Beeper, Bitty, and Buzz...

While things have been rather quiet here in our little corner of the internet, it has been anything but quiet outside of the computer.  In the last two months we have made the decision to move, found a home, will be closing mid next month, and will be renting our current home out.  It is a lot, and while there is oodles more I could mention on that topic, today I would like to talk about my three little boys: Beeper, Bitty, and Buzz.  Yes I said three, and no, there isn't a baby, but rather a space ranger.

Dear Beeper,

Our sweet first born.  Gone are most of the traces of the wobbly little baby esk boy you once were as most of your baby fat has gone away on your journey into toddlerhood. Each and everyday you teach your dad and I new things about being parents, especially now as we are traveling through the wild woods of toddlerhood.  Some days things are great, and some days are harder for your little soul, but you are learning and growing, and we constantly see the lightbulb turning on as something new clicks with you.  Your vocabulary has taken off!  I know I wasn't the most patient about this, but as I have learned, you will do things in your own time, and talking was the same.  On the way to school you love to point out the busses, and trucks, and your two favorite words are probably buzz and baby, what you call Finn.  You are also starting to sing, and we catch bits and pieces of the theme song from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, your current favorite. Speaking of Finn, you love him these days, and when he isn't trying to tackle you or steal your favorite toys, you seem pretty happy to have him around. You are such a sweet little boy, and it shines through in your big personality.  You still love to give hugs and kisses, especially when you are the definition of a sweaty and sticky little boy.  We love you so much Beeper!

Dear Bitty,

Sweet, loud, WILD, Bitty.  You are so different from your brother in so many unexpected ways, and parenting you in a lot of ways seems like a wonderfully different experience.  Not to be forgotten, your BIG personality shouts through, and if we aren't paying enough attention to you, you make sure we know your displeasure.  In the last two months you have lost all traces of a little baby, and I often lament to your dad that you are simply growing too fast.  From the minute you wake up in the morning you are moving, always on the go.  This past weekend you figured out how to stand up in your crib, and you were pleased as pie with your new found skill.  Your teachers as school politely describe you as busy, and most days when we pick you up you are climbing up on something, and when you hear us  you turn around with a big gummy grin.  I don't think your grin will remain the same for long, as you have your first tooth, and I'm sure many more will join it soon.   In the meantime, you think you can eat everything we are eating, and start hollering and hooting if we don't give you a taste of what we have.  You are big Bitty, and can be described as solid.  About two weeks ago when you weren't feeling so well you weighed in at almost 21 lbs, and this weekend you started wearing the same clothes that your brother wore last summer when he was around 16 months.  I have a feeling shortly after the new year you two may be in the same size.  Speaking of your brother, you love him, your face lights up when he pays attention to you, and you turn absolutely giddy when we let you down on the floor to play with him, although right now your favorite game is to attempt to climb up on him, which he isn't too fond of.  You have such a happy easy going personality Bitty man, and these almost nine months with you as part of our family have been truly magical!

Dear Buzz,

I didn't think I wanted a third son, but you are around so much these days that you might as well be an official family member.  You are often the source of many tears though sir, so if you could stay in your designated area instead of falling with style during dinner, book time, and bed time we would greatly appreciate it.  Beeper simply doesn't understand that you are not an extension of his arm.  Now I understand that you have information about the evil emperor zurg, but I doubt you are the only one who knows it given how often you mention this information, just saying.  And while I'm happy you are around most days, I know in the future you may become the main source of  sibling fighting, so if you could help keep the peace with your laser beam and karate chop action figure skills that would be greatly appreciated.  I'm sure you are going to be around for years so this is only the beginning of our relationship with you.

We love you Beeper, Bitty, AND Buzz!

Little Boy TWO

A few obligatory brick wall pictures of the birthday boy...enjoy!

Dear Rowen, Happy Second Birthday!

Dear Rowen,

Today is your day, today you are TWO! It has been the fastest but most rewarding two years of our life.  Your dad and I often remark how we wish we could freeze time right now because we love your wonderful personality at this age!  You are feisty, caring, happy, funny, and you and your brother are the light of our lives!

This year has brought many changes both in you and for you, so here is a little bit of what you were like in your second year:

1. You started walking shortly after your first birthday, and you haven't stopped moving since then.  You are happiest when you are outside running and exploring.

2.  Every night you sleep with little dog, big dog, and eeyore.  Recently Buzz Lightyear has joined the bed crew, and I love peeking in at night to see who got voted off of the island.

3. You have been sleeping in a bed instead of a crib for the past ten months. On week nights you are put to bed around 630, and most nights we hear you playing with your pals for about an hour.

4.  Your favorite book right now is Goodnight Construction Site.  You LOVE making the noises of all of the machines, and saying 'night, night' to each of them.

5.  Your speech has taken off this year, and each week you are picking up new words.  I almost died from the cuteness the other day when you walked into school and said 'Mornin' to the front desk ladies.

