Solids

Solids are going well with Nathan! In fact, he likes them so much, he has cut back on how many bottles he drinks while I am working... to maybe two. He just eats puffs and baby food all day until I am there to nurse him. What a stinker butt! Some nights when I have been working a few days in a row, he will nurse every two hours so that he gets in his six or seven feedings a day. I knew that was something that could possibly happen, but man, I wasn’t thinking it was going to happen for sure! LOL! It’s okay; I would rather he keep me up to nurse than him not want to nurse at all. I love that I am able to experience nursing this time. Nathan usually ends up snuggling with me and nursing while I snooze anyway, so it isn’t too bad! I love my little mama’s boy.

Gimme those puffs!

Nathan has become Mr. Grabby Hands nowadays, as well. Whenever we sit down to eat, he is constantly trying to grab things off the table from napkins to tortillas and silverware; he wants us to know that he is big and he can participate, too! He has moved on to stage II foods and has eaten a variety of foods. He really likes his fruits and some veggies. Like Katie, he isn't really keen on green vegetables, but he likes Sweet Potatos, Squash, and Carrots. I am still working on the Green Beans and the Peas. I am sure that he will be ready to eat "real" solid food before I know it.

Yummy Food!

Nathan: Eight Months

Bubba Dubba,

My handsome little boy, you are growing up too fast! Life as a family of four is fast paced, never with a dull moment, and more chaotic than I ever imagined. But I LOVE every minute of it. Even the stressful times make us nostalgic when we look back (much later, of course). I feel like you and your sister are learning and doing new things everyday; I am trying as hard as I can to hang on to every minute and take you both in. You will be grown before I know it, I am sure.

Having lunch at Hyatt Wild Oaks Ranch, July 4th

Katie and Nathan at Perico's, July 1st

Nathan's first Fourth of July

Your personality is just growing and exploding. You are such a happy and friendly baby! Even when Katie Bug is in your face screaming “HI BUBBBBBBAAAAA!” you always give her a happy smile. You love to talk, laugh, shriek and make new sounds. You say “ma-ma” all of the time now, and you look around the room for me when you want me to hold you. You even said “mommy” this past month! It melted my heart. On the flip side, when you are very upset, you do a exaggerated pout and say “mmmmaaaaaaaaawwwwmmmaaaaaa.” You are starting to say “ba-ba-ba” and more noises that sound like constants, but no “da-da,” yet. Daddy is hoping and waiting for it! You don’t seem to be experiencing a lot of stranger anxiety yet, although you know most of the people that you encounter that want to hold you. Sometimes when mommy or daddy is unloading the car at home, Uncle Kevin will help hold you and you fuss for him from time to time.  That may be more of you wanting one of us rather than “stranger anxiety,” though. Whenever we are out and about, you are always very generous with your smiles and love to flirt with anyone who gives you attention!

Nathan and Katie at Aunt Nonee's, July 5th

Isabella, Katie and Nathan, July 6th

You are constantly on the go and moving around like crazy, too! For the majority of this month, you had been doing an “army crawl” or as I like to call it “this worm flop thingy.” You would get on your hands and knees and sort of belly flop onto the ground to advance a little and then repeat the cycle until you got where you wanted to be. Then you started to half crawl, half sit to get around. Finally you started to crawl on your eight month birthday (July 28^th)! We are so proud of you!!! Today, while I was getting ready, you were moving all around our bedroom investigating the new things you can reach.  You are also pulling up on everything! For the most part, you have been pulling up on my shirt, daddy’s leg when he is laying down, Grandma’s arm, etc. We have always been right there to help you as your ankles have been a little weak and floppy. On the 25^th, though, I had already put you to bed in your room and I heard you making some noise. I went in to soothe you, and leaned over the crib to pat your back. Low and behold, you startled me as you were standing all by yourself in your crib!! You even let go of mommy while you were standing yesterday and stood for about 1 second by yourself before you grabbed back on. Mommy is going to have to baby proof some things around the house, I suppose.

First Time in a Big Boy Carseat (without his new cover), July 12th

Standing in his crib for the first time, July 25th

Shopping at Home Depot, July 28th

You sit up so well, and love to be with the bigger kids to play. We went to visit Aunt Melissa and Charlize on the 27^th and you wanted to be right in the action with the older boys. You are very well adept at getting objects you want near you. Especially if those objects are puffs. I have never seen a little baby shovel those things in their mouth as quickly as you do! Hahaha! Sometimes you use your pincher grasp and sometimes you just rake everything towards you with your whole hand and shove them both in your mouth. You are very good at banging things together, looking for objects that you want (even if they are a little bit hidden), and passing objects from one hand to the next.  You love to listen to loud music that has a good beat (Top 40s), look at things that light up, put everything in your mouth, “pet” the puppies (which is more like you grabbing their hair as they scream), jumping in your jumper, sitting in your walker, playing with your toys that make music (even better if they light up, too), and being outside. You still love the water and really enjoy going to the pool or taking a bath.

Swimming in the Backyard, July 20th

Pawpaw and Nathan at Peter Piper Pizza, July 13th

Nathan and Charlize, July 27th

GamGam and Great Grandpa were still here visiting at the beginning of your eight month. You Great-Great Aunt Rikki and third cousin, Chase were able to stay with us as well. As I mentioned last month, you were Aunt Rikki’s little buddy and spent most of the days I was working snuggling with her. We had a lot of fun while they were here in town and got to do some cool things. On the 30^th of June, you and Katie went with everyone to Natural Bridge Caverns while I had to work. I hear you guys had a great time, too!

