Theodore Version 1.4.15

Mr. Theodore.
One year, four months and 15 days.

That is over 43 million seconds...
that ticked, crawled, flew, disappeared.
where I have had tears of exhaustion, defeat, joy, laughter and happiness.
that we giggled, sung, dance and snuggled.
while you screaming, cooing, crawling, walking, smiling, and calling me mama.

You have taught me a lot in these 502 days.
Humbled in this mothering gig in those early months...
struggling to grow you well and find my balance.
Making it through that small phase...
and on to slipping on your waffle chunks in the morning.
How my ideas of what should be...
are lack luster in what could be.
That planning and preparation are essential...
but never enough to stop all the moments of chaos.
That I could bounce a baby, read to a toddler...
and pee at the same time.

Guido man
You like trains and baby dolls.
You stomp your foot to show your disapproval and to bust a move.
You yell so loud - in anger and joy.
All animals growl and all things with wheels vroom.
You just started saying dada a few days ago.
You still love to go to sleep, but sometimes hate to stay there.
Are an extremely early riser and love to steal my coffee.
Have a huge personality and a even bigger heart.
We all love you little man.

little man, my tiny baby

Mr. Theodore

Little man.

A big milestone just came and went.

Much in the way of your sister...

you self weaned and are a sippy cup man now.

I knew it was on the horizon.

I think when you heard that Happy Birthday song 

you realized you had better things to do than lay and snuggle in your mama's arms. 

There were trucks to push and toys to steal from your sister.

Sofas to climb on and baby gates to dismantle.

We still had our really early morning and the before bed sessions for a few weeks.

Then one night before bed you said  No thank you. 

Down to breakfast only.

Your daddy and I were heading to Chicago and leaving you guys with the Grandparents.

I thought being away for 3 days would end it all.

I soaked up those early morning sessions and even snuck in a mid-day one the day before we left.

See, your sister stopped so suddenly that I didn't know she was done 

until she had already called it quits.

So I relished in every moment. 

Knowing that every one could be the last.

Off to Chicago we went and you guys had a blast - so did we.

And I was surprised the night we came home when you snuggled up in my lap.

But that was the last time little man...

The next morning...

you giggled at me like I had done something ridiculously silly laying you across my lap.

Grinning, wiggling to get down and get your day started...

walk-running to the kitchen in search of real food.

And poof - like a cloud of magic dust - a phase of you baby life is gone.

That's how it happens.

How babies become little kids.

In tiny pieces and little poofs.

A day here and a moment there.

And then I catch you snuggling your blankie...

your favorite blankie, sitting in the sunshine.

And for another tiny second you are my tiny baby again.

Just for a second, but I will take it.

Birthday Man

One year old.

It was a flash...

in a long, happy and yet exhausting year.

Eating, growing, moving.

Teething, crawling, walking.

Our family growing and expanding.

Love multiplying.

Hearts expanding exponentially.

Guido Man.

That nickname has stuck.

It appeared during your leaner times...

when we were trying to fatten you up.

The idea of a little Italian growing fatter was appealing.

So in snuck...

The Guido Man.

That is your history.

Sneaking.

Seeming to be so laid back... 

then coming in at just a hair over crazy.

You are...

 hilarious.

friendly.

strong willed.

goofy.

ruffian.

brute.

jolly.

strong.

You relax and then take charge.

It has been amazing to see. 

You: knocking our sister to the floor in a powerful body slam.

Her: Laughing uncontrollably because she doesn't know that you will soon out weigh her.

I see tables knocked over

and broken windows in my future.

With a side of he did / she did.

Our amazing boy.

We love you so much.

Happy Birthday!

First catch

We went out over the weekend to the closest fishing spot.

Eva had been excited about it since she practiced her techniques in my parents side yard.

The water was lined with people.  

There other families and some serious anglers.

I spotted a guy with 4 poles in the water and another with a 3 foot high tackle box on wheels.

Poppy and Eva picked a spot.

The very first spot with room.

A little plastic tub of worms, a simple rod and reel with a bobber Eva called a marble.

And then there was Eva.

