Happy first Gavin and Jaxen starts preschool!

FINALLY. I have no children under the age of one.

Except for.....oh....ALL of my children are under the age of 5...
aaaaaagggggghhh

BabyG
Month 9:
This guy crushed all my hopes and dreams of early weaning and sleeping through the night via extra milk before bed by totally rejecting the bottle. Doesn't matter what's in it or what temperature it is. He'll have none of it. It had been hit or miss for the month prior but as soon as 9 months rolled around it was sippy cup ONLY. Makes one hell of a mess and takes damn near an eternity to do it that way though. Back to two wakings a night (2 & 6 ish). Naps are 50 shades of messed up. Could this be because the top teeth bustin' through? Could it be because I really want to get Jaxen out of the house some days and that means missing naptime? Could it be because my milk supply is pretty low? Could it be because he is transitioning to one nap a day. Jaxen did this around 10m.

6/16- cut 1/2 nursing at afternoon feed. Thankfully he changed his mind about bottle feeding and now takes 8-12oz/day of this home made formula:

10m:

Painfully close to walking.

7/15 -- 1st sleep throu the night!!!!!!!! 10p-8a!!!!!!!! Possible contributing factors:   Some solid food at dinner, 7oz formula 830pm then nursed both sides at bedtime, delatched and gurgledeegooed himself to sleep on my lap, Gma Magic?, 2 long day naps, appropriately LATE bedtime. 

7/21 - mastering the wave (in proper context and everything!) and sleeping through the night!!!! That means like 930p-530am. I do everything I can (nurse/Rock) to get him back to sleep at that point. 85% of the time it works and he sleeps Til 730/8am.

7/27 -- first steps!!!! Cut out pre-nap nursing and replaced with bottle. Two more to go!

11m: 8 teeth and counting!!!! Also, I woke up one morning with another blister and called it quits. Cold turkey. It's been more uncomfortable than weaning with Jaxen because G had still been nursing twice every 24hrs on both sides. I think I was down to 1/2 a nursing every 24hrs when I stopped with Jaxen. Decongestants haven't helped much either. I'm told this will pass in 3-4 days. A second big move for G has been moving out of the bassinet into the bottom level of the pack and play. He seems to sleep a little longer in the morning but we're talking 645/7 instead of 615/630. Ugh.

A week before birthday #1, Gavin is sleeping Til 8-830am! Not without some fuss early on but it's 20min max and every day since it gets less and less. *Phew* this is starting to get a little easier. Sure glad to have all that behind me now. In fact, every time I see someone with a fresh baby, I cringe on the inside and thank the stars it isn't me.

P.S - RE: goat milk formula

Now that G is one year old I don't mix in all the add ins any more. Just the vitamins, fish oil and probiotics.

Jaxen !!!!!!

Unfortunately this summer has been kinda a wash for us. We haven't gotten to do any hiking or any fun family outdoor adventures due to Ben's  leg injury and the variable nap schedule that Gavin keeps. Fingers crossed for next summer!

Three has been a challenge. Jaxen is already stubborn (I only have myself to thank for that) and now that he is beginning to have his own opinions/expectations...well let's just say the resulting tantrums can be a real delight. Thankfully, i am finding that as he approaches 3 1/2 he's slightly more compliant. I know that school will help that along too.

 The first day we got there too early so we decided to take a short hike. Spirits were high and he kept asking when class would start! In fact at orientation the day before, he threw an enormous fit when we had to leave. It may have had more to do with parting from the classroom lawnmower than anything else but oh well, at least he found something about it to like! Once the teachers let us into the classroom, he got a little more reserved and unsure. Groups of more than two kids seem difficult for him in general. I can't blame him, I strongly prefer one or two people to large groups as well. It's an energy perception thing. Too many varying energies in one location and I have to put a conscious effort into not bolting in the other direction.

  Anyway, i helped him hang up his stuff, find his name tag and join the group but when I left I noticed he was starting to become upset. One of the assistants was with him, comforting him immediately. (Perhaps he didn't realize I would not be joining him all afternoon?) He seemed ok when I picked him up (perhaps a bit grumpy) so I guess he managed. "Jaxen, do you want to go to

School tomorrow?"  "No. " but every day he goes back and every day he's increasingly happy/excited to be there and if I ask, "did you have fun in school today?" He always says yes. As time goes on he's happier and happier to be at school.

