A.B. Kagledom

I was away from the boys for the majority of the day today - a first and a mock trial of what it will be like come April 21 when I return to work. Matthew managed both boys well. Adlai drank from the frozen milk supply and I took my pump and sat in a private room listening to that oh-so-familiar mechanical wheezing. I really like work but I'm going to miss being home something awful.

Adlai has made a few changes in his life this week. First, his fear of strangers completely disappeared. That all stopped when the cute flight attendants asked to hold him on our flight to Seattle. He did cry twice this week when Simon left the room. Second, he has started grabbing my hair and pulling. Ouch. Third, he decided that he has had enough of the plastic boobs and wants the real thing. As you may recall, we had some nursing challenges that were solved using plastic "shields" and he quickly became addicted to them. No more falsies for him which makes less work for me (having had to carry the things around and keep them clean has not been ideal).

Posted by kagledom at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The seven Kagle boys (Jonathan, Matthew, Bradley, Jeffrey, Simon, Andrew, and Adlai) hadn't been together since Adlai's birth so we decided it was time to take our first trip with Adlai - up to the Bellevue Kagles. We left at the crack of dawn on Friday morning, spent Friday afternoon and evening letting the boys play, participated in a neighborhood Easter egg hunt on Saturday, and drove to the mountains on Sunday in the rain which soon became heavy snow. We returned on Monday evening and have spent the last two days washing poop out of all of Adlai's outfits and taking Simon to the doctor for a minor ear infection.

We imagined that this wouldn't be the best of weekends - not because we don't love the Bellevue Kagles but because our boys plus travel equals just as much fun as slowly driving toothpicks into our eyeballs. Alas, it was a weekend with little to complain about - even for us. Simon didn't sleep the first night but did really well the second night and passable on the third (thanks to Auntie Laura). Both boys were in perfect form for the flights even though Adlai managed to poop through every diaper and outfit and spare outfit from here to Seattle. Would we do it again? Definitely.

Thank you Bellevue Kagles and Friends for a delightful weekend. Laura took a dream photo of the boys which I will post as soon as I sweetly persuade her to send me a copy. In the mean time, here are some other pictures:

Brad and Simon, decorating eggs

Egg hunt candy!


Andy shows off his loot

A beautiful day for a walk in Bellevue

First snow since Chicago

Simon and Jeff showing post-snow-playing exhaustion

Posted by kagledom at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After weeks of frustration (with much LOUD yelling and crying at all hours), Adlai rolled back to front yesterday. And just as it says in the baby books, having accomplished this developmental milestone, Adlai finally decided to sleep. Of course, he didn't decide to sleep until 10 am this morning. Will he sleep tonight? That would be nice. We'll be up really early tomorrow to take Adlai on his first flight - a gathering of the Rocket Commanders.

Posted by kagledom at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Adlai has been going through a period of torturing his mother. For the past five nights he has been waking up ravenous every one, two, or three hours. While I used to feed him a couple of times a night, "a couple" has turned into four. Sleep is good and I'm not getting much.

He is, however, quite cute. Who doesn't love big ears and bubble beards?

To celebrate this month, not only do we have the Boppy Photo Shoot as still images, but a video too!

Happy Third Month-a-versary Baby Adlai

Posted by kagledom at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Jon

Matthew

Brad

Jeff

Simon

Andy

Adlai

Posted by kagledom at 07:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Simon has got it!

This evening Simon drew a picture of Adlai and it, well, actually has eyes...

That is Simon being very proud of himself. In the ten minutes after the photo was taken he actually drew more faces including ears' and noses -- all in the "right" places!

Here is a close up Simon's first drawing of a face...

It kinda sorta looks like Adlai, no?

Posted by kagledom at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Adlai started laughing today and now he does it all the time. You smile, he smiles, you laugh, he laughs; it's pretty great.

While Simon and I were out puddle stomping this afternoon, a breeze blew a group of leaves past and Simon asked "What are the leaves doing? Why are they walking like a family?" And he has been up in the middle of the night for the past two nights asking for his "brown bunny". Having not cared about the one brown bunny he owns since last Easter, we were not sure what he was talking about. Today we got out the bunny which Simon insists is the Easter Bunny and now they are inseparable. The Easter Bunny's name you ask? "Hanukkah".

