Super DylanDylan has been changing and growing up so fast lately, I felt this urgency to post before I forget, right now tonight, before watching my season finales even! So this novel's for me...I want to remember this not-really-a-baby stage, but still my baby for now, and all the other daily things that have consumed us the past few months and I just haven't gotten around to writing about.
Dylan finally has ALL his baby teeth in and is much happier lately. Phew! He is RUNNING through the house, always trying to keep up with Kaleb, and usually on tiptoes. Dylan is our funny guy and is always making us laugh. He just started pouring water over Kaleb's head in the bath, laughing hysterically, and making a fun game out of it. Ben has also taught him how to do an evil cackle and a funny face where he juts out his bottom teeth. Dylan's also turned into quite the daredevil lately...climbing up to the highest part of our couches and somehow perching himself on top, putting kiddie chairs on top of couches and sitting on them like he's king of the world, flying like Superman from couch to ottoman (this has now been outlawed), climbing up onto bar stools, up and down our king-sized bed (luckily he hasn't figured out how to climb out of his crib), onto the piano bench, and has started letting himself outside and in the garage (another new rule that Kaleb helps me monitor). I have to watch him like a hawk and try to keep all doors locked! Dylan's also become a writing utensil bandit and loves to mark up my walls, couches, floor, and windows with whatever he can get his grubby little hands on! Still an early riser, normally I get a crying wake up call between 5 and 5:20 am from him. His whole life it's been a little cry to let me know he's awake, but just in the past week he's started yelling, "MA!" when he wakes up. Not the sing-song Mama, I love you voice, more like a demanding bark. But he always gives me the sweetest smiles, hugs, and snuggles in the early morning and I usually bring him back to bed with me for another hour. Then the Diego demands begin. I'm a little embarrassed by this, but he has become very demanding and quite opinionated for someone less than 2 years of age, on when, what, and how much TV he should watch. It's gotten so bad that he will now find a remote, follow me around with it, and beg to watch Diego. Now for the melt my heart every time moments...he's started saying, "I love you, Mama!" and whenever he says the prayer he says "Thank you for Mama" at least twice. He gives the sweetest hugs and will come up to me several times and ask for one. A new thing he's doing is snuggling wherever he can find skin. Kaleb loves playing in my hair, but Dylan is all about skin to skin contact. He'll put his little face on my bare arm or pull my shirt up and find my tummy, then say "ah!" Just precious. I love my Super Dylan and can't believe he'll be a big brother in 6 months!
MR. BIG
Kaleb has really been growing lately. He tells me his hip bones hurt, is eating ALL the time, and has started sleeping longer or sneaking in an occasional nap. I think I'm getting a little glimpse into his teenage years. He's also quite proud of the fact that he's four now, and tells anyone and everyone that will listen. This past Sunday he sang in church with the Primary Children's choir for the very first time. He was right up front, not a bit shy, and sang his little heart out, remembering almost all the words to "I Often Go Walking." Mother's Day is always a very emotional day for me, and lets just say tears were flowing... but this time, tears of joy. Kaleb can write his name really well when he concentrates, all in capital letters. He's trying to read and spelled his first word all on his own...Dear, spelled D-E-R, on a birthday card. He loves to send thank you notes and will even remind me if we haven't thanked someone for a gift. All on his own, he drew a picture for daddy thanking him for Harry the fish. Kaleb also has started using his imagination a lot lately. His new game at the park is playing firefighters. He gives each of us a rescue role, while he makes up scenarios and saves the lives of all the neighborhood animals. You should see him go down a fire pole! He also is head over heels in love with our baby. He gives baby and me hugs and kisses throughout the day, wants to know how big she is, and even has names picked out. This week they are Lucy or Ruby for a girl (both of which I like) or Pat, Itchy, or Cody for a boy (none of which I like). Must be a girl, right? Although he's pretty sure it's a girl, we keep reminding him it might not be, and it would be fun to have another baby brother. He's really excited for swim lessons this summer and can hardly wait for our trip to Oregon.
My Super GuyBen is amazing! Truly the hardest working husband and best father I know. I may be a bit biased, but I definitely think I married Superman. He's had a lot of pressure put on him at work since the beginning of the year, project after big project.... huge clients that could be lost, etc. Somehow he works these incredibly long hours, comes home and is pleasant and fun with us, has dinner and does the night time routine, then typically stays up into the early morning hours working some more. He does this more often than not, putting in at least 15 hour days, never really complaining, but sometimes needing a good back scratch to keep him going. I've been an emotional wreck lately with this pregnancy...not sure why, so when my mom left last week to go home, I just lost it. I really did...sad, sad, sadness swept over me. I dropped her off at the airport, drove through crocodile tears all the way to Ben's office, and he left in the middle of a conference call to come down and give me a hug. Every day I feel so lucky to have him and fall more deeply in love with each passing year.
These boys are my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Can't wait to find out what new measures of joy baby #3 will bring to us all!
