4 weeks old/Arts and Crafts/Aunt Ann's chickens

Brooklyn turned 4 weeks old yesterday and she's doing great. She has gained weight and becoming more alert each day. She is very easy going, happy as long as she's fed and dry, and doesn't have gas bubbles. We had a couple rough nights a few days back, so we were trying to figure out if it was the fish oil pill I started taking or that she didn't like the cooler temps upstairs. She and I slept downstairs two nights by the woodstove and that went better, after feeding she fell back asleep instead of being up and fussy for a few hours, argh. I'm not sure what the problem was/is, but she really just wants to be close. She sleeps very well in my arms or right next to me. We got to do what we got to do to get by during the first couple months of sleepless nights... we're just so happy that she's healthy and happy!





We have had a fun week despite the weather not totally cooperating and taking all our snow away... Tuck went to Cindy's on Monday and Wednesday this week, of course having fun with all his friends there. Brooklyn and I rested at the house, ran errands and had a couple quieter days, although we were excited to go pick Tucky up at the end of the day.

On Tuesday, the three of us were home. Brooklyn counted sheep for most of the day and since it was nasty outside, Tuck and I decided to do some creative activities. We started out by pulling out all his new craft supplies from the Busque's. He eyed the paints so I let him try them. He actually was very careful and pretty curious. I then grabbed a bunch of dried leaves I've had for a few years and let him glue them on the paper. It ended up coming out pretty well. We then tried out more paints and even a little watercolors. He liked the watercolors and was very careful to keep the paint on the paper!

After three fun paintings, I got out the shaving cream and let him have at it on his high chair tray! He was a bit timid at first, not wanting to get dirty I imagine, but once I jumped in and showed him, he was all about it. It's really fun watching him play and create! Now I want to go get some more materials to play with together. Actually in the newspaper this past weekend there was a great article about art with toddlers and it listed some great websites we're going to check out.





Tuck is becoming quite the harmonica player now...he's figured out how to blow into it now and he has this cute dance to go along. He even includes his good friend Casco in his routine, asking her to play the harmonica as well. I've got it on video!

Today we packed up right after breakfast and drove north to Aunt Ann's house to visit with family. We met Meacy and the kids on the way and I had to kids asleep by the time we got to Wilton. After arriving, Aunt Ann brought us out to check out the chickens and collect any eggs they laid. The kids were so excited and it was really neat to see the chickens. Tuck liked them but didn't want to get too close. We had a nice visit and stayed through lunch. Brooklyn slept most of the time and I was worried that she'd be up on the drive home... not the case at all, both she and Tuck slept the whole hour-15 home!

Just before bedtime, Tuck jumped up on the couch with Brooklyn and I. Her tried to give her kisses, what a cutie. I just have to be so protective because he can be rough, no meaning too, but he's much bigger and not totally aware of his body. She's going to be one tough cookie!

A weekend of Sugarloaf firsts!

After passes we walked upstairs and got Tuck some rental equipment to use for the day because his skis are better for backyard skiing and messing around. We got him in boots, fitted to skis and out the door as fast as we could so we wouldn't miss the window. He wasn't psyched at first because it took awhile to get going and then we had to get down to Jay's skis, but again, as soon as we hit the magic carpet, he was hooked.


He and Jay took about three runs on the magic carpet before trying out the Sawduster chairlift. I wasn't sure how Tuck would like it but Jay said he really liked looking at everything although it was a little overwhelming. Holding on to Tuck's thighs, they skied by the base and down through the hoops, learning to make turns. It's funny because as they're skiing downhill, Tuck's looking off at the snowmobiles and whatever else catches his attention.

















Phew, we just got home from a great weekend up at Sugarloaf! It was Brooklyn's first trip and it went very well! I wasn't so sure when we had to make several stops on the drive up Friday night to change diapers, nurse and a few bouts of crying. Luckily Tuck was really laid back about the whole thing and didn't seem to mind at all...what a good boy he is!

