two month old BOY

We are loving our newest member of the family.

We just went in for his two month appointment. He's 6030 grams or 13 pounds and 56 centimeters or 22 inches. He was a brave boy for his shots. He cried when the doc gave them to him (and looked at me like how could I let this happen to him, but not as bad as his circumcision), but was smiling again a minute later. It was Kelsey who was crying...then throwing up. Fun times.

He has become a LOT more smiley. He is such a happy little guy and will sit in his swing for an hour or more sometimes, just chillin. We have a few nicknames for him: Aidster, Aiders, buddy, little man, smiley boy, big boy, chubster, Baby Aiden.

Kelsey likes to push the swing as high as it will go. Sometimes I look over and they're both smiling/laughing.

Poor guy was circumcised this month. They don't do it at the hospitals here so we had to take him to a special clinic to have it done. Tal and I debated whether or not to have it done, but in the end, we decided "like father, like son." I took him to the clinic while Mike & Anna watched Kels and Tal worked. They gave me the option to stay or leave the room but highly suggested I stay. I think the part he hated most was being given the local anestesia. He looked at me like I had betrayed him. I prayed a LOT going into this and really felt the Lord blessed me to be strong through the whole ordeal. I nursed him in the beginning of the procedure but by the end he was too sad/mad to nurse so I just held his hand. It was pretty quick - 5 or 7 minutes - and then onto recovery. It's always hard to see your baby bleed and be in pain and I questioned myself several times about why I did this to him. Now that it's all better and that everything healed well, I can say I'm glad we did it. He couldn't make that decision on his own later...it's one of those things you either do when they're young or if you don't, you hope they never have to when they're older!

Prepping for the procedure. They used the Plastibell Method.

Just chillin' on Lake Zurich

Sitting up in his bumbo chair. He's a social baby and likes to be where the action is at.

He's a good eater, eating every 2.5 to 3 hours except at night. He'll wake up around 1am (some nights I just stay up until then), eat, and fall right back asleep. If he wakes up before 6, I just put the binky in and bring him into bed with me. Then I feed him when he wakes up at 6 and we fall back asleep. He's always up by 8:30, but usually it's around 7:30.

He's still wearing size 2 diapers but they're getting a bit tight. He could easily be in 3's. I still have some left of the 2's so I'm determined to use them all. I remember having a lot of leftover 2's with Kelsey. Guess my babies just grow BIG fast.

Cocoon Photo shoot

I love those chubby arm rolls and how he's holding his hands like he's praying

Isn't this hat darling? A lady at my church made it for a service project. I loved it and asked her if I could borrow it for a photoshoot. She said I could have it as a gift to Aiden. Score! I love the little sheep on the side. It reminds me of the Switzerland and the sheep farm by our house.

Taken at the end of the shoot - right when he woke up.

Evolution of a YAWN...

I didn't like that big yawn!

Happy to play in sister's bed

He loves to "talk" already. He loves to coo or make gggg sounds. He loves having a "conversation" where you back and forth with him. I wonder if he'll be a talker.

He's so flirty/smiley!

A funny little face

Sleeping so peacefully

Wait, give me a minute to wake up

Oh, Hi mom

You've stolen our hearts little man!

No Longer Two under Two

As of today, I have a two year old and a two month old. How fun is that? Sometimes fun, sometimes hard work! Kelsey can be sweet, too sweet, and sometimes mean.

Kelsey has been very sweet and good to Aiden lately. The other day I stopped and watched them interact for a few minutes. Kelsey was leaning over the swing talking to him and playing with his feet. He gave her the biggest smiles and cooed at her. I learned again the meaning of JOY.
I should have had Aiden in focus and Kelsey out, but it's hard to switch the focal point in the moment. I actually like the way her eyelashes look and if I spent time on it, I could make it look cool in photoshop. I love that she's touching his fingers and he looks content and happy...and he's looking at me.

