Baby Blog

March opened and closed with snow and Boston officially beat the snowfall record with 108.6 inches in the winter of 2015. Sebastien and I ventured out into the storm to see Wild Kratts Live and Sebastien decided he had to have a Wild Kratts vest (cue three weeks of chores at $1 a pop to earn it). Blake clocked in at 15lbs 3oz (36th percentile) and 26.5in (78th percentile) at her six month appointment. Archer rocked his first dentist appointment (and Sebastien did a great job too in the chair next to him). Sebastien and I went on another date for lunch and to see the play The Adventures of Flat Stanley. Sebastien really enjoyed it and then promptly asked, “Why am I not an actor?” Archer attended Maggie’s petting zoo birthday party and fell in love with all the animals. He spent the last 20 minutes of the party racing a goat back and forth across the room. Sebastien joined before school soccer after arriving with Dad a few minutes early one Thursday morning and grumpily inquiring, “Why do I not do soccer before school?” I was ok with this as long as the plan was for Nick to do 7:45am drop-off. After joining, Nick then promptly went on a deal to CT for the next 8 weeks. Sigh. Sebastien attended Olivia’s birthday party at the Capitol Theatre, watching The Book of Life with his friends and eating pizza and ice cream sundaes. We all went to the CNS puppet show at St. John’s and Archer spent the next three weeks asking if today was a “puppet show day” or not. Blake had a specialist eye doctor appointment because of her blocked tear duct and surgery was scheduled for the same week. This made two kids under general anesthesia in three months time (nerve-wracking!) but she did great. All the nurses remarked at how babies are never happy before AND after the procedure, but she was smiley and friendly and won everyone over in both pre-op and recovery. And most importantly, her eye was almost immediately better! We attended the Learning Project annual auction and bid on (and won!) a week’s vacation in Lake Sunapee, NH this summer. We visited the Easter Bunny at the Burlington Mall. Archer was super excited the entire time we waited in line, then very skeptical when we passed him off to the bunny, and then super excited and asking for “more bunny?” as soon as we left. Sebastien had his 5 year check-up where he weighed in at 44lbs, 10oz (72nd percentile) and measured 44.5in (76th percentile) and was very brave when he got his shots. After a few sleepless nights, Blake got her first two teeth – the bottom right on 3/13 and the bottom left on 3/23. So far her biggest likes are watermelon, pineapple, crackers with peanut butter and anything in a squeeze pouch and her biggest dislikes are broccoli and bananas.

In April, we collected eggs at the annual Charlestown Easter egg hunt. Sebastien got lots and Archer stopped after two, but Sebastien was nice enough to share with him. The Easter bunny came and we celebrated Easter with Ra, Papa, the Blues and the Belangers at Dani and Eric’s house. Spring soccer started with both boys playing at the Charlestown HS fields. Archer, Blake and I started a music class on Thursday mornings and while I knew Archer would love it, I was surprised how much Blake immediately loved it! She dances (especially when Laetitia plays the guitar), shakes the instruments and smiles the whole class. Spring finally arrived during April vacation week and we hiked the Fells with the new CNS Outing Club. Archer whined the entire way to the caves and cried the whole way back, but Sebastien had a blast running and climbing with his friends on the rocks. Archer, speaking of whining, can we talk about your screaming?? Any chance it will stop soon? At the smallest frustration or unhappiness, you shriek at the top of your lungs and asking you to stop or explaining why we have to be quiet just makes you scream louder. It’s… awesome. Dani, Gabi and Natalie came up for a visit and toured the Constitution and the Monument. Sebastien climbed to the top for the first time, declaring at the 285th step, “I can’t make it! I have to stop!” (There are 294 steps total.) Blake figured out how to get from laying down to sitting up on her own around 4/15, which is also the same day she figured out how to drink from a straw. (And she does not let anyone drink a beverage around her without giving her some!) She lights up when she sees her brothers and no one can make her laugh as easily as Sebastien.

And here are the latest Archer and Sebastien quotes:
Mom: And maybe when Blake wakes up, we’ll go to Target.
Archer: Oh! Margaret! I love Margaret!
Mom: No, Arch, Target. I love Margaret too, but we’re not going to see her today.
Archer: Oh. (much less enthusiasm)
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Archer: I gave Blakey a toy, mommy. I gave her a phone call!
(He gave her a toy phone. Probably because we always say, “Daddy’s on a phone call,” when he’s on the phone.)
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Archer: Hey Blakey, you lub birtday cupcakes too?
(To Blake at 7 months when she had never tried a cupcake.)
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Sebastien: I don’t like that shirt, Daddy. It’s too Hawai-ish.
(While picking out a birthday present for mom.)
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Archer: Uh oh! Poo poos comin’!
Mom: Do you want to go use the potty?
Archer: No potty. Sit on the potty and get a sticker and m&m’s! No thank you!