FHE Highlights

I keep having moments with Hamilton when I think, "Remember this! Remember this!" And then, of course, I don't have a chance right away to write it down and promptly forget it. So, here's a quick post to capture some of tonight's cuteness (although I'm certain I'm forgetting something even still)...

• When Alex came home, the boys were showered, jammied, and ready for FHE. When Hamilton saw Alex, he shouted, "Family Home Evening time!"
• Opening song? Hamilton requested his usual: "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home." When I didn't immediately start singing, Hamilton pointed at me and said, "Mommy sing it!" He also did all the "pat cheeks," etc. actions. After the song, Hamilton confidently told Alex, "You're happy now!" Hamilton then came over and gave me and Beckett hugs and pronounced us happy as well. We were :).
• Hamilton gave the opening prayer, and without prompting asked to "bless the lesson." When we told him he did a good job with the prayer, he smiled and said, "Just like Jesus does!"
• Announcements: Hamilton's announcements are always about his and everyone else's favorite color.
• Lesson: Noah's Ark. "Giraffes and zebras and pigs!"
• The moment the lesson was over, Hamilton announced, "Family Home Evening treat!"

I should add here that it sounds like we are awesome, organized, spiritual parents to have FHE with such young kids. We do no preparation, and it all lasts less than five minutes. That said, I am amazed at how much it adds to our family. So glad we started doing this!

Beckett at Four Months

Alas, the big four-month post was delayed yet again. This time due to post-vaccination misery, complicated by the Tylenol recall. I felt so helpless failing to find medicine for my little guy. Luckily, Target had some, and things were a bit more bearable for everyone. And today, Beckett returned to his usual happy self, so our latest photo shoot was a go...

The Stats:

• Head: 42 cm (40%)
• Weight: 15 pounds 3 ounces (50%)
• Height: 25 inches (50%)

The doctor actually had the nurse come back and get Beckett's height a second time because he's grown SO much in the last two months. We are especially excited about the high percentiles. Hamilton was usually in the teens. As a result, Beckett is growing out of his cute clothes way too fast! It's already time for me to purge his drawers and add the next batch.

The Boy Himself:

• Beckett has opted to be an easy baby in all areas except health: early labor, surgery, and last week...sneaky ear infection. Luckily, Hamilton also kept his ear infection under the radar, so I suspect them with just about every cold. I somehow managed to talk myself into getting a dr's appt (nurses are serious gatekeepers for those "non-parents" reading this), and sure enough, he had them in both ears...and a couple days later we were back for bad diaper rash and abscesses on his private area. Oh boy. The swing picture kind of captures him not feeling well.
• He has graduated from the baby tub "sling" and now chills in there on his own (I mean sans sling...I am ALWAYS right there!). He LOVES relaxing in the bath, managing to do so even when sharing the bathtub with Hamilton. His bathtime activities include smiling and talking to me, as well as kicking. Tonight he splashed with his hands for the first time.
• He is pretty ticklish. Armpits, neck, chunky thighs. This often results in his laughing while I'm changing his clothes.
• He isn't sleeping through the night consistently. The pediatrician wants me to work on this. Wish us luck.
• "Tummy Time" needs to be worked on as well. Hamilton rolled over before he was three months! Beckett has come close, but from back to tummy.
• He loves eating his hands. It's not unusual for him to gag himself though. Oops.
• Hamilton makes him laugh. I was holding Beckett on my lap while we were waiting for the doctor. Hamilton was being his usual crazy self, and Beckett was just cracking up. Once Hamilton realized what he was doing, Hamilton "hammed" it up even more for his little brother.
• Afternoon naps are in the swing. Not an awesome habit, I guess, but it's sooo nice for the boys to have easy naptime at the same time. Besides, Becks does go to sleep on his own in bed at night.
• Chubby thighs!
• Fingernails grow sooo fast. Luckily, I'm much better at trimming them than with Hamilton. Alex still refuses to do it.

Happy Four Months, Beckett!

Today is his "official" four-month mark, but we go into the doctor this Monday, so I'm going to wait until after that appointment to post his "stats." I just didn't want him reading this later, thinking, "Wow, Mom started forgetting my month-iversaries at month four. It's awesome being the second child." Scratch that. I can't imagine cute, sweet little Beckett being sarcastic.

Beckett Giggles

Beckett is our happy, smiley little guy. He is even ticklish...sometimes even while I'm getting him dressed! We captured it on video the other day. Alex and I are trying hard to be quiet, so you can hear him laugh, so don't think we're NOT reacting to his cuteness.

Take me out to the ball game...

