Ted is forty-five months old

He’s officially been a big brother for a month now, and taking most of it in stride. While his life has been turned upside down just like his parent’s, he seems to be dealing with it. He gives Sarah little kisses on the head, and when he calls up Kate to tuck him in at night he reminds her not to forget Sarah.  A good start.

He totally stepped up to the plate on Christmas morning and opened his little sister’s presents for her. Here he is opening one of his:

Also Ted drinks his organic vanilla flavored milk with peppermint lollipop exclusively when his parents feel like busting out of the house and going to Starbucks.  He danced to the Christmas music there, bringing a little holiday joy to the coffee shop.

Here’s Ted pushing the coordination limits of 3-year-old boys when playing our Wii.  He didn’t fall and smack his head or break our TV/Wii, and for that we are grateful.

Ted embraced the arts during his forty-fifth month by doing a bunch of Christmas crafts to get us into the holiday spirit. He also sang in his preschool’s Christmas party, playing bells during the Jingle Bells song, like the Renaissance boy that he is.

He also helped us decorate the Christmas tree (with his Auntie Christine) and put his signature touch on it by putting nearly almost all the ornaments on the same branch.

 

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Sarah is one month old

Sarah’s been with us for a month now, and life couldn’t be more different or awesome. She refreshes my memory on just how challenging it is to be the parent of a baby all over again. She’s also super-cute and makes me feel even more lucky.

Here’s a picture of her in crib, which she’s only spent a few hours. She’s been sleeping in our room at night, which is a different approach than we took with Ted. So far its been working out well. I think both Kate and I have been sleeping much more than we did when Ted first showed up.

Sarah had a quite a few visitors during her first month, including two visits with Auntie Christine! Here’s her and her Gram enjoying some time together.

She does usual baby stuff like eating, sleeping, crying, wiggling and charming those around her.  Here she is napping in her swing, which while not always magic, does occasionally make a cranky baby a happy baby.

Happy one-month birthday baby girl.  We are so thankful you decided to join our family.

PS: Remember when her brother was one month old?

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Christmas 2011 Photos

Ted surprised us with this plate that he made for us at preschool.

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Christmas Eve 2011 Photos

Ted and I made snowman ornaments from clothespins and buttons.  Santa used them to hang mini candy canes from our tree.

Ted finishing up his advent calendars.

Ted and I making cookies for Santa (and Kate and Peter.)

Ted sprinkling magic reindeer food from preschool.

Stockings hung by the chimney with care.  Very exciting that Great Grammie was able to complete our set by making us a Sarah stocking in time for her first Christmas!

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Sarah’s Fourth Weekiversary

In two days Sarah will be a month old.  I didn’t think time could move much faster than it already was moving, but at this rate it feels like Sarah may be starting school tomorrow.

Sarah mostly slept through her first Christmas.  Lucky for her she had Ted to open her presents.  This Christmas was filled with Skype instead of travel.  On Christmas Eve we did a post dinner skype with Jack and Ben.  Then later on we skyped with my sisters, aunt, and cousins and participated in Yankee Swap with them.

Then on Christmas morning we opened stockings and a few gifts from Santa and each other before a breakfast of cinnamon rolls, eggs, and fruit salad.  We then opened more gifts before skyping with my sisters, Jack, and Ben again.  We all opened the presents from aunts to nephews and a niece and then Ted and Jack played the drums together.

Then we participated in a five location conference skype with Great Nana, Uncle John, Gram, Pops, Auntie Kristen, Uncle Josh, Abby, and Aunt Dede reporting in from MA, NH, two FL locations, and us representing NC.  Craziness!  And yet the sound quality was better on that massive skype than it was when we just skyped with RI.  Mysterious internet.  It was great to see everyone and just amazing to see everyone all at once.  Other than missing out on hugs and getting to pass the babies around, it was just like getting together in real life.

After all the skyping we fed Ted a quick lunch and got all dressed and ready.  Just before it was time to head out I put Sarah into her Christmas outfit.  She immediately filled a diaper and leaked on the outfit.  Pat changed her into the dress she wore Chrismas Eve and she let us know in no uncertain terms that she would need to eat before we left the house.  I fed her and burped her and she proceeded to puke in my hair and all over my shirt.  I went upstairs and washed out my hair and changed shirts and we were ready to go!

We arrived at Kate and Peter’s fashionably late, but hopefully Ted and Sarah distracted everyone.  Ted was on his best behavior and made himself right at home.  He passed out hugs left and right and had everyone laughing with him.  Sarah slept while we ate dinner and woke up when we were done, just in time to be passed around to everyone for snuggles.  After dinner we took a walk and Ted tried out his new scooter.  Luckily the rain held off for us and we came back just in time for dessert.  We had a great time.

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Merry Christmas!

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Sarah’s Third Weekiversary

This week we didn’t have a doctor’s appointment to tell us how much Sarah has grown, but she has outgrown her newborn diapers and some of her newborn pajamas.  I have been putting her in some of the super cute 3 month size outfits that she got as presents and have been continuously surprised that they fit.

She has been focusing on our faces much more this past week.  She will spend a long time just quietly examining my hair line especially.  I remember Ted doing that too.  I assume the contrast between my light skin and dark hair is the easiest thing to focus on.

She has been holding her head up for longer and longer periods.  She also continues to use the weight of her head to throw her whole body wherever she wants to go.

 

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