Timmy's 9 Months Old

 Timmy boy you are NINE months old now!  Those days of reflux are long gone and you are all smiles now (except when teething or fighting double ear infections, but I don't blame you!).  You are such a wonderful addition to our family.  We all adore you to pieces!

You drool a bunch and chew on anything you can get your hands on to help with the teething process.  We've started a bunch of solids with you.  Your favorites are sweet potatoes, bananas, mangoes, and Puffs.  Your gag reflex is still pretty strong so we're holding off a bit on little pieces of "real" food.

 

Lately, I've been walking in to your room to you giggling and standing up in your bed.  Daddy lowered your mattress so you won't get hurt and possibly fall out of your crib.  You still like to stand up to greet us when you wake up and now your mouth is at the perfect level to teethe on the the side of the crib.  Why on earth did we buy the conversion kit to turn this crib into a headboard/footboard for a double bed someday?  I think you will have it pretty well destroyed by the time we're ready for that :)

We also installed the baby gates both going up and down the stairs.  You are a mover and love to explore the house, especially the cat food dish!  That water is so fun to splash in.  You're crawling fully off of your belly now and also pulling yourself up on furniture and crusing around it just a bit.

Your bedtime is between 8 and 9 o'clock and you've been pretty good about sleeping through until about 7 a.m. (again, when you're not teething or fighting ear infections).  You still enjoy a quick morning nap for about 30 minutes when I allow you to and we're not on the go keeping up with "Sissy."  Your afternoon naps are for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, but if you miss your morning nap sometimes I can get you to nap for a little more than 2 hours.  You seem to be growing out of that quick 30 minute evening nap right after dinner and before bedtime, but haven't quite let go of it completely yet.

 I still think you look so much like I did when I was little (see above), but most people say you look just like daddy.  We think you're just cute as a button no matter who you favor in the family.

Your big sister loves you to pieces.  She really enjoys teaching you new games, but sometimes you make her frustrated by going after her toys that you're too little for.  She also loves to make you laugh and can get you going very easily compared to the rest of us who have to work for your giggles sometimes.

We love you, Timothy!!!

September Update

September was packed with fun!  We returned from our trip to St. Louis and the next week kicked into fall routine.  Faith Quest, the program I coordinate for children at church, started off strong with about 25 children.

We were able to squeeze in a fun afternoon at the Northville Theater with our friends Addison and Jen to see Rapunzel.  The girls enjoyed it and it was wonderful listening to their giggles.

Hannah had her first day of 4-year-old preschool, too.  This year she goes 3 days a week.

She's also starting up ballet/tap classes again this year.  We tried classes a few years ago but I was unhappy with the Studio so we took a break.  Hannah's been begging me for months to start dance class again so I finally caved.  So far, we have been very happy with the new place!

 Mr. Timmy turned 8 months old already.  He is such a happy boy!  Hannah loves to make him laugh and is very responsible about helping with him.  She has been so good about trying to get him to smile when he is upset and keeping the small pieces to her toys off of the floor since he is officially mobile!  Baby gates went up this month so he won't go toppling down the stairs. 

 

On Sunday, the 18th, Timmy was dedicated at Fellowship Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  JuJu and PaPa were there to celebrate as well.  We are so blessed to have him in our family and pray that the Lord uses Timmy to do amazing things for Him.

 Timmy hangin' with his PaPa

Sleeping Bear Dunes Camping

We spent a few days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park with our friends, the Kerns.  It rained off and on, but we found pockets of dry weather to enjoy the beauty of Northern Michigan.

Hannah had a blast racing up the dunes.  She beat daddy and me!

Playing at a park right on Lake Michigan.  Absolutely beautiful!

We went on a scenic drive and stopped along the recommended locations to view the lake.  Caleb got inspired to venture down the biggest dune I've ever seen to put his foot in the water.  The kids and I watched from a viewing deck as I overheard comments about the man before him taking an hour and a half to climb back up.  Good thing I packed snacks for the kids!  Just kidding :)  Caleb made it back up in about 20 minutes. 

On our last day we drove up the finger (I don't know what it's officially called) in Traverse City.  The weather was crummy, but the scenery was gorgeous nonetheless.  There was a "lighthouse" at the tip.  We high-tailed it to the inside of the small building because it was pouring buckets outside...and the wind was very strong!  It would be fun to go back and venture out to the water on a nicer day.

Mommy created a "cage" for Timmy in one of the wings of our pop-up camper.  I was so proud of myself, but it didn't hold long.  Timmy always likes to be where he shouldn't and it was no different in the camper. :)

We always enjoy going to the Traverse City area and will look forward to returning for Caleb's mountain biking race the first weekend in November.

