Yes I'm still alive

Well, life has changed, but I think I'm mostly getting used to it.  Camden seems to have pretty well adjusted and has resumed his position as the delight of my eyes (ie, he is no longer a whining, angry, hitting, crying maniac).  

So here are some pictures of our life lately.  I'd like to point out that Ethan is much cuter than these pictures reveal - he must have inherited his mother's lack of photo-presence.

Camden loves his brother.  And Ethan is happy when Camden is around, despite the high probability of bonking or kicking or bruising of some sort.  My elder child remains in ignorance of how the presence of others will interfere with his body movement.

They are both pretty darn cute!  I think Camden was more excited for this toy than Ethan.  Although Ethan has been very content to lay here and look at the dangling items, especially if his brother lays next to him.  

Camden just cracks me up.  

This boy just keeps getting cuter and cuter.  He makes some great faces!

Imotep!  

He was actually in process of yawning.  Not turning into a zombie.

This is just so you can see all his cuteness.  Scrawniness.  Whatever.  I like it!

I think we've settled into a fairly good schedule.  Ethan has evolved into a fast eater, so he can scarf and be done in half an hour most of the time.  His burps rival mine.  He is staying awake for longer periods and is becoming more content to do so.  He is quite fascinated and thoughtful as he studies his surroundings.  The pattern seems to be that he will eat and wiggle contentedly for maybe an hour.  Then he wants to be swaddled and snuggled and he will fall asleep.  The difficulty is getting him to stay asleep when he isn't held.  The swing is the best bet, but sometimes the bouncy seat is a winner, too.  If you swaddle him when he is happily wiggling, then he will be very angry!  


My baby is compassionate.  At night, he will go five hours between meals and then another four hours.  I love getting three or more hours of continuous sleep!  Ahhhhh.  So I only get up twice.  Which is nice.  If I'm really lucky, he'll go right back to sleep both times. If I am unlucky when he wakes at five, then he might take so long to go back to sleep that Camden wakes up too.  Fortunately, Dan is super heroic and he manages both boys so I can get a little more sleep.  Because of Dan's much-appreciated assistance, I feel so much better able to cope.  I am emerging from the haze of exhaustion and hormones and beginning to notice more of life around me.  


I try to go somewhere in the mornings because Camden likes it and Ethan sleeps great in his carseat.  I seem to struggle more with Camden's behavior when we are home all day.  Especially if I didn't get a lot of sleep, we avoid a lot of conflict if we go for a long walk or go to the store or library or park or a friend's house.  Anything!


And that's more than anyone really wants to know about our life!  But the pictures are cute.