Month 7: Curious Bryce

Although it feels like months fly by when I sit to reflect on the last month I am amazed at just how different Bryce is and at just how much we have done since the last blog update.

  

We went to New York for a week at Christmas and had a wonderful time. Bryce and Landon loved playing with their cousins and getting spoiled by aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas. Landon built his first snowman and Grandma Harter had all the accessories to make Frosty ready for his photo shoot with the Reeves family. Landon also loved getting to go sledding while Bryce stayed cozy inside and helping to cook in the kitchen with his new apron and chef's hat from Grandma Reeves. We also started a new tradition of making gingerbread houses together which was a lot of fun!

Love this photo! The kids think Aunt Carly and Uncle Chris are pretty neat!

Cousins just 4 days apart...Cole may be bigger but Bryce loves to tackle him and give him kisses!

Bryce has spent the last month just soaking in all of his surroundings. By the time we returned from NY he was sitting up on his own. He now loves giving kisses although some people would call it a full mouth of slobber. When not laughing at his brother you will find him stretching to reach anything he wants. He is very good at rolling around to try to get what he wants. He loves the stacking rings in the picture below and many toys that are easy to grab but the best things of all are the remote and the IPAD. I can tell he can't wait to crawl but he can't quite figure out how just yet. Bryce used to love his bottle and eating but now there is way too much around to get into so we often need to feed him separate from all the commotion going on. As a result he continues to love his 2am late night snack.

We took the boys for the first time to the Virginia Living museum this month. Landon even touched some of the sea creatures while we were there. Last weekend was warm so we tried to take both boys in the bike trailer for the first time. It was so much fun to be able to get out the 4 of us without a stroller!

 

2014 has had such a great start!

Month 6: Merry Christmas!

6 months already?!?!

This month we had Grandma and Grandpa Reeves, Uncle Daniel, and Aunt Krysta come to visit for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun! They made puppets, gingerbread houses, and we got our house decorated for Christmas.

 

Bryce is now rolling over from back to tummy and he doesn't stop. He loves playing on the floor and will reach to get anything he wants. Bryce no longer will stay on the blanket you put him on and we have begun to train Landon on which toys need to stay away from him.

Bryce is now eating sweet potatoes, squash, and pears. He loves sitting in his high chair to eat and watch his brother eating as well. David and I can already tell that Bryce looks up to Landon so much. He just cracks up at Landon when Landon plays with him.

Bryce is also babbling so much these days. He is definitely telling us some stories. Landon has begun to ask me "whats he saying mama?" I am pretty sure Landon will figure out the babbling code and David and I will be in trouble soon with them having their own language between the two of them.

This month Bryce did get a pretty nasty cold but through it all he was still a very happy baby.

 

Santa also got to meet Bryce this month and Bryce thought he was pretty neat. He loves grabbing his beard and smiling for the pictures. We all know it will be a few years before we get the smiles again around the big man. Landon is petrified of Santa and does not want him to visit our house but simply leave the presents outside.

 

We are incredibly blessed with these two healthy, happy boys and have loved preparing and celebrating the holidays with them. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Month 5: Things are about to change...

So we've been pretty busy the last month. Bryce was a monkey and a monster for Halloween. We had a parade at daycare and also went trick or treating around our neighborhood. Landon really enjoyed knocking on the door and getting candy Bryce was happy to sleep in the stroller. Bryce also chose to go to bed in lieu of carving pumpkins with us this year.

"So how does this Halloween thing work brother?"

We also had Uncle DJ's wedding on November 3rd so we traveled to Durham, NC. They were married in the Duke chapel and it was a beautiful wedding. We are so excited Aunt Krysta is now officially part of the Reeves clan! Grandma and Grandpa Reeves were so nice to let us have the hotel room across from us so we had a lot of time together. In addition to being the ring bearer the highlights of the weekend for Landon was wearing his cowboy boots like grandpa, running back and forth from one room to another, and eating at McDonalds. Bryce loved being held by Grandma and many others throughout the weekend. He is definitely a ladies man.

2 things that are new for Bryce this month are that he can roll over from tummy to back (back to tummy is sooooo close) and he now chooses an object to grab or follow closely with his eyes.

In thinking of the blog for this month I also couldn't help but think that this was the last month Bryce will only have milk (with a little cereal) and it was also the last month that Bryce would not be able to sit up on his own.

