Berend: 12 Month

May 27, 2019 nk330Leave a comment

Happy birthday, Berend Glenn! We’ve survived the longest and shortest year of your life.

Age: 12 months on 15 May 2019
Weight: 22 lbs 3 oz
Height: 30.94 inches
Teeth: 6 (but #7 is so close)
Clothing Size: 12-18 months & 18 months
Diaper Size: size 4 and one size in cloth

Milestones: really crawling!, waving hi/bye, pointing, saying “oh” and “uh” sounds, recognizing objects and pointing to them in books, giving big open-mouth kisses, standing unassisted longer, taking steps

Likes: baths, meals, socks, photos of his family, playing with Gerrit, being with Mama, tickles, going outside, moving things around in the refrigerator, mouth sounds (especially if it involves spitting), growling, being walked around, climbing on things, kicking things

Dislikes: having his face washed, having his nose wiped, the NoseFrida, long car rides, having his diaper changed, having his teeth brushed (vs him brushing his own), Mama walking away or being away, being confined (car seat, stroller, shopping cart), when people STOP walking him around, having things taken away from him

Sleep: Berend is still averaging about 12.5 hours of sleep a day with two naps. His morning nap is roughly 2.5 hours after he wakes up (usually starting between 10 & 11), and his afternoon nap happens about 3.5 hours after he wakes from his morning nap (anytime between 2pm and 3:30pm). We’ve had a few days with only 1 nap because that first nap started late and turned into a decent nap, but he definitely does better with two naps.

Night sleep hasn’t changed much. Bedtime typically happens between 8pm & 9pm right now because the afternoon nap pushes bedtime later. Berend is still up every 1-2 hours most nights, but he has had more 3- and 4-hour stretches! He is still usually up between 7am and 8am, although if bedtime is later, he can sleep until 8:30. And he still sleeps with me for the last part of the night:

I feel like sleep has been a little wonky as we approach dropping to one nap a day. I try to follow Berend’s lead for the most part, but 5pm is the absolute latest I’ll let him nap. I just hate when his bedtime goes much past 9pm!

Eating: Shortly after Berend turned 11 months, his appetite for solids picked up again! Although I wasn’t worried about his disinterest in food, I was frustrated. So when I realized he was eating again, I was thrilled!

Some of his favorite foods? He loves Cheerios and blueberries for breakfast, he always does well with meat, and if it looks messy (guacamole, mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce) it goes straight to his hair. He really enjoys pizza, my homemade chicken nuggets, spaghetti & meatballs, and mac & cheese. Typical toddler foods!

Nursing also picked up. Instead of only nursing well before naps and bedtime, Berend started wanting to nurse every 2 hours again. Sometimes just a snack, but sometimes he wanted to hang out there for awhile. And it became a LOT more for comfort. It really didn’t bother me… I was just happy he was nursing more!

Mommy Update: Well, a lot of this past month was spent planning a birthday party! I tried to motivate myself to get things done in advance, but apparently nothing motivates me like procrastination. So I was stressed the day leading up to his party, true to character.

I have continued to try to carve out some “me time” every night, which always helps my mood. I’ve been working on my family photo album and re-watching “Shameless.” I still stay up too late, which I will have to stop doing, because Gerrit is out of school as of May 21st… which means no more morning nap for me once in awhile.

I went back and read the “Mommy Update” from when Gerrit was 12 months, and while it was probably comparable in terms of sleep, I feel a lot more positive this time. Part of it may be because Berend is a worse sleeper in general, so when it gets rough, it’s not that much worse than normal. And I know from experience that there will be a LOT of “two steps forward, one step back” with baby/toddler sleep, so my outlook is better in general. I guess I just don’t try as hard to figure out what I need to do to improve things because I know it will get better in time.

I’ve also gotten a couple of kid-free outings this month! At the end of April, I participated in the Spouse Flight day and got to have a ride in Andrew’s plane. I had never been in an AC130, so it was really interesting to see everything that goes on with all the people on the crew.

The day before Mother’s Day, I went to the spouse event for Andrew’s squadron at the local winery. It felt great to wear non-nursing clothes and be able to have conversations without being interrupted by kids! I also got to meet some more ladies and put faces with names. It was a great afternoon!

I’m hoping to get out more often without kids as Berend gets older and doesn’t need me quite as much.

Memorable Events: Berend’s first Easter! First we had the Easter event on base. Berend didn’t participate in anything, but we did get a brother photo!

Here’s Berend going through his first Easter basket:

And his Easter day outfit (crazy hair and all):

Berend’s first time in his daddy’s plane:

And right before his birthday, Berend had his first trip to Santa Fe! We met Andrew’s parents there on Mother’s Day (the 12th) and came home on Berend’s birthday. We enjoyed our few days there, and we’d love to go back to see more!

And here is Berend’s May photo:

Berend, my baby bear, you are ONE! I love watching you learn new things and your personality develop more and more. You are sweet but tough, snuggly but feisty, and moody as anything! You can go from happy to angry so quickly when things don’t go your way, and you already can throw quite a tantrum. I can only laugh at how much your name suits you: you ARE a little bear cub in so many ways. You’re a growly, rough-and-tumble, stubborn, strong-willed little thing… but oh so cute and cuddly! We love you so much and wish you the happiest first birthday!

