Duke is 4!

As all of you know, I am crazy about my first baby Duke.  He turned four today.  I cannot believe he has been with us for four years.  When I first brought Duke home, he weighed 1.8 pounds.  He has put on 4 pounds since then.  He thinks he is a pit bull but is afraid of everything.  Justin will say Duke drives him nuts but he is just as crazy about him as I am.   Rhea is madly in love with Duke.  I am still not sure if he loves her or loves the never ending food she provides him.  Either way he puts up with a lot from her.  She pulls his tail, pulls his hair, takes his toys, even tries to bite him (see post Jaws).  He just takes it in stride.  He has adapted to the changes really well this year and I look forward to what is to come this year!  Happy Birthday Dukie!

Look at the cute doggy

My handsome guy

Jaws

Every week when I pick Rhea up from daycare it is the same thing.  "Mrs. Wnukowski, can you please sign this incident report?  Rhea bit one of her friends again.  Don't worry, it is age appropriate."  And I know it is but it still doesn't take the sting away that I have that kid.  The one who is getting overly excited and is not willing to share.   I have compared notes with friends and their children are biting too.    When I picked Rhea up this past  Friday I had not one but two incident reports waiting for me.  The teacher informed me they have lovingly nicknamed her Jaws.  I know they were joking to try to make me feel better.  I know this because as I asked Rhea if she was biting her friends today she tried to bite me.  Then she bit herself.  It took so long for her teeth to finally come in,  I guess she is just really excited to us them.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

I have read enough magazine articles, blogs, books, etc to know that in parenthood there will always be the good cop, bad cop.  I always fantasied that I would be the good guy.  Apparently I am filling the roll of bad cop.  Our nightly routine consists of Rhea sitting on the couch with Justin having a bottle and unwinding before we put her down.  Now that she is getting alittle older and exerting more independence she tends to get off the couch and push boundaries.  I came into the living room last night just as she was climbing off the couch.  She saw me, panicked and hauled her little ass back on the couch and pretended to be a sleep.  Now I know she wasn't scared of me but she never has that reaction when Justin enters the room.  To rub salt in my wounds Justin has now resorted to saying "Uh-oh, here comes Mommy" anytime she is being fresh and not listening.   Which makes her run like hell to Daddy and pretend she wasn't just doing something wrong.  She has him wrapped.

Tantrums

I had expected Rhea to throw tantrums but not this soon. It has slowly been building up for about a month now. The crying fits are now accompanied by hand flailing and foot stomping. This all has happened within the privacy of my home.  This past weekend was a first for both of us.  I asked her to hold my hand while in the Aquarium's gift shop.  She pulled away from me and ran.  I then grabbed her hand and that is when it happened.  She screamed and threw herself on the floor.  I tried to pick her up off the floor but that made things worse.  A group on mothers pushing strollers gave me a sympathetic "Terrible Twos"  Not even close.  Fitful Fourteen month old.  And of course my father rewarded this behavior by purchasing her a penguin book in the gift shop.  I am doomed.

Help not Hug

Rhea dropped a noodle on Duke's head tonight.  Duke could not reach the noodle on his head so he was freaking out.  It was quite funny to watch.  Justin and I were laughing while he struggled to scratch, lick, bark the noodle off his head.  Rhea found it hilarious too.  She was belly laughing watching Duke do all these crazy things.  I finally said to Rhea "are you going to help him?'  She looked at me and walked over to Duke, who was sitting on the floor, and hugs him.  And he let her hug him.  It was so cute to see.  I said "Rhea you have to help him" and she bent down and hugged him again.  I guess hugging is the only help she knows how to give.  Eventually the noodle fell off his head.

Today's Griswald moment brought to you by the Wnukowski Family

Justin & I had a night out on the town last nite.  Justin was in rough shape today so we were looking forward to a quiet night at home with Rhea and Duke.  At 7PM I picked Rhea up to give her a hug only to become covered in poop.  She has a massive blowout.  An hour goes by and she goes to bed.  She refuses a bottle but goes down without a fuss.  This should have been my first warning sign that something is not right.  At 9:30 I am laying in bed and no sooner do the words "I am going to sleep.  This was such a relaxing night"does all hell break loose.  Rhea starts crying.  Justin goes in to find that she had puked all over her crib.  I strip the bed and he brings her to the living room.  She proceeds to puke some more which caused my hungover husband to puke.  I tell him to leave the room and I left Rhea finish puking.  Justin comes and takes her and I begin cleaning only to find Duke eating the puke which made me pretty much puke.  Needless to say it is going to be a long night in Grafton!

sometimes I wonder...

I left Justin alone to put Rhea to sleep tonight.  We are trying to get better with a bedtime routine in the hopes that she will sleep through the night.  Part of the this routine includes brushing her teeth.

Me: How did she do tonight?
Justin: She did alright.  She cried for like a half hour.  I checked on her twice
Me: How did brushing her teeth go?
Justin: I mean it went fine.  Once I got my finger in there she basically eats the tooth paste.
Me: what do you mean "put your finger in there"?
Justin: I used my finger to brush her teeth.  I didn't see a tooth brush so I thought you wanted me to use my fingers.
Me: Did you look in the tooth brush holder
Justin: No

Sometimes I wonder how he has made it this far in life

One Year

One year ago today my Dr called me at 6 AM and told us my preeclampsia had progressed to a point were it was no longer safe.  Justin and I jumped in the car and made the drive to Boston.  Within two hours and exactly one month early,  she came into our lives.  She had a rough start and spent a few days in the NICU but she is strong and a fighter. She has made each day a new adventure for Justin and me.   We truly believe everything she does is amazing. This year has flown by.  Most parents tell you treasure these moments they fly by.  That is the only piece of parenting advice you should ever listen to because it does.  I mean she is one today.  One!  She has changed our lives for the better and I have enjoyed getting to know her this year.  I am not sure if she will ever know the depths of my love but I am ok with that.  When she wakes up first thing in the morning or I pick her up from daycare and she has that ear to ear grin, I think that is her way of telling me she loves me too.  It melts my heart every time.  So Happy Birthday Rhea.  I hope you enjoy what we have planned for you.