Mckayster part 2

 McKay had a rough spell in April--two ear infections, wouldn't nurse or take a bottle for 4-5 days, which of course caused him to be very grumpy and very tired.  After accepting a bottle, he wouldn't drink formula.  Downright refused.   I couldn't pump enough milk, so we tried to supplement with 3 types of formula, goat's milk, which is supposed to be gentler, cow's milk, almond milk, then lactose free milk.  Unfortunately, the LF milk coincided with a bout of stomach flu, so I thought he had a very bad reaction to the LF milk.  Then, a few days of high fever.  We were all struggling with a very bad lack of sleep.  His pediatrician was upset that I let him try anything but formula and gave me a bunch of other formulas to try.  One of them didn't cause him tummy/diaper problems, so we've stuck with it.  I'm hoping to start introducing lactose free milk again because that formula is expensive!  But, it has been worth the return, or almost return, to sanity and sleep.  Now that he's drinking formula, he is a mostly happy baby!  In the first few weeks of April, he lost several pounds, but he's chunking up again.  He's still a little tyke compared to other babies his age, but so much better now!

Here are some pics of the Mckayster!

 

Not too impressed with his birthday brownie. 

 Loves to unload the dishwasher, especially when it's being loaded.

 Birthday boy!

Loves his brother :)

 Quick bath in the sink.  No brothers to bug him!

 At the children's museum for Nate's birthday

 I can do it!

 More birthday brownie....

 

Loves balloons!

And a silly picture of the boys.  The sun was so bright, so we told them to close their eyes until we said 1-2-3!  We got about 10 pictures of different anguished, "the sun is too bright" expressions.  Pretty cute kiddos!

1 year!

Happy Birthday, McKay! 

~LOVES to snuggle soft things on his cheek.  He'll be crawling around on our rug and just plop his head down for a bit.  It's so funny! He snuggles the couch, our knees, our feet (I know, kind of strange), and lots of times our shoulders.   He usually says, "ahhh," when he snuggles.  He's like a little koala.

~Can take a few steps, but mostly likes to speed crawl or be held.  Is getting better at climbing, and has been able to go up stairs for several months.   

~ We think he has lactose intolerance.  :(

~The palms of his hands are ticklish. :)  

~He likes to chase the mop, broom, or vacuum

~He's usually very easy going and easy.  He'll usually stop if we tell him no.  He makes sad babbles, like he doesn't like being reprimanded, but it doesn't take much for him to obey.  Doubt it will last too long, but it's sure nice right now!

~He HATES ice cream.  It's pretty funny.  I think it's just too cold for him.  It's just as well, since milk is a little iffy for him.

~He likes to chase balls, but he doesn't know what to do with them when he gets to them.  He wants you to kick it again so he can chase it. 

~When Brian gets home, Mckay speed crawls to see him

~If you lay on the ground, he will come drum on your head, drool ALL over you, or use your ears or hair as a handle to pull on. Don't worry, though, he will be smiling the whole time!

Pictures to come.....

Nate the Great is 3!

Our little Nate-ster turns 3 today!  We started by going to the dentist.  He did a great job today, and the dentist even gave him an Iron Man spinning toothbrush for his birthday.  He was so excited!  I was excited about no cavities. Then we went to get him a "blaster," which is a little toy that shoots water.  He's been talking about it since he saw it a few weeks ago.     Here are some things about him:

~He corrects nick names.  He always says, "No! I'm just Nate!"  We use them lots anyway, with smiles and hugs.

~He loves "chlocate" anything.

~His latest favorite things to play with are dominoes, nerf guns (or anything that shoots), blocks, magnets, and markers.

~He has the very best hugs and sparkly eyes when he wakes up in the morning.

~He needs a good portion of alone time.  He enjoys playing with other kids, but for short amounts of time.  He and Camden get along pretty well or not at all.

~He wanted a Piano Guys birthday.  Talk about a tough order!  I'll post pictures later.

~ He needs kisses after every bonk, scrape, bump, and hurt feeling.

~He says his favorite thing about himself is that he's not sad and he has no owies.
 ~Camden says he loves Nate because Nate is his brother.
~McKay gets worried when Nate tries to carry him around, but so far, Nate hasn't dropped him. :)

~In the song, "Do you wanna build a snowman," he thinks that part where Anna says, "Hang in there, Joan" is the funniest thing in the world.  I think it's funny to watch him. :)

~He really doesn't work on command.  More by persuasion and choice.

I really need some new pictures of Nate!  I'll work on that today. :)

Squirt mop drinking fountain

Unconvinced smile on Laura's wedding day