6 Months

These Walter pictures are getting harder as you get more mobile!!

My sweet Devin,

I can't believe how much you've grown in one month, and how much has happened! Everyday is pretty much the best day, but we've had some extra fun moments leading up to the 6 month mark.

You still would prefer Mom or Dad picks you up, rather than rolling over. But you can do it, and have done it a few more times. You're just very selective about deciding when and where. But I have a feeling that will be changing very soon.


You definitely want to be upright these days. When I try to lay you down you use your ab muscles to pull yourself up just as far as you can toward sitting. And you can now stay in a sitting position all by yourself.

You are constantly reaching and pulling things to you. We turned our backs for a moment while you were in your bumbo on the table, and suddenly you had the whole stack of napkins in your hands. You were pretty proud.  One day you were also trying to get the napkin holder up to your mouth. You would pull it close with one hand and when you'd try to grab with your other hand to get more leverage you would accidentally pull it away from yourself. It's incredible to watch you process, act, fail, and try again. And you can try again many times before giving up because you want to! The hardest thing is waiting, watching, and allowing you to keep trying as long as you're willing. I want to help you, and sometimes I want to just do it for you. But it's worth it to watch you growing from each of these experiences. And you have grown so very much.

As most babies do, you love to put EVERYTHING in your mouth, and this most recently includes the bath water. At some point you discovered that while you can't grab the water, you can lick it. Of course it's gross that you lick the water, but more concerning to me that your eye gets in it. I feel like it's infection waiting to happen. That being said, it's RIDICULOUSLY hilarious to me when you do it. So I do stop you, but I had to capture it at least once on video.

Since you love the tub, and since we live in Florida, we decided it was time to introduce you to the pool. There were two things working against us: 1. Our pool is not heated. 2. You basically fell asleep on the stroller ride over the day we went. We put you in anyway, and you didn't hate it, although I'm not sure you actually loved it either. We're going to try again in a warmer pool next week.

You love hanging out with Dad. We decided to take you on a date night out to have dinner and watch a movie at the Animal Kingdom Lodge one night. We figured you'd fall asleep, but you were all about hanging out and joining in on the fun. I love these moments when I see you snuggled up with your Dad. We are so blessed to have him. He's a pretty great guy and he loves you like crazy!

You are incredibly observant. We went on a tour at EPCOT with Dad early in the month, and you watched and listened intently for the first several minutes of the tour, just taking it in. Whenever you are out in the stroller you are always looking around, and you especially love to just be outside!

You got a jumper this month, and you're learning that it's fun to bounce up and down. In fact, I think sometimes you think Mom is a jumper now because you jump up and down on my lap all the time!

You went on your first road trip and took it like a CHAMP! We were smart enough to do the driving during your typical sleeping hours, so you only woke up once both ways to eat. We were also able to get some beautiful family pictures in Georgia thanks to Grandma Jean.

Hitting the road with Dad

The final highlight of the month was a visit from your cousin (even though they came to help us move out of our apartment, which was not the most fun). Aria is almost 2 months older than you are, and it was so fun to watch you interact and get to know one another. We could not have gotten so much accomplished with out Auntie Bryn here to help, and having Aria was an added bonus.

There are times I want to say, "I can't wait until you...", but I am doing my best to avoid those words because I love this stage so much! And I have loved every part of this motherhood experience. That doesn't mean there aren't hard days, and that sometimes I don't wonder if my arms have the strength to hold you and rock you until you fall asleep in Sunday School. It doesn't mean that I love waking up in the middle of the night (sometimes more than once). But even in those times I look into your beautiful blue eyes, and I hold you close and thank Heavenly Father with all my heart that you came to us, and that these moments are mine to cherish for eternity. Your smile fills my entire soul and brings me indescribable happiness. You light up our world every single day.

xoxo,

Mom and Dad

Be Uncommon

The theme for our Sales Kickoff this year was "Be Uncommon". I came away motivated to work hard in the coming months, but also thinking about how to "be uncommon" in every area of my life. And that brings to mind an example of someone who recently made an incredible impact on my life. His name is Paul.

Paul was diagnosed with cancer in mid-December, and by January was moved into the hospice wing of the hospital with what was projected to be four, maybe six months left to live. I was told their goal was getting him well enough to make the journey back to Hawaii for his remaining time so they could both be with their families there. They would leave as soon as he was released by the doctors to make the journey. I felt a huge sense of loss upon hearing the news. I barely knew Paul, but I knew his wife well, and grew to love her in a very short period of time. I felt of their spirit and generosity, and it seemed the world was losing a great man too soon, and I would miss them dearly.

