Chocolate- on it!

These are the words I hear coming from the kitchen as Mike and James work to make chocolate chip cookies for teacher appreciation day at school. Mike very kindly set James up with some measuring cups, brown sugar, and a chair so that he could be a part of the process. Please note the great t-shirt [from Aunt Ann, Uncle Jim, Leslie and Jack] that says "Give Peas a Chance".
We found out that teacher appreciation day was LAST week-- we heard about it ahead of time but got the days wrong. Sometimes details like these fall through the cracks. Since we are non native speakers we can pretend that this is due to our lack of language skills, when in all probability we may have messed this one up in any language given our recent lack of sleep.
We will bring the cookies a week late, and we're sure the teachers will not mind so much. After all these will be Chocolate Chip cookies-- very American and probably unique to teacher appreciation day. Weather permitting we will all go to drop them off tomorrow, and introduce Will to James' teachers for the first time.

Will has been with us for one month today. The three hours in a row of sleep seem to be a fluke, but we are managing just fine. Will had a cold last week and that seems to have moved on, which means he is sleeping a little better. Last night he woke up a lot, and we're not sure why. We're trying to just take it all in stride and not overthink anything. We've picked up the sleep book (Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child) many times in the last few days to try to reassure ourselves that this is normal and we are just going to have to get through the first six weeks of very little sleep.
Will is such a sweet little bean-- he really sleeps and eats almost the whole day and night-- ideal really--though he prefers to be held while sleeping. During the day that is possible but at night it is not an option. I have been trying to just enjoy this time, this opportunity to hold him as much as he likes. As I am on pregnancy leave I can easily justify taking many hours to hold him while he sleeps, listen to his breathing, and watch his funny expressions. I keep reminding myself that it is unlikely that I will ever be given such a period of uninterrupted time to focus on him. At the same time we're trying to all find the balance between what Will needs, what James needs, and what the pups and the parents need.
Though I know it is way too early to fully imagine their personalities, it is so interesting to compare how different these boys are already. James continues to astound us with his pure physicality. He truly never stops, and that is so evident when we are short on sleep. We hate the term 'terrible two' because two year olds are challenging but also so fantastic and fun. James is just so "two"-- he charges into every day at full force, he does not want to wear his jacket outdoors, he repeats everything, he wants to hold baby Will, he wants to tickle baby Will, he wants to take his shoes off, he wants to put his shoes on, he wants to put them on himself, but on the wrong feet...
Our new carriage configuration means James is now not in 'lockdown' when we go for a walk, which translates into tons of running, jumping, skipping, big steps, baby steps, and everything in between. Sometimes it all ends in tears.
When James was a month old he was already having lots of interactive time each day, kicking his feet, crying, moving and shaking. Will in comparison is a slug-- he just likes to chill out. Only in the last days has he even begun to have any awake/engaged time.
It is interesting to observe what traits your kids have, and what they in turn bring out in you. If I was not the mother of James I doubt I would have done so much running, jumping, dancing, biking, walking, or football-kicking in the last month. If I was not the mother of Will I am sure I would not have had so many hours of relatively quiet reflection sitting on the sofa holding a baby. It is usually very difficult for me to ignore email, step away from work, and just enjoy quiet moments.
So one month on, I am the proud mom of two very different boys-- one who has gotten me back in action immediately after having the other, who has helped me spend the last month taking time to enjoy my family.