3 Months Old

 Kieran!  You are growing so fast...slow down little guy.  We can't keep up with you:)  You are already fitting into some 3-6 month clothes although most of your 0-3 month clothes still fit you.  You are in 3-6 month jammies though.  You are nursing every 2.5-3 hours during the day and going 4-5 hours at a time at night. You are having a growth spurt right now and waking up every 3 hours at night.  You had your first cold this month and had a cough for a week.  We kept you in the rock n play so you didn't have to lie flat on your back.  You are still a fast eater and handle your bottles well at daycare.  You are just starting to take 4 oz. at a time, which is funny because you are starting your third week at daycare.  The first day there you took 2 oz.  The next week you took 3 and now 4 already! 

 You are still not on a regular schedule yet.  You'll get there.  For now you take cat naps here and there unless you are hanging out in our arms or we let you nap on your belly in the living room, then you'll take a long nap.  We are still swaddling you at night, but now you are starting to be able to roll all the way to your sides and that makes me nervous having your arms bound so we'll try to transition you to just your sleep sack. 

You are still a very happy baby and love to talk.  When you are awake you are very alert.  You smile a ton and we are waiting for you to laugh.  If I remember correctly it was about this time that your sister let out a little giggle so we are anxiously waiting to hear it.  You are very active when you are lying on your back and very close to being able to roll over.  I bet by next month you might have at least figured out one way or the other. 

It is so fun for us to watch your personality come out as you grow.  We can't wait to get to know you more, and are proud to be your Mom and Dad!

24 Months Old

Clothes:You wear some 18 and 24 month clothes.  You have a handful of 2T clothes too.  We're almost ready for size 2T jammies!

Shoes: Size 5

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 back to sleeping very well throughout the whole night.  You had a bad cold last week and sometimes needed Tylenol in the middle of the night.

Teeth: 15! You now just have two sets of molars to come in.
Traveling: We haven't traveled anywhere this month.
Talking:We counted a 9 word sentence from you the other day.  You are talking all day long! You've started to say I love you on a regular basis.  It sounds like "Love Boo"!
Favorite Activity: Singing! You LOVE to sing and have learned many songs this month. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Do Lord, This Little Light of Mine, Amazing Grace, You Are My Sunshine, ABC song....you know them all!
Favorite Books:You got many new books for your birthday and you have enjoyed all of those. 

Favorite Foods: We've gotten you to try a few new foods this month. You like meatballs and baked chicken.  We are crossing our fingers that you'll start eating vegetables again! You love "fruit snacks" which are dried pieces of fruit.  Strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, and peaches are your favorites.
Foods Dislike: Veggies:(
Favorite Songs: I named a few up above, but you also like Jesus Loves Me, First John Four: Seven and Eight and Sanctuary.
Dislikes: Putting on your clothes and changing your diaper...you hate it and we still have to distract you to get through it.  You hate having to go to bed at night, but with books and snuggles you are very good and willingly go in your crib and say goodbye.  You have started to use the word, "No" quite a bit. When you get angry you scream or hit. Sometimes you hit yourself for attention, but we just ignore it. When you are naughty we put you in time-out on the couch and you stay most of the time.  "I'm sorry mama" you say when you are all done.

Favorite Word: I do it, or Svea do it!  Your name now sounds like "Bay-Ya" when you say it.
Things we are learning: You can count from 1-8, Sing your ABC's, and recognize 6 shapes.  The biggest things you've learned this month is all of your songs.
 You soak up up every little thing we teach you.

We love you baby girl!  You make our lives so full of fun and love!  Thank you for being you!

Birthday Party Part Two

 What a fabulous two years we have had so far!  Happy Birthday Svea Grace.  We love you so much! We got the party started with Daddy and our cowboy hat.  That lasted about 1 minute and the hat was off.  I was just hoping for one picture like this and we got it:)

 Trying on a new sweater from Larry and Darcy, our neighbors who adore Svea.  They are also Riker's second family whenever we leave town.  They've been so awesome to us and we love living across the street from them!

 Birthday Girl gets to lick the frosting off the candles and cake decor!

 And some more:)

 Family pic. Kieran is always sleeping and Svea is always looking away.  One day it'll happen:) Maybe when they are 5 and 3!