We had an excellent visit from Gpa Tom, aunt Donna and uncle mike before Ryan & Kasey's wedding in September!! They finally got to see the house and explore the area a little bit! We were so delighted to have them. A few days later we regrouped in MT for one of the best weddings I've ever been too.  I could have never cried in front of that many people. The 30-something we had at ours was even too overwhelming for me.  #introvert4life. 

Watch Jaxen cut a rug at the reception! They even played our 4 o' clock dance song. He was the first one out on the dance floor and almost the last one to leave. He really partied hard. The boys had a great time meeting cousins and family they'd never met before and our stay with Gma & pop pop was nice and relaxing (for me). Ben would tell you otherwise. 

Here are some more photos in case you missed them on facebook.

See you in January!

One baby, two baby...old baby? New baby?

Now that just sounds terrible, doesn't it?

Month four Check In:

It was easy. In the beginning. Yes, back in the good old days when the NICU nurses did everything for me and/or Ben was home all day and even grandma's ran aplenty. Well, the first week of November I was on my own. It's of course less easy but not as bad as I bought it might be. Gavin is a piece of cake it's just Jaxen with his fits that sometimes make things difficult. Although there are times when I'm carrying them BOTH around because they are BOTH crying. These kids are breaking my back (again!) 

I have to say though that Gavin is a real chill man. (Smiling at me before even two months old! Sleeping 4-5hr stretches by 2.5m old, then 7-10hour straight through by 3.5 months) Thank. The. Stars. Don't get me wrong, he still has all the annoying habits most babies have like a constantly variable schedule and being unable to do anything for himself. Luckily I haven't had to co-sleep in bed with him like i did Jaxen. That's was rough and uncomfortable for me but it was what Jaxen needed so I had to make the sacrifice. Gavin's been fine sleeping in the bassinet across the room from us. A NICU bonus, I guess. Or I hear that most babies do that just fine... We're still planning on moving him to his room somewhere around 6 months. Possibly sooner if he keeps up excellent sleep! Oh, but then there's that SIDS thing...raarg. The chances drastically decrease at 4 months but well...*SHRUG* (that's my default parenting  setting)

Meanwhile Jaxen is chattering up a storm. He's always had lots to say but now we can understand most of it. He's very interested in learning new words/phrases and loves his word books, flash cards and watching lawn mowers on YouTube (obsessed). He's grown quite accepting and compassionate with his lil bro and I am very proud of him for that. I feel like he may be starting to mellow out now that we've crossed the 2.5 year line. Signs are still subtle but I'm a believer. He is really a sweet man under there. Perhaps even a sensitive one like myself so I've gone through great pains to show him compassion even in the depths of his toddler fits. Instead of yelling, time out or locking him away in his room we go sit alone together someplace quiet and calm down. It's harder to do it this way and it doesn't always seem like its effective in that moment (it is!) but I have a super long history of doing everything the hard way so whatevs. The other new thing we've done with Jaxen is switch him to pullups in hopes of getting the potty training thing underway. I have to register him for preschool in a week or two for next fall so I am REALLY hoping we can get that accomplished before then! We don't make him sit on the potty still but we definitely talk about it more and encourage him to try sitting on it. He's gone pee twice (a couple weeks ago we caught half a poo in there too) but the connection is still not there. In fact, he's still in denial about diaper changes in general so I don't think he's ready to make a full blown effort just yet.

We had a busy thanksgiving with everyone visiting but it was nice to have the extra help. Jaxen had an absolute blast with his aunts and uncles! They really ran the energy out of him! THANKS GUYS! Gavin got to meet his GGs for the first time too! Even though I was fretting about having everyone it worked out great and good times were had by all. Christmas was quiet and a little difficult for me on account of Ben being down for the count but we were up to our ears in presents, so much so that it took from 9am-3pm to open them all! Gavin also got to meet his cousins Ethan and Emily as well as his Aunt Martha and Uncle Zack. When he wasn't snoozing, he was busy charming everyone with his devilishly handsome grin.

And now a growth and cuteness update from Gavin:

See you in May for Jaxen's big THREE YEARS OLD UPDATE!

~*~*~*My BIGGEST BaaaaBEE Turns THREE*~*~*~

The Happy THREE YEARS Jaxen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't even believe it.
But I will say that every year he gets older.

Here is my sweet lil' man...

...who is now registered for preschool in the Fall!!!!!! (Fingers crossed we can potty train him by then!) I guess most moms get sad about this but I'm suuuuuper happy...but not for the terrible reason you're thinking of. Yes it will make things easier to have him out of the house a couple hours most of the week but really I'm excited that he's growing up and becoming a real person. That's why I had kids. Definitely not for the love of babies. I could do without that whole 12 months.

