2 and 3 Months

I never got around to doing one of these for the 2nd month mark because we were moving and I lost my chalk. I just got around to buying more so here is the 3 month one along with Ben's info for the past 2 months.

2 Month Stats:
Weight: 15 pounds (98%)
Height: 24 inches (98%)

3 Month Stats:
Weight: 16 pounds

He's finally slowing down in the weight department, thank goodness! I thought he'd hit 30 pounds by 6 months at the rate he was going. Here are some specifics on my (still not so) little man:

Food:
Breastfeeding every 2-3 hours during the day and anywhere from every 2 to every 4-6 hours at night. It varies night by night.

Sleep:
He goes to sleep around 7 and wakes around 12 to eat. From there, it varies. He could be up every 2 hours or he could do two 4 hour stretches or two 3 hours and then a 2 hour one. All I know is, it never feels like enough sleep.

Clothing:
He wears 6-9 month clothing. At three months old.

Poor little guy got really sick for Thanksgiving. He had his first bad cough with major congestion and from there got pink eye as well. He's finally on the mend it seems. Max was never this sick - probably because he didn't have a big brother to share his germs with him. Oh well, hopefully Ben's immune system will benefit from being exposed to everything Max brings in.

What else can I say about Ben? He's a pretty happy baby and loves to smile at anyone who will give him some attention. He likes to play in his play mat for 10-15 minutes at a time, but then wants to be held again. He loves being worn in the ergo to sleep and is still being swaddled at night. He is taking a pacifier more and more these days. He's started rolling from his tummy to his back and now 7/10 times in tummy time he just rolls right out of it. He seemingly never stops moving - always kicking and flapping his arms. He LOVES to watch Max play. We've yet to get a good belly laugh from him, but he get plenty of happy squeals. He smells. He almost never poops, but his farts rival every single person's in this family. And being that Ritchie is in this family, that says a lot.

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the past 2 months:


At exactly 2 months




What a life!


Tummy time master! This was before he was rolling.


This melts me.


Enjoying the sunshine outside while big brother plays.




Happy boy!


3 months exactly

The first decade

My mom and dad about a month before I was born

I was born in 1982 to Cindy and Rocky (yes, that's his birth given name). Their story (as I know it to be, anyway) is interesting. Both were in the Air Force and just friends when my mom was stationed to jump out of airplanes in Korea. Apparently, my dad offered to marry her as that was one of the ways out of her going. They married quickly with an agreement to divorce after some length of time. Well, I guess the plan went awry because, here I am. Nobody has ever confirmed this with me, but I assume that they decided to give the marriage a real go since now they had a child together.


Within the first month of my life

I was born on January 11, which is also my mom's birthday. Best birthday gift EVER! We were living in Plattsburgh, New York at the time. We lived there for a few years before my parents found work in California and moved us across the country. I believe I was three when we moved here. We started our stay in San Jose in a little rental home.


Approximately a year old


Ready for the snow, I assume?


Enjoying a cone around the age of 2 1/2 maybe? These are all guesses

My earliest memories begin around the age of 4, when we were living in Sunnyvale in a rented duplex. That duplex, I remember, was awesome. It had a finished attic that was huge and my parents had a ping pong table. We would hang out and play ping-pong, just the three of us, for hours. We used to barbecue in the backyard and wash our car in the front yard. I remember my love of the holidays began in this house as I was old enough to savor the season. My parents both have always made the holidays special with decorating, baking and traditions. My recollection of Christmas was a feeling of magic and I actually thought I saw Santa in that house one year.


I was a Disney lover from a very early age. I carry that attribute still today.




This is classic "my mom and me" - always goofing around together. Now, we just goof around at the mall. She is one of my best friends.


Is there a child that doesn't have a picture just like this?


Mom and I celebrating my 4th birthday (her 28th??)


From an early age I wanted to wear makeup and have my hair curly - I've always been ALL GIRL. .


I tried my hand at modeling. Here's a portfolio shot. Apparently I could have been HUGE, but my parent's didn't want to move to LA. Whatever, mom and dad.


I had several surgeries as a young child for my ears.


I've always been very much a daddy's girl. Still am.


I had a close group of friends as a child. Here they are celebrating my 5th birthday with me.

Eventually, my parents bought a townhouse in Santa Clara. I was around 6. It was also around this time that they told me I was going to get a brother or sister. I had been asking for a sibling for a long time. Probably since I could talk and understand what a sibling was. Well, this is only partially true. I had been asking for a SISTER for a long time. When I found out I was having a brother, I totally packed a suitcase and threatened to run away. I didn't though because my parents convinced me that I would love having a brother because I wouldn't have to share my barbies. They lied, by the way. My brother totally played with my barbies.


Bringing Andrew home from the hospital.


I was meant to be a mother, yes?


Holidays were always so much fun.






I think I was a punk rocker for 3 years straight. Please, note the scrunchie around the leg. SO punk rock, am I right?


Hey! We still like to do that!





So, we're living in Santa Clara and now I have this brother (Andrew). I'm 6. How did I get halfway through a decade already? In any case, these years were good from what I remember. I struggled with the whole sibling transition, but ultimately loved having someone to dress up and boss around. We were fortunate in what we had. We had a home and I never wanted for anything. As the years went on it became obvious that although my existence was a happy one, my parents' marriage was not.


