6 Months Photos

I just realized that I never posted the pictures from the Sweet Pea's 6 month old photo shoot. They are too cute not to. He's our little male model...

ONE YEAR!

Weight: 24 lbs 5 oz
Length: 31 inches

Well, it happened. My baby turned one. Looking at old pictures of him when he was such a tiny thing, I remember acutely all the emotions of his first months. Did I handle myself well as a first time mother? Umm...I was scared to be alone with him in the hospital room or when we finally went home...so...probably not. It took weeks months a year to feel comfortable caring for him. The constant anxiety finally diminished some time over the summer but I still get momentary panic attacks about not being up for the task of Mom. He has survived though and is flourishing. The Sweet Pea is as resilient as they come. He has grown in all the ways a baby does and I'm impressed daily by his unique selfhood. He definitely has his own view of the world already and his personality is emerging more and more.

His Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party was attended by both grandparents, Jess' Aunt Connie and Uncle Steve, the Chambers, the Phelans and my cousins, the Saligas. He handled the crowd pretty well and soon it was time to let him at his cake. I was so sure he would dive in to the cake with relish but, once again, he surprised me with his own unique reaction. He tentatively stuck a hand in and felt the frosting but didn't seem to know what to do with it or why all these people were staring at him. Daddy came to the rescue and smashed the cake himself to get the Sweet Pea started. After he tasted the cake and saw what he was supposed to do, he thoroughly enjoyed it. He did not devour it like an animal but had fun sticking his whole fist in, grabbing handfuls and tasting it. We finally decided to stop him because it became apparent that he wasn't going to stop himself, despite a huge cake belly.

My parents were staying with us for the week so they got plenty of baby time. They got him walking around (with assistance) and zooming around in his walker thingy. It still makes me laugh to see him running around in that thing, backing up, making turns, etc. He has really good spatial recognition like his Momma. :) We even got to take him to the Ft. Worth Zoo for the first time. I don't know what he thought of the animals except that he laughed when he saw the zebras running, got wide-eyed at the elephants, and starting hooting like a scared monkey at the lion roaring. (Speaking of the hooting or 'who-ing'...it is officially contagious; my parents were hooting and who-ing and huh-ing right along with the rest of us in imitation. Sweet Pea, you ask so many questions!)

First steps were officially taken on September 17th (11 months). We've been trying ever since then to lure him into more. He'll stand forever unaided but seems to debate whether to walk or crawl and almost always chooses crawling. Judging by how he runs in his walker, we'll have enough trouble keeping up with him when he does start walking on his own so I'm in no hurry!



Big fan of Dad

Sweet Pea, you can be one opinionated guy when you want to be but for the most part you are THE undisputed, happiest baby on the planet. You love hugs and kisses (though I wish you would kiss us once in awhile and not just your bear pillow, mirrors and FaceTime grandparents); you love smiling and laughing and often seem to laugh for no good reason except that it feels good; you love the attention of your many admirers but also like some down time to yourself (pleasing so many adoring fans does tax one's energy...); you now prefer a quick hug before being plopped in your crib to being held and rocked (let me just wipe that tear away from my eye.); and you love a few books in your astounding collection. The sweetest time with my Sweet Pea is sitting down with you to read your moo cow book because you actually sit still and let me hold you for more than a minute!

You still stare studiously at new things with those eyebrows pursed and would rather crawl over to something than be walked over to it with someone's help. If you can't do it by yourself, you just don't want to do it. I thought because of your easy-peasy personality, we'd bypass a lot of the minor tantrums over inappropriate objects being taken away or little bodies being moved from off-limit areas but...doesn't look like it. While Grandma and Grandpa were in town, you learned how to shriek. And throw food on the floor. I'm not saying it's their fault but you weren't doing it before they got to town. (Ha!) The food throwing totally benefits the dogs so I prefer to think that you have a generous spirit. And you do - you now like sharing your toys as long as you get them back immediately and half chewed food. You especially like feeding people food...I guess it is fair since you get fed by others all the time.


This year has been a whirlwind with you but I would not have wanted it any other way. You are a true blessing from God and we are thankful every day.

Love you and happy birthday!


Not a fan of Mr. Cheese



Anything can work as a pacie when desperate





It's time....

Eleven Months - Bye-Bye!

Yes, the Sweet Pea is eleven months old and you know what that means, my heart is going to break in another month...I can't think about that right now...sniff...sniff..

