Diem-5 months

Age: 5 months

Diem has been loving her jumper this last month. She likes to rock back and forth and when she gets really excited, she'll jump up and down, with her hands up in the air (look mom, no hands!) Her hand eye coordination is excellent. She reaches for toys and holds them with both hands.
I love the feeling of Diem holding onto me, when I am holding her. She wraps her arms around my neck and holds on tight. She is a hair puller, though. I have to have my hair pulled back, or else her hands grasp my hair anytime they are close. Diem's new trick is playing with her toes. It's so cute! She also is exploring the use of her tongue. She loves to point her tongue up and rest it on the bow of her top lip.
Diem is still the sweetest baby imaginable! When she wakes up in the morning, she just lays there contently, until Ryan or I make eye contact with her. Then, her legs start kicking, and she get a huge smile on her face. I love seeing her little personality come out.

Outtakes:

Brennan-28 29 30 months

Age:30 months

Weight:34 lbs

Brennan is quite the comedian! He makes me laugh all day long!
A couple weeks ago, Ryan was laying on the spare bed, on his stomach. Brennan crawled up and pulled at the back of his waistband and said, "ohhhh poopy?" He's so used to us doing that to him, that he thought that it was acceptable for him to do to Ryan.
Brennan likes to copy what we say. Every morning, when I walk into his room, I say, "Good morning Baby!" Some mornings he'll say, "Good morning Baby!" right back at me! The best part is that he's not trying to be funny.
Brennan's vocabulary is incredible! He says words that I didn't even think he has ever heard! He pointed into one of his new books and said, "Look! A hedgehog!"
He is saying "what was that noise?" vs "what was that?" "What is this thing?" vs "what is this?" The most common things he says are, "Look! See it? Right there!" and "whattayadoin'?"
He loves to narrate our drive while in the car. He'll say, "Mommy look! A water tower." and keep repeating himself until I acknowledge him. Once I do, he moves on to Daddy. "Daddy, look! A water tower, see it?"
Brennan still loves anything that "goes." He's really into Thomas and Friends. He loves looking through a Thomas catalog that I grabbed at Train Fest and memorizing all of the train's names (he knows over 30 train's names!"  He also loves riding his numerous bikes and cars around the house.
He's in a throwing stage right now. He throws 50% of the things that he touches.
We adore our little 2 1/2 year old so much, that words can't even express.

Diem-4 months

Age: 4 months

Weight: 16 lbs 1oz

Height: 25.5"

Head: 41 cm

Diem is sleeping less every day. During the day, she has been napping for about 2-3 hours total! She's still sleeping great at night (roughly an 8-9 hour stretch.) She is very friendly, even with strangers. We were at Target the other day. and as I was checking out, I heard her coo. I looked down and she was smiling ear to ear at the cashier. The cashier had tears in her eyes, and said, "Oh my, that's the sweetest baby I've ever seen!" I really can't complain about anything with her. 

She has started to wrap her arms around my neck, when I hold her. She is also reaching for objects and pulling them into her face.

 outtakes:

Diem-3 months

Age: 3 months

Diem is continually becoming more aware of her surroundings. She is awake a few more hours throughout the day. She turns her head to follow people around the room and her face explodes with a smile when she makes eye contact. She is still so happy! In the morning, she wakes up with a smile on her face. Ryan loves getting ready for work, and catching her smiling at him. I love hearing her little voice. Sometimes, while she's nursing, she'll hum a little song.

Diem is still a great eater. She nurses every 2 hours and sleeps 5-7 hours at night. She is so snugly and I don't think she has ever cried, while in our arms. 

Her hair is growing in blonder (slowly, but surely.) Her eyes are turning a lighter blue.

We love that her relaxed expression is with her bottom lip pouted out. 

We love Diem's sweet little personality. There is not one thing that we'd change about her!

 outtakes:

Diem-2 months

Age: 2 months

Weight: 12lbs 5oz (74th percentile)

Height: 23" (73rd percentile)

Head: 38.5cm (57th percentile)

Diem is still a very content baby. It seems like she only cries once a week. She gives plenty of warning if she needs something. Brennan used to go from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds, so it's nice to not have a ticking time bomb for a baby :)
Diem loves being in the Boba carrier. She falls asleep within minutes of being snuggled up to me in it. I don't have to worry about her being upset, as long as she has a full belly. It makes leaving the house so easy.
Diem has been smiling even more lately. Every morning, she smiles so big, that her eyes shut. She has just started to coo when smiling this big. She gets so excited when she hears Ryan's voice. A few weeks ago, she was laying on her side and she lifted and turned her head to look up at Ryan, as he was talking to her. She's getting strong.
Diem is a pretty good sleeper. She only wakes up once or twice a night. Unfortunately, I am wide awake after changing, swaddling, and nursing her.
I love Diem's bottom lip. She likes to pout it out when she's sleeping. It's so precious!

