Comparing Babies

One of the cool things about using the same newborn photographer, is that sometimes you get some similar pictures.  I was really excited when I saw her doing this picture of Cooper, because I knew I had the exact same picture of Parker.  

Parker was so tiny.  He was probably slightly over 4 pounds when his pictures were taken.  Cooper was probably about 7 lbs.  Although there is nothing next to them to reference their size, I think you can just tell that Cooper is a fair bit longer and a lot bigger.  Parker's head was way too big for his body (and still is...)  And although Cooper is a lot bigger, he's still pretty thin.  You can really tell the size difference by looking at the positioning of their hands and legs.  

They also don't really look alike.  It's funny when you have your second baby, and it's the same sex, you kind of just expect it to look the same as the first.  How dare Cooper have his own appearance!

I just love these two boys!

Parker

Cooper

Cooper's Newborn Pictures

Oh how I love those sleepy newborn pictures.  It was so hard to choose a few to post because they are all so precious.  Cooper is much more awake these days, so I now understand why you need to have them taken so early.

He was very well behaved for his shoot and I was told that it was one of the quickest newborn shoots she had done in awhile.  It took about an hour and a half, I had to briefly feed him once and he only pooped and peed on the photographer once...

Here are a few of them, it was hard to narrow them down!

2 under 2

I never would of thought I would be the mom to 2 under 2.  Before I had kids, I would of said that's crazy.  Why would someone have 2 kids that close together.  

Some days I have it all together, some days I don't.  Some days I have it together in the morning and by the time 5 o'clock hits I have two screaming children and I'm on the verge of crying and I can't find the Solly Wrap and I'm trying to make supper and feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown.  (That may of happened this week...)

Having 2 under 2 is a challenge because Parker doesn't necessarily grasp that Cooper is a baby and that when I'm feeding him I can't drop everything to get him cheese that he's going to tear apart, drop on the floor and not eat.  (We go through a lot of cheese slices.)  He loves his brother, but I see the jealousy in his behaviour.  He cries more than he used to and acts out.  But I know that in the long run having a sibling is what is best for him, and eventually he will make it through this phase.

But having 2 under 2 is also special.  I always thought it was so cool when someone had a sibling that was only one grade different from them, because it's so rare.  I hope that they will be best friends.  I know it might not happen, or they might have years where they can't stand each other.  But 20 years from now I just hope that they appreciate each other.

Each day is a challenge, but it's also a blessing.  I have 2 boys who love me and need me.  As much as Parker might act out, at the end of the day he gives me a hug and a kiss.  In the middle of the night he calls for mommy.  When I'm exhausted because Cooper has been cluster feeding for 4 hours, he then wraps his tiny arm around me and it's the sweetest thing and melts my heart.  The kid is an amazing snuggler for a 6 week old!

I read something the other day that was talking about the decision to have more than 2 kids.  It said that the first 5 years are hard and tiring, but after that it's not so bad.  And I get that.  Although so rewarding, young kids are a challenge.  But it won't always be like this.  Some day they won't need me every second.  Parker will be able to get his own cheese.  Cooper won't be nursing for hours (and since I've done the nursing thing a year ago, I know that it truly doesn't last forever.)  And I will miss this.  I think I've been really good at soaking in each phase that my kids have gone through and I hope I never lose sight of that or wish the time away.

The days are long but the years are short.  

Life Lately

It's a busy time of year, and luckily Cooper is a good baby because he makes it much easier to get stuff done.  He has done a lot in the first month of his life. 

Last week we went to my work's Kid's Christmas party.  They had a reptile show, lunch and Santa.  Parker seemed to like all of the different reptiles and didn't mind touching them.

My parents have this life sized Santa by their front door that sings.  It has completely traumatized Parker and he says no no no no any time you try to take him near it, so we were worried about what he would think of real Santa.  Luckily if Santa gives him a high five he seems to get over it.  He's still kind of unsure of the big guy, but he didn't cry!

 Also last weekend we went and cut down our Christmas tree.  This is the first year that we have done that, but we thought that it would be a fun tradition for the kids.  Obviously Parker doesn't really have a clue what's going on, but it's about starting traditions that they will remember, and he still had a good time.  It's much more expensive to cut down your own tree so I'm not entirely sure that it was worth it this year, but oh well.

