Devin turns 1!

I still cannot believe that my little jumping bean is already a year old! He has been such a blessing to my life, and it is always amazing for me to realize just how similar and vastly different he is form Kyler. I continue to enjoy our snuggles together, even though they are becoming more and more infrequent. I am truly blessed to be your Mommy, Devin!

Dino birthday cake!

Hanging out with Grammy before the party

Papa and Devin

My boys!

What a cutie!

Getting so big!

Peace, dude!

Hanging in the jumper before the party

Someone likes his balloons

Trying his cake

He loved destroying it

It's yummy!

I cannot believe he is already one!

Happy birthday, Devin!

Devin -- Week 52 (10/8/14-10/15/14)

This week marks the last week of Devin's first year of life. I cannot believe how fast time has gone, and I am truly blessed to have him in my life. He has finally started to feel better after being so sick last week, which means many more smiles and hours of sleep. His morning naps have become very short, if not nonexistent, and I am not sure how I feel about it. His poor morning naps may have to do with the Benadryl in his throat medicine. His Daddy often feels funny with it too, so maybe it keeps him awake rather than making him drowsy. However, I also know that Kyler started to give up morning naps around the same age, so I guess the time is coming.

Devin tried a few new foods like pumpkin and nectarines this week, which he loved. He has been rolling everywhere, and sometimes he finds himself in funny situations with Duncan. Thankfully, our dog just deals with it and does not seem to mind when Devin has his legs of his back or rolls right under his head. Devin continues to have teeth coming in as well, which is no fun when getting over an illness. Poor kiddo--hopefully he will catch a break soon! Love you little dude!

Someone loves his books

So glad he gets excited to read!

My sweet boys in a field holding hands

Hanging out with Daddy (yes, that is a prescription bottle filled with popcorn kernels that we use as a shaker)

My "star"

He loves to stand up, but still no crawling

Such a happy jumper

My sweet boys...

...they love being together

Devin -- Week 51 (10/1/14-10/7/14)

This year is coming to a close so quickly! I cannot believe that this sweet boy has been in my life for almost a year already, but I also can't imagine him not being here. He really seems to make our family full, and I love watching Kyler and him interact. I hope and pray that they will always be friends before they are even brothers. I am not the only one that seems to call Devin "sweet" because almost every Wednesday that I go to pick him up at Bible study, the ladies always comment on how sweet he is. Since he has been sitting so much, we thought that the inflatable seal tub would be fun for bath time, and sure enough, he loves to grab the face of the animal just like his brother did. He also tried a new food: black beans! He loved them and just could not get them into his mouth fast enough.

Later in the week, Devin started to get more fussy and just really wanted to be with me. I had to go get him early on Thursday at coffee break because he would not stop crying. Later that week in church nursery, Ryan and I were helping in the toddler section, but Devin just would not settle for the ladies in the infant section, so I went in to get him. On Monday, I could tell something was bothering him. He hated to be put down, and he was not eating very well, which is NOT something very common with him. I took him into the doctor, and he had a low grade fever (he had it for the last couple of days), so I thought it might be an ear infection, but I was wrong. The doctors found blisters in his throat and white patches in his mouth which meant that he had both herpangina (throat blisters and really sore throat) as well as thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth). The poor little guy could only take this medicine called "magic mouth wash," but I could not get a pharmacy to fill it because they were out or did not carry it. Finally, after calling several places, we found one, but the doctor had written the wrong dose, so we had to wait again. Ryan was, of course, gone that night (always when something happens, right?), but he was able to leave early to pick it up. When Devin woke up late that night, he got some medicine and snuggled onto my chest. I loved having him sleep on me, and I cannot get over how long he is becoming, but I so wish he was feeling better. There were not many pictures this week because he was so needy and feeling yucky.

