Month #2 for JE and Countdown to the Big T.W.O. for RF

JE is a little over two months old now and we are within one month of RF turning two. My boys are growing up fast. 

JE is smiling, cooing and getting ready to transition to his crib in his nursery. 

RF is speaking in sentences, making us laugh daily, and loving life. 

JE's two-month check-up last week showed our little man to be growing, growing, growing. 

JE @ Birth – 6 lbs., 15 oz. and 20 inches long  

JE @1 Month – 9 lbs. and 22 inches long
JE @ 2 Months – 11 lbs., 2 oz. and 23.5 inches long

7-20-14

8-20-14

9-20-14

JE's first nap in his crib...

Smiling at daddy...

Mr. Ellis...

RF managed to catch a virus that causes a rash. Couple that with his already sensitive skin and his eczema and he broke out all over. He stayed home with Lola and Ellis the later part of the week to get to feeling better and we ended up at the dr. on Friday. A round of antibiotics + antivirals later and the big boy is feeling much better. 

I gave RF our older digital camera and he had a blast taking pictures of Charlie (for about 15 minutes straight…). He would say, "Say Cheese, Charlie." Charlie was not amused...

How JE celebrates game day…GO DAWGS!

I'm managing to keep it together right now when I think about RF's second birthday in a few weeks, but as the day approaches I know that I'm going to be emotional celebrating this second year of my little man's life. I am planning a low-key, family get-together at a local park (weather permitting) as being outside is our big boy's favorite thing to do. :-)

Busy, Busy, Busy

Last week was my first week back at work. We managed to make it through - due to some heavy scheduling/planning on my part and some major teamwork between RA and I.

I am up by 5:00AM, although JE decided he was hungry about 4:30AM a few mornings so, yawn…, I was up at 4:30AM. Once I'm up I get ready while RA is on JE-patrol. Then I head downstairs for one of my favorite morning activities - coffee - and make breakfast. RF has been sleeping until 6:15AM or so, so once he gets up he gets dressed, has breakfast and then we're in the car to head to school. The mornings were pretty calm thanks to getting everything (bags, clothes, bottles, etc.) ready the night before.

Each day we had to be out the door by 6:45AM in order for me to drop off RF and get to work by 7:30AM. Lola picked up JE from our house on her way in to the office last week, so I only had to get RF out the door by 6:45AM, but this week begins getting both boys out by 6:45AM…we'll see how it goes.

Our afternoons are busy too. I pick up RF about 3:30 and JE by 4:00. We're usually home by 4:45 and get our afternoon routine of play-time (i.e. pull out ALL our toys for RF…), dinner (although last week included quite a few crock-pot meals), baths, family time, and bedtime by 8:00PM.

I'm tired just typing it all out. I am hoping that things get easier as we continue figuring out logistics with these two youngins'.

Photos from this past week…

JE hanging out in the sling as we enjoyed some outside time...

Wandering through the yard exploring everything...

Cutting grass with daddy...

Helping daddy wash the grass off of the lawnmower…

Then RF had to wash the grass off of his mower... 

Helping cut the homemade dumplings...

A big spider that has made itself at home on our front porch railing...

A big, cute baby butt...

RF putting his vacuum cleaner in the closet with our actual vacuum cleaner...

A cute cloth-diapered baby boy...

RF didn't have the best weekend (another round of teething…) so when he woke up from his nap today I asked him if he would like to go get some ice cream and his response was, "Come on, mommy" and he started heading towards the door. :-)

On a side note, it's a very, very, very bad thing for the Hawk family that there is now a Dairy Queen less than three blocks from our house…very, very bad. 

Cardboard box + crayons = toddler entertainment. 

The Hawks, Party of Four, First Trip to GA…Part Two

Yep, still exhausted. 1,000 miles round trip with two kids under two and three dogs…exhausted is an understatement.

The second half of our trip consisted of...

JE napping some more. His shirt says, "Feed me - Hungrisaurus" - this is 100% JE - he eats ALL. THE. TIME. 

RF holding JE...

RF hunkering down on a piece of chicken...

A little trampoline time...

More brother photos...

JE reached out his hand and it touched RF's hand --- RF then held JE's hand - SWEETNESS. 

Giving George hugs and a cheesy grin for mama...

More snoozin' for JE...

Father and son meandering through downtown...

"Water, mommy." 

Love these two so much...

He makes me smile...

Holding daddy's hand...

RF "working" (his words, not mine)…he kept pushing the buttons on the microwave, opening and closing the door and would say, "Franklin working, mama." 

We stopped and got a milkshake from the local homemade milkshake establishment. RF wasn't interested in it…until he had one little taste then he managed to finish off the rest of mine...

RF holding onto my arm in the car. He will say, "Hold me" and then grab my arm and squeeze it tight. 

A LONG trip, but a fun trip. RA and I learned some valuable lessons about traveling with little ones. Now it's back to the daily grind. We're hoping for a restful and relaxing weekend as Monday I head back to work. :-)