When Brycen was 5 weeks old, we attended a wedding reception of one of Bryce's cousins and alot of Bryce's extended family got to meet Brycen as well as Bryce's father who was in town for the wedding. Even though Brycen was the youngest of the relatives there, he was still larger than the other baby that was over a month older than him and was almost as big as the 8 month-old baby, haha. Grandpa Walker got the chance to hold Brycen for the first time.
Grandpa Walker
With the baby that is one month older
With the the 8 month old baby
Tuesday, June 16: Trip to Oregon
Brycen flew for the first time when he was about 5 1/2 weeks and Christi was terrified (she was strongly considering the 14 hour car trip over the 2 hour plane trip just so she could avoid the whole plane situation). Christi never wanted to be the "lady with a baby" on an airplane and the baby screams the whole way. So, as a result, Christi researched methods on how to best travel with a baby, got prepared with all necessary bottles and toys, but still had nightmares up until they left. The sources said that all you need to do is feed (or have them sucking on something) the baby during take-off and landing to help their ears equalize better so they are not bothered by it. So, Christi was all prepared, made sure to only feed Brycen half way before boarding to make sure that he would be hungry at take-off and was still terrifed (shaking as she entered the plane and got all the nasty looks from passengers). The plane was unfortuantely only making a stop in Salt Lake, coming from Arizona so the plane was already half-full; the lady Christi and Brycen sat behind was not thrilled about the situation.
On the plane
Well, Brycen decided to fall asleep as the plane was boarding and so Christi decided that she would just wake him up right before take-off and give him a bottle. Take-off rapidly approached and Christi could not wake Brycen up! She tried and tried and finally, right as they were taking off, he started to sleepily suck on the bottle. "Just keep sucking, just keep sucking" Christi told Brycen. Brycen stopped sucking halfway up ("great, just my luck" Christi thought) but Brycen fell into a deep sleep that caused him to sleep the whole plane trip, not even turning during landing. Yes, one plane trip down, 3 more to go! Brycen was even complimented by a few older ladies as we were exiting the plane, "what a good baby!"The Oregon stay was wonderful as we got to stay at Bryce's house and Grandma Walker got to meet and hold Brycen. We also enjoyed morning walks around the property that they own and got to sight see alittle, in the local town of Canby. On Saturday, Brycen got to meet lots of his cousins, Aunts, and Uncles as a combined May and June birthday celebration was held. On Sunday, Brycen was blessed by Bryce at church--another thing that Christi was terrified that Brycen would scream though. It was perfect, however, and Brycen woke up right after--fussy, wanting to eat of course :)
On his blessing day
Grandma Walker
Grandpa Walker
Uncle Richard and Aunt LeAnn
With Cousin, Elise
On Monday, we decided to use our last day in Oregon to go to Portland's Science museum with Bryce's sister and family. On the way, however, we were rear-ended. Not a huge deal but Christi and Bryce suffered from whip lash and we thought Brycen might've been affected as well because he grew very fussy and had trouble sleeping the days that followed the car accident.
The science museum (Omsi) was really fun and quite family friendly with lots of hands-on activities for the kids; when Brycen gets older and maybe if he has other siblings by then, Christi would like to take them back to Omsi. After the science museum, Bryce and Christi drove to Multnomah Falls to re-visit the place we got engaged. We made the 1.5 mile hike once again to the top of the falls-where Bryce proposed-with Brycen being carried in the Snuggie (front carrier) by Bryce. Brycen slept through the entire hike (3 miles round trip) and we got lots of "cute" comments as we were hiking. The hike was really beautiful and alot warmer since the last time we did it was during November.
The next day, Tuesday, it was time to return to Provo. However, on the way to the airport, we stop by Bryce's sister-in-law's work where she practices Naturalopathic Medicine so that she could examine the results of the car accident. She recommended that both Bryce and Christi have x-rays done when they return to Provo and she was able to give us both neck and back massages.
On the plane trip back, luckily, Bryce and Christi were flying Southwest with no assigned seating and so to be kind to all those she could, Christi purposely sat in between two empty rows so that those that chose to sit around her were aware of the baby before they sat (Christi didn't want anyone to get grumpy because she ruined their seat choice by sitting right behind them or anything like the lady that we had on the flight to Oregon). Brycen once again fell asleep as we were boarding and remained asleep for the duration of the flight (even with a stop in Boise). Bryce's Grandma Walker picked us up from the airport since we parked our car at her house and she was kind to feed us dinner before we headed back to Provo. She also got to see how big Brycen was and even got to see him smile.
In the days after returning from Oregon, Bryce, Christi, and Brycen got x-rayed. Bryce and Christi indeed suffered from whiplash with Christi spanging her neck and since you never know for sure with a baby; the doctors were nervous and Brycen had a C-T scan to make sure he didn't have any bleeding on his brain as a result of the accident. Brycen turned out to be okay so he must just be alittle more fussy as a result of all the traveling or growing too much. He is now 7 weeks old, 2 feet tall (more than a third Christi's height), and weighs 13lbs 7 oz.
Saturday, June 27
Uncle Mike and Aunt Jenn visited! They got to hold Brycen and then stayed the night in their own house. We are renting it from them for the summer, they slept in the living room while we slept in their nice bed--interesting situation. haha
On the plane trip back, luckily, Bryce and Christi were flying Southwest with no assigned seating and so to be kind to all those she could, Christi purposely sat in between two empty rows so that those that chose to sit around her were aware of the baby before they sat (Christi didn't want anyone to get grumpy because she ruined their seat choice by sitting right behind them or anything like the lady that we had on the flight to Oregon). Brycen once again fell asleep as we were boarding and remained asleep for the duration of the flight (even with a stop in Boise). Bryce's Grandma Walker picked us up from the airport since we parked our car at her house and she was kind to feed us dinner before we headed back to Provo. She also got to see how big Brycen was and even got to see him smile.
