Andrew's 8-Month Update!

Dear Andrew,

You are eight months!  You are getting so big and so busy!  Gone are the times that you used to happily just sit and play with a toy.  Now, you are EVERYWHERE.  Literally.  You figured out how to crawl like a big boy (no more army-crawl for you unless you get lazy) and pull up on everything.  You have even started climbing onto things!  How can it be?!  I feel like it was just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital.

We haven’t done just a whole lot of things this month.  Mom just wrapped up her busiest time of the year at work a couple of weeks ago.  Daddy had to put in a little bit of extra effort in the evenings during that time--- we love our daddy!  Speaking of daddy, you absolutely love your daddy.  He makes you just cackle and appeases you in every way.  You guys are great together.  He’s even started chasing you and you think it’s hilarious.  You like looking into mirrors and bumping your head into them—also something you think is hilarious.  We've been to the zoo where you were a real trooper-- you like being in the baby carrier as well as riding in the "big boy" stroller.

You still love to watch big brother and crawl over to him when he’s playing.  He’s trying to figure you out now that you can move.  He’s not used to you taking “his” toys and "touching" him.  You want to be just like him already.  But, I apologize in advance, for him being a little rough with you right now.  We’re working on it.  He’s learning to ask you for toys and you just look up at him and smile when speaks to you.  You also love to give him hugs at night.

You still only have two teeth—those top ones are nowhere to be seen right now.  You’ve also stayed pretty healthy this month—only one trip to the doctor for bronchialitis.  Basically, you have a cough.  It seems to come and go.  Otherwise, you seem great.  The doc thought you could put on a few more pounds (you were roughly 18 lbs at your visit) and I think you have!  You’ve been eating solids like a champ, though you don’t care for anything green.  Go figure.  Neither does big brother.  Or mom! ;-)  I’m willing to bet you are about 20lbs right now. 

We’ve lowered your crib to the lowest it will go so you can’t climb out.  I think you’d do it if you were able.  I can already tell you are going to throw caution to the wind.  You also put EVERYTHING in your mouth.  You will find the most random objects and start chewing on them.  Then you smile when we catch you.  You know better.  Gosh, you are growing up!  You’ll be toddling around before we know it!  I give it another couple of months.  You still don’t really understand the idea of walking—but you definitely like the idea of climbing!

I’m hopeful your helmet will come off next week!  We have an appointment on Monday—it was supposed to be tomorrow, 5/31, but the doctor had to reschedule.  Poo.  You’re going to have a learning curve though once it comes off.. no more banging your head around.

So, let’s see.. at 8 months you:

• Wear 9 month clothes and weigh around 20lbs.
• Wear size 3 diapers and poop 1-2x a day.
• Drink 4, 6 oz bottles with the last bottle sometimes being 8 ounces.
• Eating solids pretty well—although some days I think you’d just prefer to drink your milk and that’s it.  You are getting the hang of puffs, though!
• Sleep from 8 at night to 8:30 AM on weekends (I still have to wake you up) and we wake you up at 6:30ish on weekdays.
• Take 2 naps a day, with the longest nap being in the afternoon that lasts around 2.5 to 3 hours.  During the weekday, you still need that evening catnap in the car to boost your spirits at home.
• Love playing on your little gym mat at home.  We’ll fold it up for you so you can climb on it and that really piques your interest.
• Like splashing in water and don’t seem to mind water just running in your face (your brother hates water in his face).
• Still suck your thumb when you need to calm down for a moment or when you’re trying to fall asleep.
• Are a crazy person on the changing table—like you go bezerk with not wanting to stay still.  It’s both humorous and very frustrating.  Gone are the days where you just were still it seems.  Always want to be “doing” now.
• Really enjoy sitting in your bath seat in the bath tub.  You’ll lay back and relax some and other times you’ll kick your feet and slash with your hands.  Most times you’ll be chewing on some toy that floats past you.
• Are just overall a really happy baby.  You never cry it seems—and if you do, it’s likely because you’ve tried to unsuccessfully climb onto some object you shouldn’t be climbing.

Mom and Dad love you baby boy, always and forever.

Parker's 10-Month Update!