The first day of first grade.


3rd grade, I think? I was TOTALLY into New Kid's on the Block. First love was Joey Macintire. He was the youngest so I figured I had a real shot.

I'll never forget the day I was sat down and told that they would be separating. I knew what that meant. I also knew it was coming. I had been hearing the late night arguments. They had sent me away for two weeks that summer to stay with my cousins in Tennessee while they sorted out the hairy details. But, the knowledge didn't make the hurt any less. I ran around the room screaming and crying. I felt helpless and lonely. I didn't want divorced parents. I was nine when they separated. The split actually began with them alternating living in the house and my brother and I stayed in the same place. After some time my mom moved permanently back in and my dad rented a house on the other side of town. My mom began seeing someone with a daughter close to my age. We would plot ways to get our parents back together. As much as we loved the idea of maybe becoming sisters, we desperately wanted our parents back with their original mates. I remember that year being very difficult. Many tears. It was also the first time I saw my father cry. He was packing to move out and stood there by the fridge, put his box down, and just cried. I remember my mother hugged him. That's one of my more painful memories.

I'm going to stop there as the divorce actually ended my first decade and moved us into the second with a fresh start as a split family (it all ends up okay, just so you know).

The second decade is actually the most painful and challenging for me (something for you all to look forward to?) Stay tuned...

Insta Friday 11/25

I cannot believe it's already Friday again! Too soon, Ritchie will be going back to work and we'll resume our day-as-usual routine. But, the return to every day life after Thanksgiving is a bit different because it brings with it something special. There's magic in our hearts as we delve into the holiday season. There will be crafting, baking and the usual wintery traditions that occupy our time these next few weeks. I love this time of year, but love it even more as Max gets older and now that we have Ben to share in them as well. Brothers. I can't wait until they're waking us up at 4 a.m. to sneak a peek at the tree. I can just picture them on their tippy toes on chairs in the kitchen cutting dough into festive shapes they'll later slather with colorful frostings. Joy, I tell you.

On to this week's pics!


Ben and his mommy


Mr. Lincoln and me


Caught a glimpse of my morning view. It's a lovely one, although not sure if I should show hairy man-nipple on the blog. Acceptable? No?


Ben's morning ray of sunshine smile.


Last Sunday we acquired everything we would need for Thanksgiving (including our turkey!) from our local Farmer's Market. Yum!


We've been taking evening walks all bundled up as a family. It's cold outside, but my heart is warm. Having an occasion to wear scarves, jackets and hats helps :)


One morning, while Max was in preschool, Ritchie and I snuck out for a quiet breakfast with Bennett. It was blissful!


Peeks!


Kelle Hampton gets me all excited about her shadow pics. Here's my first one!


Making the cranberry fig compote to prepare for the big day. So delicious.

Join me and link up over at Life Rearranged!

Thankful

The cranberry fig compote is chilling in the fridge.
The herb rolls are cooling on the counter.
The turkey is settled in the brine.
The pine cone turkey place holders are complete.
We found the table runner!
Max is in the bathtub as bedtime creeps near.
Ben is kicking away and cooing happily next to me.
The house is clean and warm and smells of... home.
Michael Buble croons Christmas carols over pandora.

My heart is thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I hope you have much to be thankful for as this holiday season commences.

More to come...

Insta Friday

I'm linking up with Jeannette over at "Life Rearranged" for a little Insta Friday fun.

I've been meaning to join in for a few weeks, but with the move (more to come on that) I seem to have misplaced the cord that connects my phone to my laptop. Anyway, Ritchie finally brought me a new one from work and now all is right with the world again.

So, I'm doing two weeks worth of Insta Friday for your viewing pleasure:


Snuggling with a cutie pie during nap time.


I've had these onion goggles for a long time. Like, years. I finally used them and... they're fantastic!!


We had a photo shoot for the boys with a wonderful local photographer. Here's Ben's getup. What a star.


Super man visits one day. Lucky us ;)


I got my fabulous new day planner in the mail! Erin Condren is wonderful and I'm thoroughly enjoying my planner!


We have this amazing tree in our new front yard (yes, yes.. .I promise I'll blog about our move soon).


Someone liked the cookies we made.


Working on some bottled breastmilk with Ben.


Sleepy little love nugget.


Max and I are all ready for the Farmer's Market.


Lovely little car rider.


Max loves to try to pump. He finds it hilarious and fascinating.


Date night!! Our first night out to a fancy schmancy Apple party since Ben was born. I love one on one time with this man.


Farmer's Market fresh.


Don't worry. The coffee had already been emptied from this cup. It was pretend.


Helping Monday morning. Whatever was in that cup made me very, very happy.


Again with the cutie pie!


Hanging photos on our walls finally!!


Again with the front yard tree!


Momma got a new scarf.


My blogger gift exchange gifts all ready to be mailed out! (I'll be posting on this as well - SO MUCH STINKING FUN!)


Why, hello, Fall.


Babies in overalls make me happy.

That's it for this Insta Friday!