Everett provided us with our scariest parenting moment to date last night. He woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for air and unable to get any. We tried everything we could to help him, but we weren't getting anywhere either. After rushing him to the hospital and doing a battery of tests, we found he was likely choking on mucus and bile due to a severe case of reflux.  While we are essentially afraid to go to sleep tonight, we are thankful to have him home.



Wondering what Daddy is doing



 





Looking pitiful in his hospital gown





 

 





Tiny little bandaged foot



Slow Down

Okay, can someone tell me when my tiny baby girl went from wearing onesies to wearing skirts?!?  It seems like she was Everett's age just a few months ago. I am sooooooo not ready for her to keep growing like this.

Amelia got this fedora from her grandparents this weekend. The only problem is despite the fact that she looks more like a member of the Olsen and Olsen Detective Agency, she thinks it is a cowgirl hat. So, she runs around yelling "Yeeehawww (she actually says Beehawww)" and waving it around like a rodeo star.

Tinkle Tinkle Little Star

I'll give you one guess as to what happened here this morning...

the only clue I'll give you is it was this guy...and his diaper was off...

One day, we'll learn our lesson about little boys and their need for full coverage at all times.

M.I.A.

I know I haven't posted in a few days. I didn't actually fall off the face of the Earth. I was just fortunate enough to get to go on a beach trip with several guy friends. While it was a great time and a much needed break, it mostly served as a reminder of how much I love my family and how much I enjoy my simple day-to-day life with them. Oddly, I didn't miss work at all.

Lesson

If you don't know what it's like to be holding your naked baby boy out in front of you as you begin to hear pee splashing against your chest....and you can't drop him so you just have to endure it until he is done....let me serve as a lesson to you. It sucks. I was wondering why Meggan handed him to me in his birthday suit. Now, I'm pretty sure I know why - she wanted me to have a little memory to take with me tomorrow as I leave home for my "guy's trip" to the beach.

Hot Tamale

My little man had his 2 month checkup today ...

50th percentile height

50th percentile weight

90th percentile head circumference


Oh well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad.


He also got his first ever fever tonight. The shots seem to be bothering him a bit so we'll have to keep an eye on him overnight.

Look A Like

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm starting to think Amelia looks more and more like me everyday...







...either that or she got some fake moustaches and thought it was hilarious for us to wear them.

Out and About

Close....but, Not Quite

I tried to explain husband, father, wife, mother, son, daughter, etc. to Amelia the other day. She can't quite get her head around the fact that one person can be multiple things to different people. This became evident today...

Amelia: Mommy is a wife.

Me: Yep.

Amelia: A girl is a wife and a boy is a cousin.

Me: Ummm, think you mean husband, not cousin.

Amelia: Oh.


Later in the day...

Amelia: Mommy, you're my wife.

Me: Am I your husband?

Amelia: Noooooooo, you're my daddy.

Meggan: I'm not your wife, I'm daddy's wife. And he's my husband.

Amelia: (perplexed) So, you're my mommy-wife?

Everett at Play

Everett is getting closer and closer to baby talking. It is right on the tip of his tongue, but more often than not, he just gets frustrated and kicks his legs. Oh well, he'll get there.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

As you can see...Amelia is excited...Everett, not so much...



In honor of the occasion, Amelia even threw in a Mick Jagger strut...

Elephant Ears

You can never really quite understand the mind of a 3 year-old. Tonight, while Meggan was singing Amelia lullabies in the bed, she noticed Amelia's face turn sad and go into a near cry. Naturally, she asked her what was wrong. So, what was it? Was she in pain? Did she feel sick? Was she afraid of monsters? Uhhh, No. Apparently, she just got really upset thinking about the fact that "her ears are getting bigger and bigger because she is growing up."

