11 months old

Oh we're getting so close to ONE!  Just a few more weeks!  He's definitely getting more and more independent by the day and more vocal as well.  Just after last month's post, he started saying Momma all the time and may even know what he's saying.    I think it's interesting how his first words are Daddy and Momma.  Jack's first words were uh-oh and duck.  But Jack probably says Momma and Daddy a few hundred times each, every day, so I think Max caught on to those a bit sooner.  

When Jack was this age, I was laid off and home with him so I have fond and vivid memories of this stage with him.  Max does many of the VERY same things Jack did and sometimes I even see the same little looks on his face.  They were both very into tupperware and the magnets on the dishwasher.  Max LOVES the electrical outlets, just like Jack always did.  Max seems to be getting feistier in his "old" age and a little less laid back.  I think this is about when the same thing happened to Jack.  

He's not walking but he is taking a step here and there and standing on his own for a few seconds.  I don't think he'll be 15 months old when he walks alone like Jack was.  He doesn't seem to like his new shoes.  He still crawls funny, pushing off with one foot, and he takes that shoe off all the time!  I hate shoes too so I can't really blame him.

He still likes his paci sometimes but it definitely becoming less dependent on it.  That's a good thing, I know, but I'll admit, at times (like when he wakes far too early and I want Jack to stay asleep), I wish he liked it more.  

He had a rough time teething this month too and still really doesn't have any new teeth to show for it.  The poor little guy got blood blisters on his gums from teething!  The pediatrician said they'd go away on their own, and they did, but I don't think they felt too good.  I didn't have much luck getting a picture but you can kind of see the one on top, where his front right tooth would be.  

Sleep is still a challenge.  Some nights he'll go all night, or almost all night.  Other nights he's up 2-3 times.  There seems to be no pattern or predictablity.  I never really anticipated how worried I'd be about the 2nd child waking the 1st.  Our house is pretty small and the boys sleep on opposite sides of the same wall.  It doesn't take much for one to wake the other, at all.  I'm sure my sensitivity to this has created this monster.  I'm just not sure how to change it what to do differently.  So it goes.  It could be worse, for sure.

I don't think Max is as smitten with solid foods as he once was.  I'm not sure why.  He will eat most any fruit you put in front of him but most other things he'll throw in the floor or spit out.  He wants nothing to do with you putting a spoon in his mouth either.  He never really turns down a cracker or a chance to grab something off Jack's plate though. He has formula during the day (2 5.5 ounces at school each day and then 4 ounces with dinner when he gets home) and nurses in the morning and at night.  It's working really well and I only wish I'd started this sooner.  I don't ever have to pump, yet he still gets breastmilk and the comfort from nursing.  I worry a little bit that he might not ever want to give it up, even though I am hopeful he will soon.  I'm really ready to get back to eating dairy and soy!  We tried giving Max yogurt 2 times this month. The first time went great and I was so hopeful that we were outgrowing the milk allergy.  But the second time...well...it seemed clear we weren't after he was up screaming 5 times that night. :(  Oh well, I feel certain we'll outgrow it one day!  Jack was 18 months before he could tolerate it, so we probably have a while to wait.  For the most part I think the Prevacid is working great for his reflux...either that or he's just outgrowing it.  We'll never really know which I guess. At the doctor's office when he went to have his gums checked out, he weighed 22 lbs 4 ounces.  That's not much more than he weighed a few months ago, but he's definitely getting taller.  He can barely fit in his footie pj's anymore because he's too long!  He's wearing some 6-12 months stuff and others, like the pj's in this picture are 18-24 months.  Just depends on the cut I guess, but most of his stuff is 12-18 months at this point.

He gets into anything and everything he can.  Jack's not thrilled with this, but is learning to put things he doesn't want messed with, in his room.  Max loves playing with the sorting blocks and stacking rings but also likes anything he can chew on.  He LOVES music and will stop whatever he's doing to dance when a song comes on.  He's more into looking at books on his own than listening to us read to him, but Jack will often "read" Max a book before bed anyway.

Max also brought home his very first piece of artwork this month.  I'm pretty sure he had some help with it, but I think he did great! 

He's not the easiest baby in the world I don't think but not the hardest either.  And he's happy and healthy and makes us all smile.  It's so much fun watching him figure things out and be so proud of himself when he masters a new skill.   We sure do love you Super Max!

