21 months old! Where to even begin! These last few months have brought about so much more change and big-boydom that my heart simply can't take anymore! You boys are SO big! Running and jumping and climbing all over the place! It's definitely no small feat trying to convince you to be still for a moment and taking your picture has become nearly impossible! Luckily for me, you'll still sit down for a snack. You both really like Goldfish and raisins but your ULTIMATE is something from the cake stand. You both know
exactly where it's at and you especially like to climb the Fat Sack to get a better look at what might be in store for that night's dessert. "After dinner!" your daddy and I tell you, over and over! But sometimes we let you have your treat early, just because you're sweet.
While one of our favorite games is to still name animals and their sounds, lately your daddy and I have had a lot of fun asking you where parts of your body are. And trust me when I say that we've passed many a cranky moments in the car with "Where's your...??" Ben, you're especially funny at this game, with all of your hilarious facial expressions and zeal for showing us that you know the answers! Our favorite is when we ask you where your ears are because you pull them out and it makes you look just like a monkey!
Dinner time has become quite the comedy hour too, with both of you constantly chattering on like two chipmunks in a tree! You boys always have so much to add to our dinner conversation and it's often that your daddy and I just laugh and laugh our way through the meal! And even though I absolutely
despise it, you both have found that tooting in your high chairs gets quite the chuckle from the male population at the table. I try to fight it; giving stern looks all around. The giggling continues anyway and it's beginning to make me feel a bit outnumbered.
As much as you two can be goofballs at dinner, though, you also know when it's time to be quiet so we can pray. Abe, you fold your hands so sweetly, and Ben, you love to proclaim a big, "May-Men!" when your daddy gets to the end. I absolutely love this part of our meal. On most nights, it even makes up for the wind section!
As for favorite foods, you both certainly have your preferences! And while you've mostly stopped throwing things from your try, unwanted items are left untouched and we can't even
think about making you taste even a bite! Abe, you love all things meat! Hot dogs, chicken, ground beef, bacon and the most surprising, hot sausage from Whole Hog! You're not a huge fan of vegetables but you do love broccoli, green beans and carrots. Ben, much like you're mama, you love all things pasta and bread! Macaroni and cheese is probably your favorite! You can eat it faster than anybody I've ever seen. You'll even forget your disdain for dirty hands just so you can forgo your fork and shovel with your hands! As for vegetables, you prefer peas, corn and sweet potatoes, but you definitely have to be in the mood! You both love fruit. And I do mean love. It's almost preferred to the cake dome. Almost.
While a lot of our days are filled with laughing and playing, it's most certainly has it's challenges too. A definite struggle in our house at the moment has got to be the fighting. Just like most kids your age, you both like to have what you want when you want it. Your daddy and I, we're trying with
all our might to teach you sharing and to prefer your brother! Sometimes we get frustrated because it can feel so relentless and we wonder what we're doing wrong that you're just not "getting" it. However, there are also these rare golden moments when you will effortlessly offer your toy to your brother and he will reply with "Dan-Du," which is how you both say "Thank You." It is in those moments that we are reassured that we're reaching your hearts after all.
Happy-Here are a few other things about you at 21 months: You're walking buddy! It's been a bumpy road, with physical therapy and Dr.'s appointments, but YOU'RE THERE! You absolutely love keeping up with the crowd, too! In fact, we can't put you down unless we have your hand because you take off to explore and you have absolutely NO fear of strangers! You'll go to just about anybody and that scares us. A lot. One of your favorite things is to snuggle with daddy. And I happen to think it's one of his favorite things too. The two of you will sit and watch a football game, under a blankie, for hours. Sometimes you'll even doze off this way BUT you don't like to go to bed without "kisses, Eskimo kisses, and butterfly kisses" from your momma.
Mister A.B.-Here are a few other things about you at 21 months: You've learned how to give hugs and your tight neck squeezes are just about the sweetest thing I've ever experienced. You're all brawn and 100% boy but you still love to cuddle with momma. In fact, you'll stop mid-activity just to come give me some love and then you're right back to it! This last month you also figured out how to get out of your crib. Not very gracefully, I might add. Both times that you've done it, you've taken quite a spill. But it's keeping you from trying it more, so we're okay with it! You also love to steal drinks from any cup, bottle, or can that you can get your hands on. You'll even sneak up onto the table to get to one. What can I say, A.B., you keep us on our toes!
And now, there's just one last thing that I want to add about you boys. You're both about to become big brothers! In just about 3 weeks, there will be a new baby brother or sister for the two of you! And while you both seem to understand that momma has a baby in her tummy, you seem more interested in my protruding belly button that you do with the fact that a baby will shortly be coming to live with us. Tonight, your daddy and I were talking to you about how the new baby will cry a lot and you both just laughed at us, like we were the silliest thing you'd ever seen. I just hope that you still think it's funny when it's for real and it's 3 am!
I can't wait though. I just know that you guys are going to be such great big brothers.
Happy 21 months, Ben and Abe! Your daddy and I love you!
February: The big O-N-E!
March: Spring picnics at the park
April: The beginning of mischief
May: Surprise!
June: Summer nights on the patio
July: Ring bearers!
August: The Keys!
September: State Fair time, baby!
October: Mastering body parts!
November: Thanksgiving-Our last holiday as a family of 4!
December: Welcome Judah Oren!
Happy New Year from our family to yours!
Mister A.B. is just smitten with his "bay-pee Jew-daah."
The jury is still out on Ben :)
The little guy is starting to finally starting to spend some time awake!