6.  Right now you insist on wearing a coat and hat everywhere we go, and let us know of your discontent when we try to make you do otherwise.  It will be interesting to see if you will insist on this trend once spring finally arrives.

7.  You saw snow! And loved it, we couldn't keep you out of it!

8. Your favorite foods right now are bananas, waffles, green beans, mac and cheese, yogurt, cereal, chicken, refried beans, and in the summer you loved watermelon.  You are a little vacuum and will pretty much eat anything we put in front of you.  The only thing I can think of that you aren't particularly keen on is sour cream.

9. You adjusted amazingly well to the arrival of your little brother, and as time goes on your interest in him grows.  We are hopeful that this time next year the two of you will be the best of friends!

10.  We took you to the beach and you hated it. We will try again this year.

11. You got your first set of stitches and a little Harry Potter scar on your forehead as a result.

12.  You love school, and get excited to go everyday. You are always giving out hugs to your teachers.  Your job when walking in/out of school is to carry Finn's bottle bag, and you take this task every seriously.  You also have taken to inspecting your daily report sheet as if you could read it.

13.  We introduced you to a few Disney movies this year, and right now Toy Story is your favorite.  We would of pegged you for a Woody kind of guy, but you are obsessed with Buzz, or buuuzzzz as you like to say.  You and daddy work daily on saying 'To infinity and beyond!"

14.  You love all things that move, trucks, trains, and planes.  Every time you see a plane overhead you wave furiously at it, and choo choo's make you giddy!

15. You are obsessed with books! You would probably choose to read books over almost anything else.  Sometimes you sit on the floor and read the books to yourself, and I swear you are saying your favorite parts out loud!

16.  Jack and Lola are your best friends, and like any friendship you have good days and you have bad days.  Some of the time you want them to leave you alone and five minutes later you will be on the floor wrestling with them.  They love you because of all of the sweet treats you taste like!

17. Coloring, building blocks, playing with trucks or trains, and riding your push toys are some of your favorite indoor activities, and on most weekends you will spend hours quietly doing all of these activities.

18.  You are a sweet heart, always willing to give a hug and a kiss to anyone who requests one.  I hope you grow out of this by the time you hit high school or you may give your dad and I premature grey hairs!

This year has been amazing, and each day seems to get better than the last. We love watching you grow and learn and develop a big little personality.  We love you more than words can describe.

Happy Second Birthday Rowen!

Love,

Da, Mom, Finn, Jack & Lola

Squirt Toys and Big Boy Smiles

A little over two weeks ago, maternity leave ended, and I went back to work.  Our 'new normal' routine hasn't been entirely figured out just yet, and will hopefully get a little easier this week since Rudy returned to his job, but for now the days are long.  I wouldn't describe them as hard days, but they are long, and between dinners, bottles, baths, and trying to keep our house from looking like a tornado flew threw it, we haven't entirely figured out when we are supposed to breath.  I know once the dust settles things will seem easy again, we will have our routine, and all of the upheaval of the last few weeks will be the norm.  But for now, its tiring.

More often than not in the last week I have been wishing time away.  When we get home I'm wishing it was bedtime for the boys, and bedtime for me.  When  I wake up, I wish the day was already done. 0At the beginning of the week I'm wishing it was Friday. And on Sunday I start wishing the whole week away again to get to Friday.  

But while I'm busy wishing time away, my boys are growing, they are changing, and in the busy hubble bubble of the day, I'm missing their time.  Last night I sat down on the floor with my camera while giving Rowen a bath.  I couldn't recall the last time I took pictures of him while he was playing in the tub, and felt that I needed these pictures of this moment.

And as I was snapping away, peaking here and there through my camera roll while Row was busy directing his orchestra of squirt toys, I realized just how much he is changing.  His smiles, his eyes, the shape of his face, its all changing.  This sweet little baby that made me a mother is quickly becoming a big boy, and if I don't stop and enjoy little moments like this, I might miss the joy and excitement of my almost two year old sweetheart.   

When Rudy and I are old and these little boys that are cluttering my house with dump trucks and trains are gone and grown, I don't want my memories to be filled by how long the days were, but instead filled by images of laughter, love, and sweet little boys with squirt toys in the tub.  

Rowen's First Snow

Yesterday afternoon the snow started to come down, and Rowen simply couldn't contain his excitement!  We didn't put him in the full snow get up just yet, we may save the snow pants for a day if and when we get several inches of snow, and despite the frigid temps, Rudy took him out to walk about, and he absolutely loved it!

Choo Choo

Over the holiday break,  Rowen developed an unhealthy obsession with trains.  In the toddler babble we hear all day we hear three words most often: no, thank you, and choo choo, priorities people. We can blame Grandpa on establishing a love of the locomotive in his little heart, and on Christmas morning he wanted nothing to do with any of his gifts except for his little Thomas the Trains.

We had underestimated how much he would love trains, and had thought to hold off on purchasing him a train table for a few years.  But upon seeing his new found love, and since we really didn't get him anything for Christmas ourselves, we decided a train table might be in order to pass the winter days away.  

