Birthday Boy

Like a month ago. 

Luke had big plans for his birthday party, plans that were almost exactly a year old (since they were made a day or two after his last birthday) which were sadly squashed when COVID-19 killed all fun and joy. To make up for it, he planned his cake down to the last detail. (a Star Wars cake, obviously, light side vs dark, one side red with large dark chocolate chunks and the other side blue with grapes in between the layers, all covered in frosting, with whipped cream and strawberries on top)

Luke loves sports, games, balls, math, talking, Star Wars, reading, and moving his little body. He especially loves having his own way. He loves rules--knowing them, reading about them, making them, telling them to other people, following them, and occasionally breaking them--and loves being in charge. He is competitive, determined, passionate, and so very opinionated. He loves to know about things, loves asking about things, loves to be in the thick of things, and loves to be thinking about things. There is a whole world that he creates that I only wish we could be a part of, where sports, Star Wars battles, and epic boardgames are always happening. He has a fierce sense of justice and fairness and is never shy about defending either, though he also tries to talk himself out of most work, consequences, and lectures with the same amount of vigor. 

Happy birthday Luke! 

Without you, the decibel level in our home would be shockingly low. 

14 & 15 Months

Poor, poor third child. Keeps getting his months passed over. 

If Wes was mostly a baby a couple of months ago, he is now very much a toddler!

Wes is walking, squawking, and even talking a little bit! His words are mostly "Da" and "Dada", "Nana" (nursing and/or mama, they seem to be interchangeable--if I had any doubts about my role in his life, this has quashed them), and "Boo". When he doesn't have a specific word picked out for what he wants to say, he really likes to speak gibberish in a very serious, deliberate way. 

He can also sing! Not like those other kids, whose parents say they can sing and you can kind of hear something that vaguely sounds familiar. Like for real. He can sing the chorus from IOIO by the Beegees, the Imperial March, and, his latest, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I mean absolutely spot on. 

Wesley is absolutely our most terrible sleeper. It's a good thing the pediatrician no longer asks if he is sleeping through the night yet because it would be really embarrassing to say 'no'. When he is trying to fall asleep, he likes to do a hilarious little bum wiggle as he lays on his belly, trying to snuggle his way down into comfort. He is our best eater so far, though, so at least he is nice and chunky when he screams at two in the morning.

Wes has already learned that he loves to wrestle and insists on being a part of any tussle that he sees. He also has no problems stealing and squawking and muscling his way in, whether it be for toys or food or mom's attention. He thinks it's hilarious when he throws food and raids the dishwasher and steals dada's glasses and makes a general mess of things. 

He fits right in with our messy little crew. 

The First Sleepover

In the same bed, with flashlights, books, and a blanket fort. 

Wes was jealous. 

Motherhood Joys

Mothers' day started out with all of the excitement motherhood has to offer. Luke came in complaining of a headache that was so bad he vomited and then promptly fell asleep on our floor. Derek came in a few hours later panicked and crying because he couldn't find Luke and ended up in our bed, and Wesley started crying a minute later because he knew he had been left all alone in the room. As I was trying to put him back to bed the sun came up and I knew it was hopeless, and when I went back into our room and found Derek asleep and wound around Ken, I knew a nice mothers' day sleep-in was also out. 

There was a (non-diaper) poopy pants, several full tantrums, and a very clingy baby. 

But then, at the end of it all, the boys each had their moments. Wes had a few special snuggles just for me, Derek said a prayer hoping I had a wonderful mothers' day, and Luke wrote me a sweet note thanking me for taking care of him. 

And they all picked me a "bouquet of many flowers," as Derek calls it. 

Happy mothers' day! I hope your day was full of wonderful silver linings. 

#homeschoollife

A brief interruption from the school mascot...

13 Month Wessers

Wessers is slowly morphing from baby to something-not-quite-baby and it breaks my heart! He is a little climber, up on top of tables and chairs and couches and the stairs, if he can get to them, and dives off headfirst when he wants to get down. The dishwasher, pantry, toilet, and top bunk are his favorite things to play in if left accessible and if he hears a door open to the outside he immediately starts squawking and heading that way to make sure he's included.



Wesley still loves food, but is now a lot more aware of who is eating what and gets very upset if he sees something on someone else's plate that isn't being offered on his. He is also still asking to nurse quite a bit (and since everyone is just hanging out at home, there's plenty of easy-access) so he is chunking up nicely.

His crib has also been moved into the boys' room, so he's one of the guys now! Bedtime is a bit like Lord of the Flies, but everyone is getting used to it and Wesley isn't as upset when he gets put to bed. I'm sure they are learning all sorts of important life skills through the process (like how to sleep through bloodcurdling screams). 

I wonder how many more boys we can pack in that room...

Baby D Turns Four!

We have had four years with the soft, squishy bowling ball that keeps everyone kind and happy in our little family. Derek is loving and lovable and and generous and empathetic and very concerned about everyone's feelings and well-being, unless he is trying to get a rise out of his brother (which he has perfected to a science). His laugh is hilarious and contagious and gets him out of all sorts of trouble, along with his ability to apologize so sincerely and make such a big, pouty lip. 

Derek is very often something else--a cheetah, a rancor, a giant rancor, a baby rancor, a puppy, a T-Rex--and he also has a pet puppy, Rover, that likes to knock him to the ground. He is also wildly creative and loves to tinker with things, so if I ever find things taken apart or put together oddly (like a long string of stacked lego heads) I know a baby rancor has been by. 

Derek loves eating, has a sweet tooth to rival his father's, and can put away a whole donut in about four large mouthfuls. He loves legos, animals, trains, games, shows, reading, scootering, and tools. He loves to be snuggled and to fill his bed full of animals and blankets and will often fall asleep clutching a car. He falls asleep fast and hates to be woken up for any reason, especially at night with a full bladder (or the consequences of a recently empty one). 

To many more years full of many more rancors, donuts, and legos.