Two months

Our little guy is 2 months today!  He is a very sweet baby, but definitely has his personal preferences.  I may write a ton in my random blog posts, but I’m so glad I do because I love having so many details to go back and look at.  I looked at Ben’s 8 week and 2 month posts and I love seeing how the boys are alike and different.  Briggs is getting this baby thing down now, he’s just a little slower than Ben.  We still think a lot has to do with him being a tiny bit early (he even looks more like Ben did at 1 month than 2).

Tidbits:

His pacifier!  Oh my goodness, this is going to be a paci baby for sure.  It is the #1 soother in his life.  If he’s not eating or sleeping, he’s sucking away. 

Wants to be held all the time still.  And I think he has some sort of internal meter when he knows how far off the ground he is so don’t try to hold him while you’re sitting if he’s fussy, you better stand up!

Enjoys the occasional nap on his belly.  Yes, I know what they say about babies sleeping on their tummies, but I slept on my tummy and look how great I turned out

Fast eater.  This boy, like his brother, can eat in a jiffy and he doesn’t care if it’s a bottle or mommy who’s feeding him-milk is milk!

Was averaging 3 1/2 hours of sleep until last night when he rocked it for 6 hours!!!  Oh sweet Briggs, thank you!  This was followed by 3 hours and then almost another 3-we didn’t roll out of bed until after 10 this morning, woohoo (Ben got a late bedtime and was happy playing in his room-we didn’t neglect him).

Likes the swing to go sideways, not forwards/back.

Bath time is getting a bit better-he’s getting a little happier with each bath.  Ben joined him for their first joint bath this week (sadly-no picture).  It’s hard to have Ben in there because he wants to ‘help’ by pouring water into Briggs’ tub and splash him.

Briggs would like it if every red light and all the traffic disappeared so we never have to stop. 

Hates tummy time, but does a great job of holding his head up when he’s laying on your tummy.

Is just beginning to stick his tongue out like a lizard

Shed his first real tear today-I did too!

Has a super sweet coo and smile-makes this momma’s heart melt!

 

some pictures from our week

Can you say success?!?!   My first trip with both boys minus daddy!  I did it!

 

Remember Ben’s baby?  We were about to leave and Baby needed to go with us so this is where Ben put him.  He even picked up the carrier and started walking to the door.

those smiles do exist and are making an appearance more frequently

my sweetheart during tummy time-just too tired to even try

We made it one week sticking to no sweets in the house and then the other night Ben, in the sweetest voice, asked for a cookie.  Who are we to say no?  Off we went to the store.  I thought he might like to push his own cart and he knew we were getting cookies.  I was talking to my mom and he was following me and the next thing I knew he was loading up the cart with any cookies he could find.  So funny.  I felt awful taking them away.  When we got the ones we were looking for I let him put them in the cart and then he started to open the package and try to eat the cookies.  It was SO cute and everyone around us was laughing. 

They are my everything!

Did you know that in the mornings Baby needs to get the ewws wiped away like Ben.  Sometimes we even have to give him a diaper.  Good thing he’s little like Briggs.

Ben found a Beany Bear last night and showed it to me.  I told him he had a teddy bear.  He calls it a tommy bear.  Today he was feeding Tommy Bear milk from his ‘boobies’ aka-his belly button.  He will tell any stranger where Briggs milk comes from if you ask.

My teammate and friend, Amber, had her baby almost a month ago.  The boys and I went to visit Brady this week.  This is the resulting picture we got.  Thanks, Briggs.  While we were taking this picture, Ben was destroying her house.  If you need to know what to child proof, just let Ben come over, you’ll know in a second!

 

This is a busy week for us.  Both boys have checkups on Wednesday, I’m going to hopefully take them to my class end of year party on Thursday and then Friday is someone’s second birthday!

Going to the chapel

(warning-picture overload!)

Thursday we headed down to Austin for Michelle (B’s cousin) and Matt’s wedding.  They are also Briggs’ soon to be Godparents.  The drive down there was chaos.  Ben fell asleep when we were 20 minutes from Waco and then it was time to stop and feed Briggs.  The rest of the drive consisted of Ben screaming at Briggs every time he’d fall asleep just because he was being a mean big brother.  Poor Briggs.  We also got stuck in two crazy traffic jams which added an hour to the trip.  All 4 of us were very happy to make it to Boots and Gramma’s.

Boots meeting Briggs for the first time

Friday morning all the girls went over to Jim and Jan’s (Michelle’s parents) to help with the flowers.  Her matron of honor is good with flowers so they decided to do it themselves.  The were pretty, but man am I glad we had a florist for our wedding

Aunt Lisa meets Briggs at the rehearsal wedding.  When we weren’t eating, he was cuddled in her arms.

Friday and Saturday nights we stayed with Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kiss-tin.  Kristin made these cinnamon rolls Saturday morning FROM SCRATCH!  It took almost 3 hours and they were all organic and dairy free (yay for Briggs).  She is an amazing cook and loves to make things that are super healthy.  Just a little better than the ones I make that come in a roll.

