, not being able to fall asleep because his brother is being loud (this happens a lot)

Nixon {2.5 Years}

+ 30 lbs and an undetermined height, because he wouldn't stand still long enough to measure.
+ Talking up a storm.  He may have had a slow start verbally, but he's more than making up for it now.
+ Is the hugest staller when it comes to nap time and bedtime.
+ The love of trucks, cars, trains, etc. is still going strong.
+ His hair is turning into a big mess, but I can't bring myself to cut off his curls.
+ He's gotten used to Jack, dare I say perhaps even likes him?  He loves to squish him give him hugs and will sometimes lay next to him on the floor during playtime.
+ Doesn't stop moving all day long, but still prefers to snuggle with his mama all night.
+ His current favorite game is filling up his dump truck and garbage truck with blocks (or any small toys) and dumping them back out.  Over and over and over.
+ He has a really creepy fake laugh that he likes to break out pretty often.  Like all day long.  We think it's hilarious.
+ Knows all the colors and most shapes.
+ Can count to the teens, although he usually takes a few creative liberties as far as the correct order.

Nixon Says

Me: Nixon, do you want to go to the park this morning?
Nixon: Down slide, wheeee!  Up steps, down slide, wheeeeee!

After watching a video that sounded out letters:
Ah ah apple.  Ah ah bus. Ah ah Jack.  Good job.

Me: Can you please put all these toys back in the basket?
Nixon: *looks at the pretty large pile of toys* Yuck.

Jack {Three Months}

+ Already growing out of his 3 month clothes.  Slow down Jack!
+ Still a great sleeper, most nights he sleeps until about five, and then goes back to sleep for a couple more hours after some milk
+ He is super smiley and nothing makes him happier than someone talking to him
+ He has become quite the chatterbox, and as soon as he has someone's attention he starts cooing away
+ Would be thrilled if he was held all day long
+ Gets his cheeks kissed about a million times a day
+ Loves to watch his big brother.  I can only imagine what kind of shenanigans they'll get into together.
+ Likes: napping in his swing, baths, chatting with people, snuggling, being swaddled at night
+ Dislikes: not being picked up right away when he fusses, tummy time

Jack {Two Months}

+ 13.3 lbs (85%) and 23.6 in (77%)
+ His head is only in the 57th percentile, so we'll see if he follows in Nixon's 99th percentile footsteps
+ Wears 0-3 and 3 month clothes
+ He's consistently been sleeping for eight-hour stretches at night, waking up around 4 or 5 to eat, and then usually going back to sleep for another couple hours.
+ We're getting more and more smiles from him, and he's starting to attempt some cooing.  So basically we spend all day making faces at him and talking in weird voices to try and get a smile.
+ After his bath his hair is super fuzzy and it's pretty much the cutest thing ever.
+ Loves: naps on Mama, his pacifier, baths, being swaddled, his swing
+ Dislikes: tummy time, having a dirty diaper

Jack's Birth Story

I'm writing down Jack's birth story mostly so I can look back one day and remember every special moment.  If reading all the details of birth is your thing, then enjoy!  If not, there are some cute pictures at the end!

Jack's entrance into the world may have turned out differently than I had expected or planned on (because these things always go according to plan, right?), but meeting him was as beautiful and precious as I could have hoped for.  He reminded us that he's his own person by making us wait as long as possible, although he's making up for it by being the sweetest little baby.

Nixon showed up eight days before his due date, so I was really hoping this one wasn't going to make us wait around.  No such luck.  At my 40-week appointment, the midwife scheduled my induction for ten days past my due date, all the while saying she didn't think we would have to go that route.  I was also scheduled for a couple non-stress tests during those ten days, just to make sure the baby was still in good shape.

I really wanted to avoid an induction, but at the same time it was reassuring to have an end date set.  I was having a lot of braxton hicks, so I knew my body was getting ready, but they never turned into anything close to real labor.  So, at 41.5 weeks pregnant, it was time to encourage little Jack to come out and meet us.

