They Grow So Fast

If you're tired of seeing pictures of Bryce, just stop reading. :)

Take a look at Bryce's giraffe pictures from one month - eleven months! I'm totally a slacker and haven't taken an official one year shot yet and today the camera is packed away for our trip.

CAKE!

Check out the pictures of Bryce's "cake smash" yesterday. We will have professional pictures taken after our Disney trips, but I'm happy with how these turned out.

As you can probably tell, he liked the cupcake!

Dear Bryce,

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Bryce
Happy Birthday to you!

You are one! It's so hard to believe that it's been a full year since you came into this world. The time really has flown by. I thought we had a deal that you weren't going to grow up, but I guess you've broken your promise. You just keep growing and growing. You're still my lil peanut though weighing in at right around 20 pounds I think. We won't see the doctor until the end of next week for your official stats though. You still wear size 3 diapers and I had your foot measured the other day and it's a size 4, but you don't wear shoes yet.

We are having a low-key birthday today and then on Wednesday I'm taking you and your brother down to Disney. Unfortunately Daddy can't make this trip, but we will see GeGe and GaGa there! I know you're pretty young to enjoy Disney, but I love going and I think we will have such a good time. Plus I cannot wait to be in 70+ degree weather instead of sub-zero temperatures. I'm still undecided about doing a party for you when we get back. We will probably do something small to celebrate with a few friends.

You continue to do well with whole milk and take 4 bottles a day. At some point soon I'll start the transition to a sippy cup. You still like the milk to be warm. You occasionally drink a little water from a sippy cup. You are eating all finger/table foods now. You aren't a huge eater, but are starting to try new things. You love yogurt and love graham crackers. You eats lots of Gerber crunchies and puffs. You also love getting to eat Cheerios at church. You like blueberries and pears. And you like corn for a veggie. You like feeding yourself pizza crust and bread. And you love sweets: cookies, doughnuts, cupcakes.

I mentioned in your last update that you finally had some nights where you slept 12 hours. Things got a little hairy around Christmas with being off schedule, but for the most part you are sleeping through the night now. Most nights you will fuss a little on and off from bedtime until 10pm. Nothing I even have to go into your room for, just little cries here and there. You've been waking around 6:30. I am hoping you start stretching that until 7 because I haven't been coming into your room until then to get you up. Most days you take two good naps a day.

You are still great in your car seat. It's funny because as soon as we put you in there, you rip your socks off your feet immediately. I'm talking stealth-like speed. You will not wear socks in the car. You are also great in the stroller. I haven't been using the Ergo much recently since you're getting bigger and more fidgety. You love bath time and are less crazy in there now than you used to be. Most of the time you sit nicely in the tub splashing, but sometimes you do prefer standing.

You are still a super fast cruiser, but haven't taken any independent steps yet. I'm fine with that. I thought you were going to be a super early walker, so I'm happy you're still not there yet. You can stand independently (sometimes) for about 3 seconds. You have made a change from army crawler to almost 100% crawling on all fours finally. Often you sit up on your knees instead of on your bottom when you're playing.

You are much better at playing independently now. You will crawl or cruise right over to what you want to play with and don't need Mommy right there. You enjoy playing with the workbench, your new Pocoyo train track, and Brennan's bucket of tools. You also like Mommy's iPhone and know how to turn it on already. You also love the baby Jesus from the Little People's nativity and the baby Jesus magnet from the fridge.

We haven't worked on anymore signs yet. I need to be working on them more. You do "all done" pretty consistently still and sometimes use "more" and "please". You still don't have many truly recognizable words. You babble all the time and do so very loudly; especially at restaurants. I'm excited for more words to come!

You seems smart to me even though you're not talking. You pull shoes out of Brennan's shoe bucket and try to put them on his feet. You know at restaurants I always have snacks for you in the diaper bag. You know how to use a brush and how to "talk" on the phone.

You aren't the snuggliest of babies, but lately you've been wanting to cuddle more and I love it. You give good hugs and great sloppy kisses. You love to play with (pull) Mommy's hair when you're taking your bottle.

I know I forgot to mention last month that you have six teeth. And I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff this month too. Like I said, time just flies by so fast and you're changing so much. I love you very very much!

Bryce back at 11 months

Bryce today at 1 year old! I'll get a giraffe picture later today, but this one will have to do for now!

A Year in Review

I think if had to sum up 2013 in a single word I would choose "exhausting". It's been a great year, but having a baby who doesn't sleep is very exhausting. I probably should be napping right now, but instead I will share some of my favorite memories from the past year!

January...
...was a big month! We welcomed Bryce Frederick to the family on January 6.

In February...
...we celebrated Brennan turning 3!

...and shared Valentine's Day snuggles.

In March...
...Lala came to visit and met Bryce for the first time.

...and we enjoyed celebrating Easter.

In April...

...the boys, Val and I went to visit a friend in Georgia!

...we also had a visit from Papaw and he got to meet Bryce.

                                           

...and began getting good use out of our zoo membership.

In May...

...we took a day trip up to Boston.

...celebrated my first Mother's Day as a momma of two!

...and enjoyed the warmer weather by spending more time outside.

June was the month when...

...Brennan finished his first year of preschool.

...we took a little trip up to Vermont!

...and celebrated Father's Day!

In July...
...we let Brennan use a sparkler on the 4th of July.


...finally got a family picture taken as a family of 4.


...and Brennan started using the climbing wall in the basement.

In August...
...we enjoyed several picnics in downtown Mystic.

...and had a fun day in Newport, RI.

September...
....started with Brennan's first day of 3-year-old preschool.

...and ended with a fun family vacation to Daytona Beach (even though these two pics were technically taken in October) where my parents got to meet Bryce.

October brought some of my favorite pictures of the year...

...we enjoyed pumpkins and fall foliage.

...the boys had their first tubby together and got some cute matching pjs!

...and I was able to capture two of my favorite pictures of the entire year!

November was spent giving thanks for...
...another visit from Papaw.

...Brennan's 2nd place finish at the AWANA Grand Prix!

...praising God no one was hurt when I hit a deer with my car.

 ...and being extra thankful for getting a new car.

December...

...was all about seeing the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a three year old.

...and celebrating our Savior's birth.

I hope you had as much fun looking back at these pictures as I did. What fantastic memories. I am looking forward to the new year. We will kick it off with a first birthday celebration and a trip to Disney. I don't know what else is in store for 2014, but I'm thankful God has it all planned out for us.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.  -Jeremiah 29:11