Night, Night

The way it went last night:

Mama finishes reading two books to Lucas. Papi turns out the light. Mama then begins the good night serenade.

Mama: Good night, Papi.

Lucas: Night, night Papi.


Mama: Good night, Mama.

Lucas: Night, night Mama.


Mama: Good night, Jesse.

Lucas: Night, night Jesse.


Mama: Good night, Lucas.

Lucas: Night, night Lucas.

Lucas then surprises us and takes over:

Lucas: Night, night G-train.

Mama: [laughter] Good night, G-train.

Lucas: Night, night F-train.

Mama: Good night, F-train.

Lucas: Night, night N-train.

Mama: Good night, N-train.

Lucas: Night, night D-train.

Mama: Good night D-train.

Lucas: Night, night R-train.

Mama: Good night R-train.

The family and Lucas's favorite subway trains acknowledged, now we are ready to go to sleep.

The Best Place To Sleep

It's the make-shift changing table we've placed in the crib in which Jesse will someday sleep.

The trick: a heating pad underneath the cover. Mmm, cozy.

Ice Cream

Yes, it is his first official ice cream experience. (Don't give me that look.) Before it was either too cold outside for ice cream, or just a taste of Mama and Papi's quickly forgotten, or he couldn't even pronounce the word -- so why offer?

Up until this moment, the ice cream truck was known to Lucas only as "the music truck." This was partially a strategy to avoid having to dole out the cash ($2 for softserve?!) for the omnipresent ice cream truck, especially since we're at a park (where the music truck hangs out) at least once a day during the summer.

Then on this day he saw his little park buddy get in line with his mom to buy a cool treat, and Lucas was quickly on to me and finally figuring out that this little truck wasn't there just to provide a musical community service. He pointed reluctantly while asking very softly for whatever-that-is ("Ese?" he kept saying), and I told him the word: "helado."

"Aaaa-do," he repeated. He wanted the same kind that his friend wanted: the lime- and strawberry-flavored Spider Man popsicle stick. Yeah, the big, messy, drippy one, of course. They sat next to each other trying to manage their snacks while the mamas used up every last wipie.

The next night, some lovely friends stopped by our home with an amazing homemade meal and a pint of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Lucas became excited upon hearing what it was, but when I served up a bowl, he basically argued with me that it wasn't ice cream, or at least not as he knew it. He wanted "red" ice cream, not white. It's kind of hard to explain to a 2.5 year old that ice cream can exist in many varieties when a big character's face on a stick (with gumball eyeballs) is his main point of reference...

The night after that we were out on a family walk and saw the ice cream truck yet again. This time we bought Lucas a soft serve (vanilla) cone with rainbow sprinkles, and he gobbled it up. Now things have shifted inside Lucas's brain: ice cream is red and white!

It's going to be one very expensive summer...

Food Network

Besides helping me care for Jesse and for his baby doll, Lucas and I spend our days doodling with markers/crayons, pushing trains around his tracks, watching his latest favorite Blue's Clues episodes (yay for the free On-Demand channel!), taking long walks outside, and...

...watching the Food Network! No kidding, Lucas watches cooking shows with me when I want something mindless to do while nursing Jesse. Maybe it's the constant movement from all the stirring and chopping and whirring gadgets and sizzling noises, but he surprisingly stays generally interested throughout most of the show while he pauses from playing to have a snack.

Maybe someday he'll make you the perfect grilled salmon:

'Our Days Are Measured In Milk, Not Time'

We almost forgot that Jesse turned one month old today until a friend called to wish him a happy birthday at the exact time of his birth. Jesse basically spends his days sleeping and nursing and pooping and sleeping and nursing and pooping. We're grateful for the simplicity of this cycle and the way it has allowed us (and especially Lucas) to slowly adjust to our newest family member.

The other day all of us were out on a walk -- Jesse in the sling, Mama and Papi hand in hand, and Lucas running up and down the sidewalk in such a crazy way that people were forced to dodge him -- and Mama and Papi felt very different.

First, we felt old.

Then we were stunned that we already had a 2 1/2 year old who talks and is silly and everyday seems more and more like a big person with a wonderful personality. It seemed that with Lucas we were just trying to adjust to the fact that we were actually parents.

And finally, with Jesse now here, we felt in a real sense and maybe even for the first time like... a family.

And it was good.

Morning Cuddle

Apparently Papi took this picture of us the other day. Clearly Lucas is more interested in exploring his brother's facial features than in snoozing along with the rest of us.

First Bath

Who wants to see a naked baby? (I do, I do!!)

Those are the hands of our friend Becca, who really is a true friend because she willingly helped to get the milk cheese out from Jesse's neck folds.

