7 & 8 Months

 Sweet boy!  These couple of months were a blur because we sold our house in Fort Worth and moved to Austin.  You were a trooper through it all and remained your laid back self amidst the chaos.  As hard as moving was with 3 little ones, I couldn't have asked for a better baby during that time.  

At 7 months you started sitting up alone.  It was such a sweet phase because you just stayed in one place so content with a few toys.  It is also a fun phase because you sit up in the bathtub and in the grocery cart.  Taking just you on errands on Tuesdays when the girls were at preschool was so easy!

Since you had been eating for a couple months, I had given you many things and you loved it all.  One little quirk about you is that whenever you finish nursing or eating, you scream and throw yourself back like you are having a mini tantrum.  You just do this for a few seconds and then get your thumb and you are happy again.  Your sisters love to feed you puffs and sneak some for themselves while they are at it. 

 

Our house also looked like a daycare because you used about every baby apparatus including the swing, bouncer, johnny jumper and excersaucer.  I rotated you around to keep you happy while I was packing.

 

 You are usually just in a onesie, but I like dressing you up like a little teenager for church, Adidas and all.

 

By 8 months you started developing separation anxiety.  I tried leaving you in the nursery at church a couple times and you wouldn't have it for more than a few minutes.  You are happy to go with people you know well though.

When you wake up from nap or in the morning, I will find you sitting up in your crib often sucking your thumb.  It is so precious to see you take your thumb out and open you whole mouth in a big smile when you see me coming to get you.  

Your sisters are very entertaining and I've noticed you have fear of missing out if you aren't in the same room as them.  You also want to stay up as late as they do at night!

 

 You are still snuggly and occasionally still fall asleep on me. As cuddly as you are, you are equally playful and active. I really try to soak up these times of snuggling and playing because I know they how fleeting they are. 

 

 

 I love you my little bubbers!

6 Months!

 

 I think I start out every monthly post by making some comment about what a laid back baby Caleb is.  I seriously cannot get over it...he is just so chill.  Several other people have said the same thing.  He is happiest when he is laying back in someone's arms and is either smiling or sucking his thumb. 
  Stats:
Weight: 18 lbs. 4 oz. ~ 65%
Height: 27.5 in. ~ 85%
Head: 44 cm ~ 70%
 

 

 If I lay him down somewhere, he is immediately surrounded.  The girls asked me to take this picture with him.  I love this little crew that goes everywhere with me.  I've already started thinking about how much we will miss the leader of the pack next year while she is at kindergarten.  I'm also looking forward to extra time with the younger two.

 

We have finally had a few warm days and this pale little guy got some sunshine and vitamin d. 

 

 

Another successful first for him this month was swinging.  He smiled the whole time!

 He started sleeping with an Angel Dear lovie...we'll see how attached he becomes to it.

  "Let him sleep...For when he wakes, he will move mountains"

Looking like a little man after church one day.

Chop, Chop

 I knew with two girls it was only a matter of time.  I knew one day they would cut their own hair or cut the other's hair.  One evening, I left the girls coloring in the kitchen while I put Caleb down for the night.  I was enjoying some nice quiet time with him when I realized that I hadn't heard the girls in awhile.  As any parent knows, that usually isn't a good sign.  

Sure enough when I turned the corner, I saw big chunks of hair on the floor and Haven basically no longer had bangs.  I guess Anna had observed me trim Haven's bangs enough and decided they were getting a little long.  Don't worry, she was using kids scissors.  Thankfully most of Haven's hair was in a ponytail, otherwise she could have ended up with a bob.  Her hair also grows superfast and looked fine again within a few weeks!  

 

Just Mom and Me Having Tea

A couple months after Caleb was born, I noticed that my sweet oldest girl needed some extra one on one time.  I wanted to do something intentional and when came across this book, I decided to go through it with Anna while her siblings took naps.  We have done it three times and not at any regularity (like I originally planned), but Anna just lights up when we sit down to do it together.  I recently heard a mom of grown kids say that they will remember the times that you did special things and will not think back on those memories feeling like you should have done those things more often.  That was a freeing thought to me! 

 I got tears in my eyes when I read this on the first page "Seeing myself as being someone special takes clear thinking.  I can't be full of pride over who I am, but God's love does set me apart.  And I'm learning that if I know I'm special in God's sight, my daughter will follow in my footsteps".  I guess it just struck a chord in me because I've struggled with believing God's love for me and that is something I never want Anna (or Haven and Caleb) to question.  One gift of parenting is how redeeming it can be.

5 Months!

 Another month with a little boy in our home has flown by.  He continues to light up our house with big smiles - his and ours.

 He found a little buddy and is always so happy to see him.

  He also found his feet and toes.  They are usually covered up since it has been so cold.  He loves to grab them when they aren't.

 

 Time for the bumbo.  Build those core muscles!

Anna is really good at entertaining him and interacting with him (sometimes a little too good :)).  When he wakes up, she will run to his crib and read or sing songs to him.  I have to admit, it can be nice to give me a little more time before I have to get him out.

 Poor bubba got another respiratory infection and we had a very rough week.  It included one trip to the ER and a couple trips to the pediatrician's office along with several phone calls and some sleepless nights for mommy.  Breathing rates of 80 breaths per minute are scary!  Praying his lungs fully heal and he can stay well for the next several months.

 

  I hardly put him down for about a week, but what a privilege it was to nurse his little body back to health.

 

 These adorable pictures of Brad taken around 4/5 months inspired a little photo shoot with Caleb.  You can see where he gets his good looks!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 He is pretty content to just hang out on his back on the floor, but can now roll both ways when he wants to.  Lots of developmental milestones this month!