3 months old

Georgia is 3 months old!

And this is 3 weeks late! ha.


Oh my sweet Georgia girl. My honey girl. My golden girl. My Georgie Porgie. She is happy and content. She loves to be moving. She loves her brother, who loves her even more. She tries to suck her hands. She rolled tummy to back for daddy while mommy was gone. She blows raspberries and coos. She kicks her legs and sticks her tongue out if you do it first. She is a gassy little thing and can clear a room...sorry Georgia for telling everyone that.
She fights a bottle and a pacifier (which is no good for the times I have to shoot weddings). She is drooly and spits up a ton. She sleeps good at night and prefers to sleep on her belly. She doesn't cry much unless she is hungry or gets poked in the eye by her overly affectionate brother. She loves bath time and pees every time she gets in the water. She has yet to laugh but smiles all day long. Her eyes couldn't be any bluer. She loves her daddy, who is cautious with the wee little babies but now that she's a chunk he can't get enough.
She had her first hospital stay this month because of a high fever. She has already been to the zoo three times.  Stroller, car rides, and the ergo are her jam. She is in the nursery at church now and is always swinging away happily when we pick her up (good girl for not crying).
She is a joy. She is my baby. I will treasure every moment and first with her!

He is 2.

 

Turning two has been so easy, so much fun. Turning one is sad in the "he's not my baby anymore" way- but turning two is more fun in the growing/talking/learning way. Everett is so funny. Maybe just to me and Chris, but we don't care. He cracks us up all day long. Yesterday we were walking out of Target, hand in hand, and the automatic door opened, and Everett exclaimed, "Thank you!". To an automatic door. I died laughing. I also thought, 'wow, he is so polite and we have taught him that!' So proud!

He likes to pretend everything that isnt a hat, is a hat. He will put a shoe on his head and say,  "mommy, my hat" in the most serious matter-of-fact way. Then he will crack himself up. He thinks he is funny too! He will also cover his head with anything, turn up his palms and ask "where'd he go?".

He is also so helpful. He will help me with everything if I let him. I am trying to let him and cultivate this helpful nature he has, because I like to think one day his wife will thank me :). He likes to carry every piece of laundry from the dryer to the couch. In the kitchen he likes to take his stool and stand right next to me and hand me things. He also takes everything out of the dishwasher, handing it to me to be put away. He is also very independent in the kitchen. Lately he just takes his little stool and will get in the pantry and get his own snack. Sometimes thats nice for me, but we are trying to make him ask first because he will do this at other peoples houses. Yikes, right??!

He is still a great sleeper and eater. He will go to sleep with zero fight and protest (as long as we have read 4 books and said our prayers), wake up happy, and nap is the same way. He eats almost everything we offer, and could eat all day long.

He is talking up a storm. Most of it is understandable too! He repeats everything you say. I mean EVERYTHING! It is so sweet in moments when I tell him I love him, and he says "I luh yooooou". But he also repeats me when I say "shoot" or "oh my gosh". Working on that! We have always felt like he was an early talker, or an advanced talker, but now I feel like he is right on the same page as other two year olds.
He loves the following: dogs, horses, goats, bugs, going on walks, playing at the park, coloring (or as he says 'cuttering'), giving hugs and kisses, milk, popcorn, any food on a stick, swimming, the ipad, his shows (Super Why & Mickey Mouse are his current favorites), any blanket, his cousins, his best friend Ava, going to play at Grammys school, and books before bedtime. He dislikes the following: getting his hair washed, anything dripping on his clothes, being dirty, being in the car, broccoli, when mommy leaves, sand in his shoes, loud sounds, showers and sour food.
I am absolutely loving this age. He is a blast. Everything is so fun and exciting to him. He is really funny and I love watching him absorb new information. He is a joy- my sunshine! Love you Everett boy!

21 Months

(he got this balloon for Valentines Day and insisted it be in the photo! He is also sick in this picture. Runny nose/cough thing)

Everett turned 21 months on 2/11/13! This age- by far- has been the most fun. He is silly, sweet, chatty and just a joy.

He got his first haircut, but just to trim up around the ears and neck. His hair is something that he is complimented on daily! It is a curly fluffy awesome 'mess' on the top of his head with two curls around his ears. It is still red sometimes in the sun.

I think this age is definitely the age where me, as a parent, can get away with thinking he will forget about I promise I made or a habit I started yesterday. Like if I tell him we are going to the park, he will get his shoes and hat and beg for the park until we are there. One time I let him eat breakfast at the kitchen table and now the high chair is put away. He knows going to the nursery at church means I will be gone for two hours. Sometimes he hollers "bye!" but other times he cries. He knows a camera or a phone means "cheese!". He knows going to see Grammy means "car, fishies" (driving to her school and theres a fish tank there).
He is very active. I was told he is a busy bee and doesn't stop moving. This is very true. It is hard for him to sit and play alone for a while, he is always onto the next thing. Except his love for Yo Gabba Gabba (seriously thats all that I hear in my head now), he is too busy to sit for much. We go to story time once a week and it is kinda a nightmare for me. He has no interest in sitting still for me, all he can talk about are the bubbles that happen at the end!
 He has never met a stranger. That is something my mother in law has always said about my husband, and it couldn't be more true for Everett. At the library he will go up an talk to other moms, even play peek-a-boo with them. At the play place at the mall he walked up and started a conversation with an old lady! Just chatting away, mostly not understandable, but hey.  I love how bold he is. I can see the strength in his boldness and the weakness. He is outgoing and brave, but on the same token he can be defiant and stubborn. He is in time out probably once a day, and he takes it really seriously. If I even MENTION time out, he runs there (a corner in the living room) and puts his face against the wall until we get him out. I am starting to think he does this not because I have him well disciplined in time out, but because he knows its a punishment and REFUSES to let us see him hate it. I know that sounds crazy for me to think about an almost two year old, but he is THAT defiant (when it comes to discipline). He wants the control and power. He is a tough little nut.
He is really into babies, ha. Somehow he can tell who is younger than him and they are automatically "baby!" to him. He also has a glow worm that he carries around and calls baby. He also sleeps with a stuffed Elmo (malmo!), a moose (moooooo!), and a teddy bear (barrrr!). When I get him out of his crib he asks for each of them to also get out.
He is really starting to blossom into a gentle, sweet spirit. He loves to help me unload the dishwasher by taking one piece at a time, handing it to me and saying "thank you! you welcome!". It takes forever to unload the dishwasher now but it is some of the sweetest moments we share. He also likes me to hand him the clothes out of the washer (one by one) so he can put them in the dryer (one by one).