We checked in to the hospital at 3 pm, and spent the next couple hours getting settled, meeting the team, and doing a lot of waiting.  My nurse finally started the pitocin around 5, and then...more waiting.  The contractions picked up in frequency, but were still only slightly uncomfortable.  I relaxed in bed, chatted with Donovan, and hoped that things would pick up and I wouldn't be in labor all night.  The nurse raised my dose of pitocin a couple times over the next two hours and kept remarking how well I was responding to it.  I took her word for it since I still wasn't anything more than mildly uncomfortable and didn't really feel like I was in labor.  Once my water broke around 7:20 though, things got real.

The contractions quickly became more and more painful and were coming closer together.  No more doubting whether or not I was in labor!  An hour or so after my water broke, the nurse came in to check on me.  My pain level was getting pretty serious by this point, but I was still managing the contractions.  As crazy as it sounds, the idea of getting an epidural is more scary to me than giving birth drug-free, so I really wanted to do this naturally if at all possible.  I was only dilated to a six, which was a little discouraging considering how intense the contractions were feeling, but I still refused the nurse's offer of an epidural and opted to tough it out just a little bit longer.  Fast forward about fifteen minutes, and I was yelling at Donovan that I couldn't take it anymore and needed something.  The nurse came in, took one quick look, and announced that we were having a baby.  The team rushed in, the midwife got in place, and I started pushing.  I honestly have no idea how long I pushed, it felt like hours but was probably around ten to fifteen minutes.  Finally, at 8:48 pm, sweet little Jack entered the world and was placed in my arms.

Best moment ever.

While I have to say that having two kids is a whole different ball game, we are so in love with this little guy.  I can't wait to watch Jack and Nixon's relationship grow and develop as they become best friends.  We're so happy you're here Jack!

Five Things

Five things about Nixon:

One.  He is obsessed with burying himself under all the couch cushions and going "nighty night."  If only he was as excited about his real bedtime...
Two.  He's finally started saying his name.  To be fair, it's a little tricky.  It's also really adorable how he can't quite say the "x" yet.
Three.  He usually can't hear me ask him to pick up his toys, but he can hear me open the chocolate chip jar from across the house and come running.
Four.  He picked up the word "cool" somewhere, so now when he sees anything that catches his fancy he exclaims "wow! cool!"
Five.  Anything with wheels is a truck.  Mail truck, bus truck, jeep truck, mixer truck (cement mixer), etc., etc.  Usually followed by a "wow! cool!"

The Aquarium

Over the long weekend, we spent a couple days at the beach.  It was so good to get away and spend time as a family and really focus on the kids.  Nixon absolutely loved having uninterrupted play time while Jack snoozed in the wrap, and has asked to go back to the beach at least once a day since we've been home.  

On our last morning, we took the kids to the aquarium.  Nixon had a blast looking at all the fishies.  Jack enjoyed it in his own way by sleeping the entire time.

The closest thing we get to a family picture these days.

Jack, just snoozing away.

Nixon made friends with a starfish.  

Jack's still sound asleep.  Those cheeks though!

And one last ride on a giant frog before getting in the car.  

Jack {One Month}

Well, that month went fast.  Jack has been keeping busy being adorable and growing way too fast.  He likes to be in the middle of the action, although for the most part he sleeps through all his big brother's shenanigans.  When he's not sleeping, he loves to be held and cuddled.  Nights are going surprisingly well, usually with only one or two wake-ups.  Nixon is turning into quite the helpful big brother, he is always quick to give Jack his blanket, shove his pacifier in his mouth, or announce "Jack crying."

Things Jack likes: having uninturrupted snuggle time with mom while Nixon naps, warm baths, sleeping, drinking milk, being worn in the wrap

Things Jack doesn't like: getting out of the bath, having a dirty diaper

Jack {Two Weeks}

Little Jack is two weeks old already!  Despite a few sleepless nights and a bit of a learning curve when it comes to two kids requiring our attention, we couldn't be happier that this precious guy is part of the family.  Nixon is getting the hang of being a big brother and does a great job of giving Jack his blanket, announcing when Jack sneezes ("Jack choooo!"), and turning his swing on.  Aside from shaking his hand (seriously, cutest thing ever), he has yet to voluntarily touch Jack, which probably isn't the worst thing even if I have yet to get the cute picture of Nixon holding his baby brother.