Rolling all over the place

Someone likes Kyler's crocs

Kyler -- September 2014

Kyler has been growing up so much, and I cannot believe that he is going to be three in such a short time. He has become so funny and loves to be around people. We had a lot of fun staying in a hotel for the first time with the kids for Keith and Nicole's wedding, and Kyler loved it. Kyler travels really well and just loves to meet people. Along with all of this fun comes the realization that he is growing up so fast. He has started to get out of his bed on his own, often having shorter naps and getting up earlier than I would like. Kyler has been showing us his stubborn side as well, and I often cannot believe how whiny he can be if he really wants something. We all continue to grow and learn as each month passes, but here are some of my favorite memories from September.

• We had a Labor Day celebration and got Kyler his own ice cream cone (a whole waffle cone)--he ate the whole thing!
• He loves to show Devin all kinds of toys, but especially letters and his zoo animals.
• He has loved pretending to be a baby so he can be cuddled.
• He had a great time helping me make guacamole and kept calling it "macaroni."
• We had a candlelight dinner together and saw a rainbow for the first time after a storm.
• When he gets ready for a bath, he says that he wants to "take my dress off, Mommy."
• He loves to play Wii games with Daddy, especially Coconut Mall course on Mario Kart.
• He has fun "doing" my hair for me.
• He went to nursery for the last time...Mommy welled up for a moment!
• He did a dance that looked like the ballet dance in the Wiggles "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
• Great Grandpa Tony Bebej came over and had a great time playing trains with him.
• After coughing a lot at night, he took a 3+ hour nap and then told me, "No want to get up, Mommy"
• He went to BSF for the first time, and when I asked him what he learned he told me, "Jesus...he a treasure, Mommy," which just melted my heart.
• He had a great time with "my new friends" when we had Calvin students over for dinner.
• He sat in the chair all by himself and listened well during his haircut.
• He had his first time going to Little Lambs at church and had no fear of going up in front of the whole congregation for the children's message. 
• He loves to wear matching clothes with his brother.
• He has become so good at riding bikes, scooters, and other outdoor toys.
• He went to Bible story hour during coffee break and started singing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Deep and Wide" in the car.
• He did not nap the whole 3+ hour car ride to Nicole and Keith's wedding, but loved reading books the whole time.
• He had a great time in the hotel with the elevator and jumping on the beds. We snuggled and had a great time "sleeping," while Kyler hogged most of the bed.
• He loved going to the wedding and seeing all his fun cousins and family.
• He likes to watch Monsters Inc. and actually will sit through a lot of it. 
• He said, "I make him happy, Mommy," when he brought a toy over to Devin.
• After getting his flu vaccine, we both got ice cream cones.
• He had a great time at the Calvin biology picnic, where he hung out with friends and students.
• He had a great time with his babysitter Abby, and right away the next morning, he asked when she could come back.
• He has been coloring pictures on the iPad all by himself. 

Kyler and Grace at the biology picnic

The skeleton twins 

Kyler loves to match his brother!

With cousin Keira

"Daddy, I want to sit in that cheese!"

Someone likes the slide

What a great smile!

Reading a book about one of Daddy's favorite animals

Someone loves to dress up

Snuggle time with Mommy

A boy and his dog

Riding a scooter...

...a balance bike...

...and a big wheel

He still loves his lovey

Devin -- Week 50 (9/24/14-9/30/14)

Devin started to get pretty sick this week. It is fall, which means most kids get some kind of bug, but just when Devin seems to be getting over one cold, he comes down with another one. At the start of the week, he was really good for the ladies in BSF, but that evening we had the Calvin biology picnic. Devin loves to grab for anything that is in front of him, which can make for a very difficult meal for the person sitting with him. He did enjoy watching all the students and professors from a blanket with me, and it amazes me that a year ago, I was barely able to keep up with Kyler at this picnic because I was so pregnant with Devin.

The following day, he seemed to have a pretty stuffy nose, so we stayed home from coffee break and just tried to get better. Speaking of stuffy, this little boy loves to stuff his mouth full of food, and I often have to make sure to only give him little amounts so he does not choke on a mouthful. He started to feel better and had a nice time with a babysitter while we were at a wedding, but soon he was sniffling and coughing again. He actually had a decreased appetite, but still loved mashed potatoes. We have really loved the weather and have tried to take advantage of it by having many walks in the park as a family. Devin loves to look at the trees, and I hope he always likes to be outside. 

