Updates

It's about time for an update on life with the boys.

Wookie is just shy of five months and keeps me very occupied. He rolls over as soon as I lay him on his back. He grabs his toes, chuckles when tickled, and is a pro in the jump-a-roo. He still wakes up to eat several times a night - usually every three hours. Up until this week he's been sleeping in the bed with me, but his his increasing level of wiggliness has him migrating to the middle of the bed and has me bumping into him when I roll over which wakes him up. So to the crib he goes! - except for morning and nap time snuggles and an occasional stretch after a 1 am feeding or whenever I'm missing having him close. Early on, I decided to help combat the anxiety and ppd by co-sleeping with Matthew. I think it has been an enormous help because we are deeply bonded and I haven't had to deal with hearing baby cries in my head even after he's asleep... And Wookie is huge because he eats as often as he wants.

At his four month appointment, the pediatrician encouraged starting cereal to help with the reflux and getting more sleep at night (this was the same one who told me to flip him on his back if he rolled over in his sleep - RIGHT.) Yesterday we gave rice cereal a shot. Wookie was eagerly leaning in for bites and smacking on the food and seemed generally pleased with the whole experience. Later in the day he got very fussy, and I assume his belly was hurting, so I will wait a little longer on the cereal. There's a whole huge debate about starting solids at four months versus six months, and I really feel no need to rush it. We are a happy little nursing team, and I'm now used to being up several times at night.

Wookie and Scooby Man are best buddies. Daniel cracks up whenever Matthew says or does anything, and he calls him "Little Little" or "Little Brother". "Little Little" is smiling at his big brother a lot more than he used to, and isn't getting quite as upset by his loud voice and close talking. The other day when I picked up Scooby from school, he didn't see me at the door, so I ducked down and held up Wookie and called for him. That was pretty much the funniest thing ever to Daniel.

Daniel is talking up a storm these days and is the most head-strong person I have ever met. He is a combination of serious and silly that I know he got from me. He's got none of my looks but a nice chunk of my personality - and not just the good parts. He is all Joe when it comes to sorting things and working with tools. I bought him playdough to bring out his artistic side and Joe taught him to "bring down the hammer" on all playdough creations. I know it's kind of late, but he now sings bedtime songs with me instead of just having me serenade him. Hearing his sweet little voice singing "My little buttercup" pretty much rocks my world. Him growling in my face - eh... it's cute.

As I'm taking time to just enjoy being mama, I find very little time for hobbies or thinking or writing. It is hard enough just getting teaching done. I told my friend Amy when discussing feeling emotionally dry, "emotions are a luxury I can't afford right now." I've always loved introspection and processing life, but with two active boys, I pretty much just have time to live it. I am using photography (whether through the cell phone or point and shoot) for a tiny bit of artistic expression and to capture this crazy life as it whizzes by.