Outtakes:

Brennan-25-27 months

Age: 27 months

Brennan is such a dream of a toddler! I can't quite put into words how amazing I think he is! He makes us laugh and smile ALL DAY LONG! He is sweet and cooperative and the opposite of what I thought the terrible twos would be! I know there are lots of phases that children go through, but we are appreciative every day for his demeanor right now.
The way Brennan has welcomed Diem into the family is incredible. He loves her so much. The first thing out of Brennan's mouth when I walk into his room in the morning is either, "Me Daddy" (My Daddy) or "Me Diem" (My Diem.) He needs to see her before he'll do anything else. He always says, "Hiiiiiiii Diem." in the highest sweetest voice possible. He loves to point out her hands, feet, and nose. If Diem cries, Brennan's eyes get red and watery and he puts his hand into his mouth. It hurts him, if she is sad.
Brennan is very predictable when we're in the car. He ALWAYS asks for 4 things. The first is "choo-choo." He loves trains and there's a pumpkin patch near our house, that has "Tommy" train rides. The train is visible from the road, and Brennan thinks of it the moment we pull out of our subdivision. The second thing that he'll say is "pumpkin" again, in reference to the pumpkin patch. The third request is "soothie," because he knows we are suckers and that we will get him a smoothie if he asks in his sweet little voice. The fourth request is "Me drive," which is hilarious! Ryan has held Brennan on his lap, in the drivers seat, when pulling the car out to clean the garage. Brennan really thinks that he can drive now, and says that he wants to drive every time he's in his car seat.
Brennan is still figuring out the English language. He is confused and says "You," when he really means, "Me." when he sees himself in the mirror or in photos. I can understand where the confusion comes from, as Ryan and I say, "You," when we point him out.
Brennan's favorite person is Grandpa Carl. When Grandpa is visiting, Brennan has to tell him everything that he sees and does. Brennan will randomly say, "Me Papa." (I want Papa.) If Brennan is talking to Grandma Barb on the phone, one of the first things that Brennan will say is that he wants to talk to Grandpa.

Outtakes:

Diem-1 month

Age: 1 month

Weight: 10 lbs. 11oz (74th percentile)

Height: 22" (72nd percentile)

Head: 37cm (48th percentile)

Diem has been a dream baby! She rarely cries, usually she'll just grunt and groan. She gives plenty of warning that she's hungry or upset, before letting out a cry. At night feedings, she'll just whimper to wake me up. (Brennan would go from sleeping to screaming in 1 second.)

She's growing like a weed! I can't believe that she's gained over 3 and a half pounds in a month. Diem sleeps so much, she's only awake for 2-3 hours of the day. She's been sleeping a good 4-7 hours at a time at night! In the first couple of weeks, I'd have to set an alarm to wake her up for feedings at night, but because she's gaining so much weight, now I just let her wake up when she wants to nurse. She does cluster feed during the day, usually nursing every hour to two.

She has started to smile already. Brennan gets her to smile more than anyone. She's only given Ryan and me a couple of "on-purpose" smiles, but almost every time that she makes eye contact with Brennan, she smiles! Brennan absolutely adores Diem! It has been the smoothest transition imaginable! Brennan talks to her in this super high voice, that his voice cracks. The sound of him saying, "Bless you...Diem, bless you." when she sneezes is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. Her refers to her as "Me Diem," which means "My Diem!"

My biggest fear with becoming a mother of two, was the thought of leaving the house. I didn't know how I'd go to the grocery store, or run errands. Well, it  has been a breeze. Diem is so content in the Boba wrap that I don't even have to worry about her crying in public. Brennan has been so cooperative, as well. He just does whatever I ask him! I feel fortunate beyond belief!

I love kissing Diem's plump little cheeks and the sweet way that she just melts into me when I snuggle her in the early mornings. I am trying to cherish these newborn moments, because I know they will be gone in the blink of an eye.

Outtakes: