Roddie Report: Happy Birthday Roddie!!

Roddie turned 4 this past week, which is kind of funny, since I've been thinking of him as 4 for quite some time already. I guess it's a second child thing, where you assume they are really closer in age to the older sibling than they really are.  

In any case, a few weeks ago when we were on vacation at my parent's house, I took the kids for a walk and while we were out, I asked him about what he wanted for his party, cake etc. For the cake he said "Chocolate - Cake, NO cupcakes, with chocolate frosting, and rainbow sprinkles and a hand, with a number 4 candle - not 4 candles - in the middle"  He did not waiver from this request (except for the very last minute request to add an airplane (!) ) so, I gave the little man what he wanted:

As requested!

He was beyond excited when I told him early on Saturday morning what I had made for him and proudly showed it off to all his buddies.  So far, I have no idea what was behind the hand.  When asked, he answered simply, "I like hands".  

We had a dozen or so kids total over.  His pals from school Dominic, Alex, Evan, Tori and Bree as well as a couple of older siblings and Jack from next door and out old friend Courtney.  His Best Buddy Kendall, as well as neighbor pals Erin and Allie were on vacation and didn't make it.

Rod actually seemed to enjoy being the star of the show this year and relished blowing out the candle and opening his presents.  We loved actually entertaining in the back yard - we had the pool set up, a little T-Ball, bubbles, water pistols, a pile of beach balls and a parachute were all called into service.

Courtney (hidden), Dominic, Tori, Bree, Roddie, Norah, Jack, Hailey, Elsa, Alex and Evan

Roddie Report: Me Too, Me Too!!

Norah wasn't the only one who got moved up one level in the car seat department - Roddie also got an upgrade, to Norah's old seat.  He was actually more excited than she was with the move!

Life on the Other side...

I’ve been really noticing lately how big the kids are getting – Roddie is really starting to fill out -  he’s still got long limbs, but they seem almost the same size as Norah’s some days.  I also noticed that his body core has gotten much wider as well, during one of our late night sleep interruptions recently.  Norah seems to grow out of her pants on a regular basis, usually just after she finally decided she liked a particular pair!  I am thankful that leggings are not only in vogue for little girls and acceptable by Norah, but also quite forgiving in the length department.

I’m also acutely aware of the pending change to kindergarten for Norah.  Registration, after school care, school vacations…all these things are on my calendar already.  She’s also thinking of playing town soccer, you know, on a team, not lessons, this year and we’ve started shopping for a new dance class, now that she won’t be taking lessons at daycare.  Oh, and there is that 5^th birthday party coming up in a few weeks…

Roddie can sing his ABC’s, and recognize most of them.  He has favorite colors, pants, and toys.  He’s differentiating himself from his sister and at the same time they care for each other like no other.

All of these things are indications that we’re moving on to a new phase with the kids – truth be told, we’ve moved on – donated the crib, high chairs, booster seats and so on, but it wasn’t until this morning that it really hit me.

I saw a mom dropping off her child in the infant room, and as she left to go out to her car I noticed she had the tell-tale black Medela cooler – the one that comes with the breast pump.  Man, I thought, I don’t miss those days!  Then, as she drove away, I noticed another mom – turns out it was Roddie’s special pal Kendal’s mom – taking 2 kids out of her car.  Kendall is 2.5 and her little sister is less than six months old – so still in the carrier car seat.  Kendall’s mom, usually very attractive and well put together,  looked anything but herself.  In her defense, she’s either just back to work, or going back soon, but I wanted to give her a hug and tell her that it does get easier!   The winter when Norah and Roddie were roughly that age was definitely the hardest time for the morning routine.

The weather will warm up, the baby will learn to walk, and before you know it you’ll be registering for Kindergarten and wanting to give some other mom, who is where you’ve been, a hug.  It happens faster than you’d think.

Roddie Report: The Big-Boy Evolution Continues

As you know, Roddie moved into his Big-Boy bed a week or two ago.  He seems to really enjoy being a big-boy.  I, on the other hand, am still a big resistant.  I know, in my heart that it is all good, but I am still a little sad to admit that I have a big-boy on my hands, a baby no longer.