Ben was ‘helping’ me get ready for the wedding.  I let him play with some of my makeup brushes while I did mine to keep him occupied.  He found my eyeliner.  He even tried to keep it around his eyes like Mommy.

I had to take a picture of the view Tommy and Kristin get to look at each day from their back porch.  So pretty (and they have hands down the cleanest house we have ever seen-we are in awe of it).

 

We were a little worried about the boys during the ceremony.  We sat in the back and as luck would have it, the minute everyone was supposed to be quiet so the wedding could start, Briggs starts screaming and crying.  As B was walking him out, Ben starts yelling for him.  Gramma took Ben out and just as the first bridesmaid is about to walk down the aisle you hear Ben yell, “mommy!”  All we could do is laugh.  Boots, Gramma and B took the boys to the prayer chapel for the rest of the ceremony.  Michelle and Matt got married at the same church we did (and where Ben was Baptized).  It was wonderful to sit there and look around and think about our wedding almost 7 years ago.  Although somehow they got chairs to sit in, we had to kneel!  Not fair!  But man, I love St. Catherine’s so much. 

 

asleep on Gramma

B doing the silly smile Ben gives us when we say cheese

One of my room moms made this onesie for Briggs.  He looked adorable in it (and kind of like a Chippendale dancer).  He made it through the ceremony, but had a HUGE blowout at Gramma’s house afterwards.  Thank God I had a change of clothes, but it wasn’t cute at all.

Okay- so this little man did not go to bed until 11-12 all 3 nights and only got about a 20 minute nap each day in the car.  He could open the doors and would refuse to sleep so we didn’t even try it (I know-good parenting).  He slept with me the first night (yay for 7 hours of sleep) and B the next two while I got the little man.  It was so, so, so sad putting him down tonight.  He SCREAMED and cried for one of us to sleep with him.  Broke my heart.  This was his nap on the way to the reception.

Still sleeping when we got to the reception

I just like this one

Aunt Tina was in the wedding.  I swear she can spot a lens a mile away.  She was walking back with a drink and saw me and immediately struck a pose.  LOVE her!

Michelle graciously ordered Ben a kid’s meal and they even found ketchup!  There were M&M’s at the tables and he was covered in those and ketchup.

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Johnson

We tried for a family pic, but Ben wanted nothing to do with it.

I know what you’re thinking-B actually let someone take his picture!  Miracles happen!

and another!

he kind of looks like he’s smiling

Aunt Tina and Boots during the Daddy/Daughter Dance

Gramma and Tommy during the Mother/Son dance (I’m sure it shocks everyone that Tommy and not B is the son dancing)

This sweet girl is Caroline and is 10.  Ben called her his girlfriend all night and just wanted to play with her.  All she wanted to do was sit down and read her Kindle, but every time Ben would come over she’d get up and play with him.  It was so sweet.  She took him to get cake and when we took his cake plate from him so he’d come with us he started yelling that it was his “girlfriend’s cake.” 

playing with B’s baby cousin, Nicholas

B snapped a picture of me dancing with my little one outside

Kiss-tin tried so hard to get Ben to dance with her, but he was so overtired at this point

Michelle looked absolutely amazing and I loved her dress.  Move over Princess Kate!

Our car packed to come home.  The ride home was much easier than the ride down.  Ben slept for most of the first part until we stopped for lunch and Briggs slept just about the entire time.

my littles watching a little tv when we got home (Ben brings his little chair to his table in to the room now)

ABCDEFG…

Ben has been spending his days and nights lately SCREAMING his ABC’s over and over.  It lost it’s cuteness awhile ago, but I’m glad he knows them.  He’ll even pause halfway through and say, “what’s next?” like I do when he’s singing. 

Gramma came last Monday-Wednesday and Ben loved having another person here to order around.  Gramma is like Daddy with pictures so you have to sneak them when you can.  This one is through the window, hee hee hee.  Thanks Gramma for coming.  I loved the extra sleep and the ‘me’ time.  See you in a few days!  Gramma told Ben that she and Boots would have donuts at their house so that’s all Ben’s talked about since she left. 

Ashley brought Mayson over to play last week.  I gave them each a cereal bar to prevent a meltdown during the witching hour.  They each took one bite.  Can you guess which one belongs to which kiddo.  Ben also spent the first 10 minutes chasing Mayson around saying, “kiss, kiss” until she kissed him.

The first time in the Bumbo…still working on liking it

Kisses for our baby Briggs last night

Grammy got Ben this Grinch for Christmas along with the matching book.  It sat in a cubby in his playroom until I was in the hospital with Briggs when Aunt Tina and Gramma found it.  They were using it to teach Ben how to be gentle and loving with a baby.  It’s since become his baby and must be near him most of the time.  He sleeps with it (and a zillion other lovies) and takes it downstairs when he’s awake.  The other night we had that typical frantic scene where while Daddy was tucking Ben in, Mommy was running around looking for Baby because Ben would not calm down until he had it.  I think it’s funny that his ‘baby’ is a green grinch. 

