My parents came out to visit and provide some much needed assistance as Nathan and I get used to a routine with double the children we used to have. Everyone loved having Grandma and Grandpa here!
Okay, Bradley may have enjoyed it the most. But he enjoys most things more than anyone else.
Bradley embarked on some new adorable behavior while they were here. He has a new vocabulary which he delights in making use of to order people around and play. "Up" is our favorite word, it has many uses. One can demand to be held, or to go upstairs, or to get into his high chair for meal time. Usually it's said in repeat and with great urgency. He also still likes to say "uh oh" for pretty much everything and has started to say "wheeee" here and there. "Ba ba" (bye bye) and "ba" (ball) and "ba ba" (baby) can be rather confusing to the novice adult who is not used to the slight tonal differences that differentiate between these words. Yes, I'm serious, and yes, I can tell the difference.
But everyone's favorite is "oof oof" (woof woof) that means Bradley is holding or looking at a doggy. It's just so cute. I'm reeeeally trying to push "meow meow" on him but the kid seems to prefer doggies for some reason. Boggles the mind. I'm hoping to have better luck with Eleanor. Who would prefer a doggy when there are delightful kitties to snuggle and play with?? Granted, the cats don't give Bradley that much affection but you can't really blame them when the boy runs up and whacks them in the face with a giant lego piece. We're very fortunate we have such nice kitties.
Look at this nice kitty watching over the sleeping baby! Lucky Eleanor!
Yet another helpful kitty!
Bradley had a blast playing with Grandma and Grandpa while they were here. We couldn't get out of the house as much as I wanted because of the heat, which isn't very baby Eleanor friendly. However, we did get to a do a fair bit despite this. Bradley LOVES sprinklers and his grandpa achieved high levels of Bradley devotion and love when he did the following:
No idea why this uploaded sideways. It only does this with Nathan's camera for some reason.
And here are some additional photos of backyard play time with Bradley. He's only moderately interested in the over the top wading pool I got for him, the sprinkler is his favorite thing in the whole world.
Although we were pleased to discover there was a place specifically designed to throw the balls that Bradley loves that came with the wading pool
So much joy!
These two are so crazy about each other. My dad would pace with Bradley, patting him on the back when it was time for Bradley to go down for a nap and sweet Bradley would pat him back. Melts a grandpa's heart.
Bradley going in for a post sprinkler fun smooch.
What a kid. What a grandpa! We also went to a "sprayground" at a local park where our crazy boy showed no fear and cracked us up by running straight into the high pressure water shooting out of the ground as soon as we got there. This was just as I was meeting a few other moms from a mom group I'm part of and they were introducing their children that were a bit afraid of the water. I introduced myself and said "that one's mine" just as Bradley ran off into the water. He did this solo, his grandpa was still trying to get himself ready. Granted, Bradley soon realized that this was a little more hardcore than running through sprinklers and he preferred to be carried by Grandpa and get to run through the sprinklers that way.
So ... much ... water
And there was one trip to a swimming pool. Bradley loves playing in water!
I used my parents' trip as an opportunity to try out a few new things: crayons, chalk, and playdough. We had mixed levels of success. Crayons are for throwing, chalk is for holding and whacking at the ground where someone else has drawn something, and playdough is for making into balls ... and then throwing. We may wait another few years before we try any of these activities again.
At least the picture looks respectable. One could pretend that some real coloring happened!
Another respectable photo. Who would throw playdough?? Not this angelic child.
Bradley still loves to give Eleanor smooches and has been getting a lot of encouragement to continue to do so. However, the other day I did see him run and give the pillar in the middle of the family room a kiss right after he kissed Eleanor so maybe it's not as impressive as a gesture as we originally thought. But it's still darn cute. He likes to aim for her nose or mouth when he kisses her, she gets a little slimy sometimes.
Eleanor is resigned to her fate
Unfortunately, I need to do some work to teach him the difference between smooching family and smooching strangers. There have been a couple of incidences when we were at the library and park where Bradley may or may not have bumped into an older boy and then tried to smooch him to make him feel better. The boys have reacted with a bit of horror and disgust. If only Bradley had bumped into a girl or two, I feel like that would have gone over much better. Bradley would be just as happy to kiss a stuffed toy or a kitty (when he can get close enough) but the boys don't know this. Ah, childhood. Have to get some trauma in there somehow, even in suburbia in the Midwest.
My dad had to leave after a week, but my mom stayed for an additional week. Nothing like having a new baby around to make everyone go a little nuts with photo memories!
"Tummy time" on Grandpa
"Tummy time" on Grandma. I was assured that this counted.
