Dear Conor,
You are growing up! You just turned 2.25 years old and I can't believe all that you can do. Your vocabulary and love for learning is amazing...here is where you are at:
* can sing ABCs and can identify individual letters out of order
* can count to fourteen independently and recognize numbers out of order 1-10
* Can sing "Ring-a-round the Rosie" "Twinkle Twinkle" "Rock-a-bye Baby" "ABC"
* You know your colors and have started learning which primary colors make secondary colors.
* You can spell your name, Daddy (Dadddy), and can recognize Mommy, Colin & Hunter when spelt for you.
* You know your address ("I wive on gawwison oaks") thought its not very clear
* You know what the traffic light colors are and what the colors mean
* You have started "reading" books.....you are able to recite them after hearing them or even before
* You know all visible body parts and are starting to understand differences between girls and boys
* You love to play learning games - we have started matching same items and you often bring me two things and ask "same?" and get excited when I see they are the same.
* You can put a button through a button hole on a felt board
* You have started learning the names of our individual fingers
* You have started identifying the sex of a person when you speak. "I see HIM" when looking at a male and "I love HER" when talking about a female.
Conorisms:
* Baby Do-Ro has been replaced with Talwin
* Bibits (Mickey) has been replaced with Mickey Mouse
* Bedopedoop is still what you call your dinosaurs but you are now able to say dinosaur when you want to
* ahhhh......is still what you use for the word drink (though you can say water, milk, juice)
* wawa - water
* tames - games
* Hear dat - "do you hear that?" usually said when you hear an airplane or Colin crying
* I need it - a recent development (one we don't like)
Potty Training
You are a funny little character. You know when you have gone to the bathroom and instead of saying you did you walk up to Daddy or I and say "no pee" or "no poop" and we instantly know you need to be changed! You have used the potty several times and sometimes after several hours your diaper is dry but at other times it will be heavily soaked within an hour so its clear you are not quite ready yet!
BIG brother
You continue to be an amazing big brother. You are the best diaper changing partner there is. Always ready to grab a diaper, wipes, and the "butt stick" for Mommy or Daddy. You often try to share your toys with Colin and your ears are always ready to pick up his cry (sometimes before we do). You love to point him out to people ("dat Talwin" is what you say) and you always involve him in your play in some way, shape or form. Sometimes you have to be reminded that he is a baby and that you have to be gentle with him and approach him slowly but overall you are great with him. You always have to kiss him goodnight and you have recently started saying "I love you Talwin" when you go to bed (or I love him). He is very lucky to have you Conor!
BIG CHANGES
We have signed you up for preschool! You start this September and we are very excited and nervous. Its just a few hours a few days a week but we know you are ready to spread your wings just a bit!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
FOUR MONTHS!
Dear Colin,
You are now 4 months old. I had a very hard time figuring out when to take your picture because this year there were only 28 days in February and since you were born on the 31st it didn't seem right to do it earlier so I waited until March started and we had a day with some sun in the morning to get good pictures.
Of course, I also did photos in an outfit that your brother wore for his 4 month photos. The shirt must have been discarded because I couldn't find it so I found something similar for you to wear.
And this Colin, is what it looks like when you don't want to get dressed or get your diaper change, or are cold, or mad that you are being put down so I can tend to your brother, Hunter or some other matter. I still love you but no more ugly face!
SLEEP:
I have started having you sleep in your bedroom at night and you seem to be doing ok with this but you still wake up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). You are still swaddled but if I unswaddle you then you are awake even more. I have a week off of work coming up so I might start unswaddling you then since I won't be so busy and we don't get a lot of sleep it will be ok. You go to sleep around 7pm. Are up at least once before 9 (if not twice), then up again around 11pm. Last month I used to then bring you into my room but now I leave you in your room until your 1:30am wake-up. Once in bed with me you tend to wake at 3 or 4, 6am and then if I am able to get you back down at 6am you are awake for the day at 7am. Napping is hit or miss. Sometimes you will nap at home up in your room if I am able to swaddle you and set you down almost asleep. Sometimes I will nurse you to sleep and bring you upstairs to your swing to sleep. During these times you will sleep for about an hour. If you and I are home alone and I am wearing you - you will sleep for an hour or a little bit more. You are not a great car sleeper but sometimes you will nap in the car too. Overall, I would say you are getting 2-3 hours of sleep during the day when Mommy is home.
FOOD:
You are still a piglet and you are eating every 2-3 hours during the day and night. You are on strictly breastmilk for now but you love to sit on the table at dinner and breakfast and be apart of the meal (unless you are napping). Only two more months before I let you have food in your little hands!