Ecstatic about fishing, but having no clue what that meant.

I really thought we would be standing on the edge, tossing in the line a few times...

and then heading to a playground.

No one else seemed to be catching anything.

People were really quiet. 

There were even a few nappers asleep in their folding chairs.

Eva watched my dad bait the hook and throw out the line.

Then she took over.

Reeling in the line and marble.

Handing it to her poppy to toss back out and then she'd slowly reel it back it.

A toss or two and the bait started disappearing.

You could see a few fish darting around now right in front of us.

Then she caught a fish.

It was her forth cast and third worm.

A little guy.

We had been there barely 10 minutes - probably closer to 7.

We cheered and jumped. 

My mom and I clapped and cheered more.

Eva was over the top excited...

 and also afraid of her fish.

People looked.

A few smiled.

Eva petted the fishes tail and clapped when it swam away.

Right away she caught another.

Again we all cheered, hooped and hollered.

We might have been a little annoying.

I saw the closest guy to us sigh and roll his eyes.

He had huge tackle box, cooler and chair.

I bet hadn't caught a thing.

Eva waved bye to her little fish.

She was done.

15 minutes.

Ready for a peanut butter and jelly.

11 Months

It has almost been a year...

It has gone so fast it and it seems like I was just meeting you.

All at the same time.

Remember how you used to not eat...

Well now you are an eating machine. 

You stomach is bottom-less and you will eat anything.

We are still nursing six times a day.

Once in the super early morning that I would be okay with loosing.

Mainly because I would hope that to mean you were sleeping all night.

You have only done that once...

One magical night of sleep.

You adore your sister.

Following her, playing what she is playing, trying to see what she has.

Following her like a duckling and invading her space.

You always want whatever she has.

She gets mad and snatches her toys back.

No Theodore, thats mine.

Recently you have started retaliating.

Using all your strength, jumping up and body slamming her to the floor.

GRRRRRR!!

Eva thinks it is hilarious.

You do to.

Laughing with a deep, old-man guffaw that has a tiny maniacal feel to it.

Not sure she realizes you mean business.

I see sibling-wrestle mania in my future.

Broken knick-knacks and he said she said.

Kinda looking forward to it.

Nine

Nine months little man.

This has been a big one.

Crawling and meaning it.

Fast as lightning.

Getting in your sisters toys and making her mad.

Pulling up on everything.

Cruising around a few steps here and there.

Falling, face-planting, and lip busting.

Grinning.

Old-man laughing.

First ear infection and antibiotic.

Follow right up with a case of roseola.

Fevers abounded last week.

Eating anything I put in your mouth.

Quinoa, pickles, turkey, pasta.

If someone is eating... you had better be too, or else.

Also, you eat everything/anything else you can get your hands on.

Fuzz, dryer sheets, stray onion that missed the pot,

A big pile of dirty crud I had swept up in the kitchen.

Yep, you ate that too.

You are just over 20 pounds. 

We will have your official weight/height after vacation.

You are going to the beach...

even if mother nature is going to be making it the coldest March on record.

We will be there in a snow suit if necessary.

And you say mum mum.

To me.

When you want me.

Mum mum mum mum.

It is the sweetest sound in the world.

Love you little man.

Your mum mum.

Stinky

This is when I admit some truth.

Theodore hasn't had many baths.

He had plenty of sponge baths.

Naked wipe downs with a wash cloth.

A good layer of lotion applied head-to-toe.

But real baths...

very,very rarely.

I am not exaggerating...

I really mean rarely.

As in...

you-can-count-it-on-my-fingers-leaving-out-my-thumbs rarely.

I also have no photos of his first bath.

Not a single one.

or of his second, third, or fourth.

Theodore hated the water.

He screamed like someone was setting him on fire.

He even cried when he was close to the bathroom and the water was on.

It would take both Michael and I to do a Theodore bath.

One to hold his failing, arching, hysterical body.

The other soaping and rinsing as fast as they could.

Then, like magic one day...

we didn't have any tears.

He had a complete bath in the sink and he even almost smiled.

He is eight months old...

But he is no longer our stinky boy.

2/3rds

 8 months.

