Thanksgiving

This little guy was all smiles during Thanksgiving. He got so much attention he didn't know how to handle it other than smiling ear to ear.















Thanksgiving this year we got to stay home and Dad and Sherri flew down to meet and spend time with Beck. The few days they were here were great. They took Beck for a few hours while Kipp and I went on a date to the movies and out to lunch. While we were out dad and Beck bonded nicely together.

Another day we all went to Ethel M Chocolate Factory and walked through the cactus garden that was decorated with christmas lights (a christmas palm tree has nothing on a pine). Christmas lights do feel a little out of place when its 60 degrees and no snow in sight. Kipp was a trooper one night when we went out to Italian to hold our munchkin while I ate.

Grandma Sherri spent a good amount of time walking laps around our house soothing our little man.

Other than that we spent a lot of time just sitting around looking at a baby. Thanks giving day Beck wore his new formal outfit that Grandma Sherri made.

Another outfit that Sherri made was inspired by Kipp and I loosing naming rights to dad last spring in a card game (good thing we are not true gamblers). To Grandpa Beck will always been known as Iggy Aloysius Stodtmeister.

Our little family appreciated Grandma and Grandpa O'Connor flying down to see us. 

Travels

We (Beck and I) haven't stayed home much since he was born. He is a regular Where is Waldo.After Halloween at Reno, we spent a week to recuperate then hit the road again. Well more like the air not the road. We decided at 5 weeks old to travel to Boise to see mom.

He really enjoyed his time travel. He not only got to visit Oregon, but Idaho as well. Beck did great flying the trip was easy and no one on the plane needed to use earplugs or dirty looks. I deem it a success. As for me, I should have brought the stroller. He is heavier than he looks and when you add the carseat, sheesh!

And not only did he get spoiled by hugs and loves from Grandma Jo, but she also gave him his Christmas presents early. A train and a book. He was one happy baby, plus look at the plush accommodations!

Our trip home was not as pleasant or easy as our trip to Oregon. Not only did our plane get delayed 3hrs but it finally got cancelled. We were given hotel vouchers and told to find our own way to the hotel. 

I teamed up with another woman and took a taxi to the hotel we were told. Unfortunately all the passages including ourself ended up at the wrong hotel. The hotel went to didn't have room for all the plane passengers. Lucky by 1:30am Beck and I were tucked into our one queen bed for a few hours.

With a cancelation and no grocery store near the hotel we had to make some changes to our routine. Beck got to try out reusable diapers....in the form of the hotel towels. Beck loved it, however, I doubt the housekeeper did.

Our flight was rescheduled to depart at 3:30pm the next day. But once again it was delayed about 2 hours, as the engine light had not been repaired. Beck was thrilled. 

 They finally loaded us up, and manually started the engine. This process caused there to be black smoke, and the smell of oil in the cabin, but we took off anyway (little unnerving). Once in the air we encounter one of the bumpiest rides I have ever had. Beck slept beautifully in his last diaper, and I was a bit nervous. Upon landing the plane took a beating and fishtailed, causing the  feeling of tipping resulting in the passengers all screaming a little ( just what a mom wants to hear).  But we made it safely.

Life update and Halloween Shinanagans

Kipp just finished his first term and well...  he passed! Yay! One down 8 more to go.  As far as my life, I sometimes sleep, feed a baby a lot and grab a quick shower and snack when Beck lets me.Beck is a very easy going baby and so animated already...I think he has a future in modeling.

With Kipp's term being over we decided to make a quick trip to Reno for Halloween, but before we left Kipp and I had fun decorating this gingerbread house ti get us in the mood for Halloween!

 Beck had a trick the day we left and got circumcised... our treat was that he traveled well.

Reno was filled with so many people holding him that he got tuckered out.

He even met two of the seven cousins

















 Lastly, we celebrated Halloween by rocking this outfit, then going with the family to a pumpkin patch/family farm.

And no Halloween is complete without carving pumpkins. Safe to say we had a good time. Upon returning Beck had his 1 month well-check and went from a birth weight of 7lbs 5 oz to 10lbs 9oz. He is one chunky monkey, but shush don't tell. 

Baby fun

A week before my due date, Rod and Gay came down to bring the hand-me-down's from Reno. While they were here, we went to the Bodies Exhibit at the Luxor Casino, and then spent time down on Fremont Street. While at Fremont the three of them bonded by going on the zipline that stretches above everyones head.

Well the due date for our little man was September 30, and I had an induction date on October 1. Since our son was not in the mood to come on his own, I forced him.

