Zeke is 8 months old

Zeke turned 8 months old on Sunday, January 17th. I keep catching myself thinking he's still a tiny baby, but he's quickly turning into a big boy with all his new tricks and skills. 

• Zeke is a growing boy! I realized his 9 mo. clothes were getting short when it got COLD a few days ago and all of Bo's old 12 mo stuff was for summer. Oops! So, I used his Christmas money (thanks Aunt Dawn!!) and got him some 12 mo winter clothes, so he is all set. 
• He is in the same daily routine as at 7 months. He is up around 7, awake for 2 hours, naps for hopefully 1.5 h, then is awake for about 3 hours, naps for 1.5 hours (again, hopefully....sometimes it's 40 minutes), then is awake for about 3.5-4 hours before bed. Bedtime depends on nap length, but is usually around 6:30-7. 
• He cries a few minutes before naps and usually nurses to sleep at bedtime.
• Night sleep is still hit or miss. Some times he wakes just once around 3 and sometimes he wakes before midnight and again in the early morning. Blah! 
• Nursing is still going well. He eats when he wakes in the morning, after nap 1, after nap 2, and bedtime. I will occasionally give him one side between nap 2 and supper if supper will be late for him.
• Speaking of solids, he is doing great! He has tried strawberries, cheese, black beans, and I'm sure more new foods this month. So far, the only thing he hasn't liked is roasted broccoli. I happened to get a video of him with the broccoli. Pretty funny! 

• Here's a video of Zeke eating roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans (and a bonus of Mae 'cooking' too). 
• He's eating lunch and supper right now. I'll try to add breakfast by 9 months. 

• Meal time is obviously a messy experience, so he heads to the sink or bath tub after he eats. He LOVES the water! He will laugh when I pour it over his head and splashes a lot. Here's a video of Zeke in the sink and in the bath tub. 

• Zeke loves to be outside and has really started to enjoy swinging. Here's a video of him swinging. I love his giggles! 

• Zeke is a busy boy! He is pulling up and beginning to cruise along the furniture and will let go and stand for a few seconds. He is crawling FAST and is pretty much into EVERYTHING.

• Taking the monthly picture was a little difficult this month because he wanted to get down and go! 

• Zeke is beginning to clap on command and will hold his hand up to wave when he sees himself in the mirror or when you say "Hey Zeke!" and wave at him. 

• Independent playtime is still going well. He will fuss when I put him in, but settles and plays fine as long as he doesn't see me. He will stay 20 minutes just fine. I always put him in the play pen in the morning so I can get breakfast and get dressed, then through the day as I need to, but usually just once more for a few minutes. 

• My boys! He loves when anyone talks to him, but especially Bo. He smiles so big at him. :)

All of the kids at 8 months old. I can't get over how much hair Zeke has compared to the others! 

Baby Zeke at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months. Growing so fast!

Porch Pics

We've been spending a lot of time outside the last several days and are back to reading on the porch in the afternoons between lunch and nap/rest. Of course, since the porch has such good lighting, I had to take some pictures. ;)

Heading out the door!

Funny faces! She's been sticking her tongue out a lot lately.

Pretty girl <3

Bo wasn't into it, but here he is.

Big girl!!!

I love this series of pics:

Keeping an eye on Bo:

Loving these days at home with our three! 

More Milestones for Mae!

Mae is growing up so quickly! It seems like every few days she meets another milestone. Both Arabelle and Bo met their physical milestones (crawling, pulling up, etc.) on the early side and Mae seems to be doing the same.

She has learned to play peek-a-boo with her bib or bath towel. She thinks it's so funny! Here she is peeking into the den over and over.

She has also said her first word, in the correct context. She say's 'bye!!" and waves, then leaves the room. 

She has also started letting go and standing for several seconds. She tried to take a step last night, but fell right away. I think we've got several more weeks before she gets a good balance. 

And here's a cute one of Mae looking at herself on the phone while I was making the video. She sure wanted to play with the cute baby! 

I wonder if she'll walk before she gets a tooth!?

*Here's Bo at 8.5 months old and learning to wave and play peek-a-boo. 

Sunshine!!!

Sunday was a beautiful warm day here, so Mae and I spent the afternoon outside enjoying it!

She's going to be standing up soon, it seems! She likes to get up on that one knee.

And Happy Mae in action: 

I know more winter weather is coming, but this warm weather sure does make me hope for Spring!

Mae is 8 months old!

Mae is getting so big! I can't believe she is 8 months old already! 

• She's still taking 2 naps a day (and will for awhile now, I hope!). She's up for the day around 7, naps around 9 (for 1-1.5 hours), naps around 1:30 (1-1.5 hours), and goes to bed around 6:30-7. She's still nursing 4 times a day (morning, after naps, and bedtime). 
• Her night sleep is still a bit all over the place. Some nights she just wakes once, in the early morning to nurse, some nights she's crying before I'm even in the bed. Fortunately, she'll either fuss back to sleep or will settle with just a few cuddles from Jared. 
• She is babbling a lot! She's saying "dadada" most of the time and has babbled something that sounds like "hi!" a few times when she sees herself in the mirror.
• She is a clapping girl now and will clap when she hears music or when I say "clap your hands, Mae!". She also waves at times, especially when she sees herself in the mirror! We got home from being away a few days while Jared was hunting and she started waving the second we walked in the door. I guess she was glad to be home! 

• She loves to eat! She is having 2 meals at the table now. I hope to add the 3rd meal this month. It's a bit time consuming to fix 3 plates, hurry and eat my food, then clean Mae up (she's messy!). She likes bananas, oranges, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, toast, and more!  

• She is an active girl! She pulls up on everything. I keep a plastic bin of dry rice and beans for Arabelle and Bo to play in under the school table. She LOVES to crawl under the table and get on top of that bin.

• She's also beginning to cruise along the sofa and around her activity table. 

• She still doesn't have any teeth!
• She's in a size 3 diaper and 9 month clothes. 
• She loves to look at herself in the mirror after her bath!

• She is always SO happy after her bath! 

• She got stuck under the coffee table last week....

• She's a long happy girl!!

• Here's a comparison of each kid at 8 months old...Arabelle, Bo, then Mae 

• Mae at 2, 4, 6, & 8 months.