It's been a while since I last wrote a blog. In part that life is quite busy over here! I won't try to tackle everything in this single post, but wanted to document my current thoughts since it's been on my heart and mind. To stay focused I will try to answer the following three questions in this post: (1) How was the adjustment to two under two, (2) Where are the boys developmentally right now, (3) What does the future hold for this Roder family?
How was the adjustment to two under two?
Going to start answering this question with a story from when I was 14.
Soon after my parents were divorced and my brother and I were adjusting to living only with my mom, she allowed us to get dogs. This was a hard no, but I think the answer changed at that time because we were all healing a loss... and sometimes it's easiest to heal by filling in the hole. So very soon after we added to our family "Lucky." It's amazing how quickly he fit right in, we had assumed responsibility and how quick we were all bonded. About six months later we were asking for a second dog to keep Lucky company while my brother and I were at school. We were really pushing this ask , after all it took 14 years to get the first dog. Well after some convincing, more from my brother than I, we added Scruffy. At first it was all our family could dream of, but then I noticed Lucky's mood starting to change. Two days the excitement started to go from feeling excited to feeling bad. I wondered "how am I supposed to love Scruffy more than Lucky, Lucky came first." I also asked my mom if she felt the same when she had my brother and I. She assured me that she understood where my feelings were coming from, and that our hearts learn to love more and more as family grows, and to be patient and be open. It took about two weeks, but I noticed my heart changing. Finding things that I loved about Lucky and different things that I loved about Scruffy. I learned that my connectedness was strong with Lucky because he was first, but that I loved Scruffy just the same but for different reasons.
When we figured out we were pregnant with Miles we were only three months postpartum with Easton. We were still very much adjusting to being parents in general, but the memory of before questioning the capacity to love did come back. I believe that lesson as a kid prepared me for this moment in becoming a parent.
I would also like to add that these boys teach me daily how much my heart could grow, and can continue to grow. Some days I feel my heart will burst through love and gratitude.
Where are the boys developmentally right now?
Easton is 16 months (in 4 days)
Miles is 3 months (4 days ago)
I am sure every parent feels their kids are smart, and I am no different.
Easton since the beginning seemed to be a head of his time. At 3 months he was playing with a ring toy taking off one or two of the lightest rings. At 3 1/2 months he was sitting upright on his own. At 6 months he was crawling and at 10 months he was walking and running. People shared with me in the moment that he was quick, but I guess I was in the moment and he being my first I was just enjoying. Now, Easton is climbing, can say about 6 words (dada, baba, mama, snack, this, that, light), and pretty much can understand whatever we say at him... even things he hasn't been exposed to before as long as we point to identify what we are saying. The other night he amazed me... I forgot Miles's blanket in the other room and asked Easton, not thinking he would actually do it, to get it for me. Easton ran into the nursery and came back with blanket in hand. Same thing happened today when I asked Easton to grab Miles's head pillow. For personal documentation purposes he is also in size five diapers, has four top teeth, two bottom teeth, fits size 2T clothes, is still on a paci for sleeping, and officially sleeps through the night for the last week from 8:45-9:30am.
We are progressing with Miles easily. I feel him being breastfed has simplified a lot of things and lessened my stress levels this time around. Miles eats every 3.5-4 hours through nursing, found his hands this week (playing and looking that them), have worked more on tummy time and head control, and introduced the standing bouncer this week. For personal documentation purposes Miles is in a size 3 diaper, falls asleep usually in my arms being rocked or with a paci, he is exclusively being nursed, wears size 3-6 month clothes. is extremely smiley, sleeps in the crib at night time and struggles in there during the day, and goes to bed at 7:30p and sleeps through at least 6-hours , but we have hit 10 hours a couple times this week.
What does the future hold for this Roder Family?
In a couple weeks we will be doing our first family vacation to Marco Island. We will be gone for about 2 weeks. I'll report back how that is with two kiddos.
In terms of family planning. I decided this time to get on birth control, because clearly breastfeeding is not birth control, or enough for my welcoming eggs.
We do want one or two more, hopefully girls. I think we are tapped out of testosterone for this household and I could use some cute little girls.
We will be trying again next year, with the goal that we will welcome another Roder the end of 2024 or in 2025.