Last Monday morning Alex called to see if we'd be interested in taking some Dodger tickets for that night (partner wasn't using his season tickets). What's the difference between baby #1 and baby #2? With Baby Hamilton, I probably would have been pretty hesitant. With Toddler Hamilton and Baby Beckett, I was like, "Yes! Please! Hooray!" I felt this way even with a kind of rainy day...how irresponsible of a mother am I? I just figured we'd become a Dodger Poncho family that night if need be. But, luckily, our seats were under the overhang AND it didn't rain during the entire game.

Alex and I both figured we'd be leaving after just a few innings, but we ended up staying for the entire game! Hamilton had a great time: good seats, hot dogs, his first sips of Diet Coke (oops), and cheering on the Dodgers. I was explaining the game as the Astros came up to bat. The first pitch was a swing and a miss, and Hamilton said, "He's sad." I then had the honor of explaining that in this case we wanted the "red shirts" to be sad. There's not going to be any "everyone's a winner" kind of garbage at my house :). By the end of the game, he had developed his own cheer: "Hit the ball! Hit the ball Dodgers!" He also booed, jumped up and down, sang at the 7th inning stretch, and yelled "Charge!" He especially loved cheering and waving every time Manny Ramirez came up to bat, as he thought it was "Handy Manny." I guess he chose to ignore the lack of a tool box and sudden appearance of dreadlocks.

The only "bad" moment of the evening came (conveniently--haha) when I left to use the ladies. I guess Hamilton tried to escape and Beckett was screaming all at the same time. Oh well. Daddies need some of those moments too...you know, develop empathy for mommies, etc.

When we left, Hamilton asked, "Where did the Dodgers go?" When I said, "They went home," he responded, "I want to go home too, like the Dodgers." He was so amped up from the game (which we won...hooray!), he didn't fall asleep at all on the drive home (it was well after 10pm), and, in fact, insisted that I sing "Take Me out to the Ball Game" several times.

I can't wait for more baseball memories with my boys.

HATE the picture of myself, but Beckett's so cute, I couldn't resist. Our camera died soon after, so these are all the pics we have.

The Boys: A Comparison

I'm not sure why, but the most common comments about babies are related to whom they look like. Lately, people keep asking me if Beckett looks like Hamilton did. I feel like a terrible mom, but I really don't remember. So, here are a couple shots of the boys in the same outfit. What do you think?

Hamilton...

A second post of the latest Hamilton moments and why we keep him around despite the constant threat to our second child...

• Any time he stumbles, falls down, etc., the first words out of his mouth are "I'm okay!" If he's not actually ok, he'll start whimpering a little afterwards.
• When Hamilton tripped in front of my dad and my dad didn't say anything, Hamilton helpfully prompted, "Are you okay, Hamilton?"
• The "NOOO!!!!!" has (thank goodness) been replaced with a very polite "no, thank you." He tried (unsuccessfully) to use this phrase when I told him it was time to leave the park.
• Is always saying, "Shall we..." Not sure where he picked up this formal speech.
• Hamilton: Can I have some candy? Alex/Me: No. Hamilton: Can I watch a movie about candy?
• "Grandma Lu Ann has red hair like Mommy!"
• After going through a McDonald's drive-thru....Hamilton: Mommy, do you have a hamburger? Me: No, I got a fruit salad. Hamilton (smiling): A fruit salad! That's a great idea!
• Pretty much every weekday morning...Hamilton: Daddy has to go to work? Alex: Yeah, buddy. Daddy has to go to work. Hamilton: Daddy never has to go to work?
• And one morning when I REALLY needed it...Hamilton: Mommy goes to work? Me: No, I don't go to work. Well, I guess I work here. Hamilton: Mommy works at Hamilton's house? You're a good mommy.
• Asked me if I got my red hair when I burned it. This came out of nowhere...what do these little guys think about?
• On a walk around the neighborhood, we turned down a street that had a lot of trees...Hamilton: Wow! A forest! Mommy, do you see the forest! Me: Wow. Yeah, I see it. Hamilton: And a jungle! Where monkeys go!
• We were walking to a friend's to drop off a baby present, and I was explaining that "Baby Rhys" is Kieran's little brother. Hamilton excitedly shouts, "Beckett's my little brother! Baby Beckett is mine!"
• When we got into the hot car, Hamilton tried to blow on it to cool it down.
• Mind over matter: Hamilton says, "It's not hot. It's not warm" when presented with freshly cooked food.
• I asked him what Adam and Karen should name their baby. He thought and thought, even putting a finger to his lips saying, "hmmmm." His answer: Andy.
• When asked to choose the FHE song this week, he choose "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam."
• As I'm gathering up everything to head out for some adventure, Hamilton asks, "Are you ready boys?"
• At our weekly music class, we sing an introduction song where we go around and everyone says their name. Last week Hamilton said "Teddy Bear." And pretty much every week, he answers for every kid in the class.
• This month our music class is learning a "safety song." When asked who he should go to for help if he gets lost, Hamilton (after thinking it over) answered, "A wolf."