Two Months Old

Kieran-you are two months old today!  Wow, time has flown by so fast and you have grown like crazy.  It's hard to imagine how small you were taking you home in your car seat and now you fill the whole thing up. I don't know how much you weigh or how long you are, but we have your appointment on Thursday this week.

 You are wearing mostly 0-3 clothes, but we have had to retire a few pajamas in that size.  I would guess you will move onto 3-6 month clothes soon.  You wear a size 1 diaper and size 2 at night.  You still like to be swaddled at night and are sleeping anywhere from 3-6 hours.  It's a little bit inconsistent, but I'd say you average about 4 to 4.5 hours at a time.  You wake up to eat and go right back to sleep.  If you wake up too early Mom or Dad give you your paci (you just figured this out) and you'll usually go back to sleep for awhile.

 You also figured out how to take a bottle this month too! You love your baths and could sit in there for hours if we let you.  You are smiling all of the time now, especially in the mornings and it's so fun to see your whole face light up.  You are still a very calm and content little baby.  Mommy can take you out anywhere and you like to look around, doze off to sleep, or talk to us! I  took you to Minneapolis the other day for a haircut and to meet Livia Anderson and you seriously cried for a total of two minutes the whole time we were away. Sometimes when you are fussy you love to lay flat on your back and kick and stretch your arms.  You tolerate tummy time quite well.  You love to snuggle.  You will be baptized next Sunday at our church!

 Your sister, Dad and I love you SO very much. I am going to be so sad when I have to go back to work.  I love our time together! Daddy thinks he looks more like him when he was a baby everyday, but then he said we'll wait to see what happens for when you get hair:)  We love you Kieran and your sweet smile. We are so happy we have been blessed with you in our lives!

The Pumpkin Patch (Nelson Farm)

It was an amazingly beautiful fall day today in Central Minnesota!  We took both kids to the hobby farm/pumpkin patch down the road.  Svea loved running around from activity to activity and Kieran did what he does back....sleep:)  We're so glad we went and waited one more weekend.  Last Saturday it was in the 50's and today in the 70's.  We had to break out the sunscreen!

 Check this out...they are letting me run!  Wherever I want!

 These were to sit and bounce on, but we were too small so we just carried them around:)

 Cheep...cheep...cheep! Or she had to point out that they had poop on their butt!

 Mini Pumpkins!

 Hmm...which one?

 I think she thought these were smaller bouncy seats like the picture above.  She lost interest quickly when she realized it didn't bounce back.

 Not a good picture of her, but Dad looks happy! Check out her shoes, they are for Kieran when he gets bigger from his pal Graham, but she found them this morning and insisted on wearing them.  Boy shoes are awesome...they slip on and that's it!

 Kieran enjoying the Pumpkin Patch himself!

 Beautiful fall scene with pumpkins in the tree.  I'm not sure why, but I love all red trees in the fall!

We did take home some mini pumpkins and gourds that Svea picked out.  We'll try to do something with them! Good-bye Nelson Farm and we'll see you next year!

23 Months Old

Clothes:You wear anywhere from mostly 24 month clothes and some 2T tops. Mom and Dad enjoyed buying you some fall clothes!
Shoes: You have moved up to size 5 shoes
Diapers: Size 4 diapers during the day and size 5 at night.
Sleep:You sleep from about 8:00-8:30 until 8:00-8:30 the next morning. You are usually so good about going to sleep, but the past couple of nights you've been "playing" us a little bit.  First we thought you might be afraid of the dark, then we thought maybe you were in pain, but we are thinking you are just needing some more attention and starting that stage where you just don't want to go to bed.  Mom rocked you a little longer last night and had more snuggle time and you went to bed just fine.  I think you are just needing a little reassurance that you are still very important to us:) 
Teeth: 15 One more new one this month! One more incisor to go!