   Second week in February was a big deal for us as I finally initiated bottle termination. I offered him a small (2-3oz) sippy cup of sugar free chocolate milk OR the bottle. He took the chocolate milk. Then we put him down and he got upset about not getting a bottle so we reiterated the choice HE made and there was a 60s period of crying when we left the room. Then all was quiet.

    By the end of the month we'd jumped right into potty training. We still use a pull-up when we go out but he's had many successful #1s and #2s all initiated on his own. He tends to like privacy so we just leave him in the bathroom with some books and he does all the work! The main challenge is going at the playground. 85% of his accidents occur there.

    Right before our FL trip at the end of March we bought a tent for J to sleep in so we don't have to pack the crib everywhere. I was suuuuuuper nervous but he loves it and does great with it! He also has done several nap times in underpants! We haven't tackled night time in underpants...maybe later. We haven't had an accident since FL!

    Our vacation was fun (if your name is Jaxen or Gavin) but exhausting for us. Still, the exhaustion is worth the experience for them. After an accident free underpants plane ride we arrived at our hotel in Naples. There we had a good visit with GG and Gpa Ron. It took Jaxen a few days to see the value in going to the beach but by the time we met up with his buddy Luca at Siesta, the two were beachin' it like pros! It sure was nice to be just 1000 ft walk from the beach! At the end of the week we drove back down to Gma & pop pops house where we met up with uncle Ryan & aunt Kasey for some splashy fun times in gma's pool. We also did one last beach day at GG and Gpa Ron's beach club. By then Jaxen was even brave enough to get in the ocean!

   A big birthday surprise for Jaxen this year. A swing set!!! Not just any swing set. One could LIVE out of this thing. We couldn't have built it without the help of Gpa Paul. Thanks so much for your help!! We had a nice family birthday party with cousin Georgia the weekend of his birthday and then another coming up next weekend with friends & cake. Cake-friends...mmmm....

Gavin's 8m update:

We skipped our 6m check up because at the 4m one doc said (and I quote),"babies that look this good really don't need to come in every two months." Yep. That's how I make 'em. Just shy of month five I started seeing white shadows in Gavin's mouth and I spent weeks hoping I was wrong but no. One week before he hit five months his nap schedule got all funky (night sleep too) and his poor little guns all swollen and red. A week before the 6m mark one bottom tooth emerged! I'm hoping this is the reason he's gone from great sleeper 10-7 (1feeding) to 10-530 (2-3 feedings). I want my great sleeper back!!!!!!!!!!        

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    We also started some solids around 5.5m because of his wanting to face plant in my food all the time. Bone broth worked well, so did banana and apple sauce but not so much avocado. That caused throwing up all night long.

    By 7 months, this guy is still on his crappy sleep schedule. He's hard to put down and when I finally do get him down he's up 4-6x a night instead of once. I experimented with an earlier bedtime because I keep hearing about how everyone else's baby sleeps better that way but it just doesn't work. On the bright side he's doing great with solids; coconut cream, chicken/swt tato, chicken/Apple/strawberry, applesauce, assorted pre-made baby food combos...I don't think he likes banana anymore though and avocado is hit or miss. He's been SUCH a good eater that we're down to nursing before both naps, bedtime and twice (2am&6am-ish) overnight. I am contemplating weaning soon and I'll be revisiting my Jaxen blogs about it to refresh my memory. I'm pretty sure I started on the day feedings and cut out 1/2 a serving every 2-3weeks.

    The last week in April was the last straw with this crappy sleeping thing! I started turning off the monitor for short stretches and/or not going in if its within an hour of having just been in there. He's sleeping better AND if he does wake it's 10min max of fussing before falling back asleep. It's working! 

    At the ~9 month check up he met and exceeded some of the milestones they ask about. Aside from dealing with his first real sickness (just a boggery head cold), dr B says he looks great! He's now eating a ton of solids (pretty much anything as long as it's not cold) and because of this my supply is waaaaay down. So much so that I can no longer nurse him to sleep, it requires a few minutes of rocking before I can put him down for nap/night. If I can get him to like the coconut formula (hit or miss in the past) and remedy this pooping issue (dehydration) I won't feel so bad about quitting early. Call it second child syndrome...whatever...I just don't have the patience this time around. Not after 4 rounds of mastitis and milk blisters every other week (not an over exaggeration.)