Baptism

On Sunday, October 9 we had Kipton baptized at Ascension Lutheran Church in Minocqua, the same church Jason and I were married at almost exactly 5 years prior. We asked Melissa, Angie and Dave to accept the honor of being Kipton's Godparents. They all happily accepted the role and responsibility. As we baptized Kipton we made the following promises:

-to nurture Kipton's relationship with God
-to bring Kipton to church
-to teach Kipton to pray at meals, bedtime and other occasions
-to introduce Kipton to the Bible and its stories
-to provide an example of a Christian life
-to be available to answer any questions he may have about his faith
-to provide him with the opportunity to go to Sunday School

What was extra special about the day were all the family that traveled to help celebrate. We had my sister Tricia's baby shower on the day before so we had lots of family around. Additionally, Kipton wore a family heirloom gown for his baptism. The gown has been in Jason's side of the family for 111 years. According to his grandmother's best recollection, Kipton was the 46th to be baptized wearing the gown.

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4 Months Old and 2 1/2 Years Old!

As you can tell by the pictures, Kipton is a VERY happy boy. He is always smiling and has started to laugh. Within the next month or so I have a feeling Macayla will be the queen of making him laugh...as of right now she still startles him :).

Kipton's updates:
-15lbs, 7 oz, 63%tile
-26 1/4 inch long, 91%tile
-has mastered rolling over back to belly
-sleeping through the night on average 11 hours
-very aware and is always "taking in" things going on around him
-very strong neck/body
-likes the sitting up position
-can play on the play mat, with dangling toys for a very long time
-rarely cries, so when he does we aren't sure what is wrong!
-has started reaching for and attempting to hold his bottle
-has found his toes
-loves rubbing his blanket on his face
-has amazing conversations with mom and dad...just not sure what he is saying :)

Macayla
- I think it is safe to say she is potty trained! She will probably have an occasional accident, but she has been in undies more than pullups for the past 2 weeks or so.
-She is able to have actual conversations with us which is pretty cool
-She has become VERY attached to me. I am nervous about how she will do when I have to start dropping her off at the sitter again in a few weeks
-She LOVES movies...not that we let her watch them all the time.
-She is starting to be able to be entertained by looking at books by herself
-Her self-play has really come a long way
-She LOVES stickers
-Pink is her latest obsession and she wants everything to be pink...clothes, socks, pj's, cups, plates, silverware!
-She LOVES to sing...her favorites are Twinkle Twinkle and Jesus Loves Me
-She is a great accessorizer and has to be very independent about deciding clothes, shoes, coats

**I am sure there are more things about both kids but that is what I can come up with for now!

September Recap

Well as can be expected, the first few weeks of the school year were hectic. On top of the typical hecticness (my own word :)), Jason was gone more than he was home, we needed to ask Jason's parents and my mom to help us with childcare for a few weeks and I was getting ready for a long-term sub. At least I didn't have coaching volleyball added to that list. As much as I am missing volleyball, I know it was the right decision to take the year off.

Maternity leave...I worked for the first 3 1/2 weeks of school and then have taken off for 6 weeks. This is one of the perks that hasn't been taken away from teachers...yet. Even though Kipton was born in June and I had all summer with him, I was still allowed to take up to 12 weeks off (of course not all paid). So starting, September 24 I became a stay at home mom...at least until November 7. I have been able to get some play dates scheduled. I have been allowed to be apart of the MOPS program at church during my leave. This is a group of moms who meet as a large group every other week and schedule play dates on the opposite weeks. During the large group we have a speaker and then are able to have conversation within the small group to reflect on what the speaker presented. It is a great support for women/moms.

I have posted some pictures I have taken during September.

*#1, taken in our yard on a beautiful Fall day
*#2, cousins!
*#3,at Bay Beach
*#4, we had great weather in September so we were able to take lots of walks
*#5, we finally finished Kipton's room. Special thanks to Mark, Jason's dad for making the wall decals and wooden letters!

