Friday, November 30, 2012

The Walker

Yes, as in my one year old is walking.

As in here comes the bumps and bruises. Charlie got a good one the other day when he escaped from us for a quick 5 seconds, went up the stairs , tried to go back down but fell instead.

Don't worry, it was just one step he wobbled off of, not a whole flight of stairs. He still ended up getting a good bruise on his forehead, only for it to go away in a day.

The resilience of kids is amazing.

I have been waiting for this day to come. Where he would enjoy walking more than me holding him. Now when I come home, he actually lets me eat dinner! I can actually sit down, eat at least 1/2 of my meal before he starts coming to me and wanting to sit on my lap.
Phew, it feels good to sit and eat. I know this isn't a new concept . People have been sitting and eating since the dawn of time. But it has been awhile where I would come home and I would be pulled in one direction to either nurse Charlie and just hold him for a bit.
Charlie, always wanting to be by my side. I think the manner in which Charlie doesn't let me eat dinner and just wanting me to hold him, that was Charlie's way of saying , thanks for coming home Mama, now hold me forever because I want you to."
Ok, but let me eat some chicken first. Then I will hold you forever.

The Christmas Photo


Well, we got it. That quintessential Christmas photo of one child crying hysterically just because that mean parent decided to place him on Santa's lap. Thank you Jack for looking so beautiful in this photo.Thank you Charlie for crying in this photo. You gave your father and I the biggest smile that day.

Please know that as soon as I took Charlie off of Santa's lap, he immediately stopped crying and went into his usual babbles of " daseeshshshs, ssssssshshshshsish."

Jack told Santa he wanted an Angry Birds game and a remote control Thomas.


The 1st Birthday

Oh Charlie, I am so sorry that I didn't dedicate this huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY blog post to you.
For your brother, I have this tradition of showing photos of his actual birthday time year by year. But you were born at midnight. Do I just take a photo of you sleeping? And the room is pitch dark. Do I just showcase a dark room every year on November 14 at 12:15 am? And even if I wanted to do a birthday photo of you, it's now too late because I never took one.! I am a bad mother.


I blame busy schedules; trying to put you down for a nap on time or else the whole world ends, and trying to feed your older brother since he is in this I will eat two bites and I'm done phase.

I just wanted to say that you really upped my game as a working mama. Running home from work took on a whole new meaning with you on board. Not only do I have two beautiful sons to come home to at 6 pm, but that is also the time where you have a mini breakdown of sorts. The only cure for your breakdown is Mama's milk, which if it is not given to you at least by 6:15 pm, watch out!
That is what I mean by running home from work. I literally have to get home as fast as I can so the breakdown doesn't begin.

And can you believe that I am still nursing you? Congratulations to us!! Here I thought all the time that you would have weaned yourself off by the time you are one. I am also happy to have stuck with it for so long. I got bit by you, what. three or four times? Big whoop.I am happy to still nurse you. I wish all mamas felt the same and didn't have a rush to wean their babies so soon. It's a bond and a special moment that you share with your babies. Why take that away so soon?

I am amazed of how your relationship with your brother is growing. The instant smile that you have on your face whenever he talks. The way you just throw your body unto his in your playful manner. Sometimes your brother doesn't see it that way. Don't take it too personal. Your giggles whenever he tickles you. Your little personality that comes out whenever I change your diaper or put on your PJ. You always seem to say " A ha haa" to me and I feel that you are going to become one wonderful sneaky kid.

Thank you for becoming our second son, for wanting us to strive to be the best parents two boys will ever know.

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Christmas Playlist

Jack is definitely Brian's son.

Every time we get in the car now, Jack asks for Frosty the Snowman to be played on the radio. The Beach Boys version. Followed by The Man with all the Toys.

Anyone who knows Brian knows that he loves the Beach Boys Christmas album.

Brian is a proud dad for sure that his son is going in the right path in terms of music.

The 1am, 3am, 4am Wakeup Calls

Charlie is still doing this thing where he wakes up at least three times in the middle of the night.
I am sure that he is not waking up because he is hungry, yet I nurse him back to sleep because at that time, that is the quickest thing I can do to get him to sleep again.
I was ok with saying to myself " It doesn't matter that he wakes up so long as he falls back asleep 10 minutes later." Now it is just frustrating since he will wake up at least three times and cry til he is picked up. Then I lay down with him and while he is being nursed to sleep, I am keeping myself awake just so he doesn't roll off the bed. No need for traumatics at 2 am. Meanwhile , Jack will occasionally wake us up in the middle of the night. At that point , I just wake up my husband. I want to drag him in my middle of the night misery.
Charlie had a good three night stretch last week where he slept the whole night. Or was that two weeks ago? Oh who knows. There has been days where I wake up and say Yeah! It's Saturday! only to remember it is Tuesday. This nighttime routine has made me a very confused person. Please forgive me if you ever talk to me and I just stare at you with my mouth open. It's not that you're boring, I am probably sleeping with my eyes open.