I didn't know what to do, but the scriptures tell us to "mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort", so I set off for the hospital the first day they allowed visitors with a note telling Molly that while I felt a bit helpless, I hoped she knew that I was mourning with them, and praying with, and for them.

When I reached Paul's room, Molly walked me to the cafeteria and, to my surprise, told me a story of hope and potential, rather than a story focused on "the time they had left". Paul had chosen not to accept his diagnosed fate, and decided to fight in every way he could. In fact, the morning after a 10 hour surgery during which more than one organ was removed, he was walking the halls. The doctor was astounded. The nurses in the hospice wing didn't know what to do when he asked for a walker. No one else in hospice bothered trying to get out of bed. He wasn't given any treatment options based on his diagnosis, but he started getting some natural treatments, and by the time I got there, was not even taking much of his pain medications.

Not only was Molly's explanation of their time in the hospital filled with hope and peace, during the time we spent together, I suddenly realized Molly had coaxed me into talking about my problems, and was talking me through my aches, when I had really come to be there for her.

I walked into Paul's room, and listened to him share his feelings of peace as he felt prayers reach his bed from people who didn't even know him. He expressed his faith in God, accepting His will whole-heartedly, and told me that if his only purpose was bringing a bit of joy to the lives of the nurses in the hospice wing, that was good enough. I was in awe at his cheerful disposition, and his ability to make jokes and fill the room with light. And I felt a certainty that whether or not he lived, the Lord had a purpose for him, and he would live to see that through.

Since that time, Paul and Molly were able to make the journey back home. He was doing so well in Hawaii that he was kicked out of the hospice wing, and last I heard they were trying to get his weight up so they could start treatments.

I left Paul's hospital room with the desire to keep the following things in my heart:

1. Our prayers count. Whether we're praying for someone we're close to, or someone we've been asked to pray for, God hears us, and He answers according to His will.

2. Our attitude matters. We don't know how long Paul will be with us, but I firmly believe he is still here today because he chose not to give up. Whatever our challenges, and whatever life hands us, we have a choice about how we respond.

3. God is a God of miracles. The fact that Paul made the journey from Florida to Hawaii is a miracle, made possible by lots of prayers and faith. He provides miracles in big ways and small everyday and if we are looking, we will see them.

4. It's always worth acting, even when we don't know exactly what to do. I feel so blessed to share the time I did in the hospital with Molly and Paul. They touched my life so much in a few short minutes. I am often the one that stands back, not knowing what to do if I don't have a tangible way to serve. But I'm so grateful I took the time to share my love, even though I didn't know Paul well. I gained so much more than I ever gave in learning from two people who live close to the Lord and have followed His path throughout their journey in this life.

5. Being uncommon means having the courage to fight, to take a chance, to believe when all the odds are against you, while having the faith to believe and trust in God's perfect plan.

Molly and Paul on their 21st wedding anniversary - 2 months after diagnosis

What's hiding under your bed?

This is not a post about monsters. Or at least not the typical kind that hide under the bed.

Last month Devin caught a cold. It was miserable but didn't last long, except his cough. And that, I realized a couple weeks ago, should really be gone after a month and a half. In fact, I thought back and remembered that he'd had a bit of a dry cough before he ever got sick. And then I got sick. And while we were in the middle of eating a SUPER clean diet, that didn't seem quite right. Then I found the mold.

First, I noticed there was mold up the corners of our room and around the windows. We had someone come look. While he went through the problem (and potential solution), he shined his flashlight under my bed and had me take a look. We had a bit of storage under there, and it was all COVERED in mold. Of course I was sick! I'd been spending hours every night sleeping above a bed of nasty mold. To make matters worse, Brad informed me the next morning there was mold on his shoes. So, we spent the entire weekend cleaning every piece of clothing we own, and wiping down our closets and bathroom (and of course, everything under the bed and in our room).

I started thinking back to a point in time when I started to notice a smell that was different. But it wasn't clearly a moldy or mildewy smell to me. It just smelled like "apartment". That smell that dwellings take on when they've been lived in, smoked in, cleaned, painted, recarpeted, lived in, etc. I didn't think it smelled that way when we moved in, and I didn't think it was something we had done. But I thought maybe we just needed to have the windows open a little more or something.

As we went through this cleaning process, I kept thinking back to that smell. I noticed something was off, but I dismissed it and just moved on. Now, months later we've paid the price in a couple of different ways. We will survive, and life will go on. But I thought about the ways we do this in our day-to-day life. Sometimes things get a little "off" in our relationships, our jobs, our personal lives, and we just keep going, assuming it will be fine, until one day we realize it's really not and something drastic is required to get things back on track.