I don't want to forget:

• how you say "sorry", it comes out "SAUCEY!" and you say it with such enthusiasm too.
• your chubby hands holding my cheeks so you can kiss me
• how you sit next to me on the couch, laying your head on my arm
• how you say "JUUUUICE!"
• how you discovered picking your nose. haha.
• you've had a runny nose this week, and when you sneeze some snot out you panic, look and me, grab my arm and wipe your nose on it.
• not something I love that you do, but you stuff your mouth with food and then let it all spill out. Nomi (my mom) thinks you are trying to be like Cookie Monster.
• you are never mad when you wake up. You always greet me with a "BOO!" when I walk into your room.

18 months

 

18 months. Holy cow. How did we get here.

At 18 months, you wear size 12 month pants and 18-24 shirts/jammies. Size 6 shoe is too big but size 5 is way too small. We haven't gone for your18 month well visit yet, but I am sure you weighs significantly more. You're so heavy all the sudden.

18 months has brought many many laughs. You are the most hilarious little thing. You jibber jabber constantly. You say sentences now, like "ana-go-in-da-car?" (want to go in the car, thats your favorite thing to say right now), "I want more", "I want down". You love to say no. You also say "no-no" (your dad says you say it with a hispanic accent, its true). You 'count', but only say 'three' ten times. Your favorite thing is signing happy birthday to candles. Then pretending to blow them out. You adore "malmo" (elmo). You started watching tv shows, only a little bit a day but you like the tv now.

(your pitiful face)

You call me 'daddy', although I am starting to think you arent really saying "daddy" but some form of "hold me"? Maybe? I hope thats the case. You are always saying "daddy" to me, but call me "mommy' to others when I am not around. You call your dad "dada". You get excited to see him when he comes home. You run to him, then sike him out and come back to me. It hurts his feelings, buddy. He loves you so much but you are so attached to me. I love that you love me and that I am your favorite person. Your second favorite (no its not dad) is my mom, your Nomi. If I leave you with dad you SCREAM, but with Nomi you could care less if I'm around. I am pretty sure you like her more than me.

You eat great. You love milk, I give you a sippy with milk that you call "bah-bull" (you stopped nursing at 17 months). You are starting to hate the high chair. You love eggs, smoothies, chicken, sweet potatoes, crackers (cra-cahs), applesauce, and of course any sugar. You sleep from about 7pm-7am. You nap at 11am for about 2.5 hours.

OH! You have peed on the potty several times now. I usually make you sit on it before your bath and you almost always go. You hate the bath. I don't know why. You cry and cry and CRY. You brush your teeth, which is so cute.

You love animals. You love seeing them and petting them. You like fish (you say 'sish'), turtles (you also call them 'sish'), dogs (they are all Delilah to you), cats (especially strays around Nomis house), and birds. 

You are an energetic little boy. You love to be active and be outside. You are stubborn too. I tell you 'no' and you just look me in the eyes and do it again. Oh boy. You sure are cute, and so smiley. Even though lately youve had a hard time teething (you've gotten pretty much all your teeth except one set of molars in the back), you are very happy. And very loved.

I dont want to forget:

• how you always try to put shoes on, and your voice whispering "shoes, shoes"
• your concerned look when asking for "more", while frantically signing "please"
• how I lay you down for bed, and you just look up at me, no fight, no tears, and ask for "moo" (a stuffed cow). 
• your sweet little kisses
• you are the best hug giver. You put your arms around my neck and press your sweet cheek against mine. I know you mean it, and I know you love me.
• how if I discipline you, you immediately try to swoon me. Youll get your face up in mine and say, "hi?", then give me kisses. its so sweet, but also a bit manipulative...
• how when I get you from your crib you have a million things to tell me. You'd sit in there and talk and talk if I let you.

a 14 month old.

 

 Everett is cracking me up lately. I wanted to take a minute to write some things down so I can remember them.
Today he is really taking initiative to walk everywhere. Its like all the sudden, it clicked and he is trying his hardest to walk anywhere he can.
He is so smart. I know probably every parent thinks this about their kid, but seriously he blows me away. If he wants me to open something (today it was a candy he found), he will take my hand, turn it palm side up and try to pry my fist open. I rarely brush his hair but he found my brush and he started using it on his head. He sees us washing our hands and starts pretending to wash his by rubbing his hands together. He can point to his eyes and ears when asked.
He is so chatty. He says so many things, but just this week he started saying: mama, na-night, banana, donut, and no-no-no-no-no!
He loves to dance and will start jumping at music.
He loves balls still. He like when sports are on tv and will yell "ball!" when they are on.
He loves sweets and donuts. I put our box of donuts in the microwave and he saw the orange box and yelled "donut!" and kept pointing to it wanting me to give him one. He will see any food and say "mmmmmmmm!" over and over til I give him some.
He gives the best hugs. He wraps his skinny arms around your neck and squeezes so hard. It's heart melting.

its fascinating to me that these little babies that we birth start changing right in front of our eyes. he is no longer a small baby but a toddler who is developing into his own person every second. its so fun getting to know him!

