March 2015 2.2.

More from March-it was a busy, busy month as were the months before. Gary turned the big 3-0! I pulled off a surprise party for him and his buddy Drew the weekend of his birthday. It was fun, and with the help of our friends everything turned out great! We got away for the day, my mom took the boys, and it was a big day for basketball so we spent our time downtown celebrating with food and drinks watching some basketball and hanging out. It was fun and relaxing, but I couldn't shake being nervous and secretly covering my butt with texts from people about the evening surprise.

 

It was actually a perfect day out to enjoy food and drinks on the patio downtown. Tried my first grapefruit beer, which was yummy! We had our day of fun, then went to River City Brewery before I had to pull Gary away from there to bring him back to the Pumphouse for the surprise. Pat got Drew there maybe thirty minutes before us...should have realized going to River City would take longer and we'd want to linger. But, we didn't linger and because he's such a great guy he went along with my excuse of wanting to have another grapefruit beer so we cut the dinner short, headed back, and surprise! Spent the evening celebrating with friends and a big sigh that all the planning and small fibs could be done with! It was a fun way to celebrate!

Nothing says Happy 30th like a good embarrassing picture cake that showcases the old bowl cuts and curly hair!

 

Caden loves the outdoors. Now that it's late July that I'm talking about March it feels weird to me to think of how we had to stay inside most days away from the cold. But he would venture out whenever we would let him if it was nice enough out-or we'd layer him up and he'd fight the cold and run around for a bit. He just loves it outside. Even now, amongst the summer heat, he'll opt to be out there so we just turn on the hose and let him run around the yard watering anything and everything and he'll do that for a good hour or more if we'd let him!

His imagination is endless. Always pretending so many different things or scenarios. Here he has gathered up 'dinners' and took it upon himself to try to take a bite of this branch, which maybe was a pretend fry...?

A few more Caden funnies....dumping all his blocks and covering daddy. Taking a bite out of the bottom of the candle we used for Gary's cookie cake. Hiding a dinosaur in the washer and letting it get a good, clean bath. Taking the dinosaurs for a ride in his dump truck. As he gets older he sometimes gets more trying, but such is life of a toddler/kid, but man it is so funny-most of the time, at least-to see how his brain works and where his curiosity leads him.

 

When it's nice enough to get some fresh air and get outside, we layer up and of we go. They don't make winter clothing and blankets for no reason! Maybe it would be easier if we had a basement to provide some sort of surrounding change outside of our one level, but I still think more levels/rooms or not, sometimes the only solution is to get some good fresh air.

 

Caden loves Reid, but especially seems to love being able to interact with him more and Reid starting to be able to 'sit up' and be more attentive has allowed them to have more of that brotherly interaction which just melts my dang heart. 

 

I mean. Hello, handsome! How fun are those shoes and that smile. Those shoes were a gift from my friend Holly for Caden at his baby shower and now Reid gets to capture a moment in them as well! Gary used to have a pair the exact same. At first, I couldn't grasp why he would want to wear checkered shoes, but he did, and that was his style which was something I loved about him. So, it was a special gift to have little newborn shoes just like daddy!

The zoo is sometimes our second home. It is so nice to get out of the house at least once a week and venture out to the zoo. Caden loves the animals and Reid is always game for a stroller ride, especially there where we're always on the go. I also have come to really appreciate our zoo-the layout and variety it provides. Great times had by all-they get out and about and I get to see them enjoy their surroundings and catch a break in the sense of self entertainment.

Just a cute baby snoozing. Reid and I seemed to do a lot of snuggle naps during the early months. I think half of it was I was too tired to try to 'train' him to get used to napping in his crib and just voted more for a guarantee snooze break vs a fussy baby that would wake Caden.

 These days, my lap is rarely not full. I read a blog that described a mom feeling 'so alone, yet not enough alone time' and in this stage of life that rings tried and true. If it's not one, it's the other, and sometimes both filling up my arms--I wouldn't have it any other way, but I would also be lying if I said sometimes I feel so drained by kind of living in kid world for the majority of the day. It's what I begged and cried for when I worked full time, and luckily God has shown me grace in my adjusting to this new normal of two kids, being home with them and working part time--it hasn't been the easiest chapter for me to navigate through but the fact is that I am navigating and even though it's been hard, the good outweighs the bad hands down.