Silly kiddo looking around at all the trees on our walk in the park

What a ham, huh? 

He loves to make faces!

He is already a bit of a ladies man!

My silly love bug!

Devin -- Week 49 (9/17/14-9/23/14)

We had a very busy week with a new big adventure...an out-of-state wedding! The week started out well with Devin enjoying his time at Bible study and getting to spend time with nice ladies at our church on Thursday morning. He was not the happiest child for them at the end of coffee break, but not getting morning naps two days in a row can be tough. Devin loves to watch out the window as Ryan mows the yard. He starts to jump up and down on my lap anytime the lawn mower passes by the window. Another thing this little boy loves is being naked. Yep, he loves to be undressed and almost instantly has a smile on his face. Devin tried spinach and grapes this week for new foods, and he really seemed to like them both!

On Friday, we took a 3+ hour trip to Wheaton, IL, for Nicole (Ryan's sister) and Keith's wedding. Devin did so well in the car on the way there! He slept great and did not get too fussy at all. In the hotel, he enjoyed rolling all over the floor on a blanket we brought and having a picnic without having to worry about Duncan eating his food. He slept really well in the hotel in his pack and play, waking up almost exactly at 8:00am our time. He loved getting to see family at breakfast time, but the puffs all over the floor after his breakfast probably upset whoever had to clean them up (we love having a dog!). At the wedding, Devin was hungry and tired, so he was not the happiest, but he did enjoy smiling with family for pictures. During the wedding, he was a little talkative, so he and his brother took some walks with me outside to not disturb the event. At the reception, Devin was pretty sleepy and had to be walked around a lot to keep him calm. Considering the time change, different routine, and poor naps, he really did very well! What was really a big surprise was that despite his tiredness, he stayed awake the whole car ride home! He was really good though, so that made things very easy yet again. We are truly blessed with a sweet boy who just rolls with life and takes it all in stride.

Hanging out with Aunt Kim at the wedding

My sweet little wedding date!

What a busy little roller!

My sweet little moose

Thinking about crawling...nah

This kid loves to be outside!

Baby in a blanket...playing peek-a-boo

Yep, he might eat more than his older brother right now

Devin -- Week 48 (9/10/14-9/16/14)

This week was the start of fall and all the busyness that comes with it. We had our first outing to Bible Study Fellowship, where Devin was in a room with maybe 5-6 other kiddos close to his age. It was really great to see him cuddled and loved by adults, and when I get there to pick him up, he is happy or snuggled up in someone's arms. Later that same day, Devin was snuggled by another Calvin student, as we had Ryan's summer research assistant and his girlfriend over for dinner to say thank you. Devin is a very chilled out kid, and even though he does not smile as much as Kyler did at this age, he is very easygoing and loves to watch everything going on. When I have Olivia over to babysit, he often likes to smile at and interact with her, even if that means taking her toys away. Devin also seems to think that when kids cry, it is the funniest thing ever. He loves to laugh when his brother is crying, and it makes me wonder where he got it from.

He has been growing up and trying new foods like cheese, but he has also been exploring more and more. He still does not crawl or pull up, but this kid can get anywhere he wants to by rolling. He will even turn himself 360 degrees on his belly to change directions. He can push back and roll over and over again to change the direction he wants to go, but the one thing he cannot do is go forward. He has also been trying to put his face in the water when he gets baths. He does not seem to mind water in his face when his hair is washed, and he splashes like crazy. He has four very puffy spots on his gums where more teeth are starting to push through, and he giggles whenever I play with his bottom lip. It is so much fun to watch this quirky kiddo becoming who he is meant to be.

My little anatomist

Kyler loves to match his little brother

My little sports

Chewing...best way to help the teeth

Silly boy!

"Watcha doing upside-down?"