Parker - 37, 38, 39 Weeks

Mommy had to travel 2 of the last 3 weeks leaving Daddy to take care of the boys and pets from the apartment.  Thankfully now that we're near family the Muzzey Grandparents were gracious enough to take Parker for those two trips to make things a little more manageable for Daddy with walking the dog and watching Brady.  Parker had a blast too getting lots of play time with Grandpa Bob and Grammie Terry.  He's already doing more with his hands and plays games sticking out his tongue.  They also reported that he smiles in his sleep :)

Parker enjoying some time with Grammie and Grandpa

Engineering visit aboard the USS John C Stennis

At 38 weeks Parker's second tooth made an appearance giving him that little chipmunk smile.  He also turned 9 months old on Friday and to celebrate he now freely cruises around the apartment on the walkers and shows tremendous control getting down from standing (not just falling).  He does still take a tumble now and then despite our efforts.  Today while playing with a box Brady left behind it caved in and Parker tumbled hitting his head on Brady's fire truck and getting a little cut just above his ear.  Brady cried more than Parker did.  And talking has really picked up these last couple of weeks, with Parker making all kinds of ahhhs and gahhhs.  Parker continues to fill out.  He has such a chubby booty and a little baby cellulite, we don't remember Brady being this stout at this age!  Parker eats really well, with 6 formula bottles a day (4-6oz each) and 3 jars of baby food, plus some finger food like O's or small cut up pieces of veggies or fruit.  He's napping less now, 2x a day for 1.5-2 hr each and pooping 2x a day (sticky or clay mask).  We're still working on getting him to sleep through the night as he still wakes 1-2x a night.  Now that Mommy is back from travel we'll resume sleep training.  He goes in for his 9 month check up later this week.

Cruising through the apartment

Enjoying the snow

Over the last 2 weeks we have gotten a little over 3ft of snow, and Brady just LOVES it!  We got the boys out in the sled for some cruising around the apartment complex.  Brady practiced making snowballs, sledding, and loved watching the snow plows and bucket loaders clear the parking lot.  We also got him on skis for the first time at the local ski mountain Nashoba Valley.  It was great way to spend a snowy Friday afternoon without crowds for <$100, we'll definitely have to try it again.  Brady did good too, managing to walk in his ski boots and skis, but preferred Mommy to hold him up when skiing down the mountain (an arm workout for Mom).  And after we got all the fresh powder, Brady was helping Daddy clear the truck and jumped off into a snow bank - it was over his head!  Daddy caught it on video (Brady is now famous on YouTube - http://youtu.be/OzM0n0nbWso).  Once he got the snow off his face, Daddy reported that he wanted to jump back in.  Brady is so funny with Parker, on a couple occasions we have woken up to hear him on the monitor giggling with Parker in Parker's crib.  He's such a little climber!  He does love his brother, always talking to him in baby talk, patting his head or hugging him, and dancing around him.  Parker just watches with amazement and his signature smile.

 

First time on skis at Nashoba Valley, MA (kept wanting to go up the "big hill")

Enjoying some morning play time with brother

Some days it's a little brisk and windy to take the boys outside so today we made the trip into Boston to check out the New England Aquarium - it is so awesome!  The penguin exhibit was in full swing along with the giant fish tank full of turtles and the occasional scuba diver.  Brady also got to learn about lobster and touch both a baby lobster and a star fish.  The boys loved it!

New England Aquarium, Boston MA

Mom is looking forward to a week home before having to travel again for another 2 weeks.  We also close on the new house end of the month - can't wait to be out of the apartment and in our own place!!!