Mr. Theodore

Crawling, pulling up to standing.

Seriously...

slow it up a bit.

The baby gates are ready.

We are not looking forward to blocking off the stairs...

and we want to put you in a helmet.

You really need a helmet.

There is head trama and a busted lip everyday.

Blood, really, everyday.

You laugh like Fat Albert.

Ahehehe! Ahehehe!

With an old man raspy voice.

Love it.

I wouldn't change a thing about you...

except maybe your sleep schedule.

Okay, I hate your sleep schedule.

I know its temporary...

play time at 4 am.

Oh but it is so early.

You're such a jolly guy.

All the time.

Especially at 4 am.

I have been going to bed early.

That is big.

Real big.

You are changing me.

Making me a morning person.
Something I have wanted to be...

Even if I might be a little grumpy about it.

It is good.

Your awesome.
The best little man.

Love me.

holding court

Surrounded by a gaggle of family.

I am not sure who was more fascinated.

Family oohing, cooing, and baby babbling...

or Theodore - the center of all their undivided attention.

This week you're really breaking ground on being officially mobile.

You can now go from laying to sitting...

and can scoot, kick, pull, claw, hop your way forward.

It isn't coordinated or pretty.

But you are able to reach and swipe your sisters toys...

and isn't that what is most important?

Seven

Little Mister.

Seven months.

I just want to get one thing out in the open.

It is not okay that you get over a half way a year old...

and your sister turns three almost the same week.

Not okay.

But back to you, Theodore

You are great.

You...

...laugh like an old man that smoked a pipe for decades.

...are so close to forward locomotion, so very close.

...love LOVE food.

...prefer your mama if I am near, but are okay with any good set of arms.

...have two of the cutest teeth, who's time alone seems to be growing short.

...will not sleep through the night.

...are the happiest baby at 3:30am - it should be illegal.

...love watching your sister and laughing at her silliness.

...get so flirty with your dimples and blue eyes - old ladies swoon at the grocery.

Back off ladies...

he is all mine for a while!

Half Birthday

Six months.

Poof.

You have become my chubby little man.

Rolls and double chins.

Creases that require extra attention during diaper changes.

Really, I know right!

You are kinda sitting up.

Kinda army crawling.

Definitely rolling across the floor and back again.

You have two teeth.

Before today, you had never bit me before...

emphasizing the before today part.

(You can kinda stop that - it be great.)

You are so charming.

A sly half-cocked grin.

Dimples and sparkling eyes.

You are a crappy sleeper.

I mean really, really bad.

 You wake up at least twice a night... 

more often three or four times. 

It is easy to be mad...

when I would rather be sleeping.

Need to be sleeping, teetering on exhaustion.

When I finally get up...

 I turn around and pull my tooshie out of bed behind me...

and I am greeted by a smiling squealing giggly baby boy.

I want to be mad, but I can't...

because you make me smile.

Completely sleep deprived, blurry eyed, barely functioning mama.

You make me smile.

You are a laughing guy.

All the time...

smiles and almost toothy grins.

Being the recipient of those grins...

it is the best.

Happiest Half Birthday Theodore.

Big Big

If converting the crib to a toddler bed was big...

this is really big.

BIG big as Eva would say.

A twin bed, lofted up high.

A starry night canopy with some festive lights.

I was worried about her being aloft.

I saw bumped heads and broken bones in our future.

I was out voted.

Her daddy loved his bunk bed.

And he was right...

Eva absolutely loves hers.

And she climbs in and out like a pro.

No need to worry.

In the photo she is reading a story to her Chetchy.

Putting him down for his nappy.

What doesn't show in the photo...

her patting his back and singing a lullaby.

And saying - Goodnight Sweetheart.

Guess what

As of Sunday,

this little guy...

This drooly monster...

Has his very first tooth.

Preschooler

It is official.

We no longer have a toddler.

She is a preschooler now.

Yesterday was her first day.

They kinda had to kick me out.  Politely.

Bye Mommy! Be Good!

Eva instructed me as I shuffled out.

I sat in the parking lot.

Checked my phone a bazillion times.

