Category Archives: kieron

A Helmet for Kieron

When Kieron was a few months old, he started developing a flat spot on the back of his head from sleeping on his back. We and the doc kept an eye on it, hoping it would round out once he started sitting up. By the time his nine month checkup rolled around, it hadn’t improved, and we were referred to a cranial specialist. It was unlikely this would correct itself, and by the age of two, the fontanels all fuse and the head is the shape it will stay permanently. So we opted to get a helmet for Kieron. He wears it 23 1/2 hours a day for roughly four months, and is currently about half-way through.

At first, we were concerned about how he (and we) would adapt to it, but he got used to the helmet very quickly, and it’s become part of his personality. So far the results have been great, and there is already a very visible change. Plus, there’s the added bonus that since he is learning to walk, the helmet is quite functional and has spared Kieron a number of bumps and bruises. It also provides extra protection from the energetic and not-always-gentle older brother.


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Kieron’s Ten Months Old?

I know parents always marvel at the passage of time, but really, where did the last ten months go? For that matter, where did the past four years go? I can’t believe I’m planning Avery’s fourth birthday party right now!

Last Saturday was one of those beautiful, crisp winter days in the Seattle suburbs, so we took the boys to the park and brought the camera along. Kieron’s still got some time to go before he’s walking, but he didn’t let that stop him from enjoying what the park had to offer.

At ten months old, Kieron’s preferred method of moving around is “bottom shuffling,” or scooting around the floor in a seated position. I’d never heard of this until he started doing it. Sometimes he will slither in circles, and every so often he’ll go backwards a little bit, but he hasn’t worked out the logistics of going forward yet. In the past couple of days he’s begun getting on his knees and forearms when placed on his tummy, so I think crawling isn’t too far off. He definitely likes to get into things, so we’re in big trouble when he does start crawling.

He has an appetite like a horse. I’m not actually sure if he ever gets full. He eats puffs and cheerios, and likes to chew on bread, but he does not like chunks in his baby food. We’ve been trying for a while now with the chunkier textures, and he really lets us know he doesn’t like them. But baby food, rice cereal, yogurt… I think he could win an eating contest with those. If we pause while we’re feeding him he actually starts yelling at us!

Kieron is a sweet, social baby, and is still very smiley. He gets startled sometimes though, and will start to cry if he’s around someone with a boomy voice. He loves to talk/flirt with people, and sometimes catches strangers off guard with his cheerful “hi!” He says dada a lot, and sometimes mama, awee (Avery) and we can tell “uh-oh” is right around the corner.










Back at home


Here’s Kieron right before we woke him up from a nap, so peaceful

And after

Sir Avery, the dragon trainer


Our little teether

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February

We had a busy February. The month was full of winter colds, yoga practices, birthday and housewarming parties, play dates and snow storms. We did manage to fit in a trip to the Seattle Aquarium to use our Groupon tickets. It was a windy, rainy day, and it seemed like everyone else had the same idea.

The month ended with Avery catching the flu, Kieron rupturing an eardrum, and Mommy going stir crazy. Fortunately everyone is healthy (for now) and we plan to get out of the house a lot next week!

At Starbucks in Seattle

We had to get caffeinated before heading to the…

Seattle Aquarium

Avery’s favorite part was the sharks, but he was hoping to see some bigger ones

Kieron got a kick out of it

Avery observing an octopus

On Superbowl Sunday morning

Random cute sighting at our house: Avery’s “Commodus” dog on a leash enjoying a snack.

The brothers chillin’ on the couch

Avery and his good friend Brianna (he’s told us he’s going to marry her)

Playing at Filipe and Tiago’s birthday party

Their mom decorated this amazing cake

Kieron in his room

Kieron is now “cruising” on furniture. And Avery is working on sharing toys with his little brother.

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Bellingham

Last Friday Jonathan had to go to Bellingham for work, so naturally, we decided to make a little family trip of it. We love an excuse to get back up to our beautiful old college town!

We spent the night with our good friends, Jen & Oliver, and their son, Bjorn. Jen and I have been friends since Jr. High, and the four of us used to hang out a lot when we lived in Bellingham. Avery and Bjorn are eleven months apart, and love seeing each other! They got to have their first real sleepover on Friday. We thought the odds were about 50/50 that they would actually go to sleep when we turned out the lights and left the room… they did! It was awesome! In the morning we all went to The Little Cheerful, our favorite local breakfast joint downtown. The food did not disappoint.

In the afternoon we visited with our friends, Ray and Betty. Ray is in his 80’s but he has the energy of a twenty-year-old, a wicked sense of humor, and is an incredible story teller. He worked in advertising in New York in the 1950’s-60’s (think Mad Men) and created all sorts of iconic ads like the 76 ball and the Red Baron pizza box. He flew float planes recreationally through the years, and has endless stories about his aerial shenanigans. Betty used to be a model, and is so lovely and sweet. Together they make an adorable couple, and we always enjoy our visits with them. Ray impressed Avery with his model plane collection, and the two of them looked through pictures on Ray’s laptop. It was cute to see the two of them chat it up.

A walk in Fairhaven

Avery and Bjorn devouring cupcakes


Reading a story before bed



We remembered to get a picture of all of us with the tripod!


Lindsey & Jen

Oliver & Jono

Ray brewing coffee with his Chemex

On the laptop


With Betty

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Texas

At the end of the January we went to Texas to visit family. The first weekend our niece, Nicole, celebrated her birthday. It’s hard to believe she’s seven already. I can still remember visiting her in the hospital after she was born.

We managed to fit a lot into our trip. Mommy, Grammy, and Aunt Manivanh went to some yoga and zumba classes at the local gym, and Daddy and Papa built a shelf in the garage. We went to Nicole’s dance classes each weekend and watched her practice ballet and tap. We also visited Nicole at school one day and had lunch in the cafeteria with her. Avery was excited and nervous to see the inside of a “big kid school.”

We’re lucky we timed the trip the way we did. We had great weather while we were there, mostly upper 60’s, and clear skies. We left the day before the ice storms arrived. At Avery’s request, Papa fired up the hot tub a couple of times so we could all go in.

One thing that made this trip to Texas extra-special was that Uncle Scott was back from Afghanistan for good. We timed our past couple trips with his so we could see him while he was visiting in the States. Along with the happiness of being together was the knowledge that in a few days he would return to a war-torn country, away from his family. Well not this time, thank goodness! We were able to enjoy the time we had together without worrying about any of that other stuff. It’s so good to have him back. I really don’t know how military families do it.

The four cousins: Nicole, Kieron, Avery & Andrew


Avery and Daddy horsing around

Nicole got her toenails painted before her big birthday party

So naturally, Avery wanted his painted too

Nicole & Avery watching a movie together

Aunt Manivanh made a yummy Thai dinner one night

Grammy, Mommy & Aunt Manivanh

With my cousin, Laura, at Nicole’s birthday party

All the partygoers



Andrew and Avery playing cars together

Nicole opening her birthday loot

Kieron’s first time in a swing

I think he looks so much like Jonathan did as a baby in this picture




After seeing Kieron in a baby swing, Avery wanted in one too



Nicole and Avery loved playing “Grammy’s School” each afternoon

Avery practiced writing his letters



Another day in the swing

Nicole and Avery on the walk to the park

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