Posted by kagledom at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Simon had a check-up this morning with Dr. K. We decided to schedule it to ask a number of questions: 1. Is there anything we can do to get him to sleep more?, 2. Why does he make that odd breathing noise?, 3. What are we doing wrong when it comes to potty training?, and 4. Is it OK for him to eat as much as we do? Because these days he eats a lot - even broccoli, beef, and salmon.

Dr. K. wasn't entirely helpful except to assure us that Simon is a normal healthy boy and time will cure most of our issues. As far as size goes, Simon is now in the 96th percentile for weight (43.5 lbs.) AND height (42.5 inches). That makes him perfectly proportional yet huge. When it comes to potty training, what we are doing wrong is pushing Simon into something he's clearly not ready to do. And so we had our final mention of potty training in the house today. We've promised Simon that he can go when and how he wants and we will be proud of him for his successes, 'nuff said, chapter closed, THE END. So we may be getting rid of the diapers a long time from now but we're pretty sure, in the end, it isn't going to matter.

Speaking of feeling bad, I lost two longtime friends this week. I normally wouldn't mention such a thing here but to prevent future friend loss I'd like to clarify a few things. This blog and the blog of Simon are about our babies. We do and can, in fact, talk about other subjects. For example, I'm particularly fond of mobile devices, design, gardening, travel, "Lost", and "Heroes". And sometimes, when you read a blog, you feel like you've "checked in" with a friend when in fact your friend hasn't heard from you in, oh, say, months. If you're reading this, why not send email (havamarie at yahoo), call, give me a chance to clarify when I've said something stupid. And, finally, please don't assume that these pages full of our bragging rights include everything - they really don't.

When Simon saw me upset today he said "I'll tell your friends, 'Don't hurt Mama's feelings!' And then I'll take them away and they won't hurt you anymore." And then he took me outside and we kicked the ball around to make me "happier and happier". And, you know what? It worked.

Posted by kagledom at 04:15 PM | Permalink

Adlai doesn't have any symptoms of being ill besides another small vomit this morning. He has, however, come down with some severe anxiety when people are around. The more people around him, the more anxious he becomes. He was very displeased with being at a very busy Fresh Choice yesterday and he fluctuated between upset and calm-yet-serious this evening with our visitors. As soon as they left he was full of bubbles and smiles.

Posted by kagledom at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Adlai woke up in my arms at 6 am this morning, sputtered a few times and then vomited. He had trouble sleeping last night (hence the sleeping in bed with his parents) which we now, of course, suspect was due to a stomach ache. We turned on the lights to clean up the mess and Adlai was completely drained of color. After a few seconds of pondering a rush to the emergency room, Adlai saw Daddy and gave him a big smile. His color eventually returned and Simon gave him a bath to remove the Eau de Stomach Acid.

Posted by kagledom at 07:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last night, instead of going back to sleep after a midnight snack, Adlai decided it was time to play. He scooted his way up the bed and bonked his head on the wall before Matthew dragged him back down and he scooted his way up again. Oh what fun! I'm just grateful it was Matthew in charge until 3 am and not me.

Posted by kagledom at 07:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Adlai, also known as "Mr. Bubbles" after his talent for drooling long strands of sticky bubbles, turns out to be a very happy baby. He enjoys looking at patterns, being outside, music, taking baths, and watching Simon. We used to wonder if Simon turned out to be so rough and tumble because Matthew enjoyed bouncing him, throwing him into the air, and rolling him on the ground. Turns out Simon's "danger boy" antics are not Matthew's fault. The same stunts don't work on Adlai, our much more cautious baby.

Posted by kagledom at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Grandmother made Adlai this adorable sweater and it finally fits. Does it remind you of anything?

How about now?

Posted by kagledom at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This morning Adlai woke up, looked me in the eyes, smiled, and uttered a drawn out yet completely clear "Hi!"

Posted by kagledom at 07:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Adlai has been working so hard on back to front rollovers that we neglected to try front to back. We put him on his belly this morning and he rolled over again and again.

Three cheers for Adlai!

Posted by kagledom at 09:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Adlai is really really really close to rolling over. He can make it from his back to his side but can't quite get the final push to his front to work out.

More news as events warrant.

Posted by kagledom at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Simon wanders into our bedroom at 6:30 am where sleeping was happening.

Simon: "Can I have some juice?"
Hava: "Why don't you have some water - it's in your room."
Simon: "Can I have some juice?"
Hava: "Later. Have some water."

Simon disappears.

Simon reappears holding his four stuffed animals and an expensive bottle of wine.

Simon: "Can I have some juice?"

Posted by kagledom at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)