Caden will sometimes, not often-but sometimes, as to hold baby. He doesn't even really do much of the holding, that's more done by us and mostly because he simply doesn't even attempt to wrap his arms around Reid or support him, but hey-it's a start and bonding is bonding so I'll take it!

Dinosaurs, couch pillow, cartoons and one out of two taking a snooze. As simple and sweet as that.

 

How does this cute baby keep sneaking in here? Reid has full brown eyes that are dark and beautiful. Caden has handsome hazel eyes that pick up blue or green tones when he wears like colors. Many, many people think Reid looks like Caden, but I only really see it when I look back at Cadens baby pictures where some similarities stand out. But man their eyes are definitely one thing that sets them apart and I love the differences in each.

We have a park a mile and a half away. I would run there with Caden, play, a run back. With the addition of Reid it's been easier to drive our happy selves down there, so we try to go there every once in awhile. It's a given that Caden will pretend to serve food at this little spot under a slide area, almost every single time. His imagination is endless and so amazing.

We can wrap up March with this silly picture. He loves seeing himself and making faces back at himself. This looks like, and from what I can remember was, one of those early mornings watching some cartoons before getting our butts into gear. Early mornings take on a new meaning when you've also been up at least once with the baby, then your other little wakes up around 6:00/6:30 am. There was a stage, an unnecessary stage might I add, where Caden wouldn't sleep much past 5:30 am. Why, no clue, but he did and it was so.fun. And by fun I mean I basically had to tape my eye open and fight falling back asleep on the couch. Luckily he's cute, funny, and so worth it. (none of those three traits came to mind those early mornings unfortunately...)

Happy March 2015, ya'll.

*spoken and documented in true new mom of two fashion five months later*

eight

You are now eight months old. So very active and curious.

 

Just four days before you turned eight months you had to undergo surgery at Children's Mercy in Kansas City for hypospadias. It was an early, early morning and long day. We got to the hospital just after 6:00 am and left to head home about 1:00 pm. The surgery itself took about three hours, and you did great. You did okay the first few days, alternating through stronger pain medicine and then halfway through seemed to become very irritable and we had a few days/nights of little sleep and lots of tears. We took you in to the doctor and got a false reading for UTI, which would have been horrible if you had one-but with how uncomfortable you were acting it at least would have been a good explanation outside of any surgery complication reasoning. So, during the couple of days we thought the UTI was happening we put you back on stronger pain medicine for sleep which helped. You still seem irritable compared to normal, but once you caught up on sleep and got some good, solid rest it made a huge difference and now we're just assuming it could be some healing discomfort or maybe working on teeth.

SO. With that being said, what's the eight month old Reid up to?

-As hinted at above, you seem like you could be working on teeth, but have yet to see anything. Only have the hints of attitude and gnawing on majority of things that you can get your hands on.
-You have recently weighed in at 17 lb 4 oz, and I'm not sure how long you are but you are already in 9 month clothing, some 6 months when it comes to shorts/bottom wear, and all 12 month pajamas because of how long you are. In general it's crazy and fun to see you wearing what your brother wore on you, but more crazy when you, at 8 months, are wearing what he wore around 16 months.
-You had been sleeping well before the surgery, going to bed earlier around 6:30/7, usually could guarantee you waking around 4-6 for a bottle and depending on how early maybe going back to sleep for a bit. Since surgery it's just been up in the air, but getting better and starting to be similar to what you were like beforehand.
-You shriek. I almost can't even imagine a 'normal' baby cry in my mind anymore-like what kind of non-shrieking baby cry in the middle of the night/early morning may sound like because I am so used to your shriek cry. Usually especially waking up from naps you share the glorious sound, and more recently any waking up throughout the night time comes with it as well. You would think someone was chopping your little leg off, it sounds like you're being tortured. Even taking you to the changing table last night before giving you your bedtime bottle, which I know you were overdue and wanted badly, but you shrieked, cried, and threw such a fit all over diaper change and change to pjs. It's funny, and makes us just smile and shake our heads...unless it's in the middle of the night and there's just no talking any sense into you...then it's just kind of rotten to hear. Just being honest pal, everyone has negative qualities and luckily, this is one you'll outgrow, at least you better or you may be flying solo forever if not :)
-That being said you're also rather quiet. Not a super chatty baby at least, unless you have an issue that we need to know about you keep most your opinions to yourself.
-No crawling for you either. Your dad and Yaya swore you'd be crawling and with teeth by 7 months, then when 7 months came it changed to before 7 months was over, but no to both of those things. You sure do manage to get around the room though fairly well by rolling around. You just haven't caught on to crawling, yet are finally showing some more frustration when we set you down so I wonder if that will fuel you to move.
-Sometimes when you are being held you arch your back a bit and hold your arms back and out. It's funny and as if to make sure and let us know you want to be held, but no cuddles. Hold me, but not too close and don't try to get all cozy with me now.
-You love to stand and 'walk' with help though, so I also wonder if you'll just be one of those kids that almost skips crawling to walking once you get old enough. We shall see, only time will tell.
-You love your binkie still and it is the cutest thing to see you grab for it. You use it as normal, but also shove it in your mouth sideways and just chew away.
-You have tried majority of all the main fruits and veggies to try, but honestly it's been basically since before surgery that I've given you any. I tried the week after and you just didn't care for it, and we've been more focused on just getting your appetite back for the bottles anyways that I haven't messed with pulling the frozen ones out to try. You liked it and were on a good roll, but lets be honest, you don't even have any teeth and it's kind of a nuisance to feed a little one baby food, so until you get your groove back I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
-You love watching Baby Einstein shows and have for the last few months. The animals or puppets ones are your favorite, and although you are restricted from the jumper right now you usually will be entertained just jumping with those shows on while you watch your brother play or run around.

