Michael is 8 months!

We had your 8 month check up today little Michael and you were wonderful. No fussing when Dr. Lee and the nurse were checking you out. You just laid there with wide eyes looking at them and then to me for reassurance and then back at them with a little smile.

 At your 8 month check up with Dane getting his 2 yr check up.

Here are your stats:

30 1/2 inches tall %=off the charts 
16 lbs 14 oz 50%
17.25 inches head circumference 25%
You are wearing 12 month clothes (with the pants cinched in) 
Size 3 diapers and 4 at night
2 teeth- bottom front

Our little bean pole!

You are a really fast crawler now and have started standing on your own. Yup, that's right! The first time I saw it was at our stake's Christmas program. After the program everyone went into the cultural hall for cookies and hot chocolate and all the kids (including your brother) were running around. I decided to put you down to crawl and explore for a while. I started chatting with some friends and look over to see you in the middle of the cultural hall by your self standing! Both feet were planted on the floor and your arms were out. There was nothing around for you to pull up on so you just figured it out on your own. I started freaking out and scared you and you fell down. You got me so excited....and a little nervous. I think you wanted to run with the other kids.

 Checking out the lights at the LA Temple

You are sleeping about the same. You wake up 2 times throughout the night and wake at 7 for the day. You sleep with your new Mimi blankie, your binkie, and your stuffed monkey. It's the sleep trifecta. We can put you in your crib with those things and you will silently fall asleep.

 

 Snuggling with your Mimi blankie made by my mom.

 

Sometimes you like to jump in bed with your brother.

You are still nursing 5 times a day and have solids 3 times a day. You are not ready for anything to chew yet. For example: if I make your rice cereal too thick you start to gag on it. Once while at a restaurant with me and your Aunt Yaya I gave you a tiny piece of squished banana and you gagged so much that you threw up all your previously eaten food. Which was green beans. Lovely. So we are sticking with runny purees for now.  When you are done eating you will put your hands above your head and make a scrunch face. If I still try to feed you after that you will try to hit the spoon away.

Mama and her boys. No doubt about it, you have my eyes and your daddy's nose and mouth.

You now say two words: Mama and Dada , along with a lot of baby babble. We think you actually know who Mama is and who Dada is and will say our names while looking at us. So fun! You also know your name and will respond to it. Probably because Dane and I are singing your name to you all day long. "Mikey, Mikey, Mikey!"

 

 Visiting your Aunt Yaya at her work, The Queen Mary.

You have been sick a few times this month. It makes me so sad to see you so sad. All you want to do is be held by me. You are my little snuggle bug and I love it. You will crawl around after me and when I pick you up your arms and legs cling to me for dear life.The only medicine you have had so far is fever reducer...no antibiotics needed.

Sick = snuggles

Speaking about crawling around after me, I joke with daddy that you are like my new puppy. You are crawling around after me all day! If I'm in the living room so are you. If I'm in the kitchen doing dishes, so are you. You will also crawl around after your brother and try to play with whatever he is playing with. Lately it is his new race track. Dane makes them go and you make them crash. It's great fun.

 

 Helping mama with the dishes.

 

 Playing cars with Dada and Dane.

You had your first Christmas! It was soooo much fun. You had a ball playing with all of the wrapping paper. Your favorite thing was a tiny bow you found to play with. Your gifts were some bath toys, your stuffed monkey, and some noise makers. It was spent with Mama, Dada, Dane, and Yaya. It was perfect.
Your first visit to see Santa happened at Disneyland and you had no problem sitting on his knee and smiling for a picture.

 

 Visiting Santa at Disneyland with Samantha Smoot.

 

Dane's new dump truck carrying its cutest load. 

Your first Christmas jammies.

Christmas morning!

We are so in love with you Michael. You are like a bright happy light in our family. You are constantly getting loved on by someone in our family and most of the time it is from Dane. You two are best friends already and I can't wait to see that develop.

Photo credit: Jodee Christensen

So, till next month little monkey, we love you to pieces!

Dane is 7....& 8 months!

Guess I'm doing months 7 and 8 together. This new baby is already stealing some of Dane's light. It really is a shame though because so much has happened in the last two months. It seems like Dane went from a baby to a toddler over night! He mastered crawling, pulling up to standing, cruising, clapping, waving, giving kisses, dancing, shaking his head "no" during meal time, standing up then letting go and balancing, playing ball, and getting his two upper teeth. He is such a joy to us. We will still look at each other in awe that he is our son.

Kisses for Mama

We also had some rough times with him spiking some high fevers (104.5!)and a ton of boo-boos. I'm convinced the high fevers had something to do with teething. They lasted about 24 hrs with no other symptoms and then went away. The boo-boos come with all of the standing and exploring that is going on. There were a couple weeks that I felt like he would hurt himself every 5 min. He got some good bruises to go along with them.

We have graduated to big boy baths and he loves them. He is all over the place in the bath tub.

One of my favorite developments the past two months has been Dane's interaction with his friend Roan. As soon as these boys are put in the same room now they look at each other and start laughing and doing their baby talk. They are "sharing" (I use that term loosely) toys, following each other around, getting into trouble together, wrestling, and just being super cute. It will be a sad day when they are separated.

Dane pantsing Roan

Here are his 7 month stats:
19lbs 8 oz 63%
29 inches long 90.6%
He is in 9-12 month clothes
Size 3 diapers size 4 at night

 

 Getting big!

 

 Mr. Long legs and big feet

 

 The whole time I was trying to take his picture he was trying to get the lens cap

 

 Dane and Luke. Dane loves Luke, Luke isn't so sure

I say smile and this is what I get. Good job Roan:-)

 Roan getting Dane back for all of the hair pulling he did when Roan had long hair

Here are his 8 month stats:
TBA
He is in 9-18 month clothes
Size 4 diapers

Getting a picture of him sitting still was nearly impossible and ridiculously hard. We had to distract him with a ball.

 Happy 8 months!

 He loves to stand now and will let go and balance on his own for several seconds. Slow down my baby.

Still a daddy's boy. Check out those teeth!

 

Just two boys getting into trouble

 

 Again, thanks Roan for smiling:-) Dane was a little cranky after his nap that day.

He likes:
-Food!
-Playing with his friend, Roan.
-crawling
-Standing up
-flopping back on our bed
-Balls
-Giving kisses. Big open mouth sometimes with tong kisses...so watch out!

 Mmmmm, pickles!

He dislikes:
-Green Beans
-Getting dressed
-Getting his diaper changed. He doesn't have time for such silly things. 

Dane's first bruise. He hit his head on a door way.

Some funny things he is doing:
-Flirting. Is it possible for an 8month old to be girl crazy? Any time he sees a girl he pulls out all of his "tricks" to impress her. Clapping, giggling, smiling, jumping. And he is usually successful. When I told Aaron about this his response was "It's genetic". Oh brother.

Dane love this ribbon. He will crawl around the house with it in his mouth like a puppy.

 Firsts:
 -First time to see John Williams at the Hollywood bowl

-First time to the beach- it scared him. We are going to try a beach with a little less waves next time. All about Daddy: -Was sad to discover there is also a changing table in the mens bathroom at church. ;-)