NAP: 30 Months

Nash Archer,

You are two-and-a-half! You hear that time flies, but man does it with little kids.  You are growing so quickly.

You are still super busy, except when you are watching movies.  You can sit for an full-length movie, and you would all day long if we let you.  You like pretty much anything you have ever seen, including Nemo, Toy Story, Cars, Dumbo (The flying Ef-e-lint), Meet the Robinsons (Tiny Robbins), and The Chipmunks.  We are so very tired of watching movies.

When you are busy, you love to play trains, build with blocks, watercolor, jump or the trampoline, play in the baby pool, water the yard with the hose, and collect treasures on our walks.  We have noticed that you are quite coordinated with a ball.  For a couple of weeks, you have been bringing us a ruler and a nerf ball, asking us to pitch the ball at you.  You frequently hit it.  Daddy just got you a t-ball and bat.  You are loving playing that in the back yard.

You are into dinosaurs (you name more than I know) and Thomas trains. You like to pretend that dinosaurs are everywhere.  You name their characteristics - sharp teeth, big eyes, how many legs, if they eat meat...ok, you are really into dinosaurs. You got your first Thomas engine for going #2 in the potty.  Percy is taunting you, but you have little interest in trying that again.

You still love fruit as your main food group.  You eat lots of other things too.  We have noticed that you eat just enough for us to let you down from dinner- you'll even take a few bites of the things you don't like.  Then, about 30 minutes later, after we have cleaned up, you'll ask for a PB&J or banana.  Clever.

You speak in full sentences, although words are sometimes not in their proper places.  You like to tell us what's going to happen next.  I frequently give you a sequence of events so that you know what to expect.  You have started giving me directions in the car.  You love to ask for "five more minutes," but sometimes argue for only one minute when we offer five.  That one works in our favor.

You have been playing with our co-op friends, old school friends, and our family friends all summer.  School starts back next week.  I have been trying to prepare both of us, but I am sure it will not be super easy.

You are a wonderful brother.  You bring Sissy toys, give her hugs, tell her good morning and good night.  Other than that, you pretty much go about your own business, though you like to know where she is. I couldn't have asked for a better relationship.

Nashy, we love you to pieces.  When I peek into your crib at night, I know big changes are on the way.  I can't believe how big you are getting.  We are so loving interacting with you and watching your mind work.  We love your enthusiasm and strong will.  We love every bit of your two-and-a-half self.

Love,
Mom

WDP: 8 Months

Wren Pie,
You are growing so quickly.  Is that how I begin each of your updates?  That is certainly how I feel.  Good gracious, sweet girl.

You are finally sitting on your own, unsupported for long stretches.  You still have very little interest in being on your tummy or back (that darn reflux), so crawling does not even appear to be coming soon.  You are pulling up on Brother's train table and reaching to get things, even if you have to scoot or topple over to reach them.

You have started forming your ba-ba-bas.  How quickly talking begins.  You also seem to be making the sign for dog when you see ours.  Hmmm. I'd better refresh my memory on baby signs.

You are eating like a champ!  After some issues introducing grains - issues solved with prune juice - you seem to be adjusting to solids just fine.  You nurse first thing in the morning, have fruit and grains for breakfast around 9, nurse and have some sort of veggie or fruit and grain at 12:30, nurse at 3, have sliced bananas, avocados, veggies and puffs around 5, and a big bottle of breast milk around 7:30.  You are loving puffs and just today started feeding whole ones to yourself.  You are so proud.  I am excited.  You have no idea how much more cooking I will be able to accomplish with you entertaining yourself with bits of food!

You sleep through the night most nights, sometimes waking to find a paci.  I have taken a tip from other moms I know and you now go to bed with a few pacis.  That does not always ensure that you will look for one, but my nights of running across the house to shove a paci back into your mouth are decreasing.

You are very happy.  Daddy, Brother, and I can get you to belly laugh often.  You like the jack-in-the-box, the basket of play food, blocks, holding onto the train table, and just watching the activity.  You still prefer me when something is not right - hungry, tired, over-stimulated.  But, you are going to your grandmas more easily, which they both cherish.

Sister, we love you so much.  We love your big, two-tooth smile.  We love hearing you giggle and shriek.  I love holding your rolly body and I especially love when you snuggle in. You are a yummy baby.

