Two Years of A Beautiful Life

Dear Max,

Two years ago today was the beginning.  The beginning of your life and ours.  As parents.  As individuals with bigger hearts and bigger responsibility than the day before. We became a family.   And it's been two whole years of a beautiful life.

On this morning two years ago the sun was rising and the epidural was wearing off.  Watching the night become a new day was a promising and relieving break from the pain. I knew I was going to meet my little morning bird* soon. 

On this night two years ago I vigilantly watched over your tiny body in the darkness of our hospital room.  It was late, but you were awake and I didn't want to sleep unless you were sleeping. So I rested next to your bassinet and counted your breaths.  I barely blinked as you laid there silently contemplating your new surroundings with those puffy little eyes.  You belonged to me and I belonged to you.  I had never felt anything stronger or more undeniable.

Now you're growing into your own little person.  Our main source of entertainment (and frustration :).  And you constantly keep us guessing as you try to become independent.  You're so ready to take on the world and there is no doubt in our minds that that's exactly what you'll do.

Happy 2nd Birthday, little man.

My whole heart,

Momma

One day old.  My tiniest Valentine.

*Max, I still quietly call you my morning bird when you're sweet and sleepy after just waking up.  Morning Bird by Forest Sun is your song.  I can't remember the exact moment I heard this song for the first time, but when you were born in the morning hours my mind kept wandering back to these lyrics.  I shared your brother's "song" on the blog so I thought it was only fair that you knew yours too...

Sing to me
My morning bird
The sweetest song I ever heard
Love’s melody
In your heart’s own words
Sing to me
My morning bird

When the sun
Climbs over the mountain
Just to hear you sing your song
And all the stars
Lay down in heaven
To take their rest
Till evening comes

Won’t you sing to me
My morning bird
the sweetest song I ever heard
Love’s melody
In your heart’s own words
Sing to me
My morning bird

Don’t you fly
Away from me
Without leaving
Me with your song
For the morning
Is much too lonely
And so quiet
When you’re gone

Sing to me
My morning bird
the sweetest song I ever heard
Love’s melody
In your heart’s own words
Sing to me
My morning bird

Sing to me
My morning bird
the sweetest song I ever heard
Love’s melody
In your heart’s own words
Sing to me
My morning bird

Update: 6 months & 2 years

Yep, just as I predicted in my post last month, Sullivan turned 6 months old on February 6th. There was no way around it. And keeping in line with the steady march of time, Max will turn 2 years old on the 13th.  Time is tricky like that.  They're exactly one week short of  being 18 months apart.  I love that these two important milestones coincided.

I had a pocket full of M&Ms ready to bribe him to stand still and smile for the camera, but to my surprise he was so excited about wearing his suspenders and holding the balloons that bribes were not necessary.

With both of their big milestones falling one week apart we split the difference and combined their doctor appointments today.  Easier than going twice, right?

STATS:
Max - Height: 36 inches (90th %), Weight: 33.5 lbs (95th %) + ALL your teeth are in :)
Sullivan - Height: 28 inches (90th %), Weight: 20 lbs (90th %), Head: 18 inches (70th %)

Dr. Kate said you are both doing great!

Dear Max,

Here are some funny anecdotes from you as of late...

1) For dinner one night I made you some sesame-peanut noodles.  You started eating away and then noticed the peanuts and said "Momma, that??" (pointing and asking "that?" is my cue to give the the name of things).  I said, "Oh, those are peanuts.  Yum!"  You gave me a horrified look and started spitting them out while saying "No penis, no penis!"   I tried to explain to you that peanuts and penis are very different things but you wouldn't have it.  You picked them all out of the noodles and refused to eat them.  I'm now very careful to enunciate when I tell you that you're having peaNUT butter and jelly for lunch. (side note:  I cannot wait to tell your girlfriends this story in the future!)

2) A few weeks ago we were out to lunch with Lolli and GG.  You had removed your straw from your juice box and started squirting it into your mouth.  So I said, "Max.  You're making a mess please put your, um....your um....(trying my hardest to think of the word for straw).  You just stopped what you were doing, looked up at me and said "Straw?"  (like, "Uh, duh, mom.  Learn to talk.")  I just said "Yes, your STRAW!"  while Lolli and GG couldn't stop laughing.  You're a quick little guy.

