Pancakes with Al and Tim

This morning the boys and I went with a few of our neighbors to a pancake breakfast with Al Franken and Tim Walz.

 Will and I in front of Al's bus

Al encourages the group to volunteer as much as possible in the next five days

Will and Tim seemed to only be there for the pancakes!  

Tim Walz represents Minnesota's 1st district

Al signs his 'baseball' card for Will

Will's new bed

Slow and steady wins the race, and after many late nights in the shop Will's bed is done! People always hassle me about my projects taking forever, but I remind them that you can't rush perfection...

I am definitely my worst critic, but overall I'm pleased with how this one came together. The finger joints on the drawer fronts/sides alone added at LEAST 10 hours to my total time investment. I think they make a huge visual difference, though.

It's subtle, but the curves on the headboard and footboard match a changing table I made 5 years ago when Will was a baby.

Those in turn mimic the sleigh style crib we bought.

Will isn't quite big enough to climb directly into the bed yet. So instead he uses a drawer pull as a foothold. The other night one of the drawers wasn't closed all the way, and he just stepped on the drawer itself and hopped up. I panicked at first, then thought through how sturdy those drawers are. They're decorative joints yes, but also very strong ones!

The Hair

For some reason, the genetic combination of Mike and I leads to some pretty crazy hair!  

Here are both boys at about 6 weeks old.  Collin has a lot less hair than Will did (maybe because his head was almost an inch smaller than Will's at birth-AMEN!) and it doesn't normally stick up like this.  I was combing it after his bath to try to loosen some of the cradle cap and it dried sticking straight up.  

When  I tried to comb it back down, he ended up looking like Donald Trump.  He later tried to fire Will.  Just kidding. 

Brothers

While I don't think Will and Collin look exactly alike, here are a few similiar shots:

Here both boys are about 2 weeks old. 

In the first picture Will is about 4 weeks old and in the second picture Collin is 6 weeks old.

Collin is a very good baby, but isn't quite as laid back as his big brother was.  While he sleeps fine on his own at night, he prefers to be held for naps during the day.  I'm so thankful for my sling. If I lay Collin down for a nap he normally sleeps for about 15 minutes, but if I wear him in the sling he'll sleep for 2 hours or more!  He is snoozing in it right now as I type! 

I thought we had turned a corner today. This morning he slept in his swing for about an hour and this afternoon he slept in his bed in our room for over an hour.  Once I felt confident he was asleep, I went downstairs to do some laundry only to hear him start crying.  I came upstairs to find his big brother at the side of his bed trying to give him a pacifier.  As soon as I walked in the conversation went something like this:

Will:  I didn't wake him up!

Me: What are you doing?

W: Giving him his pacie.  I'm helping!

M: Was he asleep when you came in here?

long pause....

W: Yes. 

M: Did you touch him?

long pause...

W:No.  But he didn't have his pacie, so I gave him his pacie.

And so ends my victorious nap day.  Collin is back in the sling! 

I do have to say that Will is always loving toward his little brother.  While some of his helping isn't always so helpful, and he probably gets corrected more than he should for his "helpfulness,"  we are thankful that he loves him and hasn't asked to send him back! 

Collin updates

Collin will be seven weeks old tomorrow!  Time flies!  

Here are a few of his latest tricks:

Holding his head up!  

Smiling!! 

Of course, in order to get a smile on camera you have to take LOTS of funny face pictures! Thank God for digital cameras! 

Eventually Collin gets tired of all the attention!

Yes We Can! (Michelle Obama in Rochester)

Will and his good friend Henry cut preschool today to see Michelle Obama at the Civic Center.

Will decided he wanted to wear his Tim Walz shirt instead of his Barack Obama shirt, a wise choice.  He was able to meet Tim, get his shirt autographed and take a picture with the congressman from the 1st district! 

Will and Henry in the Civic Center.  We got in line about 30 minutes before the doors opened and were able to get seats fairly close to the front! 

Tim Walz speaks to the crowd.

Michelle Obama comes out to greet the cheering crowd. 

She was a great speaker, sending the message that she and Barack "get it." 

Close-up!  We tried to get up to shake her hand, we didn't quite make it, but got this shot! 

This picture was taken of us with Henry and his mom Jodi after the rally.  Someone commented that it would make a lovely Christmas card shot!  A DFL rally has got to be one of the few places in Rochester where someone would assume you were gay!!! Jodi and I are planning to stay with our husbands, but if anyone would like a copy of this picture included with their holiday card, just let us know!

Apple Orchard

On Saturday we went to Northwoods Apple Orchard.  Will and Mike explored the corn maze (Collin was too busy eating and pooping).  We all went on a hayride, visited the farm animals and picked out pumpkins.  It was a beautiful day! 

Will and Collin are on a trailer of pumpkins.  I love this shot because Will is trying to keep the sun out of Collin's eyes.  

While I'm hesitant to post a 6 week postpartum shot where I have spit-up on my shoulder, I know that everyone is only looking at my beautiful boys! 

Will is over 3 1/2 feet tall! 

Checking out the tractor!

Collin LOVES the sling!  

Will feeds a goat. 

Collin was not about the cheesy "$2 Pumpkin in my pumpkin hat" shot. 

Will and his pumpkin!