Weston James - 8 months

My kids are all pretty much exactly the same. Busy. Talkative. Silly. Snuggly. This one is no different. It amazes me how much like his brother and sister he is, including wanting to be right in the middle of everything. And wanting ALL the attention. 

He's getting anywhere he wants to go with a mixture of army and traditional crawling. Pulling up occasionally, usually to his knees, but sometimes into a downward dog position or all the way to his feet. He loves to stand just holding our hands. 

He has two teeth! And man are they sharp! Looks like more on the way soon. He's loving pureed everything. When we gave him a puff recently, he gagged dramatically till he vomited (a la sister). So pureed for now. Although he did eat some bits of mushed up cracker and very tiny pieces of ripe mango today and didn't protest too much. His favorites are banana, pear and apple. He's also pretty fond of squash, mango, peaches, zucchini, broccoli and peas. He's learned to drink from a sippee cup (with help - otherwise, he just bangs it all over his tray, sprays milk everywhere and giggles hysterically). He also took a whole 3 oz bottle from Jordan recently. Who is this kid?!?

We've weaned off colic meds and reflux meds down to just once a day. Progress, y'all. 

He's loved going to music class with brother (and sister until she starts school). He grins, eats all the instruments and crawls all around. He cries when it's over. Hutch has loved having someone little to show things to. He's also just started dancing when he hears music. Be still my heart. His favorite toys are anything with wheels he can spin and anything that makes noise or music. Also all kitchen utensils. His chewy highchair toys are No. 1 right now. 
Lots of babbling that sounds like actual words?!?! He's super close to talking. 

Weight: 20ish pounds
Length: 27 inches

New things:

• Pulling up. And getting stuck on his knees or halfway up and getting very confused. He especially loves to pull himself up on me, holding my shirt, knee, finger, arm, whatever he can get. He also pulls up to knees on the couch. And to feet on his toy box.
• This kid can downward dog with the best of them. 
• Teeth! Bottom left came in about a week ago, and bottom right a few days ago.
• Trying "real" food. And protesting.
• Drinking milk from a sippee cup
• Waving. Oh, it's the cutest little baby wave where he thinks he are waving at you but really he is waving back at himself. He'll wave when we wave to him, or even when we just say Hi.
• Dropping a mid-morning feeding. Most days.
• Declaring when he's ready to nurse by rubbing his head on me, biting or licking my arm/shirt/neck/chest, pulling on my clothing, etc.
• Babbling that sounds like talking. His favorite sounds are "dada," "Adda," "Lola," and "pawpaw." He will repeat when we ask him to (if he's feeling like it). And often says dada and Adda in reference to them, or when we're talking about them. 
• Dancing when he hears music. A la his brother. And going to music class.
• Napping just twice a day, most days.
• Crying and protesting if we take something away from him (usually something he's not supposed to have or something he's trying to eat)

Likes:

• Lola. He loves to find her, poke her face, grab her feet or ears and in general just watch and laugh at her. She's very tolerant of him.
• Constantly trying to dive out of our arms or climb up our bodies. He is SO STRONG.
• Mimicking us or repeating sounds. He especially does this when someone coughs or he yells/kids yell. He thinks it's so funny.
• Reading books. And by reading I mean chewing on them.
• Holding a ball in his feet. Circus baby (see, they are all the same)
• Watching TV. He has been particularly intrigued by football today.
• Hutch. Weston has always had a fondness for his sister, but he's really become more and more taken with brother (he just doesn't hold still as well as sister). He loves to touch his glasses, grab his arm or hair and climb all over him. 
• Bathtime with brother and sister.
• Getting hot boxes
• Any toys that belong to brother and sister. Especially if he's not supposed to have them. He loves Addie's dollhouse.
• Jewelry on others. He'll try to remove and/or get in his mouth. He particularly loves my orange earrings
• His paci and sucking his thumb. 
• Being in the carrier (because he's touching mama). Although if he's facing outward, he is constantly looking back or trying to turn around to make sure I'm still there.
• Girls.
• Going to the grocery story in the carrier and trying to touch all the produce with hands and feet. Or rip produce bags out of my hands. Such a helper.
• Shoes. Not on his own feet, but anyone else's shoes lying around that he can hold or lick.

Dislikes:

• Wearing shoes
• Being covered to nurse
• The church nursery. Man, they are so good and so good to him, but he's having a hard time with it. I'm thankful we decided to wait on Mothers Day Out till January
• When brother and/or sister are gone
• When mommy leaves.

