Beckett is Nine Months Old

In three months, we will have a one year old. About a week ago, Beck hit the nine month mark, and I feel like things have really started poppin' for him. He's army crawling like a pro...and so fast, too. He's got all these teeth, and, in spite of all the drooling gnawing teething, