Michael: 9 Months

2/15/14

This Month:

*You weigh: 20lbs 15.5oz
*You are wearing: 12 month clothes 

*You still eat about every 2 hours. I feed you in the morning, when I put you down for a nap, when you wake up for a nap (x2), before bed, and typically once during the night. I am happy to say that we are still nursing and going strong! I am so thankful that things are so much easier this time around!
*You are in a size 4 diaper.

*You go to bed around 8:30-9:00 and sleep until 5:00-6:00, eat, then sleep until around 9:00. Thankfully we seem to have finally mastered all the insane wake-ups you were having. I think I was about to end up in the looney bin with how much you were waking up at night!!! You take 2 naps a day that range from 1.5-2 hours long. You get up in the morning anywhere between 8:00-10:00. Your schedule can change day to day depending on when you wake up. About 2 hours after you wake up in the morning you are ready to go down for your first nap. Your second nap is about 2.5-3 hours after you wake up from your first nap.

You started crawling with your belly off the ground this month. You are also standing on and cruising around furniture. You are a persistent little boy. We can move you away rom something you're not supposed to get into a thousand times and you will go back to it one thousand and one. You're such a little stinker!

You are starting to "talk" more and like to screech. Dinners around here can get pretty loud. You are still a little social butterfly and do not like when you are left alone even for a minute! You like to be in the middle of evertything and love attention! Since you are so mobile, you spend a lot of time bugging your sister and trying to get whatever she is playing with. The two of you completely melt my heart. She is the only one who can get you to belly laugh. Watching her love you is the sweetest thing ever and I know that you two will be best friends as you grow.

You are getting better at eating solids. You really like to feed yourself, but haven't quite gotten the hang of it yet. Most of the time what you're trying to put in you rmouth ends up in your lap! You like pears, apples, carrots, squash, and avocado and sometimes we can get you to eat pureed food or eat it out of a pouch.

I can't believe that in just 3 short months you will be 1. These past 9 months have just flown by. You are such a sweet boy and such a joy. You definitely love your mama :) You have brought so much happiness to our family and we are so blessed to have you as a part of our lives! I love you Michael James! 

See Ellies 9 month update for comparison here!

Our Journey to Parenthood

When I was younger and thought about getting married and having a family I just assumed that when my husband and I were ready I would get pregnant right away and have a healthy baby. I was so naive. I personally know women, and have read stories of many women's heartaches with trying to conceive, miscarriages, stillborns, or the loss of an infant. Every story doesn't always have a happy ending.

Mike and I were high school sweethearts and go married in February of 2008. All I've ever wanted in life was to be a mom and I was ready to have a baby right away. Mike; not so much! So in the spring of 2010 we decided that we were going to try and get pregnant in June of that summer. Apparently God had other plans because on April 24 I saw two pink lines on a home pregnancy test. It was a little earlier than we expected but we were both so excited. I was due January 4th and had a very uneventful pregnancy. In August we found out we were going to have a little girl and decided to name her Eleanor. She came into our world at 37 weeks and changed our life forever.

Head over to Everyday Love to read the rest of our story of our Journey to Parenthood

Michael: 8 Months

1/15/14

This Month:

*You weigh: 20.5lbs
*You are wearing: Mostly 12 month clothes, but still some 9 month 

*You eat about every 2 hours. I feed you in the morning, when I put you down for a nap, when you wake up for a nap (x2), before bed, and 1-2 times during the night.
*You are in a size 4 diaper.

*You go to bed around 7:30-8:00 and sleep for about 30-40 minutes then wake up and fuss. Then we get you back to sleep, and about 15-30 minutes later you wake up and fuss again. Rinse and repeat for up to 3 hours. Not so fun. It's like you go through phases. You will sleep great for a few days or a week then you sleep like crap for a few days or a week. It's frustrating because you know how to put yourself to sleep, but instead, once we put you down in your crib you wake up and cry instead of sweetly sucking your thumb into slumber land.I don't know if you are daeling with some seperation anxiety or what, but we're all ready for some good nights sleep. You take about 2 naps a day (sometimes 3 depending on what time you wake up for the day) and get up in the morning anywhere between 8:00-10:00. Your schedule can change day to day depending on when you wake up.

 Your two bottom teeth popped through this month about a week apart. When you got your first tooth you had a bit of a cold and a fever too, so I took you into urgent care to make sure everything was ok. And it was; can't help the mama worries though! You had about 2 fussy nights each time your tooth was coming through. A few of those nights daddy ended up sleeping with you in the recliner all night. 

