week without daddy

Wow, this was the longest week of my life. Alex had a team meeting for work in Oakland, CA which caused him to be away from home for five days in a row. And if this wasn't going to be a struggle enough alone with two kids, a dog and a full-time job, Jenna and I came down with head colds and an ant family tried to move in!

Thankfully, we all survived in tact in part with help from friends. We spent one evening at the Howeses house for dinner and playtime for the kids. They really all get along so well (Jenna happily tolerates Matilda stealing her binky and Tyler had the biggest tantrum of his life when it was time to go because he wanted to stay and play)!

bumbo

We've broken the Bumbo out of storage since the days when Tyler used it. I think she likes it. :)

size 2 diapers

Newborn > Size 1 > Size 2 it is now.

seriously?

I better watch what I say. Tyler copies EVERYTHING I say in the same tone.

I told him to do something and he said, "Seriously, mom?"

under the pillow

After we read bedtime stories, Tyler tucks his books under his pillow. Saving it there for later? He is soooo cute.

exersaucer

The doctor said that Jenna is close to sitting on her own so we could go ahead and start using her activity sets. This is Jenna getting some use out of her "new" exersaucer. Big brother Tyler has been demonstrating how to use the attached toys!

role reversal

Today Tyler was helping me put away his clothes in his room. He decided that it was time for me to lie down on his bed for a nap and that he would read me a book prior to my rest. I tried to sit up to look at the book as he "read" it and he instructed me to lie back down. Then he tucked me in and as he left the room closing the door he told me that he loved me and to call him when I woke up.

4 month checkup

Jenna had her 4-month checkup with Dr. Plotnick. She was very impressed by Jenna's early development, especially her head control and vocal abilities. She may be on track to surpass where Tyler was at this age, but of course she has her big brother to model herself after. They really can't seem to get enough of each other.

Jenna's stats are:
Weight: 14lbs, 3oz (50-75%)
Height: 25 1/4in (75-90%)
Head circumference: 16 1/4in (50-75%)

Nurse Claire gushed at Jenna's beauty. I said I agreed, but aren't all moms super biased? And she responded, "Well, I'm not her mom and I can tell you she is really, really beautiful." Awww.

4 months

For comparison, check out Tyler at 4 months!

laughy girl

Ms. Debbie let me know that all of the kids at daycare call Jenna "laughy girl" because she is constantly giggling.

wonderful day

Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves. For every tantrum there is a polar opposite moment where we cannot believe that this super little human being is ours. Tyler started saying lately, "Thank you mom and dad for a wonderful day." This child just blows my socks off. So articulate, so compassionate and so smart. We just can't love him any more than we already do!

scolding

My son scolded me for leaving the laundry door open. I'm happy that he knows the rules, but think it's funny that I got blamed for his Dad's doing!

a head mover and a shaker

Jenna is really engaged with her environment. While walking the dog she glows while staring up at the trees, just as I remember Tyler doing as a baby. She is also so nosy wanting to see what is going on around her. She moves her head back and forth to see the TV and then back to us to giggle like she does. And she really shakes and bats at the dangling toys around her now.

viva la luca

Tyler has a new buddy, Luca, who recently moved to the neighborhood! He's nearly a year younger but they have become fast friends and love going to the park together (with parents tagging along as well of course).

looking up

when it rains, it pours

Sometimes you just have to let kids be kids. Tyler loves to jump in puddles, and on this particular day it was pouring down rain. He stomped in those puddles until his heart's content. He was drenched from head to toe, but it was so worth it!

amendment

I need to make an amendment to my Size 11 entry. We tried the 4T pants on. They fell down right over his hips. So we're going to need to exchange them for 3T or invest in some belts!

size 11

Tyler is having another growth spurt. All of sudden his size 9 shoes are extremely tight. (These are the same shoes that I bought in the spring thinking that they would be his "fall shoes" and ended up needing them nearly right away.) So we bought Tyler a new fall wardrobe this weekend. We skipped over 3T entirely and got all 4T. We got him a size 10 pair of shoes and a size 11. Sure enough the size 10 just fit him and would soon be too small so those are going back in favor of the SIZE 11!!

parentisms

Once you become a parent you do things you never thought you'd do and you say things that you never imagined would come out of your mouth. My words to Tyler: "We don't tickle people while they are on the potty!"

family time

clown!

