Dear Wes- 10 Months

10 Months Old: June 25, 2013
 Length: 30 inches (measured at home)
 Weight:  18 pounds 13 ounces (weighed at home)
Head Circumference: n/a
Diapers: Size 3
Clothes: 9 or 12 months. Shorts you are still in 9 months. Most onesies and rompers you are 12 months. PJ's are 9-12 months.

Likes:

*books, you love to turn the pages
*playing with Lucy 
*your blankie
*mickey mouse clubhouse
*being outside (riding in your car, sitting in the grass, playing with water table) 
*us clapping or cheering at you
*all your toys, getting them out of toy bins
*stacking blocks, knocking them down 
*bath time, playing (NOT getting out of bath and getting PJ's on)


New Things:
*you crawl everywhere.. you are constantly on the move and I have to keep the play room doors closed now or else you are gone in one second. You whine when we are anywhere because you want to just be put on the floor to explore. You love exploring.
*Pulling up.. on everything! You see every object as a way to stand up, it amazes me how strong you are and how quickly you can stand up!
*Sitting back down, the beginning of the month you fell A LOT. Now you understand how to slowly back down instead of just letting go once you are standing.
*Turning pages in books (you love to turn the pages as we read to you)
*Stacking blocks, you need some help but you LOVE stacking and then knocking down!
*scooting, you are just starting to scoot along the couch in the playroom. Sometimes you still let go and crawl, then stand back up.
*you are getting 2 more teeth. Earlier this month you got your two top teeth, and now you are getting the 2 on either side of those. So that makes your teeth count up to 6 (once these two come in!) 
 

Sleep:
You take 2 naps most days. Your schedule is pretty much the same as last month. You can be awake anywhere from 3.5-4 hours and then you are ready to nap. You sleep anywhere from 45 minutes- 2 hours.. it totally depends on how worn out you are I suppose.
We had some ROUGH sleep for about 2 weeks this month. The past week has been pretty much back to normal (PRAISE JESUS!). You seem to sleep bad every time you have a big developmental leap.. so as soon as you started pulling up all the time I knew it was coming. You figured out how to pull up in your crib and it started... you would wake up 2 or sometimes 3 (yikes..) times a night and just scream. At first, you couldn't really get back down and would fall and bump your head.. so I would go lay you down. Then you started getting those 2 top teeth, so that made for bad sleep too. It was rough. I (of course) wanted to comfort you if you were in pain, but I didn't want to start a bad habit either. I just went with my mommy instinct and rocked you most nights. As soon as the teeth poked through we went back to some sleep training (NO FUN!) But.. to my amazement after a few nights you gave up and started sleeping well again. You still SCREAM right when I lay you down and I leave the room (which breaks my heart) but you get over it pretty fast. We have also noticed you don't get as upset if it is Daddy leaving you.

Eating:  You take 3 to 4 bottles a day. Sometimes one when you wake up (if you didn't wake up at night) then one before nap #1, one before nap #2 and one at bedtime. Occasionally you wake up around 4 or 5 am and have a bottle and THANKFULLY go back to sleep!
You eat 3 meals a day and usually you eat whatever we are eating. You really are not picky and I think you enjoy eating the same things as us. I am trying to be better about giving you snacks. One mid morning and one after your afternoon nap. I started giving you more snack foods: crackers, goldfish, cereal, yogurt bites. So far I think goldfish are your favorite. You also started drinking those pouch things of applesauce, which are nice if we are on the go. You love when it is time for a bottle so I am NOT looking forward to giving that up. I am going to try to start transitioning you to a sippy cup around 11 months, so the countdown is starting.. and mommy is scared.  

Pictures from this month:

We started putting you in these shorts and shirt jammies since it is getting hot, you look so big wearing them!

You prefer to just feed Lucy your food when you are finished instead of signing "all done" so.. we are working on it!

We went to Grammy & Pa's House and you had a lot of fun!

Cousins

He is one HAPPY Pa!

You crawl all over Lucy these days. She is so sweet to you and I am amazed by how she acts sometimes.

Getting your top teeth. You are about to have a mouth full of 6 teeth. which is crazy to me!

Snack time.. Lucy enjoys this time too because you often make a mess and she gets to clean up!

You LOVE your walker (from your cousin Bella!) you are SUPER fast in it and go all over the house. I put you in it so I can cook dinner and am very thankful you enjoy it.

Making mommy some food. Sometimes when I look in the playroom and see you standing I am amazed with how BIG my baby looks.. it is insane.

You and Lucy really playing together for the first time. You thought it was HILARIOUS.

Father's Day.. we had fun celebrating your daddy. He is the best.

