two little boys.

*These pictures were all taken Easter morning, I decided to do a post with them rather than just a bunch of pictures, bet you can't guess which of our children is the late sleeper...

The boys are in transitional stages right now, it seems to me, and really changing a lot, kind of suddenly, and constantly taking me by surprise at who they are and what little people they are becoming.

I've felt for so long that I have two little babies and it starts to feel like I'm always going to have two little babies; nearly completely dependent and very demanding with ever changing schedules, meal feeding and diaper changing being what make up my entire day. It's exhausting and mind-numbing a lot of the time and somewhat confining feeling sometimes too. It's such an event to get all three of us ready and out the door for something that I find whole weeks go by when we haven't seen the outside of our door. And getting a shower in is still a feat to be applauded most days.
Of course this stage has moments that are just completely delightful as well with so much development going on, seeing a baby learn to smile, laugh, eat, react, interact, walk, crawl and talk. Each new change seems to offer a bit better idea of the person waiting to come bursting out of those little bodies. And I pray to be able to focus on the good and feel my love for them so those good moments are what stick with me the most.

Sometime in the last few months, so gradually that I didn't even realize it, my two babies became little boys and suddenly life is becoming different in a lot of ways.

I see the biggest changes in our Lee boy, now nearly 26 months, suddenly a little man.
He can't say enough, or take enough information in.
One day he started saying "yes" when I asked him if he wanted something.
He understands directions, often following them.
He can generally feed himself and is a champ when it comes to bedtime and nap time.
He has moments when he completely surprises me actually, like today, when I said he needed to clean up his toys before his nap. I was cleaning up lunch when I'd finished, I found that he actually had cleaned up all his toys. Writing this I hear how simple and inconsequential it sounds and yet for me, I thought the day when my children had the processing capability to help would never come.
Lee can bring me things when I ask, like a diaper for brother.
He remembers songs and promises.
He loves to count all the stairs.
He has a huge heart and can't tell us he loves us enough times in the day.
He is still 100% a Papa's boy. He always wants to know where his Papa is and when he's finally coming home.  He still drops everything and exclaims "Papa!" and goes running as soon as the garage door goes up each evening.
He loves routines and order.
He is a clean freak.
He LOVES sleep, he gets up late in the morning and takes long naps. He also requires some time alone playing in his room after he wakes up. If I go in too soon, he'll tell me, "no Momma" "close it, the door".
He is overcoming a lot of his fears and cautiousness.
He isn't great at giving his brother space and loving without pushing him over is still a trick for him.  He loves flavored beverages just like his Papa.
He loves food, and loves it best when he gets to sit in between Momma and Papa and mooch their food at mealtime.
He tells me "good night-night" before I can even ask him how he slept.
He "loves" everything to show his excitement, "I love water" "I love swimming" "I love cool(pool)".   He has a sensitive heart and just sobs when he realizes he's hurt brother.

I'm not sure exactly when our Drewsy stopped being a baby, he's now weeks away from his 1st birthday.
He is a feisty one, whew.
He has really strong feelings about things and how they should happen.
He will not let you feed him.
He has a killer tantrum worked out already.
In spite of his strong will, his general temperament is quite jovial. When he's playing happily he constantly chuckles to himself and chatters.
He makes "Lee noises", so close to how Lee sounds that without looking you can't tell who it is.
He is NOT a picky eater. He has liked everything I've offered except peas, cooked carrots and raw peppers. Even though he doesn't have teeth he somehow destroys solid foods with his little gums.  He loves finger foods, quite unlike his brother who didn't like to get his hands dirty, Drew has no qualms with the mess.
He is a cuddle fanatic. He most prefers falling asleep against Papa's or Momma's chest with his finger in our mouth. He gets a little upset if you don't let him put his finger in your mouth when he's sleepy.
He hated pacifiers until about 6 months.  He likes to sleep with one now.
He once was an amazing sleeper. We're working on getting him to sleep in his own space (not our bed) at night and sleep at all during the day.
He loves his brother so much. No one can get him to laugh as hard as brother Lee.
He loves giving kisses.
He is finally (in the last few days) crawling in a forward motion.
He hates clothes and diaper changes.
Drewsy is also a Papa's boy. He'll cry if he doesn't get some love from Papa immediately after he walks in the door. But he still likes Momma to calm him down if he gets hurt.
He is a people person, he thrives on people being around him and doesn't often like to play in a room alone. The opposite of his brother.

I love these little boys of mine.
They sure keep me busy, sometimes frantic, exhausted, laughing, smiling, and stretched.