Then we decorated it.  Parker was a huge help!  All of the glass ornaments are close to the top, so the tree is a bit unbalanced.  But when we turned on the lights Parker said "Wowwww!"

Finally, this week I did a lot of Christmas shopping.  I'm pretty much done!  So my mom and I took the boys to the mall one day to meet Santa.  Parker was unsure again but this Santa also knew the high five trick.  Cooper slept.  

Once we walked away Parker was much braver and kept saying "Bye Santa"

I just love this season.  It's busy, but it's so much fun. I can't believe that it's only 2 more weeks until Christmas!  

Cooper at One Month

How has a month gone by already? Since Cooper is my second baby, I realize how quickly time flies and how fast babies grow.  I really disliked the newborn phase with Parker.  Mostly because I was exhausted and he didn't eat and it was really hard.  I remember hearing people say that they loved newborns and I thought, you are crazy, nobody can possibly love this stage.  But this time around I'm really enjoying it.  Sure I can't wait for those first smiles and for Cooper's personality to start developing.  But I also love the snuggles, and don't actually hate the middle of the night feedings where it's just us.  (I just prefer that those feedings are 4 hours apart instead of 2 hours apart).

So, just like I did with Parker, I want to keep track of Cooper's monthly development.  He wasn't very cooperative for his pictures.  We were having a cluster feeding afternoon and he really just wanted to eat.  Another thing to note is that Parker wore this onesie in both his 5 month and 7 month pictures...

Weight: He was 8lbs 6oz 5 days ago, and at that point he was gaining about 2 oz a day.  So he could be up to 9lbs by now!

Hair: Still dark brown.  Please never fall out adorable baby hair!

Eyes: Dark blue, so they could definitely change

Clothes: Although his weight is over the newborn clothes size, I think he's a bit short, so he still fits in some of them.  But just yesterday the sleepers all of a sudden seemed a bit snug.  I've been putting him in some 0-3 month clothes over the past week and they definitely don't seem too big for him.

Diapers: Size 1.  He would still fit in newborns technically, but I finished the box, and since newborn diapers are more expensive I refused to buy more of them.

Sleeping: He still sleeps a lot and has his wakeful periods during the day.  At night he will go anywhere from 2-5 hours.  When he wakes up after 2 hours I'm very disappointed!  But the past few days he has been a bit more consistent with the longer stretches.

Likes: Cuddles, eating.  He's a newborn, so that's about it at this point.

Dislikes: Bath time

Eating: He's a pro eater.  He ranges from 20-40 minute long feeds and eats every 2-4 hours typically.  He has his moments of cluster feeding, and it's often from about 9pm on until whenever he wants to stop.  Some nights he has gone until after midnight, which is really hard for me because at that point I just want to go to bed.

Milestones:  He rolled over at 2 weeks old from back to tummy.  Clearly it was a fluke, but we were pretty shocked by it.  He hasn't done it again since.  He really likes to work on his neck muscles when you are holding him upright, but not so much if I put him on the floor on his tummy.

Big Brother: Parker loves to give him hugs and kisses, try to smother him, and cover him in blankets.  We have to really watch him because although he's trying to be sweet, he would lie right on top of him or put blankets on his face and think that he's being helpful.  Parker is striving for attention at times, but doesn't seem to take the lack of attention out on Cooper, which is good.  It's just us who get the temper tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants.

Going from one to two kids really hasn't been as hard as I expected, but I know that a lot has to do with how easy going Cooper is.  I am super lucky!  I have only gone out with the two of them once by myself and it was to go grocery shopping, which was successful.  But I haven't figured out how I would do something with the two of them that didn't involve a cart or stroller, because Parker isn't big enough to actually walk on his own close to roads or in parking lots.  So I might just keep avoiding that for now.  Luckily I have my mom an mother in law super close by.  They have both been really helpful with taking Parker when I need them to or coming to my house to help me out and give me a chance to nap.  

"If you won't feed me I will eat my hand"

Our lives are a bit crazy now, but I feel so blessed to have two amazing children and of course a husband who has been so helpful when I'm constantly feeding Cooper.  He cooks for me, entertains Parker and the other day got up with both boys so that I could sleep in since Cooper was up a lot of the night.  I'm a lucky girl!

And for comparison purposes with the handy monkey....Here are both Parker and Cooper at 1 month!  What a difference!