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. :)

At least it just looks like a mustard stain.

We can't quite remember if Logan pooped this much, but Callum has been a little play doh factory, producing multiple poops in a single session (his favorite time being the middle of the night when we are half asleep and not always paying attention).

I can't tell you how many more times I'm now running the laundry, or have changed our bedsheets, since Callum was born. It's ridiculous.

Oh yeah, and Happy Mother's Day. ;-)

Due Date

Today is (was?) Callum's due date. He's nearly 3 weeks old, but he was supposed to come today. And let me say I am sooo glad he came as early as he did!

I had a tougher time with the pregnancy this go round, and although I've also had a tough time recovering from Callum's birth, I am SO GLAD to have my body back (well, except for the whole cow moo-moo-moo milk production factory thing going on).

Funny how life works out perfectly sometimes.

Anyhoo - we had Callum's 2 week check up today and he did great! His weight has really bounced back (yay!) - and he's now passed his birth weight, at 7 lbs, 14.5 oz. Because this was an "official" checkup, they also measured his head (35.5 cm) and length (20.5 in). He's growing and eating and pooping and crying and sleeping, just like a baby should. He had his 2nd Hep B booster shot as well, which he wasn't too happy about, but recovered pretty quickly, thank goodness. All in all, everything is grand. :)

Photo courtesy of Jon, who thought Callum's little foot sticking out of the blankets in his car seat this morning was funny. He's got very LONG feet, just like his mama! :)

2 weeks old

Yesterday Callum turned 2 weeks old. I feel like I can already see him getting bigger, day by day, but then again, it's only been two weeks, so it could just be me. ;-)


He's definitely becoming much more alert and aware (when he's awake, which isn't often!) of his surroundings. I sometimes waste away a good hour just holding him and watching him take everything in. He moves his head from side to side, looking around, staring at the ceiling or his crazy hyper brother who's ROARING about two centimeters from his face, processing it all and taking it all in. He doesn't yet have the strength to control his head movements, but he's been doing really well at holding his head up on his own already. I've found he often likes to look out, instead of in, when I'm holding him - which is mostly an adjustment for me since Logan loved to snuggle his face into my chest anytime of day, so I'm trying to break the habit of carrying him facing in toward my chest.

The last couple of days have marked a significant increase in food intake. So, I think he must be going through his 2 week growth spurt (we'll see if that's true during his 2 week check up on Friday). It's actually been quite exhausting for me - we've been spoiled with how well this little guy sleeps at night, compared to Logan anyway, so when Callum has been a little extra fussy and downing more bottles than I can make at 4am in the morning, it's been a bit of a wake up call for both Jon and I. Particularly since Jon returned back to work yesterday, so I've been trying to cover most of the night time duties on my own so he can catch up on some sleep. Of course, last night, that plan backfired on us when Logan was restless with several nightmares. Jon ended up "sleeping" in Logan's bed with him for a few hours to settle him down. As a consequence, he suffered a number of bruised ribs and feet in his face anytime Logan decided to rotate 360 degrees mid-sleep.


Speaking of sleep, Callum is getting much better at sleeping on his own. He absolutely loves being held and sleeping next to me - but it's harder for me to get a full night's rest since I'm still half awake, aware of his every squeak and move. So, the last few nights, I've been putting him in his co-sleeper for longer periods of time to allow him to get used to sleeping on his own. Sometimes he sleeps just fine and other times he fusses and wants me to hold him - we're still learning, but it's getting better.


One of the hospital's lactation consultants who saw me after I had Callum, called to check up on me yesterday. We talked for a bit and it was actually helpful. She's sending me some material to read up on, on how to increase my supply (because no matter how many times I tell these guys that I already am trying everything, they still don't believe me). But the most useful part of the conversation was her comment about how she's very happy I'm on domperidone, but that she has seen it take about 3 weeks or so to kick in. I've been a little worried that the meds haven't been working for me, since my supply is still extremely low, so it was good to hear that it's still too early to tell.

One of the things I DON'T miss about having a newborn are the constant diaper changes we have to go through. And, our little guy HATES having his diaper changed. He also hates having a dirty diaper and doesn't hesitate to let you know. And when I say he lets you know it - I mean he REALLY lets you know it.


