Camera Shy

Marshall is four months old today! I've been trying my hardest to capture the world's most adorable picture to show you just how cute he is. Unfortunately, Marshall is camera shy. This kid smiles about 90% of his waking hours, but when I try to take a picture of him, I usually get a look like this:



We also get full-on giggles and "chatting" much of the time...but have we been able to capture them? Nooooooooo. Here's some cuteness that'll have to suffice - but just know that it's only a sliver of what camera-shy-boy usually does:



In other Marshall news, Daddy and Miles saw Marshall roll over last week. I've yet to see it, but I've seen a lot of close calls. He is getting very good at tummy time, especially when we put him in front of his zoo. He also has been spending a little time in his high chair, although we won't start solids until after his doctor's appointment next week. He still slides over most of the time, but he really loves hanging out with the family at dinner time.



Marshall has taken a new-found interest in his feet, but he's also really starting to enjoy actually playing with toys. Here's a new favorite...I think Miles enjoys it as much as Marshall does:



Miles has some new accomplishments too, mostly when it comes to vocabulary. He is really into rhyming now. We even get really creative ones:

Daddy: "We should go to the library after dinner."

Mommy: "That's a great idea!"

Miles: "Hey! 'That's a great idea' and 'quesadilla' rhyme!" (Note: We were having brinner, not quesadillas for dinner, so he came up with that one on his own.)

Most notably, his new vocabulary words include variations upon "stinky", "yucky", or "poop". I try to explain that we should only talk about poop in the bathroom, which backfired on me last night. After a random barrage of inappropriate words which brushing his teeth, I shot Miles the death glare. He fired back, "But Mommy, we're in the bathroom!" Touche, young man. So I got to hear a 3 minute chorus of "stinky poopy, stinky poopy." Yay. Boys.

A Day in the Life

I admit it. This blog is becoming a chore. I just keep plugging along though, mostly for Marshall's sake. I don't want him to Google himself in 20 years and stumble upon this in some ramshackle archive of days-gone-by, only to wonder, "Why did she document every fart Miles ever made, but there's nothing about me?" So, I soldier on.

I was thinking - Nursing Mom semi-alone with her thoughts way too often - that I've been getting too much into the events and have been missing the daily snippets of cutness. So, why not just document a Day in the Life? Here was mine today...

Marshall woke up, ready to eat at 5am. It was a relatively good night's sleep, minus the one SIDS alarm beep at 1am. I made a drowsy decision to turn off the motion sensor after that - no thanks to Jason, who actually fell asleep after I posed the question, "But what if he really does stop breathing?" Since the switch to the big crib on Monday night, Marshall rolled himself off the pad at least a dozen times, so I felt mostly ok about it.

So after the feeding (and showering and hair drying, all by 6am), I laid back down for a quick snooze before Miles came into our room. The new King-sized bed meant that we could all three fit now, and Miles picked Daddy's side for a snuggle. After tossing and turning and Snuggy Bear twirling, we got a "Time to go downstaiwrs and eat buh-wrek-fist?" I feigned sleep so Jason took Boy #1. I got a whole 20 minutes of glorious slumber before Boy #2 started cooing in the monitor. I got a huge smile when I peeked into Marshall's crib to get him - the same smile he gave me upon peeing all over the kitchen floor during his diaper change. How can you be mad at a face like this?



Because I decided to sneak in one more feeding before leaving for work, we had a little extra morning family time, with more snuggles on the couch. Miles gave me an impromptu, "I love you, Mommy!" Unsolicited and before I have to be at work all day? The best!

Work was, well, work. It's great being back in the office (SO much better seeing sunlight during the day!), but I had a ton to do. And then there's the mommy guilt. No lunches, no outings because of my extra time in the New Mothers' room. Thankfully, I did get a couple calls in to Jason while he is still home with Marshall and got to hear his cooing over the phone. I was on my way to getting out of there at a decent hour when my computer froze up. Although I enjoyed the especially chatty help desk technician, I didn't dig leaving right at the height of rush hour, which more than doubled my commute home.

After an hour and 15 minutes in traffic I was ready to be home...and Jason immediately thrust a fussy Marshall into my arms to be fed before I could even take my shoes off. So, I ate dinner with one hand (yay for DiGiorno!) and fed Marshall with another, all while responding to approximately 37 Mommy-watch-thdisses while Miles played with his monster trucks.

Marshall and I then joined Daddy and Miles in the front yard, who had their mitts out and were tossing the ol' baseball around. A beautiful father-son moment for sure, but I think Jason was secretly practicing for his first time on a field in 20 years for tonight's church league softball game. Miles was very proud of his throwing (mostly left-handed) and even caught a few balls.

