what is going on???

Of course being only 13 months this Christmas, you really had no idea what was going on. Sam barged into your room and woke you up, jumping up and down. Jacob was soon to follow in your room and before you could blink your eyes, I was changing your diaper and carrying you downstairs for the fun to begin! At first you were kinda excited... it looked like fun to rip paper and WOW there was a toy under that paper! The first thing your opened was your Handy Mandy toolbox and you loved it right away! You were very persist for Daddy to get the toy out of the box so you could play with it. And that was it. You had no interest in opening any other presents at all. You wanted to play with your new toy. You also were very interested in Lily's new dollhouse. It was about as big as you and it had lots of pieces! Jacob tried to help you open some more presents, but you really were not too interested. I opened your Clipo's sets and got them out of the box for you, but you were only interested in those for about 10 seconds. You had a lot of fun walking around in all the paper and checking out what everyone was doing. I bet next year though you will open all your presents in the time it took you to open one this year!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today we celebrated your first birthday at home. We just did something very simple... cake, some cupcakes and presents. Jacob and Sam got you a YoGabbaGabba dancing doll. You like trying to dance with it. And you also got a new V-Tech Train and a penguin just like Sam's. You are always taking Sam's penguin and so you seemed really happy to have your own now. You really seemed to like your cupcake and got it all over! Here are some pictures!

One Year Stats

Weight - 25lbs 10 ozs (90%)
Height - 31 1/2 inches (90%)
Head - 47.2cm (90%)

yes... you are on the big side. but at least it is all consistent.

First Birthday - Party with Mommy's Family

Today we celebrated your birthday with Mommy's side of the family. You got lots of gifts and had a lot of fun. You were even really good about opening presents! Someone would get the packages started and you had no problem ripping the rest of the paper off! Sam also loved helping you unwrap and play with your new toys. Unfortunately once cake time came you were starting to get kinda crabby and maybe ready for a nap. But you played around with the cake and with Grandpa's help you got a little messy!

All the pictures are here!

First Hair Cut!

I really didn't want to get your hair cut. But it was getting long (every now and then you got called a girl) and you were not sitting still long enough for me to cut anymore. You had the cutest little curls in the hair and I just didn't want to snip them off. So went went to the local hair salon, Sam went first (supposedly to show you how the "big boys" get their hair cut). That didn't go very well, because Sam was not in the mood to get his hair cut. And so it took a lot of bribes to get him up in the chair and sit still through his hair cut. Next it was your turn. You thought the cape was cool and checked that out for a few minutes. And that was about it, the lady got a few minutes of stillness from you and after that you were done. Needless to say I had to hold you for the lady to finish up. It didn't help that the lady we got was either new or didn't have the patience for kids, because she keep saying, "I need him to look this way" or "have him look down." Um, I really don't think that is going to happen to a one year old! But in the end, you got your hair cut and it is shorter than what I wanted, but at least you look like a boy again!

The fun experience in photos!

Walking

You have been cruising around on the furniture for awhile now and you have been doing really good at holding some one's hand and walking. But within the last week you have started trying to let go and walking on your own. Within the past couple days you have really started to walk more and more on your own. You are so cute, wobbling along, unsure if you should go or not. I know it will only be a matter of time and you are going to be chasing after Sam!

Eleven Months

No, no... say it isn't so... you cannot be turning one in just one month! You are just so darn cute these days! You started playing more with Sam (well I should say Sam has started playing with you). You just love your big brothers and eat up any attention they give you. You have learned how to climb lately. And you can climb on almost anything, even the toilet (see previous post). Even almost an entire flight of stairs (I was standing right there behind you)! You seem to also understand the word no. Not so much when I say it to you, because you laugh when I tell you no. But if you don't want something you shake your head no. It is so cute. And you really do seem to mean it! You still love to explore everything and are still into everything. You have taken a couple steps on your own and you can stand on your own for awhile. You can cruise along anything quite fast now too. I keep saying, it will be any day and you will be walking all over on your own. You did a great job for your first set of fall pictures! Something that I look forward to every year. I just can't believe that in a month you will be considered a toddler... but you will still be a baby to me. Lots more pics here!

Climbing on Anything!

You are certainly a climber... you can climb on almost anything you want to. In fact today you were playing the bathroom (a place I really try to keep you away from) and I turned around and there you were standing on top of the toilet. Of course, I pulled you down from there and within five seconds you have climbed back on top of the toilet again. I had to run and get my camera for this and snap some pictures! Thank goodness I had just cleaned the toilet that morning, otherwise YUCK! I can see that I am going to find you in a lot of places you should not be in!

