4 Months...

Drew,
At 4 months old, you are:
• 15.5 pounds
• 23 3/4 inches long
• wearing size 2 diapers
• wearing size 3-6 months clothes
• STILL eating every 3-4 hours.
• STILL taking catnaps during the day. But...STILL sleeping good at night. You wake up between. 2 and 4 am if you wake up at all. I know I certainly appreciate that!
• eating baby cereal once or twice a day; you take it pretty good!
• you can roll over both ways. But you like to be held most of the time so you really don't spend that much time on the floor at home. Besides the fact that I miss your face during the day, I know you get enough of that at daycare. :)
• you are keeping your hands in your mouth. A lot! But no sign of any teeth just yet.
• you babble, making incoherent sounds to us and smile SO big. I love your dimple.
• you've got cradle cap or some kind of rash on your head. Dr. K suggested we put some hydrocortisone on it which helps a ton. I think laying on your mat also irritates it which is another reason why we don't really lay you down in the evenings.

Big Guy, you are getting too big too fast. But I love the fun stages you're about to get into -- sitting up, trying to crawl, ahhh! Goodbye, baby blob! Hello, interactive baby! You ADORE your big brother. It doesn't matter if he's singing his ABC's or harassing you, you always have a huge grin on your face every time you see him. I hope you always look up to him and that he continues to love having a little brother. Siblings are your oldest and lifelong friends and I hope you and David Scott are as close as Daddy and I are to ours.

Love,
Mama

Mother's Day 2013

This was my first Mother's Day as the mama of TWO kiddos. Two is definitely different from one -- and not in a bad way other than there not being enough hours in the day to devote a whole lot of one-on-one time with my D-Sco right now. But he doesn't seem to mind too much. And when he does, I try to stop whatever it is I'm doing so I can focus on his needs. A lot of the time, I'm in the middle of folding clothes or unloading the dishwasher -- both of which I will happily abandon in favor of more time with my big boy.

As I've said before, I'm convinced my purpose on this Earth is to be a mother. And although I couldn't be a SAHM to my kiddos at this age, I'm grateful to have the option of working while sending them to a daycare where they are both loved and are taught new things daily. I have truly enjoyed these last 3.5 years of being a mother and I love getting to know my boys better and better with each passing day. Being a Mama is so bittersweet, but as long as the sweet outweighs the bitter, I am ok with that.

What's Going On...

Whew! We have been busy taking care of two little boys. We've had a few fun things in between parenting duties and work, but not much.

David Scott has been playing soccer at daycare since last fall (or was it summer? I don't remember). We decided to let him play in the spring league. His games were at 8:30 every Saturday (except for the one before Easter) for about 8 weeks. I think most of the family got to come see him play for one game or another. It was...an experience. And I'm sure DS would tell you he loved it, but it was brutal for Scotty and me. There was joy, frustration, numerous tears, numerous goals made, complaints, pouting, excitement, and pride. And that held true for every single game. Like I said, brutal. Needless to say, we will continue the weekly soccer lesson at school, but are not going to participate in the summer soccer league.

Fierce...

Showing off his "participation medal..."

DS had his first field trip to the strawberry farm. He loves "strawbabies" as he used to call them, and he told me as much throughout the morning. We could never have a strawberry farm; David Scott would eat all our profits. He was literally eating them as quickly as I could put them in the bucket. They were delicious, though.

Lots of messy strawberry juice on that cute face...

We have some other fun things coming up -- a field trip to see Disney on Ice, which DS thinks is us going skiing, no matter how many times I tell him it's a story, like a movie, and that we won't actually be on the ice. He's going to be sorely disappointed tomorrow when he can't throw snowballs at his friends. Then next week, DS starts his 2-week session of swimming lessons. And then at some point, we've talked about him playing t-ball if somebody (ahem, Scotty) would register him for summer. He seems to be much more adept at t-ball than soccer. Hopefully it will be a much more pleasant experience for us all.

Twins!  (Can't get pic to rotate)

And Baby Drew is just growing like a weed. He's still a carbon copy of his big brother except for his cute dimple. He turned. 4-months old today so I'll do a post on that in the next few days (I hope).

Scotty and I have both had a lot going on at work, with him doing a fair amount of traveling during the week. I think we're both tired of his travel schedule so hopefully that will ease up soon.

Today we had Muffins with Mom at daycare. DS and I had a nice breakfast together. And I got a nice card, some artwork and a pot of flowers, and my sweet boy loved it which was enough for me. Nothing brings me more happiness than my sweet boys.