Hannah's 4th Birthday

 We celebrated Hannah's 4th Birthday on September 15th.  She was excited to go to Red Robin and have the waiters sing to her.  We also enjoyed a Baskin Robins ice cream cake when we got home (Deibel tradition!) It was yummy!!

 The following Saturday we celebrated with friends at a local park.  It was a beautiful day and the kids had a lot of fun!

  Timmy enjoyed his first time swinging!

 I just can't believe it's been FOUR years already.  My little girl is growing up way too fast and I just can't accept the fact that she will be in kindergarten next year!  A daily reminder to savor every moment we have left at home together!

HOT, HOT, HOT in St. Louis

Hannah, Timmy, and I spent a HOT two weeks in St. Louis while Caleb was on a test trip for work out West. Fortunately, Caleb was able to help me drive the kids down to the Lou and back. I don't think I could have done it by myself!We drove halfway, to Indianapolis, the first night. Timmy enjoyed sitting in a high chair for the first time while he devoured Puffs and Hannah had a blast in the swimming pool with Daddy.

Caleb flew out on a Saturday and the kids and I got settled in. It looked like Babies 'R' Us threw up in my parent's house!

On Sunday, we took Hannah to mini-golf for her first time. She absolutely loved it! After a few pointers from Grandpa Pete...
she managed to get a hole-in-one!
Although it was incredibly hot out while we were there (100 degrees!), we managed to do a few exciting things. On Tuesday, we visited the Butterfly House. Last time, Hannah was terrified when a butterfly landed on her and this time she sat on a bench, pouting, that they didn't. Overall, she enjoyed looking at the colored beauties and finding them on her "map."
On Wednesday, Aunt Lauren took Hannah to the Magic House for an early birthday present. It was a win-win as mommy enjoyed some time to work on her church curriculum and Hannah soaked up the one-on-one attention at the most exciting place in St. Louis for an almost 4-yr-old.The next day, I reconnected with my friend Debbie with whom I taught with in Grand Rapids. It was wonderful to see her smiling face again!

On Friday, we went to Grant's Farm to see the animals. Hannah loved giving the goats bottles of milk.
We also spent some time relaxing at home. I remember Hannah asking Grandma how doggies laugh and Timmy enjoying all of the attention from Grandpa Pete. He taught him how to wave "hello."
Aunt Lauren and Grandpa Pete were spending time with Timmy for the first time ever. I think it was love at first sight on all accounts.We welcomed Daddy home on the 1st of September and managed to squeak in a fun night with the Koziateks and also a date night!It was a long visit and my family tolerated the chaos well :) Thanks for all of your help and love!

August Update

We had a blast enjoying the last month of summer. On the 11th, we went to a camp that our friend, Melissa Kern, put together for a bunch of kids. The theme was "library" and Hannah talked about it for weeks afterwards. She had a blast with new friends and old.

Timmy turned 7 months old this month, too. Boy, the time is just flying by! He began scooting himself around the room on July 29th and is getting faster each and every day. He is also starting to sleep through the night a little better which is a huge blessing! Hannah continues to be a wonderful big sister. My favorite thing she says right now is, "Timmy rubbered on me!" which really means slobbered. She is so patient with him and enjoys giving him hugs.

(Another cute things she does is call "Angry Birds"--an app that we don't have--"Mad Chickens.")
On the 16th, we visited the Detroit Zoo with a bunch of Hannah's preschool friends. It was a beautiful, hot day, and the kids had fun reconnecting before the start of the school year.

July Update

Hannah had the opportunity to attend a VBS put on by the church where she attends preschool. Their theme was Hometown Nazareth. They were very gracious in letting me walk around with Timmy and do some "market research." I will be using this program at our church, Fellowship EPC, this fall. Hannah LOVED the music!!

I am so thankful that Hannah continues to adore her little brother. She has learned all of his cues and helps out a lot. Over the past few weeks, she has enjoyed mothering him a bit more and is interacting with him a LOT more. She will get out some toys for him or read him a book. She also likes to push his bottom to help him crawl! I am one blessed mama!!Timmy loves his baby food!!! The boy is a bottomless pit! He is eating 2-3 Tbsp of oatmeal and an entire container of fruit for "lunch" and 2-3 Tbsp of rice cereal and a container of veggies for "dinner." I always have to cut him off or he would continue forever it seems! He's been teething a bunch so I gave him one of these little biscuits last week. He thoroughly enjoyed making a mess of it! No teeth popping through quite yet though!