Happy birthday little man!

Logan woke up first this morning, excited as ever for Callum's birthday. I had to remind him NOT to go wake up his brother but let him sleep in. ;-)

When Callum finally woke, Logan ran into his room and sang him happy birthday (very cute!). Then climbed into the crib, and you can't see it well but this is my poor helpless little 2 year old sitting on top of his big bad mean brother.

Not a bad job at fending for himself eh? ;-)

School Pics

It's that time of year again!  I crack up every time I look at these pics, my boys are so full of character, even posed like this (or maybe it's the poses that bring out their character?).  This year, I had one done with the two of them together too.  I love how they all turned out.  Hope you do too!

Logan's Class

Callum's Class

Logan: 4 yrs, 4 months old

Callum: 2 yrs old

Hilarious! :)

Brothers

Today was picture day at school so the boys were dressed a little nicer than usual. (Which is becoming a bigger fight as they get older!)

Callum's teacher texted me this pic today of three sets of brothers since the younger ones are all in the same class and the older ones are all in the same class. And, they are all good pals. :)

Holding hands

The boys like to hold hands while we drive home from school each night. It's pretty damn cute! :)

Loganism of the day

They [the new Legos we bought the boys ] are too small for Callum, right?

No, they aren't. They are for both of you to share.

Well, I guess we could give it a try.

Collection of videos

I've been using Socialcam (a new app created by Justin.tv!) for the last few weeks when taking quick-clip videos of the kids - posting them immediately to Facebook, but not going back to also link them here.

So, for those that haven't yet seen them on Facebook, thought I'd share a few here...

(From newest to oldest)

Callum Walking (4/11/11)



Logan Rocking Out (4/2/11)



Drunk baby learning to walk (3/28/11)



The baby side shuffle (3/24/11)



Logan entertaining Callum (3/23/11)

10 months old

Holy Moly Batman, Callum's 10 months old today!!

I didn't do my normal monthly update at his 9 month birthday because well, there were too many ear infections to count, travel for work and travel for play (about a trip I still need to post on), ear surgery, and then more travel and sick sick sick sick. 

Here we are one month later, we're all still sick and the house is a shambles and we've got circles under our eyes and it's raining outside and all I can think about is more travel that we have to get ready for.  ;-)

So, let's just say Callum was a charming 9 month old, taking off full steam with his crawling and standing at everything arms length and head height and when he could, he'd begin to let go and just balance slowly for a second or two, testing his sea legs all on their own.
 

But whooo boy now that he's 10 months old - it's a WHOLE NEW BALLGAME folks.

Because he's picked up RUNNING (or speed walking?) literally overnight!  Earlier this week he started using furniture to cruise around and by the end of the week (in a SINGLE day) he became a pro with his little walker and now this morning, he took his first step all on his very own!

Jon had predicted earlier in the week that he'd be taking his first steps by the weekend and I was like, "Oh - aren't you the cute little proud parent who thinks our kid is a genius superstar who excels at everything?"

But seriously, Internet, I think we may just have a genius superstar kid who will excel at everything.

Callum has also really increased his chattiness within the last month.  I have to think the ear tubes are a part of the reason for that, but it could just be the natural timing of his development.  Still, he loves to talk - loves to watch and listen to Logan talk too.  But loves to contribute as well.  He grunts and wiggles and waves his arms dramatically for attention (or food) and will run a string of "dadadadadada"s like nobody's business.

We've been slowly introducing the table foods.  Crackers, cheese (which he LOVES and literally JUMPS for joy when he sees me pull out), soft pastas, peaches, bread of any kind, juice and water.  He's interested in the table foods, but still has trouble mashing them up with his gums and ends up mostly playing with them, with his tongue, before they dribble down his chest and onto the floor for the dogs to slurp up.  He loves his juice, although he's still trying to figure out the sippy cup and whether it's actually meant for drinking liquids, or just gnawing on, out of the side of his mouth. 

