Seven Quick Takes: The Alexander Edition

In no particular order.

• Alexander is eight months old now.  His hair is fine and blonde...and gets curly on occasion.  When that happens, I hold him up like the "Lion King" and let him know that he's definitely my son.
• He's 13 pounds -- still on the "little peanut" side, but a crazy big eater like his older brothers.  The other morning, he had half a cup of peaches and pears and an entire banana.  Right now, he eats: bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, green beans, avocados, yogurt, apples, chicken, fish, and butter.  Gotta add some poundage somewhere!  I am still making all his baby food, and the Vitamix is amazing for doing it in bulk.  I usually make a week's worth over the weekend and just take what we need throughout. 
• He sleeps through the night better than his older brothers.  No kidding.  Every morning around 4, I hear Thomas going to get a drink of water in the kitchen before coming to check on us.  Alexander sleeps through everything.
• They are all sleeping in the same room.  Thomas on the top bunk, John Paul on the bottom bunk, and Alexander in the crib.  It actually works really well. 
• We found amazing sleep again.  Last Saturday night, we all got home from Gig Harbor around 10:00.  When Jonathan and I woke up the next morning without a single Wee Ski in our bed and neither of us woke up the entire night...we both agreed we hadn't slept that well in 5 years.  IT WAS HEAVENLY.
• My little peanut is still in 0-3 and 3-6 month clothing.  We definitely got incredible use out of the newborn clothes and the tiny 0-3 ones.  His 6 month size "Sprouffske Trees" sweatshirt should fit just in time for tree season.
• He popped two teeth within a week of each other.  His sweet little smile has two tiny little teeth rising from his gums. 
• A bonus one:  He is such a chill baby.  I thought John Paul was laid back.  This kid is crazy calm.  I took all the boys to see Planes last Friday, and as long as Alexander was fed, he was happy and content to sleep and watch the movie.  He plays with his brothers, giggles at what they do, doesn't mind when Thomas drags "the kid" all over the house (as Thomas calls him), and is happiest in the backseat of the car right next to 1.0 and 2.0.  It makes the craziness of 3 boys under 5 so much easier.  I love it.

Sweet little baby Alexander

Dear Alexander,

Over the past two days, you have skyrocketed to the place of favorite Wee Ski, in a world where no such title had existed before.

You weren't the Wee Ski that hid my car keys in a tub of toys and tucked it away on a shelf and caused Mommy to tear apart the house for two and a half hours.

You weren't the Wee Ski who drank the only remaining Diet Coke in the house when the aforementioned car keys were missing.

You weren't the Wee Ski who clogged the toilet and caused it to overflow while yelling "WOW! WOW! WOW!" the whole time.

You weren't the Wee Ski who took off his diaper and put it in the garbage to be "helpful", only for Mommy to realize it 20 minutes later by following a trail of "breadcrumbs" around the house.  You were really lucky you weren't that particular Wee Ski.  Really lucky.

You weren't the Wee Ski who dug out Mommy's lavender plants (again).

You are the Wee Ski who only wanted to cuddle today.

You are the Wee Ski who has started cooing with a hint of a giggle.

You are the Wee Ski who put up with your older brother smothering you with attention, playdoh puckies, and baby carrots. 

You are the Wee Ski who has finally started nursing on his own, nearly all the time.  Heavenly.

You are the Wee Ski who took good naps today and gave Mommy a rest from the older Wee Skis.

Sweet child, you are four months old now and the time is flying by.  You've meshed right into our family and we cannot imagine it without you.

We love you, Alexander Xavier, more than you can possibly imagine.

Just please don't ever take off a heavy, dark diaper on your own. 

Life right now.

We have been home since Sunday, December 9th.

Each day has been an adventure.  Watching the boys form their new bonds has been one of the best parts.  Funniest quotes from the boys over the past week?

"Mom, but I'm just petting him!  He's still asleep!  I'm not waking him up!"
"Thomas, don't pet your brother while he's sleeping.  Can you just leave him alone for a little while?"
"Fine. But then I'll come back and I'll pet him again as soon as you're gone.  You can't stop me! That's what brothers do!"

It should be noted that petting = patting Alexander's tummy and saying, "Hey buddy. You're safe now and you don't need to cry. I'm here and John Paul's here and it's okay buddy.  Go sleepy buddy."

John Paul climbs up the side of the bassinet, holds on for dear life, and looks in on him.  And all he says for 10 minutes straight to his new little brother, "Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi."

I have been slowly navigating the new waters of three boys under 4.  It's been a new challenge for me since I'm forced to stay "slowed down" as I recover from the blood pressure issues in the hospital...one day at at time, sometimes one hour or one moment at a time.

The first night at home ended with Thomas throwing up in our bed not once, but twice,  and Alexander being diagnosed with thrush (thanks to the antibiotics in the hospital)...and Jonathan and I musing at 5 am on Monday morning, "Well, God, that was a good induction to 3 kids at home. Should that be considered our hazing?"

On the whole, Alexander's been gaining weight like a boss: an ounce and a half a day. He had his little boy surgery earlier this week and he is cleared from doctors until his one month check. We're starting to head back to nursing from pumping (thanks, thrush).


There's an insane amount of diapers being changed and multiple loads of laundry every day.  And there's laughter and giggles and chasing and basketball in the living room and yelling and fighting and tears and snuggles and consoling and timeouts and mud and snow and rain and life on the farm.

And in the midst of the occasional insanity of three tiny humans...it all feels just like home.