Another lengthy blog

It's time to catch up again. Needless to say, thing have been busy here. And when they're not, I'm sorry to say, the blog is not at the top of the list of things to do. So, I do my best to mentally file away our family events and they all spill out into one very long blog. My apologies.

I think we'll start with the most recent and work our way backwards.

As Will is now 2 (and a 1/2) years old now, his vocabulary is increasing daily and he is doing his best to string the words to make sentences. And if I may boast, he's doing rather well. I can tell all the words are up there in his brain, it's just a matter of getting them out and in some sort of order. It makes for fun conversations.

Yesterday in church Will noticed a "boo boo" on his hand. It has been there for a little while now, but as Will had just noticed it, it became a big deal.

"Look Mama. Boo Boo."

"What happened?"

"Jack owie me hands."

Apparently Will's 6 week old brother bit his hand leaving a boo boo. Uh-huh.

We've been trying to get Will to use the potty, nay, pleading with Will to use the potty. But the boy just isn't ready. He says it's scary. But in our attempts to entice (read bribe) the child we've promised him anything he wants. "You wanna go potty? We'll get you a toy (candy/cake/etc.)" Will had decided that if he went potty he would get a Mickey Mouse cake. Fine, whatever, just go!

In a very excited and encouraging voice,"Ok! You wanna go potty? We'll get you a mouse cake!"

Mimicking the same excited voice,"No!"

Grrr.

Saturday morning. Will has just awakened.

"Mama, I want mouse cake"

"You do? You know what you have to do to get a mouse cake?"

"Eat."

"No. What do you have to do?"

"Um. Cook."

"You're so smart! But no, you know what you have to do."

Pointing to temple "I smart!"

"Yes you are, but remember how you get the mouse cake. You have too..."

"No mouse cake."

He remembered. So much for the bribe.

Jack is changing daily, growing and packing on the pounds. At five weeks his umbilical cord stump had not fallen off, so we made a trip to the pediatrician's office to assess the situation. While there, we set little Jack on the scale. He weighed in at a whopping 11 pounds 12 ounces. This kiddo packed on 3 pounds 10 ounces over a four week period! I'll be interested to see what the scale says next week at his two month appointment. (side note: cord is off. Mama is happy) Jack is now "conversing" with me and with the toys that hang from his glider. He likes to talk when he wakes up and late at night when he should be going to bed. He also smiles now. We first saw hints of a smile at 4 1/2 weeks. Early for the mere average child, but my children are exceptional (at least to me!)

We're trying our hand at a spring/summer garden again. We've planted tomatoes, green beans, red onions, cucumbers, and strawberries. While selecting our veggies to plant, Will spied the flowers. He selected orange and yellow marigolds, blue and yellow pansies, and pink petunias. He had a good time planting his flowers in the garden.

We'd been having some spring like weather, so we took the opportunity to enjoy it and take some family pictures of all four of us.

One month

Jack is one month old today!  My how it's flown.  He's changed so much already.  He spends much more time awake looking around, kicking his feet and sucking on his hands (when they make it near his mouth.)  He still sleeps best when swaddled up and loves to rock.  He will often fuss just because he wants to be held and usually Momma's the only one who'll do the trick.  I love a snuggler!  It's wonderful being this sweet boy's momma.

Too Cool

These guys are too cool for words.

Two Weeks

Has it really been two weeks since this sweet boy has come into our lives? I find myself caught between time standing still and flying by. It seems like only yesterday I became pregnant and at the same time it feels as though Jack has been here for months.



Still so tiny, he's changing so much. This time last week he'd gained back to his birth weigh plus one ounce and grown 3/4". He's a little snacker. He'll nurse a little, snooze a little, snack a little more. I enjoy the opportunity to sit and be still with him. And I love that he loves to rock. I'm beginning to hear coos and ahs and he's much more alert during his awake time. He's beginning to wake more during the day and allowing me to get to bed earlier. This is much welcomed as for the first week or so he'd sleep all day and wake from 9 pm to 1 am.



Will is still being an excellent big brother (especially for a 2 year old). There have only been the occasional hints of jealousy, mostly vying for my lap. As I comfort Jack saying "shh, it's ok Jack", I often hear beside me "No Momma. I'm Will". But all in all, he's adjusting well.

The grunts I'm hearing mean I'm being called to be Momma again...

Jack Lewis

After much waiting and anticipation, we'd like to introduce the newest member of our family,

Jack Monroe Lewis.

Jack was born Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 4:59 am at a healthy 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 1/4".

Our sweet little addition is just an absolute joy. We are so blessed to have such wonderful babies. This week with Jack has shown him to be a laid-back ball of snuggles. He loves to be swaddled into a tiny package and held oh-so-close. And he is so lucky to have an adoring big brother. Although hesitant at first, Will has taken Jack as "his baby" helping Momma with everything, comforting him when he cries, and insisting on holding his hand for the duration of every car ride.

This is true love.

Merry Christmas

We'd like to wish all a very blessed Christmas! We hope yours was as wonderful as ours. With our new baby due very soon, we spent the holiday at home, just the three of us.

Here's (in photo form) is the recap of our Christmas season.


For the benefit of the grandparents...Christmas morning.


And lastly, Will playing with the bat and ball we gave him.


We won't be holding our breath for a baseball scholarship just yet!

Jingle Bells

Will's daycare put on a Christmas program for the parents. The two year olds were to sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Jingle Bells".

We practiced at home for two weeks. And ever the performer Will would hold out the long notes and throw in some "jazz hands".

But somehow standing there in front of all those people...

Oh well, at least he didn't run off stage screaming.