Berend: 11 Months

April 27, 2019May 25, 2019 nk330Leave a comment

You know when you first have a baby, and they’re crying all the time? You have thoughts like, “I just need to make it through this hour/day/week/month.” And then you’re writing your baby’s 11 month update thinking, “How are we only a month away from your first birthday?!”

Age: 11 months on 15 April 2019
Weight: about 22 lbs
Height: about 30.25 inches
Teeth: 6
Clothing Size: 12-18 months & 18 months
Diaper Size: size 3 in disposable (this box is lasting forever) and one size in cloth

Milestones: saying “z” sound, saying “tuh” sound, crawling on hands and knees more regularly, responding to “no,” signing “milk” (maybe?)

Likes: playing with Gerrit, baths, meals, Mama (bordering on obsession), tickles, going outside, rummaging in the refrigerator, finding tiny things to put in his mouth, unraveling the toilet paper roll, mouth sounds (blowing raspberries, spitting, clicking his tongue, smacking his lips… and don’t forget his trademark growling!), dropping & picking up toys, being walked around, climbing on top of baskets/boxes/toys, eating shoes, climbing up and down the stairs like a pro, snuggling with Mama in the wee hours

Dislikes: long car rides, diaper changes, clothes changes, Mama walking away, being confined (in the car seat, in the stroller, in the shopping cart), getting his face washed

Sleep: Berend is still getting about 12.5 hours of sleep a day including 2 naps. His morning nap is usually around 10 or 10:30am and is almost always on the short side (40-45 min). His afternoon nap is all over: anywhere between 1:30 & 3pm, sometimes short, sometimes longer. He’s in a much better mood when he gets a decent afternoon nap though!

Night sleep is about the same as it has been. Berend goes to bed between 7:30 & 8:30 (9 if he had a late nap), is up every 1-2 hours (3 hours is a treat), and wakes for the day between 7 & 8. I bring him to bed with me around 3 or 4am most nights. Sometime he’s restless in bed with me (crying out, moving around a lot), but other times he just snuggles right in. I love waking up and watching him sleep.

Eating: At the start of this month, I felt like Berend had days of not being very interested in nursing or eating. But by the end of the month he was nursing a lot! He still seemed off of solids though. I think he has been eating more than I thought, but he’s also been dropping a LOT on the floor. Especially broccoli. I feel like he may be teething, but nothing has popped through yet.

Although when we went out for sushi with Andrew’s parents? Great eater, of course.

Mommy Update: Shortly after Berend turned 10 months, Andrew’s parents arrived for a visit! It was basically just for Andrew and me to get a break… and a date. It gets hard to not have family to help out, and we were thankful Andrew’s parents wanted to visit.

It was nice for me to get to sleep in for a couple of weeks, Andrew got to do some projects he’d been wanting to get to, and we even got out for a lunch date and errands!

I also celebrated my 34th birthday this month! Nothing much planned to celebrate… I made one of my favorite meals for dinner, made a strawberry lemon sheet cake, and got some sweet gifts from my guys.

Opening my gift from Gerrit: a story about potatoes and dinosaurs

Opening my necklace from Andrew: a bear for Berend

Memorable Events: Berend’s 1st St. Patrick’s Day… even though we didn’t do anything other than dress in green haha.

While Andrew’s parents were visiting, Berend had his first trip to the zoo! There’s a small zoo here in Clovis, and it was pretty much the perfect size for us to get through at this point.

Berend tried some raw sushi for the first time!

Here’s Berend’s first time riding in the “fun cart” with Gerrit:

And here is Berend’s April photo:

Berend, oh child, you are a handful! I feel like the closer you get to walking, the closer you get to me. You have been very attached to me all day long. You don’t even want to sit in a shopping cart! It’s my arms (or Dada’s) or nothing. You still love playing with Gerrit, but you two have been butting heads a bit more. You’re getting speedy cruising around furniture, and you end up getting into your brother’s things. And Gerrit likes to “help” by taking things away from you that you shouldn’t have. Tears on both sides… but you still adore each other. Sometimes when we’re eating dinner, I look at you and can’t even imagine you not being in this family. Good days or rough ones… we love you, and we’re so glad you completed our family, little bear. I can’t believe we’re planning your FIRST birthday already!!

Baby Update · Daily living · Parenting

Berend: 10 Months

March 24, 2019May 25, 2019 nk3302 Comments

Berend, how are you already 10 months? This means only 2 more months until we have a one year old!