I recently stood by while a giant wedge was placed in the friendship of two of my closest friends. And in some ways I contributed to it. What kills me is knowing there were moments something was "off", and I could have done something about it. I didn't want to get in the middle, and ended up waiting far too long to step in and help make things right. I hope someday they still will be right. But either way, it was a definite lesson in taking action when it counts.

Marriage became a scary prospect for me as I got old enough to see marriages fail, and covenants get broken. I realized that my husband's choices would impact me wholly and completely once I joined my life to his. Not only that, but I would be responsible for children who would grow up and make mistakes, and sometimes break my heart. I found comfort in the knowledge that just like mold, broken families grow with neglect and without taking the proper precautions. And when problems start to come up, it's possible to make things right early. It's possible to fix things before they are completely broken. There are no guarantees in life, but if I stay close to the spirit and to those I love, and I listen and watch, I can recognize those opportunities to make things right before they are beyond repair.

Five Months

Hi Buddy!

At five months I feel like I've known you forever, and yet I still find myself catching my breath as I look at you and realize you're really ours, that we get to have you as part of our family every day and always.

You caught your first cold this month, and of course it happened just as we were flying out to Utah. I dreaded the day you got sick for the first time, and it was so hard to watch you struggle, but you were a trooper! I kept you in my room with me at Mimi and Papa's house, and even though I didn't get as much sleep I was so grateful I could snuggle you in the evenings since I was at work events all day.

Hanging out with Papa

Devin and Cousin Aria

You finally rolled over this month! You've only done it twice so far, but the first time I laid you on your tummy, and I knew the moment you laid down that you were going to roll over. And you did, just like it was no big deal! After those first couple of times you decided to wait on that... but you manage to move yourself backwards and in circles on tummy time now while you play.

A dear friend from work sent you a "lovey" around Christmas. It's a little bit of blankie on the bottom attached to the head and arms of a bunny. I waited to put it in bed with you thinking you were not quite ready to snuggle with something. Boy was I wrong! It's the best to watch you wrap your little arms around it and nuzzle it as you fall asleep.

Devin and his "Lovey"

You still love tubby time and I had to remove the insert from the tub because you kept pushing yourself up over the top. You're still using the little tub, but you now lay in it like a big kid. In fact, I put you in the big tub when we were in Utah and you LOVED it! I didn't even have to hold your head. You could have wiggled and kicked yourself up and down the length of the tub all day if I had let you.

Your sleeping has been all over the place this month. We've had a few nights of solid sleep, and then the last few weeks you decided that every 2 hours was a good time to wake up. I realized we've been pretty spoiled since you've been such a good sleeper, but now that you're feeling a bit better you're definitely sleeping better too. Phew!

We tried solid foods for the first time this month. Not too much, just a few things to get you thinking about it. You've tried banana, sweet potato, and a little avocado. So far it's taken a day to adjust to each but you're definitely willing to eat once you've had a chance to get used to new things.

You have also discovered your tongue! I stuck my tongue in and out one day at you, and you did it right back. After that, there was no going back. You constantly have your tongue out between your lips when you smile, or have found other variations of using your tongue in your expressions. It's adorable. And I love watching you mimic us.

Oh! And one more fun thing... you finally have enough hair to style. :) Dad doesn't love the baby mohawk look, but even he admitted that on you it's pretty darn cute!

Your new "do", that goes perfectly with that dimple!

Devin, you bring joy to everyone you meet. You are so generous with your infectious smile, and you never hesitate to share it with someone new. Someone asked me recently what surprised me the most about motherhood, and I told them I didn't expect to be so excited to "hang out" with my baby. I was excited to snuggle, hold, feed, and care for my baby, but I didn't expect that I would wake up on Saturday mornings so excited that we get to just be together all day, whatever the day brings. It's so amazing to be able to communicate with you even though we can't share words yet. You are more fun than I could ever imagine, and we are so blessed you are here with us!

xoxo,

Mom and Dad

The 5 month Walter comparison :)

Miriam's Disney birthday party

Your first tie

Four Months

Hi there sweet boy!
How has another month gone by already? I blinked and it was over. This month was full of ups and downs for me. I met a woman today (who fell instantly in love with you btw) who told me the worst part is over, and I said "I believe you!!" Although I miss my tiny infant, I love that you are growing into yourself. You have so much personality now, and Dad and I can really play with you in ways that we couldn't before. I understand so much more about what you need, and you are also better at communicating, in your own way.
You have really found your voice this month. You gave me the business the other night when you were ready to go home. Although there was a bit of crying mixed in, you mainly "yelled" at me with whatever types of noises you could come up with. I knew you were saying, "Mom! You have been chatting forever and I am tired and grumpy and ready for bed! Please take me home! And can I ride in the front seat so I don't have to sit in my dumb car seat??" (For the record, I definitely said no about the front seat).
You love Disneyworld already, and you nap better there than anywhere else. While Papa was in town this month, we spent a Saturday just wandering around the Magic Kingdom and you slept for hours amidst all sorts of noise and chaos. You would hang out and people watch, enjoy the attractions, and then drift back to sleep once you'd had your fill. You never complained once, and were out cold by 6:30pm. You didn't even flinch through the entire Star Wars fireworks show.

