8 month update

Will!!  You are 8 months.  Well into being 8 months actually, since I'm over 2 weeks overdue on this update.  I'll try to focus on the things that happened last month even though you're changing every day.

Most notably, this month you really went from "kinda mobile" to "way more mobile," and yes, that changes things.  I'm really not sure how a second kid survives all the choking/house/older sister/life hazards.  On went all the outlet covers (you can reach them), eyes are now always peeled for tiny beads and little doll shoes and pieces of trash (my neighbor caught you with a hair tie in your mouth when we saw her out on a walk.  I had no clue).  I think we're all going to survive, but I have to admit, the heightened vigilance is pretty tiring!

terrorizing Addie's calico critters while she slept. wuahahaha

 So yeah, you're into lots of things, but that's also really fun.  It's so exciting to see you so excited about so many things, and able to get yourself around to explore.  You're still only army-crawling, which is pretty efficient though very messy with a Golden Retriever around, despite my best daily vacuuming efforts.  Crawling also opens up that door that never really closes... discipline.  Right now that just looks like training (over, and over, and over), but no, it's not OK to touch the dog bowl.  But back on the positive, you're able to join sissy to play, and I find you two together all the time.  Warms this little only-child's heart to no end!

this is how we like to wake up addie from her nap.

You love food.  All food.  I haven't found anything you don't love yet, and you're eating pretty much anything we eat (minus the hard crunchy things). When you're hungry you smack your lips really hard, which is so funny.  You can feed yourself and enjoy it, and I enjoy that too.  Some of your favorites are bananas, cheese, crackers, SQUEEZY PACKS, oatmeal, avocado, pizza, and pasta, but really I could keep typing because I'm not sure anything wouldn't make the cut as your favorite.

Sleep is still good - naps are consistent now at around 9 and 1:30, for 1.5 hours each.  You go down easily and quickly, and the best new thing you do (and started on your own) is SOAK my whole face with a huge kiss right before I put you down, which you also find hilarious and always end up cracking yourself up over.  I can't make this stuff up.  You're down for the night between 6:30 and 7, and this month still wanted to eat once during the night, which I was making you wait until after 2am for, much to your chagrin.  (At the time of writing this you slept all the way through the night two nights in a row, so maybe we're close to that being a real thing?!)

actual waking-up face every day.

No teeth on the day you turned 8 months, but you did get one two days later, which would explain the revived geyser of drool and committed finger-chewing.  Otherwise I didn't really see any signs of it coming.  Being a late tooth bloomer makes me a little worried they'll erupt at once, but hey, one down, so good job.

 

Your smile, laugh, and happy personality are so readily apparent.  Grocery store, church, post office - you have joy to spare and share.  What a blessing you are not just to us, but to everyone you cheer up with that soaking-wet grin.

It's hard to believe there was ever a time you weren't here.  We love you more each day!

7 month update

Dear Will,

7 months really did sneak up on me.  This year can go ahead and slow down now, because now we're in the second half to turning one, and everyone knows the second half goes way faster than the first.

Life seems to be changing for you, though you're still taking it all in like everything is seriously the coolest, most hilarious, most awe-inspiring thing you've ever seen.  I guess maybe it really is at this age, when everything is so new.  One of my favorite things is picking you up after you've been sleeping.  You give the biggest smile, squeal, and then wiggle your whole body like a really fast inch worm while you bury your head in my shoulder laughing.  I couldn't make this stuff up.

This month you turned into a professional grabber.  Nothing is safe anymore, and if you can see it, you want it.  Now.  Along the same lines, you are showing so much determination.  If something is out of reach, you will find a way to get to it through your crazy roll, scoot, roll, pivot routine (update November 4... you're now army crawling for real, more than just a couple inches at a time!!). When you're focused on something, you don't want to be distracted, and heavens no, don't take it away.  At mealtime, we've had to pretty much retire all purees.  You are bound and determined to feed yourself, and someone else putting the spoon in your mouth is just not going to cut it.

Speaking of food - I cannot believe what an eater you are.  Nothing is rejected, and this month I started serving you what we are eating (within reason).  I probably need to be careful not to push your little digestive track too much, but you'd truly eat anything we are eating.  Last night you had meatloaf.  Almost the same size portion as your sister.  Other foods you've eaten right along with the big people - roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, spaghetti, baked sweet potato, waffles, scrambled eggs, beef stew, etc. etc. etc.  Coming off raising a non-eater, every meal is still a surprise and delight to me as you gobble up any and everything.  You still seem pretty small though, so somewhere you're burning all those calories.

Sleep is still good.  Naps 1 and 2 happen around 9am and 1pm for 1.5-2 hours each.  Getting you to take that 3rd nap is getting harder, but I keep trying.  You're waking once a night to eat, which I guess they say til 9 months old can still be developmentally necessary.  Still, I get really excited that we may only have two more months of feeding at night. Of course that requires cooperation on your part, and probably some tough work on all of our parts, but.. we're almost there.

