A Tribute

It's been a month since my aunt died completely unexpectedly.  I'll never forget the phone call from my dad. I was on my way home from the park with all my children, and I had a few missed calls from my dad, which was a little unusual. I was curious as to what it was all about, so I called him back, and I knew something was up straight away. He paused and just took a deep breath and said Laurie is dead. I gasped and asked questions as I do, and couldn't hurry home fast enough. I called Peter just crying and told him I needed him to meet me outside the house, and I started running home with all my kids and a strider bike. 

To say that news was one of the biggest shocks of my life truly isn't an understatement. I feel like I'm still reeling from the timing of it all. She had JUST retired early. She had JUST closed on the sale of her Seattle house. She had JUST finished relocating to her new Tacoma home. We had just had a conversation about coming to her house for Father's day as a housewarming/Father's day celebration. And I keep thinking about all the things that were left unsaid, all the questions left unasked.

And I still can't believe she's actually gone. Today we gathered with my mom's family to celebrate her life, and I just kept thinking, she should be here with us. And last week when we gathered for the 4th of July, I had the same thought. And I'm sitting here in the dark, as it's the only time I can carve out time to write, and I'm just wondering how long a person has these types of thoughts for. 

To be honest, I was 35 when someone really close to me died, and it was my 94-year-old grandma. And I'll never forget receiving that news from my dad, only to receive that same news from my dad a week later in regards to my other grandma's death. So in a matter of a week, I lost both my grandmas, but they were 94 and 93 they had both lived very long and full lives and their death did not come as a shock to me but rather as a relief to be honest. And my aunt's death was so shocking, that I don't think I've fully processed it all. One day she was alive, and the next day she wasn't. And I think we're all traumatized by the suddenness of it all, my parents especially. My mom especially - she has experienced so much loss and trauma over her life, with her brother tragically dying at the age of 17, her dad dying at 64, her mom dying at 93, and now her sister at 64. She's the only one left from her original family unit of 5. And I just can't imagine that loss, how deep it runs. 

And so tonight I come to the keyboard with a heavy heart. My heart aches for the loss as we are just filled with grief. And as everyone has reminded me, this has been a tough year for my family, covid aside. We've just walked through alot of stuff - with a stroke, a pulmonary embolism, a job loss, a new babe in the family, developmental issues with my kids, a new relationship, and now the loss of my aunt. It's felt like alot, and yet, we've also never gathered so much or loved each other deeper than we have this past year. And we saw so much of my aunt this past year, and I'm so grateful for that time. 

We had all gathered just a few weeks before my aunt died for my brother's birthday, and I said to my family, I don't even remember saying goodbye to her. And my sister said I remember you hugging her and telling her you loved her, and I'm so grateful for that memory of hers.

There are so many memories over the last few years - some of my favorites are just her stopping by my house unannounced as she lived just 25 blocks from us, the most recent being her stopping by just a few months ago when I was in the bathroom and I remember coming out and she was just sitting on my couch with a smile on her face, waiting to greet me. And another time was when I was having a hard day, and I think I was crying when I heard a knock on the door and I remember looking through the peephole and seeing her face on the other side and opening the door wide to allow her into that moment with me. And I remember asking her how she knew I needed her, and she said I didn't, I just wanted to come over to see you guys and so I did. 

So many holidays spent together, so many birthdays celebrated, so many random family dinners. So much joy and so much laughter, even amidst all the hard things she had overcome in her 64 years. There are so many things I will miss, but mostly I'll just miss our conversations and her beautiful presence. And I am eternally grateful for the countless memories we had as a family over the last few years. She loved us all so, so big, with everything she could, with so much generosity and in such abundance. And I am forever changed by that love.

This loss has just reminded me to not take a single moment of this life for granted. Make that phone call, kiss your partner, hug your loved ones. stop by to say hello to that person you're thinking about, do all the things, don't wait. None of us are guaranteed a day.

