So this has been a bit of a challenging month for our family. I have for the most part still been in bed this month but working on coming out more often. Ryan started working again so that meant we have had lots of great help with the boys. Devin and Kyler have been very good about just being flexible, but I have a lot of fun how often they join me in the bed when they are home. I am craving picking Devin up, but that will come with time. Overall this was a month where Devin has become more independent and at times a bit on the defiant side. Here are a few highlights of the new year.
Devin actually sat next to Ryan and enjoyed watching some football together
We did pack up the Christmas tree and decorations, which cause Devin to giggle the whole time
Had so much fun going outside to help shovel the driveway with his new shovel he got for Christmas
Devin still continues to fight us like crazy when he has to have a diaper change. At one point he actually got poop on the wall, himself and Ryan's face!
The new book "Dear Zoo" he got for Christmas has become a favorite, and read OFTEN
Loves to climb and stand up on furniture, including dinner tables
Has become the easier kid to shop with
While eating has starting putting his feet up on the table or pushing away from it when he is done
Still does not say much other than "Mama, Dada and Baby" but said "Tick" when I tickled him
Does not normally eat pancakes but while at Uncle Matt and Aunt Lori's he would sneak bits of them when no one is looking
Love to pull people around by their fingers or by the hem of there shirt/shorts
While sitting with me at the table, he kept feeding me raw broccoli over and over again (which is not my favorite) and kept giggling. At least it got him to try it too
Devin and Kyler both like to take my crutches away when I come into the living room, leaving me stranded until someone can return them
Still loves to play with the Mr Potato Head glasses
While doing stickers with me, he had his lovey pretend to do stickers and just kept laughing
Just like his brother, he loves to play with letters
Not happy when had to stay inside and watch the others shovel the driveway
We had fun giggling while watching family videos together
This kid STILL hates to have his hair washed
Has started to show me W and M and how he has to flip them to change, also with letters N and Z.
This kid LOVES yogurt!
Devin has a love/hate relationship with Duncan. He loves to feed him, but then gets upset when he eats what he offers him, especially if it is something that he likes to eat
While at Costco with daddy he tried a black bean burger and liked it!
Started to drink from a regular straw! FINALLY!
Loves to grab Daddy's basketball and roll it or bounce it in the house
When he wants to snuggle, he will often go and get his blanket, pulling it through the crib rails
When Daddy went to get donuts, Devin went right up to the box and tried to get into them
Devin continues to eat well, enjoying chicken tenders but still hates chocolate milk
Another favorite book "Snuggle the Baby" which has him doing "so big" and "hug the baby"
Loves to pull down his zipper on his winter coat...every...single...time!
Finally getting his top molars in!
Wanted to play games with his brother, and did try but hard to focus
Started saying "yeah" for Daddy and nodding head more often
Enjoyed a egg and cheese flat bread sandwich from Subway which is great because this kid does not like to eat bread!
Getting ready for heading out into the snow!
He loves to take the crayons in and out, not so much color with them
Lovey lost his head, but Devin still wanted to snuggle with it...kind of creepy!
This month has been a lot of fun times playing in the big bed with me. Kyler has had a lot of fun doing games, art projects and even watching a few shows on my computer with me. We have been a little relaxed on screen time but it has been fun to spend some time with this kiddo 1:1 in bed. He has loved going to so many people's houses and often asked who is baby sitting him for the rest of the week. I am starting to wonder if he is even going to want me back to my former self! Here are a few fun highlights for this month:
Had a great time sharing a favorite tradition, watching the Rose Parade with Kyler in bed
After the parade with me, he enjoyed a little time watching football with Daddy
When we took the Christmas tree down, he loved bring me the ornaments and matching the boxes
We started watching Muppet Babies on my computer together
Had so much fun picking out more Star Wars Mashers characters and sticker book with his Christmas money
Went back to school and was very polite
Has had so much fun creating things with Legos and Duplos
Working on cutting by using old magazines
Had so much fun running around and having Devin chase and giggle with him.
While at Uncle Matt and Aunt Lori's made a really fun bead art project
Has enjoyed typing "passwords" on my phone in the notes section and also rearranged all my icons on my screen!
Loved watching Inside Out and popcorn together
We made cheesecake together and it was so great to have him help me
Had his first snow day!
When Ryan went out there to snowblower, had fun walking with him
While outside, Kyler hid so well that Ryan could not find him and became very worried because he did not come out when called. Kyler is a very good hider and we were worried he was lost or kidnapped! Now we did rules to make sure he knows when to stop hiding
Had fun tackling and playing out in the snow with the neighbors
Kyler is such a very good helper when it comes to picking up toys!