On 12/24/13 you pulled yourself to standing for the first time! You were so happy. Since then you pull yourself up onto everything. You want to be part of all the action. We had lots of family Christmases to go to this month and you did pretty well at all of them. Unfortunately lots of people were getting over colds and you ended up catching one. Hopefully you won't catch anymore this winter.

You are still breastfeeding (We made it longer than I did with Ellie!!!!!!) and I hope we make it to at least a year! You have no interest in solid foods, the only thing that you care to eat are Mum Mums. You seem to like feeding yourself so I will mash some banana or avocado on your highchair tray, but you still aren't that into it. Someday you'll eat solids...right?!

Our mini mozart

You are such a happy baby. You are starting to babble more and make some laughing/screeching sounds. You make this relly funny face where you scrunch up your nose, squint your eyes, and raise your eyebrows, but it is almost impossible to catch it on camera. When you are excited you sit and flap your arms, smacking one hand on top of the other. It's so funny. You love playing with Ellie and getting into whatever she is doing. You love to watch her and laugh at her. I really hope that you two are always best friends and have a close relationship.

Ellie needs to take some smiling tips from you! 

 These past 8 months have flown by and I can't believe that there are only 4 months until you are a year old. I wish that I could put time in a bottle and keep you my little baby forever, I could definitely go for you sleeping through the night though! You are a joy and a blessing to our family. I love you so much sweet boy!

Here is Ellie's 8 month update for comparison

Ellie: 3 years

12-15-13

I look at you and I can't believe that it has been 3 years since I was pregnant feeling your kicks and nudges and dreaming about your future. It feels like yesterday that we were bringing you home from the hospital completely unaware of all the ways our lives would change. And change they have; but I wouldn't trade it for a minute. As I watch you grow and see your personality take shape I can't help but be so proud.

 You are 31lbs and 38in. You are in size 3T clothes and wear size 8 shoe. You know your colors and shapes. Not only can you sing the ABC'S, but you can recognize them and know what sound they make. Sometimes when you talk you will sound out the first letter of whatever you are saying. "I'm H-H-Hungry." You are so smart and observant. You love to learn and problem solve. You are sweet and kind. You are strong-willed and fiercely independent. You remember every thing. Everything. You like to be busy and on the go, you would rather be out and about then sitting at home.

Three has brought about its challenges. One minute you are so sweet that I think you could melt, but then the next you are a ball of defiance that has my head spinning. But in every moment I am aware that I love you so much I feel like my heart could burst. You want to do everything yourself. You can be very argumentative. You will now tell us "I love you mommy/daddy" unprompted and it is the sweetest thing ever. You have become quite the cuddler. You will snuggle up next to me on the couch and say "I'm mommy and daddy's little baby.' I love these little moments.

You are very polite. When we offer you something (mostly vegetables) at dinner you will say "No, thank you" or "Um, no thanks" and think it gets you out of having to have some. You do have a knack of saying "you have to do this for me" Instead of saying "Please" but we're practicing. You are so funny and have a few of your own Ellie-isms. When you have a runny nose you will come to me and tell me that you have a sneezer. Sometimes I will (purposely) call you by the wrong name (ask "are you ready freddie") and you will say "I'm not freddie, I'm Ellie!"

You are more of an introvert. If we go to someones house, especially if there are a lot of people around it takes you a little bit to warm up. You will cling to daddy or I and want us to pick you up and hold you until you are comfortable and have had enough time to warm up. We have to remind people to just give you time and not to take anything personally-you just need a minute. But once you come out of your shell you are a ham. You are an observer. You take everything in just like a little sponge and are always aware of what is going on around you. I think you have a sixth sense for knowing when someone is eating. We can't hide anything from you! If you hear a wrapper you say "I want some of that". You won't even know what it is; but you know that you want some! You love to sing and are constantly walking around singing songs and opening and lifting your arms like you are on center stage. The words don't always make sense and I can't always understand what your're saying, but that doesn't stop you!

Nap time is hit or miss around here, but you still go down for at least some rest time every day. Some days you will actually fall asleep, but most days are spent with you quietly singing or trying to do a somersault in your bed. You have become quite the picky eater. Your favorite food is peanut butter and jelly, and you would have it for every meal if you could. I'm hoping that this phase will pass, but there are a lot of nights that you won't eat what's for dinner. You are still in diapers. Sometimes you will go on the potty before you get in the bath at night but that is pretty much it. You have NO interest in wearing underwear. At all. I'm hoping that one day you will just wake up and be over diapers. 

You are such a great big sister and are very sweet to Michael. You like to talk to him and love to give him food at dinner time. You aren't a big fan of the fact that he can crawl and get into your toys though. I think sharing will be a never-ending lesson when it comes to siblings.You are still obsessed with animals; mostly cats and dogs and light up when you see one. You love Aunties cat Jack and always make sure to tell us what he you think he wants and needs.