3) You speak to "Baby Van" in the cutest little old lady voice.  You "Ohhh" and "Ahhh" over him and say "Ohhhh Baaabyyy...soo cuuuute!" in a really high pitched voice. 

4)  When we ask you who's birthday is coming up you yell "MY BIRFDAY!".  And when we ask you how old you're going to be you say "TWO!" and hold up 10 fingers :)
----------------------------------------

Dear Sullivan,

You continue to be one of the sweetest babies ever.  No teeth yet despite the fact you've been drooling and chewing like you've been cutting some since 2 months.  We started introducing solids to you and so far you haven't met a food you didn't like.  You can sit pretty well unassisted...you're a bit wobbly though.  Also, yesterday I put you on your back on your activity mat thinking that you can only roll over once (you still haven't figured out tummy-to-back yet).  So I left the room for 1 minute.  I came back and SOMEHOW got yourself totally off the mat and onto the wood floor about 3 feet from where I left you.  I still don't know if you rolled, crawled or scooted.  Baby Houdini.  I keep trying to get you to do it again, but you're keeping your secret tricks to yourself.  And lastly, dear Sully, you look at Max like he's the coolest person on the planet.  You always reach your arms out toward him.  He returns the adoration and has started saying "I love you, baby" when he gives you big hugs. 

I went back and looked at pictures of what we were doing six months ago. 

Before: I managed to muster up a smile for the camera in the early stages of labor.  It was about 3am on your birthday. 
After:  Finally here...12 long hours later.

At this point I had only imagined a fraction of the joy you were going to bring this family.

Even at a healthy 10lbs at birth you still seemed so tiny!

We celebrated your half birthday by going to Sully's Pub.  We started a 1/2 birthday tradition of taking Max to "Max's Autodiner" so naturally we're doing the same for you. 

(See Max's 6 month celebration) 

 It just so happens that there's a place called Sully's.

We were lucky to have the entire place to ourselves.

"Hmm...what should I have...mozzarella sticks, Frito pie, chicken tenders..."

"Ohhh...NACHOS! Nachos, nachos, nachos..."

"Wait a second...that was my bite!"

"Really not cool, Dad."

And then there was Max doing this....

Max needed two spoons to shovel the Frito pie in.

Ah! We love you both so much!

Forever and always.
Momma & Dada

My Vintage Life.

I have been surrounded by vintage things my whole life.  I remember antiquing frequently with my Mom and Gram throughout out my childhood.  I slept on a gorgeous old iron bed growing up and it seemed almost everything in our home had a story behind it.  Back then I couldn't image why anyone would want anything "old".  Now I have a great appreciation for all things vintage.  Especially vintage houses like this one...

This is my Gram's house.  She recently moved into my parent's home which left us with endless possibilties for this 1906 beauty. 

It is such a special place we decided we had to share it with others. So now it is "The Vintage House" and available to rent for small events and gatherings. We recently hosted a lady's luncheon here, but the space will serve so many purposes. We're currently working on a monthly calendar that will include creative workshops, Pinterest parties and more fun luncheons. The Vintage House is the perfect location for bridal and baby showers as well. Not to mention it is home to the always anticipated "Friends of a Feather" sales!

So, we've been busy. This is where I've been spending my time when Max is in school once a week.

Sullivan in tow. Happy to go with the flow....

My Mom ("Lolli") with Sullivan.

Sullivan naps in the bathtub on chair cushions.  Looks comfy, doesn't it? :)

Thank goodness Lolli had her stroller.  Sullivan loved going for a spin when he got bored.

Here I am "working".  Getting pictures of our new (old) event space.

Gram taking a break from setting up for the luncheon to give Sullivan some love.