 And the balloons were a hit!

I'll post Svea's 24 month post tomorrow!

The Party Scene (Cowgirl Party)

I loved doing her party this year.  It was very simple and easy and it didn't take much to make the kitchen look cute.

 We purchased the balloons and that was it.  Everything else we had to decorate.

 I saw the bandanna idea on Pinterest.  I almost ordered all pink ones, but the ones from our own drawers worked just fine:)

 Made the sign while she napped.

 Dan's frostmenship. I thought he did awesome!

Svea's Halloween costume helped with the decor!

Happy 2nd Birthday Svea

Today was awesome!  The whole day was so much fun.  I just enjoyed every minute of today and it was way more fun than any of my own birthdays.  Actually, I'm sure Mom and Dan would all agree:) Svea had a blast and I now realize why adults say it's just as fun to watch little kids open presents and get excited as it is for them. I'll post more later. Right now Kieran is stirring  and will need to eat and go to bed.  That's my cue to go to sleep too so I get the maximum that I can:) Enjoy a photo sneak peak of our day...Cowboy Style!

 Is this my stage or my present? I'm going to take that as both.

 Mommy and Kieran before this little one took a nap.  Don't tell him we laid him down in his sister's crib with her pink blankie...shhh!

 Svea and Daddy getting the party started with presents. The biggest gift of all would be that little thing in the pink dress!

 Oh, thank you Gaga for the music set.  Dan tried to pawn it off to be a Jamestown toy:)  Ha!

 Kieran hanging out while we ate cake! Seriously if you think he "looks" huge here it's not a camera angle...this guy grows like a weed!

 Svea got "piggy paint" from Mom and Dad.  The only color left in the store was bright orange.  Halloween is right around the corner so we went with it.  You should have seen her walking down the hallway after this.  She had to admire her toes the whole way:)

More to come soon!

And We're Back

Whew....hard to get posts out now that I'm back at work.  I'm sure I'll figure out a way to balance it all again so no one misses out on new pictures and videos of the kids!  My first week back went better than  I thought.  I do have an amazing  and rewarding job.  It was great to see so many smiling faces from my kids even if I was missing my own.  Kieran did really well at daycare and is handling bottles like a champ.  Svea, of course, is doing just fine at daycare too.  She is loving the new little girl, Payten too.  We hear about her all the time along with Mason.  The three of us are on the mend and we thought Dan might be completely missing out on our sickness, but just this afternoon he started feeling a bit under the weather. I'm crossing my fingers for a fluke.

 Here are a few pictures of Kieran really getting the hang of holding onto objects and lifting his head off the floor when he is on his tummy.  My Mom is here for Svea's birthday weekend!  She helped me bring the kids up to St. Cloud for Kieran's 3 month and Svea's 2 year pictures. We got at least one picture of both kids smiling...score!

 Dan is part of a mystery hay ride tonight at church.  The kids think they are going around on a hay ride and the mystery is where they'll end up, but the actual mystery is people hiding in bushes and around corners with chain saws and gory costumes.  I love it!  I hope someone pees their pants!

I can't wait for Svea's birthday.  It's been windy the last few days, bleak, and cold.  It brings back memories of a crazy day two years ago when we welcomed Svea.  I get teary eyed just thinking about one of the best days of our lives.  Having children is the best gift ever!  Pictures from her big day coming soon!

Sickies Update

I stayed home from work today and we all went to the Dr. again for the second time in a week.  It's a good thing because Svea's upper respiratory virus turned into an ear infection.  Kieran is fine though, but we'll watch him to make sure he doesn't get one too. I have a sinus infection so a few of us are on meds and hopefully on the mend!  They flushed my ears and the pressure in my head is much better!  I feel much better knowing Kieran is just fine and there is a solution for Svea.  Dan  is still healthy and raking leaves!  Yeah! 

Still Sick

 This cold, virus, or whatever it is has been hanging on with a force.  Svea continues to run a low grade fever and today she was not interested in doing anything, but laying around and maybe doing a few books and stickers here and there.  Kieran had a very low temp last night, but has been fine today.  He still has a mild cough too, which scares me (I just hate it they are so small), but hopefully tomorrow they will both make a turn.  I'm still congested, sore throat, and a cough.  Blah!  Dan still doesn't have it so hopefully that will continue.  I took these pictures this morning while I was changing everyone's diapers.  You can really tell how much darker Svea's skin is.  Kieran did not get her olive skin, but he sure is cute!

