Bunny Bear Hits 2!

 

This Bunny Bear is not for amateurs. It has taken a lot of effort and prayers to get him to two years of age and what a year it has been! As my friend and his babysitter puts it: Some babies climb, some babies put things in their mouths, some babies scribble on walls - this guy does everything! He is so busy and so adventurous! He loves to color - on paper, books, walls, doors, the floor and with anything that resembles a writing tool. He loves to climb and jump and bounce and run and be chased by his brothers. He doesn't like wrestling with his brothers yet since they outweigh him by quite a bit still. He loves putting cleaning product squirt bottles directly in his mouth. He's interested in seeing what exactly fits into electrical outlets. He's interested in eating berries from strange plants outside that turn out to be poisonous and require a trip to the emergency clinic. He loves to go outside but he hasn't learned not to run in the street yet so I had to buy him a harness. Yes, I take my baby on walks with a leash. That is who Bunny Bear is.



COVID-19 birthday cake!

He loves sorting things, lining toys up, ordering and reordering again. He loves his puzzles, especially the shape one. He loves Duggee, blocks and cups, bubbles!, balls, car, cuddling when he wants to, his paci and blankies (all the blankies) and other soft things, like his brothers' stuffed animals. He loves books - reading them, drawing on them, stacking them. He recently just let me start holding the book and reading to him; otherwise, he would need to be in total control of the page turning which made reading impossible. He loves sitting in boxes; sitting on blanket forts (they're blankets and comfy); being chased by the Pumpkin; happy feet dancing; follow-the-leader when he is the leader; sitting on the couch and vegging out to cartoons; being left alone when his brothers are too rowdy or stealing his toys; personal space; hugs and blowing kisses and high fives; the Splash Pad; running with complete abandon and talking without ceasing.

He's a pretty good eater. Mr. Independent will go in the pantry and try to grab the item he wants. If he can't reach it, he will come and grab you or cry. He's learning to open the refrigerator which is scary. He loves milk (lactose free for right now), candy, anything with a straw, steak, hamburger, watermelon, grapes, bananas, peanut butter crackers and will do his best with some corn on the cob. Spaghetti was good, slushies are delicious and pudding will make him lose his mind.

With all his activity, speech has been on the backburner. We're virtually seeing a speech therapist right now, during the Coronavirus lockdown. At two years, they assessed him at an 18 month level. I already think he's making a lot of progress but he's a tough cookie. It's hard to tell how many words he knows because he'll say one once and never say it again. His independence doesn't help with the speaking part either - who needs to say 'banana' when I can just climb up and get one myself? The family is beginning to think he takes after his hard-headed Polish relatives a little too much. He cries when he is thwarted in any way or told No. The terrible two tantrums have hit and he has been perfecting his throw-down (always being careful not to bang his head on the ground though).

 

We're still learning about this guy - what he likes, what he doesn't like, if he'll be happy, melancholy, shy, outgoing, organized, goal-oriented, risk-taker, etc.. So far the Bunny Bear name is matching his personality - he's pretty even-keeled and fiercely independent. He has his passions and will fight for what he wants but he's okay with taking a backseat at times. Sometimes he loves the crazy, loud life his brothers can bring, sometimes it is too much, and sometimes he falls asleep in the midst of it. He seems okay with meeting new people or being in new places if Mom or Dad are there within hugging distance. Then once he is okay, he forgets he has parents. He bounces from project to project but idle Bunny hands are the devil's workshop. His therapist asked if he ever knocks down towers that he builds and he doesn't; he's very methodical and focused with his building and lining up of toys. He likes it when his brothers play with him but not when they take over - who can blame him! He is sweet, is starting to show his sense of humor, has a heart-warming smile and has been unanimously voted the cutest in the family. We love our little, mighty Bunny Bear!

 















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).