Grandma Birdno comes to visit

We got to have Grandma Birdno come and visit us a week ago. It was so good to see her and Vance just had a ball. She thinks he is so smart and we would have to agree, sometimes he is a little too smart!! Anyway, we really enjoyed having her here and these are some of the pictures from when she was here. Vance has been saying some really funny  things so I will have to come back and post that another time. Enjoy!

Vance and Grandma playing in the mall.
You can't catch me!
Ha you missed me again.
Vance trying on Grandma's glasses. He just looks so smart.
Vance playing photographer. Pretty good aim.
I don't know where his pants went but he is having a blast playing cowboys and horses with Grandma.
Janette and I were talking and we hear Vance saying "Owe" and when we saw him this is what we found. He had a peppermint and he was eating it and somehow got it stuck in his hair. What a goof.
Another peppermint pic
Grandma and Vance making chocolate chip cookies for Daddy.
Playing with the beater and eating a starburst.
OOOOO Butter.
Vance copying Grandma scooping the cookies onto the pan. 
Reaching in the bowl.
He was pretty good at this.
Note the dirty sleeves. He had a blast. Thank you Grandma!
Looking out longingly at the cold day outside. It was so nice the week before and when she came it snowed and was really cold. Go figure. Welcome to Iowa I guess.
Kael getting his exercise on the yoga ball.
Eating a Gogurt, again no pants! Who knows.
Cute boy.
Look at that face
Bath time with daddy and Foam soap.
Just a cute picture of Kael in his little outfit.
What a doll!
I was making dinner last night and when I turned around I couldn't see Kael for the lobster Vance decided he needed to have to comfort him.


Such a great big brother. Always thinking of ways to help Kael.


Vance was pretending to play the Guitar on this brush. I thought it was silly.

Just some quick pictures

Funny thought

So I thought I would make a little post because today was supposed to be the day we were induced and should have had Kael but he is almost four weeks old. It is funny how things turn out isn't it. Life is full of unexpected surprises. Our boy is doing well and growing like a weed. At our appointment last Friday he was a healty 7lbs 7 1/2oz. He loves to sleep, except when it is time for me to sleep and then of course he wants to be up and looking at me for hours. I am just happy that he naps when Vance naps so that I can as well. Curtis is able to be with us tomorrow and through the weekend so that is always a great blessing. I love my sweet husband and miss him so much. It will all be over soon, thank goodness. Some of the funny yet sad things Vance has been saying when Curtis tells him he is leaving is "No daddy go to work, stay and play with Vance, you're my best friend!" Oh talk about tugging at the ole heart strings. He races me to the phone anytime it rings saying "Daddy's on the phone, I get it." When anyone walks up the stairs he jumps up and says "Daddy coming home!" But they funniest thing of all is that when he actually talks to Curtis on the phone he just wanted to sing Happy Birthday. What a goose. He keeps me going that is for sure. Anyway, thank you for all the prayers and thoughts for us these last few weeks. They have been helping I know it. We love you all. No new pictures to post so sorry about that but here is a post just the same.

Just some cute pictures

The Boys

For some reason we have had a lot of difficulties uploading pictures. I was finally able to load these, it took about an hour so enjoy.

Home and doing fine!

This is Crystal and I just wanted to post really quickly that we are all home and doing great. Vance is so happy to have his baby brother home and loves to give him hugs and kisses. Kael is doing really well and sleeping a lot which is nice while we all still adjust to this big change. I wanted to thank all of you for your prayers on our behalf and know that we are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. All of your comments are so sweet, so thank you so much. We will of course be posting lots more pictures as we move on with this new little one in our lives. Thank you again. We love you all.

Kael Bryant Birdno

Here are pictures of Kael!

The 100th Post and What a Post it Is!

So I actually get to post something and Crystal doesn't get to take all of the fun. j/k Like I have much time to post anyway. Well it has been a very eventful and fun weekend.
First it was our 5th Anniversary on Friday. We had a great day. We took Vance to the pet store, but this isn't any pet store, at this pet store you get to play with everything. We had a ball playing with rabbits, guinne pigs, and hamsters. Vance did not however enjoy the birds at all. They have several large birds that you can hold. We put one on Vance's arm and he was okay for a minute until the bird moved and then he got scared and shook the bird off wildly. From that point on he kept a weary eye to the birds. We also had a great ward activity with salsa dancing and dessert. We were taught the chacha which I'll have to say I am very impressive at. NOT! It was a great day.
On Saturday it was Valentine's Day and we got to spend all day together. I also recieved a call from an orthopedic office in town that is hiring and they want to have an interview. Exciting! We had a great day topped off with cheese fondue by dimlight watching Lord of the Rings. So romantical.
Well to top things off Crystal woke me up at about 11:30 because her water had broke. We are at the hospital as I type and we are awaiting the arrival of our second Son. Whatever his name may be. Thank you Jared for coming and watching Vance!