She believed in the sheer goodness of people, that there is always light amidst the darkness. That is who she was and that is who her Heavenly Father is, always providing light in that darkness. So while she may not be here with us in body, she will always be with us in spirit.

Lord she is yours, and you have called her home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

This is what I put together for our Christmas letter this year, and as I sit here just hours from 2020 coming to a close, I'm reminded just how much more I could have said about this last year. But maybe I'll just save that for another day. And for now, I'll just say, 2020 was filled with so many life changes and fun adventures and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for our family as we continue to abide by Him and allow Him to guide our path. 

Every day since Thanksgiving I've been saying to Peter, I need to write our Christmas letter. I need to get on that. And every single day, after we put the kids to bed, I tap out a few sentences and continue to put it off! So here we are, a week into December. The kids are fast asleep, and I have no excuse. However, the truth is, I don't really know what to say about this year. Or perhaps I don't really know where to start? So I'll just start at the beginning. 

The year started off on a high note with a family trip to Hawaii, then COVID hit. Soon after that in-person learning ended for my kids, my mom had a stroke the same day I found out I was losing my job, and my dad landed himself in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism just a few days after my mom came home from rehab. Let's just say it was a wild few months for our family, and honestly, it's been a wild year. 

I feel like it's fair to say that this year has felt really hard in so many different ways for so many people, and yet this year has also held so many silver linings amidst all those hard moments. Over this last year, we've watched friends walk through cancer diagnoses, treatment and surgeries, job losses, babies being born, depression, feelings of isolation, relatives dying, marital issues, and the list goes on and on. The reality is, life goes on even amidst a pandemic - we still experience the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, we still grieve and rejoice, we still despair and hope. If this year has taught me anything it's how we can hold all of those emotions simultaneously. How we can grieve the situation we find ourselves in, while also rejoicing in that same situation. I can grieve the job loss; yet also rejoice in the extra family time. I can grieve the loss of alone time, while also rejoicing in all of this togetherness.

When I think back on this last year, I can see that even amidst all the hard stuff there was so much joy. And so much togetherness. Let's definitely not forget all the togetherness! We did a two-week road trip down the Oregon coast into Northern California in honor of Peter's 40th birthday.  So many miles traveled, so many places visited, so many beds slept in, so much laughter, and so many beautiful memories made. Peter's already daydreaming about our next adventure. We hope to do an extended stay in Ireland sometime next year. But alas, we wait to see how things unfold. 

We learned so much this year. Peter learned how to work amidst the chaos and the noise that is our home. Jack learned that he loves history and facts! Ryan learned how to read and write. Conor learned so many new words and he learned how to use the potty! And I've learned that there's still so much growth to be done in me - I love my children, but I've never spent this much time with them. You can just imagine how the day unfolds, the energy, the noise, the laughter, the yelling, the tears. Sounds delightful doesn't it? Every single day I'm so grateful for the Lord's grace, for the Hope that is found in Him, and that His mercies are new every morning! 

And if there's anything we have all learned over the last several years it's that life is filled with so much waiting and hoping. And this last year has been filled with so much of both. We wait and hope for healing, we wait and hope for a new job, we wait and hope for different circumstances in a new year. And here we are in December, waiting and hoping. So much growth happens in the waiting. And I love that growth. My hope and prayer is that we all come out of this year stronger, stronger in our character, stronger in our faith, stronger in our relationships, more aware of what is important to us, more able to strip away all the things that don't matter and grow hopeful hearts, especially in this Advent season. 

With Love and Hope,

Peter, Malia, Jack (soon to be 8), Ryan (just turned 6) + Conor (2 3/4)

Happy {4th} Birthday Ryan!

My Dearest Ryan,

As I put you to bed on the eve of your 4th birthday, I snuggled you and held you close and started telling you about your birth story and where I was 4 years ago as I eagerly awaited and anticipated your arrival. And I started weeping right there in your bed as I held you and relived it all. And you turned to me and said mama, I need to give you a hug and a kiss, and you placed your hands on each side of my face and kissed me and wrapped your little arms around me, and I just wept more. 

