The Bebej Blog

Christmas 2013

With a 2-month-old and a 2-year-old, Christmas was really busy this year. We tried to make things as easy as we could, but we still had a great time celebrating. We started out the season with the Van Dyke extended family Christmas party, where many of our relatives met Devin for the first time. Kyler loves his second cousins, and I think that they might like him a bit too. We have the most amazing babysitters in the family, if only we had time to use them...perhaps a 2014 resolution? We celebrated with the Wiersum side next, which included decorating cookies and lots of fun. On Christmas Eve, we went to Mars Hill with family and enjoyed watching Kyler dance in the aisles to the music. I am sure that Jesus was smiling to see such a joyous little boy worshiping him with movement! We had a really nice low-key Christmas day with our little family before heading out to Princeton to see the Bebej family. We had a great time stopping to see great grandparents, and we even stayed a night with our friends the Johnsons on the way home.

We have been so blessed, and even though it was a very busy season, Devin and Kyler have truly been gifts that we continue to cherish as we remember our Savior's birth.

Sleeping at Meijer Gardens while looking at Christmas Trees...maybe next year?

One of the very few moments he is still for a picture

Loved looking at the trees and letting us know if there is "star" or "no star" on top

Happy boy running around in Meijer Gardens

Standing by one of the many trees!

Daddy always teaching...this time about plants

The "choo choo" was by far the highlight for Kyler

Picture of the boys by the train

"Star, Mommy!"

I have the cutest sleigh riding buddy: "Giddy-up, horsey!"

Someone really loves his sprinkles...we had to reign him in a bit

Loves to decorate cookies

My boy and his second cousins...he loved every minute of the girl time!

"What do you mean we have to stop to eat?"

Looking good in his Santa hat

Trying on his "Wise Men" crown

Matching Christmas jammies

Kyler's new bike--watch out, world (this spring)!

Great Grandma Linda with Kyler

Great Grandpa Tony with the boys

Keira doing a great job with Devin

Great Grandpa Hodge meeting Devin

The boys with Great Grandma and Grandpa Hodge

Christmas time with Grammy and Papa

Wiersum family Christmas picture

Daddy's basketball, but I think Kyler will give it some love too

Someone loves his Christmas cookies

All dressed up in his Christmas sleeper!

Great Grandma Van Dyke with the kiddos

Jesus' birthday cake

Snuggling with Aunt Lynsey

All "dolled up" after Christmas Eve church

Family picture time

Jammied up with Louisa watching some Bubble Guppies

Devin -- Week 10 (12/18/13-12/24/13)

The big grins have begun, and we love it! Devin has had a lot of fun meeting so many new people and visiting during the holidays, but the best part is that he seems so happy, and his smiles are starting to show it. Unfortunately, because we have been so busy going places, we have not had time to take a lot of pictures or video this week to capture evidence of those great smiles. Along with all the smiles, this has been a week of a lot of spitting up, which makes for many outfit changes (for both Mommy and Devin). Devin continues to grow fast, now starting to out grow many of the 3-month outfits, which means that some of the Christmas clothes we have are a bit cramped. Daddy has been home for break, which means that Devin has enjoyed so many more snuggles and cuddles on his chest.

We visited Grandma at work for her birthday with cousins and Aunt Lori. He slept through most of it, but seemed to enjoy meeting a lot of her co-workers. We had Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Wiersum and family. He enjoyed lots of cuddling, especially with Uncle Matt during gift opening. We went as a family to see the trains and trees at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, which Devin slept through and Kyler loved, we cuddled through a Christmas Eve church service before spending the evening with family. The holiday season is great with kids, no matter how busy it is. We are very blessed now to have Devin and Kyler!

So cute in his Christmas jammies

Snuggling with Great Grandma Van Dyke

Sleeping in the double stroller at Meijer Gardens

Yep, super excited about the orchids...maybe some day?

Devin -- Week 9 (12/11/13-12/17/13)

On the day Devin turned eight weeks old, he decided to sleep through the night and has never looked back! I could not believe the first night he did not wake up from 10:15pm to almost 7:30am. Every night after that, I have just waited for the crying, but he would just keep sleeping or be calmly playing in his crib. What a great sleeper! His naps are not the best, but how could I complain, right? Devin loves to have his feet free, and whenever he seems to be getting fussy, I just free his little piggies, and that almost always gives me a great little smile. Kyler will often come to help when I change him, and this week he climbed up the changing table to kiss the top of Devin's head. I just love to see how kind Kyler is to his brother, but I do not have any illusions that this will last forever. We had our first Christmas party, where Devin enjoyed meeting new people as long as Mommy was the one holding him. He did nap a bit in the arms of others, but for the most part, he is still a very vocal Mommy's boy.

We went to the doctor's office for his two-month appointment, and I was not surprised to find out that he now weighs 14 lbs 3 oz and is 24.5 inches long. Compared to Kyler (yes, we know we shouldn't compare, but they are growing very similarly), he is about 1 lb lighter and a quarter inch taller at the same age. Of course, shots were horrible, but after a quick feeding in the office, he was fine and rode home in the car sleeping.

Brotherly love...don't mind the shadows

We might be doing a bit of business here...

...and now we just look a bit sleepy

Having fun making faces on the bed with Mommy

Such a sweet little guy

Sacked out at the Van Dyke Christmas party

Enjoying his feet free

Watching the butterflies attached to his gym

Another shadow, but what a cute face!

Tubby time!

Starting to make some waves before...

...we kick up a storm!

Devin -- Week 8 (12/4/13-12/10/13)

Devin has already been a very different kid than Kyler, and as much as they say not to compare your children, it is really hard not to. I am not saying that one is better than the other, because I love them both so much, but you do need to adjust what used to work for one when dealing with the other. Kyler used to love going for walks, but he hated the wrap, Devin has not loved walks yet, and he definitely loves to be snuggled in the wrap. We will continue to just wait and see what other things these boys differ on, but no matter what, I am excited to enjoy their unique personalities. Devin really loves to be with his Mommy. When I go to coffee break at church, I have no problem with others holding him, but he disagrees. I feel so bad that he will cry when being held by these wonderful women until he is passed back to me. I know that he is still young and that smell is so important right now, but I want him to not be afraid of others.

Devin has begun to roll to one side and will often just hang out there, sometimes falling asleep. Daddy loves to have him sleep on his chest while watching sports, while Kyler continues to bring copious amounts of toys for him to play with. He is growing really fast and is already in 6-months clothing (Kyler was the same at this stage too...again the comparisons). He has discovered the fun of kicking water at bath time. He enjoyed "decorating" cookies at his grandparents' house, but he preferred to watch from the arms of an adult. I love to hear him talk to me as he just plays on the ground--his noises are so much fun.