As Tad Says, "My Baby Sister!"

Baby K #2 was born on October 18,2010. She was born just one day before my mom's birthday. It's been 6 years since my mom passed away. We named our daughter Rilyn Sue, after my mom, Marilyn Sue. This has been a very special way to remember someone as amazing my mom. It has been a hard reminder of how great my mom was with kids and how much she would have loved being a grandma. However, the Lord has already shown us so much joy through our little girl. Tad loves her. He has finally stopped calling her Baby Pete, which is what he was convinced we would name her. After he realized that was not the way it was going to work out, he still would only call her "My Baby Sister". But finally, after a month, he now calls her Baby Riryn. He loves talking to her, singing Twinkle Twinkle to her, playing with her hands and tickling her. He is already playing the part of the protective older brother. Just the other day he told our cat, "Simon, no get on my baby sister. Her just a baby." Too cute.

Here is a random collection of recent pictures of Tad. We have found that teething biscuits are extremely messy and yucky. But boy does he love them. We've been playing outside some since the weather has been so nice, including walks with Seth Albin and car washing and cleaning with Nick. He has also been playing cars and piano with Finley Fisher. And of course there is Mustache Tad. We had a Mr. Wellspring fundraiser contest at church. The runner-ups had to wear mustaches for the remainder of the night. Tad got to wear Brady's (my sister Marissa's boyfriend) and he wasn't quite sure what to think about it.

The Cruise

So, we went on a Carnival cruise with my whole family. It was a great time. And we really did take our 9 1/2 month old along with us. He did pretty well. Nick and the rest of the family were really glad to have him but I think I still would have rather left him at home. Dont' get me wrong, I loved hanging out with him. But it's not a very relaxing vacation when you're watching after a baby. Overall, Tad did pretty well. He did great, most of the time, on the plane rides and just slept. He loved being around family all weekend. Naps were harder though which made him fussier in the evenings and sometimes too tired to even go to bed. We had a great time of being in the sun, hanging out with family, snorkeling and of course ping pong. Nick actually won first in a ping pong tournament. He even got a trophy. Here's a few shots of the trip. I'll have to get some more up another time.

He really is getting so big

Shortly after crawling he figured out how to pull himself up to standing. Then he thought he was big stuff because he only needed one hand. He's so proud.


Crawling! He first started really crawling (not just his crazy backwards stuff) March 3rd when he was about 8 months old.


Wearing dad's hat and playing with one of his favorite toys - grandma's measuring cup.

So Big

Tad and I just got back today from a quick visit today. We hung out with my dad, Shawn and Katie, Marissa and Brady, Amber and John, my Grandma Stetson, my Aunt Patti and cousins Callie and Cole. Tad loved all of the attention, especially for Callie, Cole and the dog Kiwi.

He played in his jumparoo for quite awhile before we noticed that he was just a one legged boy. He didn't seem to mind having it tucked up under himself.

He is moving around now. He can still only go backwards though. He always starts on the rug in the living room then he works his way under the couch. Then he repositions himself to start backing himself right out of the living room, around the corner and towards the dining room.

Grandma Koeteman and Aunt Megan got to come for a visit over President's Day weekend. They also got to babysit while we went to a dinner and dance at the church. I only have these few pictures but I'm sure they left with a ton more.

7 Months

This is a picture of Tad with his Aunt Amber's Bible. He was holding it ransom until she was able to see him again.

Hair! It's still not very much...but we are all, including Tad, very proud of it and excited that it can finally stick up!

Brayden Bush with Tad. They hang out on Wednesdays. They are about 2 years apart and it has been so much fun to watch them interact more and more all the time.

Baby dedication at Wellspring Community Church.The other babies are both from our small group: Addie Jones (Cohly and Stephanie's) and Josef Sones (James and Erika's)


We're not sure how he managed to get his arm out of his sleeping. Especially since he was supposed to be sleeping.

Simon is always curious and likes to help when Tad takes a bath. Plus they are best friends. Simon is the best cat ever to put up with (and enjoy) all of the fur pulling and biting.

A favorite pasttime. Just hanging out with dad and listening to some music.