Bunny Bear Firsts

There is only one month left in the little Bunny Bear’s first year of life. It has gone by so quickly that I barely remember things that happened when he was first born. As of right now, he sleeps through the night, though it took us awhile to get there; he has four teeth on top and three to four on bottom; loves cereal puffs; hates being locked up in the ‘baby cage’; and has the strongest death wish of the three. He pokes at outlets, puts everything in his mouth, tries to hit his head on sharp objects, likes standing in his high chair and is already trying to escape his crib. He is part Team Cuddly Monkey and part Mr. Independent. He sat up, started crawling and standing all at seven months. His first major unassisted steps were a few days ago at 11 months though he is an expert stander. He is content right now to let his brothers be the center of attention as long as he’s included and doesn’t cry unless he is feeling left out, hungry or tired. He likes his pacis, blankets, balls, books and bottles. Balloons, however, freak him out a little. Loud voices and No make his lower lip poke out in the most adorable way.

He is the first and only guy in the family to have an extra hospital stay thanks to a virus at 6 weeks that turned into meningitis. Scary situation looking at this tiny little buttercup with all the lines and IVs attached to him. I hope to God that we never have to experience that again. He did really well though and was out after 24 hours.

I’m still trying to figure out the Bunny Bear’s personality as it is developing. He definitely is a social guy and I can see he is going to be a great playmate for the other two, or at least an endearing shadow for them. He’s pretty quick to laugh, especially when tickled under his chin. He seems even-tempered as long as his needs are met – food, sleep and friends. He is very determined when he starts something. Trying to figure out how to get out of the baby gate turns him into MacGyver and he won’t stop. He loves cuddling unless he wants to do something else. And carrying on in the tradition started by his two brothers and mother, he loves a good snuggle with a blanket. He almost starts purring when he gets one. He’s a pretty good eater but there are definitely things that don’t appeal to him. He acted like I was poisoning him the first time he tried avocado. His oldest brother is his biggest fan and the middle brother has no use for him yet. Luckily, his parents are totally in love and can’t imagine our family without the Bunny.  

Introducing our newest bunny...I mean baby

In 2017 we found out that we were expecting another blessing – another baby boy! I’ll try to come up with a better nickname but right now he is Bunny Bear. He arrived on 4/5/18 at 7:30 pm weighing in at 6 lbs 11 oz and ____inches. He was three weeks early due to some pregnancy complications (cholestasis) and the smallest of the three. I’ve never held a baby that small and yet, I didn’t feel the same nervousness with him. That was the Bunny essence of him - he seemed so tiny and so fragile. I felt pretty confident taking care of him, a first with any of the babies. He was quite cozy in his little bunny burrow (my uterus) and the medical staff had to use what felt like considerable force on my body to get him out. Again, the umbilical cord was wrapped around him so it was a good thing we got him out early. And he came out like a Bear – roaring! He didn’t stop crying until the nurses finally covered him up and got him nice and snuggly. For weeks, he’d cry anytime he was unwrapped.

He’s quite a little sweetheart. In the hospital, he would hum as he slept. It was the strangest, sweetest thing, like he was soothing himself to sleep. He spent his nights in the nursery and the nurses would comment on it like they’ve never heard of a baby doing that before. He’s also slightly judgmental. I think it’s the eyebrows. He furrows them quite a bit while looking at you. And he’s got the ability to raise the left one up independently. It makes me feel like he’s not very impressed with what we have going on. And he’s beautiful. I know everyone feels that about their babies but Bunny Bear’s got something special going on. He’s blemish and birthmark free. Just a beautiful face. No rashes. No spitting up excessively. He eats and sleeps very well (he can sleep through the screaming and yelling of his older brothers – I wish I had that talent). Loves being held but also is okay with laying in his crib for a bit. His first smile was at 2 months and his first laugh was at 3 months. And I have to brag here – I made him laugh! First time ever! Sweet Pea laughed at our dog, Maya; Pumpkin laughed at Sweet Pea; the Bunny Bear laughed at me (and I will not listen to any other version which may have him laughing at his dad first).