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Obviously, that is certainly not the case. Having any amount of kids is work. And a lot of it. It's just that for the moment, finding the balance with our new schedule makes it seem like there are a lot more than 5 people living under our roof! I guess the stomach flu didn't really help our cause either. But really though, things feel SO crazy! Endless laundry, frequent temper tantrums, Bilirubin checks, messed up naps, doctor appointments, crazy nights, countless feedings...whoa! All that makes this girl want to crawl under the blankets and hide! If only it were that easy!
I do admit, I was a bit spoiled at first. My labor and delivery was a walk in the park compared to last time. We were home almost exactly 24 hours later. I had my mom, Jer, and my sister at my total disposal. And the boys were snowed in/sick for a week with Grandpa and Nana in Chama. It was a newborn honeymoon and I took FULL advantage. We went out to dinner, shopping, and just spent time relaxing and enjoying our new baby boy. And even though in the back of my mind I knew things would be changing once were living in the realm of "everyday" again, I didn't know just how much.
Luckily though, I do have my partner in crime to help me combat the craziness. Jer is home this week helping me hold down the fort and keeping the boys occupied and quiet so I can catch some extra zzzz's in the morning. And boy am I thankful for that! Although Judah seems to be quite the calm baby (so far), he has had a few nights of non-stop nursing which has made for a less than chipper mommy when it comes time for The Deuce to get up. I am SO thankful for him. And I'm even more thankful that he doesn't say anything when I'm still in the same pajamas for the third day in a row. Or when I eat a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast.
And as for the boys, they are adjusting-slowly but surely. Now that they are both seemingly over their sickness, they've actually been allowed to touch their brother and they love it! They particularly love to pat his head and point to (poke) his eyes and nose. While most of their actions are governed by a chorus of, "Gentle, boys! GENTLE!!" they don't seem to mind and still seize every opportunity to check him out, rock his swing, or give him a kiss. My favorite is when they hold him though. They love to snuggle him and will even wrap their arms around him. Look out, though, once they're done, they're DONE and they just anxiously push him away. What can I say, brotherly love!
We're home. We're tired. But we're so in love.
21 months old! Where to even begin! These last few months have brought about so much more change and big-boydom that my heart simply can't take anymore! You boys are SO big! Running and jumping and climbing all over the place! It's definitely no small feat trying to convince you to be still for a moment and taking your picture has become nearly impossible! Luckily for me, you'll still sit down for a snack. You both really like Goldfish and raisins but your ULTIMATE is something from the cake stand. You both know exactly where it's at and you especially like to climb the Fat Sack to get a better look at what might be in store for that night's dessert. "After dinner!" your daddy and I tell you, over and over! But sometimes we let you have your treat early, just because you're sweet.
While one of our favorite games is to still name animals and their sounds, lately your daddy and I have had a lot of fun asking you where parts of your body are. And trust me when I say that we've passed many a cranky moments in the car with "Where's your...??" Ben, you're especially funny at this game, with all of your hilarious facial expressions and zeal for showing us that you know the answers! Our favorite is when we ask you where your ears are because you pull them out and it makes you look just like a monkey! 
As for favorite foods, you both certainly have your preferences! And while you've mostly stopped throwing things from your try, unwanted items are left untouched and we can't even think about making you taste even a bite! Abe, you love all things meat! Hot dogs, chicken, ground beef, bacon and the most surprising, hot sausage from Whole Hog! You're not a huge fan of vegetables but you do love broccoli, green beans and carrots. Ben, much like you're mama, you love all things pasta and bread! Macaroni and cheese is probably your favorite! You can eat it faster than anybody I've ever seen. You'll even forget your disdain for dirty hands just so you can forgo your fork and shovel with your hands! As for vegetables, you prefer peas, corn and sweet potatoes, but you definitely have to be in the mood! You both love fruit. And I do mean love. It's almost preferred to the cake dome. Almost.
Happy-Here are a few other things about you at 21 months: You're walking buddy! It's been a bumpy road, with physical therapy and Dr.'s appointments, but YOU'RE THERE! You absolutely love keeping up with the crowd, too! In fact, we can't put you down unless we have your hand because you take off to explore and you have absolutely NO fear of strangers! You'll go to just about anybody and that scares us. A lot. One of your favorite things is to snuggle with daddy. And I happen to think it's one of his favorite things too. The two of you will sit and watch a football game, under a blankie, for hours. Sometimes you'll even doze off this way BUT you don't like to go to bed without "kisses, Eskimo kisses, and butterfly kisses" from your momma.
Mister A.B.-Here are a few other things about you at 21 months: You've learned how to give hugs and your tight neck squeezes are just about the sweetest thing I've ever experienced. You're all brawn and 100% boy but you still love to cuddle with momma. In fact, you'll stop mid-activity just to come give me some love and then you're right back to it! This last month you also figured out how to get out of your crib. Not very gracefully, I might add. Both times that you've done it, you've taken quite a spill. But it's keeping you from trying it more, so we're okay with it! You also love to steal drinks from any cup, bottle, or can that you can get your hands on. You'll even sneak up onto the table to get to one. What can I say, A.B., you keep us on our toes!
Ben had a fabulous time trying to divert the room's attention from the football game. He pulled out every trick in his book.
And I do mean every trick.
And no Thanksgiving is quite complete without kids with black olives on their fingers!
We couldn't get A.B. to leave them on their long enough to take a picture! He kept jamming them in his mouth :)
To top things off, a little "airplane" with Daddy!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
We hope that your day was blessed!