Fed Theodore.

Finally, I drove a block away.

Bought a coffee.

Sat in a different parking lot.

Checked the phone some more.

Got a teeny bit emotional.
Held Theodore until he fell asleep.
Watched cars drive by.
Counted down the minutes.

I told Theodore that he didn't have to grow up as fast as his sister.

He drooled on me...

 so I think that is him agreeing.

I was the first parent in the parking lot at pick up time.

Over a half an hour early.
I felt super silly.

I picked up the happiest little girl in the world.

She gave me a mini-tour and asked me if she could stay.

Then there was her first art project.

Cradled between her hands...

Here mommy, its for you. My porcupine. It has glue!

Already missing one googily eye.

As of dinner time last night, that turkey porcupine has no eyes.

Mommy, I put the eyeball in my belly!

That is a fact.
My grow-up preschool Eva ate it. 

Screaming

Eva is screaming in her bed right now.

Not crying - just amazingly loud, high pitched screeching.

I don't want to nappy!!

Nap time has been really hard lately.

A battle of wills, and it is wearing me out.

I have even thought about just skipping it.

Over the weekend we did on accident.

Visiting family - out and about during nap time.

The hysterical fit throwing that occurred was a huge reality check.

She needs her nap.

Not only is she fighting sleep...

she can now get in and out of her crib with the ease of a seasoned fence jumper.

It is really time for the big girl bed.

We have been holding on to the crib for dear life.

A big girl bed will be here soon.

Good news:

She has slept the last 3 nights training pants free!

We have been rocking big girl undies at nap time the last week or so

But not at night.

Going to bed without them wasn't our idea.

Eva decided she didn't like them anymore. 

She fought us putting them on.

We persisted and so...

she just took it off.

The reality:

Our monster is growing up really fast...

and dragging us along with her kicking and screaming.

A First for Both

Yesterday.

Election Day.

A really huge deal around our nation.

But around here, it was pretty low key.

 We woke up and said bye to daddy.

He left a little early to go and vote.

We ate cereal, bananas and milk.

Got everyone dressed and out the door.

I was a little nervous taking both of my monsters with me to the poles.

We stood in a tiny line and Theodore fell asleep in the carrier.

Eva sang, danced and talked to strangers about "Rock" and "Milk"

It was Eva and Theodore's first presidential election.

That hit me harder than almost everything else.

The last time I stood in line and choose a candidate...

It was just Michael and I and we had just moved to Columbus.

We weren't even parents... just the two of us.

And here I was now, a mommy of two.

We ended up having a last minute mini-party.

Some best friends came over and we had what is becoming our signature dinner.

 We bring a mix of what was in the fridge or might bave been for dinner that night.

Throw it all out on the table and share.

It becomes a strange but delicious buffet.

Last night it was left over curry and roast chicken.

Cheese, crackers, a few mixed nuts.

Hummus, pepperoni

and some left over birthday cake.

I took Theodore up to bed with a few poles still open. 

I fell asleep on accident and didn't get to say goodbye to our friends.

Theodore woke me up at 1:30.

Ready to chat and for his first meal of today.

Downstairs, Michael was still awake.

He couldn't sleep.

We watched the speeches.

Theodore ate and I couldn't talk him out of staying awake.

So Michael and I sat up and chatted about the results.

A lot of big things happened yesterday.

No matter what side you were on...

there is something so amazing about being a part of the process.

Happy First Presidential Election Monsters.

So glad you are here with us.

Monster Version 2.75

Two years and nine months.

Just a few months and you will be a three-year-old monster.
Wowza.

You are quite hilarious.
Speaking your mind...
always having an opinion.

Your personality is big.
Big imagination.
Big heart.
Big thoughts.

You are magnetic.
Laughing and making others laugh everywhere you go.

You can hold a conversation.
Long ones.

Yesterday we talked the whole way home from grandma and grandpa's.
Even though it was 10 p.m...
You had a lot to say.

Being at grandma and grandpa's always gives you a lot to say.
I think it might be your favorite place to be.
Especially since grandma had happy birthday cake...
and grandpa bought lollipops.

