11 months... yikes!

I am in complete disbelief that my baby is 11 months old. That's only one month away from being and entire year old! Where has this year gone? It seems like just yesterday I was sleeping in a hospital bed with my brand new, tiny,  infant snuggled up on my chest. Sometimes I miss that. Ok, a lot of times I miss that- snuggling with Owen. He is so active and curious and constantly on the go that he rarely has time to snuggle with Mommy these days, and when he does its for literally less that two seconds. He'll put his head on my shoulder and pause for a second and then spring it back up as if he suddenly remembered something really important he needs to do.

This month has been a long one. O caught a bad stomach bug in the nursery at Catholic Camp and it lasted almost 10 days. He spent most of that time with only breast milk and pedialyte as nourishment. He lost a little over a pound, but I'm hoping he'll have gained it all back plus some by his one year appt.

We've also had to deal with some painful teething this month. His top left tooth cut through at the beginning of the month without an issue, but now the top right is cutting and the poor baby is feeling it. He's always been a great sleeper and its waking him up at night and making his really fussy and clingy all day.

He has quite the temper. He knows what he wants and doesn't want and he'll let everyone around know, too. The whining has begun and it is not even a little cute. We're trying to nip it in the bud, but it's tough since he's still too young to do any kind of real disciplining. Right now we're doing lots of "No, sir!" and redirecting. He also loves to do the body flop if you pick him up when he doesn't want you too. That's super fun...

Our favorite places this month are the pool and the playground in the mall. O is such a little fish. He'll dunk his face in the water and come back up with a big smile. He loves to "swim" and kicks his feet as you guide him through the water. For the longest time he would freak out if you tried to lay him on his back to float, but now he'll do it leaning up against Daddy and clinging for dear life to the back of his neck. It is the sweetest thing to watch. We like the mall play are because there's nothing O can't touch or play with. He can crawl around for an hour without needing me to follow after him and make sure hes ok. He loves feeling independent and I love the break!

He's starting to be more interested in books. His favorite is "Ten Little Lady Bugs." When we're playing in this room he'll spot it from across the room and want to read it 10 times. He also loves to make animal sounds. He'll watch you make the sound a few times and you can see him thinking hard about how to do it and then he'll try. He's such a smarty pants!

He is a total chatter box. From the minute he wakes up right up until he's being rocked to sleep, he's talking away. "Dadadada" Maaaamamama" "Mommommom" "Fafafafa" "Badada" and all kinds of other gibberish. He's also starting to try to sign back some of the signs I use with him, especially "all done" and "milk."

I am so proud of the little boy he is becoming, but I also hate how fast time seems to be flying. I plan on soaking up every last minute of Owen's final month as an infant. 

Finally a 10 month update

Owen, my tiny squishy newborn, is 10 months old! 

Well, technically, he's more like 10 nd 1/2 months old now, but for the purposes of this post, he's simply 10 months old.

This is his favorite face to make. He is still such a huge ham and will do anything for a laugh. He really has the greatest personality. You can't help but be happy when you're around him, because he is always so happy. 

We just started putting him to bed without rocking him to sleep first. It was surprisingly painless. He cried for 8 minutes the first night and cries for under a minute almost* every time since. He is still an amazing night time sleeper. Most nights he goes down around 7pm and sleeps until at least 8am. Naps are hit or miss. Some days he does great- two 2hr naps- other days not so much- one 30min nap. 

*As long as he has his loveys he's good.

His appetite has waned a little. He drinks 2-3 8oz bottles of formula and nurses 2-3 times. He loves a big breakfast and a pretty big lunch but is normally not that interested in dinner. He would eat his snacks all day though!

He is a speed crawler! Especially when he sees something/someone he really wants. It's amazing how fast that kid can zip across the floor! He pulls up like a pro, climbs over and under anything in his way, and cruises around the furniture. Still no steps, but I'm not rushing him. The last thing I need is for him to be more mobile!

His favorite things right now:

His bottle- if he sees it he's not happy until he gets it

The shape sorter- he loves taking the shapes out and putting them back in the little opening

The playground in the mall- the last time we went he crawled around for almost an hour without ever looking back to see  if I was still there. Mr. Independent!

This little piggy- he wiggles his toes for more

Screaming at the top of his lungs- I swear he's gonna give himself a sore throat! He thinks it's hilarious though, and my siblings love to encourage him :/

Aunt Mary- she is seriously his absolute favorite! I really wish I had a video of his reaction to seeing her walk in a room. It's the sweetest most hilarious thing. If nothing else will cheer him up, she always will. I don't know what we're gonna do when we move!