While he's extremely social, smiling at everyone who gives him a second, he's also becoming more cautious of strangers these last few weeks.  Just the other night, we had a couple stop by to buy a few of our baby things that Jon had posted on Craigslist and while Callum was VERY interested in these new people, he was also very cautious and concerned and only allowed a teeny tiny smile for them to see.  I remember Logan hitting this stage as well (which is so hard to think of now, as you watch Logan, with this very same stranger couple, DEMAND that they come with him to his toy room and play with him and his trains, pulling on their hands to COME WITH ME, PLEASE?) - it's remarkable how many of the developments that these little guys go through are the same, and yet so different.

Callum continues to amaze us with how quickly he picks up on things and learns - and also at how fast he's growing - day by day.  I struggle keeping up with swapping the dressers out with the old clothes and in with the new.  And honestly think, if he keeps this pace up, he will soon be wearing the same size clothes as Logan and perhaps outgrow him all together!

We are absolutely in love with our little guy and are so very happy he's a part of our little family.  :)  Oh, and, in case you were wondering, Logan is in love with his little brother more than ever too.  Have no fear.

Loganism of the day

Hey Mom, when you have a lot of kids, it makes you happy. When you have one kid, it makes you sad. You need two babies and two boys.

(FYI. Right now I only have one kid btw. Callum doesn't qualify since he's a baby....)

8 months old

Well, it comes to no surprise that Callum quickly picked up on his rocking and scooting and elevated it to full on CRAWLING in just a few short days! He's been making his way around the house on his very own for many many weeks now and is becoming an old pro. He's also extremely eager to stand - and pulls himself up on anything he is able to (when he's strong enough, some of the taller pieces of furniture still allude him). He'll "walk" a few steps while holding onto your fingers but he hasn't quite got the balance down enough to take a few steps on his own. In due time - we know it's around the corner!

He doesn't speak anything more than cooing, babbling, and a constant stream of "dadadadada" :) but he knows what he wants and how to get it. If you walk into the room that he's in, and he wants you to pick him up, he'll immediately crawl to your feet and PULL on your pant legs, whining at the same time, until you give in (or until he escalates to crying if he's really upset, tired or hungry).

He's doing really well at eating - and even though he's been battling one ear infection after another, he's still able to take down a bottle or put a jar of food away no problem. I had started him on some "puffs" and yogurt melts, to give him some practice at picking small objects up with his fingers, but because he's been so sick, it hasn't gone really well (he LOVES to eat them, but if he gets one caught down his throat the wrong way, or inhales one mid-cough, that's the end of the puff AND all of the peas, or squash or yogurt we just fed him, since the choking leads to puking everything back up). So, we're taking a break on "harder" solids for now and sticking with the stuff that doesn't cause him to lose his meal.

He did get a chance to try some juice for the first time this past weekend. Since he's been on so many anti-biotics, the doctors have told us to keep him REALLY hydrated, but on the flip side, milk isn't great when you've got a head cold and are congested, so Dr. Safir gave us the ok this past week to start giving a bit of juice or water instead. Callum was more interested in biting the sippy cup's handles and nipple than he was at drinking the juice. :)

He now has both bottom front teeth in, quite visible and sharp as all hell. A third has been threatening to appear (next to his bottom front left) for a few days now - which makes it hard to tell if all the biting and mouthing and drooling and runny nose is due to (yet) another cold, or just more teething?

Along with (or because of?) the teething and cooing, Callum has discovered his lips and tongue. He absolutely LOVES to play with his lips and make sounds while plucking them with his fingers. And, he's recently discovered the fun art of clicking his tongue - which he does all the time, but particularly if I'm not fast enough with the food at the dinner table. ;-)

In fact, now that he's mobile, sounds are taking on a whole new meaning for Callum. He is free to pick up anything he sees and throw it, drop it, or most often, bang it on the floor or other hard surface. He seems to be pretty curious as he tests out everything he sees to figure out the sound it makes and what happens when he drops it or hits it on something else. It can be nerve-racking for us (not to mention, it upsets Logan anytime Callum rips apart a train track or two from his table!), but we know it's all just a part of the learning and soaking in that he's doing right now. :)

