2 Month Check-up

We had Lu’s 2 month check up on Friday (11 days past her 2 month birthday). Thankfully, everything went well. Z was really on his best behavior too to the point that the nurse and the doctor commented on how quiet he was and he got a Dora sticker for being so good. Thankfully, we barely even had a wait.

Lu’s stats were great! She’s 10 pounds 10 ounces (40th percentile) and 24 and 1/2 inches, which even though she was really still during the measuring, we were doubting a little because that puts her in the 95th percentile. She had 4 shots, which did cause a fair amount of screaming, but she got over it super quick. She was a little fussy that evening, but generally seemed to sleep it off. Here’s how she compared to Z at the same point.

We went to McDonald’s drive-thru after for Z and he ate like a champ.

We spent the evening at the condo (Z’s favorite), but he was a pill that night because he didn’t take a nap, instead he played in his room for about 2 hours, something he’s been doing more often these days.

The next day went back to the condo to swim and let me tell you, my child is fearless in the water. He nearly gave me a heart attack. Nick and Dad had already told me how he liked to jump off the side to them, and they had to remind him to wait for them and count before he jumps, but I witnessed it for myself on Saturday. All I see in my head when I think about that day is his little face as he hurls his body towards the water. Thankfully, I had just bought him this puddlejumper, so I was a little less freaked out. I’m thankful he’s not scared of the water, but a healthy respect would be nice!

Saturday night we went to a dinner, and Z had a blast because he had his bff, cousin Jude! He and Lu were actually both very good, and we had a great time visiting with friends.

Lu slept really well the whole weekend, and we had a great time! I can’t believe how big she’s getting!

Update on Dora

I am happy to report that the love for Dora has returned! Just 2 days after the incident, Z is back watching his little friends! Whew, that was a close one!

He also loves Super Why and Curious George as well as Dora and Mario (videos on youtube of people playing various versions of Super Mario Bros. going as far back as Mario Bros. 1 on NES!). Nana and Tata just bought him these Mario pajamas and Mario doll to represent the love.

When he watches Super Why, he insists on having his “tool.” The “tool” is a part of a toy he got months ago with a happy meal that just happens to resemble what I am guessing is a pen (or a stylus, maybe?) on Super Why (we just put this all together this morning). Whenever he sees Super Why, he shouts “I need my tool!” He also goes around the house “fixing” things with his tool. It’s the little things with kids!

Here is a picture of the “tool.”                                    And Super Why with his “tool”
                                         

The tool is tricky. It gets lodged between the cushions of the couch and lately has even gone to bed with Z. I’m praying we keep track of the tool because McDonald’s has unfortunately moved on to Madagascar toys, so replacing the coveted tool would be quite difficult.

I am probably going to start a periodic post dedicated to Z sayings just because I want to document them, and I think they're funny. One thing he did yesterday made us laugh so I wanted to write about it. I have been trying to teach him how to spell his name (not to take all the credit because they probably do it at school too), but this weekend after he had been saying Z-Y-D, it finally clicked and he said Z-A-Y-D, Zayd (that was after he saw someone with a Z on his shirt on TV and said "Z for Zayd!"). So, I was trying to tell him that he can spell Mama too: "M-A-M-A." Then I asked him to spell Mama and he said "M-M-M-M." I (the biased mother) thought that was pretty stinking hilarious. In case you want proof of his new skill, here's video.

Family

We have been really busy these past couple weeks as the vast majority of my family and their families have been in town. We just knew the kids would love hanging out together, but underestimated the logistics involved in having one set of grandparents 3 kids (a spouse), and 5 kids under 7 bouncing around between 3 living spaces. It made for some interesting days at our house since my mom has been keeping Lu in the afternoons. The kids were helpful as always….

Lu was not sure what to think of all of her visitors, but she might as well get used to it being that she is the baby of these 7 grandkids!

We spent quite a bit of time in Sylacauga, since it is the only place big enough for everybody. There have been many great bonding moments in this lazy boy….

We thought we might need a babysitter, then we remembered that Apple makes the best babysitter….

Z really loves his big cousins. They take care of him….

And he looks up to them….

Some of Nick’s and my favorite times were spent with our (respective) cousins. I am so happy that Z is getting the same experience, not to mention how happy I am to hang out with my sis and bro! There’s really nothing in this world like family!

Growing Up

Z has been hanging with his cousins lately, 7 year-old Jude, 6 year-old Amira, and 3 year-old Adam. He is totally loving it, although a bit overwhelmed when they're all together and in his house. It has been good for him and he definitely looks up to them. I had no problem with any of it until I asked him if he wanted to watch Dora the other night, you know his most favorite Latina BFF who makes him laugh out loud. Yeah, that one. And, the response, well it shattered me.

Me: Hey Z, you want to watch Dora?
Z: (in a know-it-all teenager voice) Mommmm, I don't watch Dora anymore. I don't like it
Me: jaw drops

Guys, I am seriously upset about this! I know he's just saying it because he heard his cousin(s) say it, but I am very traumatized by this for two reasons:

1. He is young and impressionable, that I understand, but he loves Dora more than anything, and I can't believe he would change his beliefs that easily.

2. The thought that he already thinks something is "uncool" makes me scared that he's growing up, which I don't think I can handle. What's next? Making me park across the street from his preschool because he's embarrassed to be seen with me?

Okay, maybe a little exaggeration. I am going to work to re-establish they're connection, if for no other reason than the fact I just paid $23 for 15 episodes on iTunes.

