The Bebej Blog

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Kyler -- January 2014

After a fun couple of months with many holidays, it was nice to have a little down time and just enjoy my boys. We had record amounts of snow and cold temperatures though, which made our explorations outside a bit more difficult. I think that Kyler handled the cabin fever pretty well, much better than his mother at least. We had many play dates and visits to help fill the post holiday void, including a large celebration for Devin's baptism. In Kyler, we have a great ball of energy with a wicked smart brain and big kind heart. Here are some of the highlights from this month:

He is very good at identifying everything (e.g., "orca" for a toy killer whale, all the instruments in the Baby Einstein orchestra DVD).
He likes to go to "Jesus church," which means he knows the important reason we go.
He named one of his Little People after his friend Cohen, and it is always the same one.
He had fun baking muffins with me, often looking in the oven to see what they were doing.
He has not seemed to mind when Devin takes a nap in his crib.
He enjoyed playing with a Barbie house, calling the hot tub a "tubby."
He started to take naps much later in the day, closer to 2 pm now.
He loves to ride the carousel at the mall, often saying "up, up, down, down" while riding.
He has FINALLY started saying "Mommy" for when he needs me.
He had a lot of fun walking around grandpa's work, meeting lots of people.
He continues to love unpacking groceries, often calling them "heavy big."
He said, "I tooted!" while laughing in front of three little girls during a play date after passing gas--I guess this starts pretty young, huh?
He woke up covered in vomit after being sick at night, but did not even cry.
He tried to explain to me "no diaper" when I woke him up one morning...only to find that, yes, he was put to bed without a diaper on (oops, Daddy...).
After eating something spicy, he kept saying "biting tongue" and wanted mommy to "kiss it" while sticking it out.
He loves to have me "nuzzle" his neck after reading that word in a Dr Seuss book.
He had his nails trimmed too short, and it bled a lot!

Enjoying a very BLUE candy cane while shopping

This kid really likes to snuggle...and be cozy!

Find the boy in the basket!

Kyler still LOVES to read

Playing with all his markers, crayons, and pencils...he can tell you what color and what they are!

His "hat" is a piece from his Play-Doh kit

Snow wheelbarrow! We felt like we needed that to move all the snow!

The mowing did not work out so well until I could clear a path

Already working on his winter driving

Looking good in a studly pose!

Gotta love the red cheeks and frog hat!

Snuggled up with lovey

He actually LIKES flashcards and takes them out himself

He has really loved his Alphie...and all the letters again

Such a sweet little boy...

...hiding...

Cheese in the tub!

You might be just a little big for that, little man!

Looking awesome with sunglasses...

...or as Kyler said,"Cool dudes!"

Devin -- Week 15 (1/22/14-1/28/14)

Devin had a bit of a rough week, but I think that he was just fighting something. He was crabby even when in the wrap while grocery shopping. We have started to notice that he is refusing to take bottles, but I keep hoping that just has to do with feeling under the weather. Nap times are becoming much more difficult, and I seem to only get him to sleep for more than half an hour when we are cuddled up together. He is growing up so fast that I have really tried to just enjoy the snuggles rather than my to-do list, and it really has been such wonderful part of my day. More on the positive side, he has been so cute with his tongue sticking out, and he is constantly looking excited and surprised when it comes out. He also has loved to turn 90 degrees in his pack-and-play, and his bedtime has gotten closer to 8:50pm. We have started having him sit in the Bumbo seat more often, and he loves to have his tummy tickled. We enjoyed visiting lots of people and showing off how cute and big he is growing. I continue to love getting to see his personality and all the things he likes and dislikes.

Sporting a bit of Cardinals gear!

What a cute little man, huh?

Chilling out under the gym

He's got that tongue out! He loves it!

Looks a little worried when Mommy sticks her tongue out though

Such a sweet boy when he is happy

Looking up at me in the gym

I think he loves me :)

I love you too, little boy!