Today we met Daddy for a picnic in the park for lunch.  Our friends, Ashlee and Jonathan, do this often and I’ve been so envious of them.  It’s just too hot during the summer or winter breaks so I said that as soon as I could stay home, we’d make it a normal thing.  It was so fun and relaxing.  We picnic’d my way-take out from Potbelly’s, but I promised B I’d learn how to picnic properly with a basket and everything   Might need some pointers from Ashlee.

Briggs was not a happy baby when we got there.  The child wants to be held ALL THE TIME.  He will cry for at least an hour if you’d let him until you pick him up.  He just wants to be cuddled and loved on.  It makes getting things done around the house a little tricky.  Doesn’t care for his swing or bouncy chair, just wants to be held.  He’ll even sleep sitting up as long as your heart beat is near his ear.

There was a playground at the park and Ben was so mad he couldn’t play on it (we didn’t time lunch right with naps and Daddy’s schedule).  He also refused to eat his sandwich because he heard me order chips in the drive through.  Daddy said no chips until you eat your sandwich so the clever boy hid his sandwich, fed it to a tree, fed it to Daddy and put it in his mouth and when he though B wasn’t looking took it out.  Tsk, Tsk, tsk little stinker!

We are headed to Austin on Thursday for Michelle’s wedding.  The littles’ first wedding and Briggs’ first car trip.  So excited!  Ben’s been practicing his dancing.  Get ready Aunt Tina!

A Inna

On Wednesday, my Aunt Linda (and our biggest blog follower) came for a visit. Ben called her A Inna the whole time. It was her first time to our house and the first time to meet Briggs. She told me she thought Briggs would want nothing to do with her and she’d spend her time with Ben, but Briggs LOVED her. He found his comfy place on her chest and didn’t move the entire time she was here.

My dad wasn’t a very nice big brother to Aunt Linda so she’s always trying to find ways to get back at hiim. I am a big Bears fan because of my dad so she thinks it fun to give the boys stupid Green Bay Packers crap just to tick him off. Somehow my kids have to suffer because Pops was a stinky big brother!

He’s really not smiling.

We took the boys to the park on Thursday with some bread for the ducks. This momma was a little worried about one of the aggressive ducks getting close to my Ben, but he loved it.

Ben was being a stinker with pictures

With Aunt Linda around I was able to sneak away a few times. I got to visit a friend who just had a baby, do some shopping and visit my team at school. Thank you, Inna!

We ate dinner Thursday night out back and enjoyed Cinco de Mayo. We tried to give Ben a cheese quesadilla (with ketchup so he’d eat it), but all he did was get messy with ketchup. I found the hose and we had some fun. At first the freezing cold water was too much for him, but it didn’t take long for his little naked body to love it. He’d run up to the hose, scream and then run away as I sprayed him laughing with a huge smile. Briggs hung out with his Inna and watched. Inna even watched the littles so we could go on a little date to the movies. My favorite line was when I called to check in and she said that Ben "ate 47 nuggets and a gallon of ketchup." Thank you Inna, we love you so much and can’t wait to see you in a few months! Ben even asked for you tonight as he was trying to talk his way out of going to bed.

Yesterday it took Ben a whopping 2 hours to fall asleep so once he did Briggs and I scooted outside to keep the house quiet. Briggs worked on his tan under the tree until my friend Sharon stopped by.

My little buddy helping me do some shopping He loves to drive the carts.

For Mother’s Day all I wanted to sleep so B graciously took all the feedings after the first one and I got to sleep in until 11!!! Almost 7 hours of sleep=AMAZING! Briggs rocked while Aunt Linda was here and slept for 4 hour stretches each night so I only had to get up once. When Daddy takes the reigns he sleeps for 3 hours and then wakes every 2 hours, oops-sorry B! But he did smile and laugh for B this morning when I was sleeping. I’ve been VERY worried about how he’s not happy enough. I’m hoping it’s because he came too early. The no milk diet does seem to still be helping. B also finally got rid of all the extra furniture that was literally just sitting in the halls and play room. Our house finally looks more like a home after a crazy week of chaos. Thanks, B!

The boys were sitting together and happy so I ran to get the camera. I gave Ben instructions NOT to touch Briggs and to stay put. As soon as I have the camera in my hands he looks at me, smiles, looks at Briggs and hits him as I snap away. What a STINKER! So this is the resulting picture. Thanks, Ben!

I walked into the room and all 3 of my boys were watching the Mavs on tv.

Even Briggs enjoyed watching the Lakers get killed!

Ben asked for a picture as I was hooking up the camera to the computer to upload the pics. He might be the BIGGEST stinker, but my goodness he’s cute!

Gramma is coming up tomorrow for a couple nights to give me even MORE ‘me’ time and hang out with her grandbabies. I could seriously get used to this!