Ferberizing Atticus, Part One

Too many long nights in a row and a trip down "Memory Lane" that is last year's blog post about Ferberizing Netty led me to my big decision that it is indeed time to Ferberize Atticus as well. I prepared myself. I kissed my sweet baby. I told him he was a good boy. And when I put him in the crib and tucked him in, that little twerp put his head down and was silent. He had one little bout of crying but didn't even make it through round 2 before putting himself to sleep.

And I had the gall to be emotional about not rocking him to sleep.

"Go Hawks!"

Over the next two weeks, our primary focus will be teaching Netty to say this. In case your Facebook news feed hasn't been filled with Seahawks propaganda, the Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl! Jon and I aren't big football fans, but that has started changing this season. We went to my sister's house yesterday after church for the big game. I debated how "12th Man" we'd be for church, and decided to just go for it. So we pulled out our best blue and green. And after my cousin posted to Facebook that her son was going to church in his Seahawks jersey ("because babies can get away with it"), we decided to let Netty wear her Seahawks dress. We received many compliments. 

My 12th Men

Go Hawks!

The Girls

Tech Babies

While at my aunt and uncle's house for a party, Netty started watching her favorite show, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, on Papa's laptop.

Yesterday evening we were trying to keep Atticus awake so he would go to bed at a decent hour. Before long, we couldn't keep him awake any longer. He fell asleep for an hour and then woke up for two more hours. Jon and I turned on MASH, and Atticus was immediately enthralled.

Johnny Jump Up

Atticus is too young to be a copycat. Instead, Netty wants to do everything Atticus does. Often we have to make Netty give toys back to Atticus that she has taken away from him. So when we got out the Johnny Jump Up and put Atticus in it, Netty thought she needed a turn.

Atticus wasn't sure about the Johnny Jump Up at first.

Once it looked like Atticus was having a good time, Netty decided she needed a turn as well.

"So, what am I supposed to do in this thing?"

"Yeah, this isn't fun."

Brother and Sister

Having two babies is hard, especially because they are close enough to be practically twins, but different enough that they each present me with different challenges. But what makes it all worth it is how much these two kids love each other.

When we were still in Rexburg, Netty started to take interest in Atticus, and it mostly started when we decided to bathe them together.

 Just a few nights ago Netty threw a fit and I couldn't realize what she wanted. She was trying to pull Atticus off of my lap, and I thought that meant she wanted me. Finally, after enduring a few slaps to the face, I realized that she didn't want me--she wanted Atticus. I set her in my rocking chair and put Atticus on her lap.

It was exactly what she wanted, and Atticus was happy too.

I hope they always have this kind of bond.

When my days get difficult, sometimes the only thing that holds me together is seeing these two kiddos together.

This is how a typical day at our house goes:

Don't Eat Pete!*

*Old pictures

For Family Home Evening one night we decided to play "Don't Eat Pete."

Netty was very good at the game. She shoveled the M&M's in her mouth as fast as she could.

"Mmmmm!"

Diaper Genie-ing*

*Old pictures

Since I was pregnant with Netty I had been debating whether or not to buy a Diaper Genie. I had heard both good and bad things about them. After Atticus was born, our kitchen garbage can was always overflowing with diapers every day and the entire apartment started stinking. All I said to Jon was, "What do you think about this?", and the next thing I knew, we were at Walmart pricing out the Playtex brand versus the Arm and Hammer brand. The new routine of emptying the Diaper Genie was exciting to Netty.

Queen of the Diaper Genie - The empty refill container made a great crown.

Helping - Taking out the final bag was serious business and hard work.

... Hard work that is better left for Daddy.

Just for Laughs*

*Older pictures and videos

What I love most about kids is how funny they are. Over the last several months Netty has become quite a character, and I love her more for it.

Trying on the Snugli

Foot-in-mouth Baby

Going over the Shopping List

Dressing herself

The Hamper

Nursing the Baby Like Mommy

Big*

*Older pictures and videos

 Netty went through much growth over the summer and fall.

We turned her car seat to face forward. Now, I know this picture, with the straps all loose and her arm hanging out makes me look like a negligent parent, but in my defense, we put her in the car seat for the sole purpose of taking the picture, and I wasn't too concerned about her being secured in properly.

She's always liked strands of pearls from the time she was a tiny baby, but she finally discovered what they were for.

She started sitting long enough for me to do her hair without squirming too much--it actually takes longer than you'd think because of how many times I have to wrap the rubber band around her tiny bit of hair!

She thought she was big enough for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Nice try. Maybe in four more years.

Reading

"Thank You"

Doing Daddy's Word Search

Good and Not-So-Good Food*

*Older pictures and videos

As I've already stated, Netty is a very good little eater. She eats just about anything I put in front of her.

This is one of Netty's favorite meals - Chicken, broccoli, and quinoa. This is what I make when I'm in one of those I'm-going-to-eat-healthy moods. 

Of course we don't eat like this all the time. We eat more processed food than we should.

Mac and Cheese - Learning to feed herself

There are times when Netty throws fits and won't eat anything I put in front of her. On those days, I use any method I can for her to eat.

Here's a few pics from a summer trip to McDonald's.

Ketchup Face

I-C-E-C-R-E-A.....

....Mmmmm!