Trio

Delaney's new sounds from T on Vimeo.

A little over two months later, and Delaney is already looking much more at ease as part of the gang.  This is great to see, because they really do love her so.  Of course, the real test will be when she is able to crawl away…

August—Delaney 2 and a half months

November—Delaney almost 5 months

We bought Franny her new bed a little over a year ago.  However, we didn’t set up the upper bunk until today.  She was very excited and also had a lot of fun helping set it up.  In order to give her a little more room, we moved her furniture around and even removed her bookcase.  So now, she has a whole new room, and she spent her afternoon “decorating” it.  Soon, we will really decorate it anew, but one step at a time.  For now, both Franny and Cole are having a great time going up and down the ladder, hanging out on the top bunk, and giggling non-stop.  So much fun!

Each of Cole's gymnastics classes ends with the kids doing a cheer. It's really too cute, and even though it's not skill-based, it's still one of my favorite things they do...

Cheer from T on Vimeo.

Tonight, Cole got a huge kick out of Grandma and Grandpa’s digital frame.  He watched the rotation of pictures countless times, announcing who was in the picture with each advance.  It’s Franny!  Cole and Grandma!  Franny and Daddy!  His excitement over it all was nothing less than hilarious.  He’s so much fun—I just can’t get enough of him!

It’s Franny!

A stomach virus hit our house pretty hard this week.  Monday, Franny and I succumbed to the bug, Tuesday it was Rick’s turn, and then today, Franny relapsed.  Everyone was feeling good as of bedtime, and I am just hoping that is the end of it.  So much cleaning and disinfecting has been tedious—in this month to be thankful, I can say I am extremely thankful for the steam cleaner, the ‘sanitize’ setting on the washing machine, and of course, what is usually a healthy household.  In a year that has been typified as ‘anything goes’, there are only three things that we do our best not to compromise:  family, health, and  happiness.  A nasty bug definitely visited our house this week, but we sent it packing.  Too bad it isn’t always that easy!

There is no limit to the amount of baby gear available for infants:  bouncers, swings, high chairs, the list goes on and on.  I really dislike all his equipment—it is usually large, bulky, plastic, and rarely the kind of stimulation I think is really appropriate for infants—they frequently seem to be an onslaught of annoying ‘‘music” and bells and whistles designed to function as a substitute caregiver.  That said, there is a point where the unpredictable sleep schedule of a baby also requires a place to put them when necessary.  I can’t put Delaney on the floor when I take a shower, I can’t hold her while I make meals, and sometimes I just need a break.  This collapsible travel swing serves as my ‘helper’ upstairs and a bouncer and highchair serve the same purpose downstairs.  She doesn’t really like either, but tolerates them for enough time for me to take care of various routine things throughout the day.  I look forward to the day when I can donate and discard these things.  Until then, I continue to remind myself that these are just a few of the insignificant little things that come with babies, but are temporary and will eventually be gone from sight. 

Delaney used to sleep so soundly. But, up just once during the night has evolved into up every two to three hours. It has been going on long enough that we know it is not a temporary phase—it is our norm. One of the reasons for the change is probably due to her irregular nap schedule during the second half of the summer. Her lack of recuperative sleep is most likely manifesting itself with night wakings. So, we have begun to prioritize her sleep schedule, in attempts to try and consolidate her 4 short naps during the day into 2 long naps, as well as extending her durations of night sleep. She’s still little, and needs to get up to eat during the night. This current schedule, however, will be the end of us all if it continues, and isn’t healthy for Delaney, either. We’re two weeks into it, and old habits are definitely hard to break, but I think we’re starting to see some change. Now, she down to three naps and has been up only twice during the last two nights. I am definitely hoping that this a new pattern emerging. We’ll see…

Cole LOVES taking baths.  He and Franny have such a good time that they stay in the tub and play even after they are all clean.  They make quite a ruckus and the bathroom floor frequently needs to be wiped down afterward, as the splashing does get out of hand and the tub becomes more of a mini swim pool than a bath tub.  But, they are getting much better about limiting the mess.   And, when they have this much fun, it’s easy to not get too upset about it.

Today, Franny and Cole had a lot of fun dressing up in old Halloween costumes.  What a difference two years makes! 

Do you think Cole and Franny are sitting in a chair? Oh, think again—this is a rocket ship. They spin around and around and around and then Blast off! Cole gets off when the countdown goes too fast for his liking, but Franny, the lover of speed, can’t go fast enough. Either way, it’s their new favorite game and they love it. I love their imagination.

It’s been quite an adjustment, with the birth of Delaney, since she requires so much of my attention. I couldn’t have asked any more of Franny and Cole—they have done so well given so much change. Unfortunately, the one-on-one opportunities I have with them, and especially Franny, are few and far between. There is so much that I want to do with Franny; most of it simple things, like doing fun craft projects and helping her with her reading and writing, reading books and doing puzzles. All those great things she loves and makes her who she is. Fortunately, as Delaney gets older I am better learning how to make time in creative ways. I have a lot of ideas that I am looking forward to trying out. She is such an amazing and special little girl and deserves my best. I just hope I can figure out how to give that to her.