I just kept saying, it was just so beautiful and I feel so grateful for every single moment of it, especially now after Conor's birth story. And it feels incredibly surreal to have even experienced a glimpse of a relatively 'normal' delivery and birthing experience is like. I mean I was still hospitalized days prior to your arrival and I was induced, so there were alot of added things that some mamas don't experience. But I labored with you and experienced contractions and a vaginal delivery after a c-section and that feels like such an incredibly beautiful feat now. To think you were my only babe I held straight away, my only babe I breastfed straight away, my only babe that left the hospital when I left. It all feels so overwhelming to be honest, and I'm just so grateful for your story, but it all feels slightly painful as I had hoped Conor's story would be mroe like yours.  

I had hoped and prayed for a different story after Jack's, and just feel so grateful for your birth story. 

It was all so beautiful and redemptive and healing for my broken heart which I didn’t even realize needed mending until I had you. And it was all such a gift from God to be able to have a different birth experience, to experience a c-section with your brother and a vaginal birth with you. And then to bring you home from the hospital just 24 hours after having you felt like an even greater gift.

Your story means something different to me now that I know it's my only one like this. And it feels so heavy and so good, and as I look at photos from that day 4 years ago, I see a brave and courageous woman who has tears streaming down her face from the pain. I can hear the worship music playing in the room and I can sense the anticipation as she awaits the unknown of your arrival, as she hopes for a new story. The space feels sacred and holy - all of it feels like an act of worship. Every contraction, every tear, every push an act of worship. 

And when i think about it all, I'm just filled wish such a deep, deep, deep sense of gratitude. What a privilege to have experienced this 'normal' birth experience. And it feels slightly painful as well, to think I'd hoped Conor's birth story would be more like yours than Jack's, to think this 'normal' birth experience begins and ends with you. 

Ryan Alexander, my second born, my middle child. Just yesterday you woke up a little too early for my liking, and you crawled into bed with me and you wouldn't stop talking. You just kept talking and talking and talking, and I turned to you and said lovie, let's go back to bed, and you snuggled up next to me because you have to be like right next to me at all times, and you fell right back to sleep. Sometimes you just turn to me and kiss me and say I love you mama! You are a mamas boy and won't let dada do certain things because you want mama to do it. 

You are fierce and you are opinionated and you don't really take no for an answer! I've realized that you are my spirited child and sometimes it's easier to not fight you on the small things. So quite often, you wear your pjs to school drop off and yesterday you wore your pjs, your crocs, a hat and a scarf. It was so good, and you were so pleased with yourself. You're really opinionated about what you wear and you wore the same pjs every night for awhile there - good thing Jack had the same ones, so when yours were dirty you could wear his! 

We've learned alot about you this past year, and we've realized we have to give you the space to make your own decisions about things and you'll do it all in your own time, and if you wet your pants or your bed because you refuse to go potty, then so be it (in all honesty though, your bladder is insane and you can hold it for far longer than I'd like you to!), and if you are cold because you refused to put on a coat, then so be it, and if you refuse to get your shoes on, then you can't come. So this last year has really been reinforcing cause and effect and consequences, fun times for all! 

You want to do everything yourself and you LOVE helping me with anything and everything! You especially love baking, and anything that involves sugar. 

You started at a new preschool this year and you LOVE it so much. You'd go every single day if you could and you love talking about all your new friends. And your teacher is always talking about how you're such a cool dude! You walk into your classroom like you own the place, without so much as a backward glance. 

You are Mr. Independent, and you are completely indifferent to other's opinions of you. You are so use to being around people all the time that you'd prefer playing with someone over playing alone every time. And even when you are playing alone, you want to be like right next to me or you want my eyes on you. And when you're doing something you're not suppose to be doing or eating something I told you not to eat, you walk out of the room and say "nothing". It's so funny. Sometimes I have to hold back the laughter. 