We asked Miles who got to put him to bed tonight. He dramatically tossed glances between me and Jason and said, "Ummmmm...anyone!" After prodding, I was the lucky winner. I sneakily brushed each of Miles teeth by getting him to sing opera with me, then I pulled a nice mom (or tired mom?) and let him sleep in his clothes. We started "Are You My Mother?" and Miles pointed out the question mark on the cover...only to later call it the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mouse-ka-tool. After the book, he asked me to sing a song about Snorts. When I said I didn't know one, he made one up himself, and I tagged along a variation. We sang our usual night songs, but tonight was a special comedy routine, with Miles discovering the hilarity of squishing up my face during the rendition. I explained he couldn't do that during prayers - prayers are serious - and then he proceeded to insert the term "yucky head" in the middle of the recitation.

Marshall was asleep as Jason was leaving for softball, so I got 10 minutes to myself on the computer before it was time for another Boy Bedtime Bash. For the second night in a row, Mr. Smiley thought it was funny to kick, kick, kick then laugh when I snapped his pajamas completely up, only to be one button off at the end. Thankfully, tonight was a calm night, and he was asleep like his big bro before dark.

Now, on to my date with Doogie Howser M.D. before Jason comes home.

Next post...more events to come.

To Sum It Up

Highlights from the last month:

The boys had their well-child visits to the doctor. Miles was 34 pounds (75%) and 38.5 inches tall (75%). Marshall chunked up to 11 pounds 8 ounces (50%) and was 22 inches (less than 25%)...I think they measured the height wrong because his pants sure seem shorter!

Marshall was baptized on May 28 - Uncle Craig is Marshall's godfather and Aunt Ashley is his godmother. He was a great baby - slept through the whole baptism. Miles was very proud to help hold Marshall's baptismal candle.

We celebrated Miles' birthday a little early that next day. Miles was in awe of his Hot Wheels cake and everyone singing Happy Birthday to him:

After Daddy finished up school and graduation, we headed up to the lake. Marshall got to meet Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Woodling and Great Aunt Cindy for the first time.

We took advantage of a nice cool day to go to Cedar Point. Miles was slightly traumatized by the bumper cars - maybe we should have told him that people bump into you on bumper cars? Despite that, we all had a great time:

Miles celebrated his actual birthday (the big three!) with cake and ice cream at Nana & Papa's. Aunt Katrina made the cool Toy Story cake, and Great-Grandma and -Grandpa Hornsby joined in the celebration too.

We spent Daddy's birthday at the Detroit Tigers' game. Miles put on a show for the crowd by repeating everything that the people shouting at the players said. Of course, he also reprised, "Hey Batta Batta."

On the way home, we stopped at the Falks to meet their latest addition. Little Elaina was born a month after Marshall, so we now have two prospects for a Falk-Kahl wedding!

We had a nice stay-cation last week with an Indy Indians baseball game and bowling. Miles loved that Mommy, Daddy, and Marshall came with him on his school field trip to the zoo. He also had fun playing there with his best buddy Colin on the playground and watching the animals with his girlfriend Scarlett (sorry, Janelle!).

I had a great birthday just hanging out with my boys. I got a cool Wii game that has you dance along to Broadway hits...and Miles and Daddy just had to try it out too. Miles' favorite is the "Lion King" song (Oh I Just Can't Wait to Be King).

This week has been a fun week of firsts. Marshall decided to give me a going-back-to-work present by sleeping through the night for the first time...sort of. Starting at 4am, I got a up a couple of times to pop his paci, but I didn't have to wake to feed him until 6am! He also just had his first laugh today. Didn't quite catch it, but here's our video attempt:

And just some final everyday cute pictures!

Twister Tales

Talk about family togetherness - our little family experienced an interesting first last night. We took cover during a tornado warning...in the coat closet!

When we first bought the house, it made me a little nervous that there was no basement. Every house I'd ever lived in had a basement...and a basement that was fun to hang out in at that. As a kid, I always thought it was pretty cool to get to stay up past my bedtime, watching TV or playing with my toys.

My boys will not think it's quite as cool. The only fun in their tornado hiding place will be Christmas decorations and winter coats. After last night, some of those might be disappearing to the garage too. That's because neither Daddy nor Keno could fit in our hiding space.

I will say that - sitting in the dark, watching both boys sleeping - I never felt more like a family. That's a nice romantic view of motherhood, snuggling my two sleeping angels. But what about when those "angels" grow ganglier and surlier and don't want to spend the night in the closet with their mom?

Until then, I can enjoy their little faces. Despite the midnight crying, tantrums, puking, and potty issues...I sure do love these boys:

Why? Why? Why? Why?