This month we got to travel to see some really good friends in both DC and Baltimore, my first trip with both kids alone.  You did so well, even when I had to push you almost every day and many naps were missed.  I know you won't remember trips like that, but I will, and I'm so glad you were along for the ride.

you're in there..

October in general this year was absolutely wonderful.  You got to spend lots of time outside swinging and inspecting.

Physically this month you've seemed a lot stronger. You can sit up unassisted, which is turning out to be every bit worth the effort.  You can really sit and play with Addie, sit with us at the table in your high chair, and play with things so much better.  Right as you turned seven months you were attempting an army crawl, but at the time of writing this you can really do it. Two mobile children - oh my!

And your smile.  Oh, that toothless, slobbery smile.  It just won't quit.  You have the best personality sweet boy!

We love you so very much,
Mommy

Six month update

Dear Will,

Happy, happy half birthday to you (back on Sept 25)!!  You will soon learn that I am really into birthdays, including half birthdays.  Now, I realize that as we add members to our family that celebrating every half birthday might be a bit... much, but I still will continue to at least verbally acknowledge this big milestone for everyone (Danny, yours is next month!!).

Six months.  Whoa.



It's like at 6 months you step back and say wow, this isn't a newborn anymore.  Not even close.  I'm not sure why, but one big "wow" moment this month was when you were playing with a toy on the floor.  You're really interested in toys now and inspect/mouth/pass them very intently.  Suddenly the little ring fell to the side and kind of rolled away.  Even just a WEEK ago, that would've been the end of that.  "Oh well, goodbye toy." would've been your inner monologue.  But this time was different.  This time you said, "Oh no! My TOY!"  And over you flipped, searching intently, locating it, and finally you squirmed your way over to it to retrieve it, quite satisfied with yourself.  And that was when I knew you were growing up.

It seems the best part about being 6 months is that OH MY WORD EVERYTHING IS SO AMAZING AND DID YOU EVEN SEE THAT MOM?!?!  You continue to smile BIG, laugh even bigger, and find joy in the smallest things.  Mom's pony tail swished on your face?  Most hilarious thing ever.  Addie blowing raspberries on your belly?  Forget about it.  I know you're still a bit young for separation anxiety, but thankfully that happiness isn't interrupted by things like church nursery or being watched by a babysitter, and you turn up the charm for caregivers like it's your job.  If I could only bottle up your joy and enthusiasm for life...

You're still eating "like a wolf" (in Nana's terms).  You're eating 2-3 solid meals a day now, and it's still surprising to me how much you actually enjoy it.  You haven't met a food you didn't like yet.  I've warned sister that unless she starts eating with a bit more gusto (and speed) you're going to be gobbling up her food in the not-too-distant future.  I've also warned her that I don't plan to stop you if that happens. :)  Oh, and being fed was so last month.  You really can actually feed yourself.  Which means I'm one step closer to feeding only one child at each meal.  Never mind that it's the almost-3 year old.

Sleep is good.  Not much new to report there this past month.  It's incredible how there's like, nothing crazy to say for this category.  Believe me, I fully realize that saying "Sleep is good" is actually an extremely HUGE statement and should probably come with balloons and streamers and confetti popping out.  You're up around 7 or 8am, 2 longer naps around 9am and 1, and a shorter catnap before dinner.  Bedtime is 7, and you're usually up once a night (Sometimes twice.  Not a fan of that.  It's not ALL confetti).  You don't really sleep in the car or on the go ever, but usually can fall asleep other places in a crib.  You go down wide awake, roll and kick around a while quietly, then fall asleep.  It is magical.

You are just getting a taste for mobility.  You're not crawling or army crawling yet, but you do a funny combination of rolling over really fast, slithering around in one direction or another, and then rolling again.  For now that gets you where you want to go and sends Addie and I into big cheers and laughs. ("Whoa!  Look where Will is now!  He's IN the dollhouse mommy!")  You're not sitting, which is OK, but with the time you spend in your "sit-up" position to see the world, I'd suggest sitting as a less strenuous alternative.  Up to you though.

The wild shrieking has mostly stopped, though you still have it in your toolbox.  You're way more babbly now, making more and more sounds, and listening VERY intently to me when I talk.  You also really love books and being read to.

At your 6 month appointment you weren't quite 16 pounds, which puts you down at the 21% for weight.  What is so funny is that Addie was the EXACT same percentile at her 6 month checkup.  Even funnier is that she ate a fraction of the amount you do.  I guess White babies just are the size that they are, and food intake has very little to do with it.  I refuse to worry about it.

My personal favorite thing you do right now is play with my hair.  I have been waiting ALL MY LIFE for this.  Finally, a family member to play with my hair.  And most of the time, you're even gentle about it!  Play away.  For the rest of our lives, please.

Other new experiences this month were riding in the stroller like a big boy, blowing raspberries constantly (and cracking yourself up about it), your first (two) VT football games, and swings.  Oh my, the swings.

this picture cracks me up so much.

And just for fun, a few more random pictures of you and your biggest fan.

Will, you are a delight every day, and I can hardly stand how much joy you bring to our family.  We love you!!