Dear Ezra (11 months.....and 3 weeks)

*This is why I take a September Break ya'll.  It just doesn't happen.  Takes some getting used to be being back at work and having no time to blog or do anything at all, really.  I'm teaching new classes this year so after the kids go to bed it's lots of work for me.  Although this letter is finished 3 weeks late, I wanted to still write/post it.  In 6 days, my baby will be 1!

Dear Ezra

It is less than 2 weeks ‘til your 1^st birthday.  I have been putting off this letter.  First we were on vacation and it was my LAST week to spend with the 2 of you before going back to work.   I was tired from a busy summer and just didn’t take the time.  Once we got home, you boys went back to school and I went back to work and it’s been a crazy 2 weeks that I haven’t got to spend much time with the 2 of you. It makes me sad but I know in just a few weeks both of you will adjust and you’ll be happy to be back with your friends at school.  Oh my God, in jus t 12 days you’ll be 1.  I’ll try to write this letter as you were at 11 months, I’m sure not much has changed in the last few weeks.

At 11 months, you still LOVE to laugh, mostly at your brother or when we’re pulling you back when you crawl away from us while we’re changing you.  Just in the last month, you have finally been able to start really playing with Gage…you guys love to play with your Fisher Price house, your dinosaur popper and ‘cook dinner’ together.  It’s an awesome thing, watching the two of you play.  You also LOVE your tunnel, much like Gage did, but we can hardly let the 2 of you play since you guys are so silly and so rough that someone’s bound to get hurt.  Speaking of, you love to roughhouse and it makes you happy when Daddy plays hard with you.  You still love to eat and haven’t found much (aside from fish sticks) you don’t really care for.  Some of your favorites are mac and cheese, pizza, and yogurt.  You still eat at least one pouch a day and you still enjoy them b/c you can feed them to yourself.  You still nurse 4x a day and nap twice.  You’ve become quite the good little napper  this summer and for that I am thankful.  I do need a break at some point.

You still haven’t started talking and I think the one word you can claim is ‘Daddy’.  I’m still not even sure you really mean it.  Some days you look right at him, point and say Daddy, other days the door opens around 5pm and you say ‘Daddy’, then some days you look at the cat and say ‘Daddy’ so who really knows.  You can make the sound ‘mama’ but don’t say it on any kind of consistent basis.  You do love your Mama though and cry almost every am I leave you at school.  You got spoiled spending time with me this summer and even have a little bit of ‘stanger danger’ that Gage never had.  You don’t like to be held by people that aren’t familiar to you.

You weigh right around 20 lbs and it seems you get heavier every day.  You wear all 12 month clothes and have an entire wardrobe for every season.  I wrote in your last letter that you didn’t care for the pool, but you learned to mostly like it (more so in the afternoon when there was some shade) and you loved the beach.  You loved playing with your big brother in the waves.  You are really a ‘no fear’ kinda kid.

Within the last month, we have gone to the beach twice, been to Gage’s swim class on multiple occasions, finished up your swim class (complete with blowing bubbles), been to the zoo and a birthday party and hung at the park.  Nothing too interesting, just the normal summer stuff.  At this point in my letter, I realize that it’s taken me over 3 weeks to write this letter to you.  For that, I apologize.  I just don’t have the time after work.  I want to spend the 2 hours with you guys every night and it always gets put on the back burner.  For that reason, Ezra, this letter is kinda lame, but it’s life right now and that’s the point of these letters.  I’ll stop writing now and in less than a week I’ll be reflecting on your 1^st year.  I love you my Ezra Bean.  You are truly a joy!

Love Momma

Project 52: Week 34 (THE last week of summer)

Week 34 was our beach week.  Lots of pictures from only 4 days.  See, sometimes, I just like to play and not take pictures.  I tend to only take my camera to the beach one or 2 days while we're there.  Playing is too much fun.

Silhouette

Swingin' (again)

Feel free to caption this yourself....

Mud monster

And although I have been seriously slacking on birthday posts (I do apologize to those I have missed), I do not have any pictures but do want to wish my niece, Ianna a very happy 9th birthday today and my good friend, Malisa, a happy birthday as well.

Project 52: Week 32 and 33

Yeah, so there was vacation you know and life and stuff.  So here are the last few weeks of August all at once.