Here's to 4 years Ryan Alexander! What a gift you are to our family and to this world!

Love,

Your Mama

Conor Christopher: Fourteen months

Conor by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4  // 5  // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13

Growing // Just a few days before you were officially 14 months, you had an appointment at Children's and there you weighed 18 lbs even (3rd percentile) and you measured 27 inches in length (still not on the charts for that!).

Eating + Sleeping // You are consuming about 6-8 oz 4 times a day, but just in the last few days you've definitely upped your food intake and decreased your liquid intake. You really love eating food, and it's so fun to watch you explore all the things on your tray. You can pick up all sorts of things with your little fingers. You love rice cakes with almond butter, and potatoes and cheese and toast. You really like french fries. And you fuss when you want more of something. You try everything, but you definitely don't like everything and you've started tossing things on the ground!!

You are still an incredible sleeper! Nothing much has changed there. 

Wearing // You're wearing 12 month pants and 9 month onesies, but I'm thinking you may be able to wear 12 month onesies. And you're in 12 month pajamas and size 3 diapers and still wearing your cloth diapers, but they sure do leak now after so many washes and so many kids, so I'm constantly changing your diaper.  

Loving // You really love this little egg shaker thing. You hold onto it so tight with your little hands and freak out when you drop it or it's out of your reach. You love peek a boo and playing on the floor and rolling around to get yourself places. You love pulling on the light cord above your crib.

Loathing // You really loathe when you lose your grip on your little egg shaker! And you really don't like when your brothers are rough with you. They are always picking you up and sitting you up and laying you on the ground.

Nicknames // Connie bearsy

Doing // You are pivoting and rolling all around to get where you need to go. And you are getting yourself stuck in things as you push yourself backward. You are waving and clapping and kissing me. You grab the side of my face and plant your mouth on me. It's the best. And you are holding your bottle. You get really fussy when you want your bottle and arch your back if you're on the ground and as soon as I hand your bottle to you, you hold onto it and start gulping it down. You need some assistance and can't hold it the whole time!

Doctors Appointments // 2 occupational therapy appointments, 1 pulmonology appointment at Children's, and 1 pre-anesthesia appointment at Children's (prep for your surgery) - and that's it! You'll have more appointments next month, but I'm just embracing the open calendar. 

Milestones // You survived your first Buskirk family getaway! And you also survived alot of your brother's tball games!

Jack by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12
Ryan by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 //12 

Conor Christopher: Thirteen Months

Conor by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4  // 5  // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12

Growing // At your pulmonology appointment at Childrens (just three days after you turned 13 months) you weighed 17 lbs 3 oz (2nd percentile) and measured 26.5 inches in length (0 percentile).

Eating + Sleeping // You are eating about 8 oz 4 times a day and you are eating just formula these days! I am no longer pumping, which feels so incredibly bittersweet but it's extremely freeing. You've started slamming your legs down on the ground and fussing alot when you're hungry. So it's truly made feeding you easy as we're finally seeing you use all sorts of cues to communicate with us. And you've started to play with my hair when I feed you. It's so cute. You really love feeding yourself food these days. At first it was us feeding you little bits, but now you just purse your lips until we put it out in front of you for you to pick up yourself. Mr. Independent. You still aren't a huge fan of fruit, not even bananas. But you really love bread, potatoes, carrots, avocado, string cheese, cereal, meat, broccoli. You're really happy just eating anything you can feed yourself! 