Poor girl...all ready with her game day attire! Whew, they won again:)

Top Ten Reasons...

You're Glad You're Not at our House This Weekend.

10. There are three Kleenex box's worth of tissues gathered around the premises...all used of course.
9. Is that a barking horse?  No, it's two small children and their mother hacking out their lungs.
8. We promise you would not sleep...maybe we'd allow you a few hours at night.
7. 99.5 and higher!
6. We're running out of water...it's all going to the humidifier
5. Daddy's drinking.  Captain Morgan is helping him from getting what we have or it's just for his own sanity.  We're not sure:)
4. It's leaf raking season and we have a big yard. You may be guilted into helping Daddy who also has a bum knee.
3. It kind of smells...an over abundance of poopy diapers is accompanying the children's colds.
2. The grown-ups are eating cake and orange sherbet for every meal just because whether emotionally or physically, it just makes us feel better.
1. As Svea told me yesterday afternoon. "I feel sick"! Yep, we are sick. Wow, am I glad this is not the weekend we had the baptism! Thank you Kok Sister's Weekend (and other reasons too). You can now be glad this is NOT the weekend for that:)

Side note.......man, do I hate hearing a toddler have a cough, but my heart literally cries for our two month old when I hear him do it:(  During the night he sleeps in the rock n play and during the day he won't let us put him down. Svea is sleeping in until 10:30 and then requesting naps. On a positive note, we love the snuggle time!

Potty Work Round Two

I called it "potty work" and not "potty training" because we aren't trying to intentionally work on using the toilet, but just following Svea's interest with it.  She has been wanting to wear her "big girl underwear" here and there and has been asking to sit on her potty.  The other night she was running around the house in her underwear and went and stood in the bathroom.  She got this funny look on her face and I asked her if she had to pee.  She nodded yes!  As I was taking her underwear down the pee started running down her leg and onto her sock, but we did get them off and she sat on her potty where a few more drops made it into the bowl.  She did it!  We celebrated and clapped after we dumped those few precious yellow milestones into the toilet.  The next night while taking her bath she stood up and said, "poo-poo" (what she calls #1 and #2).  I asked her if she wanted to sit on her potty and she said yes, so I took her out of the tub and plopped her down.  She proceeded to push and pass gas.  The funny part is she had to immediately jump off and look into the bowl to see what was there.  Nothing was there of course, but she said, "there's gas in there"!  Ah, love that little girl.  She tried sitting and pushing a few more times and each time had to check if anything was in there, but no:)  I put her back in the tub and not thirty seconds later she looked at me and said, "poo-poo" and then peed in the tub.  We're getting there.  It's fun to celebrate with her in her success and giggle at her funny attempts. The above picture is from the other night when she wanted all of her clothes and diaper off.  I told her ok, but gave her three options...a new diaper, big girl underwear, or a bath.  She chose a bath.  The other night it was underwear so hopefully this is progress:)

Back To Work

 If you are reading this, at this very moment, it means that I am somewhere within the ROCORI School District and back to work.  I love my job very much, but it is so super hard to leave my babies and send them to daycare:( 

 At times and for fleeting seconds I wish it were still the 1950's when a majority of moms were able to stay home.  Then I think of how oppressed women still were in that era and I say, um...no thank you:)  I wish I could stay home in this era, how's that:)  If we could make it work I would SO stay home for the 5 more years (just five years dear husband) that it would be until both of our kids would be in school.  I know I'd go a little crazy because I LOVE socializing, teaching, and talking with big people, but I would be willing to make the sacrifice for feeling lonely at times.  Because let's be honest, this little one and his big sister are only small once.  Eventually the law states that they cannot stay at home with me anymore anyway and I want to soak them up now as much as I can.  

