Saying Everett

This evening at dinner Everett told us in his own words that he was a little upset that Callum hadn't yet learned how to say his name.  We told him that Callum's still just a baby and he's  still learning how to say words and that he'll learn to say Everett  soon.  I tried to tell Everett that just because he couldn't say his name didn't mean Callum didn't love him a lot.  Well, wouldn't you know, as soon as we said that, Callum said something that sounded awful lot like Everett.  Maybe it just sounded like Everett to us but we knew what he was trying to say.  Callum kept repeating his version of the word Everett and his brother was so happy.  My two little boys are the cutest things in the world and they sure do love each other.

Brobee

Remember how I made Everett a Muno (Yo Gabba Gabba character) doll long ago?  And then thought we lost it last year?  Well, when I started the Muno, I also started a Brobee and just never got around to finishing it.  Since I now have to escape upstairs to get daycare babies to try and nap downstairs, we've made a return to the sewing room and today I finally finished the dang Brobee.  

Made with scraps of old t-shirts, fleece, and some red yarn.  Not the cutest thing in the world, but free!  :)

C and D

I realized I never posted my C picture here even though I got it onto the facebook page!  Oops!  Here are C and D.

Vaccines, revisited

When Callum was 2 months old, I posted a vaccine schedule we'd be using with him.
2 months: Pentacel (HIB, DTaP, polio), Prevnar (Pneumococcal), Rotavirus
4 months: Pentacel (HIB, DTaP, polio), Prevnar (Pneumococcal), Rotavirus
6 months: Pentacel (HIB, DTaP, polio), Prevnar (Pneumococcal), Rotavirus
9 months: Flu, Hep B
10 months: Flu, Hep B (nurse visit only)
12 months: MMR, Hep B
15 months: HIB, Prevnar (Pneumococcal)
18 months: Hep A, DTaP
2 years: Flu, Hep A
3 Years: Flu
4 Years: Flu, Varicella
5 Years: DTaP, Polio, MMR
12 Years: Tdap, Meningococcal


The only real differences from the AAP schedule are that we delayed Hep B and Varicella, and added an appointment for Hep B.
Well, things didn't go exactly as planned because we kept delaying Hep B and he has yet to have a shot for that.  So in preparation for his 1 year check-up, I've adjusted the schedule to make sure he gets all his vaccinations before he goes to school at 5 years.
Here's what it looks like now.

Has Had:
2 months: Pentacel, Prevnar, Rotavirus
4 months: Pentacel, Prevnar, Rotavirus
6 months: Pentacel, Prevnar, Rotavirus
8 months: Flu (walk in clinic)
9 months: Flu

Will Have:
12 months: MMR, Hep B
15 months: Pentacel, Prevnar, Hep B
18 months: Hep A, Hep B
2 years: Flu, Hep A
3 years: Flu
4 years: Flu, varicella
5 years: DTap, Polio, MMR
12 years: Tdap, Meningococcal

So I end up breaking my hope of only two shots per appointment, but there is only one appointment where that will happen, so it's better than the usual schedule still.  I would keep delaying Hep B, except it's supposed to be 3 shots within a 6 month span, so starting at 12 months is the last time it would line up with regular well-baby check-ups.  Speaking of which, I should probably make that appointment.  Maybe if I don't make the appointment, he won't turn 1???  sigh.

11 months of Callum goodness

Yesterday, my baby bubby turned 11 months old.I refuse to accept it.  Just wait a month.  There might be massive crying fits....from me.

Callum is a fantastic little boy, if I do say so myself.  He's almost always happy and laughing (unless he's really tired or teething something terrible) and when he is cranky, he makes up for it in snuggles.  He's starting to get back into the swing of nursing during the day and I've had to pump less. He also has become a much better sleeper.  Monday night he slept from 7-7, waking at 10:30 pm to nurse.  Tuesday, I wanted a repeat, so instead of waiting for him to wake and nurse, we got him out of the crib and 10:30 and dreamfed him.  And he slept again!  Last night, he woke at 10:30ish and nursed and then woke again at 1:30.  I'll take what I can get.  And an added bonus (besides worlds better sleep!?!) is that he wakes up totally happy.  I wake up to hear him cooing and babbling in his crib.  Then I go get him out to nurse him and Everett stays asleep for another 15 minutes or so.  So my boys are sharing a bedroom like pros, my baby is starting to sleep like a big boy, and my big boy sleeps like a log.  :)

Let's try a "Callum can," shall we?

