Little Chunk

We used to joke before Sophia was born that she would be a little tank and would run over Harrison, who we call "mini mite" because of his lack of size. Today Liz took Sophia for a weigh in and she was 9 pounds 12 ounces...she has gained a pound and 10 ounces since she came home two weeks ago!

Some updated photos below:

Things I Have Forgotten About Newborns

* They are small. I mean small enough to curl up on your chest and lay there for hours :)

* They really do just poop, eat and sleep

* They manage to sleep 18 hours but you only manage 6 hours, seriously, how does that happen?

* When you want to give them a goodnight kiss they will inevitably throw up on your cheek, chest, and chin. (happened last night)

* It takes but two minutes of them being on this earth for you to fall in absolute love with them

* Their cry could act as a tornado siren and save entire communities

* When they are hungry they will attack any open skin they can find and try to suck on it

* They rule the world for the next few months...and you are ok with that

Sophia!

Here are some quick pics from day 1. More to come!!

Dear Sophia

Hi baby girl,

I know I haven't written about you a lot, and trust me it's not because we aren't excited about you, we are. We are more than excited, it's just that we have this little ball of craziness here with us and well, you know, sometimes after he goes to bed I just want to sit and do nothing because quite frankly the kid wears us out.

I did want to take a moment and write you a letter. We are ready for you to come. We are ready to see our little doodle bug. Yes, we have a nickname picked out for you already...actually your mom has had that picked out for a while.

We talk about you all the time. We wonder what you will look like. Will you look like a little Colombino or will you have more fair features like your brother? We really don't care as long as you are healthy, and whatever you look like, I know you will be beautiful.

I also wanted to give you some tips before you come into this crazy family.

Your Brother

Harrison, as you will soon learn is a two year old. He is smart, he is wonderful, but he is crazy. He has been the center of our universe for two years so forgive him if he is a little slow to accept you. He talks about you all the time though, and already has a nickname for you - "Phia"! He talks about holding you and changing your diaper --- don't worry, we won't let him till you are much older, just kidding, we will handle all of that. He is also very concerned that you will cry, which you probably will, but that is OK too. For as crazy as he is, he also has a tender heart. A little guy that loves to give "huggers" and "big kisses" he will, I am sure of it, grow fond of you very quickly. I am sure he will be your protector and I know that he will love you as much as we do.

Riley

Your dog is a whole different story. See, before Harrison was born, he was the center of our world. He was your mommy's baby before we had a baby. When Harrison came he wasn't too sure about the whole deal. With you coming along he may just run away. Harrison and Riley have a love hate relationship...I am sure you and H will make a dynamic duo against Riley. He may want your food, he is an incredible beggar, and he may want a toy or two, but once he gets to know you he will love you, and probably really love you once you start dropping some Cheerios his way.

Your Mother

I am not sure what I can say about your mom. When your mom found out that you were a girl she was ecstatic. She set out, I think, to find every pink thing she could find. It finally got to a point where I asked her about it...she came back with a bag of clothes and announced that she got something other than a pink outfit...it was purple!

Your mom already loves you more than you will know. She would give you the world tomorrow if she had it and the universe the next day. She will make you wonderful birthday cakes and Halloween costumes, and paintings...but most of all she will make a wonderful home for you and your brother. There is one thing I am certain; you and your brother will never want for love. The only thing she has ever wanted, and has asked me for, is a family, and now, with you and Harrison, we have it.

Your Dad

I will keep this brief. I am a big sap. I always knew I wanted kids, but your brother opened my eyes, and my heart, and has truly made me understand just how powerful children are. I will do my best to always be there for you, no matter what. I promise that we will have fun, that you will be loved, and that I will protect you from as much pain as I possibly can, though, you will probably face some bumps along the road.

I also want you to know that no matter what, you can do, and be, whatever you want to be. Whether you want to be the girliest of girls or the biggest tomboy, I want you to know that you I will love you and support you in all that you do and all that you become.

We are all excited for you to get here...so anytime you want to arrive we are ready for you!

Love your family!

2 Year Pics

Freaking Out

Children, especially 2 year old children pick up on some of the damnedest things. Case in point; As I was lathering Harrison up with sunscreen the other day in preparation for the pool he had a typical two year old meltdown. For no apparent reason he was screaming like someone had just stolen his favorite doggy.

Liz yells in the room, asking if I had gotten the sunscreen in his eyes. I yelled back "NO, he is just freaking out!"

Fast forward about 10 minutes as I am getting my suit on in our room I hear Liz ask Harrison in the living room, "What's wrong, why are you crying?"

His reply: "I crying...I freaking out"

2 Years, a Few Tears, and Many Laughs.

2 years. I try to let that sink in but it still doesn't seem real. It doesn't seem like it was two years ago today that mommy woke me in the middle of the night with a worried yet very cheery "I think my water broke...or I peed the bed". It doesn't seem like it was two years ago when my life, our life, changed forever.