Quick Videos

I have been meaning to get a little video of you crawling. I know it is only a matter of time and you will be walking and I need to capture you crawling! So I got two quick videos of you crawling. The second one at the end always shows you playing with your favorite thing in your room (don't worry it gets cleaned everyday!).

10 Months

Explore, explore... you are into EVERYTHING now! Under tables, inside cabinets, under beds, peeking in the toilet (put a stop to that one right away!). You are checking out anything you can get to and into! You are excellent at cruising now and you can even stand for a few seconds on your own. We are just waiting for that first step and then I now I am not going to be able to keep up with you! You say "mama" ALL THE TIME now! You have three teeth with two more on the way. You do get pretty grouchy when those teeth are trying to break through, but lots of snuggles and cuddles usually makes you happier. You love your baths, as soon as I turn on the water for the bathroom are make a bee-line for the bathtub! And you are bouncing up and down, excited to get in there! You always like to try to turn the knob for the water on while outside of the tub, it's just within your reach and you always get excited when you make the water come out! You are eating more finger foods now and wanting to use a spoon (but I am not just not ready for that mess yet). Chicken is one of your favorite foods, especially when I cube it up and you can eat it on your own. You love to laugh and to be tickled. You love to watch Sam and you love even more to play with him. You just think he is so funny sometimes. For the most part you are always a happy baby and you can turn almost anything into a toy! Ten month pictures here!

Nine Months

You are crawling on all fours now! And you are pulling up on everything and cruising all over the furniture (and anything else)! When you see something that you want you can get to it in seconds, you are really fast! I know it won't be long before you are taking those first steps and chasing after Sam! You have even started playing with Sam a little bit. You love when Sam takes all the cushions off the couch in the living room and makes a fort out of them. You love to crawl under them and over them. You also love playing with Sam's toys in his room (when he lets you!). There is a container under Sam's bed with rollers on it and you already know how to pull it out and play with everything in there! You got your second tooth in, so you now your two front teeth on the bottom. Feeding you is getting easier. You are able to pick up little foods and gum them up. So for dinner you usually eat what we have just cut up really small. You are still a very happy baby and you are very content most of the time. You can say Mama and Dada pretty clearly now and you can even Papa! Some nine month pictures!



















weight: 22lb 14oz
height: 29.5 inches
(both in the 90% still)

Eight Months

ON THE MOVE! That is you now. You are scooting / crawling faster than ever now! You learned how to get into a sitting position on your own on July 2 and master than within 3 days. You can get across the room within seconds now, so nothing is safe anymore! You are also starting to pull up on everything, you can only really get to your knees, but the other morning when Daddy went to get you out of your crib in the morning you were pulled up all the way and hanging onto the side of the crib. So I had to lower your crib. It made me so sad to have to do that, it just means you are getting bigger and growing out of being a baby already. Your first tooth started to pop through on Friday and you seem to be doing okay with it. You don't have as much of an interest in eating anymore. I think you just don't think being stuck in that highchair when you know there is so much to explore and see! You even figured out the other day how to get up the two steps that separate the family room from the back foyer area. Nothing is stopping you from getting to where you want to be! I guess it won't be long and you are going to be walking... but I am just not ready for you to be that big yet. Pictures!

First Tooth

Your first tooth started to pop through today! It is on the bottom on right side. You have been a little fussy because of it, but not too bad, nothing a little Tylenol doesn't help with. Now just another 19 more baby teeth to go!

First Trip to the Beach

We went up north to Grandpa and Grandma's for the holiday weekend and of course that means that we would be visiting the beach. We got your swim shorts on (with matching hat of course) and your turtle floating thing blown up. Once at the beach we lathered you up with sunscreen and tried to keep your hat on (you would take it off after 5 seconds). I thought since you LOVE bath time that you would also love the water and the beach. I dipped your feet in which you didn't mind and then let you sit on the sand for a little bit. Then I tried putting you in your floating thing and you did not like that at all. So I sat with you on the beach towels for a little bit while you played. I thought I would try the water again with you and this time you really didn't even like sitting in the sand. Maybe it was because the water was cooler than your bath normally is or is what because the water is so much bigger. The next day we went to a different beach and you did sit with Daddy in the sand and played with a bucket and shovel. But you sat up far enough that water was not touching you. I am sure next year it will be the opposite and I won't be able to pull you out of the water! Here are pictures from the whole weekend.

Seven Months

You are getting so big lately it seems! You can almost sit up on your own now and you love the new view that you have (anything must be better than staring at the ceiling!). You have mastered rolling over both way and you are getting better and better at scooting all over. You still love babble and babble. You have the cutest little high pitched scream that you do when you are excited. You love to be tickled and I think I have found your most ticklish spot! You have not had any teeth pop through yet, but that is okay with me. I wonder what new things you will be doing by next month! Pictures!!!

