ABRAHAM @ 15 months

This little boy has the best little personality. He is witty, determined, mischievous, loving, and strong. He has the most heart-melting little smile. He'll look at me (or anybody) with that smile and my heart is his! He is very smart. He says mom, dad, dog, doggy, ball, Tubby, bubble, double, NO, hi, and thank you! He very much has his own opinion about everything. He is also very tough and picks himself back up when he falls, and when he cries he gets over it within seconds and usually all on his own. He is very independent and also very coordinated. Since he was probably about 9 months old he intuitively turns around and scoots backwards when he's getting off a bed, crawling down stairs, going down a curb (even if it's a one-inch curb), or going down the slope of a driveway. He has been walking pretty well since about 13 months old and now he is getting more confident and will walk down driveways normally. He is still reluctant about stairs, thank goodness! In all reality he is very coordinated and has good balance and I think a lot of it is because I have tried to be very hands-off with him and let him tumble and fall so he has learned how to be careful. I was very much a "helicopter mom" with Jude and it's been interesting to see how different their personalities and development is. It's hard to know how much of it is "nature" and how much is "nurture." Anyways, Abraham is seriously such a special little boy. He has so much personality. He loves his mama and daddy so much. He loves to play with Dan. Dan will lay down on the ground and Abraham will come over and and climb on him and bounce on him and give him strawberries (raspberries, I don't know why we call them strawberries). But he always wants to be around his mama. He still nurses a few times a day and when I ask, "do you want to nurse?" he throws down whatever he was playing with and runs over to me with a big smile on his face. He is a great eater. He eats pretty much anything and everything! He eats exactly the same as Jude except I also give him raw milk, homemade yogurt made from raw milk, Kerrygold butter, eggs, and occasionally some other organic meat if we are eating it. He has never eaten any grains or processed foods and he is as healthy as a horse! It is so nice because he has never tasted those artificially sweet and processed foods so to him, berries, bananas, and nectarines or peaches are the biggest treat! 

He loves running around and playing outside. We are visiting my parents right now and he loves to play around the pool. He will grab something walk over the pool and throw it in and then look back at us as his mischievous little smile. Then he will get down on his tummy and reach her and try to grab it out. We put the little puddle jumper life jacket on him and although it's too big for him he fearlessly jumps off the stop in right into the deep part of the pool and actually does a pretty good job swimming around! When he doesn't have his life jacket on he very cautiously walks through the water on the shallow step and splash with the biggest smile on his face. 

 

He gives the absolute BEST kisses! He gives them when you ask but maybe only once every 20 times you ask! He has to be in the kiss-giving mood. If he does, it makes it that much better! He will turn you with his open mouth and go "mmmmm.....muah!!" If I give him a kiss and just keep saying, "mmmm....." He will just wait and wait until I say "muah!!" 

He and Jude love each other and I can definitely see that bond forming, but they also have their fair share of tiffs. They are (constantly) hitting and pushing each other, taking toys from each other, and somehow always seem to find a way to offend the other. Abraham is still a little too young to understand how Jude plays so they still have trouble playing together really well. They certainly have their precious moments where they play and laugh and hug and share and those are PRICELESS!!

We love our little boy so much. He is the perfect addition to our family and I can not imagine life without him!! 

They love me.

I just can not even begin to express how grateful I am for my boys. It is unbelievably humbling to be their mother. Motherhood is HARDCORE, people. I understand why Jesus said to be like the little children because they forgive instantly, do not hold grudges, and love unconditionally. How did I get to be so lucky to be both of their favorites? They are definitely mama's boys and I am just smitten by these two. These last few days have been stressful and unfortunately I have not been handling it as well as I wish I had. I have been impatient and definitely not as loving as they deserve! At one point, I grabbed Jude and told him I was so sorry and I love him so much. He just said, in the most upbeat, cheerful voice. "It's okay, Mommy! It's okay! I love you!" He was just completely forgiving and it was just the most sincere expression of love. I was so touched by his affection and forgiveness. I prayed and got a little sleep and had a much better day today. (And thank you to my dear husband who made and fed the boys and cleaned up dinner while I went out for a little white.) We have been playing "firemen." Abraham is "Fireman Small" (named after a book from the library). I said to Jude, "since Abraham is Fireman Small, you can be Fireman Tall!" He put his hand out and said, "no, no I'm not fireman tall. I'm medium tall. I'm fireman medium tall." So Abraham is Fireman Small, Jude is Fireman Medium-Tall, Daddy is Fireman Tall, and I'm Firemama." We crawl around the upstairs extinguishing fires and rescuing and treated the injured animals. At one point, I stopped and said, "I'm a little nervous..." And he very dutifully put down his fireman glasses and his hose/ax and grabbed me in the biggest bear hug and reassuringly said, "I'm here. I'm here. You're brave, Mama." My heart just exploded. He has the most incredible little imagination.