Two years is really just a blip on the screen of your life. A blip but somehow it is more significant. Two years means you are no longer our baby. No longer our little baby boy that slept curled up on our chest with his little butt in the air. No longer the the little baby turning into a little guy.



You are NOW that little guy. A little guy that can mimic how mommy says "Honey" "Hah-KNEE" or who likes to walk up to us and announce just exactly what you are doing "I, I, I Fixing!"



You have brought us so many laughs, I could write a book about these last two years, but really, I can say what I feel in just a few words.



You are the best thing that has happened to us. You are a bright, smart, beautiful little boy that makes us laugh each day. Thank you for your wonderful spirit, your tender heart, and the sweetness that is you. We love you forever!

Time Bombs and Watermelon Kisses

There are some moments as a parent when you know that the next hour or so of your life is going to be less than ideal. Those moments usually begin with the sitter saying "He didn't really take a nap today". Sure he is cute and funny as he's running around but you know that much like a time bomb this little guy is about to go off...and you do not want to be in the blast zone when he does.

So sure enough the moment your foot hits the doorway...tick, tick, BOOM! Tears, "I want Mommy" "I want drink" "I want..." you get the picture. And just when you think you can't take it and you are swearing off any more children for the rest of your life (though one is due to arrive on your doorstep any day), the little angel sticks a piece of watermelon in his grimy paws, sticks it in your mouth and grabs both your cheeks, plants a sticky, wet watermelon kiss on your lips and wraps his arms around your neck like you're the last life ring on the Titanic.

Then you forget the last 59 minutes and 40 seconds, remember those sweet 10 seconds and realize that life isn't so bad.

Augusta Here We Come!

May Pictures

Sophia's Room. Harrison "Reading", and much more!

Time to Potty?

I am quickly learning as a parent that one of the hardest things is the little momentous occasions that signify that your little baby is growing up. The walking and talking are things that you look forward to but the other things, like when they start saying "I do it" or "MINE" are the moments when as a parent you stop and realize that yes, they do grow up, and yes, it is faster than you thought it would happen.

Today was one of those moments. I was in the midst of crafting a request for proposal from our creative agency when my cell phone rang. Being in the groove I ignored it but as I wrapped up the proposal and sent it out I grabbed my phone and listened to the voicemail. It was Liz calling to tell me that H had just gone potty in the "big potty".

We just bought one of those seats that sits on a normal toilet seat this past weekend because H had started wanting to sit on the potty and "pretend". We have decided that we aren't going to push him, well, because when Sophia comes we expect that he might not be so willing to grow up.

So listening to that voicemail put a little shock to my system as I realized that this thing, this parenting thing, goes fast. Yes, he is still a little guy and of course it's not like he is asking me for the car keys, but it's just another one of those steps.

Maybe it wouldn't have hit me as hard if when we were getting him ready for bed tonight and he again wanted to go to the potty, as he sat there insisting "I pooping", he wouldn't have looked me square in the eye and said "I need book"

Say What?

"I really hope you don't go into labor in the middle of the night"

"Yeah, because you were really on your A game last time around"

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Waiting in line for breakfast on Mother's Day, see a man with a beard - pointing furiously "Santa, Santa"

Sitting in the car seat "SIGH...Mommy do that"

As pajama shirt comes off "I'M NAKED BABY"

"I see Phia's Room"

"I fix Drywall" during week of home renovation

"I need big Hugger"

"Yeah, Uh Hum"

"Riley..GET OUT"

The Harrison Dictionary

Hold You = Hold me

Hugger = I want a hug

Under = Thunder

Ding Dong - Ring the doorbell followed by "Woof Woof" = What Riley does when the doorbell rings

Squirter = Anything that sprays water

Candle = Holding the handles in his car seat

Driver, beep beep = Wheels on the bus song

Puff, Dragon = Puff the Magic Dragon

Digger = Truck/Backhoe digger

Timber = Fall on daddy/mommy/pillows

This I Believe

NPR recently ended their "This I Believe" series so in honor of that I thought I would do my own little family edition.

I believe in the power of kids. I believe that they are here to teach us adults to laugh at ourselves. That the beauty of this crazy mess is in the simple moments.

I believe that a child's love is the purest love you will ever see. They don't want your money they simply want your time and your hugs...and in Harrison's case your phone :)

I believe that when a child is learning to talk you best watch your words as carefully as if your grandmother were in the room...even more so!

I believe that after 5 hours of airline delays the airlines should be forced to sit in a 3x3 seat with your child for the remainder of the ride. I also believe that when your child stands up as people are waiting to get off the plane and says
"PEOPLE OFF - PLANE" he is only saying what we are all thinking.

I believe that when you promise your child blueberry pancakes you will find him waiting in his chair trying to buckle himself in while you are getting ready.

I believe that when a I see H sitting pretending to read a book a little piece of my heart melts...and a little piece of me wishes he would stay this way forever.

I believe that a second child scares the hell out of me...and excites me at the same time.

I believe that if I had the money I would have 6 of these little crazy creatures...and probably drive us all crazy!