CLOTHES:
You are currently in 6 month clothes from major "name brand" retailers and size 6-9month in most others "store brands or specially made for box stores". It appears that despite seemingly to be growing at the same rate as your brother we will be buying you a lot of clothes because the seasons just aren't lining up correctly. It seems the 1.5 months difference in birthdates is making a HUGE difference in clothing.
PERSONALITY:
You are such a happy baby when you are happy. You smile from the tips of your very toes. Your whole body is used to make the smile and it is infectious. You smile at old people, young people, babies, toddlers, your Daddy, Me - just about anyone (but it doesn't make it any less special). You are hysterical with Conor. He can make you laugh at the drop of a hat and he loves to do it. You have an adorable belly laugh and its fun to see you enjoy life so much.
Your not all smiles though Mister. You are also very demanding! You do not like to be put down. You require entertainment (you are not self-soothing just yet and you still get overstimulated too easily) from Daddy Conor or I unless its really short bursts of time.
DEVELOPMENT:
You are such a strong little boy! You have been able to stand since shortly after birth but now you have some core strength and can sit (though you are bent at the waist quite a bit). You are able to use those muscles to pull yourself into a standing position when holding my hands. You hold your head up really high when on your tummy and you are starting to do so when sitting. You do not love reclining anymore and are always trying to pull yourself into a sitting position if leaned against a pillow or blanket while on your back. You are able to hold toys now and guide them into your mouth fairly nicely (though you do get very upset when you can't figure out how to let go of said toy)! You also reach for things if they are placed just outside your reach span.
You track people as they walk about a room and you turn your head when your name is called. You also recognize voices and faces and produce smiles without prompting for certain people (Conor being #1).
EXPERIENCES:
This past month you enjoyed your first true fun in the snow. It was finally warm enough to play outside in the snow. You watched the neighborhood kids sled and it was fun seeing Conor try to keep up with them. You went for a ride in the sled and sat up on the big snowpile with Mommy and Conor (2.20.14).
We also went to a play place in Dover NH with Auntie Ana and this was your first time there. You had a lot of fun watching the kids play but you were a bit too little for everything there so its a good thing you were content just to watch! We also went out to lunch at a restaurant. You did okay but it had been a long day and you were tired by the end of it (so were the boys!).
First Holidays: Valentine's Day and you attended your first Valentine's Day Party Playdate a few days later at Carter's house. There you hung out with the Mommies and played with your friend Link.
GODPARENTS:
In the last month we also asked two very special people to be your Godparents. Who? We asked Chris and Auntie Cathlin. They are also Conor's godparents but they are very special people in our lives and we felt they were the perfect choice the first time and therefore when it came time to pick again it only made sense that you deserved the best as well! We were elated when they each said "YES" again. Now, to make plans!
Colin, you are a wonderful little baby and I can't wait to keep watching you grow. Until next month little man.
xoxo
Mommy
PS. 4 month comparison photo - Conor Above and Colin Below.
You are now 4 months old. I had a very hard time figuring out when to take your picture because this year there were only 28 days in February and since you were born on the 31st it didn't seem right to do it earlier so I waited until March started and we had a day with some sun in the morning to get good pictures.
 |
| Onesies were made by our friend Sharon! |
Of course, I also did photos in an outfit that your brother wore for his 4 month photos. The shirt must have been discarded because I couldn't find it so I found something similar for you to wear.
And this Colin, is what it looks like when you don't want to get dressed or get your diaper change, or are cold, or mad that you are being put down so I can tend to your brother, Hunter or some other matter. I still love you but no more ugly face!
SLEEP:
I have started having you sleep in your bedroom at night and you seem to be doing ok with this but you still wake up every 2-3 hours (sometimes less). You are still swaddled but if I unswaddle you then you are awake even more. I have a week off of work coming up so I might start unswaddling you then since I won't be so busy and we don't get a lot of sleep it will be ok. You go to sleep around 7pm. Are up at least once before 9 (if not twice), then up again around 11pm. Last month I used to then bring you into my room but now I leave you in your room until your 1:30am wake-up. Once in bed with me you tend to wake at 3 or 4, 6am and then if I am able to get you back down at 6am you are awake for the day at 7am. Napping is hit or miss. Sometimes you will nap at home up in your room if I am able to swaddle you and set you down almost asleep. Sometimes I will nurse you to sleep and bring you upstairs to your swing to sleep. During these times you will sleep for about an hour. If you and I are home alone and I am wearing you - you will sleep for an hour or a little bit more. You are not a great car sleeper but sometimes you will nap in the car too. Overall, I would say you are getting 2-3 hours of sleep during the day when Mommy is home.
 |
| Sleeping in Mommy's bed - 2.20.2014 |
You are still a piglet and you are eating every 2-3 hours during the day and night. You are on strictly breastmilk for now but you love to sit on the table at dinner and breakfast and be apart of the meal (unless you are napping). Only two more months before I let you have food in your little hands!