Computer problems and Potty Training

So... my computer isn't working that has all my pictures on it so you all are going to have to deal without a picture until I take more and download them on Curtis' computer. Anyway, I thought I would just write a quick note about what is going on in our lives. We are currently Potty Training Vance which is going pretty well. He definitely has a mind of his own and it has to be his idea to pee-pee or it just isn't going to happen. The funny thing is that if I ask him if he needs to go and he doesn't he will say no and run and close the bathroom door like having it closed is going to change the fact that he has to go. What a stinker. He has been so fun these last few weeks. LOVE THIS KID TO DEATH!!! Here are some more fun sayings from Vance:

During prayer Vance will say: Bless to go potty like Elmo (we have an Elmo potty video that he loves to watch so that is what he associates with learning to use the potty. Silly kid.

Mommy: I love you buddy.

Vance: Love you mommy, my best friend!

We are still in debates about the baby's name so it is really funny when I ask Vance who is in Mommy's tummy and he says "baby Kael," then I ask where is baby Xander and he points to his own belly and says "Vances belly." Wait a minute that isn't right. I just can't convince him that he doesn't have a baby too.

Vance gets to pick some movies out at the library and when I say he can watch them his response is "I'm so so glad"

Vance: Why you putting that away mommy?

Mommy: Because it is time to clean up.

Vance: Why not?

Mommy: Why not what?

Vance: Why not?

And this goes on and on and on!!!

Anything that is in the shape on a tube and has a hole in it he automatically puts it up to his eye and says "Arrr maties" 

So anyway that is some of his fun sayings. I should write them down more often because I know I am forgetting so many but that is what I can remember. Curtis is almost done with his first six week rotation in surgery and can't be happier. He starts his second six week rotation on Monday in Des Moines so that will be a tough one. We will soon see what we are all made of. I am now 35 weeks and counting. Boy this is coming up fast. It is so exciting though. So there you have it folks, a small update from Iowa. Hope you are all well.

My Vance

I am just realizing that this is really the last month that I have with just us and Vance. I am trying not to be too emotional about it but it really hard. As trying as it is to have a toddler that is so stubborn and independent it is a great thing to have a toddler that is so stubborn and independent. I was having a really hard day the other day and he came up to me and said "What's wrong Mommy?" I told him that I was just frustrated and he said to me "Don't worry Mommy Vance (Vanc-ee) is here (While he was patting my leg to make me feel better). Oh Mommy." What a sweetheart!! Isn't that the worst when you are so mad at them and then they do something so cute like that. He is really growing up so fast. I am going to miss our time together but I know that he is going to be so helpful with the baby. I hope that I am still able to make him feel as loved and needed when the baby comes. I know that can be a big change but I don't want that to be an issue. I am not sure what to do though. I am sure this sounds like a bunch of ramblings but I needed and outlet to say these things. My Vance is such an amazing little guy. Sometimes I think that he deserves so much better than what I can give him. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He teaches me something everyday, shouldn't it be the other way around? What a guy!!

Vances big boy haircut

So I was informed by my sweet husband that it was time for Vance to get a "Big Boy" haircut. What does that even mean? Anyway, I guess it means to cut his hair with the clippers instead of trying to cut it with the scissors alone and only cutting a little bit off. So after much deliberation and mourning over his adorable curls I did it! To my surprise Vance did great. he just thought the clippers tickled and sat the whole time sucking on his sucker. I did use scissors on the top because I just didn't want it that short all at once. I did pretty good until I looked at the hair in the trash and started crying because all his curls were sitting there but hey I am also 32 weeks pregnant so a little emotion is expected. So now Vance has had his first "Big Boy" haircut which I will say is his first step to becoming the big brother and not the baby anymore. He looks adorable of course but it was difficult to do. Forgive the hair and sucker stickies on his chest. We just took the pictures while he was sitting still. Such a cute kid. Oh and last night I realized that he can totally open the doors with the child locks on them. GREAT!! Now what do I do to keep him out? Oh well maybe with the new independence comes better listening skills. HAHAHAHA!

Here is the final product. What a cute cheese.
An attempt to take if from the side.

Our first picture after cutting it. What a ham. This is what he usually looks like when you say "Cheese"!! Goofy kid.