An evening to remember...

This was definitely an evening we'll remember as the climbing into the crib incident.

We put both of you down for the night, and sat down on the couch to start watching a movie, something we haven't done in a long time. It was about 15 or 20 minutes into it when this incident happened.

Cameron usually falls asleep very fast while Sascha takes forever. At times I go into her room, and its 9:30pm and she is still stirring and talking. Well this night was no different, except for Sascha decided to wonder into Cameron's room while he was sleeping. I heard a few noises on the baby monitor and decided to look at the video, at which time I saw her hair dangling near Cameron's face, and a few seconds later I saw all of Sascha plop into the crib next to him. Yes, she decided it was a good idea to climb into the crib with baby brother and sleep next to him. Sweet... kinda, Crazy... yes! We ran up the stairs faster than we had ever ran before, daddy went first. He got Sascha out of the crib and I ran in right after and turned on the light. Cameron wakes up and of course starts crying. Not sure if it was from Sascha's unexpected arrival, or me blasting him with the bright light right above him. I just wanted to make sure no one got injured and the crib was still in place. To my surprise - all was ok.

I quickly grabbed Sascha and took her back to her room and she looked at me with her bewildered look, the big eyes. I laid her down on the bed, and she got very quiet and did not answer any of my questions like "What were you thinking climbing into baby brother's crib?" "Do you know that doing that is dangerous - the crib can fall down, he can get hurt, you can get hurt... etc, etc, etc. ?" At that point I made a conscious effort to calm myself down and stop freaking out, after all no one did get hurt, and she was pretty aware that what she did was definitely not approved of.

So I asked again in a more calm manner - "Why did you climb into his crib? Were you scared? Did you not want to sleep by yourself?" She basically agreed and said she wants someone to sleep with her. I told her that she is a big girl, and even though sometimes we lay down next to her at bed time, she will be ok to sleep in her own bed by herself, and I gave her a choice of a stuffed animal or her baby doll. She choose the doll and stayed in her bed that night. Meanwhile Jeromey had to rock Cameron back to sleep and put him back into the crib. Whew! That was a close one!

The next night I went in to say good night and she gave me a hug and a kiss and said - "I will not go into baby brother's crib!" Hah, Thanks... I was hoping you wouldn't!

In spirit of that night I decided to capture the intrusion and put Sascha into Cameron's crib... for the sake of this picture. I needed it to remember this story, or remind me, to freeze this moment in time, to look back in 5 or 10 years and laugh about it!

Lets hope we don't find the little trouble maker in there again... I really don't think the crib will survive.

1st picture of daddy putting kiddos to bed, 2nd - Sascha invading Cameron's crib and 3rd-hanging out in Sascha's bed after story time

Cameron - 9 months

Growing like a weed! Besides getting your first tooth before turning 9 months, and starting to clap, you are finally interested in almost getting onto all fours and swaying back and forth. I wouldn't say crawling is around the corner because you don't get off your bottom yet, but definitely going in the right direction. You've even started to roll again. Yes... a bit late, but I can't complain, I have really enjoyed these stationary months. I can put you down on a blanket and know that you're not really going anywhere so I can run upstairs and grab something I need and not worry about you getting into something. The only issue we've been having is Sascha taking it upon herself to push or lay you down. I leave you sitting up, and when I get back you are on your back ...sometimes crying, while Sascha looks up at me with her innocent eyes! A trouble maker she is. For the most time she is a very loving big sister, sometimes she just doesn't know that she is squeezing too hard or hugging too tight.

For some reason 90% of the time I still cannot get you to sleep for 11 hours, usually it's only about 9 to 9 and half hrs, from 8:30pm - 6pm, and so you wake up pretty cranky most of the time. I remember Sascha waking up in the morning and she was happy, and I think it's because you are not sleeping long enough. The few times when you do sleep longer you seem to wake up in a better mood.

The other thing you're adamant about is the bottle. You will drink half of a 6 oz bottle and refuse the rest. I basically have to distract you with a book, or an item or a little kids video on my phone to get you to take the bottle again, and after a few of those attempts you get mad and arch your back and squirm around and cry... so feeding time is really not a whole lot of fun at that point and we give up. Solid feedings are usually easier. You are very eager to see a spoon and a water sippy cup, so at least you're a good eater with solids. You are more or less now keeping to a consistent schedule of 4 bottles a day, 3 solid feedings and 2 naps - morning and afternoon. You are an easy going sweet baby, and each and every day I fall more and more in love with you!

Your doctor visit went smoothly. You are over 18 lbs which I thought was great, not really sure why that's 17 percentile... and you are very tall 85% in height... daddy really hopes that continues! I complained about your constant rash that you get under your chin and neck area and behind one of your knees. Some of the days it really seems to bother you. It gets very red and itchy. Also your cradle cap is not going away. It's a little bit better, and is no longer bothering you, but it's still very much there, just more hidden now that you are getting more hair. Your hair is already curly. It's super cute! Sascha's hair didn't give any signs of curl until after her 1st Bday, but yours is definiltey getting curly. I guess both kids got my curly gene. :) Anyways, not much to worry about, will just continue w/the same creams and shampoos. I am sure you will grow out of it pretty quickly.

When I stand you up, you no longer kick like crazy, you will now actually stand up for a little while while being held with both hands of course. You still do love that jumpie! And you babble a ton. You seem to understand and mimic "Yes" and "No" and in both English and Russian, and "DADA" is still your favorite 2 syllables.

Stats:

18 lbs 8 oz - 17%

29.5 inches - 85%

17.5 inches - 24%

Just a few of your sweet experessions


Getting a Bath in the Sink

A lucky shot I got with my phone of the two kiddos, both smiling, if you have ever tried to take a picture of two small children, you know that it's a near impossible task to get them both to cooperate, so that's especially why I love the way this photo turned out. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy looking at the these two adorable faces!

Cameron's 1st tooth

Cameron's First tooth arrived. His bottom right. Can't say it was unexpected, it seemed like the little guy was teething, drooling for some time now, and had a few restless nights along with his parents, but at last it's here! We can celebrate. :) He is constantly sticking his tongue out and licking all around, getting used to the new sensation. I will surely miss that toothless smile of yours!!! So darn cute! Sometimes we look over at you and Sascha both and wonder how did we get such cute little babies. Yes, of course we think you're cute, you're ours... but I am pretty sure everyone else thinks you're pretty adorable as well!

I took these with my phone, the above photo just minutes after we discovered your new tooth

and the one below is a few months old, your first time in the pool at your aunt's house. Yes completely unrelated to your first tooth, but I just love this photo of you hanging out on the boogie board (not to worry Daddy was standing right by in case you decided to take a plunge... luckily you didn't)

Both photos are looking like this because they were modified by a cool IPhone app I discovered - Instagram. I love the "old vintage" look some of the filters give to the photos, so I'll be posting a lot more.