Week 32:  (Aug 4-10)  Only 3 pictures this week, boo!  And all of Gage! We had a mini golf play date and a lunch date with Daddy.  We did meet up with friends at a pretty cool park with a carousel and train, but no pics of that.



Horrible picture quality-damn iPhone

I have no idea what this face is even about.

 

Too bad he's not wearing Old Navy clothes, right?

 Week 33:  (Aug 11-17)  Only 3 again, I guess that's my average.  I mean I have more than 3 pictures a week, just not on 3 different days...blah.  Gage ended up being sick this week so we were sequestered to the house for 3 days before our beach trip.  Guess nothing exciting to take pics of.

 

My boys



My am snuggle buddies

Swingin'

 

Project 52: Week 31 (Am I almost caught up?)

Don't judge!  There are so many things I want to blog about but I keep doing picture posts instead.  I want to keep this up the whole year even if I blog about nothing else.  At least I can go back and see what we did.  Probably better this way- I doubt if I'd ever have time to blog this summer.  Here goes....

Week 31 (July 28- Aug 3)- 4 days of pictures

Loungin' with Ace cat

Mommy, what just fell on my head?
 

Breakfast Birthday party

Bucket Head

Pretty Parrot



At the zoo

Holy cow!

Project 52: Week 29 and 30

Ok, so it's not really a Project 52 anymore, but it's just a lot of pictures broken down by weeks;)

Week 29 (July 14-20)- OMG, complete fail!  Now it really is over.  I have ZERO pictures from this week, what the hell did we do?  Looking back at my calendar, this was our super busy, super fun week.  Guess we were having so much fun I didn't bother to take any pictures.  We had a bounce house playdate on Monday, AJ over on Tuesday, a swim playdate on Wed. and Thursday (Oh, wait, I have ONE picture a friend sent me!) and I had a much needed pedicure on Saturday!

playdate

Week 30 (July 21-27)- Luke's bday week and our long weekend beach getaway.  Can you believe no pictures of the birthday- we spent the entire day in the car, but then had ice cream and cake on Sunday instead.  Here are my boys enjoying the beach and the rest of the week.

Pasta

Playing together

Road trip- go O's

Always happy at the beach

Dear Ezra- 10 months

Yeah yeah yeah, late again- it was written last week if that counts for anything.

Dear Ezra-

In just 8 weeks, we will be celebrating your 1^st birthday.  I never really got it when I read other parent’s posts/letters/comments about how they want time to stand still and how their babies grow up so fast, but oh my God- it really IS flying by.  One year is just crazy.  I can’t believe we’ve come this far.  You are my little firecracker and there is never a dull moment when you’re around.  You keep Momma on her toes.  You have the sweetest smile and your giggle could melt anyone’s heart but you sure do like to make it known when you’re unhappy.  Your teeth continue to make you mad- they just always seem to be rightthere and just enough to make you hurt.  You still are a biter and quite frankly I’m not really looking forward to the phone calls next year from daycare. 

I feel  like you’re finally turning that corner to understanding and communicating.  This is the time that Gage started talking and although you haven’t yet, you definitely have your ‘sound’ for the kitties and whether we say their name or you see them, it’s always the same.  You can say ‘dada’ although I’m not completely sure you’re associating it, you definitely know it’s something we want you to say.  You have started signing ‘milk’ when you want to eat although now it seems like you just like to sign it for fun as well.  You know how to high five and think it’s pretty hilarious and you are consistently waving hi and bye.  I just can’t wait to hear more of your little voice.  I can only hope you’re as verbal as Gage this early on. 

One major difference in you and Gage at this age is your eating habits.  There is NOTHING you will not eat.  That is. aside from anything that appears to be baby food.  You have no use for it anymore- all you want is what we’re eating and you want it ALL.  You eat twice as much as Gage at a sitting and most of the time I wonder if we should cut you off.  I don’t even know how much a baby your age should be eating but I have a feeling it’s less than what we give you.  In turn, milk is pretty much a dessert for you, which is fine.  You still nurse 4 times a day, 2 of which I don’t think you really care too much about.  But I think we’re gonna make it, dude- all the way to a year!  Your favorite foods right now are oranges like your brother, turkey, cheese and just about everything else! 

