Devin -- Week 3 (10/30/13-11/5/13)

There have been a lot of firsts for Devin this week. On my birthday, we all loaded up and headed to Hagar Park for our first walk as a family of four (plus Duncan). It was so nice to stretch our legs and enjoy the nice fall colors. Devin also went to his first coffee break Bible study with me, and since he is a little young to be in nursery, he enjoyed being cuddled by so many wonderful women while we did our lesson. Devin enjoyed his first Halloween, dressing up as Batman while his brother was Superman and Daddy was Green Lantern. He spent most of the time snuggling with Aunt Lynsey or Grandma while his older brother and cousin KayLynn braved the rain for some candy. He also went to his first church service, but he slept through almost all of it, which is exactly what we want at this age.

Devin continues to grow, already moving onto three-month clothes just like his brother did at this age. We had our two-week appointment and found out that he now weighs 10 pounds and 6 ounces and is 22.5 inches in length. For comparison, Kyler was over a pound heavier and a quarter inch shorter. Kyler continues to love Devin and is often very gentle when he touches him. He loves to bring him toys, almost always surrounding him with things that he thinks Devin would like to play with. Almost every night, Kyler gently kisses Devin on the head without being reminded. Devin is one loved little boy.

Snuggled in the bouncy seat

Mommy having a little fun with blocks...

...but my subject was so cute

Someone likes to kick his legs

A little smile when I try to tell him about a bath

Look at those tiny little leggies!

Just another just cute face

Sleeping on Grandpa

Looking so sweet

Four generations

My sweet boy

He's Batman!

Devin -- Week 2 (10/23/13-10/29/13)

Devin has been such a special and sweet baby. I cannot believe that he has already been getting up only one or two times at night. The best part of his late night wake ups is the cute little giggle that he sometimes has when he is just falling asleep. I love it so much that I ALMOST look forward to his night wakings. Kyler has really enjoyed being by his brother, and it has often resulted in Mommy trying to hold both boys in her lap at once. Thankfully, Kyler listens well when I remind him to be gentle and careful around his brother. We all went on our first family outing to the store, and little Devin shopped like a champ, sleeping through the whole thing. We had fun visiting the pumpkin patch to see all the animals and pick out pumpkins. We also visited Grandma at her work and took some walks outside when the weather was nice. Devin has still been having long periods of sleep during the day, but he has been so wide-eyed when he is awake, wanting to see everything that is going on around him.

He loves to nap in the swing

In the "magic" pink bouncy seat

Loving Daddy snuggles

Baby snuggles are the best...wish they would last forever!

Back in the swing

Looking around while getting a diaper change

"Hi, Bright Eyes!"

Someone looks like he is thinking 

Devin's arrival -- October 16, 2013

Our second son had a due date of October 26, but decided he needed to come a little bit early. At my OB appointment during the morning of October 15, he was really quiet during the non-stress test, so the doctor decided to do an ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed that he was not as responsive as they would like, so they thought it would be best for him to join us early, just to be safe. Ryan was extremely surprised when I called and asked him if he was ready to go to the hospital for us to have the baby, but I was ready to meet out little boy. Everything at the hospital went smoothly, and Devin Matthew Bebej joined us at 2:30 in the morning on October 16. He was 9 lbs and 2 oz, 21 1/2 inches long, and loved immediately. We were not sure of what name we were going to use (we were still debating between two), but Ryan finally felt that Devin was a better fit (even though he initially favored the other name). We spent a few days in the hospital, where he was loved and visited by so many family and friends. Big brother Kyler was not sure about the hospital, but did not seem too upset with Devin arrived home. It was an overwhelming feeling of love and joy as I got to see my sons interact together for the first time!

Devin's arrival

Snuggled up in his little hat

Sleeping peacefully in the bassinet

Such a sweet boy

Tired, but very happy family!

Already has hair just like Kyler did

Long kiddo!

Meeting cousin KayLynn and Aunt Lori

Aunt Lynsey meeting her new nephew

Great Grandma came to visit

Proud Daddy...

...and curious big brother

Getting to know his dinofier

Keeping warm in his blanket

Safely at home in the swing

Me and my boys!

Kyler -- September 2013

This was a month of many changes, and Kyler became so much more independent and helpful. The biggest news was probably that Kyler moved to his "big boy room," but still in his crib to keep him a little more contained. Right from the beginning, he has loved his new room and been sleeping just as well as upstairs, sometimes taking even longer naps! After the third day in his room though, he did climb out of his crib. We knew that he was probably capable of doing this, but when he did and crashed, I think he scared himself enough to not try it again. He did not seem to miss his old room that much, but has been fascinated with the baby swing's music. I guess he likes classical music!