Devin -- Week 14 (1/15/14-1/21/14)

This was a week of trying to get naps scheduled and visiting lots new places. Devin continues to love snuggling in my wrap while we go grocery shopping. What is more wonderful than a sleeping baby snuggled up to your chest while your hands are free to get things done and entertain your toddler at the same time? Devin probably also gets millions of kisses on the top of his head during this excursion. This week marked the return of coffee break, but it was bittersweet because I put Devin in nursery to be with the grandmas. I know that I will get so much more out of the lesson, but I have enjoyed our little time cuddling together as well. The grandmas were THRILLED to have a little boy to snuggle with, and Kyler was a great help in telling everyone who his brother was. Kyler loves to be near his brother, and I can only pray that this continues throughout their lives. Devin was in the pack-and-play, and Kyler wanted so desperately to be in there with him. They were so cute and Kyler actually started to hold Devin's hand. Of course, I did not get pictures, but it would have been adorable.

We had a great visit with friends out in Lansing, and both kids traveled well. Devin got to meet their daughter Ashley, who loved to watch him and even got a chance to hold him. Later in the week, we went to visit Sarah and Josie, who also wanted to hold Devin so badly. Josie loves little kids, and Devin was smiling every time she came into view. As the week went on, Devin started to be much more clingy, only wanting to sleep in my arms. As much as I wanted to get things done, I know all too well that this often stops way too soon, so I tried to just enjoy it. Unfortunately, all this cuddling is probably due to the fact that he is starting to get a little stuffy with a cold.

Snuggling during nap time

Hanging out with Mommy

Boppy time!

Keeping an eye on his brother

Getting pretty tired out

Such a happy guy, even if mommy has a camera shadow in the picture

So many cute faces...

Looking shy...

Happy!

Relaxed...

Devin...so cute!

Devin -- Week 13 (1/8/14-1/14/14)

We had a special event this week: Devin's baptism! He did so well up in front of the church, smiling at the pastor and later having a grumpy look on his face when the water was on his head. His brother was "entertaining" and at one point even laid down on the ground. We were blessed to have many family and friends attend and celebrate with us afterward for lunch at the church. We continue to covet prayers for our sweet boys as we raise them and they grow into the strong, kind, and God-loving men we hope for.

The rest of the week consisted of many attempts at getting naps at a regular time, as well as starting to shift Devin's bedtime to a more manageable time (right now it is about 9:30pm). We also switched him out of the rock-and-play this week to the pack-and-play (Kyler will remain in the crib for a few more months after things settle down from the holidays). Devin is still not a big fan of tummy time, but Kyler always reminds me and wants more of it. He is a big helper and tries to bring all kinds of things for Devin to see. Devin does pretty well when his chest is propped up with the Boppy or a football pillow that we got from Great Grandpa Tony. We had a lot of fun with Grammy and Papa coming up to visit for the baptism, as well as a play date with our friends Jen, Emma, and Kate.

All my boys together! Lots of energy, which is why Daddy looks so tired

What a handsome boy...just like Daddy

Papa and Devin

Sunday afternoon nap with Daddy

Someone is happy...check out the cheeks!

What a great little boy!

My little charmer

Devin -- Week 12 (1/1/14-1/7/14)

We had a week of transitions this week after all the holidays. We had the fun time of taking all the decorations down. Devin did not seem to mind the vacuum cleaner at all, but it was Duncan's barking that seemed to really upset him. Devin has been smiling a lot more, and it has been great to watch him enjoy seeing his brother. Kyler is the one person who always seems to make Devin happy, even if he is getting bonked with a few books. Kyler, in turn, loves to help with Devin, often wanting to be by my side at bath time. He tries to help rinse Devin off, but tends to pour water on his face. (Sometimes I wonder if Kyler is water-boarding his brother!) We have tried to get into a more concrete nap and sleeping schedule, with bedtimes around 9:30pm or earlier. We have been primarily using disposable diapers until this week and have had to adjust to many more leaks with the cloth ones.

With very cold weather and lots of snow, we did not leave the house often, but we still had time to go to church. Our whole family was in nursery together, with Devin hanging out with some wonderful ladies while Ryan and I spent time with the toddlers. Devin did not seem to mind, but I was a bit worried with having him being in nursery so young. We had many of my past youth group girls come over to visit, and they enjoyed holding Devin. We also made a quick trip to Grandpa and Grandma's house to use the sewing machine. Tummy time has been going well, but Kyler is usually the one that reminds me and wants to have it go much longer than Devin does. Devin does like to look around, but tires out fairly quickly (he does have a pretty big head to lift).