13 months

Well, we did a monthly update on E for 12 whole months. Today it is the 11th and it feels weird not doing one. I wont be doing them religiously like I was, but today I do want to record some things about my 13 month old.




We turned our spare room into your playroom. Its a place for you to go and me not to worry what you're getting into. You love playing by yourself, most of the time. But honestly, you love being on my hip the most.



You also love getting into my bathroom stuff. You love to take my eye shadows and throw them into the empty bathtub! You also love throwing rocks in the pool. And you like to throw piles of laundry off the couch, piece by piece. I think you just like to throw things!








You are SO INTO BALLS. Everything is a ball. All day long, "ball?" "ball?" We pass those ball bins at the store and you point and yell "BALL!!!" and kick your feet. I can't help but buy you one every time. When I hand you a ball, you give it such a big hug.


You are the sweetest little boy. I get millions of hugs and kisses daily. What an awesome job I have! You also love to laugh, and you think you are funny. You play "peek a boo" a lot. You take the palms of your hands, cover your eyes, and release them saying "boo" very sweet and softly. Then you LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH like it was so funny (which it is)! You are a little chatterbox. Nothing we can understand, but there are times you repeat what we say clear as day. A few times now you've repeated "I love you" when dad or I say it to you. Just today, I told you, "be careful", and you looked at me and said "be careful" then laughed hysterically. These times you act like a little parrot are rare, but so funny and sweet.
Oh, but you still don't say or call me "mama". Whats the deal, bro?

12 months old

 

 I have a toddler!

Everett is not walking. Not really showing interest either. He crawls like a champ, and I think he knows he is fast. He will drop to his knees to crawl anytime I try to hold his hands to encourage him to walk.

He is the friendliest, happiest baby in the world. Anytime we are out he gets compliments on how friendly he is. He waves at everyone and says "hi" constantly. His smile is contagious and people just swoon over him.

His 7th tooth is cutting through right now. The last 3 teeth he has gotten havent seemed to bother him at all.

This past month you developed an obsession with clocks. I am not sure where it came from, but you love them. You find them everywhere. You love to point at them and say, "clock!" (sounds more like "claw"). Watches you also love.

Your speech is great. You say "dada", "ba" (ball or balloon), "clock", "hi", "bye" and "ba ba" (bottle) and you know what it means. You havent said "mama" for a couple months :(

You are a great eater and if I keep giving you food you'll stay in your highchair for a long time. You still nurse but I am starting to wean you. You tried whole milk in a cup and didnt really love it but I think its because it was cold.

You are a little guy. Still in size 3 diapers and most 12 month clothes (except Carters brand) swim on you.

You are in swimming lessons and love the water.

You are a tough little guy. If you bonk your head or fall and you hardly cry.

I don't want to forget:

• your deep belly laugh
• how you say "claw!" at the clock over and over...
• how you reach your hand down to feed the dogs from your high chair
• how you often lean in for kisses (open mouthed wet ones!!)
• how you lay your head on my shoulder (this month brought out a cuddly side of you!)
• how you love playing with big kids
• how you giggle when I get you from your crib
• how you pat your dads head when you sit on his shoulders

11 Months!

Oh my this month has been a BLAST. This age is so SO fun!

Everett your little personality is shining. You are still so sweet and funny as ever. You don't like to cuddle still, but you do make me carry you around. You are very attached to me. I can't be out of your sight. Thankfully when I need to leave you you are always happy. I haven't had to leave you with anyone while you cry for me yet.

Your favorite word is still "dada". But this month, you've said "mama" and knew what it meant. Yahoo! You say it so differently than dada. "dada" is very high pitched, where as "mama" is in a lower deep raspy voice. Its adorable. When I ask you to say "mama", it comes out as "baba" but you have said it right many times. You are so vocal. You love talking and will jibber away all day long. You say "hi", "ba" (ball), "dada", "mama", "dog" and many other consonant noises (na, pa, ba, ha).

We have taught you many "tricks" and we think you are just so smart. You give high fives, you clap on demand (and ANYTIME you hear music, melts my heart), we say "so big!" and you reach your hands into the air, we also say "nigh-night" and you lay down and pretend to sleep. You love peek a boo and will play it on your own with your hand or a blanket. If we sing, you try to mimic us. You are also a very good waver and still pretend to be shy by laying your head down on my shoulder. You still love giving kisses. You think you are so funny all the time and often give us the scrunched up nose laughter and smile.

You aren't close to walking but still stand unassisted for several seconds before falling or sitting yourself down. You are as active as ever, if you forget about having me right by you you run off and get into everything.

You are a much better eater this month. You have grown to love peas and butternut squash as well as spinach in your scrambled eggs. Still loving blueberries, cheese, chicken and any crunchy snack.

You still have 4 teeth. I can see 4 more coming in on top. It seems to be rough on you.

You still nap at 9am and 1pm and sleep from 6:30p-6:30a with one waking around 4am.

You are still nursing several times a day. I thought we'd be done at 12 months but we'll see.

