Happy 7 Months Bram

Happy 7 Months Bram Mac

Stats:

Length ????? 
Weight 17.8

Head Circ. ?????

Skills:

*Sitting up all by himself
*loves eating his big boy food!
*laughing at his big brother
*making some new sounds, they are kind of high pitched screams but they are adorable

Struggles:
*SICKNESS- poor guy is on his third ear infection!
*Still no teeth, so I don't know if he was actually teething last month or not?

Dear Bram,
  Happy 7 Months! You are such a joy. Your daddy and I always talk about how much fun you are to have around. You always have a big smile on your face! We love your laid back personality. Some of your favorite things to do right now are cuddling with mommy, laughing with daddy, and letting your big brother "tackle" you! Which is basically like an intense giant hug, but it still terrifies me when Titus does it, you just laugh! It's been a long and cold winter with lots of snow! We've spent time a lot of time playing inside with friends, hanging out in our basement, and walking around crown center. You love the indoor  playground at crown center. You love watching your big brother go crazy there! We love you so much sweet Bam Bam.

Love,
Mommy

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The freezing temperatures outside, the warm coffee in my hand, and the blizzard going on outside my window have all inspired me to post some pictures from our last snow. Bram is taking a good long "it's too cold to do anything else but sleep" morning nap and Titus is snuggled up next to grandma Gigi watching The Lion King. Although it is way to cold to play in the snow right at this moment, hopefully this is in our near future...

"Lets go play DOMINATION (his name for wrestling) in the snow mommy"

SMILE like we aren't freezing our bums off!

DOMINATION

T looks a little unsure...

 "Yeah Okay this snow angel things looks cool"

 "Uhhhhhh nevermind"

"hey dad"

Little Moments

I decided today that despite the fact that the pile of laundry in my room will never end and the other things on my "To Do List" will not go away on their own, I'm going to stop and blog a few of the precious moments I've had with Titus lately. Kids really do say the greatest things I know that I'll forget so many of the great little moments so it is worth it to stop and document what I can! (Also...I started this post in December and just finished it today...oh well!!)


Moment 1
God's Promises

A few weeks back Titus and I were looking at his Noah's Ark book. He was searching fervently for the rainbow in his book! He couldn't remember what page it was on but he knew there was a rainbow somewhere in that darn book! Once Titus found the rainbow I thought it would be a great time to talk about God's promises, since God sent that Rainbow as a promise for his people. (Sidenote: We have been listening to a lot of Paul Tripp's teaching on parenting lately, and he talks at lengths about being in AWE of God and how that awe will change the conversations you are having with your kids...It's good stuff...check it out!). I went on to tell Titus that God sent that rainbow in the story as a promise that he will never destroy the earth with water again. That rainbow is a sign to us that God always keeps his promises. Then I told him that God also promises to always to care of us. That is why is he sent us Jesus. Here is how our convo went from there:

Titus: God take of mommy
me: yes God takes care of mommy
Titus: God take of Daddy
me: yes God takes care of daddy
Titus: God take care of Titus and Bram and Gigi and grand daddy and  papa
me: yes he does take care of all of us, how does that make you feel?
Titus: Better

And then he went back to looking at his book.

Moment 2
WEEEEEE

This story is a little less redemptive then the one above but it's true.
A couple days ago Titus was wound up! I mean crazy hyper! He ended up needed to be disciplined for not obeying (he wouldn't stop grabbing his brothers face). So I asked him to wait in the kitchen like I always do until I could come in and talk with him about why he was getting a spanking. So we went through our normal routine, I asked him why he was getting a spanking, we talked about it, and then I gave him a spanking, As soon as the spanking was over he looked at me with a huge smile and yelled....WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! You would have thought I just told him he could have 12 doughnuts for breakfast! Normally we hug and pray after he is disciplined, but this time it took everything in me not to bust up laughing.

Happy 2 1/2 years Titus Lair Marasco

My big boy turned 2 1/2 this week!  Yup that's right I'm going to try to give an update on that wild child every 6 month (Once Bram turns 1 I'll switch to only giving updates on him every 6 months). It makes me excited to think about how fun it will be for the boys to read these updates when they are older. That's what keeps me pressing on! :)

Happy 2 1/2 years Titus. 

Strengths

* Language- Talking in conversations, can answer most WH questions about a situation or story (who, what, where,when, why; the teacher in me gets pretty pumped about that), my favorite thing he says right now is "how was your day mommy, good?"

*People- T loves people and people love T. He lights up a room.

*Being a big brother- T has started to be a big help with Bram. At first if I asked him to bring me a diaper, he had no idea what I was talking about or why I would interrput play time to change Bram's diaper! Now he will run over and get it (if he doesn't get distracted by a toy on the way!)

*Memory- T has just gotten to the age where he remembers EVERYTHING! He remembers every promise you make about sweet treats, who we will have a playdate with, etc. He has even gotten to where he knows where we are going/which way to get there when we drive! If I take a different route home or to the park, he freaks out! He's afraid we are not going where I said we were going. To be honest, it's little annoying, but it has led to good conversations about trusting mommy. I'm trying to teach him that daddy and I won't lie to him. We will always try to be honest about where we are going, etc, BUT sometimes plans change and that's okay...that's life! :) HA! He doesn't get it yet....but hopefully someday!

