A letter to my last baby

Dear Thomas,

I literally cannot believe that 365 days have gone by since I held you for the very first time.  I blinked and here we are.  That first year flew by -- so much more quickly the 2nd go round.  You completed our family and I can think of no better completion than you.  

Dr Mac didn't believe me when I called her to tell her I was pregnant, given how difficult it was the first go round.  My pregnancy with you wasn't perfect, but comparatively, it was close.  No hiccups, no major surprises, relatively no stress.  You came right when you were supposed to.  You were within "normal" weight.  and you were perfect!  When Daddy announced to the delivery room that you were a boy, there was no element of surprise for me.  I knew all along in my heart that you were.  I worried before having you that I wouldn't know how to love a boy, but how silly that was.  You captured my heart right away and immediately I loved you just as much as I love Ellie.  

 You were a noisy baby in the hospital -- in fact, I was very worried that we were going to have a fussy baby on our hands.  You kept us up throughout the night unless you were snuggled up to me on my chest {much to the nurses' dismay} -- so we slept that way for the 3 nights that we were there.  After we got home though, you started to exhibit the sweetest demeanor and have kept it ever since.  You are one of the most pleasant babies I have ever been around.  You just go with the flow and handle whatever we throw you -- no naps, new people, new places -- you are ok with it.

 Daddy and I moved you from our bedroom to your crib upstairs almost immediately.  We say "2nd child problems" frequently because it is so true.  You have always slept well in your crib and we are so thankful that you and Ellie both love sleep, especially nighttime sleep.  

You were a wonderful nurser and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to do that with you.  It was a sweet time and I was sad when you decided you were a big boy and weaned yourself too early for my liking.

 You never loved the passi.  I tried and tried to make you take it and you just weren't having it.  You found your thumb and never looked back.  You also grew a fondness for your lovie, just like Ellie.  You rub it on your nose as you suck your thumb to fall asleep -- genetics are a crazy thing.

 You love Ellie so much and want to be wherever she is at all times.  She loves you back but is often very rough as she doesn't appreciate when you get in her toys.  She will push you down, you will let out a whimper and then just try again to play with her.  I know you two will fight for a long time and for many years to come, but I also want you both to know that having each other is a precious gift that I hope you never take for granted.  

Your sweet smile makes my heart burst with joy.  You aren't an overly smiley baby and you save the best ones for people you love the most, but boy when you flash one, you give it all you have.  You are often called a girl in public {and I know the way I dress you doesn't help this, but we will carry one for another year}.   

 You have been an independent little guy since right from the beginning.  You have fed yourself and entertained yourself and put yourself to sleep without being rocked.  You are the perfect second baby because I'm not sure how I would have survived otherwise.

 You are also my snuggle buddy.  Ellie never, ever snuggled with me and so I happily oblige when you put your head on my shoulder and suck your thumb.  We always know when you're tired -- you give yourself away immediately with the head on the chest, thumb in the mouth act.

 I have been really amazed to watch how you are naturally drawn to cars and trucks in the same manner that Ellie was naturally drawn to purses and baby dolls.  You obviously have your fair share of pink toys in our playroom but will consistently go for the trucks.  You crawl all over the playroom floor, pushing them around.  

 You have to hang out with your sister's friends the majority of the time and we are looking forward to starting Gymboree with you so that you can make your own little friends.  You are very interested in other children and I know you are ready for your own activity rather than being the tag along for Ellie's extracurriculars.

 Sweet Thomas, you have softened my heart and I do hope that I'll be able to discipline you one day when the time comes.  Most days I feel like you could get away with just about anything.  

 I pray you always know how much we love you.  You make our hearts whole and filled in the last little missing gap in our family puzzle.  We can't wait to watch you grow another year.  We love you so, Tom Tom.

Love,

Mama

Sunday Morning Madness

We make a valiant effort every Sunday morning to get the kid's pictures before zooming off to church -- one day we will get them smiling simultaneously.  

This will probably be our last summer in bloomers for Ellie -- I don't think she would find them cute headed into kindergarten -- but I do love seeing her with a ruffled booty.  Her bubble days have come to a close, so we're living it up with the bloomers this summer!

Thomas' Rookie Year Birthday Party!

We celebrated Thomas' First Birthday with a baseball themed party!  I had the theme picked out right after he was born and the party was fairly easy to pull together, as I procrastinated and had to do it in a week!  

Sweet baby was just not sure what to think of all the people and attention.

 His delicious crash cake!  The Bakery off of Augusta did his cake and the cookies for favors.

 Our "concession stand" -- popcorn, cracker jacks, peanuts, sunflower seeds, Baby Ruths, and double bubble.

 "Thomas is 1"

 the main food table, minus the main food...we had Skins hot dogs, chips, fruit cups, baked beans, applesauce packets and goldfish.