You have also spent some fun times with friends and family this month. You and I cheered on Dad as he finished his first half marathon, we spent a fun day at Disney with Shelley and Camden while they were in town, and we celebrated Landon's birthday with the Krause family. You even got to spend an evening with Grandma ReRe. You love hanging out with people, and you're already becoming a bit of a performer.

You love your Daddy and you are nothing but smiles when he comes home. You also love to snuggle during weekend afternoon naps with Mommy. I love seeing a tiny little Devin sleeping in such a big bed. It's adorable.

Having Mom back at work is hard on both of us. You are starting to adjust, and your best days are definitely Dad's days off. You guys are best buddies. You had your first full day all alone together while I traveled to Rochester and back for work. Dad was up with you bright and early in the morning, and had you in bed for the last time before I was home that night. I missed you both terribly, but it was fun to watch you bond, and Dad always sends me pictures and we FaceTime when possible. The first time we got on FaceTime you smiled at me and then got a little frustrated because you could see me, but no matter how much you grabbed at the phone you couldn't get to me. It was adorable, and a little bit heartbreaking.

You are such a happy guy, and we are so grateful you are part of our family! You've only been with us 4 months and I already can't imagine life without you!
Love,
Mom and Dad

Three Months

Hey there Handsome!

You have really grown in this last month! It has been incredible getting to know you as you've started to become more expressive as the weeks have gone by. Dad and I are more and more in love with you everyday, and I'm always amazed at the way we can interact even though you can't talk to me.

You've started to control your arms and hands, and can reach out and grab things with a bit of concentration. Sometimes you hold your hands out in front of you and just observe them in action. You put your little arm around me when I pick you up, and squeeze my arm with your hand. At bedtime when I put your binky back in your mouth your tiny fingers wrap around my hand and hold it close like you never want me to let go. It melts my heart, and I can't help but hold on just a little longer.

You smile and laugh, and it's infectious. I love how you greet me with a great big smile and giggle when you are ready to get out of bed. In fact, sometimes when I'm trying to shush you back to sleep, your mischievous blue eyes stare up at me and the corners of your mouth appear beneath your binky. You giggle as if to say, "Sure Mom. You just keep trying if it will make you feel better." It's so adorable I don't even mind.

You took your first bath in a normal size tub and you were in heaven! You kick your legs and wiggle around like a fish. You are fascinated with having so much space and water to play in. I just have to hold your head so you don't turn it and get a face full of bath water. For now it's definitely easier to stick with the little tub!

You took your first trip just a couple of days after you turned 3 months. On New Year's Eve we flew out to Utah to see our family, and you handled it like a champ! You're definitely not used to falling asleep in Mama's arms so that was an adjustment, but overall no major fits or fussing. On the flight home we were lucky enough to get a full row to ourselves which made life better for both of us. While we were in Utah you met lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, and friends. You even slept well so I could get some rest too, since we made the trip alone while Dad stayed in Florida to work.

Getting ready for take off on your first flight

Mimi picked us up at the airport. Your little cheeks in
that hat are just too much for me!!

Mama Chrislyn and Mama Rachel. So awesome our boys got to meet!

Corban was pretty fascinated by Devin. Devin is still
figuring out how to handle someone his own size.

Devin with Corban and Emma

Devin and Marci

Devin with Aunt ArVae

Great Grandma Randall

Devin and his Mimi

Auntie Emmy and Uncle Soren with Devin and Aria

Great Granny Buchner

Drea getting her baby fix

Cousins!

Mom started back to work at the 12 week mark, and it's been a bit stressful on both of us. My first full day away you didn't want to let Afton put you to bed. You knew I was missing. Even though it's nice to feel like no one can take my place, it broke my heart knowing you were missing me and I couldn't tell you that I would be home later and it was all okay. I am so grateful that I don't have to leave you every day, but wish I could help you understand, and that it was easier on my heart too. I feel so blessed that I had 12 full weeks to be home and focus on nothing but you because I needed that as much as you did!