#biggywigs - 7 Months

#biggywigs  | 7 MONTHS

nicknames | monkey, baby

weight |  Using the 'at home method' you're 24 pounds and 27 3/4" tall

loves | Your brother.  Sitting up, your jump-a-roo, anything you can chew, and baths!

dislikes | Being tired or hungry.

size | One BIG BOY.  Size 5 diapers (you still wear size 4 every now and again if I find a rouge diaper)  Clothes are 18 to 24 months.  You have some massive thighs that I cannot stop squishing. 

sleep |  R.O.U.G.H.  I believe you are teething again, because the only thing that will you put back to sleep at night is nursing.  Otherwise your bedtime is 7, wake at 11 to nurse, 3 to nurse and up for the day around 6 or so.  You take 3-4 naps a day.  Mid morning, post lunch, and again pre dinner.

eats | We are slow to introduce new foods to you.  Sorry kiddo, that's the bum of being kid #2.  So far you've had Yams/Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Squash, and Banana.  You LOVE Yams.  Tonight you'll be introduced to Peas and later this week will be Apples.  Next week is Green Beans and then Pears.
Your nursing schedule is 7AM, 11AM, bottle at 3, 7PM, 11PM, and 3AM

firsts |  Thanksgiving!  Unfortunately you were sick, so that was a first too.  Boo.  You no longer hate rolling over and pop yourself onto your tummy whenever you're on your back.

Momma | Oh man, kid.  I LOVE YOU.  You are such a mama's boy and such a snuggler.  We are going to sleep train you this week (and probably part of next) because you take up SO much room in our bed.  We all need you to sleep through that 11PM feeding.  That dang cold really ruined us.

You give the very best hugs and have the best belly laugh.  I just can't wait to see you on Christmas morning!

Second children are so interesting.  I'm delaying starting anything new with you because you're my last baby and I want to savor your baby-ness as long a possible.  All while, I'm hoping you could just be walking/talking/playing with your brother already.

Daddy |  I love seeing how animated you get whenever your brother comes around you.  watching the two of your “wrestle” on the bed makes my day.   I love how you light up when I get home from work and we make eye contact.  The hardest part of my day is dropping you off, but it was the same way for your big brother and now he runs to his class and is already at play when I get in to his room to say “goodbye”   and soon, you will be the same.   You are growing so much and mommy has had to go up to 24 months clothes.  You currently have two beautiful, sharp teeth that come out when you give a big grin.  I love you so much and I love hearing the sounds you make when you sleep.  I love you son!

ThredUP - NEW BOXES!

So I may be TOTALLY late to the party on this one - but guys, GUYS, ThredUP is doing Goody Boxes!

Right now, for $10

YES 10 DOLLARS

You can get a box of your favorites, or even one curated for your specific request (9-5, personal style, etc)

Merry Christmas Gift to yourself.

Easy Button

I'll be honest.  I had low expectations for the Holiday Season this year.
Navigating the holidays for the first time with two kids?  I gave myself a pass and didn't hold myself to my usual standard.

Somehow, this ended up working MAJORLY in my favor.

1.
Christmas Cards?
Done.  Mailed the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Thank you Groupon and Staples!
They were ready the same day I ordered them.

100 cards for $25.  Double sided, thick card stock, and envelopes are included.
#wiggydiggy had a blast helping me put stamps and address labels on the cards.  Win win!

P.S.  Earned 6% cash back from Ebates too

2.
Christmas Presents?
Justin and I keep a Wish List for the boys on Amazon.  This is more our personal shopping list to show each other things we like and to remind me to pick up items from Wal-Mart or Target.
(Socks anyone?)

So I went out and cleaned up the list some and emailed it to the Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles.
Easy.

We also shopped for the boys gifts from there - it keeps track of purchased items and if someone tells me they picked up an item elsewhere, I mark it bought!

God bless Prime because Christmas shopping was done before December 1st.

P.S.  This also works great for husbands ;)
I put together a quick list for myself and sent it over to Justin.  He's one smart cookie so he price shopped, but the list was easy to reference and he didn't have to ask me 10 times what I want for Christmas.