You are a fun and handsome little fella. You're already showing fun qualities that are such a great addition to our family. I can't wait to see what you're like as you grow older and are able to interact with Caden more. I'm glad the surgery is behind us, that you are on the mend, and that we are able to feel like you are finally healing and feeling better.

We love you so much, boogie. xoxoxo

March 2015 1.2

Oh what an eventful month! Gary turned the big 3-0 this past March, along side one of his best buddies, Drew. So, I got a surprise party planned and actually pulled it off! There was a lot of little white lies on the day of, but neither of then suspected it and that's all that counts when you've put in the work of trying to get people together unsuspectingly! So-more on that to come, but we also have my sisters birthday a few days after Garys, Gary had spring break, This year has really been a crazy one thus far, hence we are almost half way through May and I'm just now getting to write about March! So...picture adventures..

It gave us a good snow in March and Caden and I were able to get out and play in it for a good while. I almost mistakenly layered him up too well, because he could have lasted even longer out in it if I would've let him. 'We', aka I, built a snowman, we threw snow back and forth at eachother, ran around and I busted out the sled we have and ran my little heart out around the back yard pulling him along. He loved it. If only I had the energy to go many more loops in that sled for the little guy, but a dozen seemed well enough for just one person pulling..

 

 Trains. Story of our life. He loves tunnels, so we've been building tunnels with blocks we have and using our legs as well. I can honestly say since it's been nicer out we haven't played with the tracks once yet this month. Must have worn himself out on tracks and needs a break which is fine with me, there's only so much tracks one can play after all. Also-looking back at these makes me notice his recent growth even more comparing his height here to the current. Both my boys are changing so much and so quick!

 

Reid and MJ are just along for the ride. They're both quite entertained, though. MJ is always curious towards little babes. It's all fun and games until a gigantic tongue comes out from no where and swipes your face off.

Cartoons and snoozes. Snoozes and cartoons. It's not our story much these days, but a few months ago more so...to the mommy-snuggle snoozes, not the cartoons. Cadens all about cartoons.

 

Just sending daddio pictures of our day to give him a little fix. Gosh dang they're cute.

I did MAPS this past semester and this was after one session while we were visiting my mom in the atrium.

It was a hard experience to do MAPS this year. I met a few awesome women, and that was well worth it, but Caden threw massive fits to go into the childcare, like screaming bloody murder and holding onto me for dear life. Only to stop minutes after I left and would be completely fine when I picked him up. So, that was a challenge to my mommy heart and dealt me with a lot of guilt. Then, not only did he start the before childcare fits, but he also added in a bonus after fit. He was good at it too. Refusing to leave, being hateful, leaving me with no choice but to carry both his sorry, hitting, crying, yelling bum and Reid in the car seat out to the car. It.was.fantastic. And by fantastic I mean it just plain ol' sucked. With only one in church session to go to I pulled the plug. Considering the last one was so trying after, had us both in tears, made me want to toss the cute little boy out of the car and took me to the point where I simply didn't speak to him for a while because I didn't even know what to say or how to handle it, I chose to not attend the last one. And I'm okay with that.