Love,
Mom

WDP: 7 Months

Wren,
Sweet girl, we have started calling you by your name.  It became clear that you had no idea who you were.  So, you are Wren.  And Sissy. And Sweetie, but mostly Wren. And Wren Pie.

You are such a wonderful chubby baby.  You are sitting up, though you fall over frequently.  You almost always prefer to sit up. Sometimes you roll around on the floor.  A few times we've found you on the other side of the room.  Not by crawling, but just rolling around!

You giggle, laugh, babble, and coo.  You cry, but not nearly as much as you used to, thank God.

You really love your immediate family and I have heard that you have been going a little easier on the baby sitters.  We will see soon how you do with your grandparents and aunts and uncles as we are going to see them soon.

You have started eating solids and like Brother, you love prunes!  I can mix prunes with anything and you'll eat it.  Also like Brother, the grains we have tried make you gassy.  We will lay off of those for a bit.  The Prilosec you take for reflux also upsets your stomach, so you are also drinking prune juice.  We hope that does the trick because you are frequently uncomfortable. You are still nursing as well.

You sleep like a champion.  Re-read that sentence.  You are an amazing sleeper.  I am sure that just by putting that in writing, I am jinxing us, but the world should know.  You go down before 8pm and sleep until 6:30 am.  Champion. When our schedule allows, you also take two decent naps. If not, things get a little harrier.

You are pretty laid back and just love to be on your people.  Yes, direct contact is necessary!

Oh, and super important news- you have two teeth coming in.  The bottom front ones are through the gums and moving their way up.  They are very cute.

Wren, we are enjoying having you in our life.  I love dressing you.  I love picking you up in the morning and getting your warm baby cuddles.  I love your baby breath.  I love making you giggle.  I love your rolls and your wispy hair.

I love you,

Mom

NAP: 29 Months

Dear Nash,

Nashy-poo, Stinky-poo, Nashy, Nashers, Nash Potato.  Those are your names and you respond to them all!  You also sing "Nashy-poo, I love you, You're my little stinky-poo-poo."  Yep, poo poo.  It's already funny!

We have had a busy summer so far.  With a month to go, Mommy's getting nervous about how I am going to keep you entertained, but so far so good.  We have been going to bounce houses, play dates, the pool, playing in our improved back yard, and taking lots of early morning walks.  You and Wren sit in the double for a couple of miles and then I let you walk the last quarter mile.  You have a couple of must-see stops along the way.  Two stops are called "the pretties." The first one has recycled glass in the flower bed and you like to line up the colors.  The next stop is counting the stepping stones.  Then we walk on "the balance beam," which is someone's landscaping timber.  The last, and coolest stop, also called the pretties is a Xeriscaped yard that has little animal figurines, giant balls, groundhog sculpture, a fountain, and a sleeping dragon.  It doesn't get better than that! You are such a good buy and wait for me at every corner (though I don't give you too much space!).

You have been eating like an animal.  You are loving some broccoli, hummus, FRUIT galore, chicken, ketchup (dippy), PB&J, and lots of snacks.

You are still sleeping in your crib.  You sleep pretty well at night, though you have been getting up before 6 am.  You nap for almost 4 hours though! You haven't shown interest in getting out yourself, but I know a big boy bed is on the horizon.  I think you will like that.  I just worry that we won't!

You are making lots of sentences and stringing words together is a thoughtful process.  I am impressed at your quick responses.  Today I asked you what the mobile in your hand was.  You said, "it's the bears to put baby to sleep."  It wasn't super clear, but it was very clear that you understood and could easily convey an idea.  You call dominoes "Daddy Dots," which is super cute.

You still are awesome with Sissy.  You are generally careful around her. You are happy to bring her toys and have started showing her how to play with some things.

Nash, you are one month shy of two-and-a-half.  You are turning into such a big boy.  You are still very into what your interest are and not into what the rest of the world is doing.  You are pretty laid back until direction comes you way.  Them, you are very strong-willed.  Sounds about right for this family.

Sweet boy, we love you dearly.  I love watching you grow and think and learn.

I love you,
Mom

NAP: 28 Months

Dear Nash,
You're cool!  Daddy and I are still really enjoying you being two.  You are active, loud, wild, busy, stubborn, curious, imaginative, and sweet.  You love to watch movies (Shreck, Nemo, Cars, and Horton), play outside, play with blocks, go to Mimi & Buddy's house, play with Grammy & Grampy and swim in their pool, and FaceTime with Midge, Luke, and Davis.  You love all of your relative and name them all, including Mikey, UM, SueSue and all the peeps named above.  You also like to say, "Mommy, Daddy, Nash, Sissy, Gus, Mac, and Zeus. Family!" 

