Wednesday, February 8, 2012

2 Years!

Gibson turned 2 December 30!  He's getting to be such a big boy and is still so full of personality!  He makes constantly makes us laugh with the silly things he does, faces he makes and things he says.  He still doesn't say a ton.  He says lots of single words and sometimes puts a couple of words together, but rarely three words together.  But he definitely seems to understand more than he says. I'm pretty sure when he doesn't do what I tell him, it's not because he doesn't know what I'm saying, he just doesn't want to listen:). He is fully of energy, yet also loves cuddling when he's in the right mood (typically mornings and evenings).  I've figured out recently that if he gets up before I'm ready to get up, he'll lay in bed with me and sometimes fall back asleep next to me.  That works great since he likes to get up sometimes at 7:30-8ish and Layla gets up at 9ish and Greta now (after feeding around 6) gets up around 8:30/9.  It's nice to have that little time alone with him, even if I am sleeping:).  He is learning more and more how to push Layla's buttons and fighting back more.  If we're going to watch tv, Layla is used to watching what she wants, but now Gibs has an opinion too (and almost always chooses Mickey) which is good for Layla to get used to.  He LOVES to do everything that Layla does and loves copying every move she makes.  They are the best of friends but can definitely fight too!  And just recently I've seen Gibson throw a little tantrem on the ground which is so weird to see.  He's always been whiny at times (like a normal kid), but to see him scream like that seems so out of character--terrible twos I guess!  Thankfully he's done with it after a minute.  At this point, he is definitely our kid that is the highest maintenance while going out.  I know some people thing I'm crazy for taking them with me grocery shopping or to stores or whatever, but really, Greta's at such an easy age where she just sleeps in her carrier and Layla is fine to take out, so really it's not much different than having just Layla and Gibs--I just now have to lug a carseat along as well.  Gibs does well out at places as long as I keep him in the stroller or cart, but if he gets out he does not always listen when I tell him to stay by me.  He is definitely getting better, so hopefully by the time Greta outgrows her carseat, he will be good about staying  by me and NOT touching things in stores (since then Greta will be at a trickier age when you can't just set her down in her carrier).  Layla has just been very different than him, she has always listened much better, so it'll be interesting to see what Greta is like as she gets older.  Layla couldn't see me for a second the other day in Bed Bath and Beyond and looked so worried and like she was going to cry--totally reminds me of me when I was little.  I feared losing my mom in stores!  Gibs apparently doesn't care:). 
He had his 2 year check up a little late, but he's doing well.  Even though he's a little slow with his words, the doctor says he's in the normal range, so nothing to be concerned with.  We are happy he is a healthy happy little guy!  Here are his stats:
Weight: 29 lbs 11 oz (50-75th %)
Height: 35 1/2" (50-75th %)
Head: 49.2 cm (50-75th %)
So apparently he is very proportioned!

I chose the theme for his birthday party about a year ago:), but really, if he understood picking themes, I'm sure he'd have chosen Mickey too!  He really loves Minnie and Mickey.  I also decided a year ago that it'd be fun to do a brunch for his party.  I love brunch food and thought with it being winter, it's not so bad to "waste" people's Saturday mornings.  Plus it worked out that it was a holiday weekend--we had it on NYE morning.

Muffin pops that Auntie Heidi made...
Bread that I just bought and then used a Mickey cookie cutter to shape like Mickey...
Fruit cups made by Auntie Em...





The "kid table"...

Enjoying his birthday brunch meal...(too busy eating to look at the camera--the kid LOVES to eat, especially fruits and veggies)

Gavin, Layla, Gibson...
Kassia with Greta...
Opening presents...
Layla with Auntie Em and Uncle Mike (all in their Mickey apparel)...

A scooter from Grandpa, Grandma and Auntie Rachael to match Layla's that she got for Christmas...
Handy Manny set!
Some trains from the Lubbers...
Gifts from Grampy and Gigi...
A train table for all his new trains! (he got some Chuggington sets for Christmas)
Yummy Mickey cake...
I look like I can hardly hold him:)...
Playing with his new Mickey train (from Grandpa and Grandma) with Grandpa...

