10 months and 6 days...

I'm a little late again. With you and I being sick for the past 3 weeks and having to prepare for Thanksgiving, I just didn't have the time.

But I am starting to have mini heart attacks when I think about the fact that in less then two months, we will be celebrating your first birthday. You have changed so much in the last month. It's amazing, mindblowing and breathtaking to be able to witness you and everything you do. I am so very greatful that I am able to stay home with you to watch you learn and grow.

What you are up to this month.

-Sesame Street has become my savior and your new best friend.

-Mama and Dada are your favorite words.

-You are now over 22 lbs and 29 inches long.

-You love the water!

-You have taken a step or two here and there, but I don't think that you have too much interest in walking. Why walk when you can crawl faster than a freight train?

-You can also stand unassisted for quite a long time. Well at least until something on the floor distracts you.

- You love to clap! All we have to do is say clap and you already know what to do.

- It has become nearly impossible to change your diaper and cloths. I dread it everytime!

- Your top four teeth are cutting through. You look like such a big boy with your upper teeth whenever you smile.

Were almost to toddlerhood. I'm so excited to see all the wonderful things that are to come in the next month!

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge- Smile

Photo Challenge: Faces

This one is my favorite,  I just love his smile!

9 months and 4 days old... to be exact!

So I was slightly slacking on your 9 month update, but only slightly! Regardless of the fact that today is the 26th, here is what you are up to this month!

-CRAWLING! You are finally a crawler and a mighty good one. You started crawling on September 22nd, just hours after I posted your 8 month update. At first you would only move a couple of feet forward and give up, but after a week you were moving all over the place.

-You can now stand unassisted for up to 10 seconds before falling flat on your bum! I don't know if you are ready to start walking but you are definitely getting there!

-You love your big sister. No one can make you smile like your Cameran does!

-Cruising, you can cruise back and forth on couches, tables, chairs you name it! If you can pull yourself up on it, you can do it!

-You are starting to become slightly attached to familiar faces. If you are thrown into a situation with tons of people you don't recognize, you have been known to have a mini meltdown! For the most part though you still love people.

-You can clap when we clap and sign "more" when you are eating.

-There are a few songs that you and I can't live without. "My child me and babyfirst tv" is on the top of the list. As well as "Hey there Delilah" which has been one of your favorites since you were only a few weeks old.

-Your favorite word to say is still Dada!

-You finally got your first haircut! It's not a drastic change because we love your hair so much, but it is out of your eyes and even on both sides! You look so beautiful!

-Your baby cousin Chloe is finally here! She came on the 12th of October and she is gorgeous. I know that the two of you are going to be best friends forever.

9 months old, I can't believe it. It feels like just yesterday I was seeing you smile for the first time. No matter how fast time flies, I will always love you and see you as my little lovable baby boy!

8 months old today

You are eight months old. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!

All things considered, eight months is not a very long time. It has flown by so quickly that I don't think I have even had time to grasp the idea that we have an 8 month old. Your father and I have especially enjoyed the last few months with you. It feels like somebody flipped a switch in your brain when you hit six months. Every day, you learn something new.

What are you up to now?

-You are almost crawling. I don't know how much longer until you actually get it down, but I believe that we are more than half way there. You can get on all fours, rock back and forth and throw your whole body forward. You don't get very far and your pretty little face gets most of the impact, but it gets the job done for now, at least.

-We have been working with you on your reading videos/books for the past four months religiously. We now can put two flash cards with words in front of you and you can successfully pick the right word. So smart!

-You love Carrots, Sweet Potatoes and Squash. We are now working on finger foods which is going fine, but you have me on the edge of my seat during every feeding.

-You love to laugh at everything. Sneezing, coughing and burping are your favorites!

-You like to growl at people, why you ask? I don't know?

-You no longer enjoy your Baby Einstein Jumper anymore! So I think that baby Chloe will be receiving your present some time soon! Hopefully she enjoys it more than you did.

-Diaper changes, wardrobe changes and bath time have become quite the challenge. You are a little wiggle worm that it has become almost impossible to get you ready for the day.

-You love everyone. You're growing up to be a little social butterfly. You don't cry with strangers and love to be around people. You must have gotten that from your Daddy.

It's hard to believe that in the next four months you will be a year old. So much is going to change in such a short period of time. Soon you will be crawling, walking, talking and so much more. Am i ready for all the changes? Maybe. Are you ready? Most definitely!

-

To get to you...

17 years ago...

I love the story of how you came to be on this earth. Your father and I first met when we were only in the 3rd grade. It might even have been sooner than that because he and I also lived across the street from one another, but my memory only goes back to third grade. I remember him very clearly though, because to me he was the little boy who used to chase me home from school. He wasn't what you would call a gentleman at the age of 8, being that he once spit on me and pulled me through the dirt on my back while holding onto my backpack handle. As crazy as it may sound, those are the memories that I cherish the most and now as an adult looking back I can’t help but laugh when I think about those things. Just remember though, the way to a girls heart is lots of hugs and kisses. Your dad did learn that later in life and I love him for that!

Eventually he moved far away when we were in the 5th grade and we never saw or spoke to one another for many years, over ten years to be exact. Everything in life happens for a reason, he and I had lived two very different lives. We both experienced many different things, good and bad. I think that every little thing that we went through without each other happened just to bring us together. There must have been an angel directing us in life to lead us to one another... to lead us to you.

My day with a Seven Month Old.

You are officially Seven Months Old today! We have our routine so everyday is pretty much the same. Wake up-eat-play-eat-nap...Wake up and we do it all over again. I love my life with you because even though we do the same things together everyday, you are always showing me something new that you have learned. I love that about you, I love being able to see the world through brand new eyes. The best part of it all is that I'm sharing my life with you!

Here is what we did today.

Rise and Shine

Breakfast time

Playing with your screaming Monkey. Followed by an afternoon snack!

A bath and then a wardrobe change

Than some rolling around followed by a quick nap

After your nap is some more playing, eating, playing and another nap or two... with a few occasional tears. Everyday with you is a gift. Happy Seven month birthday Oliver.