Things I don't want to forget:

• How you scream to get what you want. Oh boy.
• How you often get into the toilets. I have to be extra vigilant now, since one day you made your rounds to all 3 toilets within 15 minutes. You love to stick your hand in there and splash.
• how you sometimes you go into your room and shut the door.
• How you just LOVE music. Always clapping or singing along with us. Its so cute. You've been a singer for a while now. You also dance, by jumping up and down on your bum.
• How you sit with your ankles crossed.
• our favorite time of day is going to check on you before we go to bed. Your dad and I find you in all kinds of cute positions and we always pat your back or say sweet words over you.
• That scrunched up nose laugh!
• Your fake laugh!
• Your worried smile.

Everett you are so loved! I hope your ability to bring joy and laughter to others never fades.

10 months old!

I've been dreading this month, since he is now double digits. Makes me so stinking sad! I know the whining about time going by so fast gets annoying- but SERIOUSLY it goes so fast!

Everett is such a busy little boy. Always moving. Always getting into things. Rarely still. Never cuddles.

He is standing on his own now. He pulls himself up on everything, even his crib which is very low so I am surprised he is tall enough to reach the top. He now stands and then lets go, standing alone for a second before he falls to his bum. For as busy as he is, he is very cautious when he is on his feet. He knows to sit himself down slowly, and takes slow steps when "cruising" along furniture.

He is so social. He babbles a lot. He still says "dada" all the time and definitely knows what it means. A couple times he has said "mama" but it was maybe only twice and when I tell him to say it he says "dada". Stinker. He also says "buh bye", "dog", and he called his PawPaw Kent "pawpaw" clear as day last week. I have gotten a few words on video, I need to post them!

He is doing this new thing where if I am holding him, and introduce him to someone new, or even just tell him to say hi to someone, he lays his head down on my shoulder and acts bashful.

He is still signing some things. A while ago I taught him "milk", but then I decided to stop because I thought it may make weaning harder. Well, the other day Ev was sitting at my feet and reached his hand up toward me opening and closing his fingers (the sign for milk is squeezing your hand open and closed). I thought it was a cute new wave he was doing, but when I picked him up, he "assumed the position" of nursing and yanked my shirt, signing milk over and over. Oh boy. This is his new favorite thing to do, and its so funny to me! He is so smart! Now that he signs it and knows what it means, it makes our life so much easier. He signs it when he is tired too so its almost like he's asking to go to bed. Which he does now beautifully.

Speaking of sleep, we had a rough month when him waking up often, but it was due to teething. He cut his fourth tooth (after it being **right there** for 3 WEEKS) and since them he will sleep 11 hours straight.

Everett had ear tubes put in this month, his first surgery.

His favorite foods are: black beans, blueberries, chicken, cheese, puffs, and cheerios. Still not a veggie fan- we need help in that department!

what I don't want to forget:

• waking up to your happy babbles over the monitor
• how love your dada
• how excited you get over black beans
• how you really study things. you take toys and look them over, picking and poking everything.
• how you are a little vampire, biting our faces and necks all the time.
• how you love your doggies! you often let them out of their kennel and chase them around
• your breathy voice, especially when you say "pawpaw" and "baba"
• your little hand signing milk at me
• how you eagerly pull all your clothes out of your drawer and throw them on the ground
• how you sleep so sweetly, taking up almost half the length of your crib

9 months!

I am a little late posting this, but Everett turned 9 months old on 2/11/12!

This month went by especially fast, I think because everyday he is doing something new.

He is very very vocal. Giggling, babbling, making this dramatic inhale scream that I can't describe. Chris and I are pretty sure he says "Dada" and knows what it means. He has been saying it for a while, but the past couple weeks he mainly says it when Chris is around, or when he hears his voice over the phone.

He pulls himself up to stand. It still scares me, because he isnt too strong yet. He topples over most of the time, but each day he is getting better. He also crawls up on all 4's now, and is so stinking fast. He loves to follow me around the house!

He gets into everything. Opens cabinets, drawers, pulls things out and puts his mouth on everything. He stills puts everything in his mouth. If I turn my back for a second its guaranteed I will be fishing something out of his little mouth. It amazes me how he finds the smallest things!

He is so so busy. Always wanting down, to explore. He is a little wiggle worm.

He has 3 teeth. Two on the bottom and the top left one. He seems to be a slow teether. I will notice the tooth in the gum, but it won't come through for a couple weeks, if not longer. It doesn't seem to bother him too badly.

He had another ear infection this month. It was a double. He gets tubes Wednesday, mama is scared!

We are still doing sign language. He has mastered more, milk, and dog. We are working on eat and all done.

He is still nursing, although a lot less frequent. Its about 4 times a day. He eats 3 meals and loves food! He seems to be a little picky, but so far will try anything. He still won't let me spoon feed him (except for warm squash baby food), so he eats what we do and is great using his little teeth and gums to smash it all up. When he has a bottle he still gets excited seeing it and will hold it himself!

He waves bye all the time. He also waves hi! He is still very social and will let anyone hold him. As much as I want him to be, he doesn't seem attached to me. He is willing to go to anyone and will love on anyone as well. When we are out and about he stares at people with such a big grin, and will wait until they look at him. He loves attention! He gets lots of compliments on his big blue eyes and smile. We think he is adorable, but to hear it from others is so sweet!

I think the best thing is to hear how people think you are the sweetest, happiest baby. You really are. Always smiling, always giggling. You love to hug and give kisses (although you are too busy to cuddle!)

I don't want to forget:

• how your little eyes are puffy in the morning!
• how clear you say "dad" "dada" and "babababa"
• how you sleep with your bum up in the air
• how you point and look at the overhead light in the car that turns on when I turn the car off
• how you ALWAYS cross your feet at the ankles when you fall asleep in your carseat
• how you still "scratch" everything, especially your head when you're tired.
• how you hold the sides of my head and dive for a kiss
• how you look with those 3 teeth! One on top and two on bottom.

8 months!

