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Reagan is now a complete 3rd wheel for John and Larkin. She speaks in full sentences and can do most everything they do or at least tries to. Whether it’s going on a big swing, riding a bike, drawing pictures, making puzzles, dancing around like a pogo stick, she’s there doing it with them and they love it. It’s a joy to see. Reagan is now completely potty trained (hallelujah!!), which is awesome (no more daytime diapers), and she doesn’t sit in a booster chair any more. She moved up to a big girl bed and made the transition without a hitch. She occasionally falls out of the chair or out of her bed, but these bruises don’t stop her from wanting to have this increased independence. Paul has enjoyed this new found freedom of not having to watch them like a hawk every second of every day. They will play together in the playroom, outside in the backyard, and their favorite game is pretending to be a family with typically John as the Dad, Larkin as the Mom, and Reagan as the baby or Grandma. They get pretty creative. Continue Reading →

John has really gotten into sports. He loves throwing the football in the house and actually has a nice natural spiral – we’ll see how it progresses, but at the moment, we’re pretty impressed! He has been fortunate enough to go to a couple of UNC Basketball games and loves to play baseball in the backyard. I’m told by his teachers that he plays soccer and football pretty much every day during recess time. John is a quick study and has a strong understanding of the rules of each game he watches and likes to call out the scores to games. He also won’t hesitate to ask questions if there is some aspect he doesn’t understand. Bapa’s love for the Packers has influenced John to pretend to be Aaron Rodgers, which is pretty cool. John has also started playing board games and picks up on the rules quickly. However, you have to watch him closely because he’s starting to get a reputation of trying to take extra turns or moving to the “wrong square.” John is a sweet boy, polite most of the time, and has started asking to be excused from the table and takes his plates to the sink when he’s finished. He’s a joy to be around (when he’s not having one of his 4-year old tantrums) or tackling one of his sisters to the floor – yes, this happens frequently. Continue Reading →

This was quite a busy summer for the Kindem clan. July started off with a family vacation week at the Watauga Lake House for the 4th of July. It was a packed house with both sets of grandparents, Paul, Kat, Pete, Sase, Doug, & Vanessa, plus a whole slew of children: John, Larkin, Reagan, Baby Aiden, Lindsay, and Anna Katherine. The kids loved jumping in the lake countless times, swimming circles around us adults, going out on the boat, going out on the inner tube (yes, Larkin Lu went out on the inner tube ALONE more than a few times, and LOVED every minute of it), watching World Cup soccer and cheering for the USA, doting on little Baby Aiden, taking walks along the lake, going in the hot tube (aka a luke warm bath, in their case), and much more. It wasn’t the most relaxing vacation ever (shocking, not-so-much), but everyone had a wonderful time being together as a family, waking up in the morning and having nowhere to be, swimming with the kiddos, going out on the boat, staying up late, talking and looking out at the lake in the evenings, and consuming a few beers or glasses of wine here and there. There is no hiding from the awful reality that Jamie is not there with us, and every great moment we have together or with the kids, is that much harder without her, but there’s something special about being surrounded by family who understand that very specific pain. Continue Reading →

The O’Brien-Kindem’s have been busy these last couple of months. John and Larkin had a successful first season of soccer, they both learned how to ride their bikes, Reagan can now count to 10 and is saying full sentences, and Paul and Family members have been able to take some enjoyable trips. Continue Reading →

REAGAN! The highlight of the month was Reagan being released from the Special Infant Care Clinic at UNC Hospital. Paul took Reagan in for a full evaluation (Hearing, Bayley Development Examination, Physical, etc.) and she passed with flying colors. The staff was super impressed with her and they have zero concerns over her development today and for the future. Not to say that something couldn’t arise, but the likelihood is almost on par with any child. Continue Reading →

John and Larkin are no longer restricted by the walls of their cribs. Paul decided to take down one side of their cribs to get them used to sleeping in big boy and big girl beds. This will be a big step forward for them and allow Paul to stop hauling so many pack n’ plays around when traveling. Truth be told, John and Larkin really haven’t been trapped by their cribs for some time now. They’ve had the ability to climb out for well over the past year, but have been, for whatever reason, content to stay in them. First and foremost, in the early days, both of them had a fall or two that scared them from wanting to get out, but more recently, we’re guessing it really has to do with having a sibling in the same room. They are fortunate to always have someone to talk to, console with, and show off to. They’ve always enjoyed jumping on their beds, watching each other go timmmmberrrr and fall to their mattresses, and climb on the top of the railing to reach things on their dressers. However, over the last month Paul has seen a different maturity level in the two of them and just knew that it was time. Plus, he knew that once trained, they would enjoy sleeping at their grandparents, in the mountains, and at their uncle and aunts houses more easily. Well, it’s been a huge success. Both of them have slept through the night without getting out of their beds. We’ll at least not purposely. The other night John fell out of his bed and Larkin was sleeping half on the floor and half on her bed. Nap time has been a bit different. When initially being put down for a nap they snuggle in and act like they are going to peacefully rest, but as soon as you leave the room, they jump on their beds, switch beds with one another, read books, and even chase each other around the room. So nap time, has become John and Larkin fun time, instead of sleep time, but that’s okay as long as they are sleeping well at night (and as long as the adults get their mid-day break!). Continue Reading →