KEEGAN IS ONE!
Mr. Keegster just turned one on the 24th! I still can't believe it! We had his 3rd 1st bday party at our house this past Saturday with family and friends which was a lot of fun! The older kids had a blast on the water slide and bounce house and Keegan enjoyed watching them. Keegan got to eat his own choc 6 in cake made by a friend of mine which he just loved! I think he had 1/2 of it! The pics are priceless! He got lots of cute toys and clothes which are great!Keegan is one happy baby!
He is always smiling and never seems to get cranky even if he is tired! He just crawls up on me and lays his head on me and sucks his thumb. It's priceless! Keegan loves to play in Mia's playroom with her Dora kitchen...he lovesss it! I just have to have be careful though b/c it tips easily. He also loves to play with anything electronic...must take after daddy! ;)TRAVELING
Keegan does pretty well in the car seat and on rides shorter than 2 hours. I remember Mia just not liking the car seat and would just get antsy and cranky. That's why we never really traveled far with her unless we were visiting the east coast. She got better right around 1 1/2-2 and is a perfect traveler now. Keegan is getting there slowly and is much better than he was months ago. If we travel up to my parents, we just leave when he is suppsed to nap. Usually he'll nap about 1 hour or so and then we'll stop at the rest stop in Allentown to if we have to. The rest of the way, 1 1/2 more hours, we just hope for the best! Lately, Mia's been doing a great job of keeping Keegan entertained. It's just too cute to see!
This summer we traveled up to Scranton for my grandmother's 80th bday at the end of May, my brother's 30th in June and my sister's wedding in July. We've also traveled down to Dewey a few times in July (once with Patsy, Kieran and Bella for the day)
and once this month for Keegan's party on Aug. 9th. Keegan did ok on the rides but did horribly on the way down to dewey for Mia's party on July 19th. We left on a Friday night when he was due to go to bed and we prob should have waited until the morning to leave. He just screamed and cried off and on during the last 25 mins but was quite the happy baby when we arrived. Little stinker! We love traveling and had a lot of fun this summer doing so.STATS
As of about a month ago Keegan weighed in at 20 lbs 14 oz and yesterday for his rash appt (which turned out to be just a prickly heat rash) he weighed 22 lbs 4oz with clothes on. He is def getting big and his thighs prove it! ha! He is long too, but I won't find out how long until his 12 month baby well appt on Sept 4th so stay tuned.
EATING
Keegan eats anything! He ALWAYS wants what we are having and now since last Wed, won't eat baby food. I gave up trying on the 24th b/c we just waste the baby food when we do try. Mia never was like that and didn't really care what we ate...just as long as we fed her. :) Keegan likes yogurt, any kind of fruit (loves to suck on peaches/plums), breads, cheese...anything! Usually if he doesn't like what he eats, he just spits it out and makes a weird face. Keegan also likes to eat cheerios which I really just started giving him, star puffs and wagon wheels too. He drinks water from a sippy which he loves and on Aug. 16th he had Mia's sippy with watered down gatorade in it. I tried taking it away but he just screamed. I guess he liked it! haha!!
Milk wise, I used to nurse him 3x/day for 4 minutes total, but as of Tues the 19th, I stopped nursing at night and Friday, I stopped the noon feed. He now only nurses in the morning and I am not even fully engorged...so I know its time. Plus, he just does not want to stay on me. Now he gets whole milk 2x/day but doesn't seem to want much when he gets it. He will take anywhere from 3-6 oz...just depends on him. Guess he's getting enough since he's gaining weight!
SLEEP
Finally I get to say that Keegan is a good sleeper...finally!! He started sleeping through consistently (used to sleep through until 6am but maybe 2 or 3 times a week back in June and would get up once the other days) at 10 1/2 months and it's been great. He'll go right down at night which is awesome and sleep until 6 am-ish...and usually goes back down until around 8am. I love love loveeeee to sleep and feel so good when I get my rest. I don't know how I did it on those days where I got interrupted sleep but I did it. Keegan loves to sleep on his belly with his legs under him scrunched up. It's so cute! Sometimes the motion monitor goes off b/c it can't feel his stomach and it's usually due to his sleeping position.