If I could bottle you up and keep you little I definitely would; but I am so excited to see what God has in store for your life; I know He is going to use you in some amazing ways. You have turned our world upside down and caused our hearts to double in size. I am so thankful God gave you to us. We love you so much and are completely enamored with you my sweet Ellie Bellie. 

Michael: 7 Months

12-15-13

This Month:

*You weigh: 20lbs
*You are wearing: 9 month clothes

*You eat about every 3-4 hours. Sometimes more sometimes less.
*You are in a size 4 diaper.

*You go to bed around 7:30-8:00 and slep until around 3:00-4:00, eat and then sleep until around 7:30-8:00. Sometimes after you eat you will go back to sleep and sometimes you are up for the day. Some nights you might wake up a little more, but you have typically been sleeping pretty well. We figured out that you like to be all warm and cozy when you sleep so we turn on the space heater and that has seemed to do the trick! You take 2 or 3 naps a day, it all just depends on how the day goes. You go back down to sleep after you have been awake for around 2 hours. After 2 hours you are all funned out. You have been napping pretty well.

This month has been crazy busy, between Thanksgiving and birthday parties and finally selling! our! house! It seems like the month has flown by. I feel like the next time I blink we will be celebrating your first birthday!!

You are still army crawling all over, but you are super fast. I feel like the second I turn my back you are all the way across the room trying to get into something. You love to play on the floor with your toys, but aren't so content when we put you on the hardwood. You much prefer carpet or being on a fluffy rug. On December 12 you sat up on your own for the very first time! I was folding laundry and when I looked up there you were sitting and banging on a toy like it was no big deal! You are such a big boy, I can't believe how fast time has gone!! 

You are still breastfeeding like a champ but have had a few solid foods. You ahave had avocado, banana, squash, and carrots. I can't say that you are a very big fan of any of them. You scrunch up your nose and make a sour face whenever we try to feed you. I figure we'll take things at your pace and just slowly introduce things. I know eventually you will get the hang of it! 

You battled a little bit of a cold at the beginning of the month but even though you didn't feel good you were still so happy and sweet. You are almost always happy and love watching Ellie run around and play. You light up when she comes and talks to you or gets near you. I can't wait to watch your relationship grow and see the two of you become best friends! I often try and imagine what your personality will be like as you grow and wonder if you will have the same strong will as your sister, or if you will be more relaxed and go with the flow. 

We took a little photo shoot with Auntie and these are some of the gems that we captured. You are such a delight. 

I am so excited to see what our future holds with you and the little boy that you will become, but part of me wishes I could keep you my sweet little baby forever. Every night when I nurse you to sleep I cherish this time I have with you. I know that you won't always be this little and one day you won't want me to rock you to sleep. But for now, I close my eyes and smile as you nurse and touch my face, try to stick your hand in my mouth, flick at your ears, pat your head, wave your arm like you're directing an orchestra, and gently stroke my arm. I thank God for you and am so happy that you are a part of our family. I love you so much sweet boy. 

Here is Ellie's 7 month update for comparison

Michael: 6 Months

11-15-13

This Month:

*You weigh: 19lbs 9oz and are 27in long
*You are wearing: 6 and 6-9 month clothes

*You eat about every 3-4 hours. Sometimes more sometimes less.
*You are in a size 3 diaper.

*You go to bed around 7:00-7:30 and typically wake up and have to be put back to sleep at least once within an hour of going down. Then you wake up around 11:00 or 12:00 to eat and sleep about 3 or 4 more hours and then wake up for the day between 7:30-7:30ish. Sometimes you might sleep a little bit later. I like the mornings you sleep until 8:00! Daylight savings time really screwed things up! The past few nights you have gone down and stayed down until around 2:00 or 3:00. You are still sleeping in a pack and play in our room, but papa just finished your crib so for almost a week you have been taking naps in your own room!

You like to jump in your jumper, but love to be on the floor. This month you started crawling. It's more along the lines of army crawling but you are definitely on the go! And you are quick! You like to explore and I have had to pull you out from under the end table a time or two. Sometimes you will get up on your hands and knees and more a little bit, but you haven't quite conquered the "normal" crawl. Ellie is not enjoying having to share toys now that you are mobile and more interested in playing. I have to constantly remind her not to take toys away from you and that she has to share.

Once you wake up the clock starts ticking because you can really only handle being awake for 2 hours at a time before you are ready for a nap. When you are tired you lay your head down and suck your thumb and that is my cue to get you to bed! Now that we have a little more of a routine things are a little easier. And you have been napping for longer stretches during the day. And a well rested baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby makes for a happy mama!

