2015, That's a Wrap! - Our December Update

After a crazy November we were actually happy to get back to our usual level of crazy.

We enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home.  Kimber LOVED the magic of Christmas lights, Santa and reindeer this year which made it so much fun.  She was the most grateful kid in the world Christmas morning and was so surprised when someone else handed her another present as if it was just too good to be true!

Shawn got me a gun for Christmas and we got to go to the shooting range so he could teach me how to shoot.  My husband is a good shot!  Who knew?!  We had a good laugh when the m0an at the counter asked "Now young lady, are you over 16?"  I'm glad the two kids and 3 years of more stress than I have ever had in my entire life apparently isn't catching up to me.

Sometimes I think "man I've got this mom of two thing down" and then in one grocery shopping trip one child decides he is STARVING and cannot be set down, the other suddenly has an imaginary reindeer who needs immediate (and loud) brushing and before I know it I am pulling a grocery cart around with one hand, cradling and feeding a child with the other, playing "the amazing alphabet race" with the two year old (in the hopes that the reindeer will manage to stay in the parking lot where we left him), and pulling off moves that would impress the most advanced yoga master as I filled my cart because I was NOT about to come out and try doing it all again another day the week of Christmas! 

Speaking of the kids, I can't believe how fast they are growing up!

Kimber has decided that I am no longer allowed to read her bedtime stories.  SHE has to read them to ME.  Consequently I have discovered that 97% of our books are WAY too long but her little made up stories are so adorable.  Her vocabulary is growing and with it her humor and overall "adorableness".  The other day after helping her take the lid off her marker she told me "Thanks mom, you precious." 

Trying to get her out the door to occupational therapy lead us to having the following conversation:
"Hurry Kimber!  We have to go see Miss Deb!"
"Mom I can't!  Miss Deb is at work!"
"I know!  I'm taking you to her work."
"Oh...umm mom?  Miss Deb is at Grammy's...."  
She's a smart cookie! 

She continues to work so hard in therapy to get ready for preschool.  We are working really hard on eye contact, learning how to use scissors and learning how to jump.  I went to get her ready for bed the other night and heard her in her room playing with her stuffed bunny. "Are you ready bunny? Are you ready?  Lets do froggy jumps ok?  Soft knees... and... JUMP!  Good job bunny! Two more jumps!"  Some little girls play house, others play physical therapy.

In the last couple months she has become very self conscious of her Gtube.  I think having Brady around has really drawn attention to the fact that not all kids have tubes.  It's been hard watching her struggle with her first feelings of not "fitting in" but like our Bean she handles it with a healthy dose of humor.  When Jared was here visiting for Christmas she walked into the living room, lifted up her shirt and said, "Hey Jawed see my tube?  Want to see it dance?"  (wiggles and sucks in her belly to make it "dance")  The only thing better than hearing Jared's goofy laugh is when it is accompanied by Kimber's little cackle.

Brady is 4 months old! Just like that he is 1/3 of a year old! He is SO much happier since we have made the switch to formula. His happy little coos, gurgles and giggles melts his mama's heart. He's figured out his hands and is starting to grab toys and Christmas decorations when laying under the tree. He rolls from tummy to back and from back to tummy and is SO anxious to get moving! (Taking these pictures each month is getting more and more tricky) He weighs 14 lbs putting him in the 25% for weight and is 25 1/2 inches tall which puts him in the 75% for height! He has to wear 6 month footie PJs just so that his poor little legs can stretch! He's growing so fast!

Here are some more December highlights:

Kimber helped Grandma make Chirstmas cookies, something I wasn't sure she would ever be able to do when we got her diagnosis.  She only tried to sneak a taste once! She LOVES being Grammy's big helper in the kitchen.

Not a fan of rice cereal...

This little boy is seriously SO happy ALL the time!

Having an "OCD moment" stacking books at the toy store

Kimber had an unfortunate moment where she learned about snow... She's not much of a fan.

Kimber loves making pizza with the Elmo and pizza kit she got for Christmas.  Her specialty is her pep-tha-roni, pepper, and "mustache" pizza.

Headed to Grandma's for Chirstmas brunch with her new Elmo, hat and gloves.

How Brady spent the holiday.  I love everything about this photo from his tiny arm propped behind his head down to his little crossed feet.

Overall 2015 was been a great year for the Nielsen family.  We are and continue to be so blessed.  We are so grateful for your support and hope you have a wonderful New Year!  Bring it on 2016!