I’m not really sure where you’re putting all the food but you are wearing a combination of 9 and 12 month clothing.  You seem to have the same short legs as Gage but a much rounder belly.  Speaking of Gage, the time has come that you guys are really starting to ‘play’ together.  Of course, you still think he’s the greatest ever and he’s starting to feel the same.  When you’re upset in the car, he comforts you by making you laugh.  He says things like ‘it’s ok, Ezzy, we’re almost home’, like he’s heard me say.  The other day you guys played for almost an hour together- it warms my heart to see you interact.  You are still quite the mover and don’t ‘play’ very well unsupervised.  You are still chasing cords, cats and shoes.  You do however like the kitty piano, dancing and playing with trains and cars and the Little People garage.  You like Gage’s blocks and like to bang them together.  You sit slightly longer than you used to for books, although you’re not the scholar your brother was.  You are now full on crawling on your knees, cruising around anything and everything and can stand for a few seconds alone.  You don’t seem to be too interested yet, so I’m still guessing it’s going to be around 13 months before you’re ready to take your 1st steps.  You finished swim lessons this week and seemed to enjoy them for the most part.  You still aren’t the biggest fan of the pool (much to Gage’s dismay) but maybe next summer when you have a little more freedom you’ll like it better.  For now, you don’t like being contained in your float.  It is much more tolerable though in the afternoon when there’s some shade.  You don’t seem to be a fan AT ALL of the sun and you’re not a fan of your hat either, so that’s kind of a problem. 

Unfortunately, you’re back to being a crappy napper and don’t seem to break an hour most days.  You also started sleeping in a bit this summer but are back to your 6am wakings and refusing to go back to sleep.  You do still go to bed right around 7pm though with a full belly.  You have taken to screaming at me though when it’s just the 2 of us and I put you in your crib to play because I have to get something done.  You DO NOT LIKE it when I ignore you.  You are kind of high maintenance like that.  You do like your doorway bouncer though and can at least tolerate it for a bit of time…..as long as you can see me….grrr.

In the last month, you have taken your 1^st trip to Dutch Wonderland and stayed in your 1^st hotel!  You have stayed home most of the month with Gage and I and we have had our ups and downs.   You’ve tagged along to the bounce house, eaten at Chick Fil A, seen your brother do gymnastics, enjoyed music at the mall, gotten your pics taken with your brother (you’re much more photogenic than him;)), hung with Nana and Grandiddy, gone to SplashDown and taken your 2^nd trip to the beach!  You’ll help Daddy celebrate his 34^th birthday on Saturday and we have 3 more weeks together before we head down to the OBX for our final vacay of the summer.  It’s crazy how quick our summer has flown by and how much you’ve grown.  I just can’t believe you are growing up so fast.  I love you my Ezzy dear- you keep me on my toes.  Although our snuggles are few and far between, they are special to me and your giggles light up all of our lives!  We love you, Squishy!

Love, Momma

 

 

Project 52: Week 28

(July 7-13) Finally caught up for the most part.  A busy week and pictures only 4 days.  Oh well, it is what it is.

Water park



Boys at Dutch Wonderland

Handsome man

Sleepin'

Project 52- Halfway through the year and I couldn't make it. Weeks 26-27

It's always been hard for me after my 'breaks' to resume blogging on a regular basis. There's so much I want to write about but feel so far behind and it's easier to not try to catch up.  So it's mid-July and I haven't even posted yet this month.  I have tons of birthday posts coming up and updates on how we've been spending our summer.  And although I'm way behind in the Project 52, I'm determined and although I'm not caught up and won't ever be, I'm going to continue to post my pics, if for no one else, but myself. 

Week 26 (halfway through) (June 23-29).   I actually didn't do so bad- 5 out of 7 days.

What a fun surprise- Gage's friend from school at swim class!

Ezra's 1st swim lesson

The dreaded Exersaucer plus magnets equals 5 mins. of getting something done.

Guess who's shorts are whos?

Puddin' face



Mohawks

After bath

Week 27 (June 30- July 6)- yay!  Another 5 days.

Hard at work

Water Table

Happy 4th of July- my baby's last 1st holiday

Bali shirt courtesy of Uncle B

Gymnastics

 

Balls!

 

Dear Ezra- 9 months

Ok, so here's the deal, I actually wrote this over 3 weeks ago and it was going to be on time.  Then life happened and I didn't have a picture to go with it, I started slacking and I never got back to it.  However, I still want to post it, although I'll be writing another one later this week. 