Greta in her Minnie shirt:)...
Playing still with the train set with Grampy.  Gibs LOVES his Mickey choo choo!
Greta and Harper...

Best family pic we could get...

Harper and Greta

Often when Greta and Haper "hang out" (or maybe it's their mommies that hang out:D), I try to get a pic of them together in hopes that one of these days they will both be smiling.  Until then, they make good pics to see the girls growing together. 
(Greta left, Harper right)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

2 Months!

Greta is two months already!!  Seriously, I'm sure I will say this even more with Greta than I did with the other two (if that is possible), but the time just flies by!  She's getting so big and starting to interact a bit more which is fun.  She is so sweet at times, yet still can definitely be grumpy too!  She has definitely been our most difficult baby, but she's gotten a lot better.  I think we just didn't realize before how easy we had it with the others.  She still goes through times of being fussy (like a few days in a row) and I still can't quite figure out if something is different and that's what makes her mad/uncomfortable those days or if it's just her.  She loves being held and also loves being rocked in her carseat.  Starting at 8 weeks she MOST nights now goes 8-9 hours at night which has been nice.  She drinks about 4 oz at a time.  Last week she had a cold which was sad to see. I don't think either of my other kids got sick like that as babies.  So here's hoping she stays healthy the rest of the winter!  She currently wears mainly 0-3 month clothing and size 1 diapers.
She had her 2 month check up last Friday with a nurse practitioner.  We've noticed for awhile now that her head is getting mishaped.  We've been trying to get her to look the other way, but it hasn't been working.  We now have some "excercises" to do with her each day to hopefully get her to look to her right more often and then we really hope that we can get her head shape to even out so she doesn't need a helmet!  She goes back for a follow up appointment on that in a month.  Here are her stats:

Weight: 11 lbs 1.5 oz (50th %)
Length: 22" (25-50th %)
Head: 37.5 cm (25-50th %)

Greta and Harper...
 It's fun to put her in her own outfits, but it's also cute to see her in Layla's outfits too.  It's nice to use out of them one more time:)...
Layla (5 1/2 months) and momma...
 She fell asleep during tummy time the other day.  I love when they stick their little buns up:).  And of course her big brother's foot wasn't to far from her:). 
 She loves giving "kisses" (or perhaps eating) her elephant...
 2 months!  It was too cold to undress her for the pic and I keep forgetting when I get her dressed.
Update: Now added a nudie pic:)...
Sleeping while "playing" on her play mat.  She mot of the time now naps in her crib, but sometimes it's just easier to let her be:).
 Posing with Harper again.  Harper is only about a pound less than Greta now (pretty good seeing that they started off 3 lbs different!).  I think Greta's extra pound is in her face:).  And maybe her belly:).
 I know these pictures are very similar, but I couldn't decide which were better.
The big bros thought they wanted to be in the pic too...
 And big sis joined in too...

Sunday, January 22, 2012

A Birthday Sunday

Today we get to celebrate two birthdays in our family--we celebrated my dad's at lunch and are celebrating Auntie Heidi's tonight.  And this past Tuesday we went out for Auntie Em's birthday and celebrated Joe's mom's birthday last Saturday. January is a busy month for birthdays for our family! 