Labor Day weekend

Over Labor Day weekend, Jason and I took the kids up to Door County for the day. Mark and Chris were camping for the weekend at Door County Retreat Campground. We had a wonderful time! We hung around the camper for a few hours visiting and celebrated their birthdays. I, being the wonderful daughter-in-law that I am, made and decorated a cake! Those of you who know me, I don't bake very often, so this was an extra special treat! Later went to a winery down the road for some wonderful wine tasting! After we had our wine we drover further up the peninsula to Fish Creek. It was a beautiful day to walk around the town and through all the fun stores.

3 Month Pic

As I post this photo today, Kipton is actually now 4 months old. I will wait to list "accomplishments" until I get to his 4 month pics. I guess that is what happens when you have another baby!

Summer fun!

Biorn Family Reunion

Grandma Jean, her 3 girls and their husbands


Grandma Jean with her grandchildren, their spouses and great grandchildren

Grandma Jean and her great grandchildren

Jason's grandma
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2 weeks ago the entire Biorn clan met in Gurnee, IL for a family reunion. Typically this has been done over Labor Day weekend for the past 29 years but this past year we met in Ft. Myers Beach, FL over Christmas and this year in Gurnee.

Jason had been traveling for the entire week in IA so I packed up the kids and traveled solo. I broke up the trip by leaving Thursday and staying just south of Milwaukee with Jason's cousin. We were able to spend time with Jason's grandma which was very nice.

On Friday Macayla, Jason (he met us in Gurnee), my dad and sister went to Great America while my mom and other sister Tricia (who is now almost 20 weeks pregnant) watched Kipton. We had a great time. My dad probably had the most memorable Great America trip he has ever had...he was able to take is grandaughter on her first roller coaster. Yes, you heard right, 2 1/2 year old Macayla went on the Whizzer! You have to be 36" to ride and she was 36 1/2". She LOVED it! She road it 3 times and kept wanting more. All day long she was saying "up and down, up and down".

The rest of the weekend was spent visiting with all of my extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins and of course the wonderful woman who makes it all possible Grandma Jean.

2 month pics and stats

Length: 25", 97%tile

Weight: 13 lbs 2 oz, 78%tile

-SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT! :) 10-6

-rolls over belly to back, both directions

-smiles

-coos

-started to "play" with his dangly toys

-found himself in a mirror

-started sucking his thumb :(

Harrold Wedding

Last weekend my parent's Godson Bennett got married to a wonderful women, Jo-Lin who is from Taiwan. Bennett's brother Nathan, who is also my parents Godson, has a daughter who is 6 weeks older than Macayla. The two of them were the Dancing Queens of the night! Macayla would search the dance floor for someone to dance with and go up and grab their hand. She danced with everyone! Although we didn't take Kipton to the reception, he made quite a name for himself at the ceremony. In the middle of Bennett and Jo-lin singing to each other, Kipton had an EXPLOSIVE diaper. It was heard 5 rows back and 5 rows in front. While I was in the bathroom trying to save the outfit and change his diaper the power went out...no windows, so no light. It came back on within seconds but they were the longest seconds since I hadn't finished changing him. All in all, it was yet another great weekend Up North in Minocqua!

1 month pics, accomplishments and stats

Kipton has grown 2 inches and 2 lbs in his first month of life.

Weight: 10 lbs 6oz, 63%tile

Height: 22 1/4 inch, 73%tile

Accomplishments:

• 2 1/2 car hour ride and back...successful trip to Minocqua


• began to smile a little


• began to coo a little


• has actually rolled over about 7 or 8 times...no joke! Belly to back


• went to Wildwood zoo, a water ski show, Bay Beach, Target, Walmart, Sams, church, he has been all over!


• Is awake more and more each day


• The last 3 nights has slept until 4:30 am!

*** I am sure there are more but that is what I've got for now :)

More pics from Minocqua

Pics from Minocqua over the 4th

More pics from Month 1

My Grandma Danner came through GB on her way to her sister-in-laws funeral in the U.P. a week after Kipton was born with my Uncle Tom, Great-Aunt Jean and dad's cousin Kathy.