CLOTHES:
You are currently in 6 month clothes from major "name brand" retailers and size 6-9month in most others "store brands or specially made for box stores". It appears that despite seemingly to be growing at the same rate as your brother we will be buying you a lot of clothes because the seasons just aren't lining up correctly. It seems the 1.5 months difference in birthdates is making a HUGE difference in clothing.
PERSONALITY:
You are such a happy baby when you are happy. You smile from the tips of your very toes. Your whole body is used to make the smile and it is infectious. You smile at old people, young people, babies, toddlers, your Daddy, Me - just about anyone (but it doesn't make it any less special). You are hysterical with Conor. He can make you laugh at the drop of a hat and he loves to do it. You have an adorable belly laugh and its fun to see you enjoy life so much.
Your not all smiles though Mister. You are also very demanding! You do not like to be put down. You require entertainment (you are not self-soothing just yet and you still get overstimulated too easily) from Daddy Conor or I unless its really short bursts of time.
DEVELOPMENT:
You are such a strong little boy! You have been able to stand since shortly after birth but now you have some core strength and can sit (though you are bent at the waist quite a bit). You are able to use those muscles to pull yourself into a standing position when holding my hands. You hold your head up really high when on your tummy and you are starting to do so when sitting. You do not love reclining anymore and are always trying to pull yourself into a sitting position if leaned against a pillow or blanket while on your back. You are able to hold toys now and guide them into your mouth fairly nicely (though you do get very upset when you can't figure out how to let go of said toy)! You also reach for things if they are placed just outside your reach span.
You track people as they walk about a room and you turn your head when your name is called. You also recognize voices and faces and produce smiles without prompting for certain people (Conor being #1).
EXPERIENCES:
This past month you enjoyed your first true fun in the snow. It was finally warm enough to play outside in the snow. You watched the neighborhood kids sled and it was fun seeing Conor try to keep up with them. You went for a ride in the sled and sat up on the big snowpile with Mommy and Conor (2.20.14).
We also went to a play place in Dover NH with Auntie Ana and this was your first time there. You had a lot of fun watching the kids play but you were a bit too little for everything there so its a good thing you were content just to watch! We also went out to lunch at a restaurant. You did okay but it had been a long day and you were tired by the end of it (so were the boys!).
First Holidays: Valentine's Day and you attended your first Valentine's Day Party Playdate a few days later at Carter's house. There you hung out with the Mommies and played with your friend Link.
 |
| Such a size difference in boys born 2 weeks or so apart! |
In the last month we also asked two very special people to be your Godparents. Who? We asked Chris and Auntie Cathlin. They are also Conor's godparents but they are very special people in our lives and we felt they were the perfect choice the first time and therefore when it came time to pick again it only made sense that you deserved the best as well! We were elated when they each said "YES" again. Now, to make plans!
Colin, you are a wonderful little baby and I can't wait to keep watching you grow. Until next month little man.
xoxo
Mommy
PS. 4 month comparison photo - Conor Above and Colin Below.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Three Months Old!
Dear Colin,
In January 31, 2014 you turned three months old. Our 4th trimester is nearing completion and I have been back at work for a month. You are a beautiful BIG baby! You only look 3 months old when you are tucked up against me in one of our wraps. If you are on the floor or in the swing you look much older. Your physical attributes aren't the only thing that contribute to the general public thinking you are older than you are - your muscle tone is amazing! You are holding your head up, you can stand on your legs, your abdominal muscles are hard at work as you try to pull your shoulders off the floor or hold yourself in a sitting position. You are also incredibly alert and will track people and things around the house with both your ears and your eyes. Such a smart boy!
You are wearing size 3-6 month clothes and, just like Conor, your feet are such that socks are a huge issue because they are all too tight! You are in cloth diapers the majority of the time now, including at night, but because I cannot change your diaper during the evening you have many inserts stuffed in! Despite this we are still dealing with a leaking issue but I am hoping that this may resolve itself when you are nursing a bit less at night. So, for now you sleep on a blanket with a towel underneath so I don't have to worry about mattresses and sheets.
You still have reflux and you spit up quite a bit. Because of this you really don't like to lay on your back and while you seem to like your play mat a lot - you do not like being there for more than a few minutes. You are also very easily overstimulated (likely a product of Conor being around all the time and being a crazy 2 year old!) so Daddy and I work hard to ensure you don't get too worked up when things are a bit hectic around here.
You smile so much - you are a very happy baby (when you are not crying). You do tend to cry more than I remember Conor crying but this is also a much busier house than the one he came home to. But, you hold your own little man and your BIG personality is starting to emerge.