While we love Callum to pieces, we definitely are getting tired of the mid-night wake up calls. It's particularly trying when Logan wakes up too, and/or the two of them are sick. But, we're doing the best we can right now. Days when Logan and Callum are peacefully playing side by side in the living room, with Logan talking to his best friend and expecting answers back, definitely make it all worth while. :)

3 years old

Here it is over 3 weeks past my son's third birthday and I'm finally getting around to posting.  I think I've decided that I can't keep up with the monthly updates, and will just have to move to yearly from here.  It was a good run while it lasted Logan!  ;-)

So what can I say about Mr. Logan?  I say it every time (and I'm sure at some point I'll stop saying this), but this is now my favorite age!  I recently received my monthly newsletter from Babycenter about Logan titled:  Your Little Chatterbox

And oooohhhh, how true that is!

I would say that's the biggest change and development in Logan overall.  Every minute, every hour, every day, every month - he picks up additional words that just crack us up.  We have no idea where he hears them half the time but his ability to immediately recognize meaning and patch these new words into sentences (usually correctly!) is astounding.

Mommy, can I have some juice?

Sure.  (pours a glass of juice)

But I want some sugar in it.  I want A LOT of sugar!

(We normally add half water to his juice, because we've told him the juice has too much sugar in it... so our best guess is, he now thinks water is also called sugar... *shrug*)

He's also VERY interested in "bad words".  Everything is now a bad word.  And, he's quick to let you know it.

No Mommy, "fine" is a bad word.

Mommy, "I don't know" is a bad word.

Mommy, "stop that" is a bad word.  Don't say that.

Just the other day, while I was in the kitchen cooking our holiday dinner, Logan was playing in the living room with Callum.  I could hear Logan directing and talking to Callum nonstop - telling him what to do, what to play with, what to look at.  I then heard Callum whine - and I heard Logan say something about "that" being "his toy" and Callum couldn't play with it.  I yelled from the kitchen - Logan, you need to share your toys with Callum.

Logan yelled back, "But, it's not a party in here!"

I guess we're only sharing toys at parties now.

With all the energy Logan has day in and day out, he's often times too busy playing to pay attention or listen to his Mom and Dad.  I can't tell you how many times we have to tell him to listen to us, and when he's not listening, he gets a timeout. I fear it's going to be a constant battle with him - to pay attention and listen to what we have to say or are telling him to do.  It's also kicking us in the ass - since there are times where Jon or I have work to do, or chores to do, or heaven forbid, want to engage in a conversation between each other.  It's usually at that very moment, that Logan tries to interrupt, yelling at one or both of us:

Mommy!  Daddy!  Mommmmmmmm!  Listen to me!!

And then the guilt sets in.  ;-)

A few weekends ago, I needed to stop by the pharmacy on our way home from swimming class.  Logan was full of energy and happy to be out of the house.  While at the checkout stand, he was busy using the shopping cart as his personal jungle gym, crawling up and down and in and out while I'm trying to pay and get the hell out of there before he breaks something (or a limb).  He's talking nonstop the entire time - pausing between jumps and climbs to wave and bellow out "Hi!" at the top of his lungs at each new person who walks by or enters the store.

The cashier (probably a grandmother herself), was laughing and commented to me, "He sure does have a lot of energy, doesn't he?"  To which I responded, "Yep, and this is after just finishing up a half hour swim class!"

She was a little surprised.

Because he's running around so much, I guess it makes sense that he'll fall or hit his head from time to time.  The nice thing is, we have a tough little boy.  Often times, immediately after bonking his head on something, he'll yell out to me:

I'm okay Mom!

and then return to his playing.  Before I even get a chance to look up.

It's one of the many reasons why I love that Logan attends preschool actually.  He's outside, playing in the yard, and running off this endless energy, at least 4-5 times a day.  I could never keep up with him on a regular basis on my own!

As I was getting him dressed today, to get ready for the movies with Daddy (Jon's taking him to see Tangled again, since the last outing with me he didn't fare so well), all he wanted to do was climb and jump on me and tackle me to the ground.

Mom, let's tackle and punch ourselves!

Punch ourselves?  No, we don't punch people.