The end of this month we tossed your wedge away. We kept finding you in the cracks of your pack n play as you kept falling off your wedge. You'd kick against the pack in play and the wedge just fell apart with the momentum of your body I think. So one night, I just decided to toss out the wedge and throw your crib mattress into the pack n play, and you slept flat on your back the rest of the night. There were a few times where it took you a short while to go to bed, I'm considering that an adjustment period. But you're sleeping like a champ on it now! You're still in our room, and we really need to move you out, but it's no bother to have you in with us since you sleep straight through the night - 6:30-6:30 or so. You're always the first one up! And then you're doing two naps still, morning and afternoon. But I'm always having to wake you up from your afternoon nap to go get Jack from school. Bless you baby!

Wearing // The last week or so I've had you in alot of 12 month rompers. And all of your pajamas are 12 months, but most of your onesies are still 9 months and your pants are 9-12 months. It's wild to think you're wearing some 12 month things as technically according to your due date you're just 10 months. 

Loving // You really love sitting in your highchair and feeding yourself. And you love playing on the floor and rolling around. You really love when I sing to you - you always get a giant smile on your face. And you love reading books! And you really love your brothers. And you love waking up in the mornings and are all smiles  and squeals when I get you out of your bed. You love slamming your legs on the ground, so you lay on your back and lift your legs up and bang them on the ground.

Loathing // You really loathe when anyone takes your toys away.

Nicknames // Connie bearsy

Doing // You cut two more teeth this month - two top ones. You are sitting on your own!! You've gotten so good at this, I don't even worry one bit about you. And you finally rolled from back to front. You really just love playing on the floor and rolling around! And I got rid of your baby bath, so you're bathing in the bath like a big boy now. 

Doctors Appointments // 3 occupational therapy appointments, 1 visit to North Seattle Pediatrics for 12 month checkup. And that's it! Crazy to think how much your appointments have dwindled, you'll have a few next month, and a bunch in July for your 15 month appointments, but we've really made it through the masses. 

Milestones // First Easter, first time in a shopping cart, first birthday party at Richmond Beach, first mothers day with you home!! 

Jack by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12
Ryan by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 //12 

Merry Christmas from the Drennan Family

This is what I put together for our Christmas letter this year. And funny enough, multiple people have commented on my Christmas letter and how I was just commenting on how "normal" this year was and how ironic it was that we found ourselves in the ER on Christmas Eve. Conor's little arm is now covered in a full cast, his fingertip stitched back on, and our older boys have learned the consequence of slamming doors in our house. Jack's just a few weeks shy from turning 7, and this was our first true emergency, which had me sitting on the ground between the two seats holding Conor's hand to stop the blood from pouring out while Peter drove like a safe and speedy maniac to the hospital. Conor cried nonstop for all but 1.5 hours of our 5 hour stay, and I don't blame him as his bone was exposed and his fingertip was hanging on by the tiniest bit of skin. Let's just say, I'm glad that event is over with, as I think we were all left a little traumatized. Anyhow, without further ado. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I spent some time tonight reading over our past Christmas letters, and year after year, there was something BIG to write about – babies being born, lots of NICU stays, lots of doctor’s visits, a miscarriage, job loss, a climbing accident, the list goes on. And this year, I’m not too sure what to write about. The normalcy of life perhaps? As normal as life can be with three exceptionally energetic boys. I literally give myself a pep talk every day when I wake up (or more like when my children wake me up) – God has created you for this! You’ve got this Malia! He has entrusted these boys into your hands because He believes you are capable.

And if there’s anything we have learned over the last several years it’s that through Christ we are capable. Through Him we can endure the hard things. We can hold fast to Him while we walk through it, knowing and remembering that He will rescue us, and with time He will heal us, we will recover, and there will be light again. This is the message God has given our family time and time again, and this is the message we have been able to share with dear friends and family as they have walked through some hard stuff this past year.

Peter deemed this last year our year of recovery. And it truly has been a year of looking back and acknowledging all the trauma we’ve walked through over the last several years as we figure out the best way forward. And if I’m honest, it’s the first year in a long time where we’ve been on the other side of things, where we can truly see the way God is using our personal experiences to minister to those who are walking through what we have walked through. And it’s powerful. Being able to sit with people in their grief, to be able to empathize and truly understand their pain, to hear the unspoken words. It’s so incredibly powerful. And that’s all we ever hope for right, that God would use us and our stories to glorify Himself, that our life experiences would have Kingdom purpose.

