Weston James - 10 months

Watching this boy's personality come to life is such a joy. And deja vu. He reminds me so much of these other two babes who live here. He's perhaps more independent than they were at this age, and maybe also more demanding? He's working on a few more words, but definitely gets frustrated when he wants (or doesn't want) something and can't convey it to us. 

He is into EVERYTHING. He loves to open cabinets, pull things out, open doors, unroll toilet paper, touch the toilets, eat the dog food, attempt to climb the stairs, play drums on the side table .... whew! He wears me out, but thankfully I have two little helpers with way more energy than I can usually manage. His favorite place to play is often opening and closing the warming drawer or opening the cabinet that houses the toaster so he can drum on it. Bathroom and utility doors are usually closed tight to prevent the toilet touching/dog food eating. 

He's eating pretty much everything, with favorites being green pancakes, puffs, apples and any type of carb. He drinks really well from his cup, although we usually force him to let us help, otherwise he'd be pouring milk everywhere because he thinks it's funny. Speaking of funny, he loves to make us laugh, loves to laugh at his siblings, loves to imitate us and for us to imitate him. His belly laugh is just the best. 

He's doing great in the church nursery, but is still reluctant for other people to take him from his mama, especially in a crowd. He thought Halloween was pretty great, other than wearing his costume for any length of time. He loved watching all the people at our Fall Festival and riding in his stroller to see brother and sister trick-or-treat (though he let us know very LOUDLY when he was done). 

Weight: 22ish pounds
Length: 28.75 inches

New things:

• Standing on his own for a little longer periods of time. 
• Down to 3 serious nursing sessions a day and 2 he could take or leave.  
• Sleeping so well (usually) in his room still, typically from about 7:45 till 5 or 6, then back to sleep till 7 or 7:30. He wins the sleeping.
• Trying out some new sounds. When I ask him to say "mama" he generally responds with a kissing noise :) He has said it a few times. He also seems to be saying Lola and Bubba.
• Trying out animal noises, too. He loves the horse (probably because to him to horse spits everywhere) and he LOVES to pant at Lola whenever he sees her or we talk about her or another dog.
• More teeth! Two of his left top teeth are coming in, and I think the right two aren't far behind. Also swollen gums on the bottom, so more likely coming in there as well.
• Clapping or rocking or using instruments on the beat at music class. Reminds me of another baby boy I used to take there!
• Giving sweet kisses when we ask for them. Although sometimes he merely just presents his forehead for a kiss. And making sweet kissing sounds when we say kiss or he hears/sees someone else kiss. 

Likes:

• Getting into brother and sister's toys, especially when they aren't home
• Opening and closing doors, or banging on them when they are closed. 
• Opening all the cabinets.
• Remotes remain a favorite. He SCREAMS when we take them away or he can see them but can't reach them
• Dancing to all music. 
• The big drum at music class. He cries when she puts it away.
• Lola. 
• When daddy comes home. He always says "dada" or sometimes "hi dada" and squeals and crawls to him as fast as he can. If daddy doesn't pick him up immediately he cries as if his heart would break
• Throwing food on the floor to waiting Lola
• Vacuums 
• Clapping and waving on command. Waving anytime he hears the words hi or bye. Clapping when he hears cheering or others clapping. Clapping when Addie performs for him and at her soccer games
• Trucks, cars, etc.
• His Little People farm and zoo toys
• Books, although he likes to be in charge of page turning
• Bathtime

Dislikes:

• Waiting for food, a drink, to nurse, for a toy he wants ... really for anything
• His carseat 
• Being told no. Not being able to reach something he wants

Weston James - 9 months

This baby boy is such a joy. He is SO busy and SO big! Wearing some 12 month clothes, but also some 18 month. He's at about the 75th percentile in both weight and height, definitely bigger than my other two at this age.

He likes to do a lot of things himself, including feeding himself. He literally decided one day he'd had enough of being fed and only wanted to do it himself. Took mama a couple meals to decipher what his screaming meant. So he's now onto only table foods he can feed himself. And flinging his sippee cup all over the place. 

He loves to talk and definitely has several words. He asks for "adda" and waves many mornings after we drop her at school. He calls Hutch "adda" too.

He is vey inquisitive and often looks at toys like he's trying to figure out how they work. Reminds me of his brother. He's loved going to music class once a week with Hutch. He crawls all over the place, squeals, dances and inspects all the instruments. He was given his very own set that he can lick to his heart's desire. 

No more colic or reflux meds for this guy, and finger's crossed, we are really and truly done with all that. 

We all love watching this sweet babe's personality develop. Can't wait to see what the next month brings!

Weight: 21 pounds, 4 ounces 
Length: 28.75 inches

New things:

• Cruising ... and sometimes letting go and standing on his own for a few seconds. 
• Down to 5 nursing sessions a day. 
• Sleeping in his crib in his own room! Yes, I know he's 9 months old and *just* moved out of our room ... but climbing up the stairs a lot of times a night for multiple crying kids is no joke. Thankfully he's done great in his room. Also a thumb sucker means he can always find comfort in the middle of the night. Hooray.
• Eating only table food. After doing so well with pureed foods he did a 180 and decided he only wanted to feed himself. He's eerily like some other people I know ...
• Those babbled words were no joke. Dada definitely his first word, followed by Adda (Addie and Hutch are interchangeable). He also signs and says "all done."
• Mimicking Lola's panting, which is hilarious. 
• Going to Miss Ginger's music class once a week with mama and brother. He LOVES it!

