08.01.09

Everyone always says with #2 you are more laid-back, more relaxed, just more go-with-the-flow. I really thought that was probably true, especially when you have your babies closer together, but given that our boys ended up being 4 years apart, I thought maybe we would be just as scheduled, just as routined, just as high-strung as we were with Oliver. Nope! Not the case! Without even realizing it, without trying, our household is definitely more relaxed with baby #2. Some differences? Well, for starters we typically have no recollection of the last time he ate. We know he did. We know he (probably?) finished the bottle. And we know he'll cry when he's hungry again! And tummy time?? Oi ... when I remember it happens! I know for sure Oliver was on a "schedule" by now. He had scheduled feedings, scheduled naps. Liam?? Well, he kinda just sleeps when he's tired!! This one though I do want to reign in a little bit and try to get a nap schedule going, but the urgency, the "need" for a schedule simply isn't there. One thing that is really helping is that I did take 12 weeks off of work. Please....if you are pregnant, reading this, and able to do so....TAKE 12 WEEKS OFF!! It has been amazing for me - given us time to adjust, yet at the same time the desire to go back to work is actually slowly returning. I am anticipating it, knowing it is coming, yet still feeling like I have enough time at home. So it goes with the nap schedule -- I know we need one, and we'll get there, but I've got some time to play around with.

The reverse of laid-back has happened in regards to the household, though, and in a good way. We are pretty laid back when it comes to picking up our house -- it happens, just not frequently enough. If there are toys all over the house and I want to go to bed, well, I typically would just go to bed. I'm being brutally honest here, which is kinda hard to do knowing my mother will probably at some point be reading this. :) If you know my mother, and know her house, there isn't one little thing out of place. Ever. And how she managed to be graced with two daughters who ... well ... have LOTS of things out of place ... is beyond me (us). But that is life and we're okay with it! Well, I was okay with it. But now with two boys I am finding that if I wake up to a messy house right off the get-go, I'm not in a good mood. And when I find myself feeling overwhelmed with a whining 4-year old and a screaming infant, the clutter only adds to the chaos. With a deliberate mind-set change, (and one that needs to be reminded of to me several times a day!) and lots of effort on both Jer and mine's part, we have been slowly changing habits and I would say our house is more picked up and clean now than it ever was in the past. And it really does help me feel not so overwhelmed.

Liam this month ... slept for several 6-8 hour chunks, though not consistently :) ... has been changed to a different formula and has made for a much happier, albeit still spitty, baby ... has started smiling and melting our hearts, especially at 4 a.m. ... has realized he has hands and is somewhat fascinated by them ... can his hold his head up much better ... has started to like bath time, especially with extra warm water ... still loves to fall asleep and stay asleep during car rides ... has some hair growing back in the front of his head and it looks like the hair is here to stay! ... is 8 weeks old today. :-)

Oliver this month ... is back to old Oliver, full of comments and sayings - "Can't you just put that baby down???" ... turned 4 years old! ... learned to ride his bike without training wheels, right before his birthday ... got a haircut and mommy's irrational fears that the curls wouldn't return were once again ungrounded and the curls are there, unscathed ... loves loves loves his baby brother .... kisses kisses kisses his baby brother ... hugs hugs hugs his baby brother ... all at the inappropriate times, like when I've just settled him down and now he's been awakened again, but who can get mad at brotherly love?? ... lastly Oliver is still, and will always be, my Baby. We actually talked about this one because he was confused why I was still calling him Baby. I told him it was my nickname for him, but I would stop calling him that if he wanted me to. But he just smiled and said no, he wants me to call him my Baby. And Baby remains, though baby he is not!

And finally, some smiles to leave you with!