Everett you are 8 months old! How did this happen so fast?!!?

You truly changed this month. You are so mobile and fast. You are still army crawling, but will get up on all 4's and do a few "steps" that way until you fall on your belly. You also learned how to sit up on your own, and you love to crawl all over the place then sit and look around. You especially love to sit at the sliding glass door and watch the dogs outside. You also love to sit at the full length mirror in my bathroom and look at yourself and give your self kisses (oh boy).

We lowered your crib all the way down because you are kinda starting to pull yourself up places. You hadn't done that in your crib yet but I didn't want to risk it.

When you are all over the house you find every crumb, hair, teeny piece of paper, basically anything that is hard to find or see you do indeed find it and put it in your mouth. Everything goes in your mouth. It is kinda scary to me so I have started vacuuming and mopping every other day.

The only time you don't put something in your mouth is when you are in your high chair. You seem to be a picky eater, without having tried much food. You are not big on begin spoon fed (never were) but I still try at every meal to give you baby food. I also cut up food and set it out for you, but your favorites are puffs, cheerios and toast. Little carb boy. Some new foods you've tried: blueberries, yogurt, toast, steamed baby carrots, a biscuit (you took it off the table while sitting with your Nomi), egg yolks, whole grain pasta, steamed peas, crackers, and a couple bits of a turkey puree.

In the morning you have a pureed fruit with oatmeal (about 4 bites), cut up banana and a small piece of toast to chew on. You nurse about 5-6 times a day, and also have a snack, lately just a few cheerios and some blueberries. For dinner you have a couple bites of a pureed vegetable, then a couple pieces of pasta or rice, then cut up veggies. This past month you haven't been interested in eating solids. You cut your first tooth (and your second is on the way), and seemed to have an aversion to anything cold in your mouth. Teething made you fussy, but then again between that and another double ear infection its hard to tell whats bothering you. You seem to have a very high pain tolerance, especially when you fall and bonk something.

You had your first Christmas this month! It was a great day. You loved the paper, and especially loved the tree. We traveled to Sacramento this month, your second plane ride. You did so great there and back. You also met your great Grandpa Bill and Grandma Wy, and your great Grandma Helen and Grandpa Jim (they came here to AZ).

You don't exactly sleep through the night yet. I guess technically according to the Drs (6-7hours straight) you do. You sleep from about 6pm-6:30am with one waking. When you are sick or teething you wake a lot more than once.

You talks so much! Your favorite thing to say is "da da da da da". I know you don't know what it means yet, but its still so cute. You also say "ma ma ma" and "ha ha" and "ba ba". You wave bye-bye and sometimes give hi-fives.

I don't want to forget:

• how when I get you from a nap and you are still sleepy, you lay your head down and tuck your hands into your belly
• how when I lay you in your crib you quickly turn over onto your belly, again with hands tucked under your belly
• how much you love me! (is that strange to say?) Seriously you are a mamas boy right now, you look for me when I'm out of your sight and you always want me to hold you. I love that you want me.
• How you love bath time! You love putting your hand under the running facet.
• how you often grab the sides of my head and kiss me on the mouth. Melts my heart.
• the deep belly laugh you get when I rub my head on your belly

You are overall such a happy baby. Always smiling, and so social. If anyone even looks at you you smile. Everyone always comments on how cute you are, and I so agree. We really hit the jackpot on you Everett. You are a perfectly happy, content, adorable and beautiful boy. You bring joy to everyone, and your dad and I are so wild about you!

7 months

You are 7 months old! This age is so fun but also a lot of work.

You are crawling everywhere. It is more like an army crawl, but you often get up on all fours. You are so so fast. It seems like I put you down and you race right to the Christmas tree. You love to pull at the ribbons and paper that are on the gifts. You even unwrapped one of my gifts yesterday! You are just too funny.

You also go from crawling to a reclined position, and often when I am changing your diaper you pull yourself up into a sitting position (using the side of the dresser). Changing you and getting you dressed is such a challenge! You squirm and turn over, but thats not a surprise because you don't like to sit still for much. You are often hanging out on the floor. It makes me feel bad, but you are so happy roaming around exploring the house or on the floor with your toys. Speaking of toys, you don't really love your baby toys, you prefer cords, remotes, paper, cell phones, tags, and the wii remote. Of course we don't let you play with those things but you sure try!

You are still not too interested in solid foods. You tried some new things over Thanksgiving and even since then, but still not loving it. I have started cutting up sweet potatoes and green beans and giving you those, but still not much is consumed. Thats ok, I am sure you'll get there when you're ready.

This month you had a double ear infection. It was so sad I hate seeing you in pain. I think I can finally tell your symptoms of an ear infection. You had been sleeping so great, 12 hours in a row, but not since you've been sick. Lately you still get up once, sometimes twice in the night. Most of the time I am grateful for those night feedings, since during the day you are so distracted I wonder how much you are really eating.

We have a pretty good schedule down. It looks something like this:

6:30/7:00 am- wake up, nurse

8:00am- "eat" breakfast

8:30/9- nap

10:30/11am- up, nurse

1:00pm- nap

3:00pm, up nurse

5:00pm- "eat" dinner

6/6:30- nurse, bed

You eat more often than listed, if you're hungry I feed you. This routine works for us and I am so glad we have it down!

