Starting our summer.

School's out. Our pool bag is packed. We've been to the lake. Taken the boy on his first fishing trip.

And buckled down on the potty training.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Five months.

This sweet babe is five months old already. I can't quite grasp how quickly time moves with two boys in my life.

At five months old, Evan is pure joy. A chunky (very chunky) look alike of his older brother. However, he's got a personality all his own.

We still continue to take our evening tubs with Papa and Lane. And it is something we look forward to each night. Evan will kick, splash and smile while in the water. And, if he's lucky enough that his brother decides to join him - well, that's just icing on the cake.

After bath, we all jump in mama and papa's bed for some snuggle and play time. Then, it is off to bed. Evan decided to hit the sack a little earlier and prefers (when we can get him there on time) to be in bed by 8 pm.

My peaceful sleeper threw a few curve balls at me this last month but that's OK. We've moved bed time a little earlier - meaning I might have to get up twice a night to feed him - and we've gotten rid of the swaddle. So, we've had a few rough nights. However, for the most part, Evan will still give me a good five or six hours of solid sleep, wake to nurse, go back to sleep and sleep until morning.



Really, I just can't be upset with a baby this cute. Look, he's got rolls and rolls of gooey goodness to love on.


The fingers continue to find their way into his mouth - constantly. I suspect teeth might be just around the corner.

He's mastered rolling from his belly to his back - and will even roll from his back to his belly. He sits up with support and can even sit on his own for a few seconds.

Eating solids seems to be one of the best parts of this guys' short life. He loves food. Not that we are surprised. In addition to sweet potatoes, he's added bananas, prunes and pears to his diet. Digging on the bananas. Tolerates the prunes (mixed with some rice cereal). Not in to the pears at all.

I plan to add peaches, butternut squash and whatever good fresh fruits and veggies I can find at the farmer's market in to his diet this month.


He's still got that laid back personality he was born with. However, he has literally found his voice in the last month. I love to hear him coo and awe and blow those sweet baby bubbles and raspberries.

He's also got this funny little yell he will let out when he needs some attention. He starts out kind of weak - as if he forgets each time how to make his vocal cords work - but by the third or fourth yell, he's got it down.

Papa and I figure he must have caught on that the best way to get some attention around here is to make yourself known.

I can't quite believe it has been five months since we brought this baby boy home from the hospital.

On the other hand, Evan has carved out his own little place in our home and most days, I can't quite remember what it was like to mama just one boy.

Time really does pass in the blink of an eye.

My brother dresses me funny.

The weather blessed us with a few more cool days before the dog days of Georgia's summer sets in.

So, we spent as much time as possible outside.

One evening, Evan needed a hat to protect his big old bald head from the wind.

Lane decided he didn't like the way I placed the hat on his brother's head.

So, he did a little rearranging.

I feel silly Mama. Please don't post this picture on your blog.

Oh, much better.

The Zoo Crew.

Two out of three besties at the zoo isn't bad.

But wait. Who is that arriving a little late?

Having the third amigo makes the zoo great.

We took the kiddos to the zoo yesterday. The weather was perfect, and I hope to get at least one more trip in before it gets just too dang hot.

We saw all the usual sights: elephants, giraffes, lions, pandas (Lane's favorite).

My favorite of the day: the mama gorilla who gently held her two week old babe.

Then snuggled him close to nurse. Seriously almost sent this post postpartum mama into tears.

That babe was cute but not nearly as cute as my two babes.

Oh, and by the way, my babe will try to nurse just about anything.
Including his nursing cover.

Sweet.

For more than 20 weeks, Evan's lived off a diet consisting of nothing but his mama's milk. However, after a while, a boy's got to eat. He met all the criteria this mama has for her babes to be able to eat solid foods, including complete neck control, showing interest in food, able to use the pincher grasp and the ability to push back and swallow with his tongue.

So, just like I did for his older brother, I baked a big sweet potato, mashed it up, mixed it with a little warm water and served some of it to him for dinner.

What didn't wind up on his shirt or face, he consumed like a pro.

And just like that, we've got an eater on our hands.

Case of the missing brownie.

From the case file: The last of the homemade brownies MeMother brought over Sunday afternoon goes missing from the kitchen early Tuesday morning. According to the mama, she heard some suspicious noises coming from the kitchen, where she left Lane painting in his Berenstain Bears book so she could take his little brother upstairs to nurse him.

The suspect: Lane Thomas Rader, age two and a half.

The evidence: A trail of brownie crumbs starting at the top of the stairs leading to the kitchen counter.

Exhibit A: The cake plate on top of the counter, where the bowl of brownies was last seen.
Note: bowl is missing.


Exhibit B: The brownie bowl sitting on the kitchen table with the suspects paints and coloring book.


Exhibit C: The now empty brownie bowl with a large hole torn in its plastic wrap cover.


The confession: "Look Mama, I ate dat brownie."


The verdict: Guilty as charged.


The chocolate crumbs on his face sealed the case shut.

Wondering.

What do you think he wished for?

I hope it comes true.

Bubbles.