Speaking of Kingdom purpose, this year Peter and I celebrated 10 years of marriage! We traveled to Ireland for 3 weeks to visit Peter’s family, and words can’t even do the trip justice. Just know it was an incredibly memorable time – we met our nephews for the first time and had so many special moments with family. Our next visit can’t come soon enough! And while we were there, we got away to Berlin for a few days sans kiddos to celebrate our anniversary. It was such a gift to reflect on the last 10 years and the anniversaries that have come before this one. We have lived so much life together, grown up together, raised babies together, cried together, laughed together, and this last year has been such an incredible year of self-discovery and self-reflection as we dive deeper into who God has created the other to be. I love that man so much, what a gift it is to walk through this life with him. He makes me better, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He brought this American girl and this Irish guy together all those years ago.

And here we are in December, fully acknowledging the joy and pain this season can bring. Our hope and prayer is that we continue to live with our eyes wide open to the joy and the pain in this world, and that our family can offer a glimpse of Christ’s Peace here on Earth. May you see and experience the peace of Christ this season and always!

Anniversary: Here's to Ten years!

Anniversary 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 //  9

Our anniversary was two months ago, and I sit here in awe that we've been married for TEN years! 

When I think back to our wedding day ten years ago, we never ever would have envisioned just what would be in store for us, for our marriage, for our family. Who knew we'd walk through all that we've walked through. I know we sure didn't envision all the trials we'd have.

But God did. 

We knew we wanted children, but we never knew what that life would actually look like, how full and loud life could be, nor did we envision that we'd have three boys. 

But God did. 

He knew we'd be well matched for each other - He knew my energy would see us through, and your consistent and solid nature would sustain us.

He knew I'd never sit down, and I'd need you to call me to the couch.

And as I sit here, with all our children at my feet, I'm just so filled with gratitude for you. 

My friend, my lover, my partner, my supporter, my comedian. 

In all honesty, I feel like this past year has been a year of trying to hear each other amidst the chaos and the noise, a year of connecting, of sharing dreams and our vulnerable hearts, of declaring needs and desires as we delve even deeper into who we are and who God has created us to be, and as we further chip away at the things that draw us apart as we desire to draw near to each other. 

And it's been really humbling for me to look back over the trajectory of our relationship and our marriage and remember our early days. And if I'm honest, I feel like I spent the first few years of our relationship and maybe the first years of our marriage trying to make you into someone you weren't. And I've spent the last 8 years trying to undo all the damage I've done as I lean into who you fully are, as I see and pay witness to the unique gifts and abilities God has given you. And as I acknowledge and affirm the man God has created you

to be, while leaning into the woman God has created me to be and reminding myself that we are different and there is so much good in those differences. 

And when I think back over this last year, I think this idea around difference is what resonates most with me. We have spent alot of time talking about who we are, about our differences, about our weaknesses and our strengths, about our individual needs, about our energy levels, about how we get filled up. And I feel like this is the first year, where we've really put words to those differences and delighted in them (thank you enneagram - I'm an 8, Peter's a 5). 

And I'm so grateful.

This morning, you kissed me goodbye and I snuggled deeper under the covers with a child at my side. And your kiss lingered on my lips, and I just thought, I'm so grateful for this man, for his spirit, for his joy, for his truth. 

I had no idea what God was doing all those years ago, sending me to Ireland on a mission trip, but He did. And even after I met you and before we properly started dating, I knew I'd marry you. I had no idea how God was going to work it all out, but He knew, and I may have thought the idea of a cross cultural marriage a little crazy and far fetched, but He didn't. 

He knew exactly what He was doing bringing us together. 

