Happy Halloween

This year wasn't the best Halloween experience for us.  Schuler has been sick since Sunday night and by day four he was in no mood to be in a costume.  I had high hopes that this year my cute boys would enjoy riding together in the wagon as they stopped at a few houses to say "trick or treat".

The short story is sweet John Henry really did love it.  He got to see his cousin for 30 minutes and even got to ring a handful of doorbells.  Even still, I feel like he was shorted in his Halloween experience.  Schuler liked the brief ride in the wagon but was otherwise miserable.  Here are the pictures to prove it.

Here's hoping next year goes better.

I couldn't be happier

Two loves of my life.

In case I forget

Two crazy things happened today:

1.  John Henry went all day in underwear without an accident!  He started potty camp at school this week and today was his first day without an accident.

2.  Schuler took two steps on his own.  (He also added two new words to his vocabulary.  He now says Ball and Dog in addition to Dada and Mama).

I had to write it down today so I don't forget about it later.  

Super Hero

Today John Henry started the Happy Feet Soccer program at school and Mr. Steven asked each of the children who their favorite Super Hero is.  John Henry answered "My mom".

I doubt John Henry knows what a Super Hero is, and so the standard answer is mom - but it still made my day!

Bad, Bad, Bad

I realize I've been a bad blogger.  I was so much better at documenting John Henry's monthly updates and other fun events.  I have thousands of pictures of Schuler - they just haven't made it onto the blog.  It's not just second child syndrome. Most of it is I just haven't had time because of work.  Work has consumed the better part of this year for me.  I'll get something posted soon - but hopefully this can hold you over.

Mama

Woo Hoo!  Schuler's first word was Mama.  Both Jay and CeCe were there to hear it.  He now says Dada but at least he said my name first!

Peek into the future

Every once and a while Jay and I will take a picture of the boys and after looking at it, we'll say, "I can totally see what they will look like in the future."  It's hard to explain.  Sometimes it's an expression.  Or just the second that the picture captures.  But in that second we can see them as adults.  It's frightening and cool at the same time.  The picture below shows that.  At least to me.  I can see the same expressions 20 years later.  How crazy will it be if I'm right?

 

Emotions

I think we've hit the part of the two year old development that involves a lot of conversations regarding feelings.  It's more than the famous line, "I don't want to" or "I don't like it" and more like, "I'm scared".  Scared?  Scared of what?  Sometimes it's a loud noise like a blower or airplane.  Other times it's something that's not real, like a monster.  Tonight John Henry screamed, "Mom, Dad, there's an alligator in my bed.  I'm not scared."  Ignoring the fact that he said Mom and Dad instead of Mommy and Daddy, I have to wonder what makes him scared (or not) now?  He constantly asks me if I'm scared of monsters.  Monsters, who's telling him about monsters?

He also likes to ask if someone is happy or sad.  If he's hurt himself, he wants us to kiss what hurts.  That I was totally prepared for.  What I wasn't prepared for is when he sees something in a book that is hurt (like the monkey that fell off the bed and bumped his head) he wants to kiss it and says, "Monkey not hurt, all better."

He also tells me to be careful.  This comes up a lot when I'm driving. Which leads me to wonder if he is scared when I drive so that's why he says be careful?  Who knows.  All I know is we talk a lot about emotions.  And thanks to the person that told him about monsters.  I really appreciate it!

No A for effort...

There are several mornings that I struggle to get both boys looking presentable and off to daycare.  This morning I was very proud of myself when I got both boys dressed and to daycare at a reasonable time.  They looked very cute and Schuler had an adorable hat to complete his outfit.  I was so proud, until I walked in and saw every other kid wearing pajamas.  Oh yeah, today is pajama day.  Great...

Road Rage

It's no secret that Jay and I have a little bit of road rage.  We don't use choice words when we are driving with the kids but are vocal about our displeasure with other drivers. 

This past weekend John Henry was pretending to drive Jay's car.  As he was pulling on the steering wheel he said, "Beep, beep.  Get out of the way!"  Great, now our two year old has road rage.  I didn't realize it was contagious.

Second Tooth

And here comes the second tooth.  Apparently he's trying to get this teething thing out of the way.  Now he has two bottom teeth that have broken the skin.  Poor thing!

Breaking Through

Poor Schuler has been drooling for months.  I mean drooling so much that if you were able to capture it all it would drastically raise the water level at Lake Lanier.  We know it's because he's teething but we couldn't feel anything.  Tonight we saw and got to feel his first tooth.  It's his bottom front left tooth.  Sweet baby - he's probably going to be like his brother.  He'll have a mouth full of teeth but no hair on his head! 

Success!

John Henry FINALLY used the potty at home!  I wasn't in the bathroom but Jay witnessed it.  It's funny that we are so excited about something so simple.  It's also funny that he uses the potty at least 3-4 times a day at school but this is the first time he's used it at home.  Here's hoping that it happens again.

The Report

Every day when we pick up John Henry and Schuler we receive what could be called a progress report.  John Henry's report is called the Explorer's Daily Report.  Code for - "Here is what your crazy 2 year old did today".  It lists his meals, toilet learning schedule, nap time, temperament, favorite activities, and comments. 