This new venture celebrates many of the things I love most in life...decorating, vintage "stuff", planning fabulous events, and, of course, family.  The Vintage House allows me to combine all of these things and I can't wait for others to experience it.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW "THE VINTAGE HOUSE" BLOG

CLICK HERE TO VIEW INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING "FRIENDS OF A FEATHER" SALE TAKING PLACE FEBRUARY 23RD, 24TH AND 25TH.

Our Day.

Dear Max and Sullivan,
I had an idea to document a typical day in your lives through pictures.  Not because our days are earth-shatteringly exciting, but because they are magical in their own way for two little babes learning about the big world around them.  Also, because one day I'm sure I'll think back and try to remember what it was we actually did all day :)

So here we go...

7:30 Sullivan, you start to talk to yourself in your crib.  Dada usually gets you up and brings you to me.  You get breakfast in momma's bed every morning and we wait for brother to wake up.

Good morning, sunshine!

8:00  Max, the way you wake up every morning warms my heart.  You start out by saying "Momma... Momma... MOM! Mommyyyyy..."  (waits in silence)  "Momma weee ahhh yoooouuu??..." (waits in silence again) "Momma, I loooove yooouuu..."  This is verbatim what you say every morning.  In that exact order.  Even if Sullivan is finished eating and I can get to you right away I'll wait until you finish the last part of your persuasive plea before I swing your bedroom door open :) 

"Hi Momma!"

We'll usually hang out upstairs for a little bit so I can get dressed and get organized.  Max, you run between our room, your room and Sullivan's room undoing any sort of order that I restored after you went to bed the night before.

Geez...do I ever Windex my mirror??  Toddler smudges.

8:30 Breakfast.  As much as you love to eat, Max, I always have to convince you to get in your highchair for breakfast.  Your toys just seem too tempting first thing in the morning...I mean, it has been 12 whole hours since you saw them last.  Once food is in front of you though you're happy to eat. And eat.  And eat.  Every morning you eat a whole wheat waffle or toast with honey and apple butter, milk, a whole orange, a whole banana and yogurt.  And will often ask for more. I'm not kidding.  I feel like people don't believe me when I tell them how much you eat!!

After breakfast you decided you wanted to watch one of the two shows you're allowed each day.  Your (our) New Years Resolution is to watch less TV :)  You started becoming a Nick Jr addict.  You were driving your father and I nuts with the emotional breakdowns you had when we told you "no" to watching a show.  So now we've explained to you that you get TWO shows per day.  You can pick when and what show, but once you've seen two the TV is turned off and we turn music on instead.  It's been a gradual detox process for you :)

Dancing to the "Fresh Beat Band" intro.  You know all the words and shout out each characters name when they come on screen.

9:00 Sullivan, you head back upstairs for an hour long nap.  I lay you down wide awake and rarely hear a peep out of you until you're ready to get up.

Then Max and Momma get to spend a little one on one time together.  One of your favorite things is washing dishes.  When its time to do dishes you'd think I just told you I was taking you to the coolest waterpark in all the land.  As soon as you hear me open the dish washer and turn on the water you run in the kitchen yelling "Dishes, momma pwease, DISHES!!"

Unfortunately you "helping" with the dishes always results in a bigger mess.

 10:00 Sullivan wakes up and he wants to eat immediately. 

"Feed me!"

Max you play really well by yourself in the playroom when Momma's attention has turned to baby brother.  

Max likes to use Sullivan's blue blanket as the "ocean" for his ship.  His little hamster got to be the captain this time.

Anything and everything round gets put in the basketball goal.

With Sully's belly full I finally put clothes on my little naked men and headed out to a fun playdate at Mary Jane and Bo's house!  This is the time of day we usually get out of the house.  Some days we have Gymboree or head to the Plaza library.  If its a nice day we walk to the park.

"Hi Bo!  Let's hold hands!"

Max and Mary Jane have bonded over their love of Yo Gabba Gabba.

11:30 we're back home for lunch.  You're always SO excited for lunch.  Even though you generally have at least 2 snacks between breakfast and lunch you act starving.  Dada comes home to eat with you and feed Sullivan a bottle. 

So happy to see the Dad.

Following lunch a simultaneous diaper blow-out and projectile vomit episode required a full strip down.