Weekend cuteness

This was the first weekend in the longest time that I can recall we had no real plans.  It was nice, though I will admit keeping these boys entertained (and out of trouble) inside in this heat is a bit of a challenge.  As I write this Sunday night, I must admit I have no idea how stay-at-home moms do it!  I had Kenny's help all weekend and still struggled!  Kudos to you all!

Friday, Jack wore his new Spidey mask and gloves to school for share day.  He is so into Spiderman!  He gets really upset if you call him Jack Lion while he's wearing his mask.  He's clearly SPIDEY!

Jack and Max are still very smitten with one another, but now that Max can reach most of Jack's things, Jack is often heard fussing "Mackie's gonna get it!" or "Mackie's gonna eat it!"  I don't know why he calls him Mackie, but he does.  Or Mackie Mack Mack.  This was one of the first times I actually saw Jack get excited that Max was interested in his toys.  Max had helped himself to the basket of animals and Jack dropped what he was doing and went over to play with him.  He thought it was fun to tell Max what all the animals were and what sounds they made.  I will admit it made me tear up a little on the inside.  I just can't wait to see how their relationship develops.

It was so hot Saturday we had to stay inside and Sunday something crazy happened.  It RAINED.  It's been a while since Richmond had seen rain.  Jack was so excited he asked if he could put on his bathing suit and go play in it!  Sure thing...  He is a little crazy and a lot pale, but he had fun!

This little cutie got some new shoes this weekend!  His first pair!  We usually just let him go barefoot but since he's learning to walk, we figured it was time.  He seems to like them!  He has a wide foot, unlike his brother, so he couldn't just wear Jack's old ones.

And look at these!  Aren't they the cutest little grapes you ever did see?  Gramps stopped in on Sunday with them - Max-sized grapes!  Max LOVED them.  They are apparently champagne grapes.  Very sweet and super cute.  Let's hope this doesn't encourage a champagne taste on our grape juice budget. 

Jack also got a haircut and looks super cute but he did NOT want his picture taken so you'll have to take my word for it.  Now it's back to work and school but we'll be anxious to see what fun next weekend holds!

License to walk

He's not walking completely on his own yet, but he's wide open with his little push cart!

This was taken last week sometime and he's actally gotten a lot more independent now.  He does it all on his own until he runs into something, then he looks around for some help.  He just needs to learn to steer!  He LOVES walking and is so happy every time he spies his little cart.  

Ten months old

Month ten was a rocky one, but we definitely came out on top!  After struggling with reflux issues, we finally made some headway there which made everything else a lot better!  Now he's so much more calm and content, just like he was before we started down the reflux path!  

Poor fella.  As a reminder to myself, Prevacid is magical, but ONLY when given properly.  Don't let anyone talk you into compounding it and make sure you give it on an empty stomach 30 minutes before eating.  If you don't do those things, it will not work and the reflux will be worse than it was before you started on the medicine.  Max, I'm sorry it took me so long to figure out how to make it work, but I'm really glad that you are feeling SO MUCH better!  

Compounded Prevacid will not only make reflux worse, it will also make your baby not want to eat.  That's when you know something is wrong with Max.  He LOVES to eat!   

This month he tried a lot of new things - mostly combinations of things and foods that we were eating.  He ate a LOT of berries and melon this month.  He is starting to be a bit pickier - leaving behind the green beans or peas when there are fruit or carrots available.  He also started on some formula and is doing great!  We're still nursing too but it's so freeing to know that it's not all on me.  He won't take the hypoallergenic stuff, but he seems to be tolerating Good Start quite well.  I am so VERY thankful!  We're cutting back on milk during the day in favor of more solids, finally.  He's down to 10 ounces or so during the day at school and 3 good meals.  I'm still sending his lunch to school until we're sure where we stand with the milk and soy issues, which we'll test a bit once we are sure the formula isn't causing any issues.  

He hasn't had an official weight check since his 9 month checkup but the scale at home says he's not gained any weight in the last month.  He's gotten a fair bit longer though, so I guess he's just stretching out!

His biggest accomplishment this month was definitely learning how to walk around (while holding on to things of course).   He's also able to get up the steps!  We've never let him get past the first one but I'm pretty sure he could do them all if he was left alone long enough!

This new mobility has allowed him access to so many things he couldn't reach before.  Namely, Jack's toys.  It's caused a few "arguments" and definitely made Jack a bit more protective of his things, but we're learning that toys are meant to be shared, even with little brothers.  He LOVES unloading the cabinets in the kitchen.  This was also Jack's favorite pastime at this age.  The mess makes Kenny a little crazy, but it keeps Max quiet and happy for a pretty good chunk of time, so it's ok by me!