In the days after returning from Oregon, Bryce, Christi, and Brycen got x-rayed. Bryce and Christi indeed suffered from whiplash with Christi spanging her neck and since you never know for sure with a baby; the doctors were nervous and Brycen had a C-T scan to make sure he didn't have any bleeding on his brain as a result of the accident. Brycen turned out to be okay so he must just be alittle more fussy as a result of all the traveling or growing too much. He is now 7 weeks old, 2 feet tall (more than a third Christi's height), and weighs 13lbs 7 oz.
Saturday, June 27
Uncle Mike and Aunt Jenn visited! They got to hold Brycen and then stayed the night in their own house. We are renting it from them for the summer, they slept in the living room while we slept in their nice bed--interesting situation. haha
Tuesday, June 30-Bath time!Christi and Bryce gave Brycen a bath with Christi in the tub holding Brycen and Bryce outside the tub washing Brycen. Brycen really enjoyed his bath and didn't even cry when he was taken out to dry off (usually he does because he hates being cold). Christi continued to shower while Bryce got Brycen ready for bed. When Christi was done and was getting ready for bed, she handed the baby lotion to Bryce to put on Brycen (Brycen's skin gets really dry after a bath). Bryce asked where he should put it and I told him that I put it everywhere on him. After about 5 mins, Bryce called in Christi to take a look at Brycen. Christi came in to find that Bryce took her literally on the whole idea of putting the lotion everywhere on Brycen and Brycen was now sporting a new hair-do with the lotion acting as a gel to keep the hair in place. haha!
Other random events and facts about the June month:
-Christi was able to return to work just working a few hours a week (more so that she could get out of the house and because she loves to work). Bryce was left home with Brycen with a bottle and Christi made sure that he had everything he needed and kept her phone on her at work just in case she was needed. Bryce is a true natural and does really well with Brycen (even though he never did any babysitting growing up or anything), Bryce learns fast and changes diapers well and Brycen loves him. Christi loves that Brycen is able to spend the time one-on-one with daddy.
-Brycen began to recognize both Bryce and Christi and loves to smile at them-especially when they smile first. Brycen is able to turn to our voices, locate us in the room, make eye-contact, and then give the biggest smile. The other night, Bryce came home from work and was given Brycen to hold so that Christi could shower. Brycen immediately recognized Bryce and started giving him the biggest smiles. Bryce loved it--this is what makes parenting so worth it!
Brycen also likes to make sure that he is not alone so as a result, he loves to hear our voices. Brycen has also grown less dependent on being carried around and held; and does really well laying on the floor for 20-30 mins at a time. He loves to kick and swing his arms, he is really quite a happy baby.-Brycen has also learned to hold up his head entirely on his own and loves it! He loves to look around and loves to be walked around so that he can look at everything. He is not longer content with just being held while sitting (which causes Christi to worry about the plane trip to NY that we will be taking in 2 weeks, the plane trip will be longer-4-5 hours and so Brycen will probably not sleep through the whole thing and will want to be walked around). It also causes a slight problem at church. He has to be sleeping in order for Bryce and Christi to be able to attend their classes; at least for right now, he might grow out of it soon.
-Ever since the accident though, Brycen has had trouble sleeping on his own. He does well sleeping in Bryce and Christi's arms and as a result, has started to co-sleep with them at night. It has worked out quite well though! Brycen curls up next to Christi and sleeps a good 8-10 hours only waking up to feed once or twice. He has learned that when he is placed on his side on our bed, curled up next to Christi that it is bedtime, and falls asleep within 5 mins. What a blessing!
-Brycen has also learned to love his swing and he loves to sleep in it which is quite another blessing as he will sleep in it and Christi is able to do her studying during the day. When Brycen gets tired and after he is feed, he will usually fall asleep in Christi's arms or will get fussy and Christi will put him in his swing. Brycen loves his swing--he gets excited right as Christi puts him in and he is asleep within 5 mins-max!
-Brycen has learned to start playing with a few of his toys as seen in the video posted yesterday and has also learned how to cling to Christi's arm when he is being put down to communicate that he doesn't want to be put down, quite cute! Brycen has also discovered his hands and loves to play with them as he sits in his carseat.
-Brycen has learned to love diaper changes as long as he is feed and not tired. He gets so excited to have a dry diaper on! When Brycen is excited-he makes this unique hiccuping noise with his mouth-so cute and different.
-Brycen continues to love walks, he sits in his car seat facing backwards and loves to smile at us as we walk to the local grocery store, Smith's.
Bryce and Christi are loving the stage that Brycen is in right now. He is more alert and happy and less like just a sleeping, crying, pooping machine. haha. He already has so much personality and is really a joy to watch as he continually learns and observes the world we live in. Brycen is so much fun and will randomly start smiling and giggling; especially at in the morning and at night. Christi wakes to Brycen giggling and smiling, ready to get up-never fussing in the morning- and then after an hour or two of playing on the ground and with Christi, Brycen will nap off and on until Bryce gets home from work (usually around 4 or 5). Bryce and Christi then are able to play with him fora few hours before bed as he is incredibility cute and brings so much happiness and excitement to the house.
Christi is working on finishing her second class (both classes were completed in a week and a half span each) and will start her last class next week with a week and a half to finish. We will then travel to NY to see Christi's family in the Pageant and then help them make the move to Utah, creating a caravan as we make some stops along the drive back- D.C. and Purdue University are on the list of stops.
Future Music Director...