When it was still sunny outside, we went to the beach with some friends. Kelsey didn't want to walk the 5 minutes to our house and didn't want to ride on the front of the stroller, so I let her ride in the bassinet. I didn't have the Baby Bjorn, so I curiously put Aiden in with Kels. She loved "holding" him. By the time I got home, both of them were asleep so I brought the bassinet (so heavy) up the stairs. They miraculously stayed asleep and took their afternoon nap like this. That was also JOY.
I love how he's "hugging" her and holding on to her dress. So sweet.
They were both so sweaty when they woke up, but so happy!

Kelsey is TWO

And she knows how to tell you.

But she's still working on being able to hold her two fingers up (like a peace sign). I told her just to do it the European way and hold up her thumb and pointer finger (like a gun). She thinks it's funny. Here's a quick trip down memory lane and then some tidbits about Kelsey.

Birth

6 Months

12 Months

18 Months

24 Months

Stats.

Weight: 12.2 kilos or 27 pounds

Height: 84 centimeters or 33 inches (2.75 feet)

Laughs. She loves to laugh and will laugh when she thinks something is funny or if someone else is laughing.

Letters. She loves her letters and even points them out on signs and books. One morning Tal made pancakes and made a special one for Kelsey. K=Kelsey

Piggies. Always pink. And she'll always point them out and tell you about them.

Yawn. She sleeps through the night and still takes one nap a day (@ 2 hours). However just recently, she's been fighting going down some nights. Tal and I have said a few times - just when our life got easy, we went ahead and had another kid ;).

Yelling/Screaming. We're learning the difference between indoor voices and outdoor voices. She seems to use the outdoor one no matter where we are.

Clasping. She's still at it. If she's sitting down and gets bored, she'll clasp her hands together like she's praying and push her hands together so hard and holds her breath. It's a bit concerning, but her pediatrician doesn't seem worried. She also has Opa Price's teeth (says Tally).

Jumper. Our downstairs neighbor is witness to that. Curb or no curb, this little hopper doesn't stop.

Shapes. Letting your child play with their food is okay as long as it is educational, right? She dug out this circle all on her own. Pretty symmetrical, don't you think?

Reverting? Let's hope not. She still loves her babies though.

DORA. What would I do without her? I think Dora is her best friend (sad). She talks to "Dora" when she plays with her dolls and runs around outside. Since then, I've started acting out Dora episodes with her - adapting them to our surroundings of course. She gets a kick out of it.

Singing. ABCs is her favorite song. She also loves Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Popcorn Popping, Once there was a Snowman, the Schnekli song, Ring around the Rosie, If you're happy and you know it...and many more. I love when she sings off key and loud - so cute. Poor thing, I hope she doesn't have to inherit her musical talents to be musically talented.

Dear Kelsey,

We want you to know a few things about you at this age. You are so sweet and compassionate. You always get concerned if mommy gets hurt or sad or if Aiden cries. I hope you use this gift of compassion to serve others throughout you life - to mourn with those that mourn - etc. You are one smart cookie. You already understand too much and I'm amazed at what you repeat back to me. You love to answer questions and usually get them right. You are street smart and are so good about staying on the sidewalk, staying close to mommy, and coming when mommy tells you to (except for one time with jay and one time today). I hope that you use your mind for good, and seek things that are uplifting and inspiring. You are strong-willed, yet teachable. I love this about you. You are always wanting to learn more, and apply it. You are very appreciative and constantly tell me "dank du mami." You are helpful to mommy and are quick to bring me my cell phone if it rings or grab a burp cloth or Aiden's binky.

Daddy wants to add that he loves you like crazy! He still goes in every night and moves your books and puts your blanket on you. Sometimes he even moves you to a more comfortable position (you sleep like a log).

Daddy and I see so much potential in you and pray that you might become a virtuous, kind and faithful woman someday. Happy Birthday Princess, keep on dancin'.

P.S. She stays up late and reads her books (she likes to have at least 20 in her crib, sometimes asks for more). She used to ask for the light off (but that meant on) and has recently started saying on. Her hair is also straightening out quite a bit! It makes me sad. As it gets longer, it is straighter on top and the wringlets are looser. I never want to cut them off!

Knitting

This New Years, I made a goal to learn to knit. My friend, Jessi Berg, taught me the basic stitch while on our cruise in Greece. It became a swatch, and then a baby beanie.

Then Jessi gave me some yarn and a pattern for a dishcloth for practice.

