Braden 6 months

Happy half birthday little man! 

I can't believe half a year has gone by with you in our lives. It's been an adventure adjusting to two kids but we are having fun. There are no shortage of dull moments these days. 

Height

Weight

Diaper

Clothing

Shoe

No teeth. Hair dark blonde and lots of it. Eyes brown greenish? I'm pretty sure you will have your dads eyes. Your favorite person is Madison, she can make you laugh harder than anyone... Except for when your dad dances around like an idiot while singing show tunes. You had your first experience with snow, and hated it. You aren't a fan of the cold like your sister is. 

You've been sick pretty much the entire month of December so you have turned in to quiet the mamas boy. You want to be held all day long and I swear my arms are gonna fall off. 

You love to chew on everything! Not a huge fan of binkies but that's ok.

Recently started doing raspberries but mostly make them out of frustration. 

December photo drop

Braden's first trip to the ER

December 13. Two days before he turns 6 months. Day three of the stomach flu and major dehydration has lead us here. This is the I'm pretty sure 8th trip to the ER this year for the Lyman family. Sheesh. Get it together Lyman's!!!! 

Momma and dad are exhausted. Thursday night Madi got the stomach flu so we were up all night with her. Then everything was ok. Friday night around 3 am

Pay it forward.

The last 6 months have been financially difficult for our little family. We used up our savings, had tons of extra medical expenses and fewer hours at work. 

Christmas is in two weeks and as much as I plan in advance and shop early, this year we weren't able to do much. Zach and I got nothing for each other and just wanted our kids to have it all. 

Tonight two large and very personalized packages showed up randomly on our doorstep. One for each child. They were filled with gifts that were perfect for them. My heart burst and I cried. We live in the best ward. Seriously I cry every time I think of moving. We may live in this shoebox forever just so we don't have to move. The thoughtfulness and compassion is beyond measure. One day I hope to be in a good enough place to be able to pay these "blessings" forward and adopt a family for Christmas. 

Remember to do good and be kind, my babies. You will always be happy if you are in the service of others. 

Elf on the Shelf Reject.

I debated for the last couple years about doing the "Elf on the Shelf" thing for my kids. I figured Madi was old enough now she might enjoy it well... This morning there was a knock at the door, a special book had arrived but Madi was unsure. We read her the book and told her the rules -- that Santa's elf had come to watch her and she looked at us like fools. We searched around the house to find this new friend but Madi reminded us it was all just pretend. We tried to convince her it was real and true but she was not having it, so we said "boo-who". Madi said the Elf should go back to wherever she came. I guess we that's what we get when we try not to be lame.... She's a smart cookie, this kid of mine! But on the plus side it looks like I'm off the hook for this creepy thing!

Back to work

Braden please don't resent me. 

Braden 5 months

Height 

Weight 14.5 lb

Size 2 diapers

Clothing: mostly 6 months some 3-6 

Hair : dark blonde light brown

Eyes: turning more greenish brown like dad

Well he was sleeping through the night until he got his first cold. Now who knows how night times go any more. That on top of not being swaddled anymore, it's been a little rough. Update: he has decided he still likes to be swaddled at night. This changes from night to night but for the most part he wants it on. 

We started trying CIO for nap times during the day to help teach self soothing. I hate listening to him cry but the pediatrician reminds me it's an important part of development. And honestly, I can't sit there rocking him for 20+ minutes for a 40 minute nap. Guess it's a down side of being the second child. Baby needs to sleep and momma has to get stuff done. 

His hemangioma has continued to grow and after a frustrating appointment with two different doctors, we are trying a topical blood pressure medication. This will not remove the bump but just slow down its growth and help it to lay flat. We will go back in a few weeks to follow up. But I just want the dang thing gone. 

You rolled over from tummy to back for the first time this month. You also have started eating rice cereal, oatmeal and tried your first food-- carrots. You don't really like the binkie but will chew on anything you can get your hands on. I believe teething has started but nothing has broken through. 

You love when we sing itsy bitsy spider. You giggle the loudest when sister dances for you or someone speaks in their "batman" voice. 

You are ticklish on your neck and love raspberries on your tummy. 

Your dimple kills me. You have these deep belly laughs that make my day! 

Generally you are a happy baby but still demand to be held and paid attention to all day long. You do not like being left alone, just like Madi when she was a baby. 

Daylight savings hit and you now are up again for the day around 5am. This is killing me. I know I've said it before but any time I think of having more children the thought quickly leaves as soon as I remember my children and their lack of sleeping habits. I don't get it. I used to be a big morning person, and I still am, but I love my naps as much as anyone. However truthfully I am a power napper too so o guess I can see where my babies get it from. Their parents are non sleepers. 

Your "witching hours" seem to be in the morning around 9-11. You just scream and there is nothing we can do. You grumpy boy! I can never put you down and if I do you just scream!! It drives your dad and I nuts! 

You are not a home body. You like to get out every day and run errands. If we don't venture out at least once you have a rough time. 

Gratitude-- where we are now

November is always a time to reflect on our lives and the things we are most grateful for. Sometimes with so many things going on its hard to focus and remember those things. 

Life is crazy busy at the moment. 

Madison is in preschool 3 days a week, music class and friend preschool 1 day a week. 

We are adjusting to life with two kids and lucky is, Braden is just as crappy of a napper as Madison was. So not much gets done during the day. 

Daddy is still applying to any and every fire station and hopefully one day soon he will get hired on full time and things will settle down. But it's been a year of this so I don't think I will hold my breathe. 

