(Walking as of 07/30/14!)
Category Archives: Bryson
THIS Moment in Time – A First
We’re talking about weaning. I dropped the morning wake-up nursing yesterday and it went OK (once there was a yogurt distraction). I dropped it because it wasn’t needed after having fed Bryson just 2 hours earlier, not really because I wanted to start weaning. But it went well so I’m going to try to be consistent.
Tonight, as I was sobbing about Lily, B took Bryson for bedtime books and then decided to rock him. He fell asleep, and is sleeping soundly. If OK with B, I’d like to make this a routine.
Dropping that bedtime feeding last with Matthew hurt my heart. I still cry thinking about the last time I nursed him. The last time I nursed Bryson to sleep may just be last night, when he slept all night with me in a hotel bed, nursing off and on. It was our best hotel night to date with him, and being perfectly honest, I really enjoyed it! If that’s our last nurse-to-sleep at bedtime feeding, then what a sweet memory for me. I’m happy with it. No tears.
Of course tonight may be a fluke and I may be nursing him to sleep again tomorrow. But tonight may be the first of many nights of B putting Bryson to bed, and that’s ok with me. It really is.
It’s All in the Details
The 4th of July weekend marks a very important milestone for me – the end of 2 months of celebration! With B’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Matthew’s birthday, and Bryson’s birthday, we have a very busy May and June. It’s no secret that I go a little crazy for the boys’ birthdays, and I start planning months in advance. For Matthew’s first birthday, I think I was planning in February. This year, with two birthdays to plan, I started in January.
May was my “practice cake” month and B got a (to die for) chocolate cake for his birthday that made us learn that Matthew doesn’t like chocolate cake. “Just white cake, pwease!” I tried out an orange mimosa cake that was terrific, but a little more involved than I wanted to do with so many other things needing to be done leading up to each party. We settled on a terrific white cake (wedding cake recipe) with real buttercream frosting. By the end of Bryson’s party – we were all caked out. Matthew didn’t even want cake for his own little birthday party with family after Bryson’s party. “No cake.”
I cleaned up the party decorations in record time this year. I couldn’t get them down soon enough. With Matthew’s first birthday, his banner hung for MONTHS before we finally took it down. Bryson’s hung for 24 hours. HA! I was anxious to move his banner into his room though, so that’s really why it came down. But by Sunday afternoon, there was no hint of birthdays with the exception of the poms and stars hanging from our entry light because we just really like them. 🙂
I’m anxious for next year – we won’t go crazy for Bryson since he’ll be turning two and won’t have a bunch of friends to invite because, well, he’ll just be two! We’ll probably just do a family party for the two boys together and then Matthew’s birthday party. I’ve already decided that the family party will have that wonderful chocolate cake I made for B’s birthday this year – they deserve something different! I need to start thinking of themes for Matthew’s party. We have plenty of time for that… but come February, I’ll be ready to start planning out the details! 😉
Matthew’s Party:
Bryson’s party:
Birthday Boy #2
Bryson Boy, I’m so sorry this is late. You turned one 5 days ago, but we were still getting things ready for your party and I didn’t want to do your post until you, and your birthday, were fully celebrated!
At one year old, you weigh in right at 25 pounds. You’re our solid little big guy who loves to eat and nurse whenever there’s an opportunity. You don’t look as big as you feel – you’re thinning down at record speed which means that much of your baby look is melting away, which makes me so sad. BUT – you’re still very much my baby! You have very little hair (yet it is coming in more) and you have the cutest baby face on the planet 🙂
You love many, many people, but you love your mommy, daddy, and brother the most! You are really attached to me right now, which is fine by me! If I am anywhere within eyeshot or earshot, you MUST be with me. I can hand you off to others to hold and play with you, but I can’t look at you while doing it or you’ll get very upset. Even Daddy has to wish me away so he can play with you. You are your mommy’s boy! Daddy and Matthew are a close second though.
You like to be in the thick of whatever your big brother is doing, and you handle his antics quite well. We went through a phase of you getting very upset every time a toy was taken from you, or every time you got knocked down (this happens all the time, poor boy), but you’re taking those episodes in stride these days and have learned to stand up for yourself a bit. It’s cute to watch you yell at Matthew for taking your things – he’ll give them right back and then you’re best of friends again! You two share so well with each other, and play together like true friends. I truly believe you’re each others’ best friends, and that makes me so very happy! Matthew loves to share his food with you (even his ice cream) and you enjoy his generosity very much. You laugh so hard at what he does and try to mimic his actions. He cheers you on, and you cheer him on. It’s so special!
You love many things, but specifically you love green beans, all green veggies (so far), mashed cauliflower, carrots, bratwursts, cows milk, balls, books, the train table, stacking toys, shooting hoops, playing in water, and clapping. Your favorite times of the day are shower time in the morning, and bath time at night. You are willing to shower with anyone who will let you in with them, and you would shower 5 times a day if we’d let you! You scream for Matthew to join you in the tub each night and the two of you make quite a fun mess. We love it!
I love you so much, Bryson! I love that you’re still my little baby! Your brother turned one and was ready to conquer the world without my help, but you’re holding onto me extra tight and that makes things very sweet for me. You may be our last baby and you’re prolonging your babyhood, which I greatly appreciate! I am in no hurry for you to grow up!
Happy birthday, little man!
THIS Moment in Time (#?)
I owe a big first birthday post for Bryson Boy, but some family drama (my sister’s, not mine) has caused enough stress that I want to be in a happier place when I do post about the big day. In the meantime, I’m happy to report that Bryson is still my baby, even though he’s now technically a toddler!
Wordless Wednesday – Birthday Preparations (aka My Date with a Glue Gun!)
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Blog Babies Meet Up #? (I think I’ve lost count!)
When I first started blogging, Steph started following me early on. Her blog was crazy pink and all-girl, while mine was all-boy. We lived close to each other so the next time my family headed their way, we met up. It was my first blog meet-up… And it felt surprisingly natural. We went her direction again and met up again, and again in Chi-Blogo, and again in KC, and again, and now once again. Our kids are getting to be friends and Matthew remembered Chloe this time when we told him where we were going this weekend.
Fun stuff – and special!
We usually struggle to get good photos of our kids together, especially now that there are four of them (wow!). This time, we got a decent photo of all four kids together! I feel lucky! But if we hadn’t gotten a good photo this time, there wouldn’t have been anything to worry about since we’ll be back again!
Wordless Wednesday – Forgiveness
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(Almost) Wordless Wednesday – Makings of the Best Memories
Bryson’s been finishing his afternoon naps in bed with Matthew and me, and when he wakes up, he immediately looks for his big brother and reaches for his hand, and holds it for as long as Matthew will let him!
The Monday Snapshot – The Last First Birthday?
I have two birthdays to plan this year – one day apart. We’re actually doing them a week apart, but back-to-back weekends. If we have a third baby (please, God!), we have vowed to do everything we can to avoid another June birthday. However, the crazy in me says to have another baby in June and just power through that month every year! Ha!
I keep wondering, “is this our last first birthday?” It sort of hurts to think that it could be. I don’t want it to be… But if it is, then we’re going to do it up right!
Our theme is simple – ADVENTURE! Because Bryson Boy is a very adventurous, curious dude. I took his photo today for his invitations. Cuteness!
All the Sun For You 