15 Month Update

Do you see this picture? 3 months have gone by and look at how much bigger he is. It's so crazy how much our little ones change and grow in such a short time. Brandon had his 15 month doctor's appointment yesterday and is now weighing in at 26.8 lbs (79th percentile), is 32.5 inches long (86th percentile), and his head circumference is 19 inches (79th percentile). He has went down in the percentile for weight a little bit but has stayed in the 80's for height. I think this may be the first time that he is higher in height than weight which I guess means he is starting to lean out at bit. We are still in size 4 diapers and currently wear anything from 12-18 months to 2T in clothes (it depends on the brand). 

We have had an explosion of vocabulary during these past three months. Brandon can now say Momma, Dada, Uh-oh, Baby, Boom, Hot, Bird, No No, Nana (banana), Bye, Hi, Up, Night Night, Bunny, Hat, More, Water, Book, Block, and Belly. There are probably some more words but these are the one's we fully understand right now. He signs please, more, all done, and bath/wash. He put his first two words together a few weeks ago, Hi, Daddy. It was so sweet.  Brandon also knows some animal sounds for lion, kitty cat, cow, and sheep. He can point out where his belly, nose, teeth, toes and hair are on a constant basis (we are still working on ears and eyes). 

We are definitely able to communicate more now as if he cannot express in words what he wants he can at least go to it or point to let us know. Plus, it's great that he understands most of what we ask him. For instance, if I start singing Clean up, Clean up, everybody clean up, then he will start cleaning up whatever he last played with (so nice). Or, I can ask him to bring me a different book (he likes to keep the same two books on rotation and Mommy needs more variety in her life) and he will go to the book pile and grab another one he wants to read. 

Brandon's favorite things to do right now are anything water related, reading books, dancing, and riding his trike. If you play any music he starts shaking his little bon-bon all over the house. I cannot get enough of that.    He also really loves to play with his Melissa & Doug puzzles. We have three that he just loves to play with. He will take all of the pieces apart and lay them out then put them back where they go one by one. 

For the most part, he had hit all of his major physical skills before 12 months so not too much new is happening now. He obviously is running much faster now and likes to climb like no ones business but really, other than that, not too much new to report in that aspect. It seems he has really just been focusing on the verbal and cognitive things lately. 

It really is amazing how much they learn and grow in these first few years of life. Seeing all of this explosion of growth, both physically and cognitively, just reiterates to me the importance of being as active and involved with all aspects of his life as I can be. Gosh, I just love this little guy to pieces. 

Check out these two videos. The top is Brandon getting jiggy with it and the bottom is Brandon playing in the fountains/water jets. 

11 Months

I know I say this every month but it seems to all go by so quick. You are just a few short weeks away from your first birthday. I cannot believe it has almost been a year already. Where did my sweet little baby go?!? You are in full on run mode now. Constantly moving. Never staying still for more than a few seconds. Life seems to be more and more fun for you as you figure new things out.

You love being outside. Unfortunately, February gave us a month of either rain or wind or cold. Not a whole lot of outside time was had but we made the best of what we could. You love to go to the park and swing in the swings. You took your first ride down a slide and laughed and laughed. You think it is so funny when Mommy and Daddy chase you around the house. You love to play peek a boo and will grab any blanket and throw it over your head to start a game of it.

You can now say Mama, Dada (every once in a while), Ball, Bye with a wave. You can also Moo like a cow. It sounds more like mmmmmm but we know what it is. Uh with your arms up means up for you. You will run up to my legs and look up with you arms in the air and go, "uh, uh" So darn cute but you get so darn upset if I don't pick you up quick enough. You love to play on Daddy's old cell phone. You put it up to your ear and try to say Hello but it sounds more like Ayo. You can also shake your head up and down for Yes and side to side for No.

You also love to read your books. You will now bring books to me to read and I am pretty sure you have favorites already because you will search through your basket of books for specific ones to read. It's so funny watching you throw books around trying to find the exact one you are looking for.

You also share. Like, actually give stuff to someone else and not take it right back. We always say "thank you" when you do and you get the biggest grin on your face and are so proud of yourself. You have also started pointing at things. I call it the E.T. phone home point because that is what it looks like.

Dancing is new this month. Really, the last few weeks this has started. You will kinda bounce up and down when music comes on or shake your arms side to side. Of course, this elicits tons of laughs and smiles from you. I see many Mommy and Brandon dance parties in the living room in our future.

Sleeping and eating have really been unchanged these past few months. You still wake once or twice a night. You are eating 3 table food meals a day with snack. You still take formula but I am going to start weaning you off soon.

Not sure of your weight or height but your 1 year appointment is April 4 so we will see how far your have come then. We now have 7 teeth, 4 on top and 3 on bottom. You had 8 but one went back under the gum. Didn't know that they could do that but looks like it will be making it's way back up soon as you can easily see it. You are still in size 4 diapers. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Clothes are 12-18 months for the most part with some 24 months shirts depending on the brand.