He can be peacefully sleeping next to you and then two seconds later erupt into the loudest torturing scream a mother's ears have ever heard. So, I scramble to change him as quickly as possible, while little feet and arms are flailing and half the time getting smeared with poop in the process. I have to say, it's so much easier when you've got a toddler who not only has more solid poops to clean up, but calmly walks up to you and lets you know he's pooped and needs his diaper changed (or lately, needs to sit on the potty).

Within the last few days I've noticed this tiny little white speck on Callum's lower front gums. I didn't think much about it at first since he's -- DUUUHHH -- a newborn. But, a couple of days ago I decided to feel the little speck and felt the faintest sharpest little nub. I think I'm living on less sleep than I realized since it's hard for me to believe a little tooth is already coming in this early - so you can bet it's one of the first things I'm having Dr. Safir check for me during our Friday visit this week.

I'll have to get a better shot later this week with Jon's help and my camera, rather than my iPhone

Speaking of getting better shots - I have yet to capture the gorgeous little dimples that Callum has on BOTH cheeks whenever he smiles. He doesn't smile too often yet, usually in his sleep when he's dreaming, but I'm hoping the dimples stick around for awhile at least, because they are just too damn cute.

Just like Baby Brother

While making dinner the other night, Logan yelled out to me "Mommy, look at me!"


I turned around and got a glimpse of this.


What a ham. :)

It's like they're related or something

Taken on our walk yesterday

Taken two years ago (originally posted here.)

It feels like Christmas!

Thursday was Jon and my fourth anniversary. We had an easy going day, taking in another movie with Callum (Kick-Ass) which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

The traditional 4th year anniversary gifts are fruit or flowers - so I got Jon a delicious Edible Arrangement. Logan and I chowed down on the fruit Thursday night (interestingly, Logan preferred the plain strawberries to the chocolate-dipped ones, asking me to "take off" the chocolate from the dipped ones for him). :)


This pic isn't as good since it was night time and I only had my phone with me, but you can see how he enjoyed eating the strawberries off the "skewers"... :)


Jon was a kind man and got me a new Coach wallet, something I've been wanting for some time (because my current wallet is too small, black, and doesn't match my brown purse!). I didn't complain that it was neither fruit nor flowers - it's a perfect gift in my eyes.

We also received a gift from Jon's work. And when I say "we", I mean Jon, since it was a humongous box full of several pounds worth of Texas BBQ from Salt Lick. He was jumping for joy. I was all ewwwwww, go put that in the freezer and get it out of my kitchen, stat! ;-)

Callum also received a gift, from his Abuelita and Abuelito Riedy - a "Baby Bunch" bouquet! The presentation was awesome and the idea is so neat, something neither of us had seen before. The clothes are still too big for our tiny delicate Callum, but given the way he's now growing, he should be able to fill them out in no time. Thanks again Ita! :)


Logan was not to be forgotten. While Daddy and Callum were out getting me my new wallet, they stopped by the Disney store to pick up a couple pairs of pajamas for Logan too. So Thursday night he got to choose between the two pairs - his choice for the evening, Buzz "Iteyear" (he still can't pronounce his "Ls" well). :) He ran around the house calling out super hero names, with his arms flapping and flying, high on strawberry sugar juice.


Abuelita and Abuelito also got Logan a cool stuffed dinosaur to add to his growing collection of stuffed animals that join Logan on the bed each night. It arrived on Friday and he promptly took it with him to my parent's house (while Jon and I enjoyed a date night Friday night). So, I'll have to snag a pic of him with the big dinosaur another time. It is definitely a new favorite for him to carry around every morning, noon and night however!

And since we're talking about gifts, I would be remiss to mention the Welcome Home gift that graced our house when we returned from the hospital last week (good God, was it just last week?!?). When Logan was born, you might recall my parents decorated the entire house with beautiful bright red poinsettias. They were gorgeous and, at the time, I teased my parents that they were trying to kill off my cats, since "everyone knows" that poinsettias are poisonous. My mother did some research however, and proved that it's actually just a big myth. PHEW. Bullet dodged, said my cats.

This year, being Spring, my parents decided to decorate the entire house with beautiful wild Asian Lilies. And again, they were gorgeous and a wonderful surprise.


But, I couldn't ignore the fact that lilies are in fact, poisonous to cats. Sadly, we had to move them all outside.


I think my parents might have a secret side deal going with Jon, to see how quickly they can kill off our cats whenever we're gone. Wouldn't you? ;-)