Your personality is blooming! You are so happy and friendly. You smile at everyone. You are a little flirt with those big blue eyes. You reach your little hand out and touch people faces. You are the sweetest little boy. You are very vocal. You babble a lot, saying "da da da" and "ba ba ba". You also love to squeal and yell. You also do this cute thing where you scrunch up your nose and take short, quick breaths through it like you are so excited. We do that back and forth to each other.\

Things I don't want to forget:

how you squeal with joy when I walk into your room to get you from your crib

Your non stop giggles.

your cold small hands this time of year

your soft fuzzy head growing full of strawberry blonde hair

your gummy grins! how you press your top and bottom gums together

your little baby kisses

Everett we adore you! You've been in our lives a short 7 months and I couldnt imagine life any other way. You have made our little family better, happier, whole. We love you.

6 months old

Everett, you are SIX MONTHS OLD! How did this happen!!

I am so thrilled to see you thriving and growing, but I miss that squishy little baby!

You have changed so so much this past month.

In your fifth month of life you:

started sitting up

started crawling backwards

started eating fruits and veggies

started giving kisses

You are more playful this month. You get excited over toys and when we play with you. You and your dad are having more fun now, he can be a little rough and tumble with you now. He adores you! He's been trying to teach you to crawl, but you only do it backwards. You end up in the funniest spots and I have no clue how (like between the media center and your swing, or under the nesting tables). You are on all 4's often and just sit there rocking back and forth.

This whole month I thought you were teething. I am sure in some ways you are, but at your 6 month well visit the Dr told me what we thought was a tooth coming through is actually a cyst on your gums. Kinda frustrating because we were at the Dr two weeks prior to that thinking you had an ear infection, but the Dr (a different one we don't normally see) said you had no ear infection, but were just cutting a tooth. Well at your well visit we find out that little white dot you've had for a month is not a tooth, it is in fact a cyst on your gums. And the reason you've been kinda fussy is because you have another ear infection. Oye.

We started more foods this month. You like yams, but thats about it. So far you've tried: bananas, avocado, green beans (those gave you gas), yams (love them), squash, pears, apples, prunes, and oatmeal. Oh, your Nomi (my mom) gave you a little baby yogurt. Nothing interests you as far as food. You are content with just nursing, but I try to give you food in the morning and evening just so you get used to it. You rarely take more than 3 bites. You are distracted and just plain not interested. I'm pretty sure once we introduce table food you'll be happy!

You sleep so so so well now. Your schedule isn't much different, but you like your crib and go to sleep when you are put down.

You talk and babble a ton. You like to say "haaaiiii" a lot. You also LOVE to grab chins and faces and put your whole mouth on them. Those kisses are too sweet!

You are very very grabby now. You want everything!

I am pretty sure this may be our last month with a non mobile baby. You are so close to crawling. I better start all the baby-proofing!

Things I don't want to forget:

• How you scratch almost every surface. You slap at a table, chair, carpet, anything really- and then scratch your nails over and over on it. I think you think you are trying to pick it up.
• Your early morning babbles.
• How you grab my face, and say "argh!" and proceed to bite my chin.
• How high your little tush sticks in the air when trying to crawl

where does the time go??

Tomorrow my son will be 6 months old! I have no idea how the time slipped right out of our hands. He has changed so much. I want to savor every second of this baby....

minutes old...

days old...

one month old... (oh that acne)

two months old...

three months old...

four months old...

five months old...

5 months!

Ok I officially feel like time is flying, and I think it'll just go faster from here on out.

This month more than any other went by the fastest. You have grown and changed so much since your 4 month post!

Right after your 4 month birthday you rolled from your back to your belly. You were so close for so long, then one day I went to get you from your nap (you were in our bed) and there you were, on your belly just looking around. Scared me to death but I was also so proud!

This month we struggled with your sleep. Struggled is an understatement! Putting you down for naps was hard, making you sleep at night was hard, keeping you asleep at either was hard. I will let you fuss for a little while but nothing helped you sleep. I think you being able to roll onto your belly really threw you off. You also had an ear infection, that your dad realized (not me- mom fail) that I know contributed to your struggle to sleep.

Just a couple weeks ago when your ear was healed we put you in your crib in your own room. This was so hard on me and even harder for your dad- we miss you so much! We also changed your bed time from around 8/9pm to 6/7pm. Yes, very early. But oh my goodness it worked! We now have a bedtime routine of bath, lotion, jammies, story, nurse, sleep. I do always put you in your bed awake, unless its been a hard night. You still wake up between 2 and 4 am to eat, then sleep until 7/8am and are up for the day.

For naps I was nursing you to sleep, sometimes in our bed because it was easy, but now you go down for naps easily as well. I can tell you are done eating and ready to be put in your crib because you squirm and turn your head away from me. Then you are in your crib and fuss for maybe a minute, then sleep for about 1-2 hours. Everything seems to be falling into place with your sleeping habits, I am relieved but know your somewhat schedule can and will change any day.

You are a very happy boy. I know I say that a lot, but its true. You smile so much. You seem to only laugh about once a day. Its weird, but we get about one good laughing session out of you daily. I love how anytime I go to pick you up, you give me the biggest grin. Melts me!

You still talk a lot. You are always making some sort of noise!

The other night you learned how to blow raspberries. We were driving home from dinner and you did it the whole way home. It was so funny. You wanted to stay up all night practicing that too!

You are much more mobile this month. When on your belly you can scoot and turn 360 degrees. It amazes me how far you can get! You also roll to get where you want to be.

You are still breastfed, with the occasional bottle if I'm away or if we are out in public. We did try cereal and avocado this month. You are not interested in either. I tried the cereal right after your 4 month well visit, you just pushed it out so I knew you weren't ready. A week later we tried again, nothing. Another week passed, tried again, nothing. And so on. One weekend I will try to give you food and I know you'll "get it"! For now, you get breast milk and food once a week.

You are still size 2 diapers. Mostly you wear 3-6 month clothes. Some 0-3 you can still fit (mainly shorts). You seem too long for most clothes that are "supposed" to fit.

