Happy Birthday to ME!!!

I have had such a blast this year learning and growing.  It all happened so fast!

I'm on the move and am the fastest crawler ever.  I'm also a pro at cruising the furniture.  I'm getting better at standing up without holding on.  I like to walk with my learn to walk train. 

I'm babbling like crazy, but no real words yet. 

I love eating big people food and have an outstanding appetite.  My tummy has successfully handled yogurt and cheese, so today I get to try whole milk.  I'm happy drinking out of my sippy cup, but I still prefer to have someone else hold it for me. 

I enjoy interacting with people and am also great at entertaining myself. 

I like to watch baby signing time.  It makes me smile.  :)

Still, my most favorite thing to do is suck my thumb...

I'm including pictures from my birthday party.  I only tried a taste or two of the frosting.  I wasn't that interested in eating my cake, but I sure had fun banging the heck out of it.  

Halloween

11 months...

I'm such a ham and am growing like a weed! 

I have 2 new teeth, which makes a grand total of 6. 

I've learned how to climb stairs and am quite proud of my accomplishment.  I'm cruising around furniture too,  and even stood up without holding on for a few seconds. Oh yeah, I've said DaDa a few times, but it's unrelated to my daddy.   

I'm eating big people food and really seem to enjoy chewing.  It's also fun to feed myself.  About a week ago, I decided I no longer wanted to drink from a  bottle.  I don't miss it considering Mommy was going to take it away from me once I turn 1.  However, I'm not too interested in drinking milk out a my sippy cup either.  I seem to enjoy water a little more.   Mommy's bothered that she's having to dump milk that her body has worked so hard to make.  I guess I can't blame her.  I will have to try harder. 

I love playing peek a boo, and so big is great fun too. 

I'm excited to celebrate my 1st Halloween next week. Tune in then to see me in my costume. 

XOXOXO

10

10 months it is! 

I love to crawl.  I'm now super fast!  I can even pull myself up to stand, then sit back down and crawl some more.  I don't really walk around furniture while holding on yet, but I'm close. 

I now have 4 teeth.  My 2 top canines just popped through.  I look like I have fangs and  Halloween isn't until next month. 

I'm still eating twice a day and continue to be a fantastic eater.  I've mastered drinking out of the sippy cup, although I'd rather have someone else hold it for me while I drink. 

I love to eat puffs!  The baby cheeto crunchers are super delicious too.

I'm a happy guy and love to laugh.  My giggle is contagious. 

I continue to suck my thumb.  It's my best friend. 

I still have a blast jumping the jumperoo, but my new favorite game is chasing around Evelyn and Isaac.  It never gets old.   :) 

6

I can't believe I'm 6 years old today.  Time really does fly.  I just started kindergarten and I'm loving every minute of it.  I go 5 days a week from 8:30 to 3:00.  My teacher is so thrilled that I already know how to read.  I really enjoy learning and I'm so excited for a great school year.

I'm enrolled in gymnastics again and have been doing quite well.  What helps me is that I have no fear.  I'm great at doing cartwheels and front flips into the foam pit. 

I advanced to the next level in swimming lessons.  I'm quite the little fish.  I even passed the swim test so I can go down the water slide even though I'm not tall enough.

I lost my very first tooth.  The tooth fairy left me $5.  I have another one that is kind of wiggly. 

I just learned how to ride my bike with no training wheels.  You wouldn't believe how excited I am. 

Lately I've been able to tolerate some gluten without any ill effects.

I like to color, do arts and crafts, sing and dance, play with dolls and play on the iPad.

Hugs to all!

9 months

I'm 9 months old today!  I've officially been "out" as long as I was "in".  lol...

I'm crawling!!!  I'm new to the mobility world, so I'm not as speedy as I will be one day.  I'm working on my confidence and coordination.  I love the new freedom crawling brings.  I've also learned how to clap.  It's great fun!   I'm proud of my new skills. 

I now have 2 teeth!  I'm a drool monster too, so more probably aren't far off. 

I'm eating stage 2 baby food twice a day, with Puffs as a snack.  There are SO many food combinations with stage 2 foods.  Yummy, yummy, yummy!  Both rice and oatmeal cereal bother my tummy, in different ways.    The tummy doctor said I don't need to eat cereal since I'm not happy when I do, so Mommy isn't giving it to me.  I've tried drinking from a sippy cup once.  It was clear I'm not quite ready. 

I love to blow raspberries, scream, and mimic sounds.  I try to hold conversations with anyone who talks to me.  

4

Hooray!  Today I am 4 years old.  We celebrated my birthday yesterday.  Daddy took the day off of work so the family could watch me at soccer camp.  Then we went to the new McDonald's for lunch.  Next, we went to swim at the pool.  We had pizza for dinner.  Grandma and Grandpa joined us.  We ended the celebration day by going to the concert at the park in Hawthorn Woods. What a great time! 

I'm doing really well.  I'm still a super sweet boy.  I'm courteous, and aware of other people's feelings.  I'm good at taking turns and sharing too. 

I'm an awesome eater and sleeper.  I still take a nap a few times a week and don't seem to mind taking the break from playing. 

I like to play with imaginext toys by fisher price and 100 piece puzzles.  My favorite characters remain as Woody and Buzz.  I also still love the Amazing Spiderman, but Batman and Superman have proved to be quite cool too. 

I can write my name decently these days.  I'm not too interested in writing many other letters, or numbers, or coloring either.  That's too much sitting still.  I'd much rather be moving. 

I start the 4 year old preschool class in a couple weeks.  I will go 3 days a week from 8am to 1pm.   I'm looking forward to it.   