Jack has been busy gaining weight and is already up to 9lbs 4oz, putting him in the 66th percentile for weight.  His length is 80th percentile, which explains why he's already outgrown most of his newborn clothes.  He's been a fairly calm baby so far, which I am extremely grateful for, and is even letting us get some pretty decent stretches of sleep at night.

He loves being swaddled, snuggling, drinking milk, and tripling the amount of laundry we do around here.  Things he's not a fan of are baths and being trapped in the car seat when he's hungry (can't blame him for that one).

Happy two weeks, Jack!

Introducing Jack Robert

We welcomed little Jack into the world on April 20th, 8 lbs 12 oz, 21.5 inches, and absolutely perfect.  He is healthy and happy and is starting to look more and more like baby Nixon.  His first week has been full of lots of snuggles from Mama and Daddy and a few tentative pats from his big brother, who is slowly warming up to him.
 

lately

Lots of block towers being built

His favorite weekend activity - throwing rocks into the lake

Warmer weather means lots of time spent at the park

I get it buddy, we all wish we could have more chocolate chips

My industrious laundry helper putting all the dirty towels into the dryer

Riding dinosaurs at the park

Nixon {Two Years}

Now that Nixon has been two for a few weeks, it's probably time for an update!  He's in a really awesome stage right now and is so much fun (aside from the occasional tantrum, but even those are usually funny/cute enough that it's hard to be mad at him).  He is all boy, he loves trucks more than anything and is happiest when he's outside or wrestling with Daddy.  The highlight of every day is watching the mail truck drive by.  And if we happen to see a mail truck (or bus, or construction truck, or any truck really) while driving around town?  Mind blown.  Needless to say, he keeps Mama on her toes (such as when he locked himself in his bedroom the other day...).

He sleeps about as well as one can expect from a toddler, I guess.  We're in the middle of transitioning him not only from a crib to a toddler bed, but also from our room to his own room.  Up to this point he's been sleeping in his crib in our room, an arrangement he's been pretty happy with, but the time has come to move him out.  So far we've had bad nights and good nights, but the good nights are just possibly starting to outweigh the bad, so there might actually be hope that one day soon we'll all get a good night's sleep.

He's continuing to be an excellent eater, and can put away an impressive amount of food.  He's only 27 pounds, so who knows where exactly he's putting it, but I'm not complaining.  I will say he knows what he likes when it comes to food, but so far we've been lucky in that the list is pretty long and includes some veggies.  Chocolate chips are on the list too, but it's all about balance, right?

In the last couple months, he's really been expanding his vocabulary.  And while he doesn't really have conversations or speak in sentences yet, he knows enough words to get his point across and we rarely have to guess what he wants.  He loves to help, and is adamant we need his assistance anytime we put a lid back on, start the washing machine/dryer/dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, roll the garbage can to the curb, etc.  He's starting to show an interest in helping me in the kitchen, and I love letting him stand on a chair and help mix things, even if stuff ends up on the floor and he does more sampling than mixing.

A few more fun facts about Nixon:

• He's starting to learn his colors!  So far he can identify red and blue...and loves to enthusiastically announce "blue!" at the sight of anything with a speck of blue on it
• Loves having his picture taken, but he gets really angry if you don't show it to him right away
• Waves hello/goodbye to everything

Nixon turns TWO

And just like that, our little guy big boy is two years old.  We had a pretty low-key celebration with cupcakes and a few presents, but special nonetheless.  Happy birthday to our sweet boy, we love you!

Chocolate chip pancakes...the best way to start out a special day

A little unsure about why his cupcake is on fire

Digging in

A couple new books for our truck-obsessed child

And the best gift...

...a helicopter!