A Letter from Mamma to Will on your 3rd Birthday!

My sweet precious Will,

This past weekend we celebrated your third birthday and over the course of the weekend several tears were shed (by me of course!).  When did you get so big?!? These past three years have flown by. Your daddy and I are so very proud of the little man you are becoming. You are funny, smart, kind, handsome, bashful, stubborn, talkative (in your comfort zone), wild and yet still such a snuggler. I always call you my little rascal because you are just that a rascal!  

You have changed so much in the last 6 months. We said goodbye to all your paci's 6 months ago, Potty trained before your baby brother arrived...then regressed and are now back to being fully potty trained. You are no longer my awesome sleeper... you have such a hard time slowing down your mind and finally falling asleep (just like your mamma) and naps continue to be hit or miss, though your 2 hours of quiet time in your room is not optional. You LOVE your Thomas trains and play in your room for hours as you pretend to be Thomas or Percy. You love to help me cook dinner and for the most part are relatively obedient. You are a GREAT little soccer player and love kicking your new soccer ball. Your favorite shows are Daniel Tiger's neighborhood and Thomas and friends. You absolutely love going to preschool at Colonial on Tuesdays and Thursdays and love your Jesus songs (Psalty Kids Praise) that we check out from the library.

The greatest change I have seen in you though is your new love for your baby brother Pierce. You love to climb into his bed and snuggle and tickle him and if we would let you, you love bouncing him around in the crib as you act like it is a trampoline. If Pierce is not with us or you simply can't see him you are very concerned. And HE lights up when you walk into the room. He is your biggest fan and you have begun to delight in that. You have made a major transition from loving me the most to preferring your Daddy strongly! At first I was hurt, but now it makes my heart glad as I see your desire to be just like Daddy. This past month you have spent every waking hour outside helping your daddy build our new deck with your tool box in hand ready to "help.". Your sweet spirit was completely devastated when you woke up last Thursday morning to find that it was all finished. Precious hours of father/son time me and your daddy will always remember.

Humorous to your Daddy but not so humorous to me is that since preschool began a month ago you have started to stutter ALL.THE. TIME. I cringe each time you struggle to get out your question to me but the doctor laughed when I asked about it at your appointment and said that it's called the 3 year stutter. She explained that it is caused by the rapid brain development. Basically your brain is processing faster than your mouth can spit it out. She assured me by 4 it would be gone!

Your favorite little buddies continue to be little Gerry, your cousin Lucy and sweet little Jack Barnhill. I can't wait to watch those friendships grow. Your daddy and I pray each day that you would grow to be a man who Loves Jesus more than anything, a man who has the gospel written on his heart and a man who would fiercely love people, considering others more important than yourself.

Will, I could not possibly love you any more and I can't wait to reflect back a year from now to see how much more you have grown!  Happy Birthday my sweet first born!

Happy 6 months baby Pierce!

My sweet second child. We could not possibly love you any more. Between waiting for your 6 month well check and being sick we are a bit delayed on getting your stats up!

You have honestly had a tough last month. First, you got a terrible stomach virus that lasted for 10 days and consequently caused you to get another ear infection. You recovered well but then 3 weeks later you came down with a cold that you picked up at church which also turned into another nasty double ear infection. You've got your mamma worried because according to the pediatrician if you get more than one more ear infection they are going to want to discuss tubes...That dear friends is something daddy and I desperately would like to avoid. The thought of putting our infant under anesthesia for surgery is more than I can bear. But unfortunately the doctor said because of your anatomy, every time you get sick you will inevitably get an ear infection until your ears are more developed. What does that mean around here...lots of hand washing, paci washing, hand sanitizer and NO CHURCH NURSERY for at least 2-3 months. Certainly not ideal, but it will be short lived and well worth the sacrifice in the short term.

On to your stats...

Weight: 19 lbs (77%)

Height: 26.75 in (55%)

Head: 44 cm (70%)

You are one big boy, but not as big as I thought you were going to be when we arrived. You continue to be super contented and easy going. You truly are a joy to be around. True confession...sometimes I forget you are in the house and I panic as I quickly come see that you are contentedly playing in your excersaucer, johner jumper or just playing with your toys on the floor.