A very happy grandma
Look, grandparents no longer have to fight over a single grandchild! There is one for each!
My mom stayed a week longer than my dad and we kept her quite busy while she was here.
My mom took this picture for another one of her "nerd books" where she teaches a physics concept through photos of her grandchildren playing. Bradley was game for anything where he gets to play with buttons.
Testing out the cupcakes my mom made in celebration of Eleanor's upcoming 1 month birthday. Bradley approved!
Another favorite pastime for Bradley these days: looking through his one year photo album.
And now for a couple of photos I simply call: Bad Grandma
Bradley is so much fun, I'm really glad my parents were able to see him at this phase. Learning words, loving all the things, getting into all the things, causing his parents to sigh and say "we're in so much trouble."
Sunglasses!
Delightful new hobby
There IS a diaper on this kid. Oh dear.
We like to stand and climb on everything these days!
On everything. We're in so much trouble.
It may be poor parenting, but Nathan and I have made a bet on how many bones he's going to break before he's 18. Nathan says 5, I say only 2. He's a daredevil but I'm hopeful that he'll develop some caution.
Tee hee hee, I'm using the iron handrail to jump down the stairs in an unsafe manner that causes bodily harm to myself at least twice a day. I cry and then do the exact same thing again. My poor parents!
We're on a bit of a stuffed toy kick again.
Again, I would like to say that we didn't purchase an absurd number of stuffed toys for our young child, they were a very welcome gift from Nathan's Aunt Tina who has a teenage daughter who no longer needs her collection.
Bradley loves this stuffed toy snake and will drape it over his shoulders while walking around and playing.
And look at this admirable new skill! We brush his teeth and then let him give it a go, he's pretty delighted to be given control of his own toothbrush.
Who is this big boy brushing his own teeth?
One thing that has really surprised me about my little boy since Eleanor's birth is how he can seem to pay no attention to me while I'm in a room but then he'll melt into a puddle of tears if I leave. I guess he's developing a little separation anxiety now that he's been separated from me for some serious lengths of time here and there. We had an epic fail of a trip to the library this past week with my mom where I was trying to comfort a fussy Eleanor with no success and decided to leave the room where they were doing the story time so I could comfort her outside. I walked past my mom and Bradley and a long line of other moms sitting with their children as I went across the large room and I was almost at the door when I heard a wail of despair. I turned and it was my Bradley, reaching out an arm and crying. I swear all I saw was him as I pretty much ran back over as fast as I could and handed my poor mother a crying baby so I could comfort the crying toddler. What a sweetie. He's a tough guy but he just needs his mommy sometimes.
I love love love this little boy.
In Eleanor news, our girl is growing at an outrageous rate and we're excited for her one month appointment this upcoming Monday. We always look forward to new stats on height and weight! She was 7 lbs 6.5 oz (37%) and 21 inches (82%) at her 5 day checkup. Bradley had his 15 month checkup at the same time and weight in at a hearty 27lbs 6 oz (85%) and 32 inches (75%). Bradley's only 85% in weight? I pity the parents of the higher percentile children. Those are BIG kids.
Look at this little sweetheart!
Nathan getting in some much needed Eleanor cuddles
What a little doll! (My mom made one or two amused comments about the number of outfit changes Eleanor went through in a single day but I maturely chose to ignore her. Eleanor has assured me that outfit changes are welcome as long as the new outfit is cuter than the last. Isn't it always?)
Holding her head up so big!
Matching with Mommy! Mommy was very pleased that she could squeeze into this shirt before Eleanor grew out of her matching newborn onesie.
Having a Simba moment
Awake and not being held! Unacceptable.
I too love snuggling with a sleepy baby girl
She's such a little gumdrop!
Nathan thinks pink looks rather dashing on him
More snuggles. She does sleep in her little bassinet sometimes ... but when there's an opportunity for Mommy or Daddy snuggles we take it!
So in love with this little munchkin
Milk drunk
I am being much less militant about tummy time this time around. Partly because I simply can't manage it when I have two kids to watch at once and partly because I'm not really worried about her not crawling. She's going to want to chase after her big brother, this kid will learn to crawl just fine.
The video below is pretty tame but there are some sweet sweet newborn noises that I just go nuts over
We've been getting some marvelous family time in during the last few weeks. So happy that this is just the beginning and there is so much more ahead!
Bradley learning to share Daddy's lap
Bradley having Daddy all to himself
Bradley is seriously turning into Nathan's mini me
My guys
Mommy and baby girl!!
In our front yard with our family. Such an attractive crew!