 

Here is what the sheet said today:

 

Meals:

Breakfast: Bagels, Bananas, Milk (2 helpings of each)

Lunch: BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Pears, Roll, Milk (ate all)

Snack: Oatmeal cookies and Milk (ate all and had 4 cups of milk)

 

(I'll skip the toilet learning section - it's not bad but not one of his better days)

 

Napped from 12 - 2:10 

 

Temperament: Enthusiastic

 

Favorite Activities: Morning message, story time, bubble dancing, bear hunt, big red fire truck, outside play.

 

Comments: John Henry really enjoyed playing in the big red fire truck.  He was telling his friends what a fireman did (i.e., saying, "we rescue kitties").

 

I feel like we got our money's worth today.

What a difference a year makes

On March 2, 2012 Jay took this picture of John Henry wearing a new shirt and holding onto me.  (If you can't read his shirt it says "Big Brother to Be 2012).

On March 3, 2013 we took this picture.  I guess John Henry found someone else to hold on to.  I think it turned out pretty great for both of them!

Same baby?

When people see Schuler they are quick to say that he looks just like JH did when he was a baby.  I have a hard time seeing it.  They look like they are related (which is a good thing) but they do look different.  See below:

Baby John Henry

Baby Schuler 

Baby John Henry

Baby Schuler

Same outfit and blanket, approximately the same age, but different shaped head and cheek bones.  The mouth is also a different shape but it's hard to tell because JH had a paci (something that Schuler refuses to have).  Maybe it's just me, but I see two different babies.  

Not forgotten

The past few posts have been just Schuler. So to prove that John Henry has not been forgotten, here are some recent iPhone pictures of our oldest (and most crazy) child.

Hamming it up after his bath.

Getting ready to go shopping with Mommy.  This is his "I'm ready to spend money" face!

Checking out a hat in the dressing rooms at the Gap.

Pondering as to whether or not we should buy it.  (We didn't).

What's wrong with our house?

John Henry does things at daycare that he refuses to do at home.  The most recent thing/accomplishment/shocker is using the potty.  John Henry wears pull ups ALL day (with the exception of nap time) at daycare.  He seems to have no problems going potty (both 1 and 2) at daycare.  However, the second he gets home - nothing.  And he specifically asks for a diaper at home and wants nothing to do with wearing a pull up.  Why?  Shouldn't you be more comfortable using the potty at home as opposed to a public potty?  Apparently not.  Definitely something we are working on.  

More Daycare Fun

Below are some recent daycare pictures. Schuler is having a blast in the infant room and I couldn't be happier.

Finger painting!

And sitting in the highchair, with the help of a lovie blanket.

Bouncing away the afternoon.

I'm sure you're wondering why I don't have any daycare pictures of John Henry.  That's a good question.  I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that he's busy running, singing, and using the potty.  When you're that busy, you don't stop for pictures.

RSV

We went in for Schuler's 4 month "well" check today.  It didn't go as planned.  Instead of getting 4 month shots, we were told that he has RSV.  Not exactly the health direction we were hoping for.  Looks like this house will be under quarantine for at least another week.

Rough

It's been a rough weekend. Actually, it's been a rough two weeks. I've been sick with two different colds for two weeks, John Henry has been sick for the past 10 days, and Schuler has been sick for four days. Jay's still in denial but I'm pretty sure he's caught my second cold.

 

Below is a picture of some of our medicine that is used so much we don't even bother to put it away.

 

 

Sweet John Henry hit the trifecta.  Strep, Bad Cold, and Stomach bug.  (Yes, he believes the forehead thermometer is now a toy since he's seen it so often.)

 

Thankfully Schuler has been a pretty happy sick baby.  You should hear him cough.  It's beyond pathetic.

 

John Henry probably had the worst weekend out of anyone but we did get a few moments of happiness.

 

We're keeping our fingers crossed that this ends soon but I would stay far away from our house.  It's definitely germ central.

Daycare Pictures

I love when the teachers send me pictures of my kids during the day. Here are some of Schuler that were sent recently.

Schuler the Artist. 

 

Enjoying some time in the swing.

 

Staying warm on a cold day.

Kisses and Hugs - Big Brother Love

Everyone asks how John Henry is adjusting to Schuler.  Since the day Schuler was born I've given the same answer.  John Henry LOVES his brother.  I mean loves him so much that he wants to constantly kiss him, pat him, hug him, burp him, feed him, and just be close to him.  I knew John Henry was an affectionate child but I didn't realize how affectionate he would be with his brother.  I know that one day this might change, they might beat each other over the head with their baseball bats or golf clubs - but until that time, I'm relishing every moment of brotherly love I see.  Nothing makes me happier.

 

I'm so happy we were able to capture the first moment John Henry met and got to meet (and touch) Schuler. 

 

And after that moment, if Schuler's around, John Henry wants to be as close as possible.  Close enough to touch at all times. 

 

John Henry's favorite place to kiss Schuler is the top of his head. 

 

 

For the first month we tried to hold him back for fear he would smother the poor child.

 

But you can't hold John Henry back.  If he wants to give Schuler a kiss, he's going to give him a kiss.

 

Even if we have visitors.

 

And even if Daddy is holding him.

 

 

At the one and half month mark we started letting him hold Schuler, which meant even more kisses.

 

Winter kisses and hugs.

 

Even Schuler's big feet need some love.

 

More kisses.

 

And more...

 

And a Christmas hug!

 

Do you notice that Schuler sometimes looks scared?

 

He just can't escape his brother's love.

 

No matter what!

 

 

I think Schuler's so used to it now, he likes it.  We'll see how long it lasts!