His transformation continued last week, with his first big-boy haircut.  He's had his hair cut a couple of times before, but it was mainly just a trip of his beautiful blonde locks.  With his blonde hair and long eyelashes this kid will surely be a heartbreaker... in any case, he was in bad need of a haircut, and I knew it was time for a real big boy cut - that doesn't mean I wanted to be the one to make it happen!

We had a lot to do last Saturday, and I took Norah to finish up the Christmas shopping with me, and Matt took Rodde to Soccer.  I asked him to get his hair cut when they were done, purposely not giving him any instructions beyond where the nearest kids-haircut place was located.  I did get a call asking for further instruction, to which I responded with "You are the boy's father, you can now have creative control over his haircuts" *sniff*.  While it took Matt a minuet to get what I meant, I think it turned out well!  I cried, of course, but I msut admit he looks as handsome, if not more handsome, than ever!

Roddie Report: Big Boy Bed

Roddie had a few really bad nights last week.. up in the middle of the night for an hour or more, and then up at 4 or 5 for the day.  Needless to say, it was a rough week, but a short one, since Thanksgiving was Thursday.  While we were at Matt's parents house, Roddie slept in a pack'n'play, as usual.  However, he barely fit in it, end to end, and was fond of moving and flipping it when he wasn't inside.  It was pretty clear that this was the last time he'd be sleeping in the pack'n'play.  However, that got us thinking that it might be time to move him out of his crib and into his "Big Boy Bed" - a toddler bed.  I was considerably more nervous about this transition for Rod than Norah - he's just not the deep sleeper that she was.  

The first night started out a little rough, with Roddie getting out of his bed about every 45 seconds to get a new book.  However, 'Bad Dad' was on the scene and he soon settled in nicely.  Incredibly, he's been sleeping in past 7 am these past three days - coincidence?  maybe, but I'll take it!

He actually looks too big for the crib in this picture, as he says farewell

He's all over his Big Boy Bed, and loves to point out his Big Boy Jeans, his Big Boy slippers, his Big Boy.. you get the idea.  He was even game to make his own bed - with instruction from Norah, who said "Roddie, do it like this - you just flatten out the blankies and make sure they aren't crinkley"

Yay!  Big Boy Bed!!!

As for me, well yes, of course I'm sad to see the crib come down.  It's been nearly 5 years since we set it up in their room (alongside a desk and futon at that time!)  But the reality is that Rod, like Norah, is growing up before our very eyes and life continues to be a constant series of adjustments... ain't it grand?

Roddie Report: Big Boy!

As I mentioned, both kids grew a TON over the summer... Norah wanted to know exactly how close her little bro was to catching up with her, so she measured him!  Roddie doesn't seem to mind....