Last Friday, Papa worked late. So, I busted out the bubble machine and headed out to the back deck with the boys.

Last year's bubble machine broke at the end of the summer, so we've patiently waited for the pool toys to restock at Target. I bought a new one - and a back up.

It took Lane a few minutes to remember how to use the machine. At first, he would blow and push the button to make the machine spin.

Once he got the hang of it, we had a backyard covered in bubbles.

With Lane entertained, I focused my attention on Gooey, who was blowing bubbles too.

Then, I asked Lane to blow some bubbles so his brother could see them.


"I blow them on Bro Bro's head," he told me.



And wouldn't you know it - Evan loved having bubbles blown on his head.


Later that night, once Papa had the boys in the tubbie, I had to explain why Evan's head was all sticky!

These pictures ought to explain it.

I'm making it up as I go.

I have all kind of things I want to write about for Mother's Day. Instead, I'll write about what its like to be the best mama I know how to be.

I could write about the days when the diaper bag is perfectly packed with everything I need. We make it out the door with both boys dressed and looking proper. I get in a good work out. The boys both get in good naps (at the same time). I am able to do some laundry, get dinner started, sweep the floors and still have some time for myself. We spend the afternoon playing outside with minimal meltdowns. Lane eats just what I place in front of him, and Evan enjoys a plentiful flow of mama's milk that doesn't give him gas or make him spit up every 35 minutes. In the evening, Papa comes home. We spend some time as a family. We bathe the boys and get them both settled down quickly and in bed no later than 9 pm.

Those days exist. And they are actually quite lovely. Yesterday was one of those days.

Today is not.

Today started at 4 am when Lane woke up - and did not go back to bed. Trying to give me a little bit of recouping time, James took him out to breakfast. Only, Evan woke right when they left. Then fell back to sleep right when they arrived home.


I stole a quick shower - but never got a chance to put in my contacts, put on my makeup or even find an outfit I find somewhat flattering on this post baby, still nursing body of mine.

When Lane finally went down for a nap (remember he's been up since 4 in the morning), Evan decided to play.

Around noon, I just decided to cancel our plans for the day - walking, picnicking and park playing comes second to letting Lane get the sleep he needs.

I guess I felt kind of frustrated with the whole day, which was really just half a day.

Then, I tripped over the bouncy seat. As I pounded my fist on the counter trying my damnest not to scream out damn, I felt close to tears.

Until my sweet little boy walked up to me and requested my toe so he could give it a kiss.

"I kiss it for you, mama," he said.

And, he did.

Then, he looked over at Evan, who was happily bouncing in his seat while playing with his toes, and said, "Look mama. Bro Bro tickle his toes."

And magically, the day fixed itself. Just like that. Because moments like that are, for me, the best thing about being a mama.

*****

My boys don't care about perfectly packed diaper bags. Or a mama who rocks her pre-baby body.

They don't need big outings every day. And they for sure don't mind hanging out in their comfy clothes all day.

They don't care if we make it out the door on time. In fact, I don't think they care if we even make it out the door at all.

What they need is a mama who recognizes when they need a little time to nap and a little time to play.

****

What I've learned during the last two years of my life didn't come from a book. And while I've received a lot of great advice from other mamas, much of what I practice every day as a mama simply comes from trial and error.

Most of what I've learned, my boys have taught me.

If I could sum it all up, I would say being a mama is much like today.

I can't perfectly plan out every step of our life.

I'm not always going to be at my best.

There's going to be times when I trip and fall.

But, my boys love me regardless.

****

This Mother's Day, that's all I need. The love of the two people I hold dearest to my heart.

And to eat a little chocolate and strawberry fro yo topped with sprinkles and gummy bears while sitting in the sun.

In fact, that's right where we are headed - as soon as Evan wakes up from his nap.

Maybe. We might just see where the day takes us instead.

Take me out.

James and I have become pretty good at recognizing the signs indicating Lane might need some one-on-one mama/papa time.

Last week, he needed it.

Coming off his nasty cold. Getting rid of the pacifier. Having trouble napping without the pacifier. Evan being much more alert and requiring a different kind of attention.

So, we took him out.

To the Kennesaw State ballgame.



We bought him some popcorn.

And a hot dog.

Let him drink a little Coca-Cola.

And hang out with his mama and papa while watching his very favorite sport - baseball.
When he got a little bored, he made some "calls."

Then, he found some older kids playing a game of touch football - and barged his two-year-old self right in to that game.



He didn't seem to mind that the older kids weren't including him in the game. He didn't even really notice that he had his own ball.

He'd throw as far as he could. Run. Clap his hands. And look to us for approval.

He thought it was great when their game would collide with his private game. He'd get right in on the action - or so he thought.

When the big kids headed back to the baseball field, he didn't let that stop his fun.

That's when he taught himself how to slide.

All of us kicked it old school for a while - just the three of us.

It was a pretty cool night hanging with two of my three favorite guys.

Know what was even cooler?

Hearing Lane ask, "Hey, where's my brudder?"

I think the little guy is beginning to grow on him.