Yesterday wasn't the first day that I'd ever spent alone with the boys, but the first in a long time. They rose to the challenge by refusing to take any afternoon naps, which resulted in there being not one minute for about 10 hours in which I didn't have to deal with one boy or the other. This wouldn't have been so bad had they been well-rested and just on opposite schedules, but no. They were cross, I was cross. They were tired, I was exhausted.
And yet there was this moment:
...which made the day seem not so bad. Wonderful, even.
All the milestones are exciting, but the first laugh is one of the very best.
Hunkering down
Three more days before I am full-time on my own with my two boys. I know, you can't believe I haven't been on my own already by now, but we were lucky to have a lot of help and four full weeks of paternity leave from Microsoft. So I've spent the last few months buying too much stuff and getting ready to spend A LOT of time at home while someone or the other is napping. Here's what we now have:
In the backyard:
*a mini-picnic table
*a climber with two slides
*a sand box with a ton of digging and sifting toys
*a water table
*a tricycle (ok, this is in the garage)
*8 front steps, which are apparently far more interesting to Sebastian than any of the above. Sigh.
In the house (for SP):
*practically every category of toy imaginable, including...
*a bed, highchair, and stroller for "Sebastian's baby" who is otherwise nameless
*a mini-kitchen, shopping cart, and tons of fake food
*at least 2 of every vehicle you can think of
*tool box
* building blocks/Legos/Lincoln logs
*a dollhouse complete with baby, who always seems to need a "quick change" or a nap
*a box full of "noisy toys" that will soon be the bane of my existence
*so many books I think we could have our own children's library
*a snack table that doubles as an art table, with many, many (washable) art supplies
*two dice that are apparently far more enticing to Sebastian than any of the above. Double sigh.
In the house (for Theo):
*swing
*playmat
*bouncy seat
*mobile attached to crib
*aquarium (coming soon to a crib near us)
*Bumbo and Jumperoo waiting in the wings for the next month or two!
*Mama's arms, which are far more comforting than any of the above. Bittersweet sigh.
In the house (for Mama):
*the nook so I can read books one-handed, along with fancy nightlight so I can read while someone falls asleep at 4 in the morning
*the Wii so I can work out with Wii Active, courtesy of EA Sports. (Stop laughing. I'll start doing it eventually.)
*Netflix that I can stream over the laptop or aforementioned Wii
*and this fabulousness, which anyone who has ever had two small children in cloth diapers will instantly understand is almost as exciting as any of the above.
Sigh of relief.
I think we're ready for fall.
In the backyard:
*a mini-picnic table
*a climber with two slides
*a sand box with a ton of digging and sifting toys
*a water table
*a tricycle (ok, this is in the garage)
*8 front steps, which are apparently far more interesting to Sebastian than any of the above. Sigh.
In the house (for SP):
*practically every category of toy imaginable, including...
*a bed, highchair, and stroller for "Sebastian's baby" who is otherwise nameless
*a mini-kitchen, shopping cart, and tons of fake food
*at least 2 of every vehicle you can think of
*tool box
* building blocks/Legos/Lincoln logs
*a dollhouse complete with baby, who always seems to need a "quick change" or a nap
*a box full of "noisy toys" that will soon be the bane of my existence
*so many books I think we could have our own children's library
*a snack table that doubles as an art table, with many, many (washable) art supplies
*two dice that are apparently far more enticing to Sebastian than any of the above. Double sigh.
In the house (for Theo):
*swing
*playmat
*bouncy seat
*mobile attached to crib
*aquarium (coming soon to a crib near us)
*Bumbo and Jumperoo waiting in the wings for the next month or two!
*Mama's arms, which are far more comforting than any of the above. Bittersweet sigh.
In the house (for Mama):
*the nook so I can read books one-handed, along with fancy nightlight so I can read while someone falls asleep at 4 in the morning
*the Wii so I can work out with Wii Active, courtesy of EA Sports. (Stop laughing. I'll start doing it eventually.)
*Netflix that I can stream over the laptop or aforementioned Wii
*and this fabulousness, which anyone who has ever had two small children in cloth diapers will instantly understand is almost as exciting as any of the above.
Sigh of relief.
I think we're ready for fall.
The thinking chair
We have discovered the joys of "Blue's Clues" these days. We got a Wii a while back and can now stream Netflix movies over it, including three seasons of Steve and his dog Blue. Typically Sebastian doesn't watch tv, but this show is great! Well, it's great for him. For me it's Daily Tedium. It gets us through the dinner hour, though, so who am I to complain? The funniest thing is that Steve has a Thinking Chair that he uses to ponder the three clues before solving that day's puzzle. Sebastian was delighted to find that he, too, has a red Thinking Chair! Now this is where he sits while he watches.
I suspect this Thinking Chair may get used as a place to ponder other important toddler lessons like Why We Don't Scream and Sharing is Hard But You Better Get Used To It...
I suspect this Thinking Chair may get used as a place to ponder other important toddler lessons like Why We Don't Scream and Sharing is Hard But You Better Get Used To It...
Yes, they are brothers
Two years... things change, things stay the same...
Conclusions:
*The playmat is a big hit....
*...except when it's time for nap.
*Two more pounds makes for a noticeably chubbier baby.
*These boys have smiles that make my heart melt.
*They look like brothers. I love it.
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| Sebastian yawning, Sept. 2008 |
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| Theo yawning, Sept 2010 |
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| Sebastian's tummy time, 2008 |
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| Theo's tummy time, Sept. 2010 |
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| Sebastian's smile, Sept 2008 |
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| Theo's smile, Sept. 2010 |
Conclusions:
*The playmat is a big hit....
*...except when it's time for nap.
*Two more pounds makes for a noticeably chubbier baby.
*These boys have smiles that make my heart melt.
*They look like brothers. I love it.
Future posts
Titles of posts I wish I had time to write:
~A new perspective
~It's ok to complain when things suck
~What not to say: the sick child edition
~Back to toddler school
~To Montessori or not to Montessori
~When Daddy is home
~Sleeping with a bear cub
~Hanging onto my career by a thread
~Smiley faces and gold stars unite
~The carpet wreckers
~Endless laundry
~Ode to my Nook
~Frere Jacques and other earworms
~Are you ready to say sorry?
~The difference sleep makes
~Growth spurt
~Yes, they are brothers
Someday I'll have time to write again. Perhaps even someday soon.
~A new perspective
~It's ok to complain when things suck
~What not to say: the sick child edition
~Back to toddler school
~To Montessori or not to Montessori
~When Daddy is home
~Sleeping with a bear cub
~Hanging onto my career by a thread
~Smiley faces and gold stars unite
~The carpet wreckers
~Endless laundry
~Ode to my Nook
~Frere Jacques and other earworms
~Are you ready to say sorry?
~The difference sleep makes
~Growth spurt
~Yes, they are brothers
Someday I'll have time to write again. Perhaps even someday soon.
Self-portrait
...of the Photographer as a Young Man:
{subtitled: Sebastian Entertains Himself with BlackBerry While Mama Feeds Theo.}
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