penn-boy

This baby. I adore him. He's sometimes a stinker, most of the time pretty easy-going, always incredibly active, and forever adorable. Penn sleeps incredibly well at night and not so well for naps unless someone (me) holds him. This means I mostly watch too much Netflix, but at least I feel the heavy weight of his precious body against mine. He changed and grew so much from mid-July until now... the past two months have come and gone more quickly than any in my life.

I've been thinking lately how life is a series of moments and events that fade into memories. As time continues to pass more quickly than I thought possible, I have made the decision to relish those moments and events in the moment a little more. I have a love/ hate relationship with my iphone currently- all the photos in this post are courtesy of the iphone camera and I love that convenience- I want to disconnect from technology more and notice my children more, play with them more, love them more.

The week after we returned from our trip to southern California (a week or so before his 4-month birthday), Penn started rolling from his back to his stomach and really pushing up. Around the same time, he started grabbing toys for real, and the rolling became useful in getting to said toys. Then he determined Emory is the coolest person ever- especially for his big boy toys, discovered his toes, and decided the bath is the greatest place to spend time. The milestones continue with pretty much sitting unassisted (for at least a minute and longer if he doesn't think about it too much, and the cutest ever bum-in-the-air-feet-push-forward thing- crawling is soon, I'm sure. And despite my attempts to hold this child from table food until 6 months, he's been eating avocado off and on for about a month now, and loves homemade yams, as of a couple days ago.

And now a smattering of photos, in mostly chronological order, from the past almost 2 months.

^^^on his 4-month birthday, completely maxing out a 6-month size outfit

^^^the day he discovered his toes

^^^one of many, many days at the beach during the summer months- we took Briana with us that time!

   

^^^taken by Hayley (she's the best!), and pretty comical when you look closely

^^^these last 4 photos are from Penn's 5-month birthday, including his first movie theater experience to see Planes for Emory's birthday... baby boy behaved like a true gentleman for the movie.

Penn at 2 months

Penn is my little dreamboat of a baby. Everyone says how love multiplies with multiple children, even after you can't imagine what it would be like to love another one as much as the one before. But I do--I love Penn so much. And I love Emory more now too, though I can appreciate both the new baby and 3- almost 4-year-old for different reasons. Penn really only complains when he's hungry or if I've eaten too much dairy. He's so sweet and predictable, and he loves me so unconditionally, and that's always a great feeling. We get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep from him every night (for at least the past month now!), and our days are filled with feedings, smiling, talking, playing with dangly toys, adoring Emory, and waiting for Daddy to come home. This chub has great thigh rolls and amazing cheeks, and my favorite thing he does is his new happy squeal.

We had a little photo shoot with Penn to celebrate his 2 months of life. He was hungry and complained until we stopped for a feeding, and then he participated beautifully, and even left us with a treat of a video. Love this boy.

stats 5/28

13 lbs, 3.5 oz

23.25 inches

growing healthy and well (obviously)

password: twomonths

Penn at 2 months from Meghan Beutler on Vimeo.

emory is still our number 1

For several months, I've been trying to soak up the last of Emory's young childhood innocence. I had a realization sometime last fall that he's growing up--every joyful and or painful stage of his life gets him closer to milestones like kindergarten and a little further away from my being my little boy. He's already moved to preferring his dad more than me (I know this is a natural process, especially for Emory who is Jon's miniature clone) and I'm learning to accept it and not take this preference personally. I mean, I'd choose spending time with Jon over anyone else any day as well. Anyway, we've had our struggles with a 3 to 3 1/2 year old gaining more independence over the past several months, but something switched in Emory when Penn was born. He went from allowing insecurities to overcome him to becoming a proud, responsible older brother, relaxed about having a new baby in the house. I'm sure that speaks volumes about my misery in pregnancy the last couple months, but thankfully I know we can all recover from that and move on! We've had only a couple moments since Penn's birth that really remind me that Emory is still as young as he is, and  I'm so happy to see my first little boy blossoming so positively. I adore him. It's crazy how overnight, he seemed so grown up as soon as we met Penn--he's suddenly way heavier, with way bigger features and so much maturity.

And now some photos of the past several months, that epitomize Emory throughout these stages...

with a Ferrari 308 (his favorite) at the LeMay car museum in Tacoma last November (also, those are his favorite pants and he always chooses to wear them when they're clean)

working with his tools to help put the lights on the tree

loving nana and nunu's kitties; playing mariocart on the wii with Amber

pure joy on that face!

dutifully carrying his backpack through the airport for our flight to Salt Lake City

 

enchanted by the snow (and snow plows) in Utah--he sat on the heater of our hotel and watched snow plows and trax whenever we were in our room

loving hot chocolate--for months hot chocolate and play doh went hand in hand

 

using chopsticks for the first time on a "family date;" on a mama date with me to starbucks (I believe we went to subway and the park that day as well, all dictated by where E wanted to spend time)

throwing a birthday party for Jack, his baby, and animals. my third trimester self could only muster cookies, though E requested a cake. also, Jack has been E's best friend, baby, and alter ego for the past several months... Jack loves cheetos for just about every meal and most definitely for protein, he has frisbee and tennis and track, goes to dances, and if E gets in trouble, Jack told him to do it. also of note is the baby in Emory's tummy, who I think is gone now that Penn is here, but he always got the hiccups and kicked often, and E even shared his own pregnancy woes with the midwife during my appointments.

 

loving the spit sucker thing at the dentist; falling asleep on my lap (this happened a couple times in January, and I only realized several days later it was due to a nasty virus we all caught)

loving his overalls and the beach, and scooping rocks with a found shell, of course

 

bringing toy after toy to our room to play in my presence during lazy pregnant mornings; pushing the stroller he's now too big for on several family walks to try to encourage labor and enjoy early spring weather

shaving like his daddy taught him to (don't worry, there's no blade)

How could you not love Emory Shawn? Now here's to hoping having Penn around has cured E of his aversion to primary and sunbeam class--we'll find out this Sunday!