Feverish

The cuteness of recovering from a fever battle.

Soren had a fever first and in the way of babies who share everything, Asher got it too. Asher has been ON fire today--his cheeks, his forehead, even his hair have been scorchingly hot to the touch. We battled the fever with the usual tricks and he perked right up. He perked up so much that he was excited for a post-bath photo. Every time I hold a sick or feverish child I try to take a million mental snapshots of their perfect little forms while trying not to worry too much that they will suffer some sort of tragic damage from the fever or sickness. I am grateful and blessed to have such healthy children.

Sleep Eating w/o Ambien

Soren looking super fatigued.

Soren nodding off...

Hands flailing...

OUT!

Refused nap. So tired. Hungry. Must eat. More tired. Table is way better than crib.

Organizer

Asher grouping objects on the big frisbee.

Asher creating a fortress of paper towels.

Soren modeling a line-up of Asher's work.

Asher halted the consumption of dinner to organize dinner--pea by pea by pea.

He's probably counting in his head, 'five, five, five, five.' Five is the number he likes to use when he 'counts.'

I wasn't born with the 'organization' gene--it's a struggle for me to keep my home marginally organized. Jamie could possibly possess such a gene but if anything, organizing, like cleaning, is more of a hobby for him. When he DOES it, he does it well and effectively.

Asher, our little man, in a defiance of genetics, is an organizer. He lines, layers, and clusters objects together. He seems to do this effortlessly with great interest and even zeal. Asher's capacity for concentration was manifested when he was only 'several' months old. I marvel at his focus and love him for it.

Trying to Have Fun w/o Hubs

Crawling under things is apparently super fun! You should try it!

Hanging from things, like a bench, is also super fun! You should try it!

Smashing one's face on the bench is also super fun.

Being Asher is super fun!

Spontaneous head stands are super fun!

Laying on a bench is super fun!

Capital columns. We never actually made it to them, just near them.

It is super sweet to be Soren.

Another spontaneous head stand!

Jamie worked SIX 12-hour shifts in a seven day period. It has been a tough week. To entertain ourselves and pass the days until daddy doesn't work so much, we took a few fun outings. We went to Mt. Vernon where Asher and Soren stood in awe of two massive bulls and they tapped (not so much petted) several sheep. I pushed the stroller into a giant field of grass hoping that the two of them would frolic about the stroller but not so much. They sprinted down the hill towards the bulls. See ya mom! I eventually herded them back to our abandoned stroller.

We made it to ONE hour of church (see first line of above sentence). Asher again was traumatized by nursery and soon Soren needed a diaper change. Asher did not want to be set down and clung to me like a baby monkey, which made changing Soren difficult. I decided to take my circus side show home and call it a good enough church effort.

Sunday afternoon after naps Chon and I took the boys to the National Arboretum. EVERY time I go I wonder why I don't go more frequently because it is so wonderfully filled with things to do and see for all ages. We went straight to the Koi pond and truly that was exciting for Asher and Soren. "Fish!" was exclaimed a multitude of cute times.

We walked about the herb garden and then to the huge lawn and again I had to laugh that every time I take Asher and Soren outside and expect them to explore and roam they hone in on something like the stroller or a bench and have no need to go any further or do anything else. Benches were the second main attraction behind the koi. They sure found many ways to have fun with a bench!

It is such a joy to follow my children as they OWN the world with happiness. I love to watch them run and spin and chase each other while laughing hysterically and turn in happy circles and drop into a hand stand. They charm my life.

Movingatthespeedoflight...

and growing up at warp speed, if such a speed existed.

Surviving

Soren, the morning after. All sweet smiles!

There are a million different parenting styles, right? Everyone does what works for them while we tend to judge (usually silently) the choices of others. I don't understand why my neighbor still nurses her 2 year old all night long and she doesn't understand why someone would let their children 'cry it out' for the sake of a routine.

I'm not sure I know exactly what my style is but in desperation, I Ferber, or do what I think is the Ferber method. When the boys don't want to go to bed or they wake up in the middle of the night (w/o any obvious medical concerns) I go into the nursery and whisper sweet nothings without picking them up or whisking them away. I do this in five, ten, fifteen, and 20 minute intervals. While they cry alone in their nursery and I try to busy my worried hands during periods of waiting--I feel conflicted. I hate that they have to cry in despair and frustration and I hate that I can't more easily and wonderfully solve the sleep problem. I have hope and faith that in the end they will be okay and that we will all sleep better.

Soren cried for an hour last night and even threw up in the first five minutes. It was a long, miserable hour. I ached for my baby and I ached for feeling so alone and helpless. He did sleep through the night and when I saw him this morning I could not stop hugging him or praising him. I think he was like, 'what's your problem? back off!'

Thanks to everyone who has offered encouraging words. I need them and appreciate them.

Mid-Day Photo Shoot

Asher insisted on holding two tubes of diaper rash cream while we took photos. He's cute.

Holy curls!

Us many months ago!

Asher and I amused ourselves while Soren napped. We rocked out to my new favorite Kings of Leon tune and had sososososososo much fun. We have the same overly excited smile!

Sleep Training

Asher and Soren are nearly TWO and yet they still don't sleep through the night consistently. Lately the trend is to wake up and BEG to read books. I admit that it has been easier to just read a book for ten minutes than deal with the tears and fuss of denial. Well, I need my sleep and they need their rest. This weekend I will be attempting to break the late night 'bookie! bookie! bookie!' habit. It's going to suck. I hate sleep training.

My sister sent me this in an email and it has comforted me and given me courage: "I wish I were there to send you away and let me let them cry it out, clean up the vomit, tell them they are safe and loved and let them be." I love my sister and her endless kind words.

I will pray for my babies to sleep well and for me to simultaneously provide them comfort and sleep guidance. Also, thank goodness I'm not potty training!

Lovely Longwood

Asher and Soren wish they were fish and were soaked within moments of being released from their stroller!

Asher and Soren were consulting one another on what they wanted to see and do at the garden.

Boxwood critters.

Fountain fun!

Birdie birdens!

This little fountain would squirt water randomly, which absolutely thrilled The Deuce.

Soaking wet and super cute.

The conservatory was remarkable: massive, impressive, and beautiful.

The children's garden in the conservatory was tremendous! This fountain jumped up the ramp then back down, which caused The Deuce to run excitedly to follow the water.

Trying to keep up with my baby babes!

Soren loves to hang on anything!

Go to the gardens!

I took my mom and the boys on a little road trip to Kennett Square, PA to visit Longwood Gardens. It took us about two hours to get to the garden and once we got past Baltimore it was a pleasant drive. I crossed the Susquehannah river FOUR times this week!

The gardens were awesome! The scale of the place was overwhelming and sadly, we were not able to see everything but we loved what we saw. We were graced with a comfortable and overcast day, perfect for hours spent outdoors.

Asher and Soren were ecstatic about all of the fountains, tiny chairs, and room to run and spin. They were dripping wet after just the first fountain but I saw no point in trying to curb their enthusiasm for playing in the water.

The conservatory was probably the highlight for all because the breadth of flowers and plants was considerable but their children's castle was tremendous. More fountains, curious statues, ramps to run up and down, and more water. The garden was super family friendly and had signs saying that they had towels for wet children to dry off. Fun!

I can't wait to go back with hubs...anyone else care to join us?