 

Eating:
We derailed from solids shortly after you turned 5 months because of the stomach bug. The last thing you needed at that point was more roughage. But in the past week we have started again and on our best day, you get lunch and dinner consisting of either a fruit and veggie or fruit/veggie and oatmeal. You have yet to turn your nose up to anything. You love it all!  You still take a bottle at  7:45, 11:30, 3:30, 7:15 and yes we are still ridiculously dreamfeeding you at 10:00pm. Its completely your mamma. I just love more than anything that quiet feed at night before I go to bed where I kiss your head the whole time and get to solely focus on YOU. Yes you are asleep and nutritionally don't even need it but soon we will take that away. (Full disclosure, we have never tried a single night to not feed you before going to bed so time will tell how that transition goes.)

Sleeping:
You continue to be my high sleep baby. You go down at 7:30 and wake up at 7:45am with not a peep through the night. You take two 2-2.5 hour naps. Usually from 9-11 and 1-3:30. Your brother at this age was still not consistently sleeping through the night and only took two 1.5 hour naps. We are also in a weird stage where I have cut out your catnap in the evening because you are on the fence of needing it and not needing it. I imagine very soon you'll be just fine to go til 7:30 without rubbing your eyes at 6pm.

Milestones:
You are sitting like a champ. We still try to put pillows around you so that when you inevitably do fall over you don't hurt your sweet head but even when you do you don't cry. You are desperately wanting to crawl as you flail your arms and legs trying to figure out how to make yourself move, Usually you just pull yourself around to get where you want to go or just roll to the toy you want. Still no true baby talk. Just lots and lots of belly laughs and "ahhhhs" no "gagaga" or "dadada" yet. The doctor said you appear to be an observer but not delayed in the least. I have found that you talk the most when all is quiet otherwise you just want to take in all the action.

Likes:
WILL...Will is your favorite person in the whole wide world with me as a close second. You crane your head to see where he is and what he is doing. It makes my heart burst with joy to see the bond forming, Will's favorite thing to do now is to get into the crib with you and "play". You both laugh and squeal at the top of your lungs as he squeezes your belly with a big hug or lays next to you as you try to grab his face, You continue to just love people. You delight in others delighting in you. You also love eating, sleeping and being able to move around on the floor.

Dislikes:
Really nothing to note here... The only time you cry is when you watch me walk out of the room and that is half hearted crying at best.

 

Sweet Pierce, may you continue to be my favorite 2nd born little boy! We love you so so much!

"Mamma...could we please be done?" 

Will's first day of Preschool...

How is it possible that this day has already come...Will's 1st day of preschool. All summer I looked forward to the beginning of school, but as I drove to Colonial Baptist yesterday morning I felt a pit in my stomach. Uncertainty for myself but great anticipation for Will. Being that Will is an October birthday he will always be the oldest of his class. Something I think that will serve him well, particularly as a little boy. That extra year makes all the difference.

Yesterday morning, Will woke up bright and early and said he was ready to go to school! Nana came over to keep Pierce for me in the event that I needed to stay longer if he was having a hard time saying goodbye (something that I now know to be laughable). We took a few quick pictures and headed out. The whole ride there Will was talking up a storm about his teacher Mrs. Amanda and how he was going to share with his new friends interspersed with the constant hollers of wahooo!!! Squeals of complete delight and excited anticipation of this new chapter of his life.

I walked him in and he RAN into his classroom and never looked back. The pit in my stomach grew... it was at that moment that I realized that this is the beginning of our gradual separation. Recognizing my responsibility to teach my sweet baby boy to take risks and shoot him out into the world like an arrow. It is so easy for us as mom's to want to hold them so close and keep them with us forever but biblical parenthood requires of us to shoot them out like arrows to take on the world for the gospel...especially our boys. In the next 20 years I will have to constantly remind myself of this.