Yes we do!  You have to punch nicely.  Daddy punches nicely.

Daddy punches nicely?

Yeah, because we're tackling.

Oh I see.

I later told this to Jon, who then laughed asking Logan to show him how to punch nicely - at which point Logan socks the shit out of Jon's chest.  Yes.  Nicely.  I guess we need to work on the meaning of that word some more.  (or perhaps, get him to learn not to punch at all?!)

Another one of Logan's latest interests is peeing and pooping.  Not the potty training stuff - he's a master at that (to the point that half the time, we don't even bother helping him in the bathroom since he does it all himself!).

No, it's the TOPIC of talking about peeing and pooping.  Really, I thought that we'd have a few more years before this started.  But, I guess it hits at a much earlier age.  In fact, at a recent neighborhood holiday party we went to, the "older" 6-8 year old boys that Logan was infatuated with and following around nonstop, thought the little 3 year old who wouldn't stop talking about peeing and pooping was REALLY WEIRD.

It usually goes something like this:

Mom, I'm going to pee on you!  

Callum, I'm going to poop on you!

Followed by something like this:

And that, my friends, is the epitome of sibling love right there.

Loganism of the day

Callum needs to grow big just like me, so he can play with me.

Back on I-5 heading home

I asked Jon to grab a travel pack of tissue for Logan's runny nose. This big ol' thing was the only size they had. *sigh*

Callum continues to scream the minute we load him into his car seat until he passes out from exhaustion. It's grating but what can we do?

Once Callum fell asleep (earlier this morning) Logan actually said to Jon and I:

Shhhhh!! Stop talking! The baby is sleeping!

I guess the screaming gets on Logan's nerves too. ;-)

The Glorious 10

Callum slept an amazing 10 hours straight last night! (Thank God too since I really needed the sleep after the night before). I'm sure it had nothing to do with the long day of traveling and several interrupted naps of his. ;-)

Also, two "Loganisms" from yesterday:

1) Callum was very unhappy being stuck in his car seat for so long yesterday, while we drove back to Austin to catch our flight. When we pulled over for a fill up, I tried feeding him to calm him down. Unfortunately it wasn't working so well and Callum was still pretty pissed. At which point, Logan informed me, "Mommy, he wants his Logan".

2) When Jon told Logan to stay out of the parking lot, else he'd get hit by a car, Logan replied, "It's impossible!". Aieeee.

30 months old

Well, it's official. We have a 2.5 year old on our hands now.

I keep thinking it can't get any better than this. But it can! I'm sure a lot of it has to do with Logan's language explosion. His personality development. And his curiosity in anything and everything we do. It's great to watch him growing into his own every single day.


That's not to say there aren't frustrating moments. There are PLENTY of frustrating moments. More and more Logan has become a defiant little kid. He's particularly disobedient with me. :( He's noticed, I am sure, that when the baby is stuck to my boob, I'm pretty much at the baby's mercy. I can't really chase a little kid down, let alone crawl under a table or bed to grab him (I can handle the defiance in the house, it's out in public, near a street when he starts running in the opposite direction of me, that scares the shit out of me).

So, no matter how nicely I may ask, or how stern I may yell at him, it doesn't seem to matter. Unless I put Callum down to literally GRAB Logan and give him a talkin' to - he's pretty much going to do his own thing. It's a delicate balance and I'm still trying to learn how to parent two children. Meanwhile, Logan's learning how to manipulate and "work" his Mommy as best he can. WHEE!

"Ok, I'm coming. Just a minute!"

He's also craving attention more and more. Often times he'll want to sit on my lap (asking me to feed him - a bit of regression or laziness? hard to tell) or ask me to come play with him or lay down in bed to watch a movie with him.


He has also really taken to having his Daddy do things with him. Since I'm typically on Callum duty, Jon is now primarily on Logan duty. Logan has not only gotten used to these roles, he absolutely loves it. Whereas he used to kick and scream with me, leaving the house for school in the morning, now he practically skips sunshine and rainbows, holding his Daddy's hand and letting the door slam me in the face. They are two peas in a pod - and while he definitely tests Jon's patience (whoooo BOY does he test Jon's patience!) - it's so fun to watch them grow close and wrestle and giggle and have fun together.

