8 Months Old

My curious baby boy,

I cannot believe that you are already 8 months old.  I know I say this every month but I just do not feel like you should be this big yet.  You weighed in at 22.3 pounds a few weeks ago.  That's crazy.  I caught myself scrolling through old pictures the other day of when you were first born and I am amazed at how quickly you have changed.  I feel like we are only a few short months away from you no longer being my baby and instead being a toddler.  This is both exciting and sad for me at the same time.





Last night, after your "midnight snack", I just held you close to me enjoying that you still let me cuddle with you.  You still love to fall asleep with your head on my shoulder, face towards me and you little arms wrapped around my neck.  It is one of my favorite times with you.  There are times when I just hold you longer than you need so I can soak all of this up because I know it isn't too far away that you will no longer want or need this from me as you are already starting to venture out on your own.


So much has changed for your this month.  It has been a constant "let's learn something new today."  You can now clap.  You can do it standing or sitting.  Yes, you can stand on your own now.  You have taken a few steps sans hands or holding onto anything.  Everything has turned into something that you can push and walk with.  You love playing peek a boo.  You will now grab your blanket and pull it up over your head and then pull it down waiting for me to say "peek a boo."  This is hilarious to you.


You are constantly laughing.  You have started laughing so hard that you cannot laugh anymore.  It's hysterical.  You now can make kissy noises.  You will lean in for kisses.  It really is the cutest thing.  And talking, you love to talk.  We cannot understand anything but you try so hard.  There is a lot of "babababa's" and "ahhh's"  "uhhh's".  No real words yet but I feel like you are getting close.

You love looking at yourself in the mirror and you will talk to yourself.  You also have started shaking your head from side to side.  I definitely think this is from hearing no from us when you get into stuff you shouldn't since we shake our head when we say it.  Oh, and your tongue is forever sticking out of your mouth.


You have had a lot of fun experiences this month.  Your first Halloween was a success.  You were the most adorable pirate I have ever seen.  You enjoyed your first visit to the park.  We went down the slide and you got to swing in the swings for the first time.  Your were all smiles.  You had your first Thanksgiving also.  You ate some stuffing and sweet potatoes but didn't really care for anything else.

There are some things that you just do not like though.  You are still not happy about getting dressed in the mornings.  It is a constant battle to get clothes on you.  I think it's more that you have to lay still when you really just want to be moving around and playing.

You also get REALLY mad when you want me to pick you up and I can't.  This is usually in the mornings as I am getting ready for work.  You will crawl up to me and then pull yourself up and stand below me with your arms up.  If I tell you no you get SO MAD.  One morning you actually threw your first temper tantrum (you actually sprawled out on the floor with your arms over your head and kicked your feet back and forth).  I couldn't believe it.  I actually stood there a laughed a little bit because you looked so pitiful and then I realized that wow, this is happening.  Isn't he too young to do this?  I felt so bad that I went and grabbed you and then you started laughing.  Great, I am already being suckered in.  LOL

Looking forward to this next month.  I am so excited for Christmas.  We already have the tree up and you stare at it daily.  Hopefully you don't try and pull it down.

I love you my sweet, sweet baby Brandon.

Mommy

Turkey Day

My Little Turkey on Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends.  Our holiday celebration actually started last Sunday with Thanksgiving with Nick's family.  On the actual Thanksgiving Thursday, I visited my family and then Nick, Brandon and I enjoyed a Thanksgiving evening with some friends.  All in all it was a holiday filled with great friends, family, football and well...too much food.  I have to say, I am turkey'd out and don't want to see or smell turkey for a while.  

About 2 weeks ago, I purchased Brandon a push walker from Amazon because he had been cruising around our furniture for some time now.  Needless to say, he loves it.  He is now pushing this thing all over the house. 

Brandon and his push walker from Rachell Edens on Vimeo.

What I Am Thankful For, Inspired By, and Excited About!

Since we are only a couple days away from Thanksgiving, I thought I would share a few things.

Thankful For:
Wow.  There is so much to be thankful for this year.  My family, friends and Nick are all so important to me.  I am so blessed with the people that I have in my life to help, support and love me.

I have been so incredibly blessed this year with the birth of my son, Brandon.  God has given me the greatest gift in the world.  This little boy has opened my eyes to how life is supposed to feel.

Inspired By:
Well, if we are being honest, I have been inspired by Pinterest lately.  The inventors of that site have made it so much easier to find inspiration in everyday things.  I have been inspired to cook new things, get crafty, and  just keep up with everything that I think I might what to try/buy/or make.  LOVE :)

Excited About:
I am soooooo, ridiculously excited about Christmas this year.  It will be Brandon's first Christmas and I cannot wait to see his little face all lit up under the lights.

