Memorial Day Weekend; Grandpma and Grandpa D Part Two

 The weather wasn't the greatest, but we did sneak outside again and go the park. Grandma D was rubbing Kieran's face here and it put him into a trance!

 Svea loved the swings...

 And the dinosaur....

 Kieran loved the dinosaur as well....

 And his Grandparents too!

 First time down the slide and she loved it.  I love how Grandma is in the background smiling.  I have about six pictures of her going down the slide with Grandma smiling in each one.

 Kieran and Grandpa hanging out:)

 More slide pictures! We started off by holding her hand, but by the end she was fine on her own.

 Mommy took Svea down a couple of big slides.  She handled it just fine...wasn't scared a bit.  I thought she might (probably because I can barely handle slides), but she is obviously much more brave than her mama.

Svea rode her bike the whole way to the park, but on the way home she got a ride from this guy!

We had SUCH a blast with Dan's parents here. We ate a lot and had dessert at least once if not twice a day.  We took a lot of little walks around our house, played numerous games and new toys that were gifts from Grandma and Grandpa D, watched movies, and slept in.  Even though the weather wasn't the best (is it ever on Memorial Day weekend?) it was super relaxing and great to spend it with some of our favorite people. Thanks again for coming to visit us!!!

Memorial Day Weekend; Grandma and Grandpa D Part One!

 The weekend started off with Svea waking up from her nap and Grandma and Grandpa D were here!  It was a good incentive for getting her to take her nap knowing that they would be here when she woke up. Her new bike had also shown up on the mail that day and Daddy quickly put it together.  She was so excited!  The neighbor girl came to the window the other night and she had to tell her all about her new bike that came in the mail:)

 So happy to see Grandpa and so in love!  This boy would just light up every time he saw him.

 3 generations just hanging out:)

 On Friday we took the new bike out for spin.  Kieran rode in the little red car and Svea can't quite reach the pedals of her new bike, but she's still proud to be on the "big bike/trike" and she pushes herself along with her feet.

 On Saturday we went over to the elementary school down the block.  They were having a safety fair.  They had a jumping house.  Svea didn't get up on her feet too much, but she did enjoy sitting on her butt and letting the other kids bounce her around. Dan could only get her out by promising we were going home to see her bike.

 Svea and Grandma D planted some seeds and got a new book! This little girl can't get enough of her Grandma D.  Lynda said she could hear her in her bedroom during nap time talking (talking herself to sleep) about Grandma and Grandpa D.  So cute!

WE loved having Grandma and Grandpa D visit.  The two little ones wore all of us out, but we love it anyway! I have many more pictures and stories coming soon!!!  Thank you SO much for coming to visit us.  We had a wonderful long weekend!  Stay tuned:)

This Past Week:)

 

Dan had this past week off and into next.  We had a few hours of sunshine that we took advantage of and threw on the short sleeves and showed some skin:)

 Monkeys playing in the tunnel together:)

 I can't believe we have two monkeys that are now playing together:)

 Oh, pure joy these two have when they are "getting along"!  Ha!

 Kieran after his bath the other night.  Woof woof!  He is the cutest puppy ever:)

Next post....Memorial Day Weekend and Grandma and Grandpa D come to visit!!!

Kieran Hearing Update

Kieran's has had two different things lately relating to his hearing.  A early child special education from the state department (I think) came into our home and evaluated him on motor skills and verbal skills to see if his minimal hearing loss was effecting his development in any way.  He scored inside the normal ranges!  Yeah!  Since Svea is so protective of her brother with strangers we talked about "the teacher named Sarah" that was coming to our house.  I told her she was going to work with Kieran and on about the 10th time she finally was coming around to it.  She said, "I ask the teacher if she teaches at Emily Elizabeth's school".  Very cute!  Anyway, that was good. 

Dan and I took Kieran to his genetics appointment the other day and the Dr. said I either contracted a certain type of virus that could have led to Kieran's hearing loss while pregnant or it is something on my mitochondrial DNA that I've passed to him.  Both chances are small and we decided we wouldn't run those two tests unless he progressively gets worse when they evaluate his hearing every six months. He will go in to get evaluated again most likely in August.

So good news!  No issues so far and hopefully that loss just stays what it is:)  We are SO thankful he is so healthy and happy.   

Some Firsts For Kieran

-Kieran he has started saying Mom-not sure if he says it in relation to me or he is just mimicking, but he does get both sound on each end....yeah! I first heard this Mother's Day weekend so it was very special:)

-Dan taught him how to give high fives!  He gets a goofy grin when we ask him for one and then when he finally does it and we react he gives us a huge grin.