Age: 10 months on 15 March 2019
Weight: about 21 lbs 8 oz
Height: about 30 inches
Teeth: 6
Clothing Size: 12 months & 12-18 months
Diaper Size: size 3 in disposable (although we’re just trying to get through the box so we can move up to size 4) and one size in cloth
Milestones: saying “nana,” saying “dada,” saying “papa,” walking assisted by only one hand, sharing toys (handing them to us for a second or two… then taking them back), squatting while holding on, bending over to pick up a toy while holding on, clapping, responding to simple commands (“Give it to Mama, please”), signing “all done” (we think haha), giving kisses (the big open mouth kind!), climbing up and down stairs

Likes: playing with Gerrit, being carried around (he loves to be involved in everything!), putting everything in his mouth, tickles, baths, eating food, shaking noisy toys/instruments, being walked around (although we’re getting away from that), interactive books (touch-and-feel, puppet books, musical books), kicking balls, dropping toys solely so he can pick them back up or maneuver them with his feet, brushing his teeth, peek-a-boo type games, taking his socks off, balloons, blowing raspberries on people or furniture

Dislikes: being away from Mama, car rides, diaper change, clothing changes, getting his face washed

Sleep: Well, we’re down to 2 naps regularly. I thought when we dropped to two naps that his naps would lengthen, but there is never a guarantee there. He has had plenty of days with only two 30-35 minute naps, but he’s had some days with two 1+ hour naps. He’s definitely in a better mood when he takes decent naps. Night sleep is tricky. Sometimes good naps lead to better nights; other times the short nap days mean more solid sleep. We just roll with it.

In general, Berend is up every 1-2 hours at night. We occasionally get a 3-hour stretch, but most nights he’s up quite a bit. I consider it a good night if he nurses and goes back down easily. The nights that I have to keep attempting to lay him down over and over are the ones that frustrate me. On bad nights, I’ll bring him to my bed around 2am. It’s awesome if he stays in his own bed until 4am or so.

Berend gets 12-13 hours of sleep a day for the most part. A 13 hour day usually follows up a day where he only got 11.5 hours or so. He’s up for the day between 7 & 8 most days, and he’s in bed between 7:30 & 8:30 at night. Night wakings are all over the place. I don’t keep track of them as well as I did with Gerrit because there doesn’t seem to be a point. He’ll sleep longer when he’s ready. It seems like, once again, I can’t do much to get him to sleep longer or better.

Eating: I feel like nursing has picked up lately. Normally, Berend is not one for nursing during the day unless it’s right before a nap. But there were definitely a couple of weeks where he nursed almost every time I offered my boob. 9 month growth spurt? Teething? Who knows. In general, he only takes full feedings when getting ready to sleep (naps & bedtime) or when drowsy (during the night).

We’ve definitely gotten to the age where Berend is all over the place when nursing. He likes to stand and nurse, bend down to nurse, and when I try to nurse during the day… he’s popping off every few seconds to see what he’s missing out on.

Food wise? Berend continue to enjoy food! If he’s not in a good mood, a meal almost always cheers him up. I’m still not sure how much he actually eats. A fair amount ends up in his lap and on the floor, but I think he eats a good amount too. He always gets lunch and dinner, and occasionally he gets breakfast. If he doesn’t get a proper breakfast, he usually nibbles on a scone with me while I drink my coffee.

Mommy Update: Still trucking along! Some days are tough, and some days aren’t bad. This past month, Andrew went from his training squadron to his actual squadron. He still flies a couple of times a week (which means 13-14 hour days), but he has some normal days too, which is nice. Any time he goes in late, I take advantage and sleep in. Same for weekends. I’m so thankful Andrew never says a word about me sleeping in late into the mornings. He knows I need it.

My “me time” is still definitely just after the kids go to bed. I’ve been loving my work on my photo albums. I finished my 2011-2012 album, completed my pregnancy journal for Berend, and started work on my 2018 family photo album. It’s definitely not what I prefer with scrapbooking, but I’m surprised by how much I’m loving it!

Memorable Events: Before we started getting cold weather last fall, Berend was still in his infant car seat in the stroller. But we finally got some warm weather that wasn’t too windy, so we let Berend try out the main part of the stroller.

I wouldn’t say he loved it, but he did pretty well. He’d still definitely prefer to be carried.

I have been thrilled with Berend’s recent interest in books! Admittedly, he’s not very interested in books that aren’t interactive in some way, but I’ll take what I can get! He loves the “That’s Not My….” books and books with finger puppets.

We’re starting to have a bit of a naughty one here… he loves going after cords and looking right at me while he does it! He also likes to shake the floor lamp and throw clothes out of the laundry basket. Anything to get a reaction… and then he just smiles.

Berend loves brushing his teeth! For some reason, I completely wasn’t thinking when he started getting teeth… he needed to start brushing! This past month, I got him his own little toothbrush and training toothpaste, and he brushes before bedtime every night. For now, I pretty much just let him brush and play around, but I do try to get a few brushes in myself while still keeping it fun for him.

Berend also started using his walking toy! He still doesn’t love it, but he will push it around for a bit.

Here is Berend’s March photo:

Berend, I cannot believe how big you’re getting! Not just your size… I can see day after day how you are getting closer to becoming a full-fledged toddler and not my baby anymore. I’m not going to lie… it’s hard on me as your mama. I feel like once you’re walking on your own, you’ll just be off and running! I’m so in love with your love for me: the kisses, the snuggles… I wish I could just bottle it up. I love seeing your personality grow and how you fit perfectly into our family. You are just the cutest, and we love you so much, little bear!