He's really good at saying Da Da, but hasn't yet uttered his first Ma Ma.  Isn't that always the way?  It's ok Max, you keep smiling like this at me, and I won't complain!

He's such a sweet baby.  He just smiles and giggles all the time and you actually very rarely hear more than a little babble or giggle.  Unless his reflux is acting up.  Then all bets are off and screaming will likely ensue.  

Kenny takes both kids to school and carries Max inside in the carrier on his chest.  Max just smiles and throws his arms up at all of his teachers.  He gets so excited.  It's wonderful to know he loves being there so much!  

Formula has really helped with his sleeping too.  He is still often up once a night but is easy to get back down.  Earlier in the month there were nights he was up 3 and 4 times just screaming.  He still loves being rocked and he loves for you to stroke his hair while you rock him to sleep.  I love snuggling babies to sleep and know these days are numbered.  I know you are supposed to put babies to bed awake, but you only get to rock them for such a short period of time, I just can't bring myself to give it up.  Jack goes to sleep without being rocked, so clearly they do figure out how to go to sleep without eventually.

He loves playing with his music table, that Jack never cared much for, and anything else that makes sound or lights up.  He also loves banging on things and if there's music on, he's usually dancing and grinning.  He's a complete joy and he's getting so big.  It's so much fun watching him learn but our baby days are clearly numbered so I'm trying to squeeze all I can out of them!  

A Fantastic 4th!

We had a really busy, but fun-filled 4th of July!  It was a hot one here, but most are I suppose and it didn't seem to bother anyone too much.

We were so excited to have the O'Donnells in town for the holiday weekend!  Friday night after work, they came over, along with Grandma, and we tried a bbq place we'd never tried before since our favorite was closed for a big move down the street.  

After a bit of fun outside and filling our bellies everyone went home except Emory who stayed to spend the night with Jack - Jack's very first sleepover in his room!  Emory was so sweet to do this for Jack and Jack was in heaven having Emory with him.  Emory even got to try his tongue at reading Fox in Socks!  He did great!

The next morning the boys had breakfast before Ellie and Grandma came over.  Look at those red heads!

Then it was off to the Farmer's Market.  We go most every weekend and thought Emory and Ellie might enjoy it too.  

Jack had his usual treat - a blueberry muffin and a juice box...

Emory and Ellie had lemon-limeades.  They even shared!

Then it was off to the River for some fun.  We walked and talked and threw rocks and made bridges.  It was a lot of fun, as usual!

After naps it was time to head to Tammy and Dante's house for a pool party!  Are you tired yet?  I told you it was a FUN-FILLED weekend!   

The next day we headed out to the Pearson's house on the river.  We've heard a lot about this place but had never been so we were so excited to get to go.  My camera died shortly after we got there so I only got a few pictures, but it was a perfect afternoon.  Hot, but so much fun.  Jack LOVED every second of it.  They have a log cabin that has one huge room with lots of bunk beds and foutons.  I took Jack in to find the bathroom and he stopped and said "Momma, this is AMAZING!  Look at all these beds!"  It really is pretty amazing, Jack!


More amazing than the beds though - was the boat ride that Uncle Eddie took him on.  His very first.  I thought he'd panic at the thought...but he was itching to go!  He loved it!  

Max enjoyed waiting with Grandma on the shore...

We had a lot more fun there but my camera died, so that's all I can show you.  You'll have to take my word for it!  Thanks for inviting us Pearsons!

We finally made it to the 4th!  Our neighborhood (well, Grams and Gramps' neighborhood really, but we pretend it is ours too on the 4th)  has the cutest little kids parade in the morning, so Jack got to be in that!  It was right in the middle of Max's naptime, so he didn't get to go this year, but hopefully next year they can both be in it!

On your mark...

Get set...

 

GO!

Then enjoy a snow cone for your efforts...

That afternoon we had some hotdogs with Grams and Gramps and the boys serenaded us.  Max was really playing that piano hard!

The only thing missing was fireworks...and we actually did see some of those.  Sunday night, as we headed home from our afternoon with the Pearsons, we forgot about the big Brown's Island fireworks show and I got off the highway to cut through town and ran smack dab into all the traffic.  It took us about 2 hours to make a 30 minute trip, but we ended up with a fantastic view of the fireworks from the car!  Jack wasn't all too keen on them so I was happy we hadn't gone out of our way (or at least not on purpose?) for them.   Max slept right through them.  

It was a wonderful weekend!