As if we didn't have enough trouble with Daisy using Jenna's things...Now Tyler is in on it!

the pot and the kettle

We're rushing around trying to get out of the door this morning. As I talk Tyler says, "You are loud mommy." Now isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!

that's right

At dinner Alex was telling me about his day and about his colleague, Steve, flying into BWI. Tyler interjects, "Who me?" Alex says, "No, Steve." And Tyler responds, "Ohhhh, Steeeeeve. That's right." If you could only have heard how he said this and the tone; made it very funny.

i see you

family walks

We really love the trails and playgrounds all around our neighborhood. We frequently take Daisy for walks with the entire family.

in her crib

I finally relented. Alex has asked me for weeks if I wanted to move Jenna to her crib rather than the bassinet in our room. She's been sleeping through the night since she was six weeks old (just a couple of weeks sooner than Tyler did), but I've not moved her to her room as early as I did with Tyler. I told myself that this was because often she wakes up once or twice needing her binky (Tyler always used his thumb to pacify himself). I hear an inkling of a peep from her and I can (while I'm still nearly asleep) pop up and put her binky in her mouth and get back in bed. We are both back to deep sleep within seconds. How could I do this if she is all the way down the hall? Alex also always asked on weeknights and I was unwilling to make a major change in routine when we had to work the next day.

So it's Friday night and he asks again. I have no further reason not to put her in her crib. But suddenly I'm so sad to let her make the move down the hall. You would have thought I was leaving on a long trip the way I was reacting to our "parting." I realized that I was sad because she may be my last baby and this was the first in many steps to come toward her independence. Alex assured me that we didn't have to make the move tonight. My logical side knew he was right and tonight was as good as any, but my emotional side was lagging behind! Reason won out: little lady Jenna is in her own room now.

where are me?

Tyler pulls the cover over his head and Alex, "Where are me?" Alex corrects him, "No you say 'Where am I?'" Tyler responds, "ok, where are you?"

little lady

Daddy calls Jenna "little lady." For days Tyler argued that Daddy should not call Jenna that. He must have given up, because now he's calling her the little lady now too.

mother and daughter

inching up

Jenna is on the move! She digs her heals in, pushes and inches her way up while lying on her back. Watch out!

calling dad Alex

What did Tyler pick up after a few days of having guests? "Alex!" rather than Daddy. Giggle.

tyler is still a smiler

visit from the linns

My college roommate, Katie, and her family arrived to stay with us during their visit back to Maryland. Her son Hunter is a year older than Tyler and the two palled around like best buds from the start. During the weekdays the Linns visited with other friends and toured around places like the hospital where Hunter was born.

But Saturday was an all Campbell day. We got off to a slow start with a big, delicious breakfast. Katie started to think that Jenna was really just a little doll and not a real baby because she hadn't heard Jenna cry once the first few days and she seemed to be asleep a lot. But eventually Jenna was up and we all went to a local store opening where the boys got to enjoy a balloon artist, face painter and make their own trail mix. Next up -- nap time!

and your day?

Tyler picks up on everything we do. Often, I ask Tyler how he slept and at dinner we all chat about our days. But you hardly expect your two-year-old to do the same.