Naps...well Keegan loves to nap! He takes a solid 2 naps a day ranging from about 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours. Usually they last about 2 hours but as of yesterday and today, he's been not going down for that first nap and just sits and chats. He does so well staying up until I put him down around 130 or 2pm...I mean very well! He hardly gets cranky which is amazing b/c Mia sooooo needed her naps and would get cranky if she didn't nap. Keegan hardly gets that cranky when he is tired. If he does, it doesn't last long and he'll just lay his head on us and suck his thumb. He is such the cuddle bug! I just love snuggling with him at night on the glider and having him lay his head on my shoulder. It's so precious!
MOBILITY
Keegan is very mobile! He lovess to crawl and perfers that over walking. He's been taking steps since July 31st and has only taken 4 steps total. He really likes to crawl and I'm not complaining! Just yesterday, he started standing up from a kneeling position (may have done it before though and I just didn't notice) w/o support while we were outside playing. He loves to stand by himself
and although he is a bit wobbly, he manages to stay standing (unless supported) or maybe less than 30 secs and then plops down on his butt and crawls. Much unlike his sister, he is taking his time walking and that is fine with mommy!TEETH
Mr. Keegster only has 3 teeth since about a month ago and I don't see any more coming in. By this age, Mia had like 7. I bet the next set is going to come in all at once! Oh joy!
MISS MIA
Well Mia turned the big 3 on July 14th and time has flown by to say the least! We had a bday party for her and her friends here at our house on July 12th and one in Dewey on July 19th. She wasn't quite sure how to blow out the candle but once daddy lifted her closer to the cake, she blew it out and it was priceless! On her real bday, we took her to Friendly's where they sang to her and gave her ice cream which she loved and I got on video. She had a ton of fun at both parties!
Mia is such the cutie pie with her little expressions and corky ways. I just crack up every time she says something funny like, "Mommy my finger smells?" (don't ask) or when she points to Seeks pee pee and asks if that is his butt. So cute! Mia does have her moments though and now I believe it when ppl say the terrible 3s! haha!! If she misbehaves, we put her in time out which she does not like for 3 minutes. Mia usually stays in her spot but sometimes she doesn't and we place her back in it. I am not sure where she is learning things such as hitting mommy and/or pushing Keegan...or biting herself? but sometimes she just tests my patience and I'm like you are tooo young to start this! ha! Right!! She does apologize when she is finished in her time out and gives hugs and kisses which I just love!
Mia is learning how to say plz and thank you in her cute little voice, loves to run around the dining room table, play in her playroom with Keegan, watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and sing the opening song too, watch the Lion King before bedtime, loves to be outside, says she not only has one boyfriend but two!, doesn't like me to do her hair, loves bubbles, is getting better at sharing, loves to be gentle to Keegan and feed him food and absolutely loves spending time with her grandparents.
Mia spent one week this summer at vacation bible school at the New Covenant Church which she loved. It took a bit for her to get used to being dropped off but by day 5, she did very well! She will be going to preschool there with Bright Beginnings who rents out the church and it starts on Sept. 3rd!! My baby is going to school! :( I'll be a bit sad but I know she will love it. Plus, it'll give me and Keegan some bonding time. :)
MOMMY AND DADDY
Josh and I are doing very well and enjoy being parents tremendously. Every day is different and it keeps getting better. We just love watching Mia grow into this little girl and Keegan achieving milestone after milestone. Josh really loves working at home (from the couch!) and being able to see the kids all the time. I love it too b/c I can run errands and do things while they nap since he is home. I really am lucky to say the least!
Our life in Middletown has def gotten better over this past year. It took me longer to get used to it here and now I do like it a lot better than I used to. 've met a lot of great friends and neighbors and Mia has made a lot of friends too. Thank god for playgroups and moms with kids! I still very much miss the west though and long to move back...maybe not to Cali since it is soooo far, but perhaps CO where Patsy and Kieran live. It is gorgeous there and I just love the feeling I get when I out west. It's one of a kind and I don't get that here. There is so much to do and I just want to live in a place where my options on what to do each day are endless. There are things to do here in DE but not a whole lot. It's a bit more relaxed and slower but it's nice for now. We do love living closer to our families though! It's been great!
Mia and I will be visiting Cali and our friends from Sept. 4-9th and are very excited! It's been way too long!
Stay tuned for pics and videos!
Have a great Labor Day!
Love,
The Carrolls
