Four Months and Counting

I can barely keep up with these blog posts.  By the time I get them written and posted Burke has moved on to the next phase.   We went in for Burke’s four month appointment and as always he started to show off.  He was very chatty with our pediatrician and flirted a little too.  He held his head up high and even rolled over for her.  They ended up measuring him a few times as the first few height measurements were off the charts.  They ended up settling with 26.75 inches, but I am sure if they measure him in the next couple of days he will easily be 27 inches.  He seems to be changing so much lately.  And the doctor somewhat threw me for a loop when she started talking about introducing rice cereal and baby food.  Mentally I was not quite there yet.  And to be quite honest, whatever she said went in one ear and out the other.  The whole time she was talking all I was thinking was “didn’t I just have him a few weeks ago?"  I will have to call her back next week to get the low down on the ins and outs of starting solids. 

4 Months Old

Loving the outdoors

Stats:

• Weight - 15 pounds 12 ounces (50-75th percentile)
• Height - 26.75 inches (98th percentile)
• Head Circumference - 41.5 cm (50th percentile)

Burke loves:

• His big sister
• Sitting up
• Rolling over (from his back to front)
• Grabbing his toes
• Sleeping on his stomach (freaks Mom and Dad out)

Burke is working on:

• Sitting up by himself
• Rolling over from his front to back
• Holding his own bottle

Beach Life

When we left South Dakota at the end of April the weather was cold and rainy.  The second we landed in California the weather has been hot.  So straight to the beach we go.  

Some make snow angels.  Brynn makes sand angels.

Right at home at the beach



Future surfer



Happy Mother's Day!





Celebrations in April

April was a month of celebrations.  We took full advantage of my last few weeks of maternity leave, Burke turned three months old and had a great doctor’s appointment.  We celebrated Easter back in Sioux Falls and my best friend Sonia. 

Enjoying time with Grandma Weber

Getting love from Grandma and Grandpa Bain

Meeting Great Grandma

Scary Bear Fun

Easter in Sioux Falls was beautiful and we got to spend it with lots of family and friends.  Brynn was in heaven as she got to go on 3+ Easter egg hunts and play with kids till her heart was content.  While we were home the weather was up and down with lots of rain and wind to beautiful and sunny.  Burke got passed around from person to person and got lots of love from everyone he met.  He turned three months old while we were in Sioux Falls.  Of course we sang happy birthday to him while he stared and giggled at us all.  He is getting so big and recently weighed in at 15 pounds 4 ounces and 25 inches long.  

Creepy East Bunny

Coloring Eggs with Attitude

Happy Easter!

Beautiful Day

Easter Day Fun

 

We also took a day to celebrate my childhood friend, Sonia, while in Sioux Falls.  The celebration was wonderful with lots of friends, memories, laughs and tears.  One day was not enough to celebrate her and the wonderful wife she will soon be.  Unfortunately, April ended with one last hoorah before going back to work.    



Sonia's Bridal Shower



 

Three Months Old

Three months old and growing.  I forgot how much fun it is to have a fun, giggly baby in the house.  Burke is a little chatter box.  He loves for everyone and anyone to talk to him.  And the more someone ignores him the more he chats their ear off.  He has the sweetest smile and infectious laugh.  Our lives are definitely a little more hectic with two children but I also would not trade it for anything.  Our house may be messy, but we sure had fun making it that way....and we have the perpetual sounds of laughter (and cries) bellowing out of our windows to prove it.

Trying to catch Brynn.

Playing with his car.

Infectious laugh!

At three months old Burke loves:

• To talk and laugh 
• Sitting up to see (with assistance)
• Playing on his play mat
• Watching his big sister
• Cuddling
• Gnawing on his finger

Burke is working on:

• Rolling over
• Sitting up by himself
• Finding his feet

Burke gets frustrated:

• When he cannot see what is going
• That he cannot catch his sister
• That he cannot sit up by himself
• When his milk is all gone

"The List" for Grandpa Casey

Because Brynn had already been through the drill of having visitors and the excitement and fun things that come with visitors, when Brynn saw Grandpa Casey for the first time she had lots to say and a list of things she wanted to do while he was here.  And I think Grandpa Casey and Brynn accomplished all of them.  Unfortunately for Grandpa Casey, he did not get to do everything he wanted.  

Brynn's List:                                 Grandpa Casey's List:                                 

1. Go golfing                              1.  Hang with Burke
2. Fly a kite                                2.  Go to the driving range every day
3. Walk on the beach                 3.  Go for a walk every day    
4. Go fishing                               4.  Eat at Sugar Shack

Hangin' with Grandpa

Not exactly Grandpa's idea of golfing

Fishing Fun

Wrapping up a great week

Thank You Grandma Sharon

This blog post is long overdue and that is partly because Grandma Sharon has gone home.  My home does not quite run as efficiently without her.  After three months in California, it was time for Grandma Sharon to go back to South Dakota.  She was here to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the birth of Burke.  While here, she helped us get the house prepared for a new baby, and deal with my obsessive nesting habits.  She cooked, clean, was a chauffeur to and from school and swimming lessons, a babysitter, construction worker, doctor, and my sidekick.  As I type this I am starting to feel guilty as I did not realize the one woman circus I put her through while she was here.  We cannot thank her enough for everything she did for us.  Sorry MOM!!  And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for EVERYTHING!

We miss Grandma Sharon dearly.  And as Grandma was preparing to leave, Brynn was quick to tell her that she will see her soon and that she will be at the airport on Sunday to go to South Dakota.  Brynn has been counting down the days till we get to fly to South Dakota and sleep at Grandma Sharon’s house. 

We love you Grandma Sharon

We miss you Grandma Sharon

Soccer or Dance Class?

I am not sure what my expectations were when I signed Brynn up for soccer, but this is definitely not what I had in mind.  For starters the league is for kids ages 3 to 6.  You can immediately pick out the 6 year olds and the kids with older brothers or sisters who have played soccer.  Unfortunately, Brynn does not fit into either one these categories.

Practices came and went and I thought she did a pretty good job for her age.  She had her moments where she was not interested in a particular soccer drill or wanted to go say hi to her friends, but I thought on game day this would all change.  I was wrong!  By game day she was very excited.  Unfortunately she was more excited about showing off her cute outfit and new water bottle than chasing the ball. 

I said I would never be like my Dad and run up and down the sidelines but it took everything in me to not get up from my chair.  However, I could not resist coaching from my seat.  I am not sure I should call it coaching or just encouragement to pay attention and chase the ball.  Even after my coaching she had no desire to go and fight for the ball.  Instead she would twirl and dance around the field, wave to her friends on the other teams and/or follow behind the pack of kids.  In the end, Brynn did score a goal.  But this was after the coach took her by the hand and guided her to the ball and ultimately to the goal.        

Maybe she would be more interested in dance classes?

Dribbling at practice

Ready for the big game

Go Super Team!!

A little coaching from Daddy

Good game!!