9 months

Measurements: 23 lbs 11 oz, 29.75 inches...big boy!  Weston is in the 96th percentile for both height and weight and 4 lbs heavier and 2 inches longer than his big brother was at this age.  It still amazes me just how different my two children are! He is still wearing 18 month clothes for the most part but he can squeeze into some 12 month stuff and also can wear some 24 month things (shirts and pjs mostly).  He wears a size 5 diaper.

Eats: Weston loves solids but doesn't care too much about nursing anymore.  He nurses well at night and naptime but any other time of the days it's a bit of a struggle to get him still long enough to want to nurse.  I think he will wean easily around a year unlike Hudson who nursed until he was 20 months.  Weston is eating anything and everything!  He loves to feed himself so we are doing lots of things he can pick up- fruits/veggies, scrambled eggs, pancakes, beans, avocado, etc.  Still haven't found anything he won't eat!

Sleeps: We are doing 2 naps a day- mid morning and late afternoon.  He's pretty consistent with this and is a good napper.  Most nights he sleeps through the night or has one early morning waking (between 4-5am).  But, overall he's a good sleeper!

Milestones: The major milestone this month is that Weston is crawling! It's sort of an army crawl most of the time but he is able to get up on his knees and crawl if he's really motived ;)  He's into everyhing too!  Also, he is now the proud owner of a helmet ;)  We first realized his head was flat around 4 months or so but our pediatrician wasn't too worried.  We made the decision to have it checked out around 6 months but he was 7 months before they could get us in for an appointment.  So, two weeks ago he actually got the helmet and is doing fine with it.

Likes: Well, just like Hudson at this age, Weston really likes his mommy :)  We are just starting the separation anxiety but I wouldn't say it's nearly as bad as Hudson ever was.  But, if I'm in the room you better believe he wants me to be holding him or within a few feet of him.

Dislikes:  Other than being away from Mommy, not much!

Big brother update:  Hudson continues to be such a sweet boy with such a stubborn side.  I had my first parent teacher conference at preschool this week and they went on and on about how sweet he was, what a good listener, how well he always followed directions...was this my child they were talking about??  Sweet yet, but not always the best listener at home.  But, I'm sure I have spoiled him a bit so he doesn't always think he has to listen to Mommy.  He's so smart and I love watching him learn new things. He amazes me with his vocabulary.  Today, we went to the pool at the Y for the first time and he was so brave!  He can be a little bit of a scaredy-cat sometimes but today he jumped off the side and even let go of me in the water with his puddle jumper on and tried to kick his feet.  I am so proud of him but everyday I am reminded just how fast he is growing up!

And now for the pictures...

8 months

I have a lot of blog catching up to do but first things first...an 8 month post!

Measurements: Well, we wouldn't normally have official measurements but since we have frequented the doctor this month I can safely say Weston is somewhere around 22.5-23 lbs and 28 inches long.  He is wearing 12-18 month clothes and size 5 diapers.  I know, I know...he's huge!

Eats: This boy LOVES food!  I try to do three meals a day now because he is so interested but sometimes it's only 2.  He has tried a whole lot at this point and hasn't disliked anything.  Last week I introduced chick peas and beets not thinking he would love them but he gobbled both down!  I'm honestly not sure how much he's getting when he nurses.  I think mostly he nurses for comfort at this point.  I worked a few days ago and he didn't drink even one ounce of the bottles I left and I was gone for almost 10 hours.  I think he will wean himself earlier than Hudson.  He isn't at all interested in a pacifier either but I'm not complaining about that.

Sleeps: Weston takes 2 consistent naps a day...the first about 2 hours after he wakes up and he second about 3 hours after he wakes up from the first.  It's about 50/50 if he sleeps through the night or not.  But if he does wake up in the middle of the night he's usually wide awake.  He ends up in our bed sometimes but we did the same thing with Hudson.  It may be a bad habit but it gets our kids to sleep!

Milestones:  Weston has had his share of firsts this month...first case of RSV, first case of pink eye.  Yuck!  But, on a nicer note, he's "mobile"...he rolls everywhere.  He has zero interest in crawling which is so funny because Hudson was crawling at 6 months and pulling up at this point.  But, every kid is different!

Likes: This little man is so incredibly laid back and I'm so thankful for that. He really is an easy, happy baby.  He still loves the bouncer, his brother, and has started to take an interest in our dog!

Dislikes:  We started a little bit of separation anxiety this month.  He doesn't love to be away from Mommy IF he knows I'm close.  But, I think if I'm not physically there he's perfectly fine.

Big brother update:  Oh Hudson.  My first baby.  He's so sweet, smart, funny, and loving.  But at the same time he's so opinionated and stubborn.  Someday it will serve him very well but right now it causes some hard moments.  We haven't found a way of discipline that's entirely effective with him but we do try to be consistent and not make empty threats.

Hudson still loves school and does so well there.  He's so smart...sometimes the things he says come out of nowhere and I have no idea where he learned it.  He's a little sponge and he doesn't quickly forget things. For example, today Chris and I were having a conversation while Hudson was sitting near us playing.  I used the word "moderation" in our conversation and Hudson stopped what he was doing, looked at me, and asked "Mommy, what is moderation?"  He has such a curious mind.  Chances are he will use the word moderation in a sentence in the next few days ;)

And now for the pictures...

Big boy haircut!

Just lifting a few weights ;)

7 months

Measurements: No official measurements this month!  But I get told at least once a day what a big boy he is so he's still growing like a weed!  He has pretty much outgrown all his 9 month onesies and pajamas but can still fit in 9 month pants.  But, most of his clothes are either 12 or 12-18 months right now.

Eats: Weston still nurses every 3-4 hours although he's getting hard to nurse.  He's super distracted, especially if Hudson is around.  He squirms, kicks, sometimes bites.  I will nurse him until he turns a year but we will see past that.  I feel like it's a wrestling match every time he needs to eat!

In terms of solids, we haven't found anything Weston doesn't like!  He's tried a whole bunch of things now- avocado, banana, oatmeal, apple sauce, black beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc.  Basically anything we eat that I can mush up, he gets for dinner.  

Sleeps: Not much change in his sleep patterns..for the most part he takes 2 naps a day although the past few days he has only take cat naps so he falls asleep around dinner time.  Bedtime is between 7 and 7:30.  He usually still falls asleep nursing (the one time he's actually calm nursing!) so I may need to break that habit soon.  Normally he wakes up once a night although he's been teething so the past few nights it's been twice.  I'm not going to lie, he does end up in our bed sometimes because I'm just too tired to try to get him back to sleep.  Between his sleeping habits and Hudson's (see big brother update below) we are pretty exhausted around these parts!

Milestones:  We have a tooth!  A few weeks ago Weston got a bad cold and was pitiful.  He was clingy, snotty, etc.  On Thanksgiving Day he was pretty miserable.  I figured it was because of the cold but my father in law insisted he thought it was teething.  Well, sure enough, the next day we saw the tooth "slit"!  It's now popped through but I'm pretty sure he's trying to cut the other bottom middle tooth as well.  Weston has started sitting in both shopping carts and high chairs at restaurants.  This is so helpful to me when we go places!

Likes: He still loves his big brother and I love to watch them interact.  Weston loves to stand and still doesn't care much for laying down (although he's usually happy to sit).  He enjoys his bouncer which is a big help when I'm trying to get things done!

Dislikes:  Weston is pretty easy going.  Obviously he has his fussy moments...when he's really tired or hungry.  But, for the most part he's super content!

Big brother update:  Where to begin with our sweet, funny, yet very strong willed child.  Let's start with how he's NOT sleeping.  Hudson's always been a terrible sleeper.  But, he wakes more during the night than his baby brother.  It isn't uncommon for him to wake up 3-4 times a night.  Sometimes I can go lay him back down and he will fall asleep but usually he wants someone to lay with him.  Chris is willing to do that so he usually ends up sleeping in Hudson's bed.  I know it's a habit that needs to be broken but I feel like we are still in survival mode right now in terms of sleep.  

Hudson still loves school and is learning so much.  He says the funniest things and is a sponge when it comes to learning.  He  can tell his left from his right for the most part (unless he's really lucky in guessing every time we ask!).  He still has zero interest in potty training but I figure he'll start when he's good and ready!

I'm so excited for the holidays with my little ones!  We think Christmas is special when we are kids but I think it's even more special when you HAVE kids.  Merry Christmas!

Lately (in pictures)

Because there aren't enough hours in the day to write a proper "catch-up" blog post...

This might be my favorite picture of my boys ever...taken by my friend Cassie who was watching them one day while I worked :)

This boy loves to eat, as evidenced by his thighs ;)

We spent a perfect day at the zoo a few weeks ago with a few of our friends

Weston's first library trip!

I came home from a run one day to find this...Weston wide awake and Daddy fast asleep on the couch

Matching babies makes me so happy!

Oh the matching outfits...and overalls at that!

Funny thing about this picture...for Hudson's one year photo shoot we sat him in this dump truck.  At 7 months Weston hardly fits!

We had a lunch date with the Fain's.  Christie and I worked together for 6 years and became very close friends.  But, she lives in Virginia and this was the first time all our kids were together!  So much fun!

Half a year!!

How is my baby already a half a year old?? The past 6 months have gone so fast. Weston continues to be such a joy.  He's about as laid back as they come which I hope continues!

Measurements: Weston weighed in yesterday at 20 lbs 10.5 oz (94th percentile).  That's bigger than Hudson was at a year!  Oh my.  He's 27.8 inches long (91st percentile). He's outgrowing most 9 month clothes and is pretty comfortably in 12 months clothes.  He has a few 18 month sleepers he can wear but most 18 month is still a bit too big.  He's in size 4 diapers and a size 3 shoe!

Eats: No change in nursing...about every 3 hours or so.  But, we started some solids this month.  So far he has had avocado, banana, sweet potato, and oatmeal.  He has liked it all!

Sleeps: We are pretty much down to 2 naps a day unless he takes super short afternoon nap.  Then he will sometimes take an evening cat nap.  But, he generally naps around 9am and then again after lunch which thankfully happens to be the same time as Hudson! Most nights he still wakes once but last night he slept all night!  I'm hoping it continues but I'm thinking it's more likely only because he was so worn out from having his shots.  But we will see what tonight brings!

Milestones:  Weston is just about sitting up!  He does still topple over some but he's pretty steady.  He rolls everywhere but doesn't have any interest in trying to scoot crawl like Hudson was at this age.

Likes: Weston loves to sit and stand but isn't a fan on being laid on the floor.  He continues to love his big brother.  They have started to "play" together.  Hudson will do peek-a-boo and Weston just cracks up.  Since they face each other in the car, it's not uncommon to just hear them laughing back and forth.

Dislikes:  Weston is pretty easy going.  Obviously he has his fussy moments...when he's really tired or hungry.  But, for the most part he's super content!

Big brother update:  Hudson continues to love school.  Yesterday on the way out the door he said "I love school!  I get to see all my friends".  It makes me so happy that he loves it and is learning so much.  He amazes me at how smart he is and how much he picks up on.  He knows quite a few of his letters (not the sounds though).  He counts to 11 and then gets a little confused but we are working on it.  He has been able to spell Hudson forever but now we are working on our last name.  He loves to play outside and be active but he also loves to sit and watch cartoons.

And of course, a few pictures!

Catching up

Life has been a little crazy lately. Blogging has been put on the back burner but this is my 3rd blog post in as many days so maybe I can finally get caught up!

1) Chris is currently running for Clemmons Town Council. It's kept him really busy with meet and greets, forums, meetings, etc.  But, I do think he's really enjoying the whole experience so I'm trying to be supportive! The election is November 3rd so things will calm down after that.

2) I have a lot going on in my work world lately. This is our busy season for Novant.  I have worked 50 hours over the past two weeks.  For full time working folks this doesn't sound like a lot but when I'm used to being home with my kiddos 85% of the time, it's a lot.  Things will slow down in the middle of November but until then I'm working quite a bit.  On another note, I have two other jobs lined up beginning in January.  I am going to be doing some personal training at the Y on a very part-time basis.  There's a lot of benefits to working for the Y and there's no absolute time commitment so that makes it nice.  It will be flexible which we definitely need.  Also, I am going to be an adjunct professor at Salem College.  I may have a little too much on my plate but this was not an opportunity I could pass up.  I interviewed at Salem College actually a few years ago and, while they didn't have any teaching positions open then, they have kept my resume on file.  So, I got an out of the blue phone call a few weeks ago asking if I was interested in teaching their Introduction to Athletic Training class.  It's just twice a week and after talking with Chris, we decided I should do it.  I would love if it could turn into something full time down the road but we'll take it one semester at a time. I'll definitely have to find a good work/life balance starting in January because I can see how it would be easy for me to get wrapped up in work and forget that I am first and foremost a Mommy!

3) I love this time of year.  We have so many fall festivals coming up...the first one is this afternoon when the boys wake up from their naps!  I can't wait to post pictures of their costumes :)  I decided to make both their costumes this year and am pleased with how they came out!

Of course, I can't end any post without a few kid spam pictures!

Another trip to Boston

My boys are well seasoned travelers by now...at least from NC to Boston. We spent the first week of October visiting their Uncle Jamie.  If you read this blog, there's a good chance you already know that my brother was in a serious car accident on August 19th.  He's doing well now but we wanted to go and keep him company as he isn't cleared to walk yet so he's been pretty confined to the house. We had a great week spending time with him and other family as well.  Here's some pictures from the trip...

These stickers kept him occupied for quite a while on the plane ride...until he realized he could watch Paw Patrol on my phone!

My sweet boys on the plane. I could tell this man to Hudson's left was a bit nervous about being on the same row as two small children. But, it was the two screaming toddlers in front of us that he should have been worried about...

These two have a love/hate relationship ;)

Playing with our dinner ;)

Lobster races!

They look like they are nicely sharing Bub's lap...but usually it's a battle for who gets to sit with him

Best buds these two ;)

Bundled us for a trip to the Topsfield Fair

Weston hanging out with his buddy Connor

Until next time...we love you!

Thank goodness for plane naps on the way home!