Greta just chillin' before heading to my dad and Joyce's today...
 Gibs likes to try to ride Elvis like a horse, however, Elvis does not appreciate that.  Shocking, I know:).  This morning Elvis was eating when Gibs got the idea to ride on his back so Elv felt trapped--hated that there was a little boy riding on him, yet wanted to fnish his breakfast.  Gibs also was kind enough today to take Panda for a ride too:).  Gibs is just a funny kid and always makes us laugh with is silly things he does and creative ideas he has:).
 Em found Layla's sweater for 99 cents at a used clothing sale the other week and it happens to be the same as one that Layla had when she was little that Greta can now wear.  Amazingly, they both smiled nicely for a quick pic before heading to my dad and Joyce's today.
 Gibs joined in for a pic too but he needs to work on looking a little more at the camera when saying "cheese".  Although I'm just happy he's smiling for once on a picture:).  In typical Greta fashion, she fell asleep.  She still is such a sleepy little girl!  It works out great while we're out b/c she never wakes up during outings. Might as well enjoy that while it lasts:).  She was 8 weeks on Friday and finally did her first 8 hour stretch at night.  Last night was 7 (normally she does 6, maybe 7 and definitely does better when she goes to bed around 8 or 9 vs 10 or 11), so I'm hoping she continues to have some more 8s coming up (well, or more than 8 would be even better:D).  Having a third kid is definitely exhausting, so it'll be great when she sleeps through the night! 
 Gibs, Kianna, Layla, Grampy, AJ and Gavin...
 Harper and Greta doing what they do best:)...Greta didn't even get to see anyone as she just slept the whole time. 
Greta had a blow out diaper and therefore a bath when we got home, so here she is in her fresh outfit...(don't mind her brother's toys behind her:D)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

2 Week Check Up

This is only 4 1/2 weeks late:), but I was looking back to see what Greta weighed at 2 weeks and I'm quite sure I never posted it.  So for my own records...
7 lbs 11.5 oz
19.75"
34.5 cm

They didn't give me percents at that appointment (on 12-9, the day after her due date).

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Greta's Friends

So this is not a pic of Greta with a friend, but just a pic of her playing that shows what she does at this age.  She is just becoming interested in playing with things on her activity mat.  Layla's Minnie is on this pic, so I guess that's kind of like a buddy:).  She has a "buddy"/lovie like this except it's an elephant and does seem to like holding it.  The elephant has been given the name "Bobo" since that is what Maddy Heuker's elephant lovie is named and so Layla right away assumed Greta's elephant would have the same name:).  Maddy's elephant got that name b/c someone (I think Maddy's grandpa) suggested the name "Dumbo" for it and they thought he said "Bobo".  Maybe we will call Greta's "Dumbo" to avoid any confusion:).  Although "Jumbo" would actually be more appropriate since it's a female (and Mrs. Jumbo is Dumbo's mom).
Cousin Harper came over to play for a bit on Friday (with her momma and big bro).  Harper is on the right.  I wish I knew what Greta weighed to compare to Harper.  Both girls are getting big and growing fast, but Greta still definitely feels a little bigger. 
 Friday night, Deacon came over to meet Greta (along with his parents and big bro--his big sis was at a sleepover--and the Heukers came to meet her too).  We hadn't met Deacon yet either, so it was nice to finally meet him.  He is such a little cutie!  Deacon is just over 3 weeks older than Greta.  I'm sure it won't seem like too long and they will be joining in on the fun playing with all the big kids (not that I want that time to come already, it's already going so fast!).  It's crazy to think that now with 3 couples, there are 9 kids (one is still in utero--baby Heuker is due in June)!!  Camping will be a bit different this summer:).
Deacon and his momma...

Thanksgiving

It worked out great that Greta decided to wait to come until the day after Thanksgiving so that we could still enjoy spending the day with family and not have to worry about taking care of a newborn or eating our Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital:).  We had lunch with my family and then got together with Joe's mom's side of the family for dinner.  I took a few pics at Joe's extended family party, so thought I might as well post them.

Great-Grandma and Layla had matching outfits on:).
 Everyone except for cousin Paula and I participated in musical chairs.  I was 38 weeks pregnant and Paula was 35 weeks, so that was our excuse for not joining in:).  The kids had fun walking around the chairs, but I don't think Layla fully got it--she didn't try to hurry to get a chair and would just let other people sit down.  She still had fun though and didn't mind when she got "kicked out" of the game.