Making Lemonade

Last week started off so great with a Birthday party for Pepe at our house. Gran and Papa even made the trek down to join in the celebration. A few days prior I had asked Pepe what he wanted for dessert and he had said he didn't think Reed could have his favorite, Earthquake cake, because of his allergies. I told him we like challenges and that I would do my best. Searching for recipes I quickly found out what a challenge it was going to be. The cake has eggs, butter, cream cheese, and pecans in it, all of which are huge no-nos for the Monkey. I was bound to make it work and on last Sunday morning Reed and I created what we have since dubbed "Reedquake cake." Reed loves baking with me so we ended up having a great time, the cake was actually pretty darn good, and was our first "making lemonade" moment of the week.

I was home with the boys last Monday and talked up our planned visit to meet Cameron and Bri's newborn daughter Cambria the next day. We wrapped presents for the baby and big sister Daylynn and were a little disappointed when Dad came home from work and told us Cameron had come down with a bug and our visit was going to have to be delayed - lemons! Luckily yesterday we finally got to meet Little Miss Cambria - lemonade!!!

 

We had decided to take Reed to the Farm Show this year but unfortunately I had a ton of work to catch-up on so decided to stay home with Kieran while Jon and Reed went to the show - lemons. On Thursday morning they left around 8:30 but unfortunately there was a huge accident on the freeway and they were stuck in horrendous traffic for almost 2 hours before turning around and heading home. The drive to the show should take about 35 minutes and instead they made it about 10 miles down the road - major lemons, especially when you've been talking up big tractors and cows to a kid that easily gets his heart set on things. When they walked back in the door, Reed's eyes were brimming with tears and he told me he was so sad and needed a cuddly guy. He then went and got one for himself and one for Dad because he thought Jon needed one too!!! Apparently he was a Super Trooper in the car and Jon felt so bad we tried to make up for it by taking the boys out to the ranch to look at tractors with Tio yesterday. Reed of course had a great time - lemonade!!!

 

As I've talked about before, Jon and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but now that I have kids it is fun to do something a little special. After a week of disappointments it was nice to have a pleasant day at home. I surprised Reed with strawberry milk with his breakfast. He loved the milk, but not the glass I served it in. Luckily that was our only real hiccup and the rest of the day we spent making cookies, having lunch with Auntie Amanda and Auntie "M," (during which I got to find out the sex of Amanda and Steve's baby and wrap a pair of ballet slippers in a box for them to open later that weekend - so neat - I was freaking out during the whole process), playing games, opening a bottle of wine, and making a yummy dinner.

To round out our rough week, on Sunday Reed and I discovered our beloved garden gnome had been broken by (we think) some bratty neighborhood kids. Reed was beyond devastated by this and we felt so bad for him. He broke down crying over the gnome pieces at least half a dozen times before lunch. While he napped I tried to glue the thing back together, but we are still missing a few large pieces. Again with the lemons! We decided to let him pick out a new gnome on Amazon and told him we would put the new guy out in the garden with the old guy to keep him company. This seemed to really appease him but then when Jon searched the website out of all of the choices that popped up Reed chose the gnome flipping the bird and with his butt sticking out of the top of his pants. We had to break it to him that this was not an appropriate choice for our veggie garden and so he reluctantly decided on a gnome holding a flower - lemons? lemonade?

So I don't end this post with our poor broken gnome I will share one more "turning lemons into lemonade" anecdote. We've been putting Kieran in a Bumbo chair for the last few days. He seems to like it which is awesome. Reed decided he wanted in on the Bumbo action the other day but when he tried to stand up the chair was stuck to his bum. He quickly assessed the situation and declared that he was now a snail. I love this boy and his imagination!

Shaver Lake

When you ask Nonna what she wants for a gift her answer most of the time is "nothing, just to spend time with you guys." This year for her Birthday/Christmas presents we decided to give her just what she asked for and, along with C and Tio, gifted her a vacation in Shaver Lake with the whole family. Since it has been such a dry year it was looking like there wouldn't be any snow to play in or much to do. We knew it would still be fun to hang out with everyone for a few days but were so excited when a series of storms came through right before we headed up to the mountains. It was the perfect amount for Reed to get to ride a sled for the first time (including a couple solo runs), get in a snowball fight, and build a snow man. Tio took me, Jon, and Pepe out on his snow mobiles and Jon and Tio got a full day of skiing in too. It was really wonderful getting to relax with everyone in the same house and just spend fun quality time together.