Exactly My Point

Just to underscore my point that Everett would prefer if I moved out, I give you the following two comments from my wife:

- (at breakfast this morning) Meggan: Everett and I are getting into a great routine. He's been such a good boy for me the last several days. I've been taking him everywhere. So, it should be a good breakfast with daddy today.
Everett:WWAAAAHHHHH
Meggan: Wow, he really doesn't like you.

Me: I love that little guy, but good Lord, he can't stand me.
Meggan: Oh, that reminds me, I read the blog and you've got it all wrong. He doesn't cry much for me. He just really, really hates you.

Teammates

One of the primary tenets of our marriage and our family is that we take an all-for-one and one-for-all approach. Meggan and I were both raised this way and we'll both die this way. We are a team and as such we should do all we can for one another. However, we are currently having a hard time getting this through to our children. Obviously, Everett gets a tiny bit of a pass considering he wasn't on the planet 2 months ago. That said, Amelia has been around a little longer. Don't get me wrong, there isn't widespread sabotage going on at home. The problem is there is a slight divide happening at the moment. Everett clearly hates me to my utter core. He cries the minute I hold him and continues to do so until I stop. Sure, the little dude likes to cry a bit more than most, but he reeeaallly amps it up for me. Now, Amelia doesn't harbor that level of disdain for Meggan, but she has wholeheartedly joined Team Daddy recently. I wish I could tell you this is because she finally realized I am the far more awesome parent. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it is just jealousy over the attention Everett gets from Meggan. It doesn't matter what we are doing, she always wants me to do it with her and it doesn't matter what Meggan asks her to do, she puts up a fight. Ironically, the likely fix to this is for me to spend more time with Everett while Meggan hangs with Amelia. This sounds so easy, but trust me....there are few things scarier than really ticked off babies and 3 year-olds. Wish us luck.

Growing

I have to admit, no matter how much he cries, it is getting tougher and tougher to be away from this little guy during the workday...

I Can Get Used To This

Now, before I say this, I would like to point out I love the fact that Meggan is independent and has a great career. It is actually one of the things that attracted me to her when we met. To me, there is something to be said for the strength two independent parties can bring to a marriage. There is an ironic comfort in knowing someone can leave you at any time. It helps frame the simple point that they are with you solely because they want to be. Having said all that, it is sooooo much better having her stay at home. I always have a clean house, all the shopping is done, we get to have lunch together, we only have the stress of one "day at the office", etc.

Thus, we'll be accepting donations from all of you in order to pay our bills once I let Meggan know she can no longer go back to work after maternity leave as I have become too spoiled.

A Baby What?!?

As you can see, Amelia can't believe the news that Everett is actually a part of our family and not just a stunt baby on loan...

Living the Life

Well fed...





Well rested...

When You Put It That Way

Want a quick way to feel old? Try to explain to your daughter who just told you she was one... two... three years old that are you indeed...


one... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten... eleven... twelve... thirteen... fourteen... fifteen... sixteen... seventeen... eighteen... nineteen... twenty... twenty-one... twenty-two... twenty-three... twenty-four... twenty-five... twenty-six... twenty-seven... twenty-eight... twenty-nine... thirty... thirty-one... thirty-two... thirty-three years old.

It may not change my age, but it feels much worse when you count it out that way.

One Day

Maybe one day Everett will be fashion forward enough to wear a cowboy hat and six shooter like his father used to...

Look Out Below

A few days ago, I posted that your son will eventually pee on you no matter how careful you are. Well, Everett killed two birds with one stream. As we were giving him his bath, he decided it was a great time to add in a special shower of his own. As usual, I was holding him for his bath so I had no chance of escaping the shrapnel. I knew this was a risk when I signed up for the job. However, tonight, there was another victim of collateral damage...As if we were involved in a Boyz N the Hood drive by, when the dust had cleared and we started to look around to see who had been hit and who could still call for help, we saw our smallest victim to date...Amelia was the recipient of a direct shot that landed smack dab in the middle of her head. Yes, forever and always, tonight will go down as the night Everett gave Amelia his own version of an all natural hair treatment.