A quick temper and being stubborn,
stubborn to the point of crazy is the flip side of your awesomeness.
It is a rare side, thank goodness.

But we will take it...
every last awesome little bit of it.

Love you monster.

A Third

Four Months.

One third of a year Mr. Theodore.

When they say no baby is the same, boy do they mean it.

You and your sister are so different it is ridiculous...

but I think your mommy is starting figure things out.

Your gaining weight and rolls.

You like cluster feed and then take a long naps.

Instead of fighting it, and trying to feed you the way everyone says is the best...

I have adjusted to what you like.

Nursing and bottle feeding you right before your big snoozes

and pumping while you sleep has made things so much easier.

Way better than using ice packs to make you stay awake to eat.

4:30 or 5:00 in the morning is your chatter time.

You yell, yell louder, and smile big grins...

 no matter how emphatically I tell you it is still time to sleep.

You not a fan of tummy-time.

And now that you have figured out how to roll...

you get a lot less of it.

So far you have stayed in the same area on the floor, just scooting in a circle...

but I see the times of putting you in a spot and you staying there is getting shorter and shorter.

You are laughing and smiling all the time.

You love to talk and see our faces.

You definitely know who your mommy and daddy are.

Your eyes follow us around the room...

and your face lights up when we come into view.

The person you love to watch the most is your sister.

You get so excited to watch her dance and sing.

It is the cutest.

Happy 4 months little man.

Love us.

Trained

Recently, Eva has been acting so big.

Then I realized that she is so big.

She can dress herself.

(Sometimes)

She can put her shoes on.

(Mostly on the correct feet.)

She rode her tricycle to the park last night.

(With her daddy right behind her.)

We are shopping for the big girl bed.

She is excited.

We are coming along slowly.

Her not wanting to nap in a diaper was the big push that we needed.

Eva is potty trained.

There it is - in black and white.

It was a process for us.

Not a three day deal...

more like six months.

Little by little and step by step...

We used rewards.

Went naked.

Carried a few changes of clothes.

Pottied on the side of the road and in parking lots.

Had accidents and bought emergency clothes.

We were being trained right along with her...

asking her 100 times: Do you need to go potty?

making her try even when she said she didn't need to.

learning that the far back corner of Target is not a place to hang out for long periods of time...

especially after giving her a huge cup of juice that is now empty.

So I guess I should really say...

We are potty trained.

1st Quarter

3 months.
Mr. Theodore

Things have been up and down this last month.
I guess that is the case with all little ones.

We have been seeing lots of grins and smiles.
You are so very close to a laugh, and I can't wait to hear it.

You are eating between every 1-3 hours during the day.
You take a big nap right after dinner and eat a dreamy snack at around 8:00 p.m.
You wake up again at around 2:00 a.m. starving and again at about 5:00 a.m.

Most of the time you go right back to sleep.
But the last few days, I think your tummy is bothering you...
so we are up bouncing in the wee hours of the night.

You crave contact with people.
You sleep better when you are touching someone.
Sometimes, that is the only way to get you to sleep.

That means many nights you end up sleeping on me.
And most of your naps have been while strapped or wrapped in a carrier.

With your sister, I would have worried about it becoming a habit...
and fought to change it.
But now, I know that this phase is short.
We have plenty of time for you to get used to sleeping alone.

You still hate the car.
This is one of the hardest things for me.
With family an hour away and activities all the time, we are in the car often.
This means that you cry a lot, and I really hate that.

Outside the car, you are a really happy guy.
You have started talking, cooing and chattering all the time.
You big blue eyes searching out anyone to listen to your voice.

This morning and afternoon were tough ones.
We met your Aunt Cristy for lunch
and you cried half the way there and the whole way home.

You have finally fallen asleep after a bunch of bouncing and soothing.
You slept in the swing just long enough for me to take a few photos...

After a scream and a few soothing bounces, you are back asleep in my lap.
I love how my voice and touch can make you calm.

Just holding you, a little hush-hush and all is right in your world.
If it could only stay that simple.

So I am soaking up your clinginess and I swear I can see you grow right before my eyes.
Love you,
Mommy