My Dearest Ezra

9 months!  2/3 of a year!  Although it's never even occurred to me, apparently the 9 month milestone is a big one since it marks you being in the world longer than I grew you.  Either way for me, it's huge!  By the end of the summer you'll practically be a one year old and that.is.crazy!  I mean this year FLEW by.

At 9 months, you weigh 19lbs 6oz and are 28.75in long- almost a pound heavier than Gage at this age and apparently a whole inch longer.  I'll believe that one when I see it.  In any case, you are full into your 9 month clothes and even can sport a few 12 month outfits.  I've just spent another afternoon digging through Gage's old clothes to see what I could find you.  It's always fun to go shopping in your own bedroom instead of spending money.  At 9 months, E you have 4 teeth and  HUGE gap.  You are still belly crawling, but are pretty much the fastest belly crawler ever!  You are pulling up and were standing in your crib when Daddy when in to get you today.  You are eating 3 solid meals a day and 4 bottles/nursings a day.  My little baby is growing up.  We have just started to introduce to you to some 'table foods'.  You chowed down on a cheese quesadilla the other night and loved every bite.  I am really trying to give you foods of all kinds at this point to see what you'll eat and am hoping this might mean you won't ever be as picky as Gage. 

Well Ezra, the time has come that I finally get to spend more time with you and your brother!  You have one more week of school and then it's the summer time!  I cannot wait.  I would be lying if I didn't say I was worried how I was going to keep both of you busy, but we'll  have to figure it out, won't we?  Right now your favorite thing to play with is still whatever Gage is.  You love to bang things together and blocks and trucks are your favorite.  You love your musical soccer ball and it's crazy how good you can roll it already.  You love wooden spoons and bowls and in the bath you take after your brother and go 1st for the drumsticks.  You actually aren't a bad little drummer already.  Geez- can't wait for 2 drummers in the house!  ha...You are now a professional at taking big boy baths and seem to love the water.  You have no fear and go from laying down in it to sitting up and back and forth.  You seem to love the water so much I couldn't wait to take you to the pool.  Crazy enough, the 1st time we even got to go was today.....after in  your last letter I said we'd be going that weekend.  You actually were not the biggest fan of the pool today and seemed overly unimpressed.  It's funny b/c you are such a smiley happy baby and I swear you didn't crack one smile today.  You do start swim lessons next week though, so that should be interesting.  Another of your favorite pastimes, not toy related, is chasing Ace. God Bless him - you get so excited when you see him- you 'talk' to him and the chase pursues.  You always win and have a ball of hair to prove it.  We are trying to teach you to pat nicely but to date you most always just grab tufts of hair.  Thankfully and crazy enough he doesn't mind.

My poor Ezra, you have had quite the time with ear infections.  The last week of May you had an ear infection over the weekend that I took you to Urgent Care for.  You finished your antibiotic and it came back immediately.  You stopped eating for a day and Daddy had to get you back in to the dr.  They put you on a stronger med that cleared up your ear but screwed up your stomach.  You were all but miserable for a whole week.  You seem to be sleeping better these days and holy crap, it seems you've learned to nap!  At least here at home...I'll take hour naps, trust me.  You have been quite the sleepy boy today- perhaps you're growing.

In the last month, you've been to the dr. just about once a week (thank God for Daddy having enough time to take).  You helped Daddy celebrate his 1st Father's Day of 2 and you survived a week of just Mommy taking care of both of you when Daddy was out of town.  The next month should be one of lots of 1sts and lots of fun.  I'm sure we'll run into our snafus but we'll somehow figure out a routine.  I sure hope that you start liking the pool more, Gage had a blast today and I was planning on spending quite a bit of time there this summer. 

Ezra, you are my little firecracker, that's for sure!  You are still quite fussy, but sometimes only for your Momma.  I think you're a little attached to me;)  You don't seem to be as fussy w/ your Daddy and thank God for him, b/c I certainly don't know what to do with you all the time.   You have been my little challenge ,but I love you for it and I know you'll help me to be a better Mommy and to figure out how to multi-task like a champ!  My hope for you this summer is to be able to give you lots of new experiences and hopefully get a routine down pat.  I hope you're a little happier since I'll be home with you all the time.  I love you, Ezzy and I'll cherish each of these days with you this summer because I know when I send you back to daycare in the Fall you'll practically be a full fledged toddler!  Here's to a summer with my 2 boys! 

Love your Momma

Here's my crazy little guy!