He keeps asking how many days until my knee is better, guess he wants me back
Started to play Mario Kart Wii on his own!
Had fun sledding with Daddy and later pulling Devin in it too.
Loved looking for a gingerbread man at school
Came up with a game of angry birds to do with blocks and Grandpa throwing things
Took too many muffins and tried to hide to eat them! Sneaky kiddo
Likes to give his playing "chapter titles" like "Hide the Falcon"
Had fun sharing my donut for breakfast but wanted to keep eating mine and not let me try his
Had a great time at Gymnastics Unlimited jumping into the foam pits and balance beams
Designed his own "X-wing fighter" by adding stickers and coloring a leftover diaper box
Loves games, but did not handle losing very well.
Had a great time eating Ham and Cheese from Subway, now the meal he always requests.
With Devin now two we thought that the Christmas season would be a lot more exciting for him, but it just wasn't. He was still not that interested in opening presents, nor did he want to help with the cookie decorating. We did have fun with him pointing and looking at the tree, also trying too keep him from "un-decorating" most of the time. With my knee surgery before Christmas, it was a different type of season for all of us, but we all were together, safe and healthy celebrating Jesus which is one of the best ways to celebrate. Here are a few highlights of the month:
Devin loves to stand in the doorway to watch the garage door go down when we get home
He loves to bring me his shoes when I put on mine or anytime I say "go bye-bye?"
Did not want to help with decorating cookies at all but he did enjoy the frosting on top of the cookies!
Has had fun with the window clings, often licking and kissing the windows too. Not very clean
When walking to drop off Kyler at school he stops at the beginning of the sidewalk, not the edge of the street because that is what I have told him when we talk walks. Even if I am up further to see around cars, he waits until I say okay to walk closer to the street, Good boy!
He LOVES to put stickers on things, and gets the best smile on his face while doing it!
Tried very hard to help the repairman to fix the dishwasher
When Kyler tries to say good night to him, he runs away and giggles to have his brother chase him
This kid is very stubborn at times, and at church when he was eating a cookie, he would not move at all when they were trying to wheel a bunch of chairs past him. We asked nicely and he just shock his head no, standing his ground
He LOVES to climb all over our furniture. ALL OVER
His favorite book right now is Good Night Moon
While going for a walk outside, he refused to keep his winter hat on!
At the library, he loved to hold onto a book and carry it everywhere
At the Calvin College Biology Christmas party, he loved going up to the terrariums with the turtles and seeing them up close through the glass
Devin likes to pretend to not want to get out of his crib in the morning as soon as you walk into the room he will lay back down
At the Van Dyke Christmas party Devin giggled over getting to poke Jell-O and riding on the scooters with so many wonderful cousins
After I had surgery, he and his brother would not go near me much, but soon wanted to snuggle with me in bed
Ryan was able to clip his nails, that is pretty huge here!
Whenever I wear a shirt with letters, he loves to point at them and sometimes one will make him smile, giggle and bury his head into my chest...I love those
Had Taco Bell and LOVED it. He ate more cheese quesadilla then his brother.
When Kyler is in bed playing computer games with me, he loves to be right there watching
If we did not cut him off, he would eat cheese pizza and mac and cheese forever!
Helped to make sun-catcher ornaments with Daddy
Only opened his first present and then pushed his snow shovel around in the house
Loves to take the jumbo crayons in and out of the box
Not happy for family pictures at all, hopefully this is a phase for him
When we are watching something on television he does not like, he brings us the remote or puts it in our faces
Loves to climb onto the train table downstairs when no one is looking
While in the ball tent, he loves to stand and throw balls out of the top, giggling when they fall back down
Still does not really like any sandwiches and tries to feed Duncan when he does not like food
Has liked pulling blankets up around himself when we cuddle in bed.
My boy with my owl ornament, always taking it off the tree
This kid loves books, excited at the library
Riding scooters at the Van Dyke Christmas Party
Snuggle time with Mommy post surgery
Having fun in the new tent!
More snuggles, they help mommy feel better
What a sweet little guy!
This kid loves to climb on things!
Look at that face!
Someone was excited about his new shovel!
He ran around practicing on the carpet all morning
So this month has been a lot of change for us all. I had knee surgery and the holidays are here. Through all of this, Kyler seems to just take things in stride and always seems to have a sunny disposition and a pension for finding fun in anything we do. He does have his crabby moments just like all kids, but really he has a heart of gold and we are so proud of our kind and loving little guy. Here are some fun highlights about Kyler this month even though the start of the list does not really represent all that Kyler is most of the time.