If you know Pepe you know he loves taking pictures and since I was having to juggle a toddler and an infant in snow suits in slippery conditions I nominated him official photographer for the week. He is responsible for most of these amazing shots, we are so lucky he was there to capture all of the fun!!!

 

 

Three Months

Kieran continues to be the happiest baby on the block (I think this would be true even if there was another baby in our neighborhood)! He really is a great kid who genuinely seems to enjoy life already. His fussiest time of the day is usually in the evening and even then a few tosses in the air, a pacifier, or just carrying him facing out around the house seem to calm him. He still likes sleep a lot; often only being awake for an hour and a half between naps. He usually takes 3-4 naps a day and at least one of those is pretty long (1.5-2 hours). He loves our evening routine of bath time and baby massage, tolerates story time with Reed, and then usually goes down for the night between 8:00 and 9:00. Typically he wakes up twice overnight and it is still a feed, change the diaper, lay him down, and he's back to sleep situation.

This month he really has embraced sleeping in his crib. We just moved him out of a swaddle and he has adapted to the sleep sack really well. For naps and bedtime we just lay him down drowsy, zip him up in his sack, put a pacifier in his mouth, and 9 times out of 10 he puts himself to sleep. If he is a bit more fussy sometimes we have to pop the pacifier in a couple of times or let him cuddle with his stuffed monkey.

I really try not to compare Kieran to Reed on this blog and for these monthly posts I want it to be just about the K-Man. That being said I have to share a quick story. One day Kieran was crying while I was trying to hold him and read a book to Reed. R popped out of the chair and went running down the hall. I asked what he was doing and he came running back in with a stuffed animal and declared that "Kieran needs a cuddly guy." I appreciated the gesture and stuck the guy in K's arms to show Reed that it had been a nice thing to do for his brother. To my shock Kieran stopped crying almost instantly. Since then if he's tired and fussy and we give him his stuffed monkey (a gift from Reed) he starts nuzzling it and either calms down or dozes off to sleep. It is miraculous!!! I never thought a baby could develop a "lovey" so early on but he definitely has. I do always take the stuffed animal out of the crib after he falls asleep but I feel like this is going to be a long term attachment.

Monthly Statistics

Weight: 12 lbs 11oz

Height: 24.75 inches

Clothing Size: I'm still squeezing him into 3 month pajamas, but clothes are now 3-6 month or 6 month outfits. He is definitely long and lean with lots of room on the sides of his too small clothes but they are just too tight from head to toe.

Kieran likes: Being held facing out, staring at anything on the ceiling or hanging above him, his car seat, taking baths, his play mat, Mam pacifiers, bouncing/jumping, being tossed in the air, and his lovey, Max.

Kieran dislikes: Having a wet diaper, having his clothes changed/taken off, a cold changing pad, and being held like a baby.

 

Nicknames: Kier, K, K-Man, Kierito, Buddy Bear, Sweet Pea, Sneezy, and The Happiest Baby on the Block.

How Kieran is sleeping:  Kieran generally goes to sleep for the night between 8:00 and 9:00, he is usually up 4 to 5 hours later to nurse, and then again in another 3 hours. Depending on bedtime and the spacing of the feedings he will usually wake again 2.5 to 3 hours later and nurse then either go back to sleep or stay up - usually waking up for the day between 7:00 and 8:00 am. Typically he is awake for 1.5 - 2 hours and then back down for a nap. This continues throughout the day and the naps can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours. With most naps lasting about an hour and then usually one longer nap lasting around 2 hours.

Favorite Moment: Watching Kieran develop an attachment to a lovey has been so special. Also, the first time Jon tossed Kieran in the air it was adorable to see the big grin on his face when he landed in Jon's hands.

Milestones:
01/22/14 First trip to the Gillette Cabin

01/22/14 K starts trying to reach up to the toys in his bouncer

01/30/14 Kieran "finds" his hands and is mesmerized
02/03/14 First overnight trip (to Shaver Lake for 3 nights actually)

02/04/14 First time playing in the snow

Favorite Photo Shoot Outtake: This is just to prove he isn't always happy, but you have to admit his crying face is soooo sad it is almost cute.