Is This the Night?

While Ivan is the sweetest little guy to ever be born and when he sleeps, his sweetness and cuddle factor grows exponentially, his sleeplessness is a form of terrorism. "Sleep terrorism," as C so delicately phrases it. To take it one step further, my Ivan is a sleep terrorist.

I feel bad complaining at all, because Ivan does, in fact, sleep. You know, sometimes. Less than a dozen times "sleeping through the night" since he's been born. But I'm okay getting up once or twice in the night to pat him, rock him, nurse him, or generally comfort him. It makes me feel needed. I even like snuggling with Ivan in our big bed for the last hour of sleep in the early mornings.

But these infrequent, occasional things aren't happening right now. Little guy has been sick ever since starting daycare at the end of March. Which has led to a handful of nights spent screaming (four ear infections), a dozen nights of fitful and sporadic sleeping with/on us, and more nights than I care to remember where anything went just so we all could get some sleep. I'll be honest that I'll indulge a sick Ivan quite a bit if he's clingy - he doesn't feel good.

For tonight, Ivan and I are spending it at AM's home and he is in his packNplay asleep (after 20+ minutes of crying) in the other room. This may be the first time he's been in a separate room from me. We'll have to see how well he sleeps in the fresh air (windows open) and without all the little creaks and people noises he usually hears from sharing a room with C and me.


- Posted from my mobile phone

Parade Time

C and his dear friend N (yes, of N&A+C) decided to put the old Dodge Power Wagon in the pararde in McPherson, KS, on May 10th.  It was the first time C has done much with trucks since we have moved and been in such an upheaval.  The boys had so much fun!

 N is such a good prom king!

Fun times!

M & C & W from Christmas

We were able to see my friend M over Christmas, along with her daughter, C, and son, W, who is only a little older than Ivan.  You might remember I made a colorful pink/aqua quilt for little C and that she is the amazing little girl who was born at 29 weeks and is doing great!

Pool lesson? C, Ivan, little W, and M.

Trying to get a photo: M, W, little C in the middle, Ivan, and me.

Better.

Best!

Thursday Lunch at Chipotle

Ivan enjoys chewing on his shoe. Can you chew on yours?



Want to try his? Ivan likes to share.


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Saturday at McAllister's

Gramps & Ivan.



Conversation.



What's Nana doing?











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Grocery Shopping

I'm not sure why Ivan's head looks as big as mine. We got some organic cheer.ios! And yes, I think Ivan is almost too big for the B.aby B.jorn, but he was happy for an hour, so . . .



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Traveling with Ivan

I so love him. And I'm thankful he is sleeping. We're headed home from GC to visit with my dear grandpa, aunt, uncle, two cousins & their families. It's a five hour drive and Ivan is so active that he just wants to move!






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Hello 2013!

All sorts of happy thoughts of life to come in 2013. We celebrated a nice evening with dear friends N&A + C on New Year's Eve and welcomed 2013 with a brightly lit morning in the country. We're both excited about what this year will bring for us - Ivan's growing up, our building plans, putting roots down in M town . . . I hope there are great things afoot.



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Going to See the Uncles

On the way to C's parents' house to see uncle J and his J again and to meet uncle D for the very first time. Ivan brought his truck.



But he also fell asleep.

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Twenty-nine Weeks: Lunch with Gramps

My parents go to the same restaurant almost every Saturday afternoon. Today they took Ivan with them so that Sister B and I could get some shopping done. He was the belle of the ball, metaphorically writing. All the patrons loved him and he ate an entire thing of bananas & had some water. So cute & independent!



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Twenty-seven Weeks: Moving Day

I have no photo of Ivan from today. Today we packed up our entire house and moved home to M town. C has a good job (funny enough, for the same company he worked for before we left M town) and we'll be staying with my parents for a few months.

Our house in KC is empty and for sale and I've officially resigned from my job (I will miss the people so much!). Our lives in M town are set to begin. We always planned to end up here and are now here a little sooner than we thought we'd be. We have plans to rent for awhile and then to build on some family land out in the country. I will be sure to keep you all updated.

That said, we are (very) close to family here and are going to renew tons of relationships from before our move. Such an exciting time for the R family!

- Posted from my mobile phone

Black Friday Shopping is Exhausting

Mostly kidding. Mom, Ivan and I ventured out around noon to look at a couple of stores for a vanity for the bathroom they're putting in downstairs at their house.

Ivan was awake at the first store & napped through the second and third.



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First Food: Sweet Potatoes

It's been a little hard on me to make the decision to start Ivan on solids. Kind of a protective thing because I know where my milk has been/is coming from. I have the same suspicion of formula. So Ivan hasn't had anything but my milk and two or three feedings of formula in the NICU before I was producing. He has been taking a real interest in watching/grabbing at us while we're eating and drinking and he was right at the cusp of six months old, so we figured it was about time. I've read up on different foods and ways to start this process and basically decided that we'll make him the healthiest food we can.

We began on Thanksgiving with cooked organic sweet potato mixed with milk to make a yummy orange slurry. And huge surprise (perhaps only to me), Ivan was super ready for food. Open mouth, grabbing at the spoon, that's our little guy.






















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Thankful for

Baby Ivan.







A family that plays together.



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Coffee Time or Nap Time?

Sister B took Ivan on a Star.bucks run while real estate agents scoped out our house.

I love that she thinks he always needs his giraffe.



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New High Chair!

Ivan and I spent the weekend in M town with Daddy and we went out to visit Grandma & Grandpa R on Sunday. We loved seeing the dogs (they've been out there since Labor Day because we're moving and selling our house) and Ivan seemed much more interested in them this time. I think Grandma R has a picture of Ivan petting Bailey, which is the sweetest.
Grandpa R set up Ivan's new high chair (a lovely gift from Brother J & his J) and we tried it out! So far, Ivan seems to like it. He really enjoys being at our level and sitting upright. It is going to be perfect for eating around the table and when he starts solids in another month or two!

Trying to figure out the straps - hopefully not a Houdini!

Can you imagine how many chins he'll grow when he begins eating bananas and avocados?

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Eighteen Weeks: Looks Good in Yellow

After a busy [EARLY] morning of garage saleing, we needed a wardrobe change into something more appropriate for warm weather (it was cold when we left the house at 615a).




So we changed on the backseat of the Jeep (yay Jeep! So far you are family friendly!).




"Yes, I was born in a barn!" I couldn't wait until this onesie fit.




Smiling and flailing!




Hugs? Wants up? All done?



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Fifteen Weeks: Many Shadowed Faces

Mostly tired faces - we went to bed right after these were taken.




Lots of bubbles. Lots of drool.




He's actually propped up in a B.umbo seat (lots of blankets, ALWAYS supervised, constantly watching his head). He's moving his arm quite vigorously here. Up and down, up and down.




Slowed down.




He's still got the cheeks!



- Posted from my mobile phone

On the Move in a Bjorn

You put the baby in the Bjorn.




You snap, slide, pull and buckle all parts.




Baby holds on to you for dear life.




Friend A looks on in horror, surprise, or amusement (I can't quite tell).




Peekaboo!




We went for a walk in the setting sunshine.




Friend N talks about how much better life is in the country. And he laughs at C for wearing the Bjorn.




Baby I fell asleep on the walk. He made his dad all sweaty. We decided to move to the country. But these pictures were taken around August 6th.




Beautiful boy loves the outdoors. Just like his daddy.

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