You are able to roll over! If I place you on your tummy you will roll to your back. You are also working on rolling from back to tummy but I think that will be a while still. Your hair is starting to grow in and your favorite thing to do is munch on your hands so I can only imagine what's going on in that mouth of yours.
Sleep. Colin you are a terrible sleeper. I'm really sorry to have to say that but its 100% true! You don't sleep well because you are always wanting to eat. Right now you are eating every 2 hours around the clock. CRAZY! I have decided that for my own sanity and yours that you will only be fed at night every other wake-up. I am determined to have you only eating every 4 hours at night by the time you are 5 months old because your Mom needs sleep! Right now you are sleeping in your co-sleeper for the first part of the evening and then after 11pm you are moving into the bed with us. Its not ideal but its how we are all managing the 2 hour feeds.
You and your brother are still a wonderful pair and it has been a lot of fun watching you respond to him. I can only imagine how much trouble to two of you are going to get into in the future! In this series of photos I was giving you a massage and he wanted one too. He loves to be helpful and get diapers and wipes, put dirty diapers in the trash or the wetbag. He also likes to try to hand you toys and is very good at helping you with tummy time.
The month has been a slow one. You haven't had any visitors other than Grandma and Grandpa Jakan and the playgroup ladies. But you did go bowling with Mommy and the Moms for Mother's Night Out. It was fun to have you there and we did pretty good too!
You love the bath and while I don't give them to you too often because they really dry out your skin (which is already dry and seemingly sensitive), when you do get one you go to town splashing and kicking and trying to drink the water as I let it run down your face. After each bath you get a full coconut oil massage to help rehydrate your skin. You LOVE it!
Overall, we couldn't ask for a better baby!
xoxo
Mommy
PS. Here is the comparison photo of you and Conor
In January 31, 2014 you turned three months old. Our 4th trimester is nearing completion and I have been back at work for a month. You are a beautiful BIG baby! You only look 3 months old when you are tucked up against me in one of our wraps. If you are on the floor or in the swing you look much older. Your physical attributes aren't the only thing that contribute to the general public thinking you are older than you are - your muscle tone is amazing! You are holding your head up, you can stand on your legs, your abdominal muscles are hard at work as you try to pull your shoulders off the floor or hold yourself in a sitting position. You are also incredibly alert and will track people and things around the house with both your ears and your eyes. Such a smart boy!
You are wearing size 3-6 month clothes and, just like Conor, your feet are such that socks are a huge issue because they are all too tight! You are in cloth diapers the majority of the time now, including at night, but because I cannot change your diaper during the evening you have many inserts stuffed in! Despite this we are still dealing with a leaking issue but I am hoping that this may resolve itself when you are nursing a bit less at night. So, for now you sleep on a blanket with a towel underneath so I don't have to worry about mattresses and sheets.
You still have reflux and you spit up quite a bit. Because of this you really don't like to lay on your back and while you seem to like your play mat a lot - you do not like being there for more than a few minutes. You are also very easily overstimulated (likely a product of Conor being around all the time and being a crazy 2 year old!) so Daddy and I work hard to ensure you don't get too worked up when things are a bit hectic around here.
You smile so much - you are a very happy baby (when you are not crying). You do tend to cry more than I remember Conor crying but this is also a much busier house than the one he came home to. But, you hold your own little man and your BIG personality is starting to emerge.
You are able to roll over! If I place you on your tummy you will roll to your back. You are also working on rolling from back to tummy but I think that will be a while still. Your hair is starting to grow in and your favorite thing to do is munch on your hands so I can only imagine what's going on in that mouth of yours.
You and your brother are still a wonderful pair and it has been a lot of fun watching you respond to him. I can only imagine how much trouble to two of you are going to get into in the future! In this series of photos I was giving you a massage and he wanted one too. He loves to be helpful and get diapers and wipes, put dirty diapers in the trash or the wetbag. He also likes to try to hand you toys and is very good at helping you with tummy time.
The month has been a slow one. You haven't had any visitors other than Grandma and Grandpa Jakan and the playgroup ladies. But you did go bowling with Mommy and the Moms for Mother's Night Out. It was fun to have you there and we did pretty good too!
You love the bath and while I don't give them to you too often because they really dry out your skin (which is already dry and seemingly sensitive), when you do get one you go to town splashing and kicking and trying to drink the water as I let it run down your face. After each bath you get a full coconut oil massage to help rehydrate your skin. You LOVE it!
Overall, we couldn't ask for a better baby!
xoxo
Mommy
PS. Here is the comparison photo of you and Conor
 |
| Conor on top, Colin below |
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