19 Months Old

Dear Davin,

Another year is on us - and boy have you started it with a bang!  You have become one feisty, energetic little boy.  You are on the go ALL the time - and with that has come a little bit of a lag in your awesome sleeping.  But, you are FUN FUN FUN right now!

Since your last month day we have had lots of Christmas excitement!  We went to see lights at a zoo (I guess you'd call it that?  It was quite weird), went to Brenna's Christmas program at school, went to the local Christmas parade, celebrated Santa coming and gifts with just us four, and then a couple days with Neena and Pa Bill, another couple of days with Nanie, and then a day with Grandpa.  You got to see lots and lots of extended family on both sides - and you got to see Leah one day while we are in Bristol!!  You had tons of fun - although I have to say your favorite gift was a $5 basketball goal with suction cups and a basketball to go with it!  You can throw a ball surprisingly well.  You love love love to play catch!  You got lots of outdoor toys - which I know we'll put to good use as soon as it warms up again!  You still stand at the door and beg "ow shide" numerous times a day.  You also got lots of farm-related and train-related toys - both of your two loves these days.

Your other LOVE is still books.  You are precious when you back up and plop down in our laps to read a story.  Some of your favorites are: Tickle Monster, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and anything with animals, trains, touch-and-feel, or Sesame Street characters.  You are perfectly content to read the same book 10+ times in a sitting.  You also still love to play kid games on the iPad or iPhone.  You really like the "Monster at the End of this Book" with Elmo and Grover.  I'm amazed at how well you can operate the iPad already.

You are still a pretty good eater but are still not loving much meat.  You will eat broccoli, cheese, pasta, meatloaf, green beans, crackers, and any "junk" without much coaxing.  You drink mostly milk and water with some juice mixed in.  You haven't had any ear infections per se - but you've had lots of fluid on your ears so Dr. Hata may recommend us to see an ENT specialist in a couple of weeks.  Speaking of which, you had your 18 month checkup last week and checked out great.  You are growing almost perfectly on a curve.  You were 22 pounds, 14.5 ounces; 32 1/2 inches tall, and your head was 48 cm.  She was impressed with how many words you can say (approximately 50-60) and all your milestones.  You got your 3rd and 4th bottom teeth the week before Christmas and cut your first bottom molar sometime during the week we were gone on our visiting.  You are working on your top and bottom molar on the left side now.

You still sleep 12ish hours a night - but just over the past 3-4 nights have been waking up and throwing huge fits.  I really hope it is just teeth or something and not a habit you are starting.  You also have been taking shorter naps - 1.5-2 hours rather than your usual 3+.  I am hoping those will stretch out again soon!  You still go to sleep relatively easy but still need to be rocked.  It is one of my most favorite times with you - you are just so cuddly.

You and Bren are forming a great friendship.  You get mad at her and throw things sometimes, but for the most part you enjoy being her sidekick.  She manipulates you to get what she wants, but she is also so sweet and affectionate to you.  I pray all the time that you guys will have a very close friendship.  We enjoy our 1-on-1 time while she is at preschool by running errands, going to the Y, dancing a lot, reading books, playing blocks and trucks, and lots and lots of basketball.  You are fairly easy going when we have to be out a lot.  I enjoy having you with me! :)

Your vocabulary is growing and it's so cute.  You love to shout "HI!" and "BYE!" and wave to people you know and complete strangers alike.  You like to yell for Daddy and Mommy when we leave the room.  You like giving "Ma" (Maggie) hugs.  You say "peeeease" and "cha choo" (thank you) like a good little gentleman.  You beg for "cooooookies" but will also say "broccee" (broccoli).  You can point to your eyes, nose, and mouth on command.  You know that lions say "rawr" and cows say "moo".  OH, and you can work a puzzle!  You worked a farm animal puzzle with 6 big block pieces (the kind that just fit in a groove, not fit together) the other day all on your own.  I was amazed!  You are turning into a full-fledged toddler, and while I do miss my baby - I am enjoying you growing up like crazy!

