Kyler -- July 2013

Note: Clearly, our busy lives have prevented us from updating the blog as often as we would like. Melissa has been diligently putting together entries all along, but Ryan has been delayed in uploading the videos. Over the next several months, he will make a concerted effort to begin bringing these posts online -- he's only about a year behind!

So as the summer continues, Kyler continues to learn and grow so quickly. He has been saying so many new things, and understanding even more. He loves to mimic us, so when we gave him our old cell phones, he knew right away how to open them and say "O-low" and then hands it back to us. He has often come out on the deck to help me water plants. He loves to click the buttons on the keys and can sit in the house and click our horn button on the car, smiling every time he hears it beep. (Unfortunately Duncan does not get the game and barks because he thinks someone is here.) He loves to be social and at a recent Calvin potluck with students and faculty/staff, he made himself at home between two college girls on the couch...away from both Mommy and Daddy. I have a feeling we might have to watch him with the older women! He loves to be helpful and will often put things in the trash for us when asked, close doors for us, and bring me groceries from the bags so that I can put them away. He will raise his hand up high for "high" and low for "down low" when asked. My favorite new mimic/trick was when he kissed my belly after seeing Daddy do it. I hope he loves his brother!

Kyler continues to expand his vocabulary every day, and sometimes with surprises. On the fourth of July, he started to say "boom" after hearing fireworks going off. He started saying "blue" and "go" a while ago, but we have started to have him combine them for "Go Blue!" and with some practice it will come in handy this fall. Kyler loves to eat, and will often stuff his face if given the chance, so we have asked him to say please which sounds like "cheese" before he can have another bite. It helps him to be polite, but also makes sure he empties out his mouth a bit so that he can talk before eating more! He has been saying "balloon", "Dutch", "duck", "purple", and other many other words.

We have had many other adventures this month with some being just at home. Kyler discovered how much fun it is to have a blanket over top of his crib, making a simple tent. Sometimes he just does not want to come out! He always has fun going to the Hudsonville farmer's market on Wednesdays where he sees bunnies, kittens and a new favorite -- parsnips (just look at the pictures)! We continue to love the pool at Grandpa and Grandma's house, often jumping or running of the diving board into someone's arms. Kyler has started to feed himself dry cereal out of a box, but unfortunately thought that eating it and then dumping the whole box out on Mommy and Daddy's bed was a good idea. We had a great time with the Evans family coming to visit and a trip to the beach where the sand was something fun to be played in and tasted. Kyler did not seem to love the waves but pointed out at the "boat" and the kites a lot. We enjoyed going to a bowling fundraiser where Kyler rolled his first balls and danced to the lights and music. He was able to be part of a salad world record with Grammy and Papa even if he did not eat the salad. Kyler had a great time visiting goats with cousin KayLynn, but they both seemed to think that they would want to eat dirt rather than the grass by the fence. As busy as Kyler is (he is almost always in motion), he did discover a nice quiet activity that Mommy has been enjoying -- coloring!

Kyler loves to snuggle in Mommy and Daddy's bed

"I love having a tent fort in my crib!"

Now to make a pillow nest...so fun!

Posing with his pensive face

Happy 4th of July!

Waving the flag by the pool

Trying a parsnip...

...loving the parsnip...

...and trying to share the parsnip with Duncan.

Breakfast in bed...

...is always better when shared with a friend. 

"Maybe I should have said breakfast ON the bed!"

Kyler loves to give high fives

Hanging out with the Evans cousins

"Do you like my tower, Mommy?"

Coloring a picture...

What a handsome artist!

Landscaping

When we bought our house and agreed to put in the yard ourselves (though with a lot of help from family!), we knew that it would occur in many stages. Last fall, we put in the edging and planted the grass, trees, and shrubs. By early spring, everything was still growing and doing well--including the weeds that we didn't plant! Unfortunately, we don't have any "before" pictures that document how bad the weeds became--out house almost looked like a foreclosure! But we were eventually able to put down barrier fabric and stones to help keep those weeds at bay--hopefully for many years to come. We also planted some flowers, put up a small retaining wall by the AC unit, and had gutters put onto the house. We still have a lot of work to do in the backyard, but that will probably be next years project.

Helping Daddy put some mulch in the backyard

It's always time for a wheelbarrow ride!

Making sure that the grass level :)

Side of the garage

Front of the house

Corner with Kyler's redbud tree and the small area for planting flowers

Side of the house with the small retaining wall Ryan built

It looks pretty good!

Much delayed announcement of Baby Bebej #2

So most of you already know that we are expecting another little one around October 26. We found out in June that this little "Bean" will be Kyler's baby brother, and we hope they will have great times playing and exploring together. Just like Kyler, this little one has given his mother terrible morning sickness, which required fluids given through IVs to rehydrate. We have been truly blessed to have family close by to help out on the most difficult days, and Ryan has really been amazing. Please keep this little one in your prayers as we prepare for life with two wonderful little boys!

Here are some of the 20-week ultrasound photos:

Bean's little face

His profile

He already has long legs!