I am so blessed to be your mom. Our bond has really grown this month. I can tell you are so interested in me, and you light up with me. I love how if nothing else calms you down, I always can. You'll always be my baby boy. I adore you. I pray for you and thank God for you constantly.

Things I want to remember:

• how when I pick you up and you've been crying, you bury your face in my neck so your cry is muffled. its almost like you are "humming" on my skin.
• the "haaaaiiii" noise you make. I swear its you saying "hi"!
• how you love to hold both your feet and rock back and forth.
• speaking of feet, I love how you manage to get those toes in your mouth
• the big exaggerated sighs you let out
• your Elmer Fudd face. its like you tuck the corners of your mouth into your cheeks, making a very square face with a little smirk. so cute.
  
  besides doing a normal edit to this picture (levels, sharpen), I didn't touch your eyes at all! they are so beautiful!

4 months old!

My little Buns! You are 4 months old!

We call you "Buns" around here. It was your nickname in my belly, and has stuck. It also reflects how your diaper creeps up in your tush and gives you a little wedgie.

This month has been my favorite so far. Of course I have enjoyed every month with you, but your personality is starting to really show. You are a very happy boy. You smile and laugh and squeak and squeal all the time. You wake up in the morning "singing". Its like a long string of coos that flows and is so adorable! I have to get that on video sometime soon.

I do have to say the beginning of your third month was our hardest. You went through a growth spurt that meant fighting naps and only sleeping for 45 minutes max. You were a very fussy boy. This lasted 3 weeks and you were back to your happy smily self. You are now back on schedule, and we actually have one now! Phew! You typically wake up around 8:30am (after a 6 am feeding), and then we play and you take a nap at 10 (after a little "snack", you aren't interested in eating at this time really). Then play, eat, nap at 1, and repeated at 4 and 6ish pm. We start bedtime around 8 and you're out for the night. Most nights you wake up around 3 but not for long.

You have found your thumb this month and are an active sucker. I think its very cute and love that you do that. You also grab your feet and I can tell you want them in your mouth! You are almost rolling over onto your belly from your back. You just need to figure out how to get that shoulder out from under you :) You grab at everything now: my hair, my clothes, anything on the table in front of me.

You are still nursing great. Some nights we give you a bottle before bed, but only if you seem extra hungry. You are going about every 3.5 hours between feedings now. I packed away all your 0-3 month clothes. You are now in 3-6 month and size 2 diapers.

At your check-up you weighed 14lbs 13 oz (50%), 25 in long (50-75%) and your head was in the 25-50%. Your Dr said your eyes will stay blue! I didn't even ask about that, she just complimented them and said you had such blue eyes she can't imagine them changing. Your hair is still very blonde, and you have gotten a lot more of it, although it is still more like "fuzz".

We love you Everett so very much. What a joy you are to us and everyone around you. You are sweet, happy, content and loving. I love how chatty you are with me, you like to keep momma company! Every time your dad speaks you turn your head to see him. Every time someone other than me is holding you, you turn your head til you find me. We are just the 3 amigos, you daddy and me! I am loving this time!

Things I don't want to forget:

• The high squeal you give when you are excited
• your laughter!
• how you lay on your back, hands in the air and just stare away at them.
• how you get excited when you know I'm about to feed you
• your morning 'coos' that wake us up
• how when getting settled into sleep you thrash your head back and forth
• your yawns. you make the cutest noise when letting out a yawn

3 months

My lil Ev, you are 3 months old today (8/11/11)!

You are growing so fast and getting chunkier and chunkier and I LOVE IT! Your little cheeks are just to die for. You are even getting little love handles. Its adorable. You are in size 0-3 still, but I know you will probably grow out of that this month. You are currently in size 1 diaper but only because I am finishing up a package. You should really be in size 2.

You love to lay on your play mat and look at the toys. This goes for the bouncy chairs and your mobiles too. Any toy you love to stare at, and then talk to.

Speaking of talking, you have REALLY found your voice this month. You love to talk. Its so funny too, its like a raspy "coo" that you do over and over. You laughed once this month, for the first time, but it scared you so bad you haven't done it since! I can't wait to be able to hear your laughter.

You are such a happy boy. You really only cry now when hungry or over tired (and if its the latter, watch out. hard to console you when you're overly tired). You smile so much. Its so sweet. Now when you're being fed you take breaks to look up at me and smile. You do it to daddy too when he's giving you a bottle. I sing to you often and that really gets you smiling, I think you are laughing at me! When daddy sings to you it puts you to sleep.

You are getting more and more hair. Its still fine, and looks reddish in the sun. Your eyes seem to be getting lighter and lighter, still a wonderful shade of denim blue.

You discovered your hands this month. You love to put them in your mouth and drool all over them. You are all about eating your hands lately. You stare at them too!

You haven't rolled over since you were a couple weeks old, until today! You were doing tummy time and just flipped right on over to your back. It was too cute.

We have many nick names for you around here. Ev, Ever Dean, Ever Boy, Sugar Boy, Sugar Booger (I know), Sugar Buns, Tweet Boy (your dads choice) and Tweetums.

You are sleeping very well at night. We start bedtime around 8, you usually go to sleep at 9 and then wake up around 4-5am to eat. Sometimes you get up at midnight or 1 am but are quickly put back to sleep with a little food or comfort. Naps are great from morning until late afternoon. You take a nap about every 2-3 hours for one hour, sometimes longer. You still are a little fussy from 5pm til bedtime, but its not very bad at all.

We love you so much Ev! You are getting so much personality. I love how you look at me and smile. You melt me to pieces daily.