Roddie Report: 2 year stats

Time sure flies, it seems like just a few days ago that I was hauling my huge “Belly Ball” down to the lake for a swim while we anxiously awaited Roddie’s arrival!  It was a hot summer, much like this one, and swimming was pretty much the only place I was comfortable in the last few months!  In any case, we made it through that summer and nearly 2 more already!  Roddie’s weighed in at 27 lbs and 37 inches – tall and skinny, just like his mama… LOL I mean sister.  Here’s what else he is up to
-        His vocabulary is growing in leaps and bounds and he’s doing really well with stringing multiple words together.  He is still very hard to understand, as pronunciation is still a challenge.  My favorite thing that he says is “Here you go Mommy”, which comes out more like “ergomommeee” so cute!
-        He looks to be a baseball fan… he does great with the mini T-ball set in the backyard (and will play it for quite a long time!), and emulates what he sees others doing while playing ball.   He knows the difference between baseballs, basketballs,  footballs etc.
-        He can just about use the scooter on his own and keeps getting closer with the tricycle and bike.  Clearly having an older sister and older kids around is affecting this as he clearly is very anxious to be able to keep up with them!
-        He loves swimming, being under water and even playing in the waves.  This kid is not intimidated in any way by the water.  I’ve been trying to get him to wear water wings, as I am certain he’ll take off once he has some independence!  He literally will dive out of my arms to go “swimming” and has no problem walking out into the water at the lake on his own – up to his chin!  He also had a blast playing in the waves at the ocean recently – Nanny will have a blast when we see her soon!
-        Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles… this kid loves puzzles!  He’s mastered the beginner type, with the knobs and 6-9 items per puzzle and is almost capable of doing regular 12 piece puzzles on his own.
-        Like his sister, he loves books.  While he sits through Fancy Nancy and Purpleicious, his current favorite is “Good Night, Good Night Construction Site”.  He knows all the tractors and can easily identify the toy version of the same.  He can easily pay attention through 2 or 3 books that are targeted more at Norah’s age than his.
-        He loves his Mommy.  And his Daddy.  He goes through phases when only one of us will do. It changes with sufficient frequency that no one gets offended J  I have also been granted many snuggles recently, which is a big change from when he was younger.  I must say I love this age, quiet snuggle times and starting to learn to talk.
-        That said, he definitely identifies with Matt – he likes nothing more than to have the same shirt or shoes or whatever.
-        He’s very good with helping out around the house, he’s big on laundry – pressing the buttons on the washer, emptying the dryer, putting clothes away (in roughly the right location) and emptying the dishwasher, and he brings his plate over to the sink when he’s done.
-        He’s fiercely independent – most things must be accomplished “On my own!!!” including getting in and out of the car, opening and closing the back door, putting his clothes on (yup, he can dress himself with no help!)

Roddie Report: *sniff*

As I posted the other day, Roddie is in with the big-kids now... and we're both ready for that.  What I am NOT ready for is the change in my daily greeting from the little man!  For the past 6 months or more, ever since he started moving on his own power, he has beelined it to the door to see me the minute he knew I was out there.  Yesterday, his first official day in Toddlers, he looked up, showed me the block he was playing with, and then returned his attention to whatever he was building. 

I was heartbroken.

Thankfully, as I got down to his level to see what he was doing, he threw himself into my arms for a big hug... and then went back to building again.

Roddie Report: It's official - he's a big boy

Well, as of today, I no longer have an infant, at least by the standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.  You see, the EEC decides the ratio of kids to teachers in childcare settings and as of 15 months, it changes from 1:3 to 1:4... and our daycare, like most, moves the kids to a Toddler classroom.

Much like his sister, I feel like Roddie is ready for the move - while he still doesn't have many words to share, he's communicating in his own way and he's certainly more than capable physically - he's one of the bigger kids in the class already!  However, unlike when Norah went, I haven't shed a single tear over it.  I'm not sure why exactly, maybe because I know what to expect, including the routine, the teachers, the slightly reduced tuition...  Maybe I know what's to come and that walking and talking kids that sleep all night and feed themselves are a lot of fun, so moving on from the infant room really isn't a bad thing.  Maybe, now I realize that it's going to happen, no matter what, and to embrace it. 

Alright, I am a little sad, in a way, since we don't plan on having any more babies, but I think I got over that hurdle when I started giving away all our baby gear.  As I write this, I'm realizing what's left in all this is that Roddie really is a Toddler now, and he belongs with the big kids.  I must admit he looks right at home and seems to be doing very well in his new environment - you go big boy!

Roddie Report: He-Man!

Roddie continues to demonstrate typically male characteristics - he rubs his belly after a big meal, he loves balls and trucks, and he likes to move things.  It seems that he is pretty strong for his size, and more importantly than that, he really knows how to use his pint size body to it's utmost - he manages to lean in and leverage his little body to push and move anything in his way - including his sister on occasion - more on that in another post.

We went to Ikea over the weekend to pick up a new storage unit for our ongoing living room refresh.  It weighs something like 80 lbs, and it took both Matt and I to load it on to the dolly.  Rod had long since given up riding in the stroller, and was having a good time running this way and that way.  When we loaded up our goods, he insisted on pushing it HIMSELF... and he did! He occasionally needed a little help keeping it straight, but mostly the little man did it on his own.  He's going to be a BIG help in another couple of years (months?)