Love you Spud!
Love, Mommy

2013 Year in Review

January
*Davin started crawling.
*We finally got a Macbook!

February
*Brenna spent a week with her grandmas while J, Dav, and I went to DC.  Davin and I hung around the hotel, visited the Smithsonian, hung out with Merritt for a day, and had some dinner dates with Daddy.
*We celebrated Valentine's Day at PF Changs in DC.
*We celebrated my birthday by driving home from DC to pick up Brenna.  We stopped to see Sheri, Leah, and Justin on the way.
*Davin finally started tolerating baby food.

March
*Brenna turned THREE and we celebrated with a Candyland party.
*Brenna started her first season of soccer at the Y.
*We celebrated Easter at Pine Mountain.
*I got a belated birthday gift - both my diplomas professionally framed!


April
*Davin, Brenna, and I spent a week in Bristol.
*Maggie turned SEVEN!
*Brenna had her first of many swimming lessons.
*I started a hardcore diet and exercise regime.


May
*I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mother of two!
*We spent over a week at the beach.  We were there from Saturday-Tuesday with the Bashams and Wednesday-Sunday with my mom, Mal, Josh, and Brady.
*J got to spend the first day of vacation fixing the starter on our car - which died literally 5 minutes or less after we parked at the beach condo.
*We had extended family pictures made on vacation.
*Davin learned to walk!
*Davin started eating like a crazy person!

June
*Davin turned ONE and we celebrated with a Mr. Potato Head party.
*We spent Father's Day in Virginia - we went to The Freedom Center and hung out with the Bashams.
*We had a playdate with Jude and Leah (and Lisa and Sheri) in Dublin, VA.
*We went to Sara and Steven Malik's wedding in Radford, VA.
*We attended an Abel family reunion in Abingdon, VA.
*The kids and I had lots of park trips, visits to the Y, and lots and lots of outdoor play time.

July
*I was a reader in Ashley and Curtis Bumgardner's wedding in Emory, VA.
*We went to the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg with Donna, Jayla, Brad, Mom, Mal, Josh, and Brady.
*Sheri and Leah came to visit us for a few days.
*We celebrated our 5th anniversary at the NC Zoo with Brenna and Davin.
*I weaned Davin.
*Davin dropped his morning nap AND finally moved to his own room.
*Brenna did swimming lessons most of the summer.

August
*Brenna and Davin spent a weekend with Neena and Pa Bill.  J and I got a date night in downtown Hickory.
*I spent 2 days in Asheville with Christy and Lora - with lots of shopping, catching up, eating, and a Biltmore tour!
*Brenna had her first dentist appointment.
*NO MORE PACI FOR BREN!!!
*Brenna moved to a big girl twin bed.
*Davin had another ear infection.
*We celebrated Brady's 2nd birthday in Bristol.

September
*Brenna started preschool.
*We went to Justin and Brandie Huelsman's (I know I spelled that wrong) wedding here in NC.
*The Hainrihars moved to Missouri.  :(
*We went to a family reunion for Jonathan's family on Pine Mountain.
*Brenna started her second season of soccer at the Y.
*We met up with Brandan and Rachel in Winston Salem for a Sister Hazel concert.  Jonathan's dad was here and watched the kids.

October
*My mom came to visit.  Jonathan and I spent the day in Blacksburg with Darin and Lyndsie to watch the Hokies defeat UNC.
*I chopped off my hair.
*Jonathan and I went to Nashville, TN for Alana and Jason Hilkin's wedding.  The kids stayed with my mom.
*We went to Dollywood with Donna, Jayla, Brad, Mom, Mal, Josh, and Brady.
*We finally purchased our house in Newton, NC.
*We went apple picking.
*We went back to the balloon festival in Statesville, NC.
*Brenna had her first field trip - to Red Wolf Pumpkin farm.  The rest of us tagged along.
*We trick-or-treated around our neighborhood.  Brenna was a swimmer and Davin was a fish.
*I threw a baby shower for Lauren Bliss and Baby Shane.
*J worked 12 hours on his birthday. :(

November
*Neena and Pa Bill kept the kids for a weekend.  Jonathan and I spent the day at Ikea and had dinner in Charlotte with my cousins.
*Brenna and I went to the Renaissance festival near Charlotte with Sissy.
*Brenna and I went to see Willy Wonka by a local theater group.
*I cooked a full Thanksgiving meal for Jonathan's dad.
*We spent Thanksgiving with my family and 2 days afterwards with Jonathan's family in VA.