New Foods

I decided before you were born that I was going to make all your baby food. Since you didn't like plain rice cereal I started just blending bananas, apples, pears, mangoes and other fruits to your cereal. You really like this and you are still eating a variation of this now. Then I started some veggies, simple things like carrots, peas, sweet potatoes and mixed veggies (frozen from a bag). I also decided when I was to make your food, I was going to do it organic (this is also an effort to get the rest of the family eating organic as well). It has been a huge learning experience, what to buy organic and what makes no sense to buy organic. I also bought a few books to help me along with recipes for combinations on your food. It does not take as long as I thought it would, only a few hours a week and I have enough lunches and dinners for two weeks at a time. Now you are starting to eat more combinations and I am starting to have a lot of fun making different things for you. You started chicken a couple weeks ago, mixed up with various veggies and some lima beans. This week your new foods are zucchini with tomatoes and sweet potatoes (which you have already had) with broccoli. I also just started making your morning cereal from scratch with brown rice mixed with your fruits. So far you seem to like everything I have made (Grammy and I think that there isn't much you won't eat!) and I hope that this helps you have a zest for all kinds of wonderful foods throughout your life.

Lock of Hair

You were born with a lot of hair (you even had some hair on your back!). But unlike your brother Sam (whose lost all of his hair by three months) you have kept all of your hair. And it has just gotten longer and longer. I couldn't stand it any longer, so tonight while you were taking your bath I got some scissors... I wasn't going to cut off much, just trim it up. But just trimming up your hair meant taking a lot off! But now it's cleaned up some (and a little uneven in the back) and it's shorter. And you didn't seem to mind at all!

Six Months

You are already half a year old! It doesn't seem like it was only a year ago that I was pregnant with you and another six months until you were born! You are changing so much these days. You still babble a lot, more and more everyday it seems. You are rolling over both ways and scooting all over the place. You certainly don't stay in one spot anymore, you can move yourself all over a room. Even in your crib, I lay you down one way and two minutes later you are completely turned around. You love your excersaucer and love to bounce in there. The drool has started that comes along with teething and of course everything makes it's way to your mouth. You love, love to eat, I think it's your favorite time of the day! You are eating three meals a day now and I am trying new foods with you all the time. So far, I really have not found anything that you don't like! You are really starting to love your baths, you love to splash and kick and a lot of times Sam takes his bath with you and you love when he splashes you too. You just love watching Sam, almost everything he does makes you laugh. You are just such a happy baby, you are always smiling and laughing and making everyone around you smile and laugh too!

Here are some new pictures of you and a video below of you playing in your excersaucer.

Half a Year Check Up

Today you had your six month check-up (I can't believe you are already half a year old). You were great and didn't mind the nurse and doctor at all (until the end). You weigh 19 pounds, 8 ounces (90%) and your height is 27.25 inches (90%). You are right on track for development stuff and they said you look great. We can start trying some more new foods with you (chicken, beans, berries, small amount of dairy, etc), so I know you will be excited about that. You are old enough now to get you circumcised (you couldn't get it done at birth), so we have to schedule that (which I am not looking forward to). You did have to get some shots at the end, three to be exact and you were not happy about those at all. But with some Tylenol you were out like a light once we got in the car and took a much needed 3+ hour nap! Back in three months...

First Word

I wasn't really sure if this was your first word or not, you have been kinda saying it for awhile now, but you said it really clearly the past couple days. And what is the word?..... "hi". Yep, that is your first word. A lot of times if someone says "hi" to you, you will say "hi" back, or you will just randomly say it with your gibberish talk. I can't belive you are starting to talk already!

First Trip to Eva's

Today we finally all made it to Eva's together for some ice cream. Eva's is a small ice cream place in Lake Orion that has been there for over 30 years and the ice cream and treats are very good. Daddy, Jake and Sam all got chocolate malts. And you had your eyes on them right away! In fact you grabbed Daddy's straw and got it in your mouth and when Daddy tried to get your hand off of the straw you were not letting go! You just kept watching everyone with their treats and I could tell you wanted some so badly. Next year sweetheart, then you can have your first Eva's ice cream.

I am ready to eat!

You have figured out now that when you go in your highchair, it is eating time! Lately you have been sitting right up and "talking" to me that you are ready for some food.

Blowing Bubbles

One thing you love to do is blowing bubbles (or making raspberries). Here is a cute little video of you doing this.