So far, we've been enjoying the summer.  We took a long break to Three Sister's Acres, have spent several weekends with Grammy & Grampy, have played tons in the back yard, and have been on some play dates.  Good times!

You and Sissy (and Mommy) have a summer cold, so we've pretty much been stuck together.  It's been okay though. Lots of cuddling, coloring, movie watching, and some outside time before the heat sets in.  As soon as Daddy gets home, it's play time!

Speaking of Sissy, you are super sweet to her. When she was in the swing, you became very concerned (you don't like the swing) and demanded, over and over, that we "Take Wren out."  You never call her wren.  I guess that's your serious talk!  You also like to give her hugs, let her tough your arms (she has cute little curious fingers) and take her toys.  You are a great brother.

You are counting to 10, trying to count to 20, saying and identifying your ABCs, using your imagination to look for butterflies and dinosaurs, listening to books like crazy, enjoying books where you find things, singing, dancing, jumping (new trampoline), and swimming (with Daddy).

Nashy, you are a wild one and we love you so.

Love,
Mom

WDP: 6 Months

Dear Wren,
Six months already, huh? My goodness, how time flies.  When I look back at your newborn pictures I can almost not recall all of the screaming and tough nights.  Almost.  Give me another six months.

Sweet girl, you are just a wonderful ball of baby!  You are almost always happy (if I am near, which I almost always am).  You love your Momma.  You love Daddy too, but you LOVE your Momma. You'd prefer that no one else hold you or feed you.  You do enjoy Nash and Daddy playing with you and being near.

We finally seem to have your reflux under control, thanks to a high dose of prilosec.  I kept you medicine-free for months, but that screaming.  THAT SCREAMING.  You poor little thing.  You must have felt terrible.  You would smile though the pain, but you also screamed through it.  We still keep you mostly upright and always give medicine on time.

You are sleeping pretty well.  We have had a minor setback with a yucky cold and cough spreading through the Davison clan.  Your poor cousin Davis had it the worst. Here it just means lots of snot and a cough, but that can really hinder sleep.  I've had you in the cradle in my room for about a week.  I like having you close too.

You are sitting up assisted and just started pushing the walker a tiny bit.  It's going to be very soon that you are off and running.  I am just trying to enjoy this immobile time and your sweet snuggles.

You love to give kisses and will hold my face between your hands, shriek in glee, and plant a huge one on my mouth or nose.  Your morning smiles still make my day.  Wren, you are perfect in every way.  We love your laid-back demeanor, how much you love me, and how you complete our family.  Sweet baby, don't grow up too quickly, please.

I love you,
Mom

WDP: 5 Months

Wren,
I never call you Wren.  I absolutely love your name, but you are so easy to nickname!  I call you Wrenny Wren, Wren Pie, Siggy, and Sister.  Mostly, we all call you Sister.

Sister, you are so pudgy and wonderful.  You are so happy. You talk and coo and smile all the time.  Okay, I am exaggerating a little.

Your reflux creaped back up like a ton of bricks.  I had to work late a few nights and your cried for hours on end for Daddy.  Finally it dawned on me (why does it always take me so long?) that you ust need to try another medicine or up your dosage.  The doctor upped the dosage and you are feeling MUCH better.

You love to look at brother and Daddy and me.  You are just soaking it all in.  You love to sit in your office (the Savas named the exersaucer that for Elle and it is so fitting).  You have started touching the dogs too.  Your little hands are so curious and always on the move. You also screech like a teradactyl, giggle, and "talk."  You roll over, whe we put you down, which is rare because of the reflux.  We started you on irce cereal.  You love the stuff.  I think you'd eat a pretzel if we'd let you.  You are eager to do what we are doing!

Sweet girl, you sleep like a charm at night.  You go down around 8 and wake up around 6 or 7.  Pretty amazing.  I know you'd prefer a nap schedule, but our schedule won't allow that.  You handle the chaos very well.

Wren, we love you so.  I love seeing your smiling face in the morning and snuggling your little face into my neck.  I love how my nose looks so delicious to you!  I love how you just go with the flow.  You remind us to enjoy each minute of baby.

Love,
Mom