December
*Brenna started basketball at the Y.
*We cut down a Christmas tree in Vale, NC.  It was a little bigger than we anticipated - but gorgeous!
*We visited Santa at the mall.  Bren did great - Dav was terrified.
*We hosted a Pajamas and Pancakes party for a few of Bren's friends.
*Jonathan took Brenna on a date to dinner and to see Peter Pan downtown.
*Jonathan, Davin, and I joined Brenna at school for a Chic-fil-a feast.
*Brenna enjoyed Polar Express day in her pjs at school.
*I made a million signs for people!
*We hosted a Minute to Win It Christmas party for our life group friends.
*We took homemade treats to our neighbors, postal workers, garbage men, firemen, and police officers.
*Santa came on Dec 21 - such fun!
*We went to the Hickory parade downtown.
*We went to Troutman, NC to see Christmas lights - We ended up seeing a random bunch of lights, a baby tiger and a baby kangaroo, and 3 live tigers.  Most random night ever!
*We spent 2 days with J's family, then 3 days with my family, then 1 day with J's dad and stepmom.  We finally made it home on Dec 29!

Santa 2013

 Santa's gifts this year

 Bren's dollhouse, scooter, and plasma car

Davin's tractor, Tonka truck, and plasma car

Santa stuck with his 3 gift tradition this year (but threw in one extra mutual gift!).  Brenna received a dollhouse, a scooter (one of her big wishes!) and a plasma car.  Davin received a (used) John Deere ride-on tractor and attached wagon, a big Tonka truck, and a plasma car.  After all gifts were opened - we surprised them with Santa's last gift - a Little Tikes 7 foot trampoline (jump-a-bean according to Bren).  It was a huge hit.  I am hoping for lots of warm weather to enjoy all these new wheels!  

33Before33 - #20 - Nursing

I knew that I wanted to make it until at least he was at least a year old to wean Davin.  Nursing Davin was overall easier than nursing Brenna because I never had to go to work.  I rarely had to pump (woohoo!!) and he was a pretty quick eater.  We had a bit of a struggle when he was really young before my milk was completely in - similar to the struggle we had with Brenna.  I supplemented her a tad during her first month because she wasn't gaining weight quick enough (and lost a tad too much) but I was determined not to have to do that with Davin.  After we got going, it was pretty smooth sailing.  I struggled through mastitis (on vacation.  at the beach.) and yeast issues (during Valentine's Day.  and my birthday.) and we still kept it up!  He acted like he had a magnet to me for many months - and I'm pretty sure it was because he knew Mommy=food!!  We dropped down to one feeding a day for awhile and I knew he was ready to drop that.  I, on the other hand, had a hard time because I knew it was probably the last time I would nurse a baby.  On July 27, when he was about 13.5 months old, I nursed him for the last time.  He never missed a beat and it was good ending to that nursing relationship.  I am proud of myself that I was able to nurse both of my babies past a year.  Score one for Mommy!

The Lesson I Didn't Mean to Teach

Today I taught Brenna a lesson I didn't even mean to.  Oh, don't get me wrong.  Today was already prepped to be a day of learning for her.  We had baked lots of yummy treats, packaged them up, and were going to head out to take them to some Fire Stations, Police Stations, Post Offices, etc.  But this morning just wasn't going my way.  The brownies weren't setting up quick enough. The vinyl for the signs I was making got eaten by my machine.  Then it cut crooked.  Then it peeled off wrong.  So, in an effort to get out the door at a reasonable time - I decided to stick the brownie in the freezer for just a few minutes so the candy cane things in the middle wouldn't be runny.  So I opened the freezer door.....which prompted Brenna's lunch box to fall, knocking the plate (and all the yumminess) out of my hand.  It was the last straw.  I know I muttered something like "This cannot be happening" and then it hit me.  She was watching.  So even though everything inside me wanted to just lay down on the floor, cry, and eat some brownies while I was down there...I didn't.  I told her that "accidents happen" and we just picked them up.  I even let her eat one.  And she kept coming hugging me saying, "I am sorry they all fell Mommy."  She was being compassionate when she knew I needed it - but hopefully she saw from me that life happens.  Sometimes it is messy, but getting mad and frustrated just makes it worse.