 

Truth be told I felt like my judgment call was judged by a few, but I have to ignore the part of me that cares about that and know that I am the one who knows myself and my child best and I know what battles to pick and what ones to let pass. He will be going to a 9-1 program starting this fall there, and I personally think he will do great. He even does great now going into the church classrooms. It wasn't something that we were going to let stop us from attending, but for those Thursdays it was something that I, myself, couldn't battle any longer. Those few weeks were a battle in that situation be it MAPS or church services, so not sure what the underlying issue was and why he put up such a fight but I like to think those days have passed for that...but we'll see. Knock on wood, because man, that was trying.

 

A friend of ours had their four and a half month old little gal pass away July 2014. She had We hadn't been as close with her in recent time, but when friends are true that doesn't matter. We tried to show support the best we could. Gary attended the funeral with another couple, we sent flowers and I have kept sweet Collins up on our fridge as a reminder to pray for them throughout the days, months, years to come as they go through life now with their sweet girl in Heaven. They had made the Collins Grace Foundation, and through that they have done so much to raise money and support other families with babies in the NICU going through the hardships they had to experience.

So-this year, on her birthday they showed, once again, their amazing strength and perseverance to remember their daughter. They decided to do acts of kindness/pay it forwards in many ways, and we were blessed to have been one of those that received their sweetness. They sent a sweet, encouraging note with a gift card and an awesome little pay it forward card that we could pass on to someone and share the love, as well as share about Collins and the foundation made in her name.

This couldn't have come at a better time for us. We got it on Thursday, when my parents were to have the kids for the night, so we missed out on our small group to step away and have dinner and a night just us. We really needed to stop and reconnect. This new stage of life has had us having to work through more together, challenging and strengthening our marriage in ways I didn't know even needed it, and at this time we needed to take some time to take off our parenting hats and put on our marriage ones and regroup. Their blessing of this sweet encouraging card and gift card allowed us to treat ourselves to just that without having to worry about how to budget a date night in.

 

It was fun, great to reconnect, have a yummy dinner and drink and have time just the two of us, being able to focus on each other without kid interruptions. The strength that Ashley and Tien have shown through the passing of their sweet girl is amazing to me and so inspirational. God is really working through them to help others despite it being such a heart ache of a situation they have had to endure. It's amazing what people can do and I am so glad to know them, even at a distance, and see all the great work they are doing in Collins name and remembrance.

 

Trains are awesome, but what's even more fun is making train tunnels with your legs and watching the trains go through.

 

Worms! This kid loves to dig and find bugs. The poor worms don't have much of a chance around him, except that he's pretty timid and doesn't dare touch them himself...which is good and bad. Good, because I don't have to worry about him coming at me with any bugs in hand, and bad because the fate of the worm is left to chance when him trying to pick it up with a shovel, which doesn't end too smoothly.

Friends. Little friends are adorable. One minute they love playing with each other, the next their staring at the other waiting for them to get over the fit they're throwing. It's so funny to me what isn't second thought to them at this age when it comes to 'how to act' in front of friends. Cuteness all around. The above in particular is one of our small group couples little gal that we got to have over for an afternoon to play. My, oh, my was having girl around fun and funny to me. Boys and girls are so different, especially at this age and being a mom of just boys it was fun to have a little sister around for a few hours!

 

I love to capture this boys smile. He's a sweetheart and can be such a lover sometimes. He looks so old with his hair cut short like this-wahh!

My cute little leprechauns! My sister got some baby chicks shortly before St Patricks Day and it was cute to watch Caden experience real, live chicks for the first time.

 

Two cool things. The first, MUCH cooler than the second. My brother and his cute family. I just love them. And, second, first time I made corned beef and cabbage myself. It's sometimes fun to play up little holidays, and maybe St Patricks Day will be one I'll play up more as the kids get older. I think making this will have to happen once a year, but I'm not sure about the corned beef..it had a lot of fat junk to it and I am not a fan of that, but the good parts were good and the house smelled 'fabulous' after so that's a plus.

 

 

Two cute pictures of little Reid. About three months old here, starting to really give us good, but selective, smiles and constantly putting hands and anything else in his mouth.

 

That's a wrap, folks. Well, just for the first part of March...