We learned a few days ago that we cannot have both kids sleep in the same room until Brooke's a little older and more "sleep consistent." Therefore, Tuck got the honor of spending the night on his new toddler air mattress in Mimi and Poppy's room. We slept downstairs with Brooklyn and hoped that her wakings wouldn't wake anyone else and luckily they didn't. Tuck slept all night tucked into his little bed and didn't get up until 6:30am, I was so proud of him!

The weather was so mild and beautiful, perfect for getting young kids outside in the middle of January. I bundled up Brooklyn and carried in the Baby Bjorn while Mimi and Auntie Amy helped get Tuck ready. We got out his sled and walked over to the Birches to check out the scene. We brought Tuck's little Xcountry skis from home to see if he would even be interested. Amy skied down with him but he wasn't quite sure about it yet. I kind of forced him onto the Magic Carpet with Amy and instantly he was hooked. His skis were a bit big and hard to control for him but he got the idea and looked like he was having fun. They took about 3-4 runs and did very well. Uncle Jeffy and Poppy walked over to watch as well. After a few runs, we took off the skis and Tuck got the craziest sled ride from Uncle Jeffy. They went up and down the trail at top speed, did quick turns, went through the hoops and at one point, Tuck even got bucked out of the sled (nice one Uncle Jeffy...haha) Tuck was psyched and each time Jeff took a break, Tuck wanted more!

We spent about an hour and a half out on the bunny slope and then we all walked back for lunch. Tuck did really well out there and Brooklyn slept the whole time as well. Of course playing hard means napping well and they both slept for a great nap while we sneaked in some card playing time.

Today we got up, not so well rested from a long night of Brooklyn's gassiness and inability to settle, but ready for another day on the mountain. Jay and I bundled up the kids again and caught the shuttle to the lodge. Tuck has been very excited about all the buses so we had to get a ride in at least once. We went up to the lodge to get our season passes, thanks to Daddy working ski patrol. At 23 months old, Tuck got his first season's pass, pretty cool!









At one point I asked him if I could get a picture of them with Bigelow in the background and Tuck said, "No Mommy, ski!" He didn't want to stop for a picture, he wanted to keep skiing. In all they took about 10 runs, both using the magic carpet and chairlift. We stayed for a few but then Brooklyn was getting ready to wake up. Jay said Tuck didn't want to stop but he was a sport and had to go all the way back up to turn the gear back in. They were out for a couple hours and came back in time for lunch. Tuck was so tired and as soon as we packed up to drive home, he crashed hard! We were so proud of him! He did really well and was a good sport about trying it out and he ended up really liking it, luckily the weather was very warm...cold snowy days might be a different story.





We stopped at Mimi and Poppy's house on the way home to celebrate Poppy's birthday. It also helped break up the drive and both kids got good naps on the way there. We not up to a two hour drive yet with Brooklyn's feedings. We had a great weekend up at the Loaf and can't wait to get Tuck up there on skis again!!!

Building snowmen!

With all this fresh snow we've had lately, we have been spending as much time as possible outside! Brooklyn's been timing her naps well so that I can hook up the monitor and bring Tucky outside. Monica and Tyler came over to visit as well as Meacy and the kids. We played inside for awhile but as the lunch/napping hour was drawing close, we got the kiddies all bundled up and out in the fresh foot of snow!

It was actually quite sticky because it was a mild day and we made 3 large snowmen. Unfortunately Tuck wasn't feeling well and we were getting close to lunch/nap time so we only stayed outside for less than a half hour. Oh well, I was having fun and I know cousin Evelyn wanted to keep playing, but we all headed inside anyway.

Jay's had a cough the last couple days and today Tuck seemed to pick it up. He was kind of whinny, which is unlike him, and not real hungry. I thought he'd take a huge nap, but after 45 minutes he woke up... and I couldn't get him back down because Brooklyn woke up and needed to be fed as well. He felt a bit warm but hopefully a little sleep will help.

Brooklyn's 3 weeks old!!

