Derby Family: March 2013

Kalum is 4 months old!

End of February 2013:

Weight: 17 lbs 5 oz (85%)
Height: 25 3/4" (74%)
Head circumference: 42.25 (45%)

February - another fast month at our house!

Work continued to be busy for Jeff and Amanda, creating some late nights and/or early mornings for both. Jeff opts for the get up really early and go to work option, which allows him to be home in time to play and have dinner. I have been struggling to determine what works best for me. If I stay up late, that ends up being the night when Kalum wakes up a lot and I end up totally exhausted. Or I will opt for the go to bed early and get up when Jeff does concept, and inevitably the kids wake up early that day impeding my work, or I oversleep. Oh well, we'll get past this busy time and it will be easier. I have had more Coke zero these days than ever before. :) I still can't complain, as I get to be home with the kids seeing the everyday moments below and create income for our family. Not that our only life is all work, but right now it kind of is! Work, kids, maybe sleep... But, we do have some time to rent a movie here or there on the weekend and enjoyed an Oscar Night Party with friends. Amanda made a "date-night" jar for Jeff for Valentine's Day, so now we just have to use it!

Samara's February milestones/moments:

In quoting Timon from Lion King (of course) when getting dressed one morning, she said "You gotta put your pants behind you." I said, "you mean your past behind you?" She replied "No, your pants, silly Timon!"
I have a game on my phone that shows flashcards of pictures and a lady's voice says "This is grey, like a dolphin." Samara's reply "But it IS a dolphin." Lady, "This is black, like olives", Samara, "But it IS olives." This would go on all day, but I finally take the phone and stop the argument!! :)
She's been wearing panties all day now and just a diaper at night. She has even had a dry diaper a few mornings. We have had many numerous day stretches without any accidents. We still have to ask or remind her to try, as she just gets distracted and forgets until it's too late sometimes.
She enjoys some other movies besides Lion King, but that is still her go-to choice. She also loves to play with play-doh, paint and play with her stuffed animals. She will actually entertain herself in her room for over an hour sometimes!

Kalum's February milestones:

Started sleeping for longer streches at night usually, but fighting naps and bedtime. There's too much to see, no going to sleep! We still swaddle him, but going to have to figure something out, or he will get to scream a bit more before drifting off I guess. We have discovered that if he thinks his belly is not full-to-the-brim that he gets very mad if you put him in bed!
He has really started smiling at certain things and acts excited about a toy or if you interact with him!
He can bring his hands together and hold a toy or bat at a toy above or near him.
Grabs at his own hair, which is getting longer and staying dark. Someday we'll have to get it cut. It's not going to work to wait until he's 2 1/2 like Samara or we'll look like we've got two girls!
As you can see in the pictures, he likes standing in the exer-saucer and joining us for meals in the bumbo seat. Just wants to see what is going on around him, especially if Samara is around. :)

January 2013

So, as I said, December was the calm before the storm so to say! Happy New Year!!

January highlights:

Happy Birthday to Gemma, Amanda and Jeff (and Grandma K. at end of December)!
Amanda's work schedule picked back up and ended up with 130 hours for the month!
Jeff's work schedule was full as well and even included a Sun-Thurs trip to Alabama with his boss to survey a job there. That was the longest work trip he has had so far. Amanda was very glad to have him back!!
Kalum milestones: started sucking on his fingers, sleeping for stretch at night of usually 6 hours, giggles when you take off his clothes-loves being nakie!, really trying to sit up from reclining position and likes his swing more upright, really smiling and "talking" in response, watches Samara eat (every single bite of food that goes in her mouth) - overall very happy and content little (okay, well not little really) guy!
Samara milestones/moments: Still working on getting back on track with the potty training-we'll get there, first trip to "the bouncy place" and loved it, until we went to leave and she got smacked by a swivel chair-oops- black eye, she really recognizes signage and wording - saw a store across the parking lot and said "Is that Lowe's?" Why yes it was, and not a Lowe's location she'd been to. She sees our salad dressing bottles at dinner and says "That says HyVee on it and so does that one!". So perceptive, we really have to watch what we say and do as nothing goes unnoticed with her. :)
Well, that is all you get for January, but at least you get the highlights and some pics to see what we were up to this month!