Adjusting to life as a foursome

As I said previously this postpartum experience has been worlds different than the first time.  As I was going through it with Mino I didn't know otherwise, I didn't know that my epidural probably had worn out and that is why it hurt so much when he was born, I didn't know whether he was a fussy baby or not as I had no clue what I was stumbling in to with a newborn, I didn't know that I did probably have the baby blues last time for the first couple weeks because I had no comparison.

Anyway, Nana has been here with us (until today) helping with cooking and laundry and holding little Jimmy while we cater to Mino.  He was really great at first but has been exceptionally whiny since.  He is going through a MAJOR daddy phase which probably started that last few weeks I was pregnant because I couldn't do a whole lot for him but is very clear when he asks for "my daddy" to read to him at night and if someone else is in the chair and he wants his daddy watch out.  He hasn't tried to hurt the wee one yet or do anything mean for that matter, so I call this a successful transition.  Mino's vocabulary has skyrocketed in the last month, he speaks in sentences and parrots everything you say.  Watch out, literally, everything you say.  He has said all of the bad 4 letter words already.  Luckliy just in parrot mode, he has yet to conjur one up and use it on his own.  He is big time into stuffed animals - nap time involves Otie Lion, panda, clean doggy, dirty doggy, a car or book, Batman, bad guy (Bane from his Gotham City Jail) , bat sign and reading one short book and one long book (Polar Express is his choice right now)  We learned late but this kid thrives with routines and loves his bedtime routine.  Bath time involves Iron Man, brushing teeth can be Iron Man or maybe Batman watching to make sure he gets every tooth.   If something is missing, it is unsuccessful.  He loves to help with chores, he helps unload and load the dishwasher, he helps pour his cereal and milk, he helps sweep, he helps change the baby's diapers.

 He also likes to "go adventure" which can be going to the grocery store or going for a walk, anything that allows him to go outside of the house.

My mom has a reputation in our household of being a bit of a "Debbie Downer" and through the miracle of SNL and a skit with Horatio Sanz with a character named Carol we tease her a lot.  Ben took it to a new level and calls Nana "Carole Nana" with a combo of debbie downer and Horatio Sanz's Carol.  Needless to say we laugh when he does it then he keeps on getting louder and louder and louder until he has a maniacal laugh and throws his plate full of food in joy or his toy at the TV or window and he ends up in timeout. Anyway, another thing he does is faces - he was doing them in the video posted in the deuce dropped post.  Here are stone cold images of his faces.
Happy face:

 

Surprised face:

 

Angry face:

or

And cute little Mino face:

Jimmy is a great baby he sleeps and eats and cries when he has gas or is hungry.  Thus far.  He is only two weeks old so time will tell if his personality keeps up.  He is alert for good stretches of time and his eyes appear to be looking back at you.  I know they can't see more than 8 inches in front of their cute baby faces but he is good at faking it.  Oh, and he has auburn hair.  Some say red but that is only when the light is shining on it.  I know that is temporary - Mino looked like Elvis when born and has blonde hair and blue eyes now - but interesting that we are starting here.  Nana says it is because we give Auntie Gingah such a hard time.  His umbilical cord stump fell off when he was one week old so that is nice.  He does have second child syndrome though. . .he is two weeks old, had one bath at the hospital and one at home.  He doesn't poop that often so I figure it is OK.