Christmas decorating with a boy

Giggles

Paul's update

Paul is now 3 1/2 months old, and growing quickly! He's delighting us all with smiles, giggles, and coos. What a happy sound! We can get the most giggles when we strip him down on the changing table, and tickle him. Paul loves to watch his brother running around the house. He's a pretty happy and content baby, as long has he's fed and not tired (and not in his car seat). He has discovered his hands and feet--so fascinating! Paul definitely likes to be in his crib to sleep, or Mom and Dad's bed, but that's another story. I remember being able to run errands with Benjamin and he would sleep the whole time. Not so with Paul, he just gets tired and irritated, and eventually will fall asleep for 10 minutes, and then wake up cranky. I guess he thinks he needs to stay awake, so he won't miss the action. We're logging in a 5 or 6 hour chunk of sleep on good nights. Maybe if we could get rid of the stuffy nose for longer than a few days, sleep would improve! It has been so much fun now that Paul is interacting more. He is such a sweet, chubby, cuddly guy!

Things look pretty serious!

One of those 10-minute cat-naps

Thanksgiving

We traveled to Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken's in New Jersey for Thanksgiving. We had a good time seeing everyone. Paul's first car trip wasn't too bad, but after one crying spell, Benjamin asked, "Did we bring the pacifier along?" Paul is not a big fan of the car seat, and it usually takes 15-20 minutes of screaming before he'll fall asleep. Oh, well, we made it there and back all in one piece!

Uncle Ken and Paul having some floor time

Benjamin playing with Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken's toys. He was working on the farm.

Being silly! Aunt Mary put us to work putting together some Christmas gift bags. Benjamin was a great help stuffing the bags.

Aunt Joan and Paul

Football video

I don't think anyone in our house will be joining the NFL anytime soon!

My boy of routine

That would be Benjamin...definitely not Paul at this point! Benjamin has become so routine. We have our waking up routine...come into our bedroom to snuggle, get milk, read stories in the living room, eat breakfast. All of this with Daddy. The mornings when Daddy has to leave early, before Benjamin's up, do not always go well. Sunday morning he came into our bedroom to snuggle, and he took one look at Paul and me, and refused to get into bed because Daddy wasn't there. So, it was into the living room to read stories. Of course, Paul then woke up and wanted to eat, so that was a disaster!

We have our mid-day routine. Eat lunch, get ready for a nap by reading two stories and singing "Jesus Loves Me." One of his shades has be to half-way down, the other closed, while we are reading. He then pulls down the shade before I sing. See what I mean? The other day, I had to feed Paul in between eating lunch and putting Benjamin down for his nap. He freaked out--cried in his bedroom the whole time for me to come and read him stories. See what I mean about routine?! What two-year-old begs to be put down for a nap? Side note--Jonathan is doing a Bible study on disciple, and the DVD said something about toddlers never wanting to go to bed. Not true with ours! He has, on more than one occasion, told us he wanted to go to bed or take a nap. Yes, we count ourselves blessed!

And I could go on about the bedtime routine also, but you get the idea...he likes things the same! That being said, he has done very well with our new addition. Of course, he's gotten upset over less attention, but overall, he's been good for a two-year-old!

Some of the things Benjamin loves right now:

• Trucks
• Daddy's day off (He knows it's Monday!)
• Reading books--especially, Berenstien Bears, Arthur, Clifford, Richard Scarry, Little Critter, toddler Bible, John Deere books
• Playing outside, although lately he says he doesn't want to go outside. Once we get outside, though, he doesn't want to come in!
• Playing ball, especially baseball and golf
• Milk
• Chocolate
• Most fruits and veggies--How many two-year-olds ask for seconds of broccoli?!
• Snacks (Perhaps I'm to blame for this--I've been snacking all the time for almost a year now, between being pregnant and nursing! And if Mommy has a snack, Benjamin has to have one too!)
• Sesame Street
• Visitors
• His blankie
• Pretending he's someone else--chances are if he's seen or heard about you in the past few months, he's pretended to be you!

Photo shoot

Awhile ago I was trying to get a sweet shot of Benjamin giving Paul a kiss on the head. I had to bribe him with fruit snacks to even try it, and this was the result...

...oh, well, maybe another day!