Five Months

Yes, you are five months today. You have learned so much in the last month. You have just started rolling over, from your back to your tummy. You are getting really good at moving around on your back to. Just tonight you were moving sideways half way across the living room floor. You really are finding ways to get around! When you see a toy laying next to you, you can pick it up and play with it. You still love to babble and babble and let out little screams. I started putting you in the exersaucer and you really seem to like it. You love to eat too. You have cereal with fruit in the morning and for dinner. If Daddy or I am eating you just love to watch us and have this look that says, "I want some too!" You can sit up really well, not by yourself, but it won't be long. You loved being tickled and give out the biggest laughs then! You can get your feet in your mouth now and I love watching you do that. I think your favorite thing to do is to just watch people. You love to watch Sam (if he stays still long enough!) and when Jacob holds you, you are are just mesmerized by him. I love your chunky little cheeks and squeezing them is one of my favorite things to do. Here is a little video of you too!

Rollin'

You rolled over!!! Grammy told me today that you have rolled over a couple times while she was watching you. And then this evening, I got you ready for bed and Jacob was playing with you while I gave Sam his bath. And while my back was turned you rolled over for Jacob! So, I have yet to see you roll over, but I know that you can do it! It won't be long before you are going to be moving on your own!

Four Months

You are changing more and more everyday! You laugh and smile so much these days. You love to hear yourself scream and you are always trying to talk - non-stop, you can really be a little chatterbox! Especially in your crib in the morning, you will just talk and talk to yourself in there for quite awhile. And then you get even more excited when I go into your room and get you. You have found your feet and toes and you love to play with them. You also love to eat your hands! You can hold a lot of your toys now and you already have some of your favorites. You can roll over onto your side and you have really learned how to move around in circles on your back. I love the smiles you give me when I get home from work, they always make my day so much brighter!














Weight: 16 lbs, 13 ozs
Length: 26.75 inches

Time to Start Eating!

A couple weeks ago I tried some plain cereal with you and you didn't really like it, but you took some spoonfuls. Later on in the middle of the night, you threw it all back up. So I figured out you were not ready and to wait. Yesterday I thought I would try again, but you really didn't like the plain cereal. Sam was eating some pears, so I spooned out some of the juice and mixed it in with your cereal... now that you really liked! So this evening I mixed up some bananas with your cereal and milk. At first you were not too sure, but after a few bites, you really figured out that you like it and when it didn't come fast enough you were fussing for more! Guess this marks the beginning of you starting solids!

There are a couple pics in Ben's 2008 Pics.

And here is a short video.

Circles

You have figured out how to turn your whole body (on your back) around in a circle. So when Daddy went in your room to get you this morning you were turn the opposite way in your crib! You do this in the living room too when you are playing. Seems you are already learning how to get where you want to be!

Three Months

You are three months old today and are cuter than ever! I had to go back to work a couple weeks ago, but when I come home and you see me, your fact lights up and you have the biggest smile for me. It just makes my heart melt. You are making all kinds of noises now, cooing a lot and laughing and smiling all the time. You love to smile! You are starting to turn yourself on your back a little bit now too. So you are not always in the same spot in your crib when I lay you down. I brought the highchair out and you love sitting in there and watching me make dinner in the evenings. You love to watch TV, especially Sam's cartoons! I think that you are almost ready to start eating some cereal in a couple weeks. I can't wait to see if you like it or not. You are growing like a weed it seems too, I love how chunky your legs are getting and your adorable checks. Pinching them it one of my favorite things to do!

Laughs and Smiles - Video

You have been smiling for almost a month now and you just started laughing recently, which is sooo cute! I finally caught it on video!

Such a Hard Day!

From looking at this picture you would think that you had a hard working day or something! You really didn't take a good nap during the day and once Daddy got home and was holding you, you just passed out on him.

Two Months

In the last month you have really started to show some of your personality. You smile all the time now, and you are so cute when you are smiling. You have let out a couple little laughs too. You are cooing more and more, I just love the little noises you make. You have discovered your hands and always seem to have them in your mouth. I think you just might be a thumb sucker like I was when I was little. You are more awake now during the day and you definitely like lots of attention when you are awake. Sam just mesmerizes you, you love watching and listening to him play. You are sleeping great at night. About 6-8 hours straight, then just up to eat and right back to sleep for a few more hours. You are changing every day, and this is just the beginning.















Weight: 13 lbs, 14 ozs
Length: 24.5 inches

Little Laughs

This evening you were laying on the floor next to the kitchen while I was cooking dinner (normally you don't like having to just lay there while no one pays attention to you). This time you seemed to be watching everything I was doing and you were just kicking your legs away and you were all smiles. I leaned over to give you a little tickle and you gave me this adorable little smile and then a little laugh! It sure did seem like a little laugh, especially since you did it again a couple minutes later too. It was such a sweet sound, I can't wait to hear it again...

First Smiles

Within the past week you have really started smiling a lot! Most of the time when someone smiles at you, you will smile back at them. It is so cool watching you interact with us!