Dear Parker,

You just seem to get bigger and bigger every day.  You are full of so much energy it sometimes makes my head spin.  Your smile lightens up any room and your laughter makes my heart full.  This month has also been a big month for you.  You've gotten three more teeth and are starting to eat some "people" food.  You have also gotten bronchitis where you saw the pediatrician three times in three days.  You have taken a few steps on your own, but for the most part you prefer to have someone hold your hand so you can walk around.

We also moved into a new house with so much more space!  You now have the freedom of a backyard and love your new swing.  You no longer swing in fear and will giggle and laugh.  You've been back to the zoo (and not noticed really any animals) and enjoy opening every cabinet that mom tells you "no" too.

You have started to figure out right from wrong and will crawl over to what you are not supposed to climb on very slowly and look back, flash that million dollar smile, and then inch a little closer.  It's so hard to say no to your sweet face.  You really do have a million dollar smile and you flash it all the time.  Your smile consumes your face and your eyes squint with the big ones.  So, of course, we do whatever it takes to keep you smiling!

At ten months:

• Wear size three diapers
• Drink 4 bottles a day, 6oz each
• Eat solid foods 3x a day with real fruit given as a snack
• Love spaghetti and pizza (you are your mom's son!)
• Sometimes will eat chicken, steak, and other foods.  You also like puffs and goldfish and any chopped up fruit.
• Sleep 10-12 hours each night.  Usually from 8-6:30 on weekdays and 8-7:30 on weekends.
• Nap twice a day for about 1 to 1.5 hours at each nap
• Don't like to be rocked to sleep at night... you prefer to just fall asleep on your own.
• Wear 9-months clothes but your pants are usually too short
• Do well wearing shoes, but you still like to eat your shoes
• Don't sit still for more than 1 minute.  You'll even just crawl about 2 feet sit for thirty seconds and then repeat.  You are always on the go.
• Favorite toys are Scout (Dee Dee Nana's dog), chapstick, pens, stackable giraffe from grandma Kathleen, Tupperware containers, doors that open/close and your walker that you push.
• Love going on walks and being outdoors in general
• Struggle with separation anxiety.  You don't like for us to be out of your sight.
• Love, love your daddy and him chasing you around the house.
• Can high five and wave.  Your daddy gives you a high five and "blows it up" with you and you find that hilarious.  He will just put you in the swing and give you high fives over and over again while you laugh uncontrollably.  I love watching moments like these.
• Haven't missed a beat living in the new house.
• Have been to see the neurosurgeon again and there hasn't been much change in your head growth.  It does look 1000x better, but it looks like most progress was made in the first 6 weeks.  Though, the hospital asked to photograph you for some marketing materials.  Everyone just loves your helmet designs that mom accessorizes your helmet with.  We just moved to aviators and air force stickers.
• Will sit still if we keep food on your high chair and let you feed yourself.  You do better with new foods if you give them to yourself instead of mom feeding them to you.  You are getting so independent.
• Officially a pain when changing your diaper.  You will not stay still.  It makes for a very stressful diaper change and usually ends up with one person holding you down and the other person rapidly changing your diaper.  Forget the diaper cream... we don't have time for that!  I don't know how to make this better for both you and myself.  Hopefully you'll grow out of it.  But, its a terrible phase right now!
• A good car trooper generally.  Your legs still push up against the seat, so I think you will like it more when you can face forward.  We'll think about that when your a year old.
• Will drink out of a sippy cup (water only).  I guess I need to start weaning you off bottles slowly.  Aaahh.... I don't know how to do that!
• Have five teeth... three on bottom and two on top.
• Have had three different breathing treatments at the doctors office where you screamed bloody murder.  Mom cried with you and when the doctor was examining you.  Poor, little guy.  You couldn't breathe.  We also had to use the albuterol inhaler on you.  I sure hope you don't have asthma!
• Have taken a few steps on your own, but much prefer to hold on to something when walking
• Take off like a nascar racer on your walker.  You haven't mastered moving around objects or turning yet.  You do best when its a straight shot.  :-)

You are so much fun to play with Parker!  You still love peek-a-boo and love to watch patty-cake.  But, you don't clap your hands.  You are also learning to wave "bye," but you don't wave on demand.  You usually wave while eating.  Slowly, but surely baby boy.  We love you, always and forever.

This is the smile that I love.  You do it all the time.  I'm also glad the swing no longer scares you.

Happy Easter!  Your face... priceless.