As a new mom of two, I can’t help but regularly continue to freak out that I’m a mom of two. It’s not a bad freak out [usually] but more of a continuous awareness of how beautifully strange life is and how each chapter- or maybe decade/ phase- of life is so different and unique to each individual. Anyway, I wanted to pop on to document some quick thoughts on the growth I’ve seen in my two kids.
Baby 1- my boy. Tatum will be 2 in the end of September. For a long time I was genuinely scared by the fact that he seems to be a little slower with speaking, and while part of me still is a little nervous about that, I am very aware he understands SO much. This phase can be very frustrating during tantrum times but insanely fun the majority overall. Things he randomly liked to do about 4-6 months ago primarily included taking things (including all plastic bottles in the recycling bin, new packs of soda cans, shoes anywhere locatable in the house, plastic kitchens bowls, toys, balls, etc.) and playing with them before proceeding to launch them over the baby gate and either onto the platform leading downstairs creating an adult death trap or fully down the stairs to our basement. He did, and sometimes still does to my demise, this “activity”with sheer joy. Around the same time, he started climbing on the sectional couch and either runs, jumps, or balance-beams across it as fast as possible. He started liking to take my plastic kitchen bowls (stored within his reach) and spreads them across the floor creating more adult death traps, will carry them into the other room, stand/sit in them, or (don’t forget my favorite) launch them over the baby gate. More recently I’ve noticed how receptive Tatum is to behavioral commands, especially around doing things himself. An example- he’s always loved brushing his own teeth, but now he gets his toothbrush/paste out and will hand it to me and put it all away when done brushing, whereas previously I did all of that and then would have to hunt down his toothbrush in the house because he would put it down somewhere random. A newer favorite is when we are complete with a diaper change, he typically likes to take the sealed diaper and dispose of it into the genie or garbage himself. He also one day randomly took a piece of tin foil from a bagel we had just been eating and walked it into the kitchen and placed it into the garbage can for me! Every day he clearly has been expressing more and more knowledge of what he understands and it’s just wonderful. Even better is how evidently he responds to both my requests and his grandmother’s, who speaks to him in Spanish. He may still be very limited in speech at this time, but the fact he knows so much and can communicate his feelings and wants more clearly is super exciting and a relief. Tatum loves to help retrieve and return the giant gallon jug of milk from the fridge (don’t worry, an adult always assists when it’s too heavy) and that cracks me up. Now he points at every stop sign and street sign he sees and shouts out the same gibberish word. I am starting to think he has really adjusted well to the big-brother phase.
Baby 2- my girl. Being only 4 weeks old, I can only imagine what life must be like from her perspective. From mine, I am freaked out about the growth spurt. For what seemed like a long time, her newborn clothes and diapers barely fit and in just a short time, they became fitted and we are moving on to the next sizes! Lucy is getting more personality and strength every day. She seems to be fussing a lot more often recently but usually it just appears to be based on increased hunger level. I’ve seen her crack a smile a few times which is adorbs and she is the snuggliest little babe. Having two babies in general is challenging but the second is definitely easier. As the saying goes “this isn’t my first rodeo”.
These are just a few of my recent observations with my children and their development/ growth. Still can’t believe I’m a mom of two- whooooaaaaa.
HOLL 
Leave a comment