*making friends- T has been making good little friends at church and at mother's day out. It is so fun to watch him interact with other kids.

Struggles

*HELLO Terrible 2's!- They do exist! It goes through phases for us. There are days when it feels like everything results in a meltdown and then days where T really seems to understand that rules, consequences, etc. are in place for a reason. As much as two year old can understand that concept...right. :) (that's still a hard concept for me to remember as an adult!)
*Sleep- this has been a struggle on and off since this summer. T has gone through a few phases of what I guess are night terrors. Poor little guy will wake up screaming. He usually calms down quickly and is back to sleep. Winter sickness hasn't helped with sleeping, but overall sleepless nights are usually only because of those two things. We need spring! :)
*Playing DOMINATION with Bram- T loves to run and tackle Bram and yell Domination. This will be really fun when the boys are 2 and 4, 6 and 8, or 15 and 17, but right now it terrifies me! Poor Bram!
* WATER- T wakes up most nights right around the time Matt and I head to bed for water. He starts screaming WATER, WATER, WATER until one of us runs into his room with a glass of water. He proceeds to chug the glass of water and then falls back to sleep immediately. Random. 

Bram Mac 6 Months

Happy 6 Months Bram Mac

Stats:

Length 25 3 /4 (50%)

Height 17.3 (50%)

Head Circ. 16 7/8 (25%)

Skills:

*Rolling over both ways
*Sitting up with some assistance 
*laughing often
*eating well
*getting length and consistency to his naps

Struggles:
*night time sleep (He was doing great and then with holiday travel and sickness he is back to waking up 2 or 3 times a night!) 
*teething!!! 

Dear Bram,
  We are so thankful to celebrate your first Christmas and New Years! It was such a joy to teach you and your brother about Jesus each night during our advent calendar time. We traveled to Texas on Christmas to visit Gigi and Grand daddy. You had a great time and did an awesome job on the airplane. You got to meet your great grandmother Charlotte and your pawpaw Tom for the first time over Christmas. What a joy to see four generations together. It has been fun to watch you develop a little personality this month. You are really starting to express happiness when you see someone you know, and you get a little feisty when you don't want to do something (your feisty is pretty mild though):)! You are such a blessing. 
I love you. 

Love, 

Mommy

Bram Mac 5 Months

Happy 5 Month Birthday Sweet Bram

Stats:
I have no idea what his height and weight are this month because we don't go to the doctor again until 6 months! There is no denying that his rolls are getting bigger and his clothes are getting tighter. :)

Skills:
*Rolling to his side
*sucking his thumb (I think that's a skill because he can self-soothe, I might regret this "skill" when I get his orthodontist bill in 10 years!)
*babbling
*Making others around him smile!
*sleeping most nights until about 4am, eats and then back bed until 6ish

Struggles:
*figuring out wake times between naps
*Starting to get upset about being in the carseat

Dear Bram,
  We are so thankful to celebrate your first holiday season! You bring us so much joy. Your first thanksgiving was great. You got to travel to Manhattan and spend time with all your extended family (a tradition that has been around for years and years), and you got to go to papa Mike's house. You were so adorable playing with your cousins and big brother. My favorite thing you are doing right now is laughing! I love to hear your laugh. Sometime we spend fifteen minutes or more just laughing at each other. You are such a joy. I praise the Lord for you.
Love,
Mommy

Bram Mac 4 Months

Bram Mac

Happy 4 Month Birthday Bram!

Stats:

Weight = 16. 15oz lbs (90%tile), two weeks before he went to Dr and was 17.1 lbs so he lost a little weight when he was sick (I don't think losing a few ounces is a big deal for this guy)

Height  = 25 1/2 (75%tile)

Head Circumference =  16 1/2 (25%)

Skills:
*Bram is getting really good at pulling his legs up under him while on his belly
*laughing and cooing
*babbling to mommy, daddy, and brother
*great head control
*sits up with mommy's help (pretty far from doing it on his own)
*can lay him down for nap while he is still asleep in his own crib, sleeps for about 45 mins at each nap

Struggles:
*Still eats two or three times at night, but I can't complain because it only takes about 10 mins and he is back to bed!
*I think he might be starting to teeth early. Titus had theeth by four months, and poor Bram seems like his are hurting. He is drooling and chewing on everything!

Sweet Bram,
  You are growing so fast! You are not my little newborn anymore. I love getting to spend so much time with you. It makes my heart so happy when you giggle or smile at me. When big brother takes his afternoon nap we usually get at least an hour of time just me and you before your nap. I cherish that time. It's special to have a few moments to just get to know you and focus all my attention on you. I love what a cuddle bug you are. Your eyes light up when you see your big brother! I can't wait to watch you two play together. You and daddy love to just look at each other and smile. Those are special moments. We love you sweet Bam bam (what T calls you).
Love you.