Recently, Tyler asked me, "How was your night, Mommy? You sleep well?" And then today he asked Alex, "How was your day, Daddy? What did you do?" I love his grown-up conversation with us.

big brother

Tyler is over the moon for his little sister.

what a beauty

picture day

We headed to the Columbia Mall with the goal of getting Jenna's 3-month photos and some family portraits. But we found that there was much more to do! Tyler played on the toy piano at the studio (doesn't he look like Schroeder from Peanuts?), engineered a tower and even ventured on the merry-go-round. Meanwhile Jenna was tuckered out by her photo shoot and took a snooze.

3 months

Jenna is SO amazing. She is super cute and such a happy, happy baby. I thought Tyler smiled a lot, but she takes the cake.

bubble boy

How do you entertain adults and kids alike? Wrap your 2-year-old son in bubble wrap from head to toe. And then watch as he tries to upright himself while bound in his bubble barrier. We haven't laughed so hard in a good while. (No one was injured in the making of this stunt so don't call Child Protective Services!)

cuddles with daddy

lounging

i love my bunny

love of books

Tyler has really shown a huge interest in books lately. He wants to read them all of the time and will even "read" them to himself sometimes.

back to work

I'm not ready! I have been dreading the end of my maternity leave with Jenna. I have really enjoyed this time with her. How does 11.5 weeks go by so quickly? God, give me strength (and energy!) during this transition. At least I got the most loving send off from my kids (I'm still trying to get used to that being plural -- kids).

pump tools

I was packing up the supplies I would need to take upstairs with me for the evening. I set my pump tools on the table. Turning around moments later I found Tyler assembling the bottles and cones -- correctly! What a great little helper.

nice hair

In the last few weeks of my maternity leave I've had my hair in a ponytail or bun most days. This morning I had a special treat of a really long shower. When I came downstairs from drying my hair, Tyler gave me an unsolicited "Mommy, I like your hair!" Awww, what a gentleman.

scissors and zippers

Today Oma taught Tyler how to use scissors. They were sitting at the kitchen table doing play-doh. And there he was SNIP, SNIP. Amazingly, he was using his left hand.

Later while playing with him in the family room, I taught him how to use a zipper. Now he is able to zip and unzip his mega bloks bag all by himself. What a big boy!

the balds and the beautifuls

Oma, bald from years of chemotherapy treatments, can relate to Jenna well as they cuddle together most weekends. I'm looking forward to putting Jenna's hair in pigtails and bows once her hair grows in. Maybe Oma will let me put a bow in her hair too when she's not follicly challenged. Fat chance. :)

baby hugs

out of his shell

Most recently Tyler has broken out of his shy shell. He used to hide behind our legs (and still may in the future) and say, "I'm going to be shy Mom." Of course it was only a matter of minutes before his boisterous self emerged. But yesterday while walking in the neighborhood he was happy to call across the street to another boy. And then today he couldn't stop chatting up the workmen who were in the house to fix our granite.

roll over

Jenna rolled over this morning! From tummy to back. I was so excited I kept putting her back on her tummy to see her do it over and over again. Tyler and I had fun watching her and caught it on video, although she was crying by the time we got it on tape. Poor girl was exhausted from the workout!

errand boy

I could really get used to this -- Tyler doing errands! Alex's flight home was canceled and I wasn't mentally prepared for another night alone with the kids. I was juggling all that had to be done and feeding Jenna upstairs when Daisy began to bark from the kitchen wanting her food. Ooops, another task I had not accounted for.

Tyler to the rescue! I asked him to go downstairs and feed her. "OK!!" Sure enough, he popped off the bed, headed down there and in a minute or so I heard him closing the food container and cabinet where the dog food is stored. He ran back upstairs as proud as can be. And Daisy was happy too that she didn't have to wait any longer!

thinker

Jenna does this all of the time! Fist to chin or cheek.

acting crazy

This morning Alex was trying to entertain Tyler by putting a toy car on his head. Tyler looked at him and said, "You're acting CRAZY!"

just so pretty

smiles

visit from joy

Tyler (and Jenna) really enjoyed seeing Joy. As she was leaving he asked if he could "take a kiss." Isn't that so sweet?