A Multi-Child Status Update

The younger boy is amazing.  He is a generally happy little man that does nothing more noteworthy than smile, sleep and occasionally get surprised by the sight of his feet. 

The older boy is running, working on his alphabet, and horsetrading turd deposits for jelly beans.

A large majority of my parenting day is spent comparing the two children and deciding which one I like better.  

Liam is Two Years Old

Liam celebrated his second birthday with friends, family and all things Bubble Guppies.  

 

42 guests, including the Guerra family of New Braunfels, were entertained by a face painting balloon-animalist named Jingles, a small bounce-house, a recently assembled swing-set, and 100 pounds of sand.

 

The smorgasbord consisted of candy, heavily child-fingered vegetable trays, and pizza.

The crowd sang a heartfelt rendition of Happy Birthday and Liam enjoyed himself thoroughly.  

I didn't take any of my own pictures or videos so if you have something worthwhile, please send it along.  Failure to do so will limit Liam's memory of the event to the four relatively nondescript photos above.    

Two Months: Vying For Favoritism

Jackson smiles, sleeps, and remains quiet for extended stretches of time.  He is a kind, happy young man of few words and minimal action.

His passions include staring at his brother from the comfort of a swing and lightly touching objects that dangle.    

Images of Happy Children and a Cat

It has been an incredibly long time since the previous post which means I’ll be leaning on jpegs rather than words to convey the happenings.  In no particular order:

They had three Christmas celebrations

Liam got a bike of sorts

Kip became overly protective

Jackson smiled

Liam smiled

We all lived happily ever after.

I'm the David Foster Wallace of picture books.

One Month Onesie Wearer

To celebrate Jackson's first month of life, Rachel and I strapped him into a gently used one-piece, laid him on a blanket and waited for him to smile.  Below is the result.

To date the child has proven himself to be mild mannered, quiet and generally well liked. 

Short, Blonde and Handsome

Since I'm pretty sure I can't post something about one child without posting about the other, here is a picture of Jackson.  At four weeks old he is just moving out of newborn clothes.  He is entertained by the simple act of swinging, he doesn't complain about much, and occasionally smiles when flatulent.

His most notable talent is arcing urine over his head during the few second transition between diapers. 

Kissing the Cat

Knowing the child to be a tiny but generous treat monger, the cat is remarkably tolerant of his advances.  

My favorite part of this thirty second video is the final five seconds.  In those brief moments the cat stops what he is doing, stares at the camera, and uses his large round eyes to blame me for all of the ills that have befallen him. 

These Are My People

A giant, a little person, elephant shoes, and a hand hold.

Jackson is now just shy of three weeks old. He sleeps well, eats regularly, and doesn’t do anything particularly untoward. As a parent of multiple children, I've decided to let the eldest take over my responsibilities whenever possible. He seems to be doing a fine job.

Jackson's Newborn Pictures

Thanks to Bri Sullivan of Cherry Street Photography (the same person responsible for the maternity pictures), Jackson's one week-old likeness is beautifully captured for posterity.  Some of the images are below, others can be found on the photographer's blog.

The remainder of the collection is similarly focused on classy nudes and knit swaddles.

Brotherly Love

I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends. ~James Boswell

Someday in the relatively near future when the kids are fighting over video games or imaginary friends, I will put this 27 second video on loop and remind them of the time they adored each other.

Welcome to the Family

At 12:32 PM on November 6th, Jackson Thomas Swanburg entered our lives. He is a beautifully blonde, 7 pound 9 ounce, 20.75 inch, baby boy.

If years have passed and you’re now old enough to read this, Jackson, know that you are so impossibly loved. You always have been and always will be.

A Chauffer Without Pay or Destination

Ever since I bought this pedicab, Liam and I have been riding around the community waving at neighbors without irony or shame. We are essentially a suburban art exhibit. “Look at that happy family,” I imagine folks saying as they drive by. “This Sienna Plantation must be a great place to raise a family. Just look at that baby in the rickshaw.”

When I want to feel like a bad boy I just peddle faster and remind myself that I’m not wearing a helmet.

Halloween 2014

Liam had two costume choices.  The first was a beautiful plush ensemble that made it look like he was riding a green dinosaur.  The second was an uninspired Mickey Mouse.  The pictures tell the story of his decision.

A particularly awkward father-son bonding session

Wearing Mickey's body and using his head as a basket.

Tricking for Treats.

The whole evening was an amazing, candy-fueled success. 

Friends With Benefits

A boy and his cat bonding over a twelve ounce bag of treats. 

I Am Not a Cow. A Reading

Liam is 21 months old.  As such, you can ask him questions and get straight forward answers.   For example, ask him what he would like to name his brother and he will tell you,"Minnie."  Ask him why he is hiding behind the chair and he will tell you he's "pooping."  The kid tells no lies.

This video highlights his accurate and succinct responses to the existential inquiries posed by Sandra Boynton's book, "Are You a Cow?

Head Down and Eye on the Ball

When Tiger Woods was two years old his dad put him on television so the world could watch him hit golf balls.

This post is basically the same thing.  Just a little less pure on the follow-through.   

Skeeters Baseball Enthusiast

On Saturday I took Liam to a Sugar Land Skeeters baseball game with my old next door neighbor, Derek. Liam loved it. Every single pitch, hit or missed, was cheered for with the passion of a new car winner on the Price is Right.

 

This video captures his overwhelmingly positive reaction to a ground out to third. 

Maternity in the Woods: A Sampling.

Rachel, Liam and I ventured north to Spring, Texas for a photo shoot with Cherry Street Photography. 

The newborn pictures will include more children and less sunlight.

Bigger Child, Lower Chair

It has been awhile since the last post. Between moving, not having internet, and not taking pictures, blogging was low on the to-do list. Fortunately times have changed. We are moved in, the internet is running and Rachel took a picture of Liam sitting in his new booster seat eating a banana.

Now 20 months old, Liam dislikes every shopping cart that doesn’t look like a car. His passions include counting to two, reading "Goodnight Moon", hiding, seeking, and using the word "No."

Remembering Grandpa Johnnie

This Saturday we buried Rachel's grandfather, Johnnie Hajek, Sr., in his hometown of Shiner, Texas.  His obituary provides a detailed account of his life, accurately reflecting that he was a great man and an American hero.

I had met Johnnie three or four times before he ever told me he had fought in the Army in WWII.  It was my fifth or sixth visit before he told me he was a prisoner of war.  He never once told me the details.  Just that he survived.

On the battlefield Johnnie was strong and impossibly courageous.  In life he was humble, kind, smart, funny and loving.  My wife and children are incredibly blessed to share in his genetic legacy and he will be greatly missed.