Check.

Then I bought a pattern off of etsy for a baby cocoon. At first I thought it was a lofty goal but after talking to my friend Tanya Deans, I was convinced I could do it. She drew me a picture and everything. Once I got past the struggle of finding the right yarn and getting the HUGE needles (thanks mom), I found it to be quite easy. However, it still took me at least 6 hours, especially since I had to undo at least 10 rows and start over. Whoops. I learned.

These are the pics I took with Aiden in it only minutes after completing it (of course he was asleep when I finished, that's how I was able to finish!).

Notice how his little toes are sticking out

I'm so happy with it (despite the hole Aiden helped me find - glad it's not too noticeable) and so glad I have it for many shoots to come! A BIG thanks to Jessi & Tanya for helping me complete my goal...what next?

Weltklasse Zurich 2009

Letzigrund Stadium

photo courtesy of myswitzerland.com

On Friday night, my boss invited me to the Weltklasse Zurich track and field event at Letzigrund Stadium (and my angelic wife was kind enough to let me go). It was amazing to see Ussain Bolt run in person (he's like a man among boys - but those 'boys' are world class sprinters) and I also witnessed a new world record in pole vault broken by Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva.

Fast as a lightning BOLT

photo courtesy of swissinfo.ch

The thrill of knowing you're number ONE

photos courtesy of swissinfo.ch & google images

I had never been to a professional track and field event before and I was shocked by how much the athletes interacted with and fed off of the crowd. The US athletes represented well and I got to be a bit obnoxious every time they won an event, but Ussain stole the show in the final leg of the 4x100 meter relay when he caught the Americans from behind and just turned his head and laughed as he flew past him just before the finish line. On a side note, the Swiss relay team placed 6th in that race while setting a new Swiss record, I've never seen a group of athletes and fans so excited for a 6th place visit - but when your a small country, I guess that's a great feat.

The Swiss relay team

photo courtesy of swissinfo.ch

The Swiss regard this as the best track and field event in the world, and although I'm not sure I would go that far, the atmosphere was electric. For more info on the event, click here.

Photoshoot Weekend

It's 12:09am (as in midnight) as I start writing this. I want to post more frequently since mega posts are so time consuming and get old. So, in my attempt to do this, I need to post TONIGHT.

My six weeks is up and I am back to hired shoots. It's a bittersweet because I love taking photographs but I hate having the idea of more photos to edit and two kids vying for my attention while attempting to edit.

On Saturday, I shot twin, 3 month old girls while Tal took the kids to the branch "Mini MTC" day. The shoot took 3.5 hours and I was exhausted afterwards (darling girls, by the way). After a nice nap, we drove over to Rachel and Tony Mascaros to go to their town fair.

The path to the fair grounds had several small "spielplatz" or playgrounds on the way that were all made out of natural resources and were designed like bugs. This one looks like a preying mantis eating a worm! Switzerland has some of the coolest playgrounds I've ever seen. And the most dangerously fun.

We ate yummy curry for dinner and banana/nutella crepes for dessert. YUM! Kelsey ran around with a few Swiss kids and I couldn't believe how outgoing she was with them.

We went on the ferris wheel with the Mascaros at sunset. Kelsey liked it, but got tired and cold after a few rotations.

Thank you guys for a fun night!

On Sunday, we took pictures of the Aeschbacher family and Tal brought the kids so we could have our temple recommend interviews after. Here is the view of Lake Zug from the hill behind their house. Isn't it gorgeous!? This doesn't even do it justice.

At their house, Kelsey picked some apples. Here she is debating which one to pick (after getting Heidi's permission first of course!).

OUCH! Kelsey got this shiner Thursday night from tripping on the rug when running into the living room to tell us something and falling on her chin on the corner of the coffee table. Both Tally and I saw it happen and thought we would be in the ER for sure. We got lucky this time. Poor baby! After nursery today she had a black left eye. Shoulda seen the other guy.

It was fun, but now I'm tired. Aiden is doing great, growing lots, and sleeping fairly well. He's also good natured and will sit quietly for long periods, several times a day. Knock on wood. It's 12:56am and I just got told to come to bed from Tal. Nighty night!