Callum currently can (I do love my alliteration):
- nearly run.  Maybe it's speed-walking, but it's darn fast.
- eat anything but tortilla chips and triscuits (those are too pokey and scare me).  He's even had peanut butter, eggs, milk, other nuts, and chocolate.  What can I say?  He's a second child, I'm not subscribing to the theory that delaying foods prevents food allergies, and the kid loves food.
- "read" books.  He loves carrying around board books, plopping down and flipping through the pages talking in a very high-pitched voice.  He still doesn't sit and listen to stories when we read to Everett, but he'll get there.
- hold a bottle and drink it while walking around.
- find a nuk in his sleep and pop it in his mouth.
- say "uh oh!" and "done!"
- slap his brother when he's being a stinky big brother.  Oops.  :)
- wrestle with daddy and brother
- laugh like a big boy
- use any sippy cup you put in front of him
- hear the dishwasher open from any room downstairs and run to it to dig in the silverware
- pet Olivia nicely and rub his face all over her super soft fur
- sneak through the big gate blocking off the living room from entry way
- climb all the stairs and know not to go near the top of them when he's upstairs
- play with Everett (which is one of THE cutest things EVER)
- wave and say "buh bye!"
-  hold hands with his daycare buddy, L
- take off his hat and mittens in record time (unless he's outside and realizes how cold it is!)
- give the best snuggles a baby has ever given
- melt our hearts and make us happier than ever

Messy eating

Isn't this how you look while eating yogurt and soup?

With his buddy, L.

And Everett tried out his new snowshoes today.

Snow angel

Homemade mini corn dogs

How fun is this?!  I got the idea from the blog, moscatomom and tried it out.  It's just jiffy mix and diced hot dogs made in my new babycakes cake pop maker.  When I got this for christmas from my sister-in-law, I was determined that I would use it for more than just cake pops.  We're on our way!  Next is muffins!

Surveillance

I finally did it.  I finally have a video monitor in the boys' room.  Kind of .  I bought an IP wireless video camera and spent about 2.5 hours trying to get everything working properly.  I still don't have audio (but we have our old audio monitor set up) and remote access, but I'll work on that later.
It's awesome.  I love that I have a huge viewing screen (computer or my phone!), a very nice camera with some resolution, and the whole thing cost me less than $100.  To buy a nice-ish video monitor system, you're almost guaranteed to spend more than $100.
We bought a Foscam camera 

and while it took some finagling to get installed properly, I don't mind fiddling with stuff like that and am now quite pleased.

And when I hear Callum yelling after I put him down for a nap, I can spy on him and see this:

mwa ha ha.

And now that he's just murmuring to himself, I can look again and see that he's lying down.  So. cool.

SOPA sucks

So I'm protesting it.

Callum's security blanket

You know how some kids have a favorite stuffed animal or a blankie that they carry everywhere with them?  Neither of my boys has ever really had that.  Everett had a slight attachment to a blanket and beanie baby cat because we sent them to daycare with him in hopes of getting him to take naps, but other than being at daycare, he didn't care about either of them.  Everett also needed his seahorse to sleep, but never carried it around all day or anything like that.   Both boys love their nuks and used them especially for sleeping, but Everett didn't care when we took his away and Callum really doesn't mind if he has one or not.  

Callum does, however, have an attachment to something.  He's had this attachment for a while now, probably a couple months or so.  I just never thought to write it down.  Callum loves my hair.  If he's tired, sad, hurt, or just needing snuggles, I can scoop him up and he nuzzles into my neck and strokes my hair.  Whether it's a ponytail or just down, he wiggles his fingers through it and strokes.  It's such a sweet little thing that he does and it calms us both down.  I know it's one of those things that he'll suddenly stop doing and I won't really notice, so I want to make sure that I can remember it somehow.  What else are blogs for?  :)  So here's to remembering my sweet 10 month old who loves my hair.

Cross country Everett

Not only is he a pro at downhill, he's getting the hang of cross-country too. :)

3 year old skiier

If this doesn't amaze you, you're weird.  :)

B is for Banana

A is for Apple

How fun is this?  Wanna play?  https://www.facebook.com/photo52abc?sk=wall

Snowflake craft

One thing that always works to get Everett focused is asking if he wants to do a craft.  Problem is, I have three other babies here and setting up a craft (when I figure out an idea for one) can be a big task.  Well, today babies are in cribs and I happened upon this blog which has a ton of ideas.  So today, Everett is making a snowflake out of marshmallows, paper, and glue.  Awesome.

And from last week or so:

Oh, brothers.  :)

Happy 2012!

The year the world ends, right?  ;)
I'm usually staunchly against new year's resolutions for no reason other than that everyone makes them, but this year, I've thought of some things I really want to do better at.
- Drink more water.  Until noon, I reach for coffee.  After noon, I'll make a cup of tea.  Why can't I just drink water?  Obviously I'm thirsty.  So I think I'm actually going to do the check-off of how many glasses I drink.
- Be more relaxed.  I get quite stressed during the days when I have two extra babies and a crazy toddler and I need to just gain some more patience and not let myself get worked up.  Stress is no good for the mind, body, teeth (TMD), or health in general.
- Have more patience with my Ever boy.  Three is definitely a testing age and it drives me up the wall sometimes.  I want to be better at remembering that he's still just a tiny boy who is learning every day and that I need to be infinitely patient with him.
- Do better at working out.  I did great this summer/fall when I could just get out and run and had my goals.  Now?  Not so much.  It's cold, it's dark, and I don't wanna.  Whether it takes getting a membership to the gym, or just using the dang wii fit, I need to get back into moving.