Happy 2nd Birthday Devin!

It's hard to believe that it's been 2 years since my handsome "not so little" boy came into our lives. Devin has been such a blessing to our family and I can't imagine our family dynamic without him. He definitely keeps us on our toes, but adds so much joy and life to our every day. Here's a little trip down memory lane...

Our families drove between 2-3 hours in the middle of the night to get to the hospital after they got the call we were going in and they weren't letting us leave without a baby. He was a week over due and I went into the hospital around midnight. I was 6-7 cm so we though he was going to come quick. Lo and behold I was still not in active labor...so about 11.5 hours later, after getting my water broke, and eventually needing pitocin...2 pushes later and he was out!

all 9 lbs and 11 oz of him!

Just a few hours before he was sent to the NICU. He was breathing a little fast and it wasn't coming down. They ran tests and did a chest x-ray and everything came back fine. They said that sometimes bigger babies have just as hard a transition as the littlest ones, so they sent him up for closer observation. God on our side, he was able to come home with me the next day. But it was still so hard to have him up there!!

Devin is so many things. He is sweet.

He is a brother.

He is Holy.

He is happy.
His first real smiles caught on camera :)

He is Pumpkin.

He is stuck.

He is photogenic.
(Photos taken by Ed Stewart).

He is a Goobots!

He is a bunny.

He's a football player (probably linebacker because of his size)!

He is loved.

He is a birthday boy!

He is a beach baby.

He is a conversationalist...in his own words ;)

He is in a tire.

He is tired.

He is an apple picker...and eater.

He is a super baby!

He is a helper.

He is a plumber.

He is a nephew.

He is Frakenbaby :)

He is a bee.

He is inquisitive and loves his family.

He is sick :(

He is hungry.

He is a reindeer.

He is wishing everyone a Happy New Year and wishing Mommy and Daddy a Happy Anniversary :)

He is the Devinator.

He is that kid from "A Christmas Story".

He is still the Devinator.

He is a fun playmate.

He is cool.

He is an animal lover.

He is muddy.

He is tired of eating (this is a first!)

He is adorable.

He is upside down :)

He is buried...and all sandy :)

He is charismatic.

He is our Pure Wonder.
Happy Birthday Devin!! We love you baby doll :)