Parker 35 & 36 Weeks

Parker is on the move!  In just the last two weeks he has gone from pulling himself up, to standing, to going between two stationary objects, to walking along furniture.  Soon enough he'll be walking then chasing after big brother.  We're not ready for this, haha!  With this insatiable desire to stand and walk, sometimes we fall.  Parker got his first accident report from daycare this week after losing his balance and falling down in the infant room.  A little bit of TLC and he was fine.  His immune system got some more practice this week too getting congestion, cough, drainage from his sinuses and eyes, and throwing up.  Poor little guy still manages to smile even when he feels yucky.  We took him to our new pediatrician (Pediatrics West) where he was diagnosed with a cold and a small right ear infection prompting his second case of antibiotics (which he sucks down).  Thought he was getting to feeling better as he ate 7oz of milk, 1/3 jar of fruit and oatmeal, and another 2oz of milk before bed, but he started throwing up again the next day at daycare.  Poor little guy!  Speaking of milk, these last 2 weeks we have completely weaned Parker.  Physically it was easier for Mom this time, but sad to know that quiet bonding time is over.

Mr 1-Tooth

 Standing to play on the coffee table

Practicing on the walker

Parker's first accident report from daycare

Brady just amazes us in every way.  Sometimes he is rambunctious and full of energy, sometimes he is gently and sweet (especially to Parker), sometimes he is curious and eager, and sometimes he is stubborn.  And he comes up with the most amazing things.  The other day when Mom was getting the boys ready for school, he told Parker to come cuddle and Mom to go get her camera.  Once Mom got past the shock of what was being asked, and did get her camera, the moment was gone.  Brady is learning new things every day and isn't afraid to try something new.  He loves to help, whether it be feeding Parker (at least for a second), entertaining Parker during a diaper change, or helping Mom cook.  Dad and Brady get a lot of play time together too.  They race cars on the kitchen floor, build tents and hide from Mom, take Indy for walks, or run errands together.  He's such a little mini-me.  Think we finally unlocked the secret to getting toddlers to eat - ask them if what they're eating is crunchy, or chewy, or hot/cold, etc.  This plays into their desire to explore and challenges them to try new things like steak.

 2 on 1 in race cars

 Brady helping Parker with a bottle

Love these two!

Mom and Dad have settled into a routine.  Mom drops the kids off at daycare while Dad picks up.  This seems to work well for his 10 hour days.  The boys are sleeping well in the same room together and Parker is doing better sleeping through the night (wakes usually 1x a night but can be settled down easily unless he's sick).  Weekends have been busy house hunting while Uncle E or the Muzzey grandparents babysit.  Thankfully a great house came up on the market and Mom and Dad were the successful bidders.  Assuming all goes well we close end of February and can move in before our apartment lease and furniture storage expire.  It's a great house too, needs no updating or work, perfect for two busy working parents with little ones.

Mom's new "home office" 

We're not in Texas anymore Dorothy

We are excited to begin this new chapter in our lives and enjoy it with our northeast family and friends.  We look forward to car rides for holidays and special events instead of long travel days and flights.  And we got a great welcome home present - the Patriots advanced and will play in the superbowl in 2 weeks! Go Pats!!!

GO PATS! 

Bellichick look alike?

  

Parker 32, 33, 34 Weeks - Lots of Changes!

Leaps and bounds best describes the last 3 weeks.  Prior to leaving Texas Parker was still a baby getting the hang of crawling.  Now he has 1 tooth (bottom front left) which broke our first day in Mass, he sits unsupported regularly, he is pulling up to stand on everything (and sometimes toppling over), and walking when holding Mom or Dad's hands.  What changes in only 3 weeks!  He is also eating a lot more, with 3 5oz bottles at daycare, plus fruit mixed with oatmeal for breakfast, and a veggie for lunch.  He will still nurse morning and night and eat another jar of baby food with meat for dinner.  We also introduced finger foods starting with sliced bananas and blueberries (slippery), Cherrios (a staple), and cooked small pieces of broccoli or carrots.  We also tried giving him a 50/50 mix of juice and water in a sippy cup, but he seemed more interested in chewing on it than drinking it (oh teething...).  With all this eating he is really starting to fill out moving into his 6-9 month or 9 month clothes.  And with the standing, we had to move his crib down to the lowest setting.  He'll be walking and chasing after big brother soon!  Parker's personality is starting to show - he prefers solids to milk (unlike Brady), he loves to explore and climb, and he's pretty happy and smiley but when he gets fussy he wants his momma.  He also hates diaper changes or getting dressed/undressed as it prevents him from being out exploring.  And while he got a lot of baby toys for Christmas, he seems to prefer playing with big brother's toys or turning on/off the XBOX (liking IT already?).  With the drop ship delivering the crib, we are back to sleep training to get him on a regular nightly sleep schedule and give mom and dad some sleep (he was waking 2-3x/night).