Tearful while at school, but so happy to be there later and got to take home a Book Buddy too
Thought that if he threw grapes on the floor that I would not see him, boy was he wrong and I think Duncan was upset I caught on.
Loves to play with anything electronic and actually does really well when it come to my computer and moving the mouse around
Pretended to have his Star Wars characters using the potty, oh the things that I am sure George Lucas never expected form his franchise.
We had so much fun decorating Christmas cookies! Kyler did almost all of them himself and kept calling the red hots "rubber hots"
Had a great time going to the "Love Bazaar" to pick out gifts for the family with a volunteer that helped him to shop. The volunteer made sure to tell me that he was "A HOOT!" and that he described his Daddy as "the biggest guy ever, oh and he is a boy"
He has been trying things more and more, but still does not like bacon, Daddy in concerned
We have started making limits of doing electronics four times a day for fifteen minutes and he has to do three "jobs" before he can play (dress, eat breakfast and teeth brushing). He always remembers!
When I was running errands with the boys I asked if they would mind if I would stop for gas and Kyler said "We can do whatever you want to do mommy!" I am training him well =)
Had a rough morning where he was just melting down, I hugged him too hard, he did not want to go to school, would not let me leave the classroom (not like him at all) but I also wonder if he is just feeding off what another kid was doing, he was fine as soon as I left.
We had so much fun at the Calvin College Biology Christmas party where he loved getting to look at all the animals and he EASILY makes friends with any kid close to his age
Had a great night with Grandma and Grandpa while we finished our Christmas shopping. He ate well and LOVED getting to snuggle with Grandma to stay up late and watch Muppets Letters to Santa
At the Van Dyke family Christmas Party, he had so much fun running around with all the kids in the family, smiling and giggling almost the whole time. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful kids there that love to play with the littler ones. At the end he hugged pretty much EVERYONE
At church he sang "Joy to the World" a little bit with me, and it made me happy he is starting to know the words
When our pastor and wife came over to pray with us before my surgery, Kyler loved to sit with him and show him all his toys, even getting him to try on the Boba Fett mask (Wish we had gotten pictures Dave!)
After my surgery, Kyler did not want to come near me much, but did ask which knee was ouchy
Told Ryan when they were playing "I am almost grown up Daddy, then I want to be a Daddy like you."
Kyler and Duncan have not been to happy to share my bed space
At church, his class went to sing in front of church and he told Ryan that he did not know the words while he walked up there to a song that the congregation was singing. He did pretty well though!
Kyler and I have been coloring a lot together and he is really holding and coloring in the lines well
We also love to play board games in bed, although we have not played the new Carcasonne game that he got for Christmas yet
Had a lot of fun at the Happy Birthday Christmas Party with Grandma. When the teacher told him about kids that did not have a lot (we donated things for kids in need to celebrate Jesus) he became really worried that they might not have homes too. He has such a big heart
We had a great time together as a family on Christmas Eve doing a Christmas art project, drove around to see Christmas lights, opening up one present each, eating popcorn and watching a movie. We also had fun watching "Santa Tracker" on television
Kyler was SO excited to have us open the gifts he got us that he picked them out for us to open that night. I got nail polish, Ryan got a hammer, and Devin got a toy truck. He was so proud
Christmas day was fun to have his excitement to open presents (Santa knew I liked Star Wars) a big meal from Grandpa and Grandma, took a long walk and had fun in a green tub
When we asked him how Christmas was he said "great, but there were too many presents"
Loved helping clean up the wrapping paper and playing with cousins at parties
Actually can follow directions and build things with his new Legos
"Daddy, I love you, you are a really good Daddy."
Has had a great time snuggling with me in bed and watching Muppet Babies reruns
When he wakes up, he will just sit on the couch quietly and wait for us to get up...and quiet is hard for Kyler
Kyler has wanted to sled all winter, since getting his sled for his birthday but it was too icy so he just tried to do snow angels instead.
Helping to decorate cookies
Petting his Puppy!
Checking my heart!
Pretty tall block tower
My favorite Stormtrooper
He likes to "organize" his ornaments
Bobba Fett boy!
Playing "bags" with his cousins
Building his own "TIE Fighters"
This kid loves to play computer games...
...and board games
He loved getting to buy gifts this Christmas. A hammer for Daddy.
He was pretty excited about his own Legos
My sweet boy thought that I should have new nail polish