He had his first ear infection this month. He has always pulled on his ears when he's tired, but he was acting really fussy and messing with them more than usual and had a fever. I hate seeing my poor pumpkin sick. The doctor prescribed him an antibiotic and he was better in a matter of days, thank God!

I think these photos do a pretty good job of explaining why I have zero time for blogging these days. When I'm not busy chasing this little tornado around I'm resting and reminding myself to take care of myself and the baby I'm growing inside of me. 

The ONLY time he isn't moving at 100 mph

In other news we're busy trying to find our first home. It's crazy how fast things are getting scooped up around here so we're having to move fast to try to find something in the area we want- close to my parents and our church.

Beau is getting crazy close to graduating. Like 14 days close! Then he has his surgery on the 27th and will hopefully heal quickly and be out on the streets by the middle of July. 

Little Liza is growing well. I'm still not gaining weight which makes me uneasy, but the doctor says it's a good thing. Hopefully it just means I'll have a lot less than the 50lbs I had to burn off after Owen was born.

So there's my "update." God only knows when I'll have time to make another one. Hopefully I'll do better and make one semi close to O's 11 month birthday. 

11 months? Ahhh! It's getting way to close to him being a year old! 

9 months

Owen is 9 months old. It's blowing my mind. I know I something similar every month, but it's true. Each and every month seems to sneak up quicker than the month before. Everyone tells you to enjoy them at every stage because they grow up so fast, but I never really understood that until O was a month old and already so different from the baby he was a birth. 

This month especially though, he has grown so much. He has become an independent little person with a mind and personality of his own.

• He started crawling on 4/9 and is now a total pro. He speed crawls all over the place, climbing over anything in his way.
• Right around the same time his two first teeth finally popped through on the bottom. 
• He is pulling up on everything and climbing. It's already caused a few injuries and freaks me out, but I figure this is nothing compared to the years to come with a boy.
• He has pretty much completely given up purees. Now he eats whatever we're eating. I must say it makes life a lot easier. And a lot messier!
• He loves watching Beau and I talk or make noises and trying to mimic us. It is the coolest thing to see him learning.
• He is a total ham! He preforms for a crowd and he knows he's funny. He'll repeat whatever he's doing just to keep getting a reaction.
• He has major separation/stranger anxiety. If he's crawling and exploring on his own he's fine, but if I leave the room and he notices, oh boy, he ain't happy. Once that happens he gets majorly clingy and doesn't want to be put down for at least 30 min. 
• We had a couple rough days when I had to put him in the church nursery while I was in a meeting. We were both in tears. It's just so hard to hear him crying and know he just wants me and not go grab him and hug him tight and tell him I'll never ever abandon him. Thankfully I don't leave him often, so it's not something we have to go through too regularly.
• Because of his new found mobility, this month's photo shoot proved to be challenging. Sitting still and smiling was the last thing this wiggle worm wanted to do.

STATS:

Weight- 22lbs 90z

Height- 29"

Clothes- 12-18m

Diapers- Size 4

8 months

Owen turned 8 months yesterday! i'm still kind of in shock. you'd think by now these month birthdays wouldn't sneak up on me, but they still do. every time.

this month flew by and all of a sudden my little baby is starting to seem like such a big boy. 

• he is this close to crawling. he'll go from sitting/laying down on to his knees and rock or push backwards, but he hasn't quite figured out how to move forward yet.

• he was never a fan of rolling until this month. now diaper changes, nursing, getting dressed are all challenges cause this little man just doesn't want to lay still.

• the separation anxiety has begun. i can no longer be more than 5ft away from him without tears being shed. and normally that isn't even enough, i have to be holding him. when we're on the floor playing he'll climb into my lap. if i'm somewhere else in sight it's "uh uh uh" with his hands reaching for me to pick him up. for the most part i love it. i love knowing how much he loves me and wants me near, but on the other hand it makes previously easy tasks (i.e. going to the bathroom, going to get something from another room, getting things done while he plays alone) almost impossible. 

• i made him his first meat puree. i mixed ground turkey with black beans and mango and he loved it! he also loves when we give him little pieces of tuna and salmon and chicken.

• the constant drool and everything going straight in him mouth has continued throughout this month and still no tooth. did any of you have little one who teethed for over 4 months before getting a tooth?