He is soo loving and affectionate. I am so lucky. He probably gives me about 20 kisses a day. Like sweet, soft, hold my cheeks kisses. He always wants to be by me or sit on my lap or hold my hand. He has still been a little under the weather so he is extra cuddly and I love it. A few weeks ago we were working on something and he called me honey. Something like, "don't forget this one, honey." It was so funny. And when he is helping Abraham or trying to teach him something, he calls him son. "Come get this piece, son." It's so cute. He'll say, "I Daddy's son, Abraham my son." He says words like "interesting," or "that's hilarious!" Hos memory is still surprising me. The other day I mentioned the Easter Bunny and he recounted in detail the Easter Bunny that they had at our old apartments Easter Party ELEVEN months ago and we have literally not mentioned once since!! He'll tell a story and start with, "The other day...." and then tell all about it, and then say, "When was that?"

The other day Jude grabbed my phone and clicked to make Sori turn on and he asked her, "When's Daddy going to get home?" Siri said, "I do not know who your father is." And Jude said, "It's Dan!!" They both seemed to get a little frazzled after having that same conversation over and over again. Needless to say, Siri was no help! He asks "Why?" About 50-100 times a day (or it feels like it.) the why's snowball and I oftentimes have NO idea what the answer is to his questions. "Why the construction worker moving that dirt? Where are they going to take it? Is there a wrecking ball on that crane? Whee do the construction workers live? Why can't I wear my socks outside? (Because they'll get wet.) Why will they get wet? (Because it's raining.) Why is it raining?" It goes on and on! He is so curious and smart. I love him so.

Abraham is SOMETHING else. We are so obsessed with kissing his soft, chubby cheeks. He is mischievous. He has mastered the stairs and I let him climb up and down them freely at his own will. I always have to keep the bathroom doors closed because, if left open, he will notice in a matter of seconds and book it to the toilet, lift the lid, and splash in the toilet water. He knows he is not supposed to do it and if caught in the act, he will stop and smile! When I'm reading to Jude for bedtime, I let him roam around and he will usually stay upstairs. The other day it had been a minute since I'd heard him so I went to look for him. He was all the way downstairs with his tummy on Judes tall Radio Flyer tricycle holding onto the handrails ringing the bell (over the tile). I can not leave the bike out or the kitchen stool. He is a climber and a good one! He is impressive balance and rarely falls. He surprised me a few weeks ago when I was holding him about to do a breathing treatment (croup scare) and he attempted to put the mouthpiece of the nebulizer into the canister part. Who knew?! He can (messily) feed himself with a spoon. He tries so hard to put blocks together and will be there in no time. He waves. He holds the phone up to his face to talk. He gives strawberries and will wrestle and go "aahhh" and attack you with big kisses if we are playing. He has the most scrumptious round little bottom and a close-up picture of it is the background on my phone. He LOVES the tub and has absolutely no fear. He will reach up to the shelf I thought he surely could not reach and grab the baby shampoo and be on his tip toes. He will climb and slop and slide and fall full-face under the water and pop himself right back up without flinching.

Tonight I was changing his diaper for bed and I didn't even notice he was holding Jude's water bottle. He was being extra quiet and less-squirmy and I noticed he was "taking sips" and pouring cold water all over himself. I let him for a while then after he was getting all wet I grabbed it to take it away. When I grabbed it a forceful stream SHOT out at him and sprayed him with a long stream of water right in the open eyeball. He did not flinch or whine or cry in the least. I got a good belly laugh out of that one! He loves musical instruments and will grab the kazoo and sing into it and then put it my mouth and have me sing then take his turn, then mine, and this will go on and on. He LOVES eating and it seems like he is always hungry.he has always been a garbage disposal and within the last few weeks has become more picky. Don't you dare let him see a banana without giving him one or he will have a full-fledged tantrum. "Nana! Nana!" Was one of his first words at 6.5 months old!! Jude will feed him sometimes and it is the most precious thing. Jude is such a sweet big brother and really looks out for Abraham. Abraham is definitely feisty and holds his own and will randomly hit Jude and pull his hair and it is obviously intentional! I used to say, "it's okay, Jude, babies don't know." But we're getting to the point where he definitely knows! Now Jude always says, "It's okay. Babies don't know..." For all sorts of things (like splashing in the toilet.) and now for cats and dogs and whatever else. "it's okay, Mommy. Cats don't know." Jude always recounts things that happen and he tells them in GREAT detail. It is very impressive. "I woke up. I called for Mommy. Mommy came in. I smiled at Mommy. Mommy grabbed me. Mommy asked me how was my night. I said I slept good. We came downstairs..." 

