Chew on This

As you might have guessed from the title, we have some new teeth in the house. 

Max started his tooth in earnest about 10 days ago and now we can see the results. It's been difficult not letting him gnaw on our fingers like we used to.  After one bite in Max's vise-like jaw, we didn't want our fingers to become his next meal.  Strawberries and apples our fingers are not. 

It's been difficult, too, knowing that our days of gummy smiles are near an end.  But the beginning of chewing. Yes! 

Olivia and August should be getting their first tooth soon, too.  Our babies have temporarily been taken over by drool monsters that require all-day bibs!  We are also seeing some signs of stress: poopy diapers at night, rash, and flush faces.  

Other than cutting teeth things have been going relatively well for Team Norris.  The kids are eating well, sleeping well and getting lots of fresh air on our daily walks.  

We'll see how they adjust to a routine change when Kelly goes back to school.  Grandma Diana won't come during the week anymore, and nanny Shana will come for five half days, instead of three full days.  We are looking forward to summer and the extra time Kelly will be able to spend with the kids and think they will adjust well to the change. 

All three are getting pretty good at rolling over.  None are sitting up or crawling quite yet, but we're close. We think that more practice might help the sitting up, but crawling seems like it will have to come on its own.  The kids have also started to figure out the exer-saucer.  This is the contraption that supports the kids, but they can walk in it too.  Max likes to go backwards, Livvy hops, and August sprints forward.  

Everyone is communicating is so many more ways than just a month ago.  We have the outstretched arms for 'pick me up', the three-stage process for 'play with me' which includes: the playful squeal, the fake cough, and the short, but real-sounding cry.  The looks they give to see if their effort works are priceless. 

And we now have real attention jealousy.  It's almost a political process to decide which one to pick up now with everyone paying attention to whom is getting what from mom and dad.  Livvy is probably the most jealous of her time with mom and dad, followed by August.  Max just seems to be content doing his own thing most of the time.  The best way to mitigate the jealously is to give the child not being held some attention by talking to them for a little bit to let them know you know they're still there.  That works most of the time. 

Mom has been busy at work and organizing all of the kids' things around the house, while finding some time for outside work.  Dad has been building a new shed for the family's anticipated storage needs. A 12x12 gambrel, the shed is affectionately known now as the 'barn'. We're not sure how happy the neighbors are with it, but it will look better than our railroad tie garden did! 

We are looking forward to cousin Mikayla and Heath's wedding in KC - it will be our first overnight away from the kids in about five months.  Memorial Day Grandma Chris and Steve will spend some time in Btown, and in mid-June we are going, again without the kids, to a wedding in Minnesota for our friends Amy and Eric.  

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