This post should be short and sweet...I'll just post a few pics of the boys and be on my merry way.

Why?

I guess didn't think there was much more to say since the last post. There were no big events or major firsts. I was hoping I might be able to report that Marshall slept through the night, but he's still waking up at least twice a night. It's at least getting a little better sleep-wise though.

Why?

The last few nights, he has gone 5 or so hours without eating. It's a start, but when he eats between 7 and 8, it makes it kind of hard for me to go to sleep right after that too.

Why?

Because it's still light outside here until 9:30! That didn't stop me from trying it the other night - and I got 4.5 hours of sleep in a row. A new record since Marshall was born! Thankfully, Nana and Papa were here to man him for a little bit of that time.

Why?

Um, because they're the best?!? Jason had a lot of after-school stuff this week, so they came to hang. It was nice for Marshall and me to have some company during the day, and Miles got to play hooky from school for a few days. Miles still went to school one day though.

Why?

Because he needs to be educated?

Why?

Because he has a lot of questions...and because he keeps asking WHY to everything!


Boy...BECAUSE I SAID SO! Did I really jusy say that? Sometimes I wonder why I don't go running for the hills like a crazy person.

Why?

Here's why!!

Smile!

Kentucky Derby Day gave us a special reason to smile this year - other than the fact that Jason finally won enough on the ponies to dig himself out of the hole of money he owed his bookie (Uncle David). The real reason we're smiling is...so is Marshall!



Aunt Hilary and Susan can testify as witnesses, so we're marking Derby Day as the day of Marshall's official "first smile." It must have been because of all the fun he was having at his cousin Gavin's house. We tried to get a picture of the three cousins...a little difficult, but here's what the best we could muster:



Mother's Day also gave me a few reasons to smile. In an early morning daze, I heard Miles come into our room as usual. I dozed off for a little while while Jason got up to help Miles in the bathroom, only to be awakened by Miles running up to the bedside and yelling, "Mommy! I'm sneaking out of here!" So much for the sneaking, but I did enjoy an extra hour of sleep, then flowers and a doughnut.

We had a bit of a rough morning trying to coordinate Grammy's breakfast and church with both boys, but the lovely afternoon we had made up for it. We returned for the second year to the art museum grounds to have a picnic and wander. I feel a Mother's Day tradition coming on (weather permitting).

No-Routine Routine

Marshall is now 5 weeks old, and he's getting lots of Mommy time. This is the first week I've been officially on my own during the day with the boy, now that Daddy is back at work and N&P have gone home. Thankfully, the days are easier than I remember them being when I was home with Miles. Not sure if it's the previous experience, Marshall's temperament, or just that I'm getting used to the hectic pace of two kids. Miles is going to "school" during the day, so I get a chance to spend some quality one-on-one time with Marshall that actually doesn't involve feeding him.

That said, our days are still mostly spent feeding and diapering, with some occasional sleeping bits if I'm lucky. This boy spends a lot of his day awake, but he's generally calm. He even chills in the bouncer while I take a shower. I'm sure that Jason is relieved to not have to come home to stanky mama like he did with Miles. I even made a trek out to the grocery store yesterday, and Marshall slept through the whole thing!

Sleeping at night still isn't quite happening as we'd like. Marshall is pretty good during the first part of the night - will go 3 to 3 1/2 hours before fussing. After that, there's no telling when he'll go back to sleep. He's spent a couple of nights in his car seat, which helps slightly, but there's usually still a good amount of whimpering in between feedings until 4 or 5am.

Marshall is starting to chunk up and is even outgrowing some of his newborn-sized clothes. We're still waiting for his official first smile. There have been a couple of times when I thought he was smiling at me, but I couldn't get him to repeat it. I think the rule is that you need more than one witness before officially writing the date down in the baby book, right? Here he is, looking very serious while reading the paper with Daddy:



Marshall took his first road trip this weekend to his Aunt KK's house. It was spur-of-the-moment, thanks to Miles. Nana and Papa had plans to go there from our house, so Nana mentioned to Miles, "We're going to go to Aunt KK's house." Miles then got the biggest smile on his face and said, "We are?!? YAY!!" Just as I was getting ready to tell him that that he couldn't go with them, I realized...why couldn't he? So, Miles made the trip with N&P, and Marshall came with us parents the next day. We thought he'd have no problems, but we had to make two unexpected stops on the way to calm him down. Luckily, the way home was much better and both boys slept most of the way. We had a very nice low-key weekend with the Kolbs, just kicking back at their house. Here we are at the restaurant in their neighborhood - deelish and walking distance!