He also continues to be very affectionate and loving to his little brother. He constantly asks where his baby brother is, wanting to snuggle up close to Callum or point out to me how much smaller Callum's [fill in the blank with any body part] is compared to his or mine. I can't describe how warm it touches my heart to see him so interested in his little brother, particularly when I know it won't always be like this at times. ;-)

This is *my* rocket?

Logan now checks anytime he sees a new toy in the house to make sure it's his and not Callum's. ;-) A wonderful rocket play hut from the Chouns. Thanks guys! :)

Loganism of the Day

"I have a tattoo, just like Daddy!"

He also informed me that "Mommy, the baby (who was shrieking in his car seat next to Logan) needs his milk."

Yes buddy. Yes he does. *sigh*

Big Helper

I can't wait until he's able to chauffeur Callum to soccer/football practice. ;-)

29 months old

Logan is one month shy of the 2 1/2 year mark! Crazy how time is flying by. He seems so HUGE and ANCIENT and OLD to us, now that he's side by side with Callum. But, there's still a lot he's learning and growing himself.


He loves to say "Yay, I did it!" (or Mommy did it! or Daddy did it!) whenever he's working hard to try and solve something, open something, create something, etc. He may have said this before, I'm not sure, but he's really into proclaiming his accomplishments now. I would say overall he's a lot more independent than ever actually. His imaginative play has really picked up recently (could that be partly because we're spending more time with Callum?), and I often times will hear him playing on his own in the living room his toy room, talking to his stuffed animals and cars and trains. He's starting to create stories about what his toys are doing and saying and feeling. It's fantastic to see.

Last month I commented on his realization of remorse, which he continues to do today. Anytime he does something wrong, misbehaves or doesn't follow instructions, he generally apologizes about it. This month he's also picked up on the appropriate response to "Thank you", often times telling us "You're welcome" before we even have the chance to say "Thank you" first. ;-)

Recently at school, the kids planted a few seeds in little paper cups and watered them every day to learn and watch how plants grow. We took the little project home the other day and he's now obsessed with watering his plants (and my lilies) EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE. It's tiring but also adorable to watch!


He's continuing to potty train at school and home. He's learning how to pull his pants on and off (we're using pull ups at school now), which is making things a bit easier. He's also taken to STANDING at his potty and pretending he's pissing in it (by holding his penis, pointing it at the potty, and even making the "pissing" sound).

Although he hasn't yet actually peed standing up. :)

The first time he did it I started laughing out loud and yelled out to Jon to come watch. I'm toying with the idea of buying a potty urinal, which I think would be lots of fun, especially now that we have the two boys. If we ever strike it rich and remodel our house someday, take note Internet: I want to install a urinal in each bathroom.

Since seeing the Sharks last month, Logan is very adamant about wanting to go to another game, he loved it that much! Whenever we leave the house, he will demand "I want to see the Sharks." Or, he'll ask "Are we going to see the Sharks Mommy?" So far I've been able to ward off these questions and demands with a "Later buddy - we'll see the Sharks again later". But, his memory is improving every day so it's only a matter of time before he starts calling me on that.


He's also transitioned from "wanting" to "needing", which has actually been pretty funny for Jon and I. Some typical NEEDS of Logan's, are as follows:

I need my Sharks hat.
I need my milk (accompanied by "Go get my milk").
I need rabbits (fruit snacks in the shape of bunny rabbits that he's obsessed with).
I need my dinosaur/hippo.
I need to take a bath.
I need to do art.
I need to watch TV.
I need to go outside.
I need my Daddy.

Most of these demands usually result in us questioning his "needs". Oh, you NEED your dinosaur do you?

YES.

Or do you mean you WANT your dinosaur?

YES.


There is one "need" however, that we never question, but comply with every single time.

Mommy, I need to hold my baby brother.

Of course, he stopped holding Callum the minute the camera came out, so I'll have to get a better pic of him holding Callum later. :)