Nine Months

Alex's trademark right now is definitely his hair!  He reminds me a little of Albert Einstein because it sticks straight up.  On one of our days in Costa Rica, I looked at him and realized that his hair was NOT sticking up like usual-it lay perfectly flat on his head.  It didn't even look like him and made me a little sad to think that maybe that phase was over.  It is usually the first thing people comment on about him.  Luckily, it must have been the humidity because the crazy hair has returned!

Alex is in the 'mommy phase' right now.  I get big smiles and lots of cuddles, but if I set him down or leave him with someone else, it isn't long before the tears start.  He has even said 'ma ma.'  I know that it's just the sound and it happens to sound like he's saying my name, but I'll take it.

He is so close to crawling!  I go back and forth between encouraging him to enter that phase and being content with the fact that I can set him down and know that he isn't going too far.  He gets up on his knees, rocks, pulls himself a little but then flops on his belly and gets upset.  It's only a matter of time.

We've introduced a few solids to Alex (like chicken) but he's still mostly eating baby food.  Even that is hit and miss.  If he hasn't been nursed and you put him in the high chair, he will frequently get angry and start crying.  Once that starts, there's no way he's eating anything until he's nursed and calmed down.  Sometimes he just isn't interested in his food.  I'm not sure how many times a day he should be getting his veggies/fruits-some days he is interested at every meal and others not at all.

Alex seems to take everything in and knows what we are asking him to do-he just chooses not to do it.  I think he knows how to patty cake, he knows what the signs are for 'more, milk, eat' because he grins from ear to ear when I ask, but good luck trying to get him to do it.

Who knew the tongue could be so fascinating?  Alex loves to stick his tongue out and will often keep it out for minutes at a time.

Eight Months

This little guy brings such joy to our lives.  And that's as far as I got with this entry (and now of course I can't find my notes on all the fun things Alex was up to during this time). Stay tuned...

Seven Months

Seven month news:

Alex really likes the texture of things. He will scratch his fingers on anything he can get his hands on.

He sits up very well now on his own.

We started him on solids but he isn't eating them on a consistent basis.  He doesn't appear to be a big fan of fruits.

His first teeth are finally coming in.  He's been drooling so much for months that we expected them a long time ago. 

No long naps-30 minute cat naps if we are lucky.  He still goes right to sleep at night, hands up at his face.

Soph and Andrew

The baby of the family has been the star of many posts lately so its only fair that Sophia and Andrew get the limelight for a bit.

Andrew-
Has taken an interest in Legos.  He has started collecting some of the Star Wars sets and also likes building on his own.  Just tonight he made an elaborate boat.  When you lifted off the top, several figures were inside wearing life jackets.  I was pretty impressed.  He also likes going to the Lego store and stocking up on pieces.

Enjoys Nerf gun fights with his dad (I just try to stay clear of them).

Is becoming a great reader!  A few weeks ago he read The Runaway Bunny to Alex and hardly needed help!  He is always so proud to tell me when he's moved up a level and he's already surpassed where he should be by the end of the year.

Decided he wanted to be on a sticker chart  in school (even though I tried to convince him they are only for the naughty kids).  It seems that my dear, sweet little boy can be loud, talkative and tries to manage others instead of just taking care of himself. Of course nothing is ever his fault.  If he doesn't get all his stars, he's ready with a reason-Mrs. Plager made a mistake, they made me talk, I didn't do it.  One day the sheet said he was distracting others and giving thumbs up.  At first he denied it and said he just smiled at the student but then we role played it and wouldn't you know, he gave me thumbs up!

Has now lost two teeth!

Would play on his Kindle all day if he could.

Sophia-
Took 3 skiing lessons and loved it!  She was going down the big hills (as her nervous mom watched) by the second lesson.

Sings in the children's choir at church.  She also writes her own songs and performs them.  Tonight's selection had a part about turning someone on.  She has no idea what it means (and hopefully won't for many years to come).

Likes to leave me random notes on my pillow, although she hasn't lately.  Sometimes they are confessions about insignificant things and she will end them with, 'please don't talk to me about it.'

Was very sad that she didn't get to go to Washington, DC with me.  I had told her she would be bored because we'd just be hanging out at Jason's house.  So, when she caught us out one day, her comment (in a very sarcastic tone) was, "It sure sounds like you're having fun. I wish I was there."

Entered a writing contest all on her own.  After many ideas, she settled on a fiction story about helping an injured seal.  That's the animal she did her research on at school so she included some facts in it too.  We find out in a week if she won.  My fingers are crossed for her because she found the contest on her own, worked so hard on the story and she really is a very talented writer.

Sweet Dreams

What does one do when they spy a spider in their room and are then too scared to sleep in there?

Sleep with your younger brother, of course!