Boomer Sooner

Dylan loves to sing. His latest favorite song is the University of Oklahoma's fight song. Here is a lovely tribute to Sitie & Papa's alma mater, OU with Dylan performing Rah Oklahoma! Go Sooners!

Santa's Little Helpers

We went to visit Santa yesterday and almost got tear-free photos. Dylan was excited to see him (we had talked a lot about the visit). He wasn't even afraid to get up on his lap. But when one of the elves told him to take his hand out of his mouth for the picture, he began to cry. What a sensitive little boy I have. Oh well, Luke was all smiles and it's a classic Dylan Santa photo! We got our Christmas tree at the first of the month and Dylan has been so excited about the holiday season. He loved decorating the tree and notices the ornaments every day - I have to convince him to leave them on the tree as he is still learning the difference between toys vs. ornaments! In other news, Luke just turned seven months old and the doctor told me today that he is the size of a twelve month old!! He currently has six teeth with three more on top cutting through, but he has been quite the trooper. He's beginning to crawl and our world is about to change. Up until now I thought having two kids wasn't all that hard, but with this little rug rat on the move I know I'm in for some trouble! Wishing everyone a happy holiday season (hopefully I'll get some Christmas cards out to you all soon!!)

Two Both of Thems

The boys are both doing well. Dylan is talking up a storm and really making a lot of sense these days. You can really have a conversation with the boy! He has many cute words and phrases that I need to write down before he learns the correct way of saying them. One of my favorites is two both of thems, which he says when referring to two things or people, instead of saying either two or both of them , he has combined them and came up with two both of thems - adorable! He also struggles with his use of possessive pronouns. He never says I, but rather uses my for anything having to do with himself - my like/want that. He is also developing a bit of a potty mouth. His first bad word was dammit (which he claims he learned from Papa!). We really do have to clean up our language, since he is beginning to repeat many of the bad things we say.

(I meant to post this a while ago, but postponed it hoping to add photos. Seeing as that's not happening, I am posting it now 12/6/07. Hopefully I'll get it together soon with more updates and photos!!)

Free at Last!

Dylan got his cast off today! Hooray!! We are all happy and relieved. Now bath time will no longer be so difficult. He has been such a good sport about having to wear that thing for so long. It was starting to get pretty stinky too! Anyway it's over (Rob says this is just the beginning of life with two boys). Going to the doctor today was not easy, but Dilly was a brave little boy. We had to wait forever for the removal...then the saw that they use to remove it scared him to death...then the x-ray experience was frightening...and to top it off when we went back to see the doctor to make sure everything had healed properly Dylan freaked out because he thought he was going to get another cast!! Oh thank God it's all over...for now.

Twick-O-Tweat

Dylan had his first trick or treat experience last night - and his first taste of sugar-filled candy! We did the downtown business trick or treat event in the afternoon, so that he could see the other kids all dressed up. It was chaotic! I've never seen so many kids and their pushy parents all in one place!! Anyway, he collected some treats in his bag. When we got home we made the mistake of letting him have a lollipop (actually just several licks of a lollipop). Let me tell you that when you mix an already overtired boy with pure corn syrup you get a monster child. Needless to say we had a difficult evening. In hopes of calming him down and getting him ready for bed, I took him around the cul-de-sac to see the neighbors and go "twick or tweating". He did a great job saying trick or treat, and then thank you after his treats were delivered. He even offered one of the neighbors some of his candy (still learning the concept!). Here are some photos from yesterday - again it was a struggle to get a good shot (these were taken after the sugar had been consumed). Luke did not get dressed up this year, but we took some adorable photos of him on the front lawn - you can see his two new teeth in this shot.

Pumpkin Patch 2007

We made our annual visit to the pumpkin patch (twice actually). Dylan loved the baby animals, although he was quite unhappy when he was rammed (but not hurt) by a very pregnant (and moody) mama goat. However he got over his trauma and managed to have a good time. Photos were not so easy this year - Luke is too little to pose and Dylan refused to look and smile at the camera. Oh well, we did our best and got some decent shots (Luke had his tongue out most of the time, feeling his TWO new teeth!!). Dylan loved the tractor ride the most (he went on it twice with his Sitie and Papa!). So Halloween is tomorrow and we'll post photos of the boys all dressed up sometime soon. Have fun and stay safe!

Teeth & Bones

What an appropriate title with Halloween quickly approaching. It's also a great segue to my topic du jour.... Dylan is doing great with his cast (he had a hard one put on last week), but we're all looking forward to having it off in early November. We've been told he's young and should heal fast. The worst part is when he takes a bath and we have to put a plastic bag over it so it doesn't get wet. That's the only time he's said, "Mama take it off." Otherwise he's doing fine, running around and being the energetic little guy that he is. Here's a photo of him on the neighbor's back-hoe (it's not a bulldozer for those of you who are not well versed on the names of construction machines!). In other news, Lukie-loodle has his first tooth! It broke through on Sunday. He had a hard day yesterday (unusually cranky); but he seems to be in better spirits today. Now we have the next 9 months or so to deal with the joys of teething!