He began doing so many interactions, such a telling Duncan to "sit" when we are eating. Duncan has not started listening to him yet, but he is very authoritative. He loves to eat his cereal in a bowl with milk and really no longer eats in a high chair but will climb onto a chair and eat with us at the table. He is so helpful with groceries, often taking everything out one by one and giving them to me, which allows me to not have to bend down. I love this! When he is asked to put something away, he will, even if he does not fully know where. When he was asked to put away a dirty shirt, he put it in a "basket" like he was asked--it just happened to be the diaper basket. He will put all the toys away in the tub when asked to and go to his crib or the changing table when asked to go for a nap or diaper change. He loves to grab your hand when he wants you to go somewhere and will often point to the ground where he wants you to sit.

We were able to visit ArtPrize again downtown, and as much as he enjoyed the first couple of pieces of art, Kyler soon became frustrated being confined to the stroller and wanted to move on his own. He has loved watching the school buses go by our windows and often will watch and wait for them in the mornings. Kyler has witnessed pregnant Mommy's need to use the "potty" often, which has helped him learn the word and what it means. He will often race to beat me to the potty and will sit on the lid staring up at me, sometimes with a book he has taken with him. We went to the mall to buy a few things for the baby, and Kyler and Daddy had a fun time on the carousel. Kyler picked out the "doggy" to ride (which happened to be a cat), but he was so excited that we did not have the heart to correct him. Either way, our lives have been filled with "uh-ohs" and "boo-boo" kissing, as well as trying to snort like a pig or sound like an elephant. We have a little shadow who wants to do whatever we are doing!

In a small pillow fort

Yummy yogurt

Duncan waiting for apple bits to fall

Hitting with Daddy

Hitting without Daddy

Ready, aim, throw!

Snuggling up on the big bear

Riding the carousel with Daddy

Cats at ArtPrize

Touching the dragon at ArtPrize

Ringing a bell at ArtPrize

Kyler -- August 2013

August has been a lot of fun with a lot of activities and learning this month. We started out the month enjoying something that most kids do -- sidewalk chalk -- but soon discovered that it turned EVERYTHING a different color and did not wash out of the clothes that Kyler was wearing. We visited a few parks, and Kyler loves slides and would go to the highest point with no fear and not wait for any help to go down if not carefully supervised. He definitely does not have his mother's fear of heights currently -- that is for sure! One trait he really does share with Mommy is his propensity for neatness because there are times he does not want to leave the nursery at church because he is too busy picking up toys. I hope that stays with him!

Ryan took his last research trip of the summer before having a nice 1.5 weeks off before the start of the fall semester. But before then, Melissa had her great friend Melissa (yep -- same name) stay with us. We took her to the farmer's market, enjoyed time at the pool (which included a bit of Kyler streaking), and picking fresh blueberries in the great outdoors. Kyler loved the blueberries and especially the long rows for the boy to explore and run around. During Ryan's time off, we had a great time visiting the Hudsonville Fair and meeting all kinds of different animals. We visited Cabela's and Kyler pointed out the "doggies" at the entrance (a large exhibit of wolves -- close enough, right?). We visited friends and had our last pool parties of the summer, knowing that next year we will have just as much (if not more) fun!

Kyler has really gotten better at expressing his wants (though sometimes not the best desires), but we are getting to see more and more what our little guy likes. Kyler can be very stubborn about walks and often does not like to return home when directed. He loves to climb into his high chair on his own, but prefers even more to sit at the table and eat like a big boy. His volcabulary has been growing so fast that it is hard to remember words that he has learned or which ones he just picks up. He will follow instructions so well, but really only when he wants to (not much different from everyone, right?), and we hope that this continues when the baby comes so we can have him help us get things and throw things away.

Unfortunately, we have very few photos and videos from this month. In fact, the video below is actually from the beginning of September 2013.

With the whole Wiersum family

With cousins KayLynn and Josie

With Great Grandpa Tony and Great Grandma Linda

 

Kyler's new room -- August 2013

With the new baby 5-6 weeks away, we wanted to get Kyler used to his new room before we throw a real curve ball into his life. We spent a long time looking at bedding that reflected his enormous love of cars and found a really cute set, but I was disappointed when I noticed that there was not a stitch of blue in it. I wanted to do stripes on his wall and after debating between colors that seemed to match rival football teams, we went with the red, white, and grey stripes (yes, we know they are OSU colors, but our other option was MSU green -- clearly, a lose-lose situation). We do have a twin bed for Kyler, but with him not even being two years old, we thought that one change at a time would be best. So Kyler is currently in the crib until possibly after the holidays. Ryan, Grandpa, and Grandma are the amazing painters that made the stripes look so great!

The stripes!

My mom helped with the pictures and shortening the drapes

My brother's old dresser with the bookshelf we found at a garage sale

"Go-go" bedding for Kyler