So yeah, we took some goodies to some public servants today.  We even got an up-close look at a fire truck.  But the lesson for the day wasn't about serving others.  It doesn't happen all that often - but today I am proud of what my daughter saw in me.

One and a Half!!

Dear Davin,

You are officially closer to being two than to being one.  That is incredibly hard for me to fathom.  Your second year is absolutely flying by!  You are really turning into a toddler and losing a lot of your baby traits - which is hard to handle for this mommy.  You are lots and lots of fun and keep us laughing, so we are trying to just enjoy this stage before it, too, passes.

One of the biggest recent changes is your vocabulary.  You are trying a lot more to use words to communicate with us - which is sometimes successful and sometimes total gibberish.  Some of the words you say the most are - Memo (Elmo), hat (you point at your hat rack and yell HAT! every morning when I get you out of your crib), shoe, owshy (outside), Ma (or Ma-ma - both Maggie), Daddy, Mommy, Bremma, Neena, Nanie, Gama (Grandma), mo (more), peese (please), bye bye (You say bye-bye anytime I say "I love you" ha!), choo choo, book, baby (You like to point at the canvases of you and Bren on the wall), ca (cracker), and Hi (to anyone who looks your way, complete with a wave!)  Oh, and NO!  You have mastered it - and use it often when we ask you something that you aren't too happy about.  You love to dance and will dance on command if I hold your hands or tell you to "shake your booty".  You also like to clap and say "yay" anytime you hear clapping.  You are more interested in TV if it's on - especially PBS type shows (oh, and Home Alone.  You were a big fan!).

You cut your first top molar earlier this week (around December 10) and I hope that's the reason you haven't been sleeping as well.  You have had several shorter naps this week (1 hour - whereas you usually sleep at least 3 - and up to 4.5!)  You are harder to get down at night and wake up a few times for a paci or some back-patting.  Speaking of - last night was a milestone.  Daddy went in to rock you to sleep and you actually said "Mommy".  I have no idea if you really were asking for me - but I rocked you and enjoyed it!  I love rocking you for your naps, too.  You just get so comfy in my arms and I know these days are going by too quickly.  You still are attached like crazy to Daddy - but you are coming back around to being Mommy's buddy again too.

You and Brenna play together a lot - and argue a lot too.  You are learning quickly to not let her bully you around - and she isn't taking to kindly to it.  She is really sweet with you a lot of the times - but she sure doesn't like for you to have something she wants or if you are getting too much attention.  I really hope the fussing will slow down and you guys will become even better friends over the next few months.  We do still enjoy the days that she is at school - it gives you more one-on-one time with me and it's a blast!  We've been running lots of errands lately and people always comment on how cute you are.  And I agree!!

You are eating about the same - but will eat deli meat again, yay!  You love cheese, yogurt, fruit, bread, corn, green beans, crackers, and any sweet treat you can get your hands on.  You prefer juice over milk or water - but we trick you and water it way down when you do get it.  You are still wearing mostly 12-18 month clothes with some 18-24 shirts in there.

You LOVE iPads and iPhones.  It's so funny to see you go toward them if they are in your line of sight.  We are going to have our hands full between you and your sister and monitoring screen time.  It's too cute when you pile up on our laps and lay back to see something on the screen though.

We went and cut down a Christmas tree and so far you haven't messed with it too much - and even the presents haven't gotten too messed up so far.  I am looking SO forward to Christmas celebrations with you and Bren this year - you are both going to have so much fun.  We also had a Pancakes and Pajamas party here last week - and you were super clingy to me until you found some other moms who were willing to feed you some more yummy food.

