Thomas 2 years, Sophia 2 weeks old

Helping Mommy clean up marker from the carpet and table

Exploring sand for the first time at Warren Park -- just across the road!

We just put a real bed in Thomas' room in addition to his crib to make his transition a little easier. His sleep issues still haunt us. Today he didn't take a nap at all; it was two hours of me walking him back to his bed. On the other hand, it meant that tucking him into bed tonight was a breeze. Other times, his nap is fine but it takes him two hours to fall asleep at night! Or I wake up at 4am and find the playroom light on, and Thomas about to start playtime! What is happening? Are we transitioning to no nap at all? Or is this just a reaction to moving house and new baby? To be fair, it all started a week before the move date, and has been going on for about a month now. It's pretty awful sometimes, especially when we're all short on sleep. He's also started transitioning to full-blown toddlerhood. We've had a lot more crying outbursts when things don't go his way, the old going limp act and yelling "no no, no no!" response when he doesn't want to do something. On the other hand, he appears more confident and social these days. Nowadays he is much more open, playing with our friends and talking to them after only a short warming-up period, follows along with the motions to the songs at Rhyme Time at the Library, and interacts and "talks" with the other kids in his playgroup. I swear he also put on a few pounds during the two nights he spent at Mom and Dad's house when we were at the hospital!

He still likes the new baby. He pats her gently on the blanket, pointing out her hands or eyes or comes to tell me when she's crying. I watch him like a hawk just in case he gets a little too energetic like he still does with Chloe (pulling tails, etc).

Sophia is doing well! Tomorrow is her two-week checkup with the pediatrician. She is nursing easily (mostly), and sleeps well, especially when she's being held by someone. I think that's how I'm getting so much sleep at night! After a nighttime feeding, I hold her upright for a while against me to get rid of any air bubbles, and I usually fall asleep accidentally in the recliner, sometimes for hours! The new "nursing recliner" has more than paid for itself in the past two weeks! In fact, she sleeps so well, it's a bit of a worry! Can it really be this easy? The mind will always find something to worry about, I guess!

Mom and Dad have been a lifesaver (again!!), making dinner every night that they aren't dancing, babysitting Thomas so Matthew and I can take naps and get things done around the house, restocking our refrigerator, and generally being very supportive. Also, Matthew has been very supportive too, taking care of Thomas so I can have a nap or feed the baby, getting the house fixed up, making breakfast, putting together new furniture, etc! Thank you to Mom, Dad and Matthew! I couldn't do it without you!