 For whatever reason I didn't get a picture of the cake and dessert table...I always wish I have a photographer at my kid's birthday parties!  I miss so much.

 the Lathems made the drive from ATL...we'll be headed there this weekend to celebrate Mary Benton!  These two little critters are just a week apart! 

 The dining room table made an excellent kid's table!

 Thomas just liked the coke cooler.

 Crash Cake time!

 He dug around for several minutes, just mushing it in his hands...and then he found his mouth and ate and ate and ate!

 "this is so good, mama!"

 and an impossible attempt at a family picture...everyone was DONE by this point in the day!

Thomas is 11 Months

So, I need to get in a better routine with blogging.  The days are slipping by at a rapid speed and Thomas is a mere 3 days from turning ONE.  We are in major birthday party mode with signs of baseballs and red, white, and blue covering our house and I am in major denial mode as I literally feel like I just went to the hospital to have him.  I feel like I was just pregnant with him and we didn't even know if he was a boy or a girl (except of COURSE he was a boy!  I can't imagine anything differently now.)  Anyway...here is our sweet boy at 11 months.

 We're not sure of his weight or length.  We haven't been to the dr since his 9 month well visit but I'll update when we go in for his one year well.  I am guessing he's about 22 lbs (which is a pound more than Ellie weighed at TWO!).  

He wears:

Clothes: 12 months

PJ's: 12 months

diapers: size 4

Sandals/Shoes: size 2

we haven't gotten the hang of shoes yet.  He doesn't keep the sun sandals on and the little lace up Keds are massively big on him in the smallest size they make.  99% of the time he is barefoot.

 He is babbling, making motor boat noises, the Indian noise, and blowing raspberries.  He smacks his lips for kisses.  He says "mama", "bubba", and "bye bye".  

We are working on clapping and waving.  He is not interested in the least...He thinks he is "clapping" when he bangs both his hands on the highchair or a flat surface so we are working on getting him to do so by putting his two hands together.  

He has waved a couple of times but nothing consistent.  

He still shakes his head "no" a lot and holds his hands up high when you ask him "How big is Thomas?"

 He loves books.  He loves going to the bookshelf and pulling them off the shelf and flipping through them independently.

He loves Gracie -- loves watching her throughout the house and loves gently hitting her nose and playing a game with her.

The tunnel is probably his most favorite toy.  He and Ellie spend hours in there literally and Josh and the kids have made up countless games with it.  

Balls are also his favorite and he loves throwing and catching them with his daddy.  He loves it when we are watching him -- and thrives on clapping and praise.  He just lights up when we celebrate him.

 He is standing unassisted for a while, especially if he doesn't know he's doing it.  His balance is improving and he will take 1-2 steps towards us before toppling over.  

He has kept his tongue out this month.  I don't know if he's feeling new teeth or what but several people have called him Michael Jordan when we're out in public because it's ALWAYS out.

 He has dropped all bottles except for the morning and nighttime.  He has weaned himself and it has been a much easier process than I imagined it to be.  He loves solids and pretty much feeds himself.  We cut up whatever we're eating in small bites and put it on his high chair and it is messy but it is convenient and we're all able to eat together at the table.  

He loves carbs.  LOVES carbs.  and loves applesauce packets.  The ones he can squeeze in his mouth himself.  Because he thinks he's a big boy.

He started some whole milk this month and loves it.  He drains his straw cup 1-2 times a day -- he definitely drinks much more than Ellie did as a baby.

 Riding in his coupe is one of his favorite things to do.  Whenever we go outside, even in the garage to get in the car, that's where he thinks he's going and is NOT pleased when he is buckled in his car seat rather than going for a walk in the coupe.  He holds on tight to the steering wheel and when we say "beep beep" he will honk the horn.  

Thomas is a full fledged thumb sucker.  Doesn't have to be associated with the love.  Whenever he is tired or sad, the thumb is in his nap.  When we're playing upstairs, he will frequently leave what he's playing with and come over to put his head on my lap and start sucking his thumb for a few seconds.  This one's going to be harder to break than Ellie is, I'm afraid.

 He sleeps like a champ at night.  12-13 hours.  We are so blessed with great nighttime sleepers.

Naps are hit or miss.  Never know what we're going to get.  Luckily he has 8 teeth and no signs of anymore coming in, and that has really helped the napping situation.  He is showing signs that he wants to drop the morning nap which is fine with me so we will probably do so at the very beginning of summer.

 The vacuum is also his favorite.  He charges right for it when it is pulled out.  

He also loves climbing in and on his car seat when we have it in the house.  Speaking of...we are close to switching him over to a convertible.  He rides well in his infant carrier so we haven't rocked the boat but he's getting close to the weight max I have a feeling.

 Thomas Banks -- we love you so much!  Can't imagine our family without your sweet face in it!