Likes:

• Standing up in the bathtub, which is delightful for everyone else
• Opening and closing doors
• Touching pottys, thankfully only at our own house thus far
• Going for wagon rides with brother and sister. And being outside in general. 
• Sleeping in his own crib. And when brother or sister come to see him first thing in the morning.
• Waving at aaalllll the people
• The metal side table next to our couch ... he loves to pull up on it and drum, drum, drum. He also loves to lick it. Whatever, man.
• Trying to reach all remotes, decorations, etc. He's so helpful at assisting me in deciding what I need to hide away.
• Food. He's liked pretty much everything he's tried, including meats. Mama's green pancakes are his favorite. Followed closely by any and all carbs
• Nursing. While he can't be bothered to do it for very long, he still lets me know (loudly) when it's time
• Grammie and Pawpaw. His sweet face lights up when he sees them, and he usually won't even come back to me.
• The church nursery. Those ladies are no joke, y'all. They can make any baby love them! He's been doing great, even napping occasionally for them. He loves to play with all the toys.
• All toys that play music.
• All toys that have wheels. He turns them over and inspects and spins the wheels. Future engineer?
• Going to music class with brother. His favorite part is banging on the big drum with all the other kids.
• Imitating any sounds his brother or sister make, especially at the table during mealtimes.
• Feeding Lola, aka throwing all the food off his tray into her waiting mouth.
• Sucking his thumb. 
• Flinging all water out of the tub

Dislikes:

• Wearing shoes is still a major dislike
• Touching grass with his feet or hands. 
• Being told no
• Having to sit down in the bathtub. 

Hutch Marshall - 2 years, 9 months

This boy of mine keeps me on my toes. And sometimes makes me want to scream. Always makes me laugh. And fills my heart with joy. We recently went on a date to have some time just the two of us. He loved going to dinner, going to the cupcake place and picking out some new books at the bookstore. It's funny how different he is when it's just the two of us. We're all pretty sad about sister going to school every day this fall, but I'm really excited to spend more one-on-one time with my big boy. And also to see his relationship with his baby brother develop.

Hutch is almost always so good with Weston. He calls him "my baby" and loves to show him toys (also take them away) and hug and kiss him. He's enjoyed starting music class again, though I occasionally have to bribe him with snacks after to get him to participate. He liked going to school this summer once a week, and is really excited to have his same two teachers this fall. He calls it "Ms Carolyn and Ms Tami's school." At his meet-the-teacher, they told me he's the youngest in the class, but behaviorally and academically seems much older. As long as he behaves for them and saves his crazy for me, I'm happy! He's almost potty trained ... occasionally has an accident and doesn't always keep diapers dry during nap time. But he's leaps and bounds ahead of where I thought he'd be. Lots of "pecial tweets" helped. 

He still loves to do everything sister does and wants to be just like her. He loved watching her play basketball, and was a little disappointed when soccer season started that he's still not old enough to play (in the spring he will be). He also loves going to watch her at dance class, though it may be that he knows he gets snacks and screen time during it that he actually loves. 

Hutch LOVES to talk. All the time. About everything. His teacher told me that although he's fairly reserved at school, he does narrate everything happening to her. Sounds just like him!! He loves to go to restaurants, Target and Sams. Really he loves to go anywhere. He loves to swim, although his time in the pool is usually short (and then, shocker, he wants to get out and have a snack). We haven't attempted much swimming without his life jacket this summer, but he is pretty confident with it on and will happily jump off the side or diving board on his own. Especially if that's what sister is doing.

Weight:  ~29 pounds
Length: 26.5 inches

New things:

• Almost totally potty trained! Yippee! 
• Helping cook - his favorite to help with are eggs, pancakes and grilled cheese. He also loves sister's new Easy Bake Oven.
• Talking about his birthday in "Becember" constantly. Asking how soon it will get here. Talking about his party and presents. Currently he just wants to invite friends Micah and Brooks. When I took him to the fire station where we're considering having his party, the fireman turned on the lights and he was so scared it might get loud that he freaked out screaming and crying. Sooooo ... perhaps we'll find another party venue.
• Gaining a little more independence and asserting himself more with his sister. Sometimes this means hitting or biting her. But often just declaring what he wants to play instead of always going along with her. 
• Practicing leaps and shuffle steps with sister.
• Recognizing the letter H.
• Checking out "iPads" from the library. Really, they are handheld videos with built in episodes of Sesame Street, etc. He just calls it his iPad.
• Getting out of bed on his own in the morning and coming downstairs. 

Likes: 

• One-on-one time with mommy or daddy. Although he usually spends the whole time asking where sister is.
• Chuck-E-Cheese's. We introduced him when sister wanted to go this summer and now he talks about it all the time.
• A recent trip with daddy and sister to a kids Home Depot workshop where they built whiteboards
• Going to the zoo. Although it's mostly about the snacks.
• Playing babies or prince with his sister. 
• Watching movies, which he asks to do constantly and then can only stay still to watch for approximately 10 minutes.
• Asking constantly when we can go on an airplane
• Cousins Julia and Lila, who visited this summer
• Pecial tweets and snacks in general
• Getting a cookie at the grocery store from the ladies who adore him. He has excellent manners and asks very sweetly
• Ms Ginger at music class
• Going swimming naked. And/or running around the back yard naked
• Watching the guys pouring concrete and building our new back patio. He's obsessed.
• Being read books
• Shoes. He's obsessed with putting his shoes on, although he can't exactly do it himself
• Singing songs on the radio. Or asking for "my music" in the car
• Carbs
• Asking daddy when it will be Saturday and they can make pancakes
• 
  

Dislikes:

• Being asked to go potty
• Eating meals. Snacks are great, but when it comes to mealtime, this guy is definitely a 2-year-old
• Not getting a cookie or car cart at the grocery store
• Being away from sister

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.