They are starting to play together more and more and it is so fun. They love their little red car and sometimes will push from behind while the other one rides.

Like I said, being their mother is so humbling. I love them so much and although I fall short, I'm trying harder to be a better mother every day. This is the hardest job, but I wouldn't change it for anything. 

"Happy... Brother's! Day! Abe."

Best friends.

kicks&&giggles.

Yesterday Dan was holding Abraham and he gave Dan a little kick. Dan said, "Ouch! You got me!" And Abraham LAUGHED! It was the cutest little exhale of a laugh. We looked at each other like, "Did he just laugh?!" Yes, he did! And he just did it again!

Just now we were laying down by each other as soon as I started nursing him he just got the biggest smile on his face. Then he started laughing again. My heart got so big and I just couldn't contain my love for him. We started talking to each other and laughing and smiling and... life was really good at that moment.

Dan and Jude are over at the empty parking lot next door playing "SOCCA!!" with some of Dan's friends from school.

Life is good.

Update: Yesterday I was holding Abraham and Jude was right by him. Abraham was looking over at Jude and he just got the BIGGEST GRIN on his face and then did his little laugh. I nudged Jude and we both got so excited! "He loves you! He loves you so much honey!!"

:)

one month of abraham.

Our big little baby Abraham has been alive for one month... Mind. Blown. To think that it was one whole month ago that I was walking down our staircase in that big blue moo moo... pregnant (and soon not to be) is beyond my comprehension. And that he has been with us for one whole month?! In a way, it seems like forever that I've known that little face (maybe because he looks just like Jude did?!) and on the other hand I can't believe I have slept with him and nursed him and hugged him and kissed him thirty whole days in a row.

Picture of the month.

#1: Mommy. All he wants. All he needs.

The end.

I've said this before and I'm planning on saying it a million more times, but he is special. Special to me. And just special in his own right. He is the most calm, content little baby you've ever known. (Example: We had many errands to run this morning. So I strapped him into the car seat and off we went. We left at 8:50 and got home at 11:50 and he was sound asleep in that car seat the entire time. We then got home and I nursed him, gave him a bath, changed his diaper, nursed him again... and he has been asleep in his swing for another hour and a half and still going strong.) He has remarkable head support and a serious grip for a little one. He is smiling at us lovingly and it melts our hearts. His after-bath afro is a little too good. And he is quickly becoming his big brother's best little friend.

Being the mother to two has taught me so much already. It is absolutely beautiful. I have grown and learned to love and learned a lot about letting things go. It is refreshing beyond expression and only fitting that spring is upon us. I feel a rekindled love for life and my precious family and what really matters. I am literally brought to tears while playing with Jude at his "mountain" or watching my husband play with the boys as I contemplate my many blessings and wonder how my life has turned out so good.

We went to church as a family for the first time this week. It was a deep breath of fresh mountain air to be at church for the full three-hours and have my dearest three there with me. The boys even matched and the cuteness was a little out of control...

"The cough and cry"

brothers.

Ten days old.

Brothers trying to get acquainted.

"Aww..." I think he needs his toy...

Trying to console him...

Already learning to hold his own...

"jude, do you want a baby brother or a baby sister?"

I asked him that question the other day in the car and he kept saying "sister!" and "girl! girl!" It was hilarious. He is well-aware of the "baby" in Mommy's tummy, and soon enough he will understand he's going to have a baby brother! We are over-the-moon excited about our second little boy. We were hoping and dreaming and pining over the idea of two little boys... &our dream came true! We imagine them being the best of friends, getting into all sorts of trouble together, going on every type of adventure they can imagine, and lots of father-son camp outs, fishing trips, hikes, and ball games. Doesn't it just sound too good to be true?! I'm ruling the roost as the only lady around here for a while longer. I tease them that I am all the woman this house can handle! We have just about everything we need, too. We are just in the market for a double stroller and a little infant car seat &that is about all we need! 

Having Jude has been the greatest joy in our lives. Like, the most inexplainable, unmatchable joy we have ever experienced and we can only imagine the fun of adding another little boy to the family. I know it will be a difficult adjustment but before long hopefully they will just play together and be content! I am trying to get all the sleep I can now. (I slept just short of 12 hours last night!) We are going to do a few things differently this next time in an attempt to make things a little easier on us, and better for the baby of course! (Post on that to come later, if you're interested!)

We love you, little boy, and can not wait to hold you in our arms!