Update

After another visit to the doctor this morning we found out that Dylan broke his arm!! Poor little buddy :( He was a little better yesterday, bending his arm and using it a little more, but something still wasn't quite right. When we woke up this morning I touched his arm and he said, "Don't touch it Mama, it hurts." He had some x-rays taken and it was clear that it was broken. Kids are so resilient and able to deal with pain, but I feel horrible that he has had to suffer. He has to see an orthopedic doctor tomorrow and may have to have a hard cast put on (right now he's wearing a splint). My little guy has been quite a trooper through all of this. I just love him so much and hate to see him hurt.

OUCH!!

We went back to the doctor this morning. This time it was a visit for Dilly. I noticed last night that on top of being really fussy (which I figured was due to not having napped) his left arm was just hanging there and not really moving! My first thought in my fear and panic was to take him to the emergency room. However, after talking with an advice nurse on the phone and looking a little closer at his arm, I determined that it was likely not broken and would be better for us to wait for an appointment with our pediatrician first thing in the morning. After examining him this morning, she said his elbow had been dislocated and then attempted to jam it back into place. Needless to say it was quite unpleasant for our brave little boy (after three attempts!) but he seems to be doing much better now. Both boys have colds, so nighttime has been filled with stuffed noses and dry coughs. Also, to top off the aforementioned experiences of illness and injury, Luke rolled off the couch this morning and landed face down on the floor (carpeted with several layers of blankets, but still very upsetting for us both!!). The phone rang early in the morning and instead of putting him on the floor like a responsible parent would do, I figured he was sleeping and I didn't want to wake him, and I would only be away from him for a second, and he wouldn't roll off... (and excuses, excuses...). He did fall and I feel horrible, but he's fine, but still, I suck!
These are the difficult moments of parenthood. It is really hard to see your little ones suffering in pain and not be able to make it better for them. I can't imagine what I would do if either of my precious little boys were truly sick or injured. My heart goes out to any parent faced with that kind of heartache!

Big Boys!

We had Luke's 4 month doctor's appointment (even though he's almost 5 months old). He is off the charts... his length and head circumference are that of an average 9 month old!! At least his weight is somewhat normal - 85th percentile, so he's not a chunky monkey. He's just as cute as can be. The doctor said his eye color could take up to a year (12mos old) to develop, but she thinks they will most certainly be light - blue, grey or green (any bets??). He has quite the personality too. He flirts with everyone, lots of big smiles and batting of those beautiful eyes! My mom thinks he looks like a Gerber baby.

Dylan is growing up too. He talks a lot and just loves to sing. His Sitie reads nursery rhymes with him and he likes reciting them on his own. We can really communicate well with him now. Most everyone can understand what he is saying (which make him really happy). It's amazing how fast both of these little guys are growing up each day. Pretty soon they'll be playing out front with all the neighborhood boys!

Potty Time!

Dylan peed in his potty yesterday. He has been acting like he's ready to start using the potty for several months; but honestly we weren't quite ready. I figured he needed to adapt to the change in his life (Luke) before he could focus on potty training. But I think he's ready now - and I'm ready now. Sitie bought him a potty last weekend and he watched a video about learning to use the potty. He was talking about it yesterday, so I brought it inside and he went before his bath last night! He usually pees when he gets in the tub, so I figured it would be a good time for him to be successful. It took about ten minutes, and just as we were trying to get him off the pot and into the tub he said, "Here we go!" And what do you know, he peed in the potty!! He was very proud and so were we! After we finished clapping for his success, I poured it into the toilet and he got to flush it away. Wow parenthood is so strange sometimes...I can't believe I wrote a whole paragraph about Dylan's pee! Luke is also going through some developmental changes. We think he may be sprouting his first tooth. He's been drooling quite a bit and always wants to gnaw on our hands (and his own hands). Dylan had his first tooth break through on his fifth month birthday, and it looks like Luke might too.

Busy Boys

It's been a while since our last update; I apologize but I've been quite busy!! The boys have been busy too. Luke is growing more and more every day. He just turned 4 months old a week ago. He rolled over the next day. He can sit up with some assistance and his legs are getting pretty strong. He is a loud little guy - probably trying to imitate his big brother who talks all the time! He also loves to laugh, which makes us all laugh because it's just so cute!! As you can see from the photos he is changing. I swear his eyes are going to turn blue or green. They're so light I'm just not sure that they will turn brown (which is totally crazy; but my mom does have green eyes, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens). Dylan is growing up too. He is such a little chatter box, talking all the time. He pretty much speaks in full sentences. He confuses I/I'm with my, so he says things like: "My want to go outside." He loves to sing and knows the words to most of his favorite songs. He knows the alphabet and can count to eleven. However he is completely confused or doesn't care about his colors. If you ask him the color of most things, he'll tell you it's green. We were afraid he might be color blind, but Sitie did a little test and we determined that he can differentiate the colors, he just doesn't seem to care to learn the different names! Dylan also baked his first cake today with his Sitie. As you can see he LOVES chocolate. They made quite a mess, but Sitie cleaned it all up when they were done!