Traveling: A lot!  We've been out to Wisconsin to see Grandma and Grandpa D and go to Great Grandpa Howard's funeral.  We also traveled to Jamestown one weekend to visit Gaga and Grandpa:)  It was an adventure figuring out how to travel with you and your brother. 
Talking:You are still repeating everything you hear and increasing your vocabulary daily. 
Favorite Activity: Your favorite right now is playing with your "guys" or your little people.  You still like to line them up on windowsills or play with them in your little farm.  You are very active and most times want to run, climb, and jump.
Favorite Books: Right now you keep asking for me to read you the book about Thumper the bunny. Other than that you will sit and listen almost any book.

Favorite Foods:Meal time has become a battle. You are so picky and foods you like one day you won't touch the next.   It's very hard to get you to eat your vegetables, but you will eat almost any fruit we put in front of you.  We just keep trying new things although it's frustrating for everyone.             
Foods Dislike: Vegetables and sometimes Kieran.  If you are looking for attention you will try to hit him to get a reaction out of us.  Also, you've tried to step on his head once.  Mommy was not very happy:)  You had a time-out:)

Favorite Songs: We learned "You Are My Sunshine" this month.  When Daddy puts you to bed you can help sings some of the words in Amazing Grace!  You love to sing and sometimes you've helped Mommy sing to Kieran.  You've also learned how to hum.
Dislikes: Long car rides, turning off the tv when you haven't been given a proper "heads up", and I'll say it again...vegetables!
Favorite Word: "Baby Kieran Crying" is something we hear everyday.  If he makes even the littlest of sounds this is what you say:)
Things we are learning: You are better at sharing at times.  We share our food with you and Lynda at daycare said you are really good at it some days and others you are not:)  You are learning about emotions.  We play a little game with you where we ask you to show us excited, happy, mad, and sad and you will make the faces for us. That is what most of the pictures are of you this month. Besides new words  and emotions I can't think of any major concepts that you've learned this month on this post.

Svea, we can't believe you are going to be two years old in a month.  I feel like your first birthday was just yesterday.  Please stop growing up so fast! You are a sweet and loving little girl and so good to your little brother.  We love you so much!

This Week:)

Dan is at a theological conference the past couple of days and will come home tomorrow!  I don't think it's anything too exciting, but he is staying with a few fellow pastors at someones cabin.  I'm glad for him that he can finally get some "guy" time.  I know he misses his guy friends in Bismarck like Karl and Mike, but I think I miss them even more!  I don't think Dan realizes how much "guy" time is probably good for him and me too:)  In other news he has now lost 22.5 lbs!  He's seriously a losing machine!  I'm not going to recognize him soon.

Svea is really entering a fiercely independent stage.  Her personality already is very strong willed and then to be at the point where she's trying to figure out where she fits in the world is frustrating at times....mostly for her.  Some days she'll eat her food and other days she simply refuses her favorites.  Some days she'll get up in her booster chair no problem and other days it's a fight.  Some minutes she understands the word no and others she can't comprehend why in the world we would say no.  It's an adventure for sure, but a rewarding one at the end of the day.  I keep telling Dan....it's only going to get more challenging:)  One of her favorite things right now is watching videos of herself on the ipad.  She'll ask us, "Watch Bye-Ya Please".

Kieran is very smiley these days, especially in the morning.  He'll smile at us, Svea, or at the toys hanging from his play-mat.  He still struggles to sleep in the early mornings from about 6-8, but I'm loving the snuggle time we get when he comes and lays with me.  He's also started batting at his toys that hang above him and making the "ahhh" sound.  I still have 3 more weeks at home...making everyday count!

I have ventured out to do some shopping.  Since I can now fit into a majority of my pants (albeit tight) and have lost 23 lbs I've been motivated to dress less frumpy...you know yoga pants and t-shirts everyday for the past 11 months...I'm kind of over it:) I love being pregnant, but there is something exciting about getting your body back to just yourself.  I kind of went crazy at Old Navy the other day...woops! I then had fun going through my closet and figuring out what I can wear now!  You know, fun stuff for a girl:)

Dan had a great idea the other day, wondering if there were any Pumpkin Patches in the neighborhood.  Turns out there is a good one in Litchfield (30 minutes away)that we might take the kids to if the weather is nice and everyone is healthyy. It's supposed to be in the 70's and we're looking forward to it!