Nap Time

The Peacemaker, The Jock, and The Boss

These pictures were taken the night Lucas's grandparents left town and Tata and Maquin came over to help us feel a little less lonely. It felt borderline abusive because we had too much fun laying the babes together side by side and laughing and imagining the multiple scenarios about how life will be once they become less blob-like and more interactive and mischievous. Based on what the newborns were wearing that night, our favorite guess was that Liam ("Baby Lee," as Lucas calls him) will be the chill, peaceful one while Jesse will be the bruiser tough guy. They'll both love following and looking up to their big brother/cousin Lucas, who will likely enjoy ordering them around.

Or perhaps we shouldn't underestimate Little Liam, who might end up terrorizing the other two? (See Liam pinning down Jesse's arm in the pics below?)

Or perhaps the two youngin's will get smart and work together to gang up on Lucas instead?

We can't wait to see it!

What do you think?

New Toys

The best perk about having a new baby brother for Lucas: new toys! It feels like Christmas all over again because most everyone who has sent along a gift for Jesse has been thoughtful enough to include one for Lucas. Even we went along with the idea by giving Lucas a special new train (Henry, his favorite from Thomas The Tank Engine) the day Jesse was born as something to keep him extra occupied and happy while we were adjusting to so many changes. Papi and Mami had agreed to not say that the train was from his baby brother so as to not confuse him, but I somehow found myself blurting out as he was opening the box, "It's a present from Jesse!" In response, Lucas yelled, "Henry!" and then immediately, "Thank you, Baby Jesse!" like it was a perfectly logical thing for a newborn to arrive together with just-the-right-gift. He then sauntered off to the living room to play on his tracks. Always a sweetie, that Lucas.

The toy in the pictures below has become a daily favorite and was given by Abuelo and Abuela from Lucas's wish list this past Christmas. We were hiding it for a rainy day until curious Lucas was exploring his bedroom closet the other day and came across it. We recommend it for your toddler and love that you can probably find a dozen ways to change the game over time.

Now off to purge some old toys and rotate some more...

Thank Goodness For Grandparents

They've all come and gone now... Mama's parents came on Jesse's 5th day and stayed for a week, and Papi's parents came the week after that. They cleaned and finished up the household projects from our 'to do' list that we couldn't get to before Jesse's birth, ran countless errands, offered extra arms for holding Jesse and changing diapers, cooked up a storm and filled our bellies so that we didn't have to worry about such details, ran interference with and gave extra attention to Lucas while Mama was nursing Jesse, and so much more.

Thank you, 'Lo and 'La and Gempa and Mema for all of your help and time and support and love. We love and miss you!

Cuddles

Lucas loves to hold Liam and Jesse, even when they're napping or nursing. He crosses his arms and squeezes his chest and asks in Spanish, "Hold baby?" He's surprisingly gentle each time. I love the third picture where he decides to reach out and caress Jesse to his right while holding Liam in his lap.

Nice Latch!

Brothers

From The Trenches

Again, deep thanks to all of you for the various ways you've shown love and support in this first week with our little Buddha baby. We took Jesse to the pediatrician on his 5th day, and like his big brother, he impressed the doc by gaining 11 oz.! Way to go, Jesse (and Mama)! We also figured that the original length recorded was a bit short (we had measured on a soft bed and at a diagonal), as he measured 21 1/4 inches instead!

Our first week together was like a mini honeymoon -- all four of us holed up in the house and on the couch or the bed while we played games on the computer or read books or stacked blocks (Papi and Lucas), snoozed (Mami), and nursed (guess who?) and waited for grandparents to arrive. Then Papi went back to work and Mami tried not to panic. :) We've definitely seen a shift in Lucas -- he dotes on (more like smothers) his little brother, but we are also hearing a lot more "No!"'s and are seeing some new night wakings and other regressions, like preferring that Mami feed him his food instead of feeding himself. We're trying to let go of the guilt of turning Lucas's world upside down after he had been doing so well and in a great groove for so long, but we also see how much he lights up when seeing Jesse and take comfort in that. We read a few books about preparing for a second child (one that we recommend, though it doesn't necessarily address this stage in the game, is Siblings Without Rivalry) and know that all this is normal and to be expected, so we're being patient. The biggest challenge seems to be Lucas learning to wait during Jesse's marathon nursing sessions that keep Mami tied down for so long. The couch area is fully armed with all kinds of toys so that we can all three sit together and play while Jesse fills the belly. Mami and Lucas are definitely missing each other. Sigh...

Yesterday was Jesse's original due date (interestingly, the ultrasound had estimated his due date at March 26!), and it's hard to believe that 10 days have passed so quickly. Compared to Lucas at this age, Jesse is so solid and serene and patient. Meanwhile, Lucas seems to have gotten so much heavier and taller and big-boyish than I've ever noticed before, and he's talking up a storm in the most amazing Spanglish you've ever heard! We're enjoying every minute, every breath and coo and poopy diaper and escaped urine stream and toddler meltdown. Time flies, and we don't care that saying so is the most cliche thing in the world...