Rudy and I set it up on New Years Eve, yes we are party animals like whoa, and we were able to surprise Rowen in the morning with his own little city! 

Choo Choo!!

~Run Run Rudolph~

As I mentioned earlier this week, we have begun to listen to Christmas music in the Rivera Household. One of Rowen's teachers mentioned to us that he LOVES to dance, which we had never really seen.  So last week we put on the Pandora Christmas channel and Rowen quickly showed us his moves!  Here are two videos (sorry they are dark) of Rowen's 'dancing'...

Happy first day of November!!

~Finger Licking Good~

The other day I was craving ribs, which doesn't normally happen.  In fact Rudy couldn't recall a time he had ever seen me willingly eat ribs.  Be that as it may, my dear husband gave into my craving and procured me some delicious ribs.  We decided to give Mr. Rowen a rib to see if he was a fan, and lets just say he loved it....

 He may not have many teeth but he makes do with those that he does have....

So delicious....

~Down on the Farm~

On Saturday we decided to take a little family outing to a local farm in our area.  We have driven past it for the past two years on our way to Annapolis, and you can see the giant corn maze from the road.  We figured since it was still early in the season it wouldn't be too crowded.  I think the heat also helped us in this regard because not too many people wanted to tramping around corn fields in 85 degree weather!

Rowen had a blast! He loved having the freedom and the space to roam as he wanted.  They had an adorable little cow train that I thought he would leery of but actually loved and was all smiles when he came back around to us! 

Up and down the hills he would march, jibber jabbing about all that he saw....

And he was pretty pleased they had a swing, although he wasn't too happy that there was only one and he had to share...

My heart...

But I think his favorite part of the entire farm was the goats! They were a little aggressive but he absolutely loved feeding them and made sure everyone got their fair share!

It was a wonderful little afternoon outing that left our sweet little boy worn out by the time we got home.  Hopefully as the weather cools down we will be able to enjoy more like this in the coming month! 

~Care to Take a Seat?~

Today while I was out doing my four mile walk, Rudy and Rowen put together a little table we picked up for Rowen.  We have been browsing for a table for a while where Rowen could sit and play with books, blocks, etc. and we finally found one that fit our living room well.  When I got home Rudy showed me the pictures he took of Rowen sitting at his little table pretending to read to himself.  Enjoy!

~Rowen Right Now~

Dear Rowen,

Time for another post about you.  Your personality changes so fast right now, and I want to make sure I write down all of your little funny quirks before I forget them.  Here goes:

1. You love green beans and blueberries, and will even eat beets.  You dislike cheese.  On some days I wonder if you are my child, but you eat an amazing variety of food and hopefully this will continue as you grow.

2. You love to help feed the dogs.  After dinner I will tell you its time to feed the dog and you come and fetch the two bowls and carry them to the dog food.  You love Jack and Lola, and they love you too.  They have been very tolerant of the hours spent with you jumping and lunging on them.

3. You are a child of routine.  After dinner we play for a bit, take a bath, put on pjs, brush your teeth, read your books, and put you to bed.  While we have tried to read you a variety of books, you only want to read two books, Little Blue Truck and Its Time to Sleep My Love.  Same books, every night.  After we finish reading you happily hop off the couch and run down the hall to your room and climb into bed.  Usually you are tired, but you get so excited about going to bed that it winds you up a bit and you end up babbling for a bit before you fall to sleep.

4.  We are brainwashing you into loving Disney characters, and first on the list is Mickey.  Your favorite song is the Hot Dog song from Mickey's Clubhouse, and whenever it comes on you start to dance.  We try to listen to it in the morning right before I drop you off for the day.

5. You can not keep your shoes on.  It is a guarantee that if we put you in the car with two shoes on, when we go to get you out, you will only have one shoe on.  You think wearing shoes is a game.

6.  You would rather blow a kiss over waving good bye.  This has resulted in many trips down the hall of your school with you blowing kisses to all of the misses you see. And they love it.  I think we may have a flirt on our hands.

7.  You are starting to talk, which I discussed here.

8.  Every time I go to the bathroom you think its time to brush your teeth, and if I don't let you in you whine at the door.

9.  You love dump trucks.  One of the main characters in Little Blue Truck is a dump truck and that may be your favorite part of the book.  We picked you up your own yellow dump truck just the other day, and right now it is definitely your favorite toy.

10.  You have slept out of your crib for almost two months at this point.  We didn't have the toddler rail for your bed, but you have only fallen out once (onto soft pillows).  And because you take your nap on a cot a school, you know not to get out of bed until we come get you.  On the very rare occasions that you have decided to be bold, you always quickly scurry back onto your bed like we didn't see you get out.

When I look at pictures of you, its amazing how much you change just between weeks.  Your daddy and I love how much of a big boy you are coming, but we still miss our little baby some times.  You are the sweetest happiest little guy I have ever met (yes I'm biased, I'm your mother I'm supposed to be) and we are so happy and proud to be your parents.  Love you Row Row.