Moments of Our Lives

 Just a few moments from our house this past week! Here's Svea sporting a new pony tail.  I'm not sure about it yet though....it literally sticks straight up from her head.  She won't keep her barrettes in so we are trying this.

 This little guy continues to be so calm.  He still rarely cries, but has started to smile more and more.  When you try to talk to him his little mouth gets moving and he gets a few sounds out.  It won't be long until he starts cooing.

 Here is Svea Wednesday morning before she went to Linda's house.  I washed some of her fall clothes and got them ready.  It seems like as soon as September got here summer was officially over.  I love this outfit and have been waiting forever for it to fit her.  It was supposed to last winter, but Miss Peanut usually does things in her own way. 

And a half smile from Kieran!  I have just 4 weeks left of time at home with him.  Here's to making every day count!  I am loving my snuggle time with him!

Our Babes!

 I think it is safe to say that we are so much in love with these two! Svea did so well holding Kieran the other day.  I asked her if she wanted to hold him and she climbed right up on the couch and was ready.  I didn't get a picture of it, but in between photos she had to kiss him, kiss him, and kiss him some more.  You can really tell that he loves following her around the room with his eyes.  He almost always smiles for her when she is bee bopping around him:)

Video Post

When Dan, Kieran, and I were in the hospital my Mom took this video of Svea.  She's talking about bubbles in the barn and at times ducks.  I don't think it makes much sense to us, but it does to her and fun to hear her babbling away!

 I love this one....Svea is being recorded while she watches herself and talks about the Twinkle Star song.  I love how she runs away and comes back announcing, "I'm back"!

 Finally, here is a video of Kieran laying and looking cute.  He doesn't do much, since he's only a baby, but it's fun to see him wanting to talk more and just hints of smiles coming across his face.  His little face has filled out so much since he was born.  He's smiling everyday now and it brings so much joy to our house! 

We're Still Here!

Sorry that we've been away from the blog lately.  We were home one day and then the kids and I zipped out to Jamestown for a long weekend.  We left Friday night and came home Monday night.  It always feels so good to go home:) 

 Laughing at herself while taking pictures on the computer with Gaga!

 Caught his first smiles on camera!

 My Mom got a really good one with her camera.  I'll have to get that one from her!

 Big girl at the "big girl" table! Notice her little barrette in her hair.  We are trying a few things to keep her bangs out of her eyes. 

Having supper with G-pa.  I'm not sure what was funny, but something always is with this little girl!

Both kids did awesome with traveling for the second time in a week.  Everyone slept decently well and it was so nice to relax and hang out with my Mom and Ron for a few days.  Thank you for having us!  We love coming to visit!

Wild Adventure

 What do you get when you put a one year old, an infant, an anxious Mom, and a crabby Daddy into one small space for 8 hours......chaos:)  We had quite the time getting out to Wisconsin with the little ones, BUT we made it!  The best part though is we are all "broken in" and although it took us quite a bit longer to get home today, it went SO much more smoothly.  We had less "down please" requests from Svea and she was in a better mood.  Kieran did well both times and slept the whole way, except to eat and get a diaper change.  We couldn't ask for a sweeter baby:)

 Dan's Grandpa's funeral went so well.  I didn't get to see most of it as I was taking care of a sweet little girl, but the most important part was that Dan was able to be there.  I did get to hear many fun stories about Grandpa Great though.  He made a huge impact on so many people.  I loved hearing about how gentle and kind he was to so many people.  I wish I would have had the chance to know him better.  It was a Wisconsin Synod service so Dan and Stuart couldn't do anything during it, but they were able to do the burial.  We'll continue to share stories and pray for Dean....Howard must have been an amazing man if he had a son turn out like my father-in-law.  Thinking about the rest of the family too you guys:) 

 We had a wonderful whirlwind couple of days, but it was wonderful.  Svea was SO in love with her Ga-ma and Grpapa....(something like that:) She couldn't get enough of them and we loved being able to show off her mad skills like...

