A Year and a Half

Really? My sweet boy is a year and a half? Seriously? I can not believe it. I don't even know where to begin. He is doing so much. He can pretty much say anything he wants. It is awesome because he can let us know what he wants whenever. It isnt so awesome when he repeats "Dang!" or "Jerk" after me. I guess it's a good thing that's about as bad as it gets from me. Some of his favorite things to say right now are: hallelujah, amen, color, blue, orange, ten. He is really into singing ABC's or Twinkle also. He is definitely trying our patience with some acting out. We are gonna have to move from popping his hand to popping his heiny and using time out. He can manipulate like no other. In the midst of all the hospital drama, he was trying to touch an outlet in his hospital room and Spence told him no. He grinned at Spence and went to touch it again. Spence popped his hand. Zeke turned around and waddled sickly over to Spence and in a pitiful voice said "Up". He now has 13 teeth. His tooth that had gotten pushed up into the gum has come back down and is looking great. He wears size 4 diapers. He is still fitting in 18 month clothes (yeah he started wearing 18 months in May when he was 9 months). We have started using some 24 months clothes, but the pants are mostly too long. We won't go to the doctor until the end of the month, but during our week of hospital visits he was around 25 lbs. He is all boy. We have a new bruise almsot everyday. I am thorougly enjoying this stage. Everyday is so much fun.

4 whole stinking months

I can not believe Ben is four months! It just seems crazy that I am not only a mom of two, but that my youngest isn't even a newborn anymore. Yes, I know he hasn't been a newborn for a while now. Ben is really hitting that super fun age. He is so much more interactive now. He laughs, smiles, coos, and talks. He watches Zeke. He is reaching for his toys that hang on his play gym or car seat. We don't go to the doctor for his well check until the end of the month, but when he was there for his cold last week he weighed a little over 13 lbs with his clothes, so I am guessing he is 12 something. He has definitely grown in length. He is wearing mostly 0-3 months stuff still, but is moving into some 3-6 months. The problem is that he is part Tyrannosaurus Rex and his arms are too short for the 3-6 month clothes, so we have to roll all his sleeves up. He is wearing size 2 diapers. We tried cloth, but they just fit him weird so I haven't started them yet. I do plan to try again once he puts on a little more meat.
Check out his latest pics:

Chatting with mama

I had changed his diaper and left him laying for a couple minutes

First picture in his chair that he got for Christmas

And not to be left out.

I forgot to post this last weekend. Zeke threw a train at Ben. (Yeah, I know we gotta get this throwing thing under control). Ben cried and ended up with a bruise, that this picture does not do any justice. He bounced back pretty quickly though. Poor baby

Matching Shiners

It's not been my day. We haven't had any fevers or anything like that. We have just had an "I only have boys in my house" kind of day. First, Zeke decided today wasn't a napping day, but a cry instead day. Then he decided to kick up his throwing-of-all-things habit. It was really my own fault, I took my eyes off of him for a second while we were playing with a puzzle. And no, it wasn't just your typical wooden puzzle. It was one of those chunky, heavy, 500 lbs a piece puzzle. Anyway, while I am looking away, Zeke practiced his screwball right into my eye. It sliced my contact (one part may still be floating in my eye, I haven't located it yet), popped some vessels inside my eye and bruised under it. No, I do not have any pictures of the loveliness.

THEN after that fun, Spence got home. He went upstairs to get Ben and Zeke followed. Spence came back down with out Zeke. I was feeding Ben and Spence was cleaning up. Zeke was upstairs... and then he wasn't. He tumbled right down our first flight of stairs. It is about 7 stairs and there was a pause in the middle where I believe he tried to catch himself. Spence was worried about his leg, but it was clearly obvious he hit his face. Here he is M.U.C.H. later after the crying and drama had ended.

Swelling and bruising

Shiner

All smiles now

African Safari

We got a card from Amber yesterday. Besides being perfectly timed when I needed to hear from her, Zeke thought it was pretty awesome also. I was able to catch him looking at the card this morning on camera, check him out. AAA, we love you!!!

Last hospital post

One week ago all you-know-what broke loose at our house. I am so thankful to be home with my boys right now and not in the hospital trying to figure out what is going on. We are still not 100% out of the woods. Zeke was put on a new antibiotic yesterday and we go back Friday to recheck his breathing again. Ben is still battling a cough which is making sleep nonexistent unless he is laying on someone. AND this morning Spence joined the bandwagon and visited the Urgent Care. He has an infection and a bad cough. He has actually busted some blood vessels from coughing so much and has been coughing up blood. He is on meds also.
I know you are probably tired of hearing about our ailments, but for my purposes I want these pictures.

Looking pitiful in the ER

Aunt Tori came to visit Zeke and he showed her the fish

Zeke flirted with the nurses

He had fun with mommy's sunglasses

And this is now back home and feeling MUCH better

Quick Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that it was finally decided that Zeke has pneumonia. We have to watch his breathing because it keeps dipping, but because he doesn't have a fever, has increased his eating, and is actually up playing a bit. He was put on an antibiotic because he has also gotten an ear infection. The poor kid can't catch a break.
Ben just has a rotten cold. He keeps running a low fever and has lots of yucky coughing and sneezing. He also refuses to be put down. As in he has slept in my arms every night since Tuesday. Yes, that is 4 nights of me holding him all night long. He actually layed on the floor and played a few minutes today so I am hoping he is also on the upswing.
I am getting a massage when all this is over is all I have to say...