I was so nervous to hear how he did his first day. When I walked in I saw him helping his teacher clean up all the toys and it brought a smile to my face. As soon as he saw me his face lit up and he said "Hey Mamma!" as he ran to the door. His teacher, Mrs Amanda is so very kind. I watched as she hugged each child leaving and told them she loved them. It nearly brought a tear to my eye. I asked how Will did and she smiled big and said, "I think he's ready for college." "He also helped us clean up all the toys and was very kind and helpful. He is definitely ready to be here."

We grabbed his first craft and headed for home. The first the out of Will's mouth was, "Hey Mamma, that was really fun! Can I go back tomorrow?" No son you may not go back tomorrow, two days a week is all that I can handle! Here's to a great first year of preschool! We love you so much my sweet Will and can already see the great and mighty things the Lord has in store for your life!

Happy 5 Months Baby Pierce!

Pierce you continue to light up my life in every way! You are the happiest, most contented baby I have ever met (ok, I know I'm a biased Mamma but for real!)

You are growing like a weed! (out more than up it seems...but I think your fatness dear son is what keeps you easy breezy). I won't know your stats until your 6 month appointment but I feel confident you will be jumping percentiles yet again. This month we set out to get some pictures of you and your brother outdoors hence why going through 400+ pictures delayed getting your post up. What a fun time we had!

Eating:
Same schedule: you eat at 7:30/7:45, 11:30, 3:30, 7:30 and we continue to give you a dreamfeed at 10:30 to ensure a good night for all. The one night I skipped it you woke up at 5am hungry. We just started solids the week you turned 5 months and you LOVE the oatmeal as we skipped the rice cereal all together. You are one hungry boy. You never spit it out and you open your mouth wide like a little bird ready to be fed. The only real food we have tried is green beans that I made very thick for you and you loved them as well. You have clearly been ready for the main event for some time. I will probably keep you on only veggies for a while to hopefully establish a love for them. Right now we just give it to you twice a day but you don't freak out if we can't get to it.

Sleeping:

Same. 9:15-11:30 (morning nap), 1:15-3:30 (afternoon nap) and then a 45 min catnap in the evening. You go to bed right after we feed you at 7:30 pm and we don't hear a peep out of you until we come wake you up in the morning.

Milestones:
You are a little rolling machine! You grab your feet and roll right on over to your back, though oddly enough you no longer roll the other way. You hold that head up FOREVER and kick your arms and legs like you want to crawl. You are almost sitting but not quite yet. Your favorite thing in the whole wide world though is your johnny jumper. You LOVE to jump! You literally could jump all day as you squeal in delight. Will loved it too but not nearly as much as you. You also started holding your bottle, but I'm not ready for that just yet so I assist to feel needed.

 

I sound like a broken record, but all in all you are a joy and your Daddy and I are so thankful that Jesus gave us such an easy 2nd child. You fit like a glove!

Just a few more for good measure!

 

Love my chunk!

Breaking in the door jams! He is seriously the happiest baby! 

Happy 4 Months Pierce!

Our sweet Baby Pierce continues to be a joy! He seems to hit spurts of growing out and then up. He is teething like a mad man but aside from waking early from a nap he NEVER fusses. He is a dream baby. He had an ear infection, big brother swallowed a quarter to the tune of $12,000, we've been on vacation, and we just lost my sweet grandma and celebrated her life today. 

Sweet boy, you were not forgotten just somewhere in the mix, life happened.... but here it goes

Weight: 16 lbs, 2.5 oz (66%)

Height: 25 inches (42%)

Head: 42.9 cm (85%)

Sleeping: Still sleeping like a champ, 7:45pm- 7:45am then a morning nap from 9:30-11:30 an afternoon nap from 1:30-3:30 and a short catnap around 5:30.

Eating: At 4 months we moved you to a 4 hour schedule so you eat 7:45am, 11:30am, 3:30am, 7:30am and then we still do a 10:30pm dreamfeed because we are too chicken to give it up. I am holding off on solids because your weight is great and frankly the thought of doing bottles and solids right now with an almost 3 year old is not super appealing for mealtimes. I imagine we will jump on that between 5 and 6 months!