I can't believe how quickly the past 3 weeks have flown! It seems like we were just in the hospital and introducing her to Tuck and now she's 3 weeks old, Jay's back to work and Tuck is pretty well adjusted to her. Plus, I'm feeling so much better, I've got great mobility and getting back to normal...whatever that is.

Brooklyn's an amazing little sleeper because she naps in the living room in the middle of all the commotion and is totally unfazed. She loves the heat of the woodstove and will nap for long periods during the day (argh). It actually makes it nice so I can give Tuck my full attention but she uses that long sleep stretches up at the wrong point right now, nighttime is a bit different.

We've been bringing her upstairs around 10pm when we go to bed. She's been consistently waking up around 12ish to nurse which is fine, but we're having a hard time getting her right back to sleep then. The last several nights we've been up for a couple hours at that feeding because she didn't burp well, she's wide awake or gassy. Jay and I've been taking turns trying to get her back to sleep and a lot of times I'm up with her until she's ready to nurse two hours later. Sometimes then she'll stay down until 5ish but it's so inconsistent right now anyway. I'm actually doing okay with the lack of sleep, my body just seems to adjust. The one thing we're trying to avoid is having her cry a lot so that Tuck wakes up. He's been a great sleeper through this whole thing, only waking up a few nights. The challenge is getting him right back to sleep and not having him visit our room because Brooklyn is a noisy sleeper/nurser and there's no way he can fall asleep. For him being the light sleeper he's been, he's really slept very well!

Did I mention that I love Brooklyn's hair??? I love to wash her up because her hair gets so "poofy!" It's really quite beautiful and full! I think I'm going to have to learn how to braid earlier than I thought...

Fun in the snow! Sleeping beauty...

Having winter babies isn't the easiest when you think about getting them all dressed up and laying with all those clothes. I keep thinking about how Tuck would have to be outside all day in the summer and Brooklyn wouldn't be able to be in the sun, so I guess it depends how you look at it. Since Brooklyn has been sleeping these nice long stretches during the day, we've been able to hook up the monitors and take Tuck outside to play in the snow. He doesn't like the getting dressed up part, but once he's out he doesn't want to come in.

On Friday EE came down to visit and we had a great time. At one point after Tuck's nap, we got bundled up and went outside to play. It was a super mild day, perfect snow for building. Tuck wanted to take us over the bridge and up the trails but I didn't want to go too far in case her got tired because I was carrying Brooklyn and neither EE or I could carry him home. On our way back we started throwing snowballs and made his first snowman at the house. He liked watching and helping roll large snowballs but didn't want us to stack them on top of each other. We found sticks and rocks to finish out the snowman and tried to get Tuck to pose near it. It was the perfect size.



We stayed put all weekend and had lots of visitors. On Saturday "Nahne" and "Not"(formally known as Janet and Trapper), came to visit. And on Sunday EE and Papi drove down and Meacy brought the kids up to visit as well. They had a great time playing out in the backyard, sledding, taking Evelyn skiing and walking the trails. Mike and Kim also drove down to meet Brooklyn and catch up. I love watching Tuck interact with everyone and try to get them to play trains with him. In the last couple weeks he has picked up so many words and names especially. He's becoming quite a little talker and he got his first three syllable word now, "BATTERY." How funny!


Today was a big snow day and also my first day home alone with the two kids. It actually went very well and I even got naps at the same time! Only once did Tuck get upset because I was feeding Brooklyn and not able to play with him. Out of a whole day, we only had one 5 minute "naughty time", but that was really it, he was very good. Brooklyn napped for awhile this afternoon so Tuck and I put on our heavy snow gear and hit the foot plus of fresh snow! He was so excited and loving it. He got buried to his waist a few times but was a sport, picking himself up when he fell and not getting upset with snow on the face. He's a definite winter kid and I love that! Jay got home about an hour early and took Tuck out snowshoeing just before dark. We've had a good couple days!

I took a ton of pictures outside so now I've got to make sure I get some of the little sleeping beauty inside. I've got to time it right so I can get those eyes open wide!