Standing in your crib.. don't worry buddy, mommy was wanting to cry too!

You love to peer out this window, it's funny because Lucy does the same thing.

You are silly, sometimes you do something or make a face at me and all I can think is YOU ARE YOUR DADDY MADE OVER! I love it though :)

Reading books.. you melt your mommy's teacher heart and I love how much you enjoy our reading time before naps and bedtime.

You've had several birthday parties to attend this month. Your daddy and I joke that your social calendar is already busier than ours!

On the move.. always. I know it will be even faster once you figure the walking out. It is a different ballgame these days staying home with you. If you are quiet I am rushing to see what it is you are getting into buddy!

You sat still for about 1 second this month for your pictures.. on the move!

The quickest way to get you to laugh these days is to play Peek-a-boo

You are a little monkey Wes Patrick!

Dear Wes,

This month you have learned so many new things.. seeing you pull up and stand has really made you seem not so much like a baby anymore. Very soon you will be walking and then you really will seem like a BIG boy.  You are still very independent and like to do things your self.  However, you have started to like to snuggle right when you wake up from a nap. If I get you up from a nap and immediately set you down you start crying BIG tears. Then I pick you up and hold you and you snuggle, and it melts my heart. You also will crawl over to us and pull up on our leg for us to hold you when you are tired or hurt yourself. It warms my heart to see you wanting love from us. You still only say "dada" ALL the time but I know "mama" is coming soon and I can't wait to hear that buddy!  This month has been so fun, and I know we are in store for more fun as your first birthday is quickly approaching. I get a little sad when I think about you turning one.. but then again it is exciting to think of all the new things you are going to learn and we can't wait to watch you learn them Wes. It has also been a hard month when you were not sleeping well and we had to let you do some crying. It breaks momma's heart to hear you cry buddy, but deep down I know I am doing what is best for you.  It has been a beautiful reminder of how our Heavenly Father often feels about us I am sure. He hates to watch us stumble but in the end knows we have to figure it out ourselves.  I can't protect you from everything and that is hard, but deep down I know He loves you WAY more than we do!  You are our pride and joy and it is impossible to imagine life without you.  We love you Wes Patrick!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy 

Dear Wes- 9 Months

9 Months Old: May 25, 2013 (measurements taken at check up on May 30, 2013)Length: 29.5 inches (89%)Weight:  17 pounds 14.5 ounces (18%)
Head Circumference: 52%
Diapers: Size 3
Clothes: 9 or 12 months. Shorts you are still in 9 months. Most onesies and rompers you are 12 months. PJ's are 9-12 months.

Likes:

*you love cords or long strings of any kind.. 
*lucy's water and food bowl (I caught you eating a piece of dog food the other day..)
*Wagon rides
*standing up (you still have to hold our hands)
*your blankie.. anytime we hand it to you you start chewing on it and instantly are in a better mood.
*measuring spoons, your new favorite toy.
*watching big kids play. You make all of these noises and clench your fists because you are so excited. You want to be able to run around and play SO bad.
*sitting in the grass. You try to eat it.. but you love the way it feels I think.
*swimming! We have a little pool and you love hanging out in it. If only you would keep on your sun hat..


New Things:
*you crawl everywhere.. you still choose to keep your arms straight but use your legs to push off the ground. You must think it is faster than traditional crawling. Occasionally you crawl the traditional way.
*You are starting to pull up (in crib, on side of bath tub) we lowered your crib mattress last week.
*you are getting better at standing flat footed.. you still initially pull up you your tippy-toes.
*We think maybe you are starting to try and do the sign for "all done" when eating. You smile and laugh when we do it.
*you are going through a shy phase. You don't like when someone grabs you out of mine or daddy's arms. You will initially smile at people and then you always bury your head in my chest. After a few minutes you will warm up to someone and go to them but you get VERY upset if they just grab for you or we hand you to them. 
*you SLEEP ALL NIGHT LONG. woohoo! You don't do it every night.. but you have been sleeping from 
8 pm- 7 am. The trick was we started giving you your bedtime bottle before bath, you drink half, then drink half after. Its the only way we can get you to drink 8 full ounces.

Sleep:
You take 2 naps most days. Your schedule is pretty much the same as last month. You can be awake anywhere from 3.5-4 hours and then you are ready to nap. You have  been sleeping 1 hour and 15 minutes like clock work for your naps.. unless you are super worn out then sometimes we get a 2 hour nap.