I can't wait to see Bryce begin to show his personality even more but I am really enjoying snuggling with him so much and would be ok if we could pause thanksgiving break for a just a little while. He is so sweet and I definitely think he is more of a mama's boy than Landon was. It's also great to watch the boys interact more and more with each other. Bryce LOVES watching Landon and Landon loves to make him laugh.

Below are the 5 month photos we tried to take of Bryce. I love that Landon insisted in being in most of them.

"It's Go Time..." said Landon.

As a parent we think of all the things we want to teach our kids but rarely do I think of all the things I will learn from them until after the fact.

Potty training had crossed my mind a few times over the past two months but Landon had shown no interest and quite frankly we were "busy." I thought maybe over the Christmas break we would tackle it but it still was something I was dreading. In addition I was certainly not planning on starting the week after we had been out of town, with David traveling, and all of my quarterly meetings and reports due. So when Landon began saying he wanted to get underwear and use the potty I really wanted to say no, not now, I don't have time but I knew I couldn't do that.

So here is how we jumped in....last week David left for a week long business trip and on day 1 Landon begins talking about wanting underwear like the boys at daycare. He went once during the day at daycare so that night I took him to the store. When we got home he played around in the kitchen naked for almost two hours and just before bed went once. The rest of the week Landon showed no interest at daycare but would want to hang out on the potty sometimes at home as I was trying to get the daily evening routines completed and prepare us for the next day. He went pee a few times here and there.

When David got home we decided we would give it a try over the weekend. I bought rocks, stickers, and a Nemo toy at the dollar store. I was not very excited about it. Diapers were easy. I could go wherever whenever and didn't have to worry about making a mess in public. I loved and hated the idea of not going anywhere all weekend while just imagining how many loads of laundry and how messy it was going to be.

Saturday morning arrived and it all began...the timer was set for 10 minutes. We would put Landon on the potty. Nothing happened the first few go arounds and then he went! The only tears shed were because 2 cocoa krispies fell out of his hand into the potty and we would not let him take them out to eat them. It was shortly after that we had 3 accidents in a row and I really questioned whether or not we were crazy but we started it and couldn't quit now. Then WALA! Landon got it and began to get the gist of this whole thing. It's been 5 days now of lots of singing, dancing, and celebrating as he now goes #1 and #2 in the potty, has taken 3 trips out of the house to the store, a trip to church, and 2 days of daycare all with no accidents. Daycare started no diaper at naps and he is even dry through that. The 10 minute timer is gone, he tells us when he has to go and he even told me to go away tonight when he had to go to the bathroom. I cannot believe we have just passed a HUGE milestone! 

My advice to parents is this...
1. The kid needs to be ready.
2. The potty that sings when they go is awesome!
3. The potty chair turns into a campground. You eat, play, and watch the iPad all while on the potty!
4. One pack (7) of underwear is not enough.
5. As you treat them for going treat yourself to something as well.

I hesitated sharing this story because I know there are many parents out there who may not like us after hearing how easy this has been for us but I have learned so much. Landon once again has taught me its not all about my plan and that sometimes you have to let things happen how they are meant to be. I am so proud of him that he did this all on his own. I love that I find myself learning more about me everyday through him and Bryce.   

Month 4: Hangin' with the boys!

At 4 months Bryce weighs 15 pounds 3 ounces and is 25 inches long. Highlight of the month include his smiles, giggles, enjoying playing on his own, and laughing at his big brother. The guys of the house ruled for half of this month since daddy was out of work and daycare was closed. Being together everyday Landon began to interact with Bryce more and more. Bryce often gets a hug in the morning before I do and Landon always requests Bryce's Rock n Play be put right next to his seat while we eat dinner. David was great at keeping the kids entertained all day and even took his first adventures out on the town with both boys by himself this month!

 

Bryce still does not sleep through the night but its ok because it gives me the chance to get time with just him. He continues to be one of the happiest babies I know even though he doesn't nap much during the day. He loves playing with the links that hang from the playmat. Bryce also loves to chew on his hand and often pulls out his pacifier to try to suck on his thumb but he isn't very good at it. Bryce has tried cereal twice this week and doesn't seem to hate it.

 

Landon is in a stage where he talks all the time and picks up new things so quickly. He hates me taking pictures or video already but I try to snap a few good ones every now and then.

 

Sometimes pictures and videos can recap the fun and enjoyment we have with these two better than any words! Enjoy the photos and the video at the end!

 

 

Take me for a ride!

Our first matching jammies!

Landon has a mustache just like Papa Reeves! He loves this!