 

 

Seven

Reiders, you are now seven months old. Actually, in two day you are seven and a half months old. It has been a busy last few weeks, make that last month, so I am finally getting a moment to write what I've logged away about you in my mind while you nap, your brother plays in the yard and I sit in the shade still feeling the effects of the summer heat...and, as life would have it, there are your cries coming across the monitor. Do you not want me to divulge all your seven month old secrets or something? I need to get you two a play date and take myself and the computer to a coffee shop for a few hours so I can update the last many months of our lives before they become a blur amongst the busyness.

What are you up to now that you are seven months...

-You can sit up by yourself now. Right at the start of your seven months you still tipped over easily, but as of recent you've got it conquered pretty well. It is so cute to see you just sitting there solo and playing. Makes you look so big and independent.

-You sleep pretty well throughout the night, but you're not a great at napping. It just depends on the day sometimes, you'll go a few days fighting naps then a day or so giving it more. Unpredictable and keep us on our toes that's for certain.

-You have recently been sick. Cold, congestion crud that gave you a yucky cough as well. That, along with a small abscess made us make the decision to take you to the doctors. There we saw you are 16 lb 9 oz, so just a little bigger than your brother at this stage.

-You are hanging on to this cold for just over a week now, and have many teething symptoms so we wonder if you're working on breaking some in. It doesn't look like it, we don't see anything popping through or swollen gums but you are gnawing on anything, or anyone, you can and a recent drool fest so it may just be the start of the long teething journey.

I'm sorry, mom, are you trying to take my picture? Wait, you actually expect me to sit still? Crazy...

-You aren't crawling, not even seeming to try, but that doesn't stop you from moving around the floor like a mad man. We'll place you at one end, and seconds later come back to find you at the opposite end of the room. Little rolling machine.

-You are finding your humor and I love it. You are still showing a more serious personality, but recently are laughing a lot more at simple things. We don't have to tickle the crap out of you to get a good belly laugh, now you crack up over a simple game of chasing your brother around the house. It's adorable and fun to see you find humor in things. You especially find Caden amusing and that is extra special to watch you watching him and finding him to be funny even if he isn't doing anything special.

-Still on the brother topic, you love to watch your big bro. He is a silly boy and has a funny personality and he amuses you so much. You are very curious to what he's doing and love it when he turns turns into silly Caden, dancing around or making faces and sounds at you. It is the sweetest thing to hear him sing 'E-I-E-I-O' to you any time you are upset. He tries to comfort you with his beautiful singing of Old McDonald...sometimes it even works!

-You love your jumper. I may have mentioned that on the last post, but you are all for jumping. When people hold you it is almost guaranteed that you will fuss unless they let you stand and jump on their lap. The magnitude of how much you like to stand/jump versus sit makes me wonder if you'll be one of those babies that skips early to walking...but we'll just have to wait and see for that one.

-I mentioned earlier the gnawing and anything or anyone...you literally try to grab on tight to the side of peoples faces and gnaw at their face/jaw bone. Again, may have mentioned that, but it is cute and painful at times! You've got one heck of a grib and many of my hairs have laid to rest over your strong, aggressive, little fists holding on so tight.

-I've noticed that you noticed your daddy and I more. Becoming a little more needy when you realize we're near and express more wanting to be held vs in the jumper if we are close by. It's cute that you are having that connection more, but then again it's in the midst of the summer heat and you are a little furnace that just ups the body temp even more...

You are getting so big and growing so fast. I feel like we're entering the stages of progressing out of baby tendencies and coming up on milestone after milestone after milestone. Baby to toddler before our very eyes and dang it, next thing I know you'll be moving out and forgetting all about us! Slow.your.roll. You, not me...I'm never irrational, son. 

We love you, Reid. You are so fun. The bond I see you and Caden forming already brings me so much joy and happiness, I can't even bring it to words. It is a priceless privilege that we have to be your parents and we are so grateful to God for giving us the opportunity. We pray over you boys so much. I pray that we help teach you all of Gods love and goodness. That you may find a deep love and respect for God that will help you conquer this crazy world through any good or bad that it may bring into your life. I pray for safety and protection for you and your brother.

I hope you boys take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that life gives you, and that you overcome any hardships. Lean not on your own understanding. Put your faith and trust in God and he will help you through anything and everything. Know that your dad and I love you deeply and that will never change.

You are a wonderful little boy. We love you more than you know. xoxo