Eating:  Well, you officially stopped nursing at the end of 8 months. I tried everything and it was very obvious you wanted NOTHING to do with it. So, I spent a month exclusively pumping. I would try and pump 3 times a day but I was not getting much milk at all. I tried fenugreek and eating more calories.. but still the most I would get in a pump session was 5 ounces. And that was after pumping for 45 minutes. So we were supplementing with a lot of formula. I couldn't decide what I wanted to do and kept changing my mind every day. Last week I decided to stop pumping and just give you formula. It was not my original plan but pumping and chasing you around was a huge challenge.. and you would cry and cry because you wanted me to hold you. I know you had breastmilk for almost 9 months and I am so glad you did, and I know formula isn't "bad" but sometimes it's hard not to feel that way. You LOVE your bottles though and are so happy and really gaining weight. Literally, when I start making you a bottle and I shake it up you SQUEAL out of excitement. So, I think in your situation it's what you needed at this point. Hopefully someday your sibling will love nursing the whole 12 months. You are just way too much of a busy boy!  So, you drink 4 bottles a day that range from 5-6 ounces. Then your bedtime bottle is 8 ounces. If we do a night feeding you drink a 6 ounces bottle. You eat 3 meals a day and usually 2 snacks. You eat basically whatever we are eating and your current favorites are: avocado, bananas, cheese, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, peas, sweet potatoes.

Pictures from this month: 

You love to eat table food!

Starting to pull up.

One of your favorite things to play with.. Lucy's bowls

finally big enough for the swings at the playground

Giving momma her card on Mother's Day

You love playing outside after dinner

Swinging with momma at the park. Sometimes we go play at the neighborhood park after dinner.

Crawling like a big boy!

We took a weekend trip to the lakehouse, you loved exploring inside the house and playing in your pool outside. You also loved watching Lucy play in the lake. It was still a little cold for us to get in.

You always get the lint roller out of this little basket under our entryway table. You love to roll it around.

You really like riding on your car, but sometimes you just decide to fall off and so we have to watch you closely!

We went swimming at Kathy's a few times this month. One sunday after church Karlee came. Y'all are starting to have lots of fun together!

Daddy found you this truck on the curb! woohoo!

You love to close your bedroom door.

9 months.. such a big boy.

climbing off the chair..

Playing with your sticker.

Checking out that belly button..

melts my heart..

You and your sister, Lucy Goose!

Dear Wes,

It is hard to believe that you have been here with us for just about the time that you were in mommy's tummy.  You are mobile now and exploring everything. It is so cute to watch you when we are in a new place, you love to check everything out. If we are at a friends house and they have toys you can sit and entertain yourself for a long time with all the new things.  You are a very happy little boy and people always ask mommy "is he ever not smiling?" I just laugh.. there are moments when you are not happy and you are VERY quick to let me know! You don't really enjoy riding in the car too much and you basically always just want to be on the MOVE! You are "all boy" as they say.  Your daddy and I love playing with you and watching you figure new things out.  We are quickly approaching your first birthday and in a way its so strange that you haven't even been a part of our family for a year.  It is hard to think back to before you were here!  Your daddy and I are excited to watch you figure even more out and love that you are ours sweet boy.  We love you!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Dear Wes - 8 Months

8 Months Old: April 25, 2013 
Length: 30 inches (measured at home)
Weight:  16 pounds 14 ounces (weighed at home)
Head Circumference:n/a
Diapers: Size 3
Clothes:  6-9 months, or 9 months (pants and pj's)

Likes: (Ok, from now on I am putting new "likes" because you still like most of the old things too!)

*you think it is so silly when we wave "bye-bye" to you.
*you love watching daddy use power tools in the garage. You think they are so funny and you get a really big belly laugh going!
*watching Lucy play frisbee or fetch with the ball
*seeing other babies (you smile, and "talk" to them now)
*cords.. (unfortunately) if you see one, you crawl as fast as you can towards it..
New Things:
*Army crawling, EVERYWHERE. You have gotten very fast and can even follow us from room to room. You get in the "Real crawl" position often but once you start to move you immediately go back down on your legs rather than your knees,
*Pulling up.. you are trying so hard but still need a little help to stand completley. Once you are up you love hanging on to things and you smile so big.
*You are making more noises but still seem to be doing the same sounds : Ba-ba or Da-da. 
*You (FINALLY) will hold your own bottle to feed yourself milk.