-We're not sure if he knows what this means, but he has been shaking his head no.  I"ll ask him if he wants more food and we shakes his head back and forth. Sometimes he just does this so maybe he's just practicing.  Not sure:)

The final first of the last few weeks is he slept through the night!  10:30 pm-8:15 am on Thursday, May 16th at 9 1/2 months!  I think it was a fluke though since he didn't do it again last night.  Oh well....progress:)

Mother's Day 2013

These two make me a Mom.  I am thankful and honored I get to spend my days with them.  They make all of them brighter. On Mother's day I got extra hugs and love.

Mother's Day

Today marks a very important day for me.  It's now an ever lasting precious reminder of the job I was given.  A job that is proving to be my hardest one yet.  A job that is one of the most rewarding too.  It's a reflection of everything you do wrong (how your children misbehave), yet everything you do right (when they are polite and sweet and think of others first).  

This day is so important to me.  It means that I am a Mom.  I always wanted to  be a wife and a mom.  When I was fearful that I may never be either I would pray to God and tell him I know in my heart I am supposed to be part of a family with children of my own.  I promised him I would be the best person I could be for my family. I don't always live up to that, but God knew I never would.  He gave me my family anyway.

When I would dream about my future it was always in short moments of what my family might be like.  A glimpse of smiles, the softest sound of laughter echoing, the quality time of enjoying each other. The best gift on this Mother's Day are watching my kids laugh and smile and seeing them grow. I don't need anything, but big hugs and love from those that think I'm doing an ok job. 

This is my Mom. I know being a Mom to her is her biggest gift and accomplishment. I know it was, is, and will always be her hardest job. I know she sometimes failed, but that no matter what happened, her intentions were always out of love. I know she dreamed about me, prayed, and wished she could be my Mom. I can only hope that I make her proud as a Mom today. 

The only thing I want to do on a day like Mother's day is to spend time with her and thank her.  To give her a big hug and say I thought she did, is, and will always be more than just ok. I owe a lot to her.  She taught me how to be a Mom. I love you Mom......

I also want to point out that I am praying for and thinking about all of those "Moms" out  there that don't have their children yet.  I am praying for those "Moms" who want more than anything to be a Mom, but for whatever reason your children are not here yet.  I know what that feels like and how fearful it feels. God gave most of us this intense desire to mother children....I pray he makes that happen soon. 

Bubble Maker

 C'mon bubble maker, c'mon.  Svea was repeating me the other day as we tried to get the bubble maker to work.  My Dad and Lynn gave her this for Christmas and he's been hanging out all winter in her room waiting to get out.  Last weekend when they were here it was cold and yucky so we didn't make it outside.  Lo and behold they leave and Monday was a beautiful day.  Kieran was sick so I was home from work and the rest of us weren't sick yet so we enjoyed some time outside. 

It turns out that not only on top of putting bubbles in it, it also needs to AA batteries.  After 15 minutes of walking it up and down the sidewalk, Dan helped us figure that one out.  I couldn't find the directions!

It was windy so we had to try it up on the porch so they wouldn't fly away so fast. By the way, she picked out her whole outfit.  I LOVE it when toddlers want to wear random things when they leave the house.  Love it!

It puts out a ton of bubbles and she was sooo giggly and loved chasing them.  Each time we'd get some to come out she'd squeal, "thank you Mommy" or "thank you Daddy"! 

This is my favorite...full speed to go pop bubbles.  Thank you Papa and Lynn.  Sorry the weather was so cold when you were here.  Mr. Bubble maker is ready to go the next time you visit!

Papa and Lynn Come to Visit

 I am way behind on blog posts.  We had a "24 hour" bug run through our house only it really lasted about 72 hours.  Take the fact that we were all staggered in contracting it and that turns into a week!  Kieran got it first, then Svea, then Dan, and then me.  I was so thankful my Mom was here to watch the kids.  Yesterday Dan and I could barely get out of bed.  Whew...glad that's over except for a few lingering issues. Anyway....

My Dad and Lynn came this past weekend to visit us. We stayed at home and played and they brought presents.  Svea loves this big book and had Papa read it to her probably 10 times. It's about a mouse with a big imagination:)

She also got her very own piggy bank, a real one!  She was so proud and carried it around all weekend.  I think there were even some naps with her. Notice she wore her piggy jammies to match.

Svea pretending to cut Papa's fingernails with her dr. kit tools.

Kieran finally made a picture too.  He's so busy, he's hard to catch!  We had a nice visit!  Thank you for coming Papa and Lynn! We hope you didn't get the flu too!

The Big Buffalo

Here are a few more pictures from The Big Buffalo trip!

Giving the buffalo a hug:)

umping up and down in excitement!

Whoa, he is big!

 So Big So Small!

