December 2009

Can this be? Did I figure out how to put a slideshow on my blog???

Web Album

So...I have been trying for quite awhile now to share a web album on the blog so that I don't have to upload all of my Christmas photos individually. I am still working on this endeavor, but fear it means downloading yet another software program. Why, oh why, does everything require a new software program? Regardless, stay tuned for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and everything in-between photos.

Kons Christmas

Here are some photo highlights from the Kons Christmas on December 26th.

Kyrie at the Kons' house is excited to receive a stable for her horses.


Drew opening a present.


Will is quite excited about his gift.


Lariska is thrilled to receive a Leapster of her own.

Seven Months Old

 

On Christmas Day, our itty-bitty baby Declan celebrated his seven month birthday. Okay...so that's totally off. First, Declan is not itty-bitty - I just say that all the time to be funny...and to keep him from getting a complex from all of the "he's so huge" comments he gets. Also, we didn't really "celebrate" per se. More like, I noted his new age, lamented for a few seconds upon it, and then moved on. Regardless, Declan is indeed now seven months old. For his birthday he received...da da daa...his very first tooth. Lucky us. His bottom left tooth broke through that night after several days of being quite swollen in the gums. Declan is now getting quite good at rolling to wherever he wants to go and occasionally gets up on his knees and lunges forward, he is sitting up to perfection, he says "Mama" and "Dada" and "Nana", though we aren't sure he knows just what it is he is saying. He tries to wave "hi" while saying "haaaaaaa" but it comes out as kind of an arm flap - that I really do think he knows he is saying (it just sounds too close to not be). He is also trying to clap and say "yea!" which he gets better at everyday, but most of the time results in his arms getting crossed and the sound "ahhhh". But it's awfully cute. He is also working on pulling himself up. He has the arm strength and will get quite far in the endeavor before his feet trip him up - he hasn't quite got the hang of moving them once he is standing in order to retain his balance. So...there is lots to work on in the coming month, but he is doing so good. The thing I enjoy hearing most from lots of people is what a smiley baby he is. He has an adorable grin that is quite contagious and he is free with his laughter, which is so very nice. We love our Declan William so much and like every month, cannot believe he is another month older. Merry Christmas, itty bitty baby big boy.

Christmas 2009

Here are some of the highlights from Christmas this year. I am going to attempt to put the other photos in a slideshow on this site, so watch for that in a coming post

Nana explains the true meaning of Christmas to the kids. (She does this annually - we hope one of these years it will sink in, but who can focus with all those presents?)


Lariska gave Kyrie a baby tiger for Christmas


Declan "opening" a Christmas present.


Lari gets a butterfly art set.


Children in a box.


Uncle Tim with (almost) all of his nieces and nephews. (Tyler is missing and Teagan is kinda hiding.)

D.W. 6 Months

Declan turned six months old last week Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. We started him on rice cereal and he took to it like a pro. He actually bit down on it, swished it in his mouth a little and then swallowed. Awesome! The girls loved eating, but they spit their first bite of real food out!

He also had his six-month appt. this week. Get this...the kid is 20 lbs. 6.5 oz. (90th percentile) and 28-1/4 inches long (97th percentile)! Holy shmoly! Again, Kyrie and Lari did not hit 20 lbs. until they were one year old. Yikes! His head size also increased from the 50th percentile to the 90th percentile - I had a feeling something was going on there. Declan is now rolling around to get places, attempting to scooch every so often, sitting up like a champ, and in general is just a smiley, giggly, cute little boy. We did have some trouble with him this last week due to an extremely stuffy nose...he stopped sleeping his eight hour straight stretch and was waking up every 2-3 hours to nurse in order to clear out all of the stuffiness. By Monday I thought about calling the doctor and by Tuesday I knew that I should, but being the mother of a third child I decided to wait for his "well baby" check on Thursday. Yup - double ear infection. Poor baby. He muddled through, though without too much crabbiness, and now that he has been on antibiotics for 2 days he is already feeling better. Naptimes went so much better today and I am happy that I might have my healthy little boy back soon.

I did feel so awful for him on Thursday evening, though. He had four shots at his appt, plus the rotovirus oral medication, plus we started him on antibiotics, and then some ibuprofen on top of it all! Sheesh! I don't think his tummy was very happy. We are very proud of our little boy and can't believe it has already been a half of a year. Where did that time go?