Weston James - 7 months

Oh this funny boy. He is BUSY. All. The. Time. And now that he's on the move, I have no idea how I'm going to keep up. He tried to crawl off the bed 27 times while I took his monthly pics today. I'm terrified of the day he discovers the stairs. 

He loves to be out and about. Loves brother and sister and wants to be right in the middle of whatever they are doing. He loves to jump, and will jump himself entirely out of your arms if you let him. He loves his mama best and will cry, scream and punch his way to me (even if someone else is holding him). He loves when Daddy comes home at night and strains and strains to see him once he's heard his voice. 

I keep waiting for this kid to sprout some teeth, but none so far. He's had some tummy issues return the past month ... we're supposed to be weaning off colic and reflux meds, but that may not actually happen. We'll see.

He's quickly outgrowing his brother's summertime clothing ... maybe this kid will get his very own wardrobe after all! We can't wait to see what the next month will bring.

Weight: 18+ pounds
Length: 27 inches

New things:

• Crawling. Y'all. He. Is. Crawling. It's definitely a primitive army crawl, but he is SO FAST. And he's already begun experimenting with getting up on hands and knees and rocking. 
• More eating. Still not a sweet potatoes fan. I made a quinoa/chick pea mixture and he thought I was trying to kill him with it. Other than that, he's loved everything: peaches, kiwi, mango, pears, apples, zucchini, broccoli, squash, green beans, peas. Prunes and banana are his fave.
• "Asking" for his real breakfast every morning.
• Eating three meals a day!
• Staying in the nursery at church. For a whole hour. Today was the first, and he did great. Brief nap, lots of play. I don't even think he missed me.
• Perhaps a wave?? We were waving at him last night and trying to get him to wave back ... there was some finger fluttering, some high chair tray banging and a whole lot of laughing. We'll keep working on it.
• Getting himself from a seated position to his tummy to crawl. Sometimes this involves just banging his head on the ground, other times he's a bit more graceful.
• Trying to drop his 10pm feeding, which is going well so far. Attempts to delay/drop other feedings have not been received well.
• Speaking of those feedings, putting his limbs up/under my shirt and/or pulling at my clothing to declare he's hungry or sleepy.
• He still talks constantly.

Likes:

• Sucking his thumb. He does it more and more, and can often put himself to sleep or back to sleep with that sweet little thumb. It doesn't get lost in his bed like the paci.
• Jumping. In his jumper, in the carrier, in your arms, wherever. He loves to pull up (with help) and jump.
• Playing with kitchen utensils during a meal. 
• Swimming. 
• Baths with brother and sister.
• Playing the "whack" game at mealtimes. Brother and sister hit the table and yell "whack" while he laughs hysterically and bangs his tray with his hands or kitchen utensil. 
• Brother and sister's Little People farm ... really any of their toys are OK by him.
• His puppy piano and anything else that makes noise/music
• The little Elmo and Ernie toys brother and sister passed along to him
• Chewing on anything and everything
• Snuggling his mama.
• Banging on the tile or wood floors
• Finding Lola and pulling on her lips, toes or ears. 
• Books. He prefers to eat them right now.
• Holding any and all toys with his feet.

Dislikes:

• Being under his nursing cover. He pulls it off completely with complete disregard to anyone around us. Whatever, man.
• When he can see mama and mama's not the one holding him.
• Naps
• Sweet potatoes. 
• Asking to be held and being refused (always temporary)

Weston James - 6 months

Half a year old! How is this possible??? Weston had a fun sixth month, starting to eat and taking his first trip via airplane to the beach. He LOVES to talk ... what am I going to do with three kids who want to talk all the time??? He loves to be right in the middle of whatever any of us are doing, and if he's not, he protests loudly. He has a sweet sense of humor and already loves it when he makes Addie and Hutch laugh. They love to make him laugh, too. And that giggle is contagious.

Weston is such a water baby, obviously fitting. He still loves to nurse although he barely has time for it amidst everything else he has to watch and do. He is constantly on the move and is getting harder and harder to hold on to. It's like he wants to jump out of our arms and run! I remember two other people being exactly the same way ... He is starting to scoot around and can roll across the room faster than you can imagine (trust me). He's wearing mostly 12 month clothes, still a few 9 month outfits. We are so crazy about this baby boy!

Weight: ~16 pounds
Length: 22 inches

New things:

• Eating food! He tried green beans first and found them slightly questionable. He actually warmed up to eating faster that I imagined he would and now is mostly a fan. His favorite is banana and prunes. He tolerates green beans and peas. Sweet potatoes and avocados are for the birds.
• Sitting in his high chair, eating at breakfast and dinner, and just hanging out at lunch.
• Scooting/inch worming, coupled with lots of rolling, to get where he wants to go. He's speedy!
• Babbling lots and lots, especially in the car. Still loves to say dadadada best. Whatever.
• Going to the beach! He was mostly unimpressed with the actual ocean, but did get his feet in a few times. He did like being with all his people.
• Airplane ride! Going and coming to the beach, of course, meant airplane rides. He was excellent!
• Also his first boat ride for a sunset dolphin cruise. Again, unimpressed.
• Sitting unassisted for quite a while before he topples over. ;)
• Sleeping with a lovie. 
• A few naps in his actual crib. He still sleeps in our room at night, mostly to avoid us having to go up and down the stairs for all the paci-replacements and early-morning meals.
• Going to bed at 8 p.m. and sleeping from 10pm till 5/6am without a feeding. His nighttime sleep has been pretty good. Naps, however, are not required by Weston's standards. 

Likes:

• Sleeping on his tummy ALWAYS. He is totally my kid.
• Having his own spoon while eating. He prefers to do it himself. Having multiple spoons at the ready during mealtimes has proven a good idea.
• The jumper. Although lately he gets in and jumps out a poop. :)
• Still sucking his thumb sometimes, usually only when he's really sleepy.
• Sophie
• Touch and feel books
• Ocean play mat, although he's usually rolled off of it in 2.3 seconds
• His brother and sister. 
• His dog. He loves to roll over to her and play with her feet
• Swimming! He is always up for a dip in the pool
• Nursing al fresco
• Taking baths with brother and sister. Addie is an excellent helper - she usually holds him tight while Jordan or I bathe him
• Spitting his food all over me. Which brother and sister think is hilarious. And that means Weston thinks it's hilarious, too.
• Being out and about, especially in the carrier. Although he's getting more annoyed that he can't see out of it so well.
• Hearing Daddy's voice, especially when he gets home from work
• Holding beach balls in his feet, a la circus baby
• Being held to nap.

Dislikes:

• Naps
• Sweet potatoes and avocado 
• Not being held
• When he can't see what brother and sister are doing