The Broyles Baby Book: Daniel's First Month

Daniel is one month old today! It's been such a short period of time, but we already can't imagine our family without him. Here is this month's update -- these updates are getting longer and longer now that there so many kids to cover!

Aaron

Aaron is such an amazingly sweet big brother to Daniel. He sings to Daniel, hugs him, kisses him, and asks to hold him all the time.
He has been very sweet and patient with me despite my preoccupation with a newborn. The other day, I was lying down for a much-needed nap. Aaron burst into my room and wanted me to come out and play. When I explained that I was exhausted from being up all night with the baby and needed some rest, he tucked me into my bed, sang me a lullabye, and turned off the lights so I could rest!
He is slightly less sweet with his sister these days. To be fair, she knows how to push his buttons, but Aaron has gotten frighteningly good at poking, shoving, and hitting her in discreet ways that go under my radar.
I've been trying to help Aaron scale back on his thumbsucking due to our pediatric dentist's warning that his teeth were starting to move. Amazingly, just telling him that sucking his thumb makes his teeth crooked has pretty much done the trick. He has stopped sucking during the day and asks my permission to suck his thumb at nap and bedtime!

Jill

We've determined that, despite her spunky side, Jill has a sensitive side too. When she gets into conflicts with Aaron, her tears are more often the result of hurt feelings than any kind of physical pain.
She hasn't been quite as interested in holding or hugging Daniel as Aaron has, but she does look out for her baby brother by giving him "milk" from her belly button. She hoists up her shirt, "picks up" milk from her belly button with two fingers, and then transfers it to Daniel's mouth. Not sure how she got this idea from watching me breastfeed, but it's hilarious!
She is still obsessed with hair. Anytime she gets a fistful of it, she pops her thumb in her mouth and starts groaning contentedly. When she's upset, she'll throw out her arms and exclaim, "Mommy, I want your hair!" It'd be so much easier if she just wanted a blankie...
Jill is incredibly active, and something of a tomboy. She is covered in bumps, bruises, and scrapes from her fearlessness on the playground. And while we love her completely and unconditionally no matter what her interests are, I find myself silently cheering her on when she passes on tea parties and dress-up in favor of splashing through mud puddles or brandishing a stick-sword and pretending to be a pirate. This girl is ready to take on the world!

Daniel

Can't get over how easy this child is. He puts up with all manner of abuses (in the form of hugs, kisses, etc.) from his big brother and sister without complaint, sleeps through all the screaming and chaos in our house, and pretty much sits contentedly wherever we set him.
The only exception to his patience is when he's hungry, in which case he needs to eat now!
He's only one month old, but he's already 14 pounds, wearing size 2 diapers and 6-9 month clothes, and sleeping peacefully on his back in his own room. He honestly looks like a 3 month old. When I was hugely pregnant, I joked that I was going to be the first woman to give birth to a toddler. Well, they say there's truth in every joke!

4/10: Brand new

4/12: Getting ready to go home!

4/12: Whatever the weight limit is on this stroller, we are definitely pushing it

4/13: Painting party play-date

4/13: Bro bonding

4/13: Jill likes to offer moral support during tummy time

4/13: Best buddies!

4/14: Hmm, those look fun. Now if only I could reach them...

4/14: Little D

4/15: I can't stop kissing this

4/15: Oma's happy place keeps getting more crowded

4/15: Skater girl

4/15: Important discussion

4/16: Apparently Daniel's baby peach fuzz is soft enough to trigger Jill's thumb sucking reflex

4/16: So, what now?

4/16: Not sure what to do with all the toys his brother brought for him

4/16: Naptime

4/16: Chokehold

4/17: Daniel-saurus!

4/18: Dress up time (aka future blackmail)

4/18: Sleepy smiles!

4/18: Tackle Daddy!

4/19: Helping Daddy be a good Samaritan

4/19: Blue steel

4/20: Beanie baby

4/20: Bear-y tired!

4/21: First bath! He outgrew this sink tub within 3 weeks and had to upgrade to the plastic tub

McDreamy

4/24: Bright eyes

4/24: "Hiding"

4/24: Cuddle time in bed is never as cuddly as you'd think

4/26: Helping Danny learn how to lift his head

4/27: They'll enjoy this a lot more someday when they can see over the table

4/28: Sleepy bunny

5/2: Finally, a hot summer day!

5/3: Letting loose

5/3: Cute in tie dye

5/3: Awake for longer stretches now

5/4: Danny in the cradle carved by his namesake, my grandpa Alfred. He outgrew this within 3 weeks as well and moved to the full-size crib in his own room.