Sleep:
You take 2 naps most days. You are finally on a set schedule and I LOVE knowing exactly what times things need to happen:
7:00 am, wake up.. you sometimes stay in your crib until 7:30 or so when you really start moving around
7:30: Breakfast.. usually banana and cheerios and a plain blueberry waffle. You used to LOVE yogurt but currently are not interested in anything I am feeding you.
8:00-10:00: PLAY! (we usually go for a long morning jog/walk from 8:30-9:15)
10:00-10:30: get ready for nap.. I either give you a bottle or nurse you (depending on your mood) and we read a few books.
10:30: I lay you down and within a few minutes (usually) you are sound asleep
You sleep usually until 12. sometimes 11:45 or so, and sometimes 12:30. Depends on how tired you were!
12:30: Lunch (this varies a lot.. Lately, a grilled cheese or chicken nuggets and peas/green beans/sweet potatoes. 
1:00-3:00: This is when we run errands if I need to get out, or if we have lunch plans I usually make them for 12:15. We always try to get back home before 3:15.
3:15- get ready for nap, bottle or nurse and read books
3:30- Nap #2. Depending on how tired you are.. sometimes you sleep an hour and sometimes closer to 1.5 hours. I try to get you up by 5:15 so you will be tired for bedtime. We play until dinnertime when you wake up.
5:45: Daddy gets home, get ready for dinner.
6:00: Dinner. you usually eat what we are having or something similar to your lunch.
6:30-7:30: Play with Daddy.. and sometimes you take a 4 oz bottle during this time if you want it.
7:30:Bath time (you love to spend lots of time playing!)
8:00: Bedtime. Daddy or I put you to bed. I have learned you need a bottle to go to bed because if you nurse you just fall asleep too quickly. You only drink a 4 to 5 oz bottle.. you never drink more than that no matter how hard we try.
*You wake up around 4 or 5 am and I nurse you for around 15 minutes and lay you back down. Sometimes you take a while to go back to sleep but (THANKFULLY!) You are content and quiet until you wake up at 7 am.
Whew. that was a lot to type but I am sure I will be glad to have it to look back on when you have a sibling.

Eating:  You are eating a lot more at mealtimes and not wanting as much milk. I know that "Food is fun until they are one" but it is hard to get you to drink more than 4-5oz in one sitting.. so I am just doing the best I can but you LOVE real food so much. So, you eat 3 solid meals a day and you take 3-4 bottles or times to nurse during the day. You are not into nursing and most of the time I have to pump. I also give you formula if I am going to be gone and someone is keeping you. It has been SO MUCH less stressful on me than worrying about having breast milk for you. 


Pictures from this month:

You had a bad heat rash at the beginning of the month. It was all over the top of your head and under your eye. You had a low grade fever and we just had to keep you cool.

You love to stand up and I know you want to do it on your own SO bad. Your smile makes US smile!

You love to ride on this car or stand behind it and push it (you still need help to do either.)

When I am cooking dinner I can usually keep you entertained with Kitchen Utensils.

We went to Burleson to stay with Aunt Sara (Kathy rode with us) and the kids and Grammy was there too. Lucy kept checking on you in the car.

You and Bella ate each others food. 

First trip to the zoo! (Ft Worth Zoo) You seemed to like it but weren't too interested yet.

Rich LOVES his baby cousin.

I made you a scrambled egg yolk one morning.. it was VERY messy.

You get in the crawl position but often go back to your army crawl to actually move.

You have the hand motion but still army crawl with your legs. You kept eyeing my coffee.. you don't need it because you are FULL of energy but momma gets tired now that you are mobile!

Yeah.. you are a BIG fan of real food AND feeding yourself.

You LOVE to stand up and play on this play table that Bella & Rich gave you!

After we got back home from Burleson you started sucking your thumb (occasionally) not sure if you picked it up from Bella because she sucks her finger.

LOVE this smile. You were laughing at mommy doing a a fake cough. You think it is hilarious.

Reading with Daddy. You are really enjoying books these days. Only if you are sleepy :) Otherwise.. not enough movement involved.

8 Months... I blinked and here we are!

Wes Patrick,

Wow.. yes I am going to say it again.. this month has flown by. You are now mobile and your daddy and I love watching to see what you are motivated to crawl toward. You are very interested in things but also a little cautious. You like to be in whatever room we are in and don't usually crawl to an empty room.  You are starting to talk more and we love to listen to you try to make new sounds. The other day I was whispering to you and you started smiling and whispering back.. it was so sweet. Your smile buddy.. daddy and I love that smile so much. We spend our days making you laugh and we are so sad when we can tell you are not feeling well.  You are a busy little boy and I know that is only going to progress at this point. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that God gave you ALL that energy and he doesn't make mistakes! haha :) For the most part you are not into cuddling but when you get sleepy you sit in the chair with me and we read books and I love those moments. Sometimes you will grab tight to my neck when I am carrying you and I love those moments too. Your daddy loves that feeling and is so ready for you to hang tight and give him a BIG hug. We love being your mommy and daddy and we love getting to see you learn new things, and see the world through your curious, eager eyes. 

Love,

Mommy & Daddy