Milestones: Pierce continues to roll tummy to back but has yet to roll back to tummy which for now, I am fine with! He sits in the bumbo for long periods of time and LOVES the exersaucer. My favorite favorite thing though is his super happy belly laugh that he lets out when he sees momma. Pierce loves watching his big brother and generally just loves kids.  My guess is by 5 months he may be sitting on his own but definitely by 6 months. He pulls up to stand and continue to babble up a storm. Pierce is so contented that I often say, if all my babies were like this I could have 10 kids! (But no worries, we will NOT be having 10 kids).  The only pitiful thing lately has been how badly he has been teething. Three fingers are in his mouth at all times!
 

 

Happy 3 months baby Pierce!

This has been the fastest 3 months of my life. In my wildest dreams I never thought I would feel this way about infancy, but Pierce makes me feel ready for more kiddos. I feel like we are in such a great groove that he seems like a dream baby! He is the chunk I always wanted!

Weight: I estimate a little over 14 pounds (Will was just over 13 at 3mths)

We don't go back to pediatrician until 4 months so we will know more then!

Eating: My sweet little chubby baby is still eating every 3 hours and taking 5 oz each feed. (7:30, 10:30, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and then a dreamfeed at 10:30) No more middle of the night!!!

Sleeping: Praise Jesus God almighty I actually have a baby who is sleeping from 8:00pm-7:45am. It is unbelievable! I am over the moon. I will say though, it didn't happen by chance. He had consistently been going til 5am for a while, but couldn't seem to get past that. Two weeks ago I started going in once to check on him, then setting an alarm on my phone for 30 minutes and turning off monitor. My heart can't handle him screaming for 30 minutes in the middle of the night (even though I know that teaching him to soothe is the most loving thing I can do for him.) It took a couple tough love nights of Crying for 30-45 minutes total and now he wakes up babbling, happy in the mornings... completely content.

Swaddle: We did have a bit of a challenge two weeks ago when he started busting out of his straight jacket (velcro swaddle) because he wanted his hands in his mouth. Problem was, he could not put himself back to sleep. I am pretty sure he is going to be a thumb sucker, but for now he is a full fist sucker. He still can't handle the full freedom of being out of the swaddle so I just swaddle one arm and let him get to the other hand. It took a few additional night/naps of crying but now he does great!

Likes: He LOVES to interact with people. He smiles constantly. He talks (babbles) all day long. If I am in the room he has to look at me which my Daddy says he loves. He loves Will and Will has come to love Pierce very much! We has also started to belly laugh which makes the rest of us laugh as well. We recently started the Bumbo and he loves it. His favorite position though is laying on his back where he can kick his arms and legs.

Dislikes: He really is not a fussy baby so at this point dislikes are hard. The only thing he doesn't love is being on his tummy. For a while he had gotton too fat to roll but as of yesterday he has started rolling himself back to his back again to avoid being on his tummy (little rascal.) I have tried to be more conscious of switching his positions because he was starting to get a flat spot on the back of his head. Hopefully that will resolve.

One sweet tid bit: As most of our friends and family know, Will wasn't exactly over the moon about getting a baby brother. In fact, when we would talk about it, my non-aggressive 2 year old would say " Not, Pierce! I will kick him in the face!" which I of course was horrified by. Well... we've come a long way. Several weeks ago I went to drop Pierce off at the YMCA nursery so I could take Will swimming at the pool and Will flipped out hysterically crying, "No, Momma! Don't let that lady take Pierce! Momma, don't leave him, don't leave him." It nearly broke my heart! He is already protective of his baby brother and gets very upset whenever we drop him off. He told me he wanted him to come swimming and the minute I told him we had to leave the pool to go get Pierce he came running and was so excited! He said, "Momma, that lady gave me Pierce back! I am so happy." Best buddies in the making!

 

 Can't wait to see what the next month holds! Baby Pierce, you have made our family complete!