1st standing on his own 

Proud of himself!

 Yummy Cherrios!

 Time to move the crib down to the lowest setting

 Getting ready to walk

Sippy cup...or teether?

Brady has taken really well to the relocation.  He drinks most of his hot milk morning and night, eats his breakfast and lunch well, still struggles with us to eat dinner, and "negotiates" going for a bath and bed but then sleeps a full ~11 hrs / night just like he did in TX.  We moved Parker into Brady's room while we're squeezed for space in the apartment, and Brady sleeps through Parker's crying and sleep training.  As for naps, he does really well at school but struggles at home and on weekends just like he did in TX.  It's also harder with the boys on different nap schedules, unless we are out and about in the car.  Brady did really well adjusting to his new daycare already taking to his new teachers and classmates (he's learning their names), and learned how to "flip" on his winter jacket.  With Parker we can add blankets to the car seat to keep him warm, but Brady has to wear his jacket, hat, and gloves making it a little harder to squeeze him into his car seat.  Brady is growing really well too, some of his 2T pants are getting a little short so we bought him a good supply of 3T pants and jeans that he can grow into.  He also moved into Size 5 diapers.  He does a great job of helping Mom and Dad sweep, throwing out his trash, feeding or walking Indy, and helping get things for Parker but he is 2 yr old and does have an occasional tantrum (don't take him house hunting with you without a movie for the phone).

Bundled up for the cold

 1st gingerbread house with Mom

 Playing firetrucks and cars with little brother

"Helping" at bath time

For us parents, the relocation has gone well.  Seems we only missed 1 box in the drop ship, and Mom's car has been delayed, but otherwise everything has showed up.  Living in an apartment again is good and bad - we like living with less, but it's an adjustment.  And our immediate neighbors and hallways can be noisy prompting Indy to stand guard.  Mom did meet another Mom who gave us an exersaucer and may meet up for future play dates.  House hunting has been a process, lots of variety but nothing we've loved and we've been adjusting to home prices (half a million for what?!?).  Hope to find something permanent soon.  With the move, 2 week break from work, and seeing family for the holidays we still feel like we're on vacation and haven't moved.  Maybe it'll sink in tomorrow when Dad starts the new job!

The local ski/tubing hill is open (Nashoba Valley)

Our "happy place"

First Day At the New Daycare

Brady and Parker started at their new daycare this week going to the Next Generation Children's Center (NGCC) in Westford.  The school is larger than the Children's Courtyard, having 160+ kids and splitting the boys into two different buildings.  This makes drop offs and pick ups a little more challenging.  Brady is enrolled in the Toddler B classroom and Parker is in Infant A.  Daycare here costs about 2x as much as Texas, but offers a lot more programs judging from all the permission forms we have to sign (bike helmets, water activities, etc).  

Brady cried a little bit his first day at drop off, but once he saw his name on his bin and coat rack he got a big smile.  Parker did great too exploring the room and finding a nook to play peek a boo with his teachers.  After only a day at daycare Brady is learning how to put on his own snow jacket and Parker is a daredevil climbing on things and pushing himself around the room.  Both boys are excited to be making new friends and learning new things!

Parker Exploring the Infant Room

Daddy and Brady at Drop Off

Christmas 2014

Less than a week into our new apartment and Santa found us anyway - Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  The boys had a great day opening presents, playing with toys, and a bonus visit to Uncle E's.