2 Months

Lu’s 2 months old! We are having a blast with her! She is definitely getting over the newborn fussiness and settling into a little more predictable routine, even sleeping great at night! I can’t believe how much she changes from day to day. Since I just did an 8 week update, I’ll make this mostly about pictures of my little princess.

8 Weeks

Lu’s 8 weeks old now, and I managed to snap a few pictures yesterday on her 8 week birthday.

She is still spending her mornings with our nanny and the afternoons with my mom. I think Lu is wearing mom out, but she always tells me "she's worth it!" I am so appreciative that she’s willing to do it for us to keep her home just a little longer

Lu pretty much only cries when she’s sleepy or hungry (or in the car), and she’s really starting to like sitting under her playmat, the changing table, and her mobile. Her smiles are becoming more frequent, although still difficult to photograph.

She pretty consistently takes a 2-2.5 hour nap first thing in the morning, then a shorter nap after her 9/10 o'clock feeding, and another nap from about 1:30-4. The rest of the evening consists of catnaps in between feedings. The only time she skipped that afternoon nap was when Nick went out house hunting and to Golfsmith with my brother one Sunday. That day she and Z both woke up too soon (right when I was about to fall asleep for a nap). Classic, huh?!

Her nights basically alternate between 9/10 to 5/6 (a full night) and 8/9 to 3/4 for a feeding then asleep till 7. I'm not sure which schedule is going to stick just yet. Sometimes when she gets up to feed, she's pretty fussy even after, so I'm thinking she really doesn't want to be up at that hour (that's what I'm telling myself anyway).
 

We are settling into our new routine, which many days includes a trip home during lunch, then back to work, then back home to pick up Lu, then to Z’s school, then back home. I am thankful Z can really entertain himself once home (lately with the PBS kids app on the iPad and episodes of Curious George). I am also thankful my mom has been cooking for us, because otherwise, I think we would all be eating pb sandwiches every night!

He loves his bowling set that Aunt Shelley got him for his second birthday. He always wants to go "play bowling downstairs," which his baba or my mom will entertain on some evenings thankfully, because Lord knows I don't have it in me on most days. 

I really can't believe it has been 5 weeks since we had these pictures made! Heather did an amazing job even though Lu gave her a real run for her money!

The Fourth

We had a pretty relaxing uneventful Fourth of July. We decided since I was going to be off Wednesday through Friday and because my brother is here (yay!) that we would spend the weekend in Sylacauga or as Z says “Cah-ga!” We haven’t been in a while and were unsure how sleeping arrangements would work because Z doesn’t sleep “enclosed” anymore and Lu doesn’t sleep. Okay, yes she sleeps but we still are never sure when or for how long. But, we took it on anyway, and it worked out.

Z has always slept in the laundry room in Sylacauga, which I know sounds kinda cruel unusual, but it has a window and a nice air vent, so I figure it’s no different than a room, plus he sleeps so well in there. We took the pack ‘n play and a cot and tried the cot first. He LOVED it! We put down his napmat that he sleeps on at school with his sheets from home, a sprinkle of Winnie and a dash of Dora book, and he was good to go!

Lu slept in the crib located in what is now a game room. It didn’t seem to matter to her and it was right next to our room, so that worked out, except on the 2 out of 4 nights that she didn’t sleep very well, 50% ain’t too bad for a 7 week old I say.

While we were there Z started saying some hilarious things, the best of which was when we told him it was nap time and he said “Noooo, it’s Tuesdaaaayyy!!” You see, we have been teaching him the days of the week to try and get him to understand which days he goes to school and which days he gets to stay home. He also knows Tuesday because that when Nunna and Jido come over. For some reason, Tuesday has become the day that he doesn’t have to do anything, because this morning when Nick said it’s time for school he exclaimed, “No, it’s Tuesdayyy!”

He really likes to count in Spanish and now says “La Luna” and “Estrella,” both of which he learned from Dora. Although he insists that it’s “La Nuna” and “Est-laya.”

He loves soccer and will shout “Gooooal for Zayd!” at random times. A couple weeks ago we were watching the Euro Cup and he said “Gooooal for pitchers!” I have no idea what that was supposed to mean, but he still says it periodically.

We’ve also been going over girl/boy distinction, as in, is Mama a girl or a boy. He’s finally got that down pretty well, although he would probably answer that by saying “he’s a girl!”

His favorite things to do are go to the condo, play soccer, go downstairs and play ping pong or foosball, watch Dora or Curious George (which he laughs out loud at), and jump off of things. That last one about gives me a heart attack, but he seriously will jump off of just about anything. He also falls straight back or straight forward on the couch, yikes!

So Happy Together

I never get tired of seeing these two together!

The Good The Bad and The Ugly

This weekend’s events can be broken down very simply into three categories. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Sleep

The Good: Lu slept through the night (10-6) Friday and Saturday nights.

The Bad: She woke up at 3:45 Sunday night/Monday morning to eat.

The Ugly: She was up until after 5 this morning, spitting up and fussing (mostly on Nick, but I was definitely NOT sleeping either).

Activities

The Good: We went out a fair amount, including the Lee’s 4th birthday party at which Z played his heart out.

*Thank you Amanda for this picture :)

 

and Lu slept

The Bad: Lu cried on car rides and in the two restaurants that the people around us we braved.

The Ugly: On Saturday night, we went to a Korean BBQ place where Lu screamed for the last 20 or 30 minutes or so, while Z yelled proclaimed loudly all of his desires (e.g. “I want white ice cream!) while we were sitting directly next to the only other people in the entire restaurant. 

But, you know we wouldn’t trade it for the world!