And there's something so incredibly satisfying and freeing as I trust and lean into God's story. He knows His will for our lives, and I trust that will. 

May we never lose sight of the one who has called us to each other.

And may we never lose sight of God's purpose within us, as our marriage is our greatest ministry.

I love you,

Malia

Conor Christopher: Twelve Months

Conor by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4  // 5  // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 

This has been such a fun month with you! You're really starting to show your personality and have preferences and I love it. You're making your voice heard in this family of ours, and it makes my heart so incredibly happy.

Growing // At your 12 month appointment you weighed 16 lbs 14 oz (2nd percentile), measured 27 inches in length (0 percentile) and your head circumference was 48 cm (93rd percentile). 

Eating + Sleeping // You are eating between 6-8 oz at each feed and you are eating a combination of breastmilk and formula about 5 times a day. We are still fortifying your breastmilk with formula, but the majority of your intake is formula now as I'm just not pumping enough milk. I love feeding you, and when it's feeding time I wrap you up in a blanket and you start sucking on your tongue and we sit in the rocking chair and I feed you in the same position as I have for the last 9 months, with you nestled in my right arm and the bottle in my left. Sometimes you play with my hair, other times you play with my fingers and sometimes you hold the bottle. And quite often, Ryan mounts himself up on the arm of the rocking chair and smothers you with kisses or tries to hold the bottle for you. And you love eating solid foods! You are still not a huge fan of pureed stuff, so we've just been feeding you tiny pieces of real food. You aren't a huge fan of fruit (berries, bananas, etc), but you love most other things - cheese, cheerios, oatmeal, rice, carrots, green beans, broccoli, chicken, minced meat, steak, potatoes, sweet potatoes, avocado. 

And you sleep like a champ! You typically go to bed around 6:30 and you're up by 6:30, and we don't hear a peep from you throughout the night. You're still sleeping in our room on your wedge - you've done a nap or two in your crib. And we've talked about moving you out of our room, but your dada's not quite ready for that yet! You nap two times a day - the first nap is around 9:30 and you typically nap for an hour, and the second one is around 1 and you nap for about an hour, maybe longer. 

Wearing // You started the month off wearing mostly 6 month things, and then I transferred that stuff out and moved your 9 month things into your bin, and by the end of the month, I had moved out all your 9 months pajamas and moved your 12 month pajamas in. They're still a bit big, but some of them fit you perfectly! It's so exciting to see you filling out your clothes. You've grown so much! And you're in a size 2 diaper. I did buy some size 3 diapers, but we were gifted a bunch of size 2s, so we have you in those. And you're wearing your cloth diapers too. 

Loving // You really love to eat food. You're like a little birdie, opening your mouth when a food item comes your way. It's the cutest thing! And you love just playing on the floor with your toys and you love having anything and everything in your mouth. You really love all your teething toys right now and you love knawing at baby carrots.

Loathing // You hate when you drop something you're chewing on. You start crying and fussing, and I know I'm going to find your treasured item either on the floor or just out of your reach!

Nicknames // We're still calling you Connie and Connie bears.

Doing // You are teething! And you cut four teeth this month - top two first and bottom two and you have two more coming in up top. And you started sitting! I still feel uneasy leaving you to sit on your own, but you just fall forward or sometimes you fall backward. You're so close to rolling from your back to your front, but you're not quite there yet. You can roll from your back to your side and you stretch for toys around you, but you're just not quite making the roll back to your tummy. You definitely spend more time on your tummy than you did a few months ago - before you'd just roll straight onto your back haha! 

Doctors Appointments // 2 occupational therapy appointments, 1 visit to North Seattle Pediatrics for RSV shot, and 1 WIC appointment.

Milestones // First St. Paddy's day - we ventured downtown via the bus for the parade! First time in the nursery at church, dada and I had a date night and dropped you off for the parents night out. First boat ride! First family picnic at Richmond Beach. 

Jack by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12
Ryan by month 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 //12