March 2, 2010 - Dear Alex,

Dear Alex,
A quick update...

Max and I think we heard you say duck yesterday. For some reason you love ducks. For awhile you were imitating Donald Duck.

Recently you got a duck with hearts for Valentines Day that you hugged all night and then a few weeks later you got a pirate duck, which you also held onto like it was the best thing in the world.

Your sleeping routine has changed a bit. After bath we try to give you a snack: apple, pear, or similar. You still fall asleep feeding. Now after a several weeks of sleeping with Max, we're back to putting you in the crib. You wake up. I pick you up and take you for some water. After you drink, you're ready for resuming sleep. You usually crash as soon as I lie you down.

Sometimes I put you on the couch while I play online poker or watch TV (like the other night when we watched a tape delay of the gold medal Olympic hockey game). Other times it's right to the crib. Tonight actually you ended up back in bed with Max; it was the only way I was getting you to sleep.

And for some reason, Max has decided to start joining you for bath time. Before he would watch a cartoon while you bathed. Now he jumps in soon after you.

You are so anxious to learn and to do stuff. You remind me of me in that sense. Mama reported today that you follow her around the house helping to put away dirty clothes, wipe up spills or put away some dishes. When Max is around, you do what he does. I feel closer to you lately.

We seem to spend more time together and you seem to be more willing to go for me when you need comforting rather than just mama. Of course, this makes me melt.

January 14, 2009 - Dear Alex

Dear Alex,
It's been awhile since I've written. Time to give a picture of who you are.

You're still this incredible determined, happy, curious boy. You want to do everything -- especially everything that your brother does. You copy him. You join him. You love him. And yes, sometimes you annoy him.

I see you doing some things your brother did when he was young and I see you trying to do things your brother does now. One of your favorite things is to put together the snaps on your booster chair. A long time ago you learned the family head butt and to give five. Now you're putting your whole fist in the air as your attempt at the thumbs up. When Max shows us how strong he is by making a muscle, you follow by putting out your arm.

Your even determined in your sleep. After bath, mama feeds you and you fall asleep and she puts you into your crib. Within a couple hours, you wake up crying. Usually it's now me who gets you. I went through a faze where I could only get you to sleep on the couch (just like Max way back when). Now I usually lay you down in bed with your brother. I stay with you while you cry and wiggle until find your "comfortable place." Sometimes when you fall asleep, I fall asleep with the two of you. Sometimes I put you back into your crib. And sometimes -- like tonight -- I leave you with your brother and go do something else -- like update your blogs.

The crying in bed doesn't wake up Max (he must've got that heavy sleeping from me). But there are times you annoy him. Mostly when you take something he wants or we insist he share something he has.

Mostly though, he loves you. He cuddles with you. He gives you things. He makes sure we get you what you want. And he says "I love you Alex."

You recently started saying a new word: "ah oh."

You smile a lot. I love when I come home and I see you walking from the other room to greet me with a big smile -- and with something in your hand. You like carrying things. Yesterday, mama made you a smoothie and you carried the empty cup around much of the evening.