Ok, the biggest event of the month was a visit with the Emersons! He got to spend some quality time with his Nana, Papa, Aunt Jam Jam and Uncle Mattie and he had a blast being spoiled by everyone. He practiced at standing up by himself all month and is adroit at walking around holding onto anything except for people; he tends to flop when someone tries to walk with him. He does not want to be held down or constrained by anyone or anything: no diaper changing, no hand holding, no hats or hoods, nothing on the head at all, no nail clipping, no wiping his face and hands, no changing clothes, no chicken costumes. What does he like? Pretty much everything else. He loves feeding himself, baths, balls, dropping balls, chasing balls, picking up balls, the dogs being dogs, anything outside, soft blankets, light fixtures, ceiling fans, his crib mobile, rubber ducks, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the song Let It Go, water bottles, pacies, waving bye-bye, peek-a-boo, walks, being 'chased' by the dogs, climbing stairs, his octopus night light, a flyswatter, drinking from water bottles, and on and on. Oh, and I think he has two new teeth up top, the lateral incisors, and is working on the central incisors - that's right, I looked up the names of teeth. I haven't gotten a good view of them (see things he doesn't like above) but I definitely feel the lateral incisors poking through.

Sweet Pea, I'm thinking that you love an audience. You act all shy when I'm there to hold on to but it seems like the more people that are around, the more you like talking and smiling and interacting. Either that or you are bored with Mom and Dad. You are a momma's boy right now which hurts your dad's feelings a bit and makes me feel really good...I mean guilty. Yeah, guilty. But really good. I know the tables will turn soon enough so I'm enjoying the attention while I can. Your tight hugs make everyone happy though and you are quick to give them.

You LOVE eating and so far there aren't too many things that turn your face sour. As long as you can put it in your mouth yourself, you will eat it. (I'm a little worried that you will go Beast Mode on your birthday cake. I can envision a tummy-ache if we don't take it away or a tantrum if we do. I guess that is part of the fun!) You've learned the fake out: you will pretend to hand someone something but take it away at the last minute and laugh at their disappointment. You've also learned how to wave bye-bye when someone just says goodbye and we're working on giving five and blowing kisses. You're still unsure of your horse but will go seek it out in the spare bedroom and hoot at it for awhile. That is pretty courageous in my book.

Love you forever,
Mom


Angry Chicken

Chilling out with Papa

Checking out Great-Grandpa

Suiting up for his first Cowboys game

Black Mail Photo Fun w/the Chambers

10 Months - Late but not Least

Since we are quickly approach 11 months, I will keep the 10 month update short (maybe) and try to add a bunch of photos. The highlight and major event of the month was a road trip to Flagstaff to visit my parents. We left on Saturday 7/26, spent the night in Albuquerque and arrived in Flagstaff on Sunday. Sweet Pea did amazingly well for being stuck in a car seat for 14+ hours. The night at the hotel was a little rough…we had him in bed with us and he cuddled up so close to his dad that he eventually pushed him completely out of the bed. When Dad left, he started making his way over to my side until his head was on my pillow and his leg was on my neck. He’s a little heat seeking missile! We also learned that he will gladly give himself kisses in a mirror for as long as you let him. I want to give him kisses all the time so I guess I shouldn’t expect anything less from him… But apologies to the maid service for having to clean baby slobber off the closet mirror.

Flagstaff was a great trip. The weather was wonderful and Sweet Pea had a fabulous time with his Arizona grandparents. He showed them and us that he had learned how to wave and did it nonstop for about a week (right hand only). He showed them he can crawl on his hands and knees and pull himself up to standing on just about anything. He showed them how much he loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; that his mom is a liar and he actually LOVES taking a bath (who knew?!); and that he loves any and all food he can feed himself. And despite being given a virtual toy store, his favorite toys were a fly swatter and a 5 year old, worn out pinwheel. Kids. His parents learned that Grandma’s dog likes to hump little babies. Despite that, Sweet Pea was in an awesome mood the whole time and the new surroundings didn’t seem to faze him at all. The trip back was hard on all of us but we finally, gratefully, made it home the following Sunday.

Sweet Pea, your dad and I were so proud of you during the trip (and every other day). You kept a great attitude in the car despite not being able to move around and you made the whole trip a dream for us and your Soscia grandparents. We definitely were able to show you off and you pulled out some surprises of your own like the whole waving thing…were you saving that for a special treat?! It did not hurt that EVERYONE responded to it. You have such a great personality already – you love to smile and laugh, even when it is at yourself. And you put the Luke in Luke Flyswatter. Love you more and more and thank God every day for you.

Mom