Shots

Aiden is getting ready to go to Kindergarten...wow! How is my baby boy old enough to go to Kindergarten already? And going to school means what? Vaccinations! Ugh...
I've always been fine with vaccinations for the boys. They are always up to date, and it's just a matter of a poke or two and it's over. When they're little. When they get older, it's a whole new ordeal. I soon learned this lesson this morning as we went to see our new doctor for the first time.
I set them up to have their annual check ups done, and it was time for some shots. Devin actually really didn't need one, but could get his Hep A done now if we wanted. Aiden on the other hand had to get 3 different vaccinations and a TB test done. 4 needles! Wow...that sucks.
We did tell Aiden last night that we were going to the doctor and he was probably going to get a shot, and immediately he was upset because he didn't want to get any. But I thought it was better if he knew going into it rather than be blind sided. I still don't know which way is better, because the anticipation is almost just as bad as the ordeal itself.. We talked about how it would just sting for a second and as soon as it was over he'd be fine. It was better than a bug bite that could keep hurting or itching long after. Of course this was just not even going into one ear and out the other...he was just focused on the fact he was going to get a shot.
We were at the doctors office for about 3 hours total getting all the paperwork done etc. I actually really like our doctor. He took his time with us and really got a good history. I didn't feel like he was trying to rush and addressed any questions I had. Aiden is 43 lbs and 3 ft 6 in. He is the 72% for weight and 40% for height. Devin is 34.5 lbs and 2 ft 10.25 in. He is off the chart (literally) for weight percentile...so we'll say 105% and 48% for height. My "little linebacker"! Overall they are looking great and pretty dang healthy :) They did a vision and hearing test for Aiden, and did great for the vision until the later part when I think his attention span dwindled quite a bit. So we're not completely sure his one eye is as bad as they marked it (20/50 when overall he is 20/30 and his other eye is 20/30). I think he was just done reading the same letters over and over (it was over 5 min). The hearing test didn't go as well as we were hoping because he wouldn't let us know when he heard it, but when she stopped pressing the button he would say "hey! you made it stop!" So we know he was hearing, just wasn't letting us know. Maybe another time...
Then it came time for the shots...we had to wait a bit before the nurse came in. Devin had already had it, and was tired and hungry, so he was already crying. She said lets just do him first since he's already upset. He was no big deal since it was only one, and I was holding him. He stopped after getting another sucker, but wouldn't go to anyone else so I could be with Aiden. So another nurse came in to help restrain Aiden who was cowering in the corner of the office behind a chair. Talk about tugging at our heartstrings! Finally we got him on the table with one nurse holding him on the one side, I was trying to hold him and hug him in the front (all the while holding my linebacker in the other arm) and the other nurse on the other side administering the shots. Ugh...the crying and pleading that followed just broke all our hearts! Even the nurses were saying how sad they were to do this to him and they were tearing up. I held it together pretty well, but it wasn't easy. When we finally were able to let him down he sniffled a minute and was then completely fine. He got another sucker too along with a sticker puppet the nurse made (with a tongue depressor). And our first doctors visit was finally done!
We went home to eat lunch quick and then I promised them we'd go to Dairy Queen for being "so brave". When we were eating our ice cream Aiden said, "The ice cream is killing my owies...they are going away! I'm so much better!" Whew!
What a long day for mommy. Aiden really really wanted to talk to Daddy to tell him about his shots, and said that he will as soon as he gets home. I gave them some Tylenol after we got home and now hoping they don't get too sore tonight.

I think they enjoyed their ice cream...and I'm pretty sure some of it actually ended up in their mouths ;)

4th of July

I should probably get this post done before July comes to a close, since it was the 4th of July! We had been moved in for about 2 weeks and were at a bit of a loss as to what to do for the 4th. I had met a friend (I was going to meet a potential babysitter at her home, and accidentally got the house numbers mixed up and knocked on her door first). She shared some info on things to do, and one of them was one of the biggest fireworks displays in the area. We were excited to go and spend the afternoon at the park. We ended up meeting our friends Mike and Marissa and their two kids Mikaela and Mateo. The boys were sooooo excited to meet some new friends and the kids all really hit it off.
Some lady sitting close to us made the kids some balloon swords. They had a lot of fun with them...while they lasted. Mikaela's was the first to pop, soon followed by Devin's, and eventually Aiden's. Luckily we were able to distract them and they continued having a great time.

Marissa brought her camera out and was attempting to take some pictures of her kids...and my kids decided they wanted to be the models. My boys are very goofy when it comes to taking pictures. More often than not they are completely uninterested in having their picture taken and it takes everything to try and get them to even look at the camera let alone smile too. So it seemed very out of character for them to be "hogging" the spot light! Nonetheless she got some really cute photos of them. And I'm hoping she got some good ones of her kids too!

Aiden yet again butting in another shot...

Mike and Marissa have become fast friends of ours, and we are so happy they are here. Mike is a year below Micah in residency, and has been such an invaluable resource to Micah and helping him adjust to this new program. The boys and I just love getting together with Marissa and the kids for play dates, and I'm just so happy we have found some great friends who can relate to what we go through on an every day basis.

Here is what typically happens when we try and take a family picture...

Finally the fireworks started.

And Devin didn't last...poor little guy!
Overall it was a great holiday spent with fantastic friends and we're looking to more fun and memorable days here in California.

Just a short clip of the fireworks...and a BIG THANK YOU to all the men and women out there who have sacrificed so much to ensure our country's freedom. We are eternally indebted to you and your families. Thank you!