• he is a little chatter box. he is constantly talking. while he's playing, while he's eating, in the car, at church, at story time. the guy has got a lot to say and he ain't afraid to say it!

• he loves watching other kids. especially big boys. he'll just stair at them and follow them has they play and then every once in a while he'll get excited and shout out at them like he saying "hey! you look like fun! can i play with you?"

• every week we go to gymboree and the library. most weeks they have toddler time at the library and that's lots of fun and then we check out new books and music for the week. gymboree has been awesome! O loves it and i really enjoy getting out and being active. and it's nice that we both get to socialize.

stats:

weight- 21.5lbs

height- 29in

clothes- 9-12m

diapers- size 4

7 months

i am in complete disbelief that Owen is 7 months old today. where did my infant go? the tiny person who slept all day, wrapped in a swaddle. the little angel who had to be woken up to eat because otherwise he was "happy to starve." 

nowadays my big little man fights sleep, hates being held tightly, and would eat all day if you let him.

the fact that he's over half way through his first year is blowing my mind a little bit...

O grows and changes so much every month, but especially this month.

milestones and firsts:

• he is now an expert sitter and loves to rock on all fours. i would not be surprised if crawling came in this next month (no matter how nervous that makes me).
• his absolute favorite activity these days is standing. i wrote a whole post on that last week.
• he still refuses to roll over unless he's in his crib. he can roll both ways, just doesn't like to. 
• he loves music and dancing. one of his favorite things is to play the piano. we have a musical prodigy on our hands!
• as of last week he is saying "dada." we know he isn't saying it with meaning yet, but it's still exciting and oh so cute.
• he has started staying in the church nursery while Beau and i take FPU on saturday mornings. i'm still a nervous wreck about it, but does great!

anything and everything he gets his hands on still goes straight into his mouth to get gnawed on, but still no sign of teeth...
having no teething isn't holding him back in the eating department though. we've gone from mostly purees and a few finger foods to hardly any purees and most meals being eaten off of Momma's plate. i am so impressed by his love of all foods. he tries any new food without hesitation and has yet to try something he doesn't like (besides nasty jarred baby food)
some of his new favorites are lentils and tomatoes.

he is such a happy baby. he spends all day "talking" and squealing to anyone/thing that will listen.
he has started to have a little bit of separation anxiety. he is fine playing on his own unless he sees me, then it's all over until he's in my arms. i don't mind at all, it just means the house ain't gonna get cleaned!

stats:

weight- ~20 lbs*

height- ~28in*

clothes- 9-12m

diapers- size 3
*no dr appt. this month. measured height and weight at home.

february cara box reveal

i signed up again this month to take part in Kaitlyn's cara box exchange.

she paired us up with girls from our state, so i got to meet two new Georgia bloggers!

Katie & Erin

this month's theme was #clubsexy

 i got to spoil Katie and send her a box full of stuff for the perfect girls night out

Erin completely spoiled me! she sent me a box full of things to make a perfect night in with my hubby.

bath bombs, baby lips, and nail polish (in my favorite color) to pretty myself up for our date.

she wrapped the wine glasses so nicely, but only one survived...

i love the one that did though, and it all works out ok cause Beau would rather drink a beer!

a cooking magazine and chocolates for while we prepare dinner

popcorn and a romantic movie to top the night off!

she also included a sweet note explaining what each item was for. 

me and Beau were both so excited to get this box- i think he really liked that this month's box was for both of us!

if you haven't participated in the cara box exchange yet i encourage you to go sign up for march.

it is such a fun way to make friends and meet fellow bloggers!

Owen is 6 months old... already?

my sweet baby boy,

when i think about the past six months of my life, i can honestly say they have been the best months of my life thus far. you have brought so much light and joy in to your daddy and my life. each and every new day with you is an adventure and i love rediscovering the world as you discover it for the first time. 

time seems to be flying by so quickly, i sometimes want it to just stop so i can keep you my sweet little baby forever, but at the same time i never want to hold you back and watching you begin to become an independent little man is amazing. 

God blessed me far beyond what i deserve when he gave me you. my promise to you is that i will always try my hardest to be the best mom i can be.

i will always always love you, son. 

no matter what, no matter where, no matter when.

love,

Mama

stats:

weight- 18lbs 10oz (75%)

height- 271/2in (90%)

clothes- 9 months

diapers- size 3

some of this month's milestones and accomplishments-

blowing raspberries

sitting (supported)

sitting up in the highchair and feeding himself

bathing in the big tub

sitting (unsupported)

swinging at the park

feeling sand