Happy Birthday Dilly!

On Saturday we celebrated Dylan's 2nd birthday. He had a great day! We had lots of good friends, yummy cake and fun gifts!! Thank you to everyone who made it; we're so glad you came to play. Dylan actually celebrated his birthday all weekend. He got to blow out the candles on Friday (his actual b-day), on Saturday at his party and then again on his Grandpa's cake on Sunday! He's now an expert at blowing out candles (I'm worried about any birthday parties we attend in the near future, as he will likely want to do it again!).

Happy & Healthy

Dilly digging in the dirt, helping Papa cultivate the tomato plants.

My baby burrito laughing at his daddy!

Well, we just returned from the doctor's office for a regular check up for both boys. Luke is not quite off the charts - 95th percent in all areas (weight, height and head). She said he is the size of an average 5 month old!! Dylan is not nearly as big - 60th percent in height and 25th in weight. I have a feeling Luke may very well outsize his older brother in the future. All is well and both little guys are pretty happy overall. We're in birthday mode here at casa Ferreira, trying to get things ready for Dilly's birthday bash on Saturday. I can't believe that he's going to be two years old. At this rate he'll be a teenager soon!! He's very excited and has been practicing blowing out his candles (we'll see if he will actually perform on the big day!). We're looking forward to seeing you all soon...

Happy 2 Month Birthday Luke!!

Today Luke turns two months old!! It's amazing how fast time passes - especially with the second child! I remember the first two months of Dylan's life being filled with anxiety and questions each day... is this normal? is he OK? This time around we have a lot more confidence and experience, which make things a lot less nerve-wracking. However, I am still amazed at how fast time is passing. My tiny newborn boy has gradually become my baby giant! This kid is huge! We have his two month check-up in a couple of weeks and I imagine our pediatrician will tell us he's off the charts in weight and length - I'll keep you posted. He is sleeping a lot less during the day and starting to smile and goo, slowly developing into a little person. I came home the other day and his daddy even had him laughing - it was adorable! I can't wait for more.

Watching the neighbor's more elaborate firework show with daddy!

While Dylan isn't growing in size quite as much as his little brother, he grows developmentally every day. His language amazes me all the time. I am surprised by all that he says and comprehends. He is speaking in sentences (although some of the fill in words are still gibberish). He is quite adept at communicating what he wants. He counts to ten, knows the alphabet and sings many of his favorite songs. We celebrated the 4th of July last week with some mild fireworks and sparklers; Dylan loved the ooh ahs (his word for fireworks). He's approaching his second birthday at the end of the month. We will celebrate with family and friends and hope to see you all there.

Swim Lessons

Doing the monkey crawl...

Dylan just finished his first swim lessons at the UC Davis Rec Pool. He was an Anchovy and learned to be comfortable in the water. He was very excited every day to "go in the swim pool!" He learned to blow bubbles with his face in the water, kick his feet, and even go under water (although he didn't enjoy that too much). However his favorite activity each day was doing the monkey crawl - holding on to the side of the pool to pull himself around the perimeter. Here are some photos from class on Monday where his papa joined him for his lesson.

Luke is growing and growing every day - at 7.5 weeks he is a whopping 14lbs 9oz!! He is showing us his personality a little more each day. I think he looks a lot like his daddy. For the most part he is a happy little mellow fellow! Here are some photos of him at Dilly's swim class.

6 Weeks and Almost 2!

All is well in the Ferreira household. Dylan still loves his baby brother and Luke lights up whenever he hears Dylan's voice. It's a little more work (and a lot more laundry!!) being a parent of two; but all in all it's been surprisingly easier than I imagined.

Brothers

Well, it's been two weeks since Luke became a part of our family and things are going well. Dylan is still happy to have him around and I have a feeling that someday they will be great buddies! Luke sleeps a lot which is nice during this time of transition from 3 to 4 of us. Dylan gets his time with Mama & Daddy, but is getting used to the fact that Luke is here to stay and things will be changing a bit. I've finally uploaded some photos for your viewing pleasure...

Baby Luke

Just a short post to let you know that Dylan's baby brother, Luke Robert Ferreira (aka "deedee Luke"), was born at 4:28am on Tuesday, May 8th. He was 8lbs 10oz and 20 inches long. So far Dylan is enjoying our newest addition. He likes to hold and kiss the baby, and is quite concerned when Luke cries (although it's not too often!). I'll try to post again soon with photos of the little guy (difficult to do at home with the dial-up connection). Also, I think it's time for a new blog name to include Luke as part of the family blog. Any ideas???

Choo Choo Teen

A couple of weeks ago Dilly and I took a train ride to San Francisco. He loved the train. It was even more special because he got his first taste of chocolate milk (and has been talking about it ever since!). We met my parents in Berkeley and spent the morning at a wonderful museum designed just for toddlers: Habitot. Dylan had a great time. His favorite exhibit was the water play area. He also enjoyed grocery shopping and the rocket ship. We will definitely have to go back soon for another visit!