3.
Decorations?
Pre-lit Christmas tree with no ornaments.

I'm not kidding.

Both boys love the lights and both are more interested in the train that goes around the bottom.  Neither notice the lack or ornaments and frankly, neither do Justin or myself.

As a matter of fact, we probably put out 1/4 of our usual decorations and I truly think the house looks prettier.  It's probably because of the new floors....

4.
Pre-Gift Purge

I decided after #wiggydiggy's birthday party that I needed to do a quick (and very necessary) purge of toys and clothes.

While the boys napped, I quickly went through the toy box and toy bins and tossed everything that was broken and reorganized.
Then I hit up all of our closets.  An hour later I had one trash bag full, one donate bag full and one box ready to mail to Thred Up.  Now I'm ready for the on-onslaught of new toys and gifts.


5.
Holiday Spirit

Thank you Echo for playing Christmas Music 24/7 in every room of our house.

I have 0 stress this holiday season.  Everything is done and it's only one week into December!
I think we should all hit the Easy Button every year.

Gift List

I always feel weird sharing our Christmas Wish Lists.
While at the same time I love seeing what other's have on their lists - it gives me great ideas!
C'est la vie

The Boys

#biggywigs list is all Melissa and Doug toys, BabyLit Books, Baby University Books, and Baby Loves Science Books

Santa is bringing him his Pottery Barn Anywhere chair.  I can't wait!!

#wiggydiggy has some Melissa and Doug toys also, Berenstain Bears Books, Science Books, and the ever popular Playmags (aka cheaper Magnatiles)

His stocking will be stuffed with Matchbox cars :)

Justin

I had an Apple Watch on my list, so when he bought mine, he bought himself one too.  So that's one gift down!  I found him a nice leather band to go with his watch as well.

He doesn't have a list, so I have fun picking a theme for him each year.  This year, it's coffee.

I found the Ninja Coffee Bar on a great deal, so bye bye Keurig!

A Yeti Tumbler will be in his stocking along with a bag of coffee.

He went and bought himself a new table saw and ...... another saw of some kind.

He claims they are Christmas presents.  So yay!

(a few other items I can't mention.  He occasionally reads here.)

My List

Apple Watch

Yeti Tumbler in white

(and yes, I bought this for myself)

Convection Oven

New pair of Heels (I wear these multiple times a week)

Earrings

Watch Band

Pajamas

Derma Roller

And reusable straws (which I also purchased myself to stick in my stocking!  Haha)

I am so excited for Christmas this year!

#wiggydiggy - 4 years old

Happy 4th birthday Buggy!!  We LOVE you!

 You're 35.6 pounds and 3 feet 3 inches tall.

You're funny, loving, and very thoughtful.

Your vocabulary is off the charts.  You've started showing an interest in reading, so we are currently working on sight words.  You also are showing a lot of interest in basic math.

Interview with a 4 year old

Favorites:
Color - Black
Food - Applesauce
Animal - Dinosaurs
Sport - Tennis
Book - Berenstain Bears Halloween
Song - Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light
Vegetable - Green Beans (this is a lie.  You don't like vegetables!)
Fruit - Oranges
Thing to do with Mom - Projects
Thing to do with Dad - Play Football
Thing to do with #biggywigs - Play with stuffed animals
Toy - Race Car from Uncle Josh and Matchbox Police Car
Activity at School - Paint
Treat - Pink Bubblegum and M&M's

What do you want to be when you grow up - Policeman
Best Friend - Kolby
What makes you Happy - Smiley Faces!

Some of Mom's favorite memories:

You say Snow Pile for Snow Plow.
You point out every decoration for the holidays.  So every house we drive by 'Christmas Lights!' 'Christmas Decorations!' 'American Flag!' 'Halloween Decorations!'
You love to know the sequence of the day and week.  You are very quick to point out if we aren't on schedule.
You still love to rub ears.  You've been rubbing your ear from the moment you were born and when you are upset you like to rub my ear to feel better.  I'm going to miss it when you grow up.
You're my very favorite #wiggydiggy.  There is no one like you.