Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Infant vs. Toddler

Though we went through this only two years ago (and twice over at that!), it's amazing how many things about the infant stage I forgot.  I've been so wrapped up in each next developmental stage with the twins, resulting in me being up on all things toddler.  After Nolan was born, though, everything came back real fast.  Let's be clear: infants are awesome (aside from nighttime wakings and diaper blowouts), toddlers are awesome (aside from all that newfound independence and utter lack of fear), but the difference between the two - and in two short years- is HUGE.  And having those toddlers and a newborn only heightens the contrast between the two.  


Contrasts like..

Infant: Soft, snuggly, and the perfect size to be held.
Toddler: Like to be held.  Except when they don't.  Often too wiggly to actually hold onto.

Infant: Needs a diaper change upwards of ten times a day.  Occasional leakage.  Mostly still during changing, though don't underestimate the power of their kicks.
Toddler: 5-6ish diaper changes a day.  Minimal leakage, but when it's bad, it's BAD.  Diaper changes involve a high-speed chase, tackle, and hog-tie to be completed.

Infant: Mostly sleeps, interrupted by short bursts of energy known as "alert times".
Toddler: Mostly a whirlwind of energy interrupted by short periods of sleep known as "an utter relief to their parents".


Infant: Pretty much silent.
Toddler: Volume is always turned up to 11, whether from imitating every word and/or sound they hear or banging/throwing/pressing buttons on all of their toys.  At once.

Infant: Usually has a reason for crying, be it hunger, sleepiness, or a dirty diaper.
Toddler: Reason for crying is often unintelligible or nonexistent.

Infant: Eats 10-12 times a day.  Sometimes resulting in a mess when what looks like the entirety of their meal is spit back up.
Toddler: Would eat 10-12 times a day if I let them.  Crumbs, sticky fingers, and a mess in a three-foot perimeter around the high chair is a fact of everyday life.


Infant: Smells like a delicious combination of milk, sweetness, and what can only be described as "baby".  Unless you've caught them right after a bad bout of spit-up.
Toddler: Smells like a blend of feet, dirt, and the most recent meal they've eaten; aka "toddler funk".   Unless you've caught them right after bath time.

Infant:  Totally and completely dependent on others for all of their needs.
Toddler:  Minimally self-sufficient.  Could probably live for a few days off the crumbs they scavange from between couch cushions and found in their car seats.


Monday, March 28, 2016

Post (Easter) Weekend

Coming down from the high of a holiday weekend to one of the most Monday of Mondays: mess upon mess upon mess (always multiplied post-holiday), infants who refuse to nap, miscellaneous injuries (blood and all) (we're fine), toddler bedtime protests, etc., etc., etc.  Though we did enjoy some crazy-beautiful spring weather today, so there's that.  

And really, it's not like the holidays are all fun and games.  Please tell me that someone else's BEST family photo from yesterday looks something like this:


(2/5 looking at the camera, 1/3 children crying, 0/2 toddler blur factor)

With this as a close second:


(1/5 looking at camera, same child crying, 2/2 toddler blur factor)

I guess I'll take what I can get each day: blurry family photos and some overtired toddlers in exchange for some holiday fun?  Followed immediately by gorgeous let's-play-outside-all-afternoon weather combined with post-holiday messy chaos?  Deal.

Both are kind of exhausting, though.

Okay, less words, more pictures.  Here's some more of our Easter fun.  Still a few words, though.  (You know I can't resist.)

Egg hunt round one:



(Dat face, tho.)

Brooklyn's reaction to candy:



Brooklyn's reaction to ca$h money:


We'll have to work on that.


What Caden does when you tell him that it's his turn to hide all of the eggs:


...which he then points them out to everyone with a giggle as they walk by.  Totes legit.

Baskets empty:


Baskets filled:


Extra candy eaten (parenting perk!):





(Candy monster.)


Three (3!!!) Easter cuties.


(Quite possibly the cutest of all.)










Pro tip: next time do the egg-dying beforehand, leaving just the egg-decorating for the two-year olds, whose patience level for the whole dying and then waiting-to-dry part is approximately ZERO.






(They did enjoy the decorating part, though.)

Egg hunt round two: 


(Snagged by the sister.)








(Dividing their spoils.)


(The spoils.)