I mean at week 40 I wasn't to big, nor was I uncomfortable, but I just figured he needed to come and the schedule was convenient for Kipp. So we went to the hospital and had a sweet baby boy. Beck Edward Stodtmeister was born on Oct. 1 at 4:28pm. He was 7lbs. 5oz. and 20.5" long. 

This is Kipp changing the first diaper. He was a pro! Since I was required to stay in bed after my hemorrhaging, Kipp had to do everything for both Beck and I the two days we were in the hospital. I am so grateful for him. He did a great job helping me through the whole labor process too. 

Daddy-son tummy time is the best. Both are as tired as can be, and so so CUTE

 

And some one decided to be extremely jaundice. After seeing the Pediatrican for a basic week check up, labs were done and the doctor called after hours to tell us to go to the E.R. as his bilirubin levels were 18.5. When we got there the hospital did there own labs and found him to be 19.2. Without admitting Beck we took him home and found a biliblanket the next morning. He had to live in the glowing blue light for 2 days. But you can see his excitement when he didn't need it anymore. 

 Kipp likes to refer to Beck as a drunk monkey after he eats. This is a great example of that.

Mom was able to come and spend time helping us adjust to life on the outside of the hospital. Grandma loves her little boy. 

  

The day mom left Rod and Gay flew in to not only visit Beck, but to see Kipp in his White Coat ceremony. The lighting was terrible, and I was using my phone, so it looks more like Kipp is getting his angle wings rather than a white coat. 

    

July and August.

Well in July Kipp started his first year at Touro University. Here is the cute boy on his first day of school. He cleans up nice doesn't he?

With Kipp in school for over a month now, I have felt like a widow. He leaves early in the morning, and comes home late at night, but in the end it will all be worth it. One month down, and all is well.

Date Night

One perk of Touro is that they do a lot of class/program bonding. One of the first events other than a DPT 2018 BBQ was free tickets to the semi-pro baseball team. Although we don't really enjoy baseball. It was fun to have a free date, and on a Monday which meant $1 hot dogs and pretzels. I was sold.

My life

As for me, I have been keeping busy finishing my MBA, and getting ready for the baby. The Stodtmeister clan threw me a baby shower in Reno. I must say, I felt a little awkward by myself opening presents in front of everyone. Alex Hoft (Al's girlfriend) snapped the perfect picture to express my awkward feelings.

The theme for the shower was 'Babee boy" They bee theme was based off of these cute party favors. 

The rest of the party was equally cute, I didn't get pictures of the finished project, but I snapped a few during set up. Allow with the vanilla cupcakes with a lemon filling, we had fruit tarts and chicken salad. Everything was so cute and delicious!

I am very grateful for the friends of the Stodtmeisters and there generosity. Not to mention the 2 totes of 0-12 month baby clothes hand-me-downs from Ryan and Whit. I think other than diapers we should be set for the first year. 

Hot August Nights. 

My first time at the Reno Hot August nights was great. Ryan, Whit, their 3 kids, Rod, Gay and I walked around the Peppermill Casino looking at the classic cars. I took a picture of what I knew would be two of Kipps favorites. #1 a Bronco, #2 a Scout II. 

Baby Room

Well we have not done a ton of decorating. But we did manage to paint the babies room gray, and put up a wall decal. Never again will we do wall decals, it was a pain, and it doesn't look the greatest up close. Lucky, the baby will not notice the imperfections. 

And then mom got us some sweet arrow sheets, along with two other fitted sheets for our little man. And thank you Emily for the beautiful baby blanket!

I guess we are just missing the baby, but hey I am in no rush. 

Mom's Visit

Mom came to see our new home, and I think she will never do that again. A fast one was pulled when I had her come with me to look at nursery's. No not baby nurseries, but plant. I put her to work helping me figure out our back yard landscaping. I think the first of the three areas looks much better. Thanks for your help mom, I am much happier looking out our glass door at these lovely plants rather than the ugly wall behind. 

In addition to our well established bougainvillea we are now the proud owners of a yellow ice plant, a dwarf orange tree, a Lantana radiation, a climbing jasmine, a hibiscus and we moved our katy ruellia purple over to the last trellis. Not bad for a days work. 

After moms visit we had a two days of rain. Well two days in which it rained. Since homes down here do not have gutters it all spills off the awning and floods our patio and grass. Rain was very much needed, and my 12 rose bushes all show their gratitude, all are in blossom. Makes the yard not look so dead.