I am preparing for a couple holiday boutiques and it's a lot of prep work. This is where I make most of my money for the holidays and so it is important I have lots of product ready. However my needy newborn does not allow much to happen. I had to temporarily close the shop online because it's just too much to do right now. 

I've been called as the Beehive advisor and I had no idea how much this calling entailed. Wow. It keeps me very busy. 

Papa Harold had a massive stroke Sunday night (11-1) and is in the ICU. Things aren't looking great. 

Braden's first cold

I knew this day would come. Part of me is thankful Braden is almost 5 months old when this finally happened instead of a tiny tiny baby but then a bigger part of me wishes it never needed to happen at all. This week he had his first cold, which of course he was kind enough to share with his sister, or perhaps it's the other way around. Between nursery and preschool the toddler germs are everywhere. Though I have tried to stress the important of washing our hands or at least using hand sanitizer before touching brother, I know it's impossible for her to remember every time. My poor sweet kiddos with their crap immune systems. 

The current situation: I am sleeping on Madi's twin bed to stay close to Braden through the night and listen for breathing. Humidifier blasting. Breathing rub in place. Bulb suction close at hand. Not much you can do to help a baby so small but just pray it goes by quickly with minimal damage. It's just a classic cold. Stuffy nose, grumpy boy, and very little sleep for anyone. He can't seem to stay asleep for more than 20 minutes so for now he is laying on my chest for comfort. 

Thankfully Zach is home tonight but I am so not looking forward to the rest of the week. Madison is asleep on my floor. Chest rub also in place, cough medicine given, and again praying for the best. Colds seem to settle deep in her lungs and cause all sorts of breathing problems during the winter. She coughs so long and hard she sometimes will either throw up or stop breathing. It's terrifying and so again I like to keep her close to monitor her too. The problem we run in to with her is that we can't give cough syrup or the steroid to her daily. We have to use it sparingly which sometimes means nights of "roughing it out". It really sucks and again we just pray it's not too bad and we don't have to make any midnight trips to the hospital. I'm so not looking forward to that now with two kids, because you know... All the good stuff happens when dad isn't home. 

So here's to the beginning of the worst four months of the year. Heaven help us. 

October

Its been a fun filled month with lots of activities to do! I love the beginning of the holiday season. Traditions with my family are the best! Can't wait to see what next year brings!

Braden 0.4

Happy 4 months little man. I am so sorry to spend some time away from you this month. I love how giggly and sweet you are these days 

weight

Height

Head 90%. Gotta love my big head babies! 

Size 1 diapers 

3-6 month clothing 

Sleeping 8:30pm. Wake around 4-5 to eat and then back to sleep till 7. It has been heaven sent that you are a good night time sleeper. Makes me feel a little less of a "mombie". Though sometimes you still throw us and wake at 2,5,7 am so I can't really call it a set routine. Mostly we just plan for you to be up three times at night and if it's only once, then we are extra happy. As I am typing this we are snuggling on the couch watching tv. You woke at 5:30 to eat and decided we should be up for the day. You also still like to be swaddled at night. 

You tend to be grumpy during the day and naps still only last about 45 minutes with one longer nap around 3.  You fit so smoothly in to our life and daily routine. I can't believe it's already been 4 months but at the same time it feels like you have always been here. 

You smile all day long and are starting to get those deep belly laughs. They are the best! Your dark newborn hair is falling out and new blond hair is taking it's place. I can't wait to see what color you end up being. Your eyes are darker then madi's were by now, they are kind of a deeper brown green like dad's and not the deep blue Madison's were. 

You love to be held and facing out so you can see everything that's going on. You have not yet rolled over because you completely hate tummy time and refuse to do anything but scream bloody murder. We are working on it. 

This month we visited the dermatologist about your hemangioma. It's nothing serious but it's still growing pretty quickly and I would like to get it removed if possible. We need to go see a pediatric dermatologist at the end of the month to see what she wants to do about it. The only concern is the placement of it being between the bones in your skull as they are still fusing together it could cause a possible issue. 

Sleeping through the night

Oh my sweet boy, I love you more every day. I am exhausted and remember all the sleepless nights of the newborn stage. You however, are sleeping through the night (at 12 weeks) and have been for a few weeks. You go to bed with Madison around 8:30 and wake up for your first feeding around 4 but sometimes really surprise me and sleep even longer.  It's been amazing. The only down side is that you are up for the day at 6 now and by the time you're ready for your morning nap, Madison is just waking up. Which means your parents are up for the day at 6. No naps for the weary. On the nights daddy is home and does not work, he gets up with you any time past 6am and hangs out with you till madi and I wake up. I do all the other feedings throughout the night and have since you came home. It's actually a really good plan. You'll learn when you become a new dad that teamwork will get you really far in life. He sleeps through the night and I get a couple extra hours in the morning as a trade for waking up at night. Daddy isn't much of a morning person but he's learning. 

You aren't much of a napper during the day either, you take a couple 45 minute naps and then if I'm lucky, sometimes take over an hour nap in the late afternoons. Generally during the day you are a pretty happy kid though.

You finally like being swaddled. It took a while for you to get used to it but now you calm down really quick when you're wrapped up in your baby burrito. The bummer part is that soon you won't be allowed to anymore because you'll be able to roll over within the month. You also got kicked out of the bassinet in our room when you were three months. Our apartment is so tiny that it's not a big deal and I can hear every move and watch you on the video monitor. You've just grown so much you don't fit in the bassinet and I think you actually sleep better because you aren't hearing the rest of us roll around all night. Madison ends up on our floor by 2 am most nights and then in our bed by 6am. So really it's like Braden has his own room. 

Man I love those little cheeks. I just kiss them all day long.