Things I don't want to forget:

• your talking voice. Its so raspy and adorable.
• how sometimes you get excited and let out a squeal.
• when you nurse how you rest one of your feet on my shoulder
• how you kick your feet in the tub and the splashing water scares you
• in the morning when you wake up all smiles
• how you look up at me and smile for no reason but just because.

Two Months

Everett, you are two months old today (7/11/11)!
My how you have grown! You look big in pictures, but everyone still comments on how "little" you are in person. You are in the 50% for height and weight (11lbs 9oz, 24in) so I know you are growing right on track.

You feel different in my arms, more solid. This happened over night and I got a little sad. You no longer just melt into me when I hold you, unless you are asleep.

Your head control is very good. You love to look around and turn your head to see everything and anything. When you are awake, you are VERY awake! So alert with those big wide eyes!

You love to look at mama, and daddy too, and coo and smile. Oh your smiles never get old and melt my heart to pieces every time. Sometimes I feel like you want to have a conversation with me. You look at me, study me, then curl your lips in and let out a big "cooooo". So sweet.

You are a big "exerciser". You kick and kick and kick and even get your arms going. Its like you're trying to go somewhere!

You are better at sleeping this month. You take two very long naps, one in the early morning and one in the early afternoon, but the rest of the day is still random for sleep. At night you have been doing much better, only getting up once, maybe twice to nurse. You still cluster feed before bed, from around 6pm-10pm which is also your "witching hour" (as the doctor calls it, we call it "fusserton time")

You are still a great nurser. I think you are getting stronger because you don't take as long to feed anymore. We have given you formula a few times when I was either away, or because it was easier at the time, but as of now you refuse formula bottles. It started out bottles in general, but if its breastmilk you will drink it now. Also, as much as we tried, we don't think you'll be a pacifier baby. You do like your hand, and I've caught you with your thumb in your mouth now.

For a while you would cry when we went anywhere (while driving, in the store). It was horrible for us. Now, you are so relaxed in your car seat and are content anywhere unless you're hungry.

You wear size 1 diaper now and 0-3 month clothes.

Things I don't want to forget:

• that concerned look you wear almost all the time
• when you smile in your sleep and let out a little "heh heh heh" laugh
• how you suck your tongue when you sleep
• how happy you are in the mornings
• how sometimes you go to sneeze, and let out a big sigh instead

One Month Old!

This little guy is a whole month old!!

taken 6.11.11

Everett, you are one month old! how crazy is that!?
You are quite the growing boy. When we left the hospital you weighed 5 lbs 13 oz, and as of today (6.13.11) you weigh 8 lbs 15.5 oz, almost 9 lbs! Wowza! I guess mommys milk is doing its job! You are a great nurser, still zero issues in that area, except maybe that you love it too much. You like to comfort nurse, and I am trying to get you to use a pacifier more, although no luck yet. You are still eating every two hours, day and night, just like when we brought you home. You have no schedule yet, I feed you on demand (and boy you demand it!) and you sleep when you sleep. You always sleep well at night (meaning you sleep between feedings well, we've never lost sleep over you not sleeping), after each feed you fall back asleep very easily. You sleep best swaddled. You are a very noisy boy. You grunt a lot. You also coo, sigh, sneeze, and toot very loud. Your cry, although, is very soft and sweet, until you get hungry. Then you tell us all about it. You are in a very awkward clothing stage. Newborn clothes are too small, but 0-3m is too big. Same with newborn diapers and size 1 diapers. You lost most of the hair on top of your head, and you have baby acne now (but boy are you cute!!)
I don't want to forget:
how you rest your hand on my chest when you nurse. Sometimes you hold onto my clothes too.
your sweet gassy smiles when you sleep
how you sigh and flutter your lips at the same time
how you sleep with your hands by your face or over your head
the way daddy talks to you when he gets home from work "hi-ya, Ev-rett!!"
how you sleep best when you lay in bed with mommy after daddy goes to work


I love you, my sweet boy. You are the most beautiful baby in the world. I am so glad you're mine.

9 Days old

I wanted to get a sock monkey to use in the photos, but Chris loves this Domo he won at the fair last October when we were newly pregnant. It looks a little scary next to my son, like he wants to eat him, but oh well....it'll be cute.

Everett today you are 9 days old! It has flown by, but also feels like we've had you much longer. My due date was today (5.20.11), but I am so glad we've gotten a little over a week with you.

You love to sleep and eat. A typical newborn right now.

When we left the hospital you weighed 5lbs 13oz, and when we saw your doctor a couple days later you gained 2oz! Yay! She is concerned about jaundice, which we had to get you tested for (again), but the levels aren't too high and we just need to give you sunlight.

Your cord fell off at exactly one week old. It made me cry. I may have to keep it like a crazy lady.

You are nursing so well. I'm so pleased at how we've gotten the hang of that so far. We have also given you expressed milk in a bottle and a pacifier at night, and you have no confusion or issues with the different "nipples".

Everett, your name means "strong", and boy you live up to that. You are such a small peanut, but your neck control and the way you can practically squirm so hard that you roll onto your side amazes me. You are too strong for your own good!

I believe right now you have days and nights mixed up. You sleep all day, I have to wake you to feed you, then at night we are up every hour to nurse. You don't really like sleeping in your bassinet, I think you are a little lonely in there. When I hold you you fall right asleep. Its really precious.

Ev, you are such a sweet boy. You don't hardly fuss about anything. There are those looks you give like, "what are you guys doing to me!", and sometimes I see a little attitude in those looks (thats from your momma). You are pure joy. You are the greatest blessing and the biggest responsibility I will ever, ever receive. Your dad and I love you so very much, these past 9 days have been the best of our lives.