Brandon is THIS close to starting to walk on his own.  He is now pushing toys around to walk so it is only a matter of time.  Not sure if I should be excited or scared but I am leaning to excitement.  

Super excited for this weekend.  The Rivalry Game is back with both Florida State and Florida ranked in the Top 10.  Not quite sure what Gameday isn't going to be there but that's OK. There loss.  Wishing for a Seminole Win this weekend :)

If You're Happy and You Know It...

So, this past weekend Brandon figured out how to clap.  We have been working on this for a few weeks and it finally clicked.  Before he would wave his arms up and down and slap his legs but Sunday, he just started clapping like he has been doing it all along.  It's so cute.  This little one is learning and changing more and more each and every day.  I feel like we are in the middle of a learning spurt (that's what I have named it) because everyday he is doing something new.  It is so much fun to watch him pick up new stuff everyday.

Brandon is clapping from Rachell Edens on Vimeo.

October: Instagram Style

My little Michelin Man

Nakey time

How we sleep now

On a walk watching the cars go by

Look Ma, I can stand

Sweet as can be

First boo-boo

Brandon visiting me in the hospital. 

Sleepy baby

7 months today.

Watching the game and eating an apple.

My Halloween pirate looking like a biker while trying on his bandanna. 

Brandon loves bath time 

Too early for Christmas PJ's?

Halloween morning.  

To the Park We Go

Brandon had his first park experience over the weekend.  He loved the swings and the pine straw.   haha  Adorableness is below.  Enjoy :)

If you enjoy following this blog then please take a moment and click the link below and then the owl on the left to vote for my blog. Brandon and I thank you :)

7 Months Old

Brandon,

I CANNOT believe 7 months have already flown by. You should not already be this big. Time needs to slow down some so I can enjoy you being little a while longer.  

You are all over the place now. You are crawling everywhere! You will pull up to stand on anything. You can walk around any and all furniture. You are officially getting into everything. I had to start baby proofing our house. The outlets are all covered and the cabinets are secure. I also put some edge protectors on the coffee table so you don't hurt yourself if you fall into it when you pull yourself up.  

Your new favorite things are banging coasters on the coffee table and beating Tupperware with spoons. I guess we need to get you some drums or something. You love remotes and cell phones. If you see one you go straight for it and in the mouth it goes.  

There were a few firsts this month.  Your first visit to a pumpkin patch.  We got some great pictures.  You also had your first boo-boo.  You used your nose to catch you as you fell down and ended up with carpet burn on your face.  I have a feeling I will be seeing more scrapes and bruises in the months to come. 

Sleeping has been a bit of a challenge lately. You have started getting up twice a night now. You were sleeping through he night for a few weeks but I guess you have decided that isn't for you right now. Luckily, we are only up for about 20 minutes (enough time for you to eat and get a clean diaper) before you will go back down. I am hoping this is just a phase and you will go back to sleeping through the night soon. Mommy needs her rest.

We are in full solids mode now. You will eat pretty much anything. The only things you have not liked so far are lemons and a beef medley puree. You actually gagged when trying to eat it. Everything else though, you love. Fruits and Veggies are your thing; just not meat. You are eating between 5-7 oz of solids a day and 30-35 oz of formula.  

We don't have a doctor appointment this month so not sure what your stats are.  You are in size 4 diapers now and wearing clothes mostly in the 9-12 month range with some larger sizes in onesie's depending on the brand.  

I can only imagine what this next month will bring.  Looking forward to the upcoming holidays and getting to see you experience all of what's coming next.  I have a feeling that you are going to be walking before Christmas.  I guess we will see :)

Love, 

Mommy

If you enjoy following this blog then please take a moment and click the link below and then the owl on the left to vote for my blog. Brandon and I thank you :)

Arrgg, Matey

Brandon's First Halloween was a successful one.  We decided months ago that he would be a pirate and I was excited to make his costume instead of buying one.  I am not a very craft person but I feel like I did an ok job for a first timer.

We ended up going to Nick's parents house because their neighborhood has a lot of trick-or-treaters and the whole family would be there.  It was a packed house with family and friends.  All the kids went trick or treating together around the neighborhood, even Brandon (minus half his costume by then.)  It was a late night for him but he never got fussy and was in good spirits the entire evening.

After we got home last night I made a comment to Nick about the difference between this Halloween (and all upcoming) and all the Halloween's before Brandon.  All throughout my twenties, Halloween was an excuse to dress up, party, and act a fool.  I thought that I would miss all of that but I now realize that doing all of this with Brandon and experiencing it with him is WAY more fun than any late night party.  Plus, I don't wake up with a hangover in the morning. Haha

I am already looking forward to next Halloween with Brandon as he will be toddling around everywhere.  Check out his costume from this year below.  The onesie is from J.Crew, pants Target (I just cut them) and the vest I made.  Bandanna was a great added touch.