I am tired. Today was the breaking point. Charlie woke up for the 3rd time at 4:30 and I angrily kicked off the sheets as I was getting out of bed to yet again pick him up. I said " I haven't slept all night!! I am so tired of this!!!"
Just as I said the word "this", Charlie sweetly said  "Mama?". As in, why are you upset Mama?
Then I told him sweetly  " Charlie, I haven't slept all night. This is ridiculous."

I can't do this anymore. I want to remember to just keep him in his crib and let him cry it out in the middle of the night, in hopes that he just gets used to the fact that he is not going to be nursed anymore at 2 am. But come 2am, all thoughts vanish and I just want to do what is easy at that moment. Nursing him has been wonderful, and nothing is more wonderful than nursing him and watching him as he falls asleep. But I think I am at the end of the nursing stage. It pains me to say this, but I think now is the time to wean him off.
This is going to be hard and going to be painful. Anyone know of any good beauty products that I can use to make it seem like I am awake and alive? I am really going to need that in the next couple of weeks.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Chalkboard Art


A 60 degree day called for some work of art in the backyard.



Jack's portrait of our family.




The 1st Birthday

I took the day off and we went to the Museum of Science and Industry, Fitting that they have an exhibit right now called The Charlie Brown exhibit. The birthday gods were upon us that day.
The first thing I heard that morning was Charlie's little usual morning whimper. The "hmpph, hmmpfh, get me out of this crib" whimper. I whispered Happy Birthday and he instinctively went right for the nursing pose.
I was just happy to relax in bed at 6:20 am, nursing my one year old and watching the news without having to think about the mad dash for work.
We arrived at the museum around 12:30 and it seemed that all the school field trips were leaving that day. The whole museum at that point was completely empty and we had it all to ourselves. Imagine having the best museum all to yourself, where you didn't have to stand in line to push the buttons and gadgets in exhibits. Plus we had the Charlie Brown exhibit all to ourselves.It was a perfect space to let the boys run around in and not worry about bumping into people.
We ended the day with a Skype session with my sister. I am thankful for the health and goodness that these boys have given us. I am thankful that as much running around that Brian and I have done this year, it was a testament to our dedication to each other to be the best spouses we can be to each other as well as being the best parents we can be to our children. It still blows my mind that we have two kids.
This was Charlie's face as he ate his birthday cake, but let's go back to the beginning. 

First nap as a one year old.

This is pretty much my view when I look below. One kid asking me to hold him, one kid running around. 

The museum was set for their Christmas around the world trees. We were one day away from the grand opening of it.

The museum was decked out in Charlie Brown madness. I loved it.

Charlie and Charlie!!!!!!


Jack was in train heaven. Lucky him he has many trains to see at that place.

Three awesome guys.

I tried to take a photo of almost every detail of the exhibit.

Couldn't get enough of the Charlie and Charlie pics.

Sweet little photo as you walked in.

Jack familiarizing himself with the characters.

Can you take a picture with me and Charlie?  - Jack

They had this screen where you can paint with a touch of a wand. 

Two boys playing Schroeder's piano.

I tried to get as much Charlieness as I could.

Inside Snoopy's house

Jack as Snoopy

This was Jack pretending to be Snoopy and talking to Charlie Brown in "woof".

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Teacher


The big brother teaching the little brother how to walk.

This photo made my year.

Friday, November 2, 2012

The Toddler Jack Moments

This was around his 2nd birthday. The first video is him cracking himself up as he is a dog. The second video is us singing the Wow Wow Wubbzy theme song.
Just seeing this made me realize that I should just lean back and enjoy my boys for how they are, because they will not stay this little for too long.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Evening Playtime


The Play Moments






The Debate Watcher



The 2nd Presidential debate was on the other day and that made Jack fall into a blissful sleep. Even our dog Max couldn't take much of it.

The Halloween Moments

This Halloween from 2012 is a far cry from the Halloween of 2008, which was Jack’s first. That one was 70 degrees, it was warm, all the kids didn’t need jackets, gloves or hats. This Halloween was cold, a little bit less and we would have been freezing.
Jack thankfully had a warm costume, and he really needed just gloves to keep his hands warm.  Charlie’s costume at the last minute didn’t really fit, so thank you to my sis in law for finding a really adorable, warm! giraffe costume that Charlie rocked in. With the giraffe costume,the fleece jacket , and another fleece blanket over him, Charlie happily slept the whole time we tricked and treated.
The best part was about 45 minutes in, Jack saw that his bucket was filled and he said, “ I think I have enough candy now.”
That’s my boy!!!