Big Boy Pictures

Here are a few pictures of Roddie to go along with my post from the other day...

The Age of Suprise

Roddie has kind of surprised us recently… suddenly, he’s no longer a baby, but a little boy! Of course the change has been gradual, and he’s 14 months old after all, but there have been a few days recently where I was acutely aware that my baby boy is no more… well, he’ll always be my baby boy (sorry Rod!) even though he’s not a baby any more. We met a new biker chick recently, baby Emily was just one month old – and I could barely remember Roddie (or Norah for that matter) being that small. I also saw a lady carrying a very small baby at church this weekend and looked down at Roddie who was sitting scribbling on a piece of paper and thought – wow! Anyway, it’s bound to happen and of course I am happy that he is growing and developing like he should, but the extent of it all just kind of took me by surprise! Here are a few examples from the past few days:

• Roddie doesn’t like his high chair anymore! He was getting impatient with it, so I tried him in the booster seat yesterday – he happily colored (yes, with crayons and paper) for 20-30 minutes yesterday while I worked on tidying up the kitchen. He didn’t even eat any crayons and hardly got any on the table! Then, this morning, after following Norah and I out to the kitchen on my request, he walked right over to it and tried to climb up (paid no attention to the highchair which is still there) He ate his breakfast (cheerios, in a bowl, with milk) with a spoon as happy as can be. *sniff*
• Not only can he run around the yard (and he does, typically away from me!) but he can climb up the ladder and down the slide, all.by.himself!!! He started out yesterday with going face-first, but after a little coaching, he now turns himself around so he’s sitting and flies down the slide! He LOVES it! He can also climb all the way UP the slide (well, almost, I need to help him at the very end, and of course spot him!)
• We went to a fall festival thing the other day, where there was a Bengal tiger demonstration. Matt grabbed Norah and put her on his shoulders so she could see. I was standing there with Roddie, who was in the stroller and could see nothing but knees, and realized that when Norah was his age, we would have been all over showing her the tigers! So I picked him up and put him on my shoulders and sure enough, he was enthralled, maybe even moreso than Norah.
• We were having a great time playing outside yesterday while Matt worked on refinishing our front door. When snack time rolled around, Norah requested a picnic. So I grabbed a blanket, milks for everyone and a few things to nibble on, including a ziplock bag that had some animal crackers in it. We sat in the warm sun near the back door and enjoyed our snack. Roddie took the ziplock, and I thought he wanted another cookie, so I opened it for him… apparently that wasn’t what he wanted, since he closed it up again. Then, he took off across the yard. I grabbed him and brought him back, but off he went again, towards Matt who was out by the shed, working on the door. I decided that I’d just let him go and see what he was up to, and lo and behold, he headed straight towards Matt, and proceeded to offer him some cookies! Such a sweet boy!

I guess we shouldn't have been surprised, being "experienced" parents and all, but the 2nd kid is a lot more difficult to keep track of in the same level of detail as the first, and he just caught us by surprise!

Roddie Report: Heading Towards Toddlerhood

Roddie has been outgrowing his clothes at a rapid pace!  It seems like things that have fit him for ages have all of a sudden become to small!  Some things I am glad to see go (one too many stains!), some things I don't care, and some things I am really sad to see get passed along.  He has these brown leather sneakers that I just adore!  We always get compliments on them and they just look so CUTE on him!  They are too small, and leaving them on him is going to start to affect his ability to stand and learn to walk, so I really need to move on.  Matt's been making fun of me, and asking if I want to bronze them.  I'm going to settle for posting a picture here, on the Bugle.

Obviously, it'a about more than just a pair of shoes.  We also moved him from his infant carrier car seat to Norah's convertible (and Norah has a big-girl carseat now)  He's learning all kinds of new things, and moving around on his own - not crawling, just moving.  My baby boy is rapidly moving towards toddlerhood.  *sniff*  I don't want to keep him a baby forever, but I'm not quite ready for him to move to the next stage yet either,  Luckily, these things happen gradually, so I can keep my baby a baby (at least in my mind) just a little while longer.