Tuesday, January 28, 2014

6 Months & 2 and a Half Years Old


My sweet boys, you are now 6 months and 2 and a half years old. Where did the time go!!! Since the last post you both have been changing and growing right before my eyes.

Starting with my oldest, my “sweetheart”, Nathan you continue to amaze me. Every week your vocabulary and speech reach new heights. You also never stop talking! You mimic your Dada and me; our mannerisms, what we say and how we react in different situations. Some mannerisms are bad, some good, and some just crazy! We have found ourselves at the end of the “NO!” stage and are working through the “I want to do it myself” (spoken emphatically). You want to be everybody’s boss, including your little brother’s. It’s exhausting! When you stub your toe you grunt loudly (like your Dada!) and when it really hurts you want us to kiss it to make it feel better. Your little legs and hips are covered in bruises and the center of your forehead is constantly a bump. This is due to you not paying attention when you run around. You rarely walk; it’s mostly a run if you are going anywhere. You love moving your stool around to reach up to things, like light switches. You want to watch the coffee brew in the kitchen or put your own DVD’s in the player. Nathan, despite your two year old self, you have the sweetest heart. You can recognize when someone is hurting and walk over and rub their shoulder and say, “it’s alright Momma” or “sorry sweetheart”. You answered your Dada the other day after he asked you ‘Do you know why I love you?” by saying “Because I’m lucky!” You are lucky and so blessed sweet boy.

Now my baby, little Liam, you are 6 months old now and are very much a Momma’s boy. I can’t really leave you with anyone very long due to your strong aversion to drinking your bottle. However, we seem to have no trouble at church with you taking your entire bottle, go figure! I know that this baby stage doesn’t last forever, so I’m looking forward to a little break down the road, but also treasuring my times holding you. You have the cutest chunky legs and best smile; such a handsome little man. You are rolling around to grab toys and the like but once you end up on your tummy, oh no, you have to be righted again. You do well in the walker, just not the kind to race around. You can happily sit and play without moving around. This is very different from your brother, but that is good!

Our days are busy but fun; we watch a movie or cartoons on PBS in the morning and turn off the TV for some quiet time until Thomas the Tank Engine comes on. Nathan, your favorite show is Thomas, so it’s a time when you are quiet and sit on the couch. Momma gets some work done during this time or chores and then its naptime. Both of you are taking naps at different times, but we make it work. There are lots of playing with dogs, cars and trains for Nathan or chewing on toys, walker time and floor time for Liam. We eat our meals together, Liam in the high chair and Nathan in the booster seat. I treasure our family time and when Dada gets home from work at the end of the day, our family is complete. 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Years! Reflections over the past year.

What a tremendous 2013!

Our Family at the beginning of the year

We started the year with a growing 18 month old Nathan , just learning to talk and stealing our hearts with his sweetness. He ran through the yard, bluebonnets, library and sprinklers and finally the ice at the end of the year. A lot of people ask us, "does he ever stop?" Our reply..." Just to sleep" :) He graduated from his paci, crib, high chair and then changed rooms with no trouble. In fact, he loved gaining more independence. Our house became more full of cars, trains, play tools and a workbench built by James. We started coloring more in circles with sidewalk chalk and crayons and built roads with play doh. Thomas the tank engine and Chuck and Chuggington became his favorite movies to watch; the boy loves his transportation! He learned his numbers, ABC's, and to count. His 2 year birthday came during a busy July when we got to meet our newest edition to the family, Liam. Liam weighed more than his brother and was born with tan skin and brown hair, favoring his Momma. As Nathan matures he looks more and more like his Dada, but with blonde hair and blue eyes. :-)
Watching these two little boys interact with each other has been an amazing experience. I don't think James or I expected them to have a love bond quite so fast. Liam grins from ear to ear watching his big brother Nate. Nathan took a few weeks to want to hold Liam but once he did, you could tell he was a proud big brother.  Nate started the typical sibling," he is touching me" or " he is looking at me" earlier than we anticipated. But those two are going to grow up to be best of friends. 
Having a baby in the house again was an adjustment for everyone. We were getting used to sleeping at night and, of course, that all changed. It took longer to move him into the room shared by his big brother than we thought. But, after 3 months, the boys share a room now. Liam started showing interest in our food very early on and would frequently refuse to be bottle fed. That led to our decision to start feeding him puréed foods at 4 months of age. He loves it and, most importantly, other people can feed him too. He has chugged through avocado, yellow squash, zucchini, peas, sweet potato, brown rice, apple, pear, banana and now broccoli. He eats two to three times a day, about 2 oz each time, and breast feeds 6 to 7 times. Hungry, growing little man! Thankfully we are now getting a full nights rest more days out of the week. Liam is teething like crazy but still only teeth buds can be seen. Nate got his teeth later, so we don't expect teeth any time soon. 
Our end of the year holidays were so much fun. Seeing Nathan trick or treat and celebrate Thanksgiving with family and especially opening presents (not always his!) on Christmas was a joy. He is understanding more and communicating so well. You can have long, often hilarious, conversations with him now. He remembers the most random things and getting a glimpse into what is running in that two year old brain is astounding. It sort of makes your head hurt! He still craves his independence, but admits sometimes to needing ,"a little help". He loves being "really useful, like Thomas" and helps out with all the chores and getting things for Momma during the day. 
We start 2014 knowing all the milestones we will cross with Liam and Nathan and having no clue how it's going to all work with two, but looking forward to the journey.


Christmas 2013!


Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Cates Family!

What a wild December!
Iced in for almost a week! 
Spending Christmas Eve as a family at church 
and then home to open pj's and special ornaments.
 Liam turned 5 months old and had his first Christmas!
Nate cleaned up! He got a wagon, scooter and balance bike this year!
Lots of active toys for an active boy!