Good Start

If you don't start your morning commute to the soulful, bluesy sounds of a heart-shaped-sunglasses-wearing, pink harmonica playing 3 year-old...well, you just aren't doing it right.

Shoppers

I think it is fair to say both my kids have a different sense of shopping style...

Everett prefers the more discreet look of 99% body and head coverage...



While Amelia likes to go with a more bold statement...

I've Improved

Some of you may remember this post from a few years ago. Well, it occurred to me the other day that Everett is now older than Amelia was when that happened. Thus, if all else fails, I can say I've improved at not dropping my children on their heads. So, hey, at least I have that going for me.

Break Free

Tonight, 6 weeks after Everett was born, we made our first trip out to dinner as a family. It was awesome. The food was great. Everett slept the entire time. Amelia was mostly well behaved. It was very much a needed night out and we couldn't have asked for more.

Now You Know

For any of you who don't have kids yet, here is a short list of things I have now found to be true since having both a boy and a girl...

- If you have a daughter, you will immediately begin to hate all boys and/or shows like Teen Mom. Yes, Amelia is still 10+ years away from dating...but, that will still be 10+ years too soon for me.

- If you have a son, you will find for some reason, they enter the world with man-balls the size of their heads. I'm pretty sure they can't walk or crawl for several months simply because those things would drag on the ground.

- Speaking of the your son's "area", it doesn't matter how careful you are, the little dude is going to pee on you. It may come in a stream of glory at bath time or it may be a sneak attack the second you take his diaper off. But, mark my words...there will be pee. Oh, yes, there will be pee.

- Just as you think your daughter has done all the silly stuff she can think to do, she'll sneak up behind you, shove your toothbrush up the leg of your shorts, and try to brush your butt cheek with it.

- When you have a wild 3 year-old and a colicky baby at home, that job you hated going to can actually turn into your only quiet sanctuary.

- When you have a sweet 3 year-old and a precious baby at home, that job you thought was your quiet sanctuary can quickly become a hated obstacle that keeps you from seeing your loved ones.

- You will learn that the folks at Nickelodeon Jr. are evil marketing geniuses that end their shows early and quickly start the following show so your DVR catches the first 5 minutes of the second show. This will cause your child to throw a fit wanting to watch this new show and you'll have to spend an hour trying to explain digital cable and DVR systems to your 3 year-old...and then you'll pray the second show comes on again so you can start recording that series as well.

- You will succumb to the fact that every piece of clothing you now own has a spot on it somewhere. It may be food. It may be barf. It may be your own tears. You'll never know. That said, it will never wash out of the clothing and you will not notice it until you are walking out the door for work.

- Your free time is sort of like Tim Tebow's girlfriend...you feel like it should exist, but for some reason there is no sign of it anywhere.

- People will tell you daycare is expensive. While true, a better way to put it is daycare is absolutely asinine in terms of cost. I could literally buy a new car every year for what it is going to cost to send Amelia and Everett to school.

- The only thing I spend more money on than daycare are the doctor bills for treating the many illnesses Amelia has picked up while at said daycare.

- When it comes to potty training and bedtime, it doesn't matter what you do. Your child will decide exactly when they will subscribe to these practices. Bribery and threats are only short term token solutions your child gives in to in order to give you the illusion of making progress.

- It doesn't matter how mild mannered you are, your kids will do something on a weekly basis that makes you want to break something, beat someone, or sell them on Craigslist.

- Your dog, which has always been a 'part of your family', will find its existence on very thin ice each and every time it barks during nap time.

- You love your parents, your siblings are your closest peers on the planet, and you'd jump in front of traffic for your spouse. However, if you add up all the things you feel about these people, it still will not come close to how it feels when you see your kids for the first time.

Early Start

Do you ever wonder if you are letting your kids learn life on their own or just teaching them to be little versions of you? I'm starting to have questions...

Everett being brainwashed into being a Gator fan...


Amelia hustling a bowling video game after ballet...