Thanks to Leap Year, Abel is celebrating a proper three month birthday today!

This month has been fun for us, as we’re starting to see little personality differences between Rhett and Abel.  They still look nearly identical, but their personalities seem to be really different.  Abel is a crazy momma’s boy.  I am loving it (duh), but it does make it challenging to leave him with a babysitter or at the nursery at church, or even with Doug.  In more than two years, we’ve never been called out of church for Rhett.  With Abel, 2 out of 3 times we’ve left him in the nursery, we’ve been called to come get him.  And somehow, as soon as I pick him up he magically falls asleep.  He’s a pill, for sure.

He also seems to be more emotional than Rhett was.  He smiles more, and cries more.  Rhett is in the thick of being a two-year-old, so he’s getting disciplined fairly often.  Typically, Abel has a bigger meltdown when Rhett is disciplined than Rhett does.

Abel doesn’t seem to be quite as laid back as Rhett was, but I still think he’s a pretty easy baby.  He’s a good eater and a pretty good sleeper, and a very happy baby.

Here are a few updates:

• Weighs 13 lbs.
• Had his first ear infection this month, but fought it like a champ.
• Was sleeping for about 7 hour stretches until that big bad ear infection.  We’re working on the 7 hour stretches again.
• Is crazy about big brother Rhett.
• Can get up on his side, but is not rolling over yet.
• Met a third pair of great-grandparents this month.
• Still naps in his swing or on-the-go.  (How do second kids have normal nap schedules?)

And a few pictures from Abel’s first quarter birthday:

We had read that it would take about six weeks for a big brother to adjust to a little brother.  They were right.  Although, we decided that it was less about them adjusting and more about them forgetting that there was ever just one kid.

Nevertheless, at six weeks, we turned a corner.  Rhett now lets Abel be within arms-length and will talk to him and give him kisses.  We’ve attempted (nearly daily) to let Rhett hold Abel, but he’s not interested in being that close.

Here are a few of my favorite recent pictures of my boys.

Bath buddies

Two very tired boys after a rough trip to the doctor.  Rhett diagnosed with bronchitis and Abel got his 2 month shots.  Brutal.

This one says “Moommmaaa, get that big bad baby off me!!”

Don’t judge.  Rhett rarely gets his hair brushed these days. 

Yesterday, my sister and her husband lost everything.  They were both at work when they got a call that there was an emergency at their apartment.  A fire, started by their hot water heater, had destroyed everything.  They are devastated.  Of course, so thankful that they weren’t there or asleep when it started…but still devastated.  There was no chance to grab the three things that we’ve all told ourselves we would grab if a fire was threatening.  There was no chance to enjoy their couch or their bed or their dishes or their shower for the last time.  There was just no time.

They’re more than 1,500 miles away.  My heart is broken and I feel so helpless.  What do you do when your family is hurting and you can’t give them a hug?  We’ve sent giftcards to help with their basic needs, and we’re working to gather pictures and other special family things they have lost.  But it just feels like it falls short (too short) of the devastation.

It’s been humbling for us over the past 24 hours.  It’s been a good reminder that we are promised nothing.  That we deserve nothing.  All of these things that we have and that we enjoy and that we take for granted everyday are gifts from a good God.  They are grace to us.  And if it were all taken today, it would be devastating.  It would be really, really hard.  But would we be able to sift through the ashes and still declare that God is good?  And that even this is for our good?  Would we see it as an opportunity?  Man, I really hope so.  

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and Rhett’s preschool is already gearing up for the big day.  To celebrate, they asked us to send Valentine’s Day cards for each student in his class.  I’ve impressed myself by being two weeks ahead and not doing this the night before (or the morning of).  So, I wanted to pass on the goods.

I borrowed this idea directly from Dandee Designs. There’s not a single original idea of my own here.  If you’d like a free printable of the card, click here: Have a Ball Printable

Happy Valentine’s Day!