3 Months...

Baby Drew turned 3 months old on April 9th. And yes, most of the time we call him "Baby Drew" instead of just "Drew" -- who knows how long that will continue. I can't imagine him being 14 years old and us still calling him Baby Drew, though. Anyway, he is such a sweetheart ( or feetheart as DS would say). Drew is a frequent smiler and loves to be held, specifically by me. I oblige him most of the time b/c again, he's not going to be 14 years old still wanting to be cuddled by the old Momster. Meals for the rest of the family have suffered and leftovers, sandwiches, or cereal are go-to options for us since it's kind of difficult to cook when your arms are full of sweet baby boy.

Baby Drew, at this point in your short life, you are:
• 15 pounds
• inches tall
• wearing a size 2 diaper
• wearing size 3-6 months clothes
• eating every 3-4 hours (still)
• cat-napping during the day and sleeping well at night. You go to sleep about 8:30 each night and wake up about 4 or 5 am most of the time.
• you're pushing up well when you're on your stomach and have even improved with your head/neck control. I don't think I've seen you roll over any more in the last month. Probably if I put you down more you would. :)
• you're starting to lose your hair and what hair is left has gotten lighter. I can't wait to see how your hair turns out.
• last but not least, you said your first word on April 9th -- Hey. David Scott said, "Hey, Baby Drew!" and you said, "Hey". It was so clear and DS even commented, "Mama! He said 'Hey' to me!" It was amazing and kind of crazy all at the same time. I wonder what your real first word will be...

My sweet boy, life has most definitely changed since you arrived just 3 short months ago. It's much busier, and crazy with two little boys in our house. But you bring us so much joy and I just love seeing your one-dimpled smile -- it just melts my heart. And when I see DS loving on you, I can't wait (but really I can) to the day when you boys are good friends. You love your big brother so much and your face just lights up when you see him. I hope one day you'll both appreciate everything that having a sibling brings -- both the fights and the fierce loyalty.

Love,
Mama

David Scott Says...

Our hilarious, almost three-and-a-half year old boy says the funniest things. The way his little mind works is amazing. David Scott is pretty smart and has fairly appropriate conversation with us and others. But sometimes, what comes out of his mouth really makes us scratch our heads and say, "Huh?" And other times, we'll laugh so hard at the hilarity of whatever has come out of his mouth.

In describing Drew, who David Scott says loves him...his "feetheart". We would call that a sweetheart, but "feetheart" will do.

He invents new words -- words like "heyved" (verb): saying hey and waving simultaneously. Used in a sentence: I just heyved at Daddy!

He takes responsibility for things. An excerpt from a conversation a few weeks ago: "It's all my fault, Mama," he said.
"What's all you fault?" I asked him. "Ummm... Trees?" Ok. Trees are all his fault. Blame him for the over-abundance of them.

"The tv is ruined!" he proclaimed one day after his movie ended. I guess he'd forgotten about all the other times he'd been watching a movie when it ended. Speaking of movies, DS rec'd the classic Disney movie "Dumbo" for Christmas. Except he wasn't calling it "Dumbo," he was calling it "Gumbo". I kept having to correct him by saying it was "Dumbo -- with a 'D'." So then he started calling it "Gumbo with a D."

Just recently, DS introduced me to a new game, "Hide and Sneak." He even asked Gran to play "Hide and Sneak" with him when she and Papa were down this past weekend. After each of them took a turn to "hide" and subsequently..."sneak," Gran was ready for bed. DS was not. He wanted to play "ma more time" as he signaled the number "one". He wanted to play "Hide and Sneak ma more time." We laughed at his interpretation of the game and playing once more for several minutes. Needless to say, he got to play again -- but with Papa.

This morning, David Scott told me he wanted to go back to the "popcorn place." Confused, I asked him where that was. He said, "You know -- the popcorn place. And we watch movies." Ding! He wanted to go back to the movie theater.

Ahhh...what a fun age he's at right now. Don't get me wrong, some of what comes out of our darling boy's mouth isn't so sweet. For instance, I've been told that he "doesn't like" me anymore. And Scotty was told that he "was not" David Scott's friend. And sometimes if we ask him to do something like get dressed in the morning, his response is, "Never" as he starts to run through the house declaring that he is Batman (or Spider-Man) and he has to save people and not get dressed. But his bursts of attitude are (practically) forgotten when I tell him that I love him, and his response is, "I love you more." Ahhh...my heart...swells and breaks into a million pieces simultaneously when I think of this sweet boy and his little brother. Life would be so boring and empty without them.