   

8 is great!

I've been such a busy little man learning and growing since my last post. 

I'm doing a fabulous job eating!  I eat twice a day and eat everything without any complaints.  I open my mouth super wide like a little bird.  I've drank water a few times too.  It sure doesn't compare to milk. 

I can sit up all by myself.  What a new world!  I've been introduced to new toys that are easy to play with while sitting.  What fun! 

I have a tooth!  I wasn't even cranky or have any trouble sleeping while it was growing.  I'm also working on my second one. 

I really enjoyed the fireworks on the 4th.  The parade was exciting for me too.

I'm loving my sprinkler pool.  I've gone swimming in the big people's pool a few times too and can't get enough. 

I still LOVE my thumb!  You wouldn't believe the difficult time Mommy had taking pictures of me today.  I could barely keep it out of my mouth long enough for her to snap some shots. 

I've been interacting with people more and it's fun to touch their faces.  :)

Hugs to all... 

Lucky 7

Seven is today's magic number!

I'm feeling great, gaining weight and am a happy little man.

I'm eating cereal once a day and have cut down to only drinking 4 times per day.  I tried peas with no complaints.  Today, I'm going to try carrots. 

I'm still working on sitting up all by myself, but I'm getting closer and closer to independence.   

I love talking and screaming.  I also enjoy cooing.  Some times, it sounds like I'm doing a bird call. 

I like to go swinging on the swing set.  Playing peek a boo is super fun too.  I'm still a huge fan of stroller rides.    

               

Way to go Evelyn!

We have another 2014 graduate!  Evelyn graduated from preschool on Sunday.
The theme was The United States of America.  All the classes sang a song naming the 50 states.   Each class recited a popular piece of American history and sang a song.
Evelyn's class recited part of the Gettysburg Address and sang God Bless America. 

1/2 a year...

  I'm getting to be such a BIG boy!  I'm gaining weight beautifully and my doctors couldn't be more pleased.  Mommy is taking me for my 6 month checkup on Wednesday.  Then, I'll start to eat cereal.

Move over thumb...I've discovered my feet and like to grab them and put them in my mouth, although my thumb still does give me comfort.

I'm a champ at rolling over and will roll across the floor to reach anything I may have my eye on.

I'm still learning how to sit up by myself.  I do very well with help and practice everyday.   

My feet finally touch the floor when I'm in the jumperoo and I've been getting the hang of jumping.  It's great fun!

I can't get enough of stroller rides.  I love being outdoors and smelling the fresh air.

5 months!

5 months, one more month and I'm a half year old!

I'm certain I'm the happiest baby on the block.  I've mastered smiling for sure and my smile is the sweetest, most genuine there is.

I've found my left thumb and it's the most amazing thing, I love it!  Whenever I get upset, I just jam it (or half my fist) in my mouth and start to feel much better.

I'm a rolling machine now that I've learned how to roll over.  Now tummy time is no problem!     I've sat in the Bumbo chair a few times but am not sure I like it, especially because I always spit up when I sit in it, it's the strangest thing. 

I've been enjoying the Jumperoo more and more even though my feet still don't touch the ground.  I've been starting to reach for things and even am able to grab and hold on.

I continue to be a fantastic sleeper, except when Evelyn and Isaac wake me up in the morning.  Then I just play in my crib until Mommy gets me up.

 

4 months old...

Today is March 25th which means I am 4 months old.

I'm a pretty happy baby these days!  It seems the medicine is really helping.  I had a follow up appointment with the tummy doctor on Friday.  The bummer is I'm not gaining weight the way he would like.  He wants me to have formula on the days I drink bottles when Mommy is at work to add some extra calories to my diet.  Too bad I haven't learned how to spit up less.  :)  However, Mommy just discovered the main ingredient of the formula is corn syrup followed by vegetable oil; that has GMO written all over it.  She has a call out to the doctor to see what plan b might entail.  Mommy just wants to feed me more, so we'll see.   

I'm smiling nonstop and "talking" a bit more lately. 

I'm doing well with tummy time and on Sunday I rolled over!  I'm super close to rolling over from my back to my tummy.  It will be any day now.

I've been on 2 stroller rides which I have really enjoyed.  I would like to take more, but the weather isn't cooperating. 

Thanks again to all of you who made it to my Baptism.  What a fun time!    

3 months old...

Today marks my third month of life.  I saw the stomach specialist a week and a half ago.  He increased the dose and frequency of my medicine and I seem to be feeling better.  I'm awake more during the day without crying.  I like to swing in my swing, play in my pack n play, or on my activity mat.  There's so much to look at.

I've learned how to smile, and it's quite charming.  I found my hands and like putting them in my mouth.  Sometimes, I even hold my rattle.   I'm beginning to interact with people, even coo a bit.

I love, love, love watching Evelyn and Isaac.  I can't get enough of them.

I'm drinking 5 times a day and continue to be a great sleeper averaging 9-10 hours a night.

Mommy went back to work last week, so I'm adjusting to life when she's gone.  Lucky for Daddy and nanny Donna, I'm a champ at drinking from a bottle.

2 months old...

Today I am 2 months old.  Other than me growing out of newborn size diapers and clothes, not much has changed. 

I'm still  having tummy issues, but am a little happier.  My appointment with the stomach specialist isn't until the 15th of February.  How crazy it is that I have to wait over a month just to see the doctor. 

I've been sleeping in my crib for a week now and think it's pretty comfy.  My Illini mobile is keeping me quite entertained.  I'm averaging 8-9 hours a night which Mommy and Daddy are pleased about.  

Stay warm!

Fifty Years and Going Strong