Kieran and I have had the BEST maternity time together.  I am so thankful he timed his birth just right (wink, wink I guess I should give credit to the big guy) and we were able to get almost 12 full weeks! He's done and seen a lot in his short 11 weeks so far.  We've had tons of snuggle time at home.  Also some tummy time like above as you can see he is lifting himself off the floor a little bit!  I am going to miss just sweeping him up while he naps and camping out on the couch to stare at him and kiss him while he rested...sigh. Then there is the best thing, when he started to smile.  We love to lay on the floor, on our sides, and smile and talk to each other.  He's quite loud, (ahem...can I say he's a Dornfeld)!

We also got out a lot too and he visited friends at work with, went clothes shopping, and doctor's appointments.  He's nursed and been fed in many a dressing rooms! I even went to a counseling appointment once (early on when I thought I was losing my sweet postpartum depression mind) and he didn't make a peep. Sometimes I think I just like to hear myself talk:)  Oh well, either way I'm happy to say we got through that one as well:) I will always remember our three days a week that we had together just the two of us, sleeping in until 9 when it was needed, and bonding together.  I didn't know how I would be with a boy (all their crazy parts and all), but man do I love this little guy to the moon and back.  Please pray that things for him go well at daycare.  How many more months until summer?

Muffin Top

No, not this kind silly!  That's the kind you eat, which gives you another type of muffin top.  Pregnancy and the after effects of a baby exiting your body will also give you a muffin top.  I won't post a picture of mine because I'm just not that brave.  I also won't post one from the Internet as it's not very pleasing to look at.  You can google it if you are really lost:) Anyway, I had one with Svea and it eventually melted away.  I am currently working on this one too.  I've now lost 26 lbs. and have 4 to go, but technically 6.5 since I was still 2.5 lbs. away from my pre-pregnancy before Svea weight when I got pregnant with Kieran.  Are you still following?  My concern is that when I look at my muffin top, or gently grab it's ear for a stern lecture it feels a lot thicker than just a measly 6.5 lbs.  I'm afraid that just eating well and the occasional walk may not melt this one away.  So, I've started to weight lift (ok, one time so far) and I really like Jillian Michaels kettle bell work-outs.  My Mom got it for me for my birthday last year.  I did it once and then found out I was pregnant the next day.  Jillian sat on the shelf....until now:) Don't tell Jillian that when she says, "Are you hurting, then this is NOT the time to stop.  This is the sprint to the end", that I usually have already stopped for a rest and have been checking out her killer abs. (pick up jaw here) I'll get there, I think, and when I do, I'll call Jillian and say watch me, watch me:)  But for now I am content to continue to work on these last few pounds and squeeze in the occasional work-out here and there.  

My long term goal would be to eventually be able to take up running and biking again.  I'm that weird percentage of the population that if I'm in decent shape LOVE getting into a zone and running.  If I can start biking again too next summer I'd also like to do another triathlon.  I haven't done one in four years....I was busy having babies, yo! The swimming part is easy, it's all in the breathing..didn't anyone ever tell you that?  It took me two years as a lifeguard to figure that one out as I struggled through the 500 mile timed swim and was the only one doing the breast stroke instead of the freestyle since I couldn't do more than two laps without losing a lung.  Embarrassing would be an understatement. Once I realized I didn't need to sprint the whole darn thing I could then jump in a swim a mile in a half hour without much thought. So, if you are still reading and aren't bored out of your mind I will keep occasionally posting about my pregnancy weight loss because it helps keep me motivated. Well, that and those two pairs of skinny jeans that I bought that fit, but still develop a small muffin top when I wear them:)

 M&M Commercial

I'll leave you with one of our favorite television commercials. The song is from LMFAO (don't google that Grandpa) and is one of my fav work-out songs.  Did you hear they broke up?  I've been devastated...what am I going to dance to NOW? 

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Do you remember this post?  Or, how about this one?

They are from last year and Svea's first times playing in the leaves. I brought the zebra chair out again to compare.

The year has flown by! She can now climb up in to the chair all by herself and there aren't hands within inches of the picture frame ready to catch her if she were to fall. Those baby blue eyes are here to stay for sure though!

We ventured out to the leaves this afternoon since they've all fallen from our maple tree.  We raced through them, threw them up in the air, and laid down in them like a bed.  We talked about the word "crunch" and the difference between a leaf and leaves. After a few sprints through she said, "ta da"!

