Happy 9 month birthday Gus!

9 months is an interesting one, because it reminds me that just about 18 months ago, I was in a totally different world of working full time, I had an eight/nine month old, and was 9 months away from getting another one!  Crazy.  Right now in my life, most of the time I don't know that I'd recommend to my friends/sisters to have kids this close together.  However, as I sit here typing (instead of doing laundry, cleaning breakfast dishes, getting myself dressed...the list goes on), I'm watching these two boys of mine fully entertaining themselves with a roomful of toys, and I've only had to intervene once or twice.  So I'd say that yeah, there is a light at the end of the tunnel of crazy, and maybe having kids this close in age is a pretty good thing after all.  I'm already seeing an incredible bond forming between these two.  While Arjen is still challenged with the task of being gentle with Gus, he clearly loves and wants to take care of his little brother (see video proof below). And Gus is starting to show signs of fighting back, err, standing up for himself, but clearly loves his big brother as he is constantly watching Arjen and trying to do what he does.

Anyways, what's Gus up to these days?
- cruising...the kid is not slowing down in his attempts to catch up with that brother.  he even took his first steps while holding my hands at the doctor's office yesterday.  Up until then, he'll cruise along walls and furniture, but would rather crawl than hold hands to walk.
- eating...surprise, surprise, I have another eating machine for a son.  I'm starting a grocery savings fund now.
- teething!... Gus cut his first two teeth just before Thanksgiving, and today, used them in self defense against Arjen.  oh boy.
- growing...at his 9 month check up yesterday, he measured in at 29.5 in tall and 23lb 15oz, both above the 90th percentile.  We are currently taking bets for when Gus outgrows Arjen. And to make the odds betting fair, Arjen measured 37.5 in tall, and 32lb 6oz.
- sleeping!...dare I jinx myself, but deciding to put Gus in the same bedroom as Arjen was probably one of my better parenting decisions recently - for myself as the parent.  We're still inconsistent, but Gus is finally starting to sleep through most of the night now, which means I am too!
- I'm sure there are more things that I am forgetting or not thinking of right now...call it mommy brain with residual sleep deprivation.

some pics and videos from today and the past month:

Gus's first adventures out of the stroller at a park.  This is the one near Andrew's office in Irvine. 

Aunt Shannie helped push the snoozing kids on a jog around Davis.  And Arjen was riding his Strider bike prior to napping in the stroller, hence the helmet!

During a playdate with Miss Sophie, Arjen received a very important business call.

Baba and her sous chef

Auntie Casey (or Dtee Dtee as Arjen pronounces it) getting some nephew love

Figured I'd throw in a pic of myself before my kids get old enough to read this blog and think I'm just a voice without a face!

Group date night with the Geerdinks and the Tsaos.  Frits is hiding behind Nina, otherwise all 5 kiddos are accounted for!

Picking "little oranges" as Arjen calls the tangerines

Arjen is determined to get Gus riding ding dings

brotherly love

The PT in me had to show off Gus's squatting skills!

Fun Fall Days

Well, it's November and it definitely feels like winter, uh, I mean fall.  Depends on which part of the country you're in I suppose.  The kids and I are learning how to properly bundle up and enjoy a sunny fall day in Elkhart before it's back to summer in Irvine, then fall in Davis.  The trailer is packed, the rooms are looking awfully bare after living in WI these past 4 months, but there is always time to squeeze in some fun!

The Gus stays toasty warm thanks to some good hand-me-downs

Mr. Fix it and the Ham

Arjen gets to learn about leaf piles

Hey Mom!  Just ship me home in this box!

No matter the age, boxes are fun for any kid

A colorful fall sunset on Esker Ridge

Working on his rolling skills

A Midwest Fall (pun intended!)

Happy Halloween!

We got to celebrate Halloween a few days early this year, since Elkhart Lake plans their community trick-or-treating on the weekend.  It was kind of nice to be out on Sunday afternoon, see all the kids, and being here in WI, it also helped keep the temps above freezing!!

Caja Fuerte and the mini racer 

Gus the Goat staying cozy in the stroller

Gus the Goat even warmer inside 

A repeat of Arjen the Goat, cause a) he was cute too!, b) he was 1 and Gus is only 8 months and they're wearing the same outfit!, and c) I still don't believe how different my babies look from each other!

Gus! You're 8 months old already!?!

And apparently wearing the same shirt as your last month bday, but I'm
pretty sure you'll be busting out of it before nine months.

You started crawling a couple weeks ago, and pretty much never looked
back. That big bro just has too much for you to try and keep up with,
or get away from, for you to slow down.

Which brings me to this picture! I guess crawling wasn't exciting
enough for you, you had to also start pulling to stand, then cruising.

You are an awesome eater. You are taking three meals a day now, and
stay relatively clean! You pretty much eat whatever I give you, which
is awesome. You've even figured out using a straw, and you're sort of
getting the hang of a sippy cup. Still no teeth though.

You learned fast that a quick cry gets your brother in trouble for
jumping on or tackling you.

You have truly discovered your voice, and the set of lungs that is behind it.

You're still keeping mom up at night, but we'll have that squared away
by the next month, right??

And you've got mom convinced that you're picking up baby signs
already. I think you like eating so much, that you've interpreted the
sign for "more" as the sign for "food", since that's pretty much the
only time you've seen it used. But I know I've seen you use it when
you want to eat!

It's been an awesome eight months with you so far kiddo! You're a
delightful little man!

Cousin Courtney's Wedding

Well, we had our "final hurrah" for our stint in Wisconsin this summer-now-fall.  Andrew's cousin Courtney got married this past weekend at the beautiful Waubee Lake Lodge in Lakewood, Wisconsin; up in da North Woods.  It was great to be able to join in the festivities and to hang with the Treptow clan one more time before we return 'out West'.  

GGma Darlene with her 6 GGkids, soon to be 8! We look forward to meeting the next two in April. And no, they wont be ours!

Gus enjoyed a dance with Gma Cherie and Gpa Wayne.  They were the last couple dancing during the longest married dance! 

Gus got lots o' love from his 2nd cousin Emma

And he got love from 1st cousin Adalin

Arjen danced the night away with Aden - I just was too slow to get a good action shot.  Not exactly sure what he's up to here...

Gus shows off his skills

I'm learning to love shopping malls with the kids.  It seems that these indoor playgrounds are all the rage these days, and it sure makes running some errands easy when I can let the boys out of the stroller to stretch their limbs for a bit.  While Arjen was off making friends with the other toddlers on this particular rainy day, Gus decided he wanted to step up his game, no pun intended.

New family photos

Well, I was disappointed with the last round of professional photos I had done for the boys, so I decided I'd test my own skill as family photographer.  Good thing for fancy cameras and seasonally appropriate backdrops.  These pics of the boys were taken at Little Farmer in Fond du Lac, WI, where we went with Tracy, Aden and Adalin to pick out our pumpkins, or "punk punk" as Arjen is calling them.

Gus, 7 months

Arjen, 2 years

And then of course there's this years family photo, well, the one I'm not saving for the Christmas card.  :)