You make every day a good one.  I love you so much Spud!
Love, Mommy

17 Months Old

Dear Davin,

I have to admit it - I missed writing your letter last month.  October was just a super busy month and time got away from me.  So, let's catch up...

You are totally 100% attached to your Daddy.  You love hanging out with me and will give me cuddles and smiles and attention - until he walks in the room.  Then it is all about Daddy!  You want him to carry you around and do everything with you anytime he is in your sight.  It's funny since you used to be attached to me like a magnet.  One day you will go back to being Mommy's Boy, right?  You adore when someone reads you a book - you like books about animals, farms, and cars best (in addition to There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat - yep, still love it!)  You love playing outside when it's warm enough - and you've mastered going down slides by yourself.  You don't love riding in strollers when you have the option to walk instead.  You are cute as a button when you wave at strangers wherever we go.  You are a pretty friendly guy most of the time.  You like to clap for Brenna when she does something well - and you love to fight with Brenna when she takes a toy from you or you want something she isn't willing to give up.  Your big sis loves you, and it melts my heart to hear her talk to you - she usually starts out with "Buddy..." or "Baby..."

You are recently obsessed with trains.  You probably say the words "Choo Choo" at least a hundred times each day.  You think the garbage truck, tractor-trailers, and any other big vehicle is a choo choo.  When you see Thomas on TV (or on anything in a store) - you go nuts!  Brady is a big fan of trains too, so it must be a boy thing for sure!  You also like for me to pretend your food is a choo-choo - that is, of course, when you actually let me feed you, which is becoming more rare now that you are mastering feeding yourself with a spoon!  You have so far successfully finished off macaroni and yogurt all by yourself!   You cut two more teeth on the top during the week of November 2.  And just this week (sometime around November 26) you cut your first molar on the bottom right!  The top teeth seemed to both you a little bit, but nothing too terrible.  You've also had a slight cold and cough - but so far no more ear infections!  You are eating well of course - but have recently started resisting meat.  You are a bread and cheese lover for sure!  You love to drink water out of Brenna's water bottle and you still drink plenty of milk.

We celebrated your second Halloween - and you were the cutest fish ever.  You had fun smiling at the neighbors and eating the treats you got that night.  Earlier in October you and Bren stayed with Nanie for a weekend while Daddy and I went to Nashville for a wedding.  You had lots of fun at Nanie's new house.  Then Nanie, Mal, Brady, Josh, Donna Ann, Jayla, and Brad brought you and Brenna to meet me and Daddy at Dollywood!  It was so fun.  You loved riding some of the kiddie rides with Brenna.  You missed your nap and were still so, so good.  You also spent a weekend with Neena and Pa Bill in early November.  They love having you there - and all your extended family loved seeing you at church.  Grandpa came to visit you last weekend and you loved having him around to tote you around and play ball with.

We had lots of adventures this fall - we went to the apple orchard and picked apples, went on a field trip to a pumpkin patch with Brenna's class, went to the balloon festival in Statesville (which you loved!), and now we are looking forward to going to cut down a Christmas tree in a week or two!  It's been really fun watching you grow and actually getting to enjoy some things we've enjoyed with Brenna in the past.  You are at the most fun age - and I admit I often wish I could just stop time.  You are just so FUN.

I think you are about 22-23 pounds and you wear mostly 12-18 month clothes.  You have gone to size 6 shoes and you love wearing shoes because it means you are most likely going "ouchide" (outside).  You wear size 4 diapers and still wear your snuggly footed pjs every night!  You nap from 2-5ish and sleep from 8:45 until anywhere from 8:30-10 each morning.  We just switched you to Brenna's convertible carseat this week.   So far I'm not sure you are a fan - you seem to have less leg room than you did in your infant carrier.  You'd be much happier facing forward so you could watch the iPad on long trips with Bren!  I typically make sure I have plenty of food to provide on longer trips.

This holiday season is going to be fun with you being at such a great age.  It's so fun being your Mommy.

Love you, Spud!
Love, Mommy