-repeating everything she hears

-talking on three telephones at once

-helping get the puppy unstuck

-doing bicycles in front of tons of Dornfelds on the floor

-leaping into Ga-ma's arms 50 times in an hour

 It's always awesome to see Kathy's family (Hi Diane!).  I'm starting to even learn the brother's names and their wives!!!  Pretty impressive huh?  I always get a glimpse of the fun it must have been to have such a big family!

Here are a few pictures I was able to capture of the kids.  I missed Ashlyn though.  She was too busy running around outside and I was so exhausted by that point to round everyone up:)  Shay and Svea were so loving towards each other.  He helped me SO much keeping Svea entertained and loved giving her hugs and kisses.  He is such a caretaker and loves the little girls.  He just might be a ladies man when he gets older!

Pretty Lady

This was the first dress I ever bought for Svea the summer that I was pregnant with her.  We had just found out that "she" was a SHE and I was in Bismarck shopping at T.J. Maxx.  That's totally random, but the dress is sure cute on her!

We're doing well!  While Dan was gone in Wisconsin being with his Mom and Dad and helping with funeral arrangements, the three of us lived:)  I'm only kidding, but I can officially say I am not afraid of being at home with both kids anymore.  I really don't know why I was so scared, but I'm glad it went ok.  Someone once told me that with each new family member you have to get used to the "new" normal of your daily life.  So glad we got the opportunity to figure things out and most importantly Dan was able to be with his parents during that time.

I've decided not to cut her bangs. I'm going to get some small barrettes and pull her bangs to the side.  Hopefully we can grow them out so her hair is all one length.  We'll see how well she tolerates them.

Dan's lost 21.5 lbs and I've lost 21!  He's beating me!  It sure helps with my motivation though.  Since I haven't been to the doctor yet (I would usually go at 6 weeks, but because of the funeral I'll go at 7 weeks) I'm waiting to really work out until I get the go ahead.  My joints are still sore and I randomly crack everywhere.  I have been walking and doing a few low impact exercises on the ipad with light weights, sit-ups, etc.  It feels good.  Dan just eats ice cream and loses weight.  Whatever:) 

She looks like a flapper in the above photo.  She thought her bow was so cool and was smiling and making the "O" face at herself in the mirror up above too!

Pray for Dan's family during this time.  They have many great memories of their Dad and Grandpa.  I'm looking forward to hearing more.  We know he is in such a wonderful place.  I thank God we have such a place and for saving us with his only son. 

He's Huge!

 Here are a few pictures of Kieran over the last week.  He seems so big to us.  He is already getting close to shooting out of his 0-3 month clothes.  Because he's not a spit up type of baby he doesn't go through as many outfits.  I want him to be able to wear all of his stuff...at least once:) Seriously we don't use burp cloths or bibs for this little guy.  It floors me since we went through so many of both in one day with Svea.

 Kieran does well with tummy time.  Most times he will tolerate it for up to 5 minutes before getting fussy.  Svea has gotten a little bit better about him being on her play mat, but we're still working on it.

 The time I get at home with just him has been wonderful.  He takes little cat naps in the morning and then one big nap in the afternoon.  For the cat naps we snuggle on the couch together and for the long nap I've been swaddling him and letting him sleep alone in his crib. I can't get over how easy he has been.  I literally lay him down in his crib after one or two yawns and leave the room.  He doesn't say a peep, but wiggles around a bit and looks at the trees on the walls before slowly drifting off to sleep.

 Two nights ago when Dan was out of town he made it in his pack n play all night.  He slept from 10:30 to 3:30 and then from 4:00-7:30.  It was amazing and I felt refreshed the next day.  I handled being at home with two kids under two better than I thought I would.  Those hormones must do something to new moms.  I hear that a lot how people are petrified of being left alone in the beginning.  I feel better about it now and I even time managed some showers in as well!

We will travel to Wisconsin in a few days for the funeral for Grandpa Howard.  We'll see how well we handle two kids under two for over six hours in a car:) Time to get creative!