Random Photos

Updated: Some random shots of our really cool fort and H trying on some of his new summer duds!

Inside All of Us There is Adventure...

Not sure why this made me emotional when I watched it today, maybe because I've always wanted to be in some make-believe land, running with the Wild Things, sailing on ships, and living an adventure? I only wish H was a little older so we could watch it together.

Parental Moments

You know it's time to get toilet locks when you hear your son saying, "cup, water, fill", and hear a "ker - plunk"

What is the proper reaction when you are taking a family stroll and the dog stops to lift his leg and your son follows him and tries to lift his leg over the very same rock? We just laughed

How many times can a child answer "no" to "do you want something to eat?" And truly not be hungry?

If your child is "squirting" you with a bathrobe strap because he pretends it's a hose, is it wrong to move after 5 minutes of being "sprayed" so as if not to get anymore "water on you"?

After how many weeks do you break it to your son that the "lotion" is deodorant, and it goes on your armpits and not on your legs?

Princesses, Butterflies and Roses

As a a father to a little boy who at the ripe age of 21 months is requesting to watch "gemes" and often wakes up by saying "hockey, hockey, hockey" or "Per-Doo" (Purdue), it is hard for me to imagine that life will not always evolve around trucks, sports, and games.

It is exciting and scary at the same time knowing that we are going to be having a little girl. That my world, our world, will now include pink, princesses, ponies, butterflies, and flowers.

I am not scared because I don't think that I can raise a girl, I am scared because, well, girls are different. They bring to the house a different aura,a different way of shaping the mood and the flow of the home, I know I lived with four of them!

But it is exciting. It has some similarities as it did with Harrison. Similar in that we have been down this path before, we know what to expect. But it is also alarmingly different. Different because well, I am not sure how yet, but I know it is.

I am a romantic, we both are really. Just as I had envisioned a life of having a catch with Harrison, teaching him the intricacy of a good snapshot, or how to throw a tight spiral, I have the same romantic ideas of having a little girl.

Watching her grow up in cute little dresses, teaching her how to fend off those "creepy boys". Having her brother be her protector, seeing her first prom, and yes, walking her down the aisle someday.

I can't help it, that is the stuff a father thinks about when he hears the news that it is going to be a girl. All of this may never come true, just as Harrison may never want to pick up a stick and skates, but it is the things that run through my head each time I think that we are having a girl!

It is exciting. It is scary. It is different. But we are ready. Ready to be blessed with another beautiful child who will be loved, and who will bring joy to our home, just as H did just a short 21 months ago.

A Grounding of the Ungrounded

So it's a Sunday afternoon. The wind outside is whipping and the temperature is dropping, not what one wants as March approaches but it is what it is. I have just returned from playing the role of super-dad...grocery shopping with my toddler.

H has done his normal cuteness duty, drawing out smiles from fellow shoppers and "he's so cute" from the cashier as she tries to entertain him with the circling plastic bag holder. I am feeling like super dad, not because grocery shopping is particularly difficult, but in my mind I am conquering worlds and negotiating peace treaties.

I get home, feeling proud that I have life, and son, so under control. He and I are sharing witty banter, singing along to Wilco, all as I unpack the groceries. As I start to prepare lunch, I happen to glance at myself in the mirror, Boston backwards cap, faded gray t-shirt with white long sleeve shirt, chinos, perfect suburban dad apparel. I am feeling it.

Lunch consists of a chicken patty with ketchup and bbq sauce, a cheese stick, and strawberries, the perfect lunch for a perfect duo. Feeling pretty good about my lot in life, I serve up my carefully crafted delicacy to the little angel waiting like a baby bird, mouth agape ready for nutrition.

As I continue to jam to the music, I start preparing lunch for myself as I casually glance at H eating his meal.

Then I notice something that doesn't look right. I saunter over and look down. I see a spot of bbq sauce on H's head, then another, then as if I am watching a movie I start to see the big picture.

I shout "No, No, NO," H's little cherubic face looks up at me, a bulls eye of sauce on his forehead. His fingers covered in sauce and his clothes splattered with sugary brown sweetness. He hasn't been eating, he has been splashing.

The kitchen looks like a horror movie, like Sweet Baby Ray was murdered in my home. I have seen enough CSI to know that there is a decent enough splatter pattern to solve this mystery in minutes.

I quickly race to grab paper towels and forget to take away the ammunition, as I turn to grab the paper towel, I feel it. I've been hit. I scramble to take away the rest of the sauce and look at the carnage.

White cupboards and Sweet Baby Rays is just the start. The floors are smeared, H's chair is covered better than a slab of ribs and the table looks like a chemistry experiment of Hunts, Baby Ray's and squashed Tyson's Chicken. There is even a splatter of sauce on the Kleenex box. Oye! I am on my hands and knees scrubbing up sauce and I hear Bob Dylan playing, I think aloud, "I bet Dylan never had to scrub his kitchen floor with Downey"

Yup, that is me, Mr Cool dad...back to reality...