March 16, 2010

Everything's changing so fast . . .

We went to Chicago last weekend to see my sister.

Ben woke up on Friday morning with his first tooth. I was feeling his gums Thursday night because he was gnawing on everything he could get his hands on, but there was nothing there. Sure enough, Friday morning, there was a tooth.

Then on Sunday morning, he woke up with a second. Chicago will do that to you, I suppose.

He wasn't especially fussy leading up to the teeth breaking through, but he's been fussy ever since.

Seriously. Fussy. I'm so used to him having such a sweet temperament, so it's odd to have him so clingy and cranky.

Jack succeeded at zipping up his coat by himself over the weekend, which now further delays us getting out the door because he MUST DO IT BY HIMSELF. He's so proud of himself, though. I am, too.

Jack spent most of our Chicago weekend in a diaper, because the last thing you need when you're on the 'L' is to hear "Uh, I have to go potty." Kyle pointed out that it usually smells like lots of people use the train as a bathroom, but I wouldn't have my child be one of them.

SO, when we got home he was more than ready to be back in underwear and we've only had one accident since we've been home. I think the discomfort of the diaper for a weekend was a good thing.

Ben is now going from sitting to pseudo-crawling, and then pushing himself from pseudo-crawling back to sitting, which is amazing to me. I guess I expected these things to come slowly to him, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because he's so much more laid back than Jack was. Maybe it was just wishful thinking.

He so funny because he can't quite figure out how to get his legs and arms moving in sync, so when he gets frustrated, he pushes up onto his feet, hops forward a little and then moves his hands. It almost looks like he's getting ready to do a somersault. He tried (unsuccessfully) to pull himself up on a basket of Jack's toys this afternoon, and it's a good thing Jack was napping because I can only imagine the drama it would have caused if Jack saw Ben touching HIS toys.

While we were in Chicago, we had a chance to see friends we hadn't seen since Jack was Ben's age! However, through the magic of the Internet, it didn't feel like it had been that long because we keep in touch. Annie's expecting her third boy and I had a chance to take some photos of their family. Here's a sneak peek for them . . .



4 comments:

Xander said...

Yea!!!! I'm just seeing these and love them... Can't wait to see more. The one of the whole fam turned out really good with everyones expressions.

Sarah said...

Awwww, love the AnnI pics!!! :)

J. said...

So cute! Can't believe how old Eli is getting, and Annie, you look beautiful! P.S. Sarah, you did my birth announcements for my littlest one, at the recommendation of Annie :).

Anonymous said...

It's both heartwarming and challenging when little ones reach developmental milestones like getting their first teeth or mastering new skills. Ben's sudden appearance of two teeth brings a mix of surprises and adjustments, as seen in his shift in temperament. Jack's accomplishment with zipping up his coat independently is undoubtedly a source of pride for him, even if it adds a bit of extra time to your routine.

As for diaper use during your Chicago weekend, it's a practical decision to keep things convenient, especially considering the unpredictability of potty needs while using public transportation. While the focus is on your child's comfort and convenience, it's worth noting the environmental impact of disposable diapers. Diaper recycling initiatives can be an excellent addition to the parenting journey, contributing to a more sustainable approach. It's a reminder that even in the midst of daily parenting challenges, there are opportunities to make eco-friendly choices, fostering a sense of responsibility for the environment within the family dynamic.