You are still such a happy baby. You smile at everyone and are just a joy! If you don't fall asleep nursing you still need to bee bounced/swayed to sleep, but sometimes we can lay you down and you will suck your thumb and go to sleep on your own. You have gone to the nursery at church a few times and have actually taken a little nap while you were there. Of course they love holding you while you sleep!

When you are happy you scrunch up your face and it is the cutest thing ever!!

For your first Halloween your dad picked your costume and you were a pirate. We went truck or treating at church and you spend most of the time in the carrier but you did really well and looked absolutely adorable. We were going to go out on Halloween but the actual day ended up being super cold and rainy so we skipped it and stayed inside.

Trying to get a good picture of the both of you is impossible

I am so happy that we have made it 6 months exclusively breast feeding. Even though sometimes it has been hard and trying that you wouldn't take a bottle, it really made it easy to not have to struggle to continue to breastfeed. The time and flown by and I am so glad that we have made it this far. I hope to go at least another 6 months. I plan on giving you some avocado in the next couple days and see how that goes. I am not going to push you with food and am just going to take things slow. Breast milk is still supposed to be the main source of nutrition, and after all; food before one is just for fun!!

Sometimes I am so amazed with how much I love you. After having Ellie I never though I could love another child as much as I love her, but you have really shown me that my heart just grows with each child. I never want to forget all the little things about you being a baby. Like the way you suck your thumb, the reddish tint to your hair, how your feet are so fat they won't fit in most shoes, how you really don't have a wrist-it goes from a chubby arm right into your little sausage hands. You are the cutest, sweetest little things and I could just eat you up. I am so thankful you are a part of our little family!!

Here is Ellie's 6 month update for comparison 

Michael: 5 Months

10-15-13

This Month:

*You weigh: about 18lbs 8oz according to our scale at home
*You are wearing: 6 month clothes

*You eat about every 3ish hours. Sometimes more sometimes less.
*You are in a size 3 diaper.

*You have wanted to go to bed earlier this month. Closer to 7:00 than 8:00. I wish I could get you to stay up a little later, but you don't want to take your last nap of the day. After about a month of your sleep regression, waking up every 1-2 hours, you finally learned to roll both ways and started sleeping better. On September 21st you slept through the night until 8:30am. This was the best you have ever done. I heard angels singing that morning. you had a few nights sleeping until 6:00 or so, but then went back to waking up around 4:00 to eat and again around 7:00. But then you typically go back to sleep until 8:00 or 8:30. You are still sleeping in a pack and play in our room.

Your hair looks pretty blonde but if you are in something that is red it looks a little auburn.

You are doing better in your swing and like to play in your jumper, but love to be a part of the conversation. When we eat dinner you do not want to sit in your bouncer on the floor. You want to sit in the bumbo on the table and see what is going on. You are a little social butterfly. You roll all over the living room floor trying to get to toys that you want to play with.

You have the sweetest smile and have the hint of a dimple in one of your cheeks. I love it! You are such a happy boy.  

You still suck your thumb and I absolutely love it. I think it is the cutest thing in the whole world. Not to mention it is nice that you are able to self soothe pretty well. If you wake up at night fussing sometimes if we just give it a minute you'll find your thumb and go right back to sleep. I can tell when you are tired because you will put your head down and start sucking your thumb. That is my cue to snatch you up and get you down for a nap! Typically you wake up about 8:00, eat and down for a nap around 10:00, sleep for 1-2 hours, up for 2 hours, eat and back down around 2:00 for another 1-2 hours up around 3:00-4:00, eat again around 6, and then down fort he night around 7:30. Some days you don't nap well at all and some days you nap great! You are getting better as you grow.

You met your future bff Cameron this month. You two are only a little over 2 months apart. I can't wait to watch the two of you grow together and hope and pray that you will be friends for life. I love his mama so you really don't have a choice!

You aren't too sturdy if we prop  you up to sit, but you'll get there. You still have no interest in taking a bottle, but I have given you a sippy cup to hold and play with to try and get you used to it in hopes that you will use one in the next month or so. If not, oh well. There's plenty of time to go to the movies and have girls night, you will only be little once and the time is flying by!

You are enthralled with Ellie and spend a lot of your time watching her. It is so cute when I see her crouching down next to you and whispering things to you. She will bring you toys and cover you with a blanket and sweetly tell you "You wouldn't be so tired if you would just go to sleep!!" I think she might have heard mama say this a time or two!

It is so fun to watch your little personality take shape and I can't wait to see what it will be like as you grow. You are such a sweet boy and I love you so much! I can't imagine our family without you in it!

Here is Ellie's 5 month update for comparison