I can't wait to take her back again and get ice cream and hang out with the big buffalo again:)

Video Post

Raspberries Video This is from almost a month ago, but I thought you might like to see it anyway:)

My Butt Hurts- if you listen very closely you'll hear her say she's got a crack in her butt at the very beginning.  After that, and I kid you not it was coming only from her, but she thought Daddy needed to "kiss her butt".

Svea and Kieran laughing with each other at the table!

Sick:(

Kieran is sick:(  Dan's not feeling so hot either:(  I'm sitting here and it's 7:45 am and Svea is still sleeping so she may be sick too, but I hope not.  I am staying home today.  I pray Kieran doesn't throw up anymore.  The poor guy has had to have four baths so far in the past 12 hours.

9 Months Old

Kieran-Happy 9 Months old buddy! You are so busy and active that I can't take a picture of you anymore with the same blanket in your crib.  You can't sit still for that long:)

 You had your check-up the other day and you weight 17 lbs. 13 ounces (19%) and are 27 3/4 inches long (26%).  You weight 3 ounces more and are 1/4 inch shorter than what your sister was at 9 months.  Basically you are the same size.  You wear 9 month clothes and we are excited to put you in your 12 month summer clothes!  You are into everything and LOVE pulling all of the books out of the bookcase or pulling toys out of bins around the house. 

 You are eating solid foods 2-3 times a day, nursing too many times (still up at night) and when you take a bottle it is 5.5 ounces.  At some feedings you are just way too busy and are not interested at all.  You nap about twice a day usually for an hour to an hour and a half each time.  You are starting to climb up onto things.  You'll hold yourself up with just your arms for a few seconds to try and climb out of the pack n play or your crib.  You are going to be that kid who has to let go of the crib early....and have a mattress and that's it:) You are finding your voice and you are VERY LOUD:)  You are super smiley and mostly so, but every once in awhile you get very upset when we have to take something away from you that you shouldn't have. You LOVE to go after your sister and want to play with everything she is.

 You love to read books more this past month, actually sitting still for awhile and reading to yourself at times too.  We took this adorable video of you today.  This little farm book with animals is your favorite.  I see you with it all of the time just staring at the pictures and now reading to yourself too!

 You go to bed each night between 7-8 and wake up for the day between 7-8.  This next month is operation getting you to sleep through the night!  You're so sweet though...I do love our middle of the night cuddle sessions.  You are a hugger and just hang onto my neck tightly and put your head on my shoulder at those times and when you are tired. It melts my heart and I love it.  I think you are a Mama's boy.....you cry when I leave the room and follow me down the hall.  You like to come along while I do chores around the house and play with whatever is in whatever room:)

I think you are going to be empathetic and caring.  Daycare says that every time the younger baby cries you burst into tears.  I had never seen it yet until this past weekend when we had a six week old baby at our house.  You sobbed....poor guy:) Still no teeth, you still have blue eyes, and you still have our hearts!  We love you so much and I thank God for our sweet sweet boy!

 As newborns you two looked a ton alike, but not so much right now:)  You definitely have different looks:)

We Go To The Buffalo City

The kids and I traveled to Jamestown last weekend for my Mom's birthday!  We had a wonderful time.  I LOVE LOVE it that they now live in town and people are always stopping by.  Mom and Ron also live near a big park only a block away and we went on a couple of walks.  We lugged along the double stroller and does that thing come in handy!

We celebrated Gaga's birthday with dinner with my Aunt and Uncle and Dairy Queen cake.  Svea was so proud to walk in the room and bring it to Gaga with Grandpa! The weather was amazing and in the 70's.  Mom and I actually sat outside in the sun one day while the kids napped.  I  think I forgot how wonderful that feels!

I keep forgetting to take pictures of their new house!  I WILL NOT forget to do  that next time.  Kieran crawled all over the place and played with all of the toys.  The first night he seemed a little leery to go down for bed, but exhaustion won out.  He is getting to be so social and understand more of what is going on. 

We tried to get a nice picture of both kids together, but they were both pretty busy!

On Saturday night Mom and I took the kids up to the "big buffalo"  Svea went nuts and made the O face for what seemed like minutes.  She squealed, jumped around, hugged the buffalo's leg and DID NOT want to leave.  After walking back up to the car she kept turning around to laugh/squeal again and say, "Big Buffalo"! It was all she could talk about that night and the next day.  I have a feeling the Big Buffalo will be a natural spot we have to visit each time we go for awhile:)

On Sunday we packed up and left the house early to drive to Mayville to visit my Grandparents for a few hours.  I am SO glad we did this.  They both loved to just watch them and interact with them.  My Grandpa was down on the floor with them right away.  Svea had fun, but she was a little anxious at one point and packed up all of our stuff and announced that we needed to go back to Gaga's house now.  

We had an awesome time!  So thankful for nice weather and the chance to relax.  An old girlfriend from high school stopped by too and brought her little girl.  That was fun as well!