2 Months...

Time must stop because this boy is growing way too fast. And while I know both boys are growing up too quickly, the first year or so is filled with constant change that it's easier to see just how quickly changes happen in a newborn vs a preschooler. Speaking of the term newborn, I guess my baby boy will soon no longer be considered a newborn. Sadness. But as we were with DS, we do look forward to each milestone and to the next stage as every one truly is better than the one before. There's that bittersweet part of being a parent that seems to be an ongoing theme.

Drew, you are presently:
• approx 13 lbs
• 23 inches long
• wearing size 2 diapers
• wearing size 3 month clothes and some that are even 3-6 months. Porkchop.
• eating about every 3-4 hours...closer to 3 when you're at daycare and closer to 4 at home.
• sleeping great. You've even slept through the night a few times which is amazing. You still aren't really sleeping much during the day -- catnaps mostly -- but the pediatrician assures me this is fine for you.
• you are holding your head up good and rolled over from your belly to your back a few more times and can really push yourself up well for your age. You must have strengthened your core muscles in utero.
• you smile at us spontaneously and almost always when we're talking or smiling at you. You've even started to make a few baby coos or sounds of your own.

Probably the biggest milestone for this month, though, was that you began daycare and I returned to work. You were about 7.5 weeks old when you had your first full day. Because you are in the same class as your brother was, and I knew they would take such good care of you, I didn't even cry (well, maybe a few tears), but nothing major that would ruin my makeup for my first day back at work. The first week was kind of rough and you really didn't nap at all during the day. But by the second week, you were much better and seemed to have adjusted somewhat to the chaos of multiple children being around you. I think this is partially b/c your brother has so much energy that he sometimes seems like more than one kid himself.

Overall, this was a big month for you. I know there are many more "big" moments and days ahead and throughout your lifetime. We are so blessed to be your parents and walk with you and guide you and experience life with you. You are my sunshine.

Love, Mama

Guest Post: David Scott...

What's up loyal followers?!? Mama left the laptop open so I'm going to do a guest post and surprise everyone with my typing/grammar skills and wit.

Well, I'm a big brother now. Baby Drew is real. He's no longer in Mama's belly. I asked where he came from and Mama and Daddy just laughed uncomfortably. I figured it out though, and I told them so they'll know -- he came out of the top. As in he was in Mama's belly one day and then he came out of her mouth -- cuz thats how stuff comes outta your belly. Either that or he came out the back...like poopoo. I'm really not sure, now. But I schooled the parents on the logistics of how Baby Drew came to be and it was followed by more nervous laughter from Mama and Daddy-o.

Mama and her boys...

 

I love my baby brother. And btw, he is MY baby. Not Daddy's. I told him to get his own baby. He said something about me and Drew being his babies. But, whatever, Dad. Case in point: Who helps change Baby Drew's diapers? Me! Who helps give him a bath? Me! Who is always telling Baby Drew that I love him and that he's my best friend? Me! Who burps him all the time? Me! Or rather Daddy does, but I would totally do it if the baby nazis would let me.

And while I'm sending messages to the 'rents, Mom, you need to let me hold him more. Why can't I walk around carrying him like you and Daddy do? Also, I want to feed my brother sometime. Like you do. I have nipples, too. And so does Daddy. Why are you so special?!? And why won't you let me bathe him the way I want to?  I get a cup of water repeatedly dumped on me during bathtime, why can't I dump a cup of water on his head? And finally, I think you and Daddy should let me eat more snacks -- specifically starbursts, fruit-fruit (fruit chews), cupcakes, rice cakes, and rolls. My name is David Scott Rainwater, Jr., and I love rolls/bread/rice. I don't love chocolate. I also love icees and rainbow (sherbet) ice cream. Also, my mom is a "good cooker." So is Johnny's Pizza. And Daddy is too; he cooks the best steak -- I can eat a lot of steak! Baby Drew can't have big people food yet; he's a baby and can only have the milk from Mama.

Me, Daddy, and Baby Drew...the Three Amigos

Back to being a big brother. It's fun, I guess. Mama and Daddy tell me about when I was a baby. I like hearing about that. I've had a few bathroom-related accidents. And Mama and Daddy say I need to listen better. Hint, people: I'm listening...I just choose to ignore what you're telling me to do or not do. I'm open to bribes so if you want to wheel and deal, give me your terms and I'll consider "listening" better. I work well with the afore-mentioned snacks and promises of playing outside.

I love you, Baby Drew! You're my best friend! You're my little brother and I'm your big brother and I will love you forever. You are my favorite and I love you the most. I know we will be best friends forever and I know we're gonna have lots of fun growing up together if you ever get big like me.

Til next time,
David Scott (or D-Sco as I told Mama to call me for my nickname -- who wants to be called "Baby Doll"? Crazy lady...)

Mama says she could get better pictures of us together if I'd sit still.  As if!