After lunchtime is the most blissful and quietest part of the day :)  NAP TIME!  I love that early on the two of you got on the same schedule.  I'm not even exactly sure how it happened but it makes things so much easier.  All three of us pile in Max's big chair and read books after we've all had lunch. 

Once Max is tucked in, I lay Sullivan in his own crib.  I am very aware of how lucky I am to have two kids that love sleeping.  Max, you sleep from 12-3 and Sullivan, you are a solid 12-2:30.  I use those hours to catch up on whatever I'm most behind on that day.  Or maybe I nap too ;)

This is also the time when I might (or might not) take inventory of the ever growing pile of laundry that steadily collects at the top of the basement stairs throughout the day.  You boys go through multiple outfits a day.  Bibs, burp cloths, etc.  Which is why you appear naked in these pictures more often than not.

Sadly, this is just about half of the laundry and not even close to the end of the day.  An equal amount goes down the laundry shoot when we're upstairs.  I'm SO glad Billy is our laundry guy.  Bless him.

Sullivan, you had ANOTHER blow out after naptime.  This time you were much less easy going about the mess in your pants. 

Brother holding your hand to try and make it better.

"Shhh, baby. Pat-pat tummy.  Is ok Van."

Max can always make it all better.  Sullivan even when you're upset it never lasts for more than a few seconds.

Sully, I have to admit you spend a lot of time chilling in laundry baskets.  There's always one laying around and when I need to put you down somewhere quickly it's usually the closest safe/comfortable place I can put you.  You don't seem to mind.

Neither does Max!  He loves to push you around in a laundry basket while making car-car sounds.  He pretends he's driving.

"Uh...beep, beep mom."

3:30 Snack time!

Cottage cheese with cherry tomatoes, animal crackers and your "Green Machine" juice.  You refuse to eat any green vegetable so this is my sneaky way of getting spinach/broccoli/kale/wheat grass into your system. 

Already on your way to a yet another outfit change.  Learning to use a real cup is messy.
 
The rest of the day is spent playing and navigating a tantrum or two. 

So sad.  Max needed a little cool off time.

Sullivan,  you take another hour long nap from 4:30-5:30.  What a life of eating and sleeping you have.

Later we eat dinner together.  Usually around 6pm.  This day, Sullivan, you got to try sweet peas for the first time!  You're so loving eating real food.

Peas for Sullivan, Chicken-Artichoke Lasagna for the rest of us!

Max gets to sit in a big boy chair in the dining room now that brother joins us at the table in the highchair.

PEAS!

And after dinner we do baths.  Max, you think it's your job to "wash baby".  It is the cutest thing to watch and you list all the places you need to wash as you go..."ears...cheeks...toes...tummy".  And you're so gentle.  Seeing you take this responsibility so seriously cracks us up. 

Billy and I do the night-night routine together.  I love it when we're all upstairs.  Running from one room to the other trying to stay one step ahead and corralling Max. Half of us showing off towel-dried naked butts (I'll let you guess which half of the party of four :)

Max, you get to pick out two books to read.  You almost agonize over the decision which is really funny to witness.  Usually you can't decide on just two so we let you put the runners up in bed with you.

You will pick up a book, examine the front and back, maybe flip through a couple pages and put it back on the shelf.  Then pick up another and do the same thing.  I end up having to give you a time limit because this can seriously go on for-ever.

By now its about 7/7:15pm and the two of you are well on your way to dreamland.

Tucking the two of you into your rooms, turning down the lights and starting your music gives me the biggest feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day.  Our days naturally ebb and flow between the highs of learning something new and the lows of 2 year old power struggles. But they're our days. And when the sun sets the day is done.  I might not have earned a dime or done anything that people will be talking about years from now, but I feel successful. 

You boys laid your heads down knowing you were loved.  Full bellied and feeling secure that your momma and dada would do anything for you.  And if I can do that every day until you're grown up then I think my life's work will be something to be proud of.  Even after you're grown up (past the point of your naked butts being cute) I hope you still go to bed knowing that a) you are loved and b) your momma and dada would do anything for you.  Forever and ever.

My whole heart,
Momma