Kyler -- June 2013

Kyler had some fun events this month, including his baptism, 18-month checkup, first time watching Daddy play softball, and finding out that he is going to have a little brother. We decided to wait to have Kyler baptized until we felt that we had found a church home. In Bourbonnais, we were still settling in when Kyler was born and hadn't yet decided on a church. Then, once we started to settle down, we were not sure we would be staying in Illinois due to the job opening at Calvin. We moved back to west Michigan last July, where the prospect of "shopping" for a church is daunting due to the number of churches in the area. It took a while for us to find our new church home (Fairway CRC), and then it took even longer for our membership to officially transfer (from Ann Arbor CRC). So this June, we finally baptized a fairly squirmy 18-month-old in front of our friends, family, and new church family. Kyler did very well, and we are truly blessed to have him in our lives. After the baptism, we had a nice family cookout to celebrate, and Kyler and KayLynn had fun playing with all the outdoor toys.

Kyler's 18-month appointment went really well. He is going to be a very tall boy, already measuring almost 3 feet tall (35.25 inches)--the height of some 3-year-olds, according to the pediatrician. He was pretty upset being cooped up in the examination room though and continued to cry the entire appointment until we left the building. I guess he does not like to be confined... Kyler also got his second haircut, and this time we just held him still through all the crying and flailing limbs so that it would just finish quicker. We headed out to watch Daddy's softball game one night, but spent most of it playing on the playground. At a local strawberry farm, Kyler had a great time meeting a little bunny; he squealed with delight anytime it touched him!

During our first month of summer, Kyler already accumulated more time in the water than some people do in their lifetimes! Kyler loves his kiddie pool, but does not think about the shoes he is wearing. So we bought a pair of water shoes and some sandals that he can wear outside and in the pool since they dry so quickly. Part of the fun of the kiddie pool involves throwing rocks (from the landscaping) into the water and making large splashes. I am never surprised to see him reaching into the water to take out rocks from a previous play time, but one morning I was surprised--more like stunned--to see him lift up a dead chipmunk by its tail! That was quickly removed, and the pool was promptly emptied! Kyler also had a lot of fun playing by and in Grandpa and Grandma's pool. He loves to throw things into the pool, and before long, he became brave enough to jump into our arms off the side--typically with his trademark lifted leg. Later in the month, Kyler even started to jump off the diving board into our arms. We have a brave little boy on our hands when it comes to water!

Family photo after his baptism

Grammy and Papa came up for the baptism

Kyler pushing KayLynn on his cart--the poor little kid gets so red when it is warm out!

Action shot in the kiddie pool

Everyone loves to play in the cupboards, right?

"Super" cute shades

Laughing on the bench at Grandpa and Grandma's

Superboy! Had a great time at the Summer Stroll for Epilepsy

The blue balloon dog!

He loved it so much, but it did not last very long

Helping Mommy water the lettuce

Sitting with Daddy on the hammock

A daily task for this little boy: lining up his cars

Whatever it was...he sure liked it!

Jumping into the pool... "Catch me, Grandma!"

One stylish dude!

Just looking cute...but never underestimate him!

Eating at the table like a big boy!

Family picture at the pool

We might have a sugar problem...

Kyler -- May 2013

May can probably be best described as a month of "going." He always seemed to be going somewhere or doing something lately, which thankfully was fun to keep up with. While outside, he keeps us on our toes with all the toys he puts into the road. (Thankfully, Kyler has learned that he is not to go into the road himself, but I am not ever willing to chance it.) We enjoyed going to the park with cousins KayLynn and Mekinley, but the "K's" seem to have little fear of heights and would climb to the top of the tallest slides! Kyler started going down the slides without his Mommy there to go with him or catch him at the bottom. What a daredevil! We had a great play date with my friend Jen and her three boys. Kyler was not the best guest, as he only wanted to sort or play with their toys and became jealous whenever anyone else sat in his Mommy's lap. Sorry, kiddo, but that is how it goes!

Many of our fun times outside were spent doing landscaping. Kyler loves to help in anyway that he can, but especially if it means he can get dirty. With the weather getting warmer, we started to enjoy a little water time in the new kiddie pool on our back patio. When it rains outside, Kyler does not seem to mind a bit and protests whenever he has to go inside. One rather chilly Saturday, Kyler was part of his first Fifth Third River Bank Run competition. We again had lots of visitors in town to participate with us, and Kyler was able to ride around in his stroller during the 5k walk. He had a great time looking around, though at times it seemed to take a village to keep him from getting lost in the crowds. But it was a lot of fun to see him enjoying himself.

Kyler continues to learn quickly, surprising us each day. He started to identify letters of the alphabet from a set of foam tub letters, and he will often bring us letters when we ask for them. His favorite letter by far is "W," which he has a special "dikka-daw" noise for. Often, when the letter is upside down (an "M"), he will turn it over to make it a "W." He loves to run around the house when we say "Go!" and will say it back in return. When we are out in the stores, he will continue to point out letters, especially "O," and smile or clap. His climbing has continued to develop, and now the inside of the tub has become a place of exploration.

Hanging out in the pantry, his favorite little spot before...

...the tub became the new place to play

Up close and cute!

Someone likes his hat!

Trying to fill Daddy's shoes

Who doesn't like to ride in the wheelbarrow?

All the mulch is gone now, leaving nothing to play in!

Before the start of the 5k walk

Kyler doing some exploring on his own!

This kid loves to run around

Sitting with Grandma and waiting for Daddy

Just enjoying some snacks