Month 11 has been so much fun and I can only see it becoming more and more fun as you learn to do new things. Less than one month to go til the big 0-1!!! March 28, Here We Come.

10 Month Update

Brandon,

10 months already? Goodness how time flies when you're having fun. This month has been a blast. You are getting more and more fun as the days move along (not that you weren't fun before but now you are able to really interact with). You are solidly in 12-18 month pants and 12-24 month shirts and onesies. You are still in size 4 diapers and I do not see that changing anytime soon. You currently have 4 teeth, 2 top and 2 bottom. I think we may have 2 more about to pop through on the top pretty soon.  

You are now walking unassisted. You have been for about 2 weeks now. It is so cute to watch you carefully walk around. You start to get really excited and will clap and laugh and then start waving your hands and arms frantically until you start to lose your balance. You are so good and balancing though. You can stand up on your own without holding onto anything also but you still prefer to pull yourself up while holding onto something if it's near. 

We have really started to switch you to eating table foods more and more this month. You will eat almost anything. I am doing my best to keep it all organic as much as possible. So far pretty good with a few exceptions here and there. You are usually a big mess after eating so we are taking multiple baths and/or showers a day. You love the water so you really look forward to this. When you take showers you love to just sit underneath the water and let it run over you. In the bath you have now started to lay on your tummy and blow bubbles. You have no fear of getting your face wet which is awesome. This is going to make learning to swim so much easier. 

Sleep is not going so well right now. It seems like every other month we have difficult nights. Right now you are waking about 3 times a night. We have been feeding you when you wake but I am in the process of trying to wean you from your night feedings. I am starting with the last one and working up from there. You are still going to bed around 7pm but your wake up times vary drastically. Sometimes you are up at 5:30am and other times not until 7:30am. I am hoping to get you on a better sleep schedule. Obviously, I would love for you to sleep through the night but if not then if we could just get you down to only waking up once then I would be ecstatic.

You are really starting to talk more and more. You can say mama and ball.  You have said dada and book a few times but not enough to really say you have them down yet. You know was no means and when you are finished eating you will shake your head back and forth for no which let's me know you are done. You also use the sign for all done. I am working on other signs with you in the hopes you will be able to communicate a little better instead of just yelling when you want something. We are working on more, eat, drink and milk right now. 

It amazes me that you have now been here longer than you were in my tummy. I remember thinking when I was pregnant that the days and months took forever but now I am realizing just how fast time is really going. As I held you the other night you fell asleep and I immediately saw you as that little baby boy that I first held in my arms in the hospital a few hours after you were born. You have already grown up so much but there are still times, especially when you sleep, that I still see that sweet little 8 pound baby all snuggled up in my arms. I do hope that I will always be able to look at you and remember those early days with you. Luckily I take a ridiculous amount of pictures.

Also, they have reset the voting for Topbabyblogs.com so If you enjoy following this blog then please take a moment and click the link below. It will take you to a new page to select the owl on the left to vote for my blog. Brandon and I thank you :)

9 Months Old

Seriously?!? Where has the time gone.  9 months old, already.  Really? How can that be.  Time is truly flying by with you.  I wish I could just hit the pause button to really enjoy you at this age because I feel like I am going to blink and you will be 5 and starting kindergarten.

At your 9 month check up you weighed in at 22.8lbs (82%) and were 29 inches tall (75%).  You wear a size 4 diaper, 9-18 month pants (depending on the brand) and 12-24 month shirts/onesies (depending on the brand).

There hasn't been a whole lot of change between last month and this month with regards to milestones.  For the most part you are just perfecting what you already know how to do.  You have been taking a few steps here and there on your own but you still prefer to crawl if you really need to get somewhere fast.

You have started to get more vocal lately and you like to hold conversations with your nightlight.  Not sure what you are saying but it is really adorable hearing you talk to the light at night.

Both of your top front teeth have popped through in the last week or so.  I think these seem to be bothering you more than when your bottom teeth came in.  You are constantly rubbing your tongue on them and rubbing toys against them.

We celebrated our first Christmas with you last week.  You have had a bit of a cold and were not feeling well but you did so good opening your presents and playing with your new stuff.

I am hopeful that you will go back to sleeping through the night again.  Right now you are getting up 2-3 times each night.  Some nights you just need to be rocked a bit and the others are full feedings.  You are still going down between 6:30-7pm each night and are usually up for good between 6:30-7am the next morning.

Your personality is showing more and more each day.  You have learned to wave goodbye and do it always to Mommy and Daddy.  For some reason, you like to wave when we tell you "No" also.  Not sure what that's about but it's really cute.  You also have started to squint to smile when I turn the camera on.  It's hilarious and takes forever to now get a picture of you without the "squint."

It is amazing that you have now been on this Earth for as long as you were in my belly.  These 9 months have flown by so fast.  In one month's time you will be in double digits for months old.  It's mind boggling.

I love you so much my little man.