At one point she ran around to the corner of the house and pointed at the downstairs window and said, "Gaga sleeps there".  I think I faintly remember telling her that one time this past summer.  The funny things they remember!

This coat is from Grandma and Grandpa D...remember it?  I was hoping it would fit this fall!

Svea is sick right now.  She has a cold with quite the cough.  What a wonderful mother to take her outside for a romp in the foliage and a photo shoot! It must be related to the fever she had a few days ago.  I also have pink eye...go me, but am happy to report the children do not.  Dan says I got it from changing Kieran's diapers and getting poop in my eye.  That's a lovely thought isn't it? 'll keep washing my hands like a machine so they don't get it. 

Dan got home yesterday from a short confirmation retreat.  It's always sad when he leaves and nice when he comes back!  He stayed inside with Kieran while we had our "fall" adventure!  Happy Fall everyone!

Something To Do....

....in this small town, during the winter, is to take your child to the elementary school gym stage and let them run around,  bounce, and play on the gymnastics mats.  That's what I called them and Svea said we were going to "nastics"!  Can I just say this is a perfect place for our little almost two year old that NEVER sits still.  We were the only ones there for awhile, but then another Mom came in with a 10 month old.  Turns out she and her husband are transplants to this town too and her husband is from Grand Forks, ND...score! She also has Fridays off.  Maybe I'll make myself a new friend!  

 Kieran snuggled in Daddy's arms and Mom crawled around on the floor with this crazy little thing!

We'll try "nastics" again because it was fun and wore her out, which she needs!

We also headed over (the whole block away) to the Paynesville clinic this morning.  Svea's been tugging at her ears and had a mild fever this morning. She's all clear though so it's just a virus. We brought her doctor kit and omgosh....it worked!  She did not shed one tear and was so good.  She also did great holding my hand and walking with me instead of running away as fast as she could:)  We practiced listening to her heart and looking in her ears before the Dr. came in.  They even had to swab her throat and she took it like a champ!  I am so thankful for her Dr. kit Grandma and Grandpa D!  They also weighed her with her clothes and shoes on.  23 lbs. and some ounces.  I didn't catch what it was, but she is a peanut.  Poor girl just might end up shorter than me. 

On My Heart

 Kieran had his physical therapy appointment this morning.  She asked if he is always this laid back.  He didn't cry at all, even when she moved his head in positions that made me cringe.  She promised me it would not hurt him:)  The diagnosis is a mild misshaped head (Plagiocephaly) due to him favoring one side.  She said it can happen so fast when their heads go through growth spurts.  We have exercises to do with him at home and hopefully it'll correct on it's own.  We need to keep him on his tummy as much as possible, encourage him to turn to his right more, and do the exercises.  Good stuff that we can handle!

 I'm starting to get really sad about going back to work next week.  I just work one day, Wednesday, as we don't have school on Thurs./Fri.  I won't work on Fridays anyway again this year so that is something to be very thankful for.  The picture below was taken last night as he slept in my arms before bed.  I love pictures when our kids are sleeping.  They look so peaceful and in complete contentment.  I just love his sweet face:) I cherish those moments of just snuggling with them.

I read a couple of mom blogs of some women from NW Arkansas.  I can't even remember how I stumbled across them, but it's interesting to see a "southern" perspective on life and being a mom.  It is much different.  Most of them are stay at home moms, have huge homes (what in the world to their husbands do?) and use phrases such as "chawed" and "dog ears" for pigtails.  I've grown to love them.  They are sweet Christian women who aren't afraid to share the love of Jesus everywhere they go.  One of them, a young Mom, who I've followed for over two years just lost her husband in a single car accident.  To say I've been consumed with thinking about her and their 10 month old baby girl is an understatement.  Not only do I grieve for their loss, but it makes me think about what if something happened to one of us.  I know we would be devastated to lose one another, but I mostly think about our kids.  I can't imagine them not knowing who their Dad really was as a person, or knowing the sound of their mother's laugh.  Life is so painful at times yet so unbelievably joyous at other times.  I hate seeing people suffer in this way.  The only thing I can do is hang onto the hope, grace, and promise that one day we will experience no pain physically or emotionally in heaven. Anyway, this women's blog is here (Julee) if you want to read and pray for this family.