Addison Mae - 5!!!

She's FIVE, y'all. When I look at pictures of her tiny baby self, I can hardly believe it's the same girl. It really does go by in the blink of an eye. I am so proud of my big girl. She is funny, kind, compassionate, silly, smart and hard working.

Addie's birthday party was amazing! We had Extreme Animals come visit, and they brought a giant python, chinchilla, baby kangaroo, lemur, baby pig and baby crocodile, among others. My two were fearless in petting everything. She loved her leopard and zebra theme and had a great time with all her friends. (It's possible her father and I planned this party because WE wanted to meet all of these animals.)

Addie played basketball for the first time this summer. She always struggles in a new situation where she doesn't know exactly how to do something (hello, perfectionist). But she worked really hard, despite not knowing her coach or anyone else on her team, and typically being the only girl on the court. She borrowed her awesome defense skills from soccer and totally got into that part of the game. Shooting and scoring are still troublesome to her and she was often frustrated she didn't "make any points." She's used to scoring all the goals at soccer :) She's insistent on playing again this winter, and I'm excited to see how she does!

Also after much pleading, Addie started dance classes. She LOVED a princess-themed dance camp she attended this summer, so now is taking a combo ballet/tap class once a week. This girl in her leotard, tutu, tights and bun is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. Again, she is working SO hard to learn the skills. I can feel her determined concentration during every class, but she loves it. We do lots of practicing leaps, shuffle steps and shuffle hop steps at home (yes, me, too. and Hutch)

Addie was a total fish this summer, swimming without her life jacket and diving down to the bottom of the pool for dive rings and sticks. My dear friend did swim lessons with her (and her brother), and she excelled. She's learning to dive, too.

We've been cooking (in mom's kitchen and her new Easy Bake Oven!!) this summer, crafting and doing some experiments. Addie's been practicing sight words and reading her Bob books in preparation for starting transitional kindergarten in just about a week. She's a superstar. I'm sad for our summer to be over, but I know she's ready to get back to school. I'm also feeling really emotional about my girl being in school every day ... but she only stays all day twice a week. Next year ... look out for this hot mess emotional mama.

She loves to perform, and her current obsession of playing "Prince" with Hutch requires her to run all over the house in search of her prince, singing a made-up-song narration of her life. It's awesome. She's confident she'll one day be on either the Voice or Chopped. 

Weight: 41 pounds
Length: 42 inches

 New things:

• Still doing great at reading. I'm constantly impressed when she recognizes words when we are out and about, or can figure them out from sounding them out. 
• Recognizing more sight words. 
• Being the best little basketball defender you ever did see
• Dance class, ballet and tap. And subsequently teaching Hutch and me all the moves.
• Getting ready to start transitional kindergarten, or Kites, at Warm World. We're so excited about it! Several kids from her class last year will be in the program with her. My mama heart is glad she's not yet going every day, all day, and that she's not going to the "big" school just next. All in good time.
• Swimming like a fish. Diving for things on the bottom. No flotation devices for this girl.
• Second-ever trip to the ER after an "incident" at school. Laceration above her eye had to be glued shut. Her ER entourage included her mom, her Pawpaw, her dad and her baby brother. We were SO thankful for no stitches.
• Learning to ride her new bike
• 
  

Likes:

• Going to see Disney Magic for the third time, this time with her cousins Julia and Lila. She dressed up as Rapunzel. 
• Playing babies with Hutch. Or playing tornado shelter (I don't even know). 
• Playing peek-a-boo with Weston. She is his favorite. 
• Experiments and activities with our Kiwi Crate that comes in the mail once a month.
• Going out to eat, especially at Hideaway. 
• Going to the zoo. 
• Being in the water. Whether the ocean, the pool or the spray park, this girl is a fearless fish.
• Learning new things, even if they're frustrating at first. Proud of my hard working, brave girl.
• Her friends. She's missing her BFF Stella who is not going to WW this year. Thankfully they still see each other at soccer every week.
• Playing outside.
• Screen time, any way she can get it.
• Going to the library. Being read to. Reading to us. Reading to her brothers.
• Cooking and baking. 
• Bossing her brothers.
• Ice cream

Dislikes:

• Not getting her way.
• Not being the best at something, aka new sports or activities
• Either of her brothers being sad
• When mommy takes brother on a mommy-brother-only date 

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