Katie, Gam Gam and Nathan, July 1st

Nathan and Great-Great Aunt Rikki, July 1st

Perico's with Great Grandpa, July 1st

Places we have visited/things we have done this month:
Natural Bridge Caverns, June 30th
Hyatt Wild Oaks Ranch/Hyatt Hill Country Resort, July 4^th
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, July 8^th
Portland, Texas to help Aunt Tara and Uncle Kevin Pack, July 12^th
Peter Piper Pizza, July 13^th
Met Aunt Jill, July 19^th
Mamaw and Papaw's house
Aunt NoNee's House
Aunt Melissa’s House
Swim Classes for Katie
Mommy's work
Restaurants
Shopping

Natural Bridge Caverns, June 30th

First Time to the Circus, July 8th

Your Clothing/Eating and Sleeping Habits:
Clothing: 6-12 months
Diapers: size 3 disposables and "small" or “medium” cloth diapers
Sleeping: Bedtime is around 8:30-9:30pm. You have been waking up so much this month. I think it is more because I am working a lot and you want to make sure you get to nurse enough. You have been waking up around 2am and 4am, and again at 6am if I am off work. You like to stay awake for a bit at 6am and then will fall back to sleep. You usually take a short morning nap, but when and how long really varies on where you are and how much you were up the night before. You still take a mid-morning nap for a couple of hours and a short nap in the evening around 6 or 7pm. Eating: Usually you nurse 6-7 times a day. You drink two bottles (sometimes) of about 5 oz while I am at work, and still manage to nurse 3-5 times that day when I am home. You LOVE puffs and yogurt melts! You are eating solids so well and you would also eat table food if I gave it to you. You had a little bit of a buttery blueberry muffin this past week and you really enjoyed it!  You generally have 2 jars of 4.5oz baby food, stage 2, a day.

Eating puffs, July 13th

Mama's Baby, July 1st

You are getting to be such a big boy, Nathan! While I can’t wait to see what you learn next month, I also wish that I could bottle up your cute little self now so I can always remember how you were as a baby.  You are such a momma’s boy, and as I learned with your sister, that will change in the blink of an eye. Always know that we love you very, very much and you make our family complete!

Love Always,
Mommy

Tickle with Mommy!!

Laughter

First Steps

While Paul and I were out of town visiting Katie's godmother, she took her very first step (September 5, 2010). Tara and Katie were playing on the floor, and Tara let go of her waist, and Katie balanced by herself for a few seconds. She stepped forward with her left foot very steadily until Tara and I both screamed with disbelief. We were only just talking about how she'd be walking soon moments before!! Startled, Katie Bug sat back down and has not taken steps unassisted since. She has, however, been cruising all around the house while hanging on....

Kaitlyn: Month Eight

Katie Bug,

 

My precious baby girl, you are making more and more advancements towards being a toddler. I told your daddy a couple of days ago that you seem so different this week than last week, even. You are able to express more emotions, you are constantly on the go, and your features are changing. Everyone always tells us to cherish this time; that you will grow up so fast, and you are! I am trying to take everything in, remember as much as possible, and live in the moment, but it is going by too fast!

I love seeing your personality grow and develop. You are such a happy baby and you love to learn new things. You enjoy looking at shiny objects, new faces (as long as they aren't holding you), objects with lights, fast music (like Country Songs or Top 40s), banging objects together, "petting" the puppy, jumping, and "walking" (with help, of course). I think you understand what puppy means, too. When we mention "puppy" you always turn to look for Kalli, Buddy or Jasmine. You love to talk to yourself and you are making so many new sounds this month. You love to say "Bah!" and it almost sounds like your about to say "Mama." When you are really upset and want me to pick you up, you say "MAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" loudly. You are much more aware of who is who, and when you want our attention, you follow us around the house and cry louder if you think we are ignoring you.

You are definitely a mama's girl this month. You love for me to hold you all of the time. If I am around you and someone else is holding you, you will reach out for me as I walk by and cry when I leave the room. When I have been working several days in a row, you are very upset my first day off and cry and fuss unless I am with you the entire time. By the second day, you are back to your independent self, exploring the house and tipping over the puppy's water bowl.  I know it won't be long until you are running away to play with your friends, though, so I am trying to enjoy your attention while it lasts. :o) 

This past month, your great grandma and great grandpa were able to come up and stay with Grandma and Grandpa for two and a half weeks! You were so excited to see them and acted as though they had always been there. You gave GamGam lots of smiles and hugs and she helped mommy take care of you when I had to work. (and when I was off and needed to run errands, too!) PawPaw even gave you lots of smiles and hugs and played with you, as well!

This month you started staying with your Aunt Nomi while we are at work. I hear that you really enjoy playing with Miss Isabella. She is such a good helper and will teach you lots of cool "big girl" things, I am sure. Nomi tells me that you are very good for her!

More Eight Month Developments:

Sleeping/Naps: Bedtime at 8:30-9:30pm and sleep to 07:30. You usually take 2-3 naps 1-2 hours long.
Clothing: Still wearing 6-9 months or 6-12 months with size three shoes, Medium Diapers
Mealtime: 1 to 2-4.5oz jars of baby food, stage 2 and 19-22 ounces of milk in 5 bottles

New Skills:
  -Passes objects from one hand to the next
  -Standing while holding onto something, you let go with one hand even
  -Taking a couple of steps sideways while holding on (to the coffee table, etc.)
  -Lowering yourself back down to the ground rather than falling
  -Picking up things with your pincher grasp
  -Opening and Closing things repeatedly
  -Understands object permanence
  -Feeding yourself one to two Apple Puffs

We love you so much doodlebug; more and more each day!

Love,
Mommy