Toys

Why is it that toys surround Elias, but all he wants to play with are the cookie sheets, the bucket of pennies and Mommy's important papers?

Unswaddled

Ezra never seemed to like being swaddled, but it did seem to help him sleep. This week we begin unswaddled sleep training to prepare for daycare. It seems to be going OK...sometimes he sleeps well, sometimes not. I have a feeling Ezra is wishing he hadn't put up such a fight when we used to swaddle him. Oh, to wish for the things we used to hate. Welcome to being human.

Bottles

Soon, I head back to work. Luckily Ezra has shown success with the two bottles he has been fed in his life. While he has a little trouble keeping up with the flow, I'm certain he will soon master it at daycare. Don't look so worried Ezra. Your brother won't be in your classroom. Promise.

Friendship Chain

My Mom met Mike Buragas' Mom when she was teaching at Hazel Dell. Mike and I became friends in high school and continued our friendship through college. Now he is moving back to Illinois from Madison (too bad it isn't to Denver). We keep in touch via a card here and there and on Facebook. They sent a great book for Ezra (although Elias loves it) when he was born. Mike and Amelia have an adorable son, Alexander. When I was a baby, Mike's Mom made a green and white checkered blanket for me, and to this day it is MY blankie. When Alexander was born, I sent a stuffed monkey as a gift. It is Alexander's favorite animal. We shouldn't have expected less. The friendship chain continues.

Surrounded by Boys

Bribes

Does everyone bribe their kids? It sure seems like the most effective way to get cooperation, but it seems like it might just backfire on us some day. My most effective bribery is cheese (see previous post). If I need Elias to get a move on (usually to the car), I tell him a cheese stick is ready for him once we get all buckled in. It doesn't take long for him to find his shoes. How long before it takes $20?

The Petersons

We had the Petersons over for dinner a few weeks back. It was a ton of fun. They have four kids, the youngest, Emma, is about Elias' age. Seven of us squeezed around our tiny dinning room table, and Elias and Emma sat at the kids table. Elias couldn't get enough of Emma, but she was not really interested. Get used to it Elias. The adults chatted, and the kids played. Deanna held Ezra most of the night, and Matt and Brendan checked out the basement. Made me feel like a human being again. Hope we can do it again soon!

Little Brother

Sometimes I'm not too sure about this brother stuff.

Made of Cheese

Elias may very well be made of cheese. It is by far his favorite food. When we buy a bag of wax covered cheese rounds at the grocery store, he always points to one and says, "I'm going to be that one."

Excuse #2

Elias is great at sharing. He still gives hugs and kisses to "Baby Brother", and has even been known to lend him Old Yellow, if only for a moment. Unfortunately, Elias also shared his terrible cold with all of us (yes, even Ezra was coughing). My second excuse for not writing.

Excuse #1

Ezra went 5 hours between feedings last night, but it was daylight savings so how long was it really? Only 4 hours. I can't seem to get him to do more than about 4 hours....give or take a half an hour. My first excuse as to why there have been so few blog posts.

Just Like Daddy

Elias loves so many of the things that Matt does. He loves to go hiking, or at least to be carried in the backpack. He loves to ride his bike around the block, and he can't seem to stop talking about how Daddy is going to take him skiing in April. His helmet is waiting for him up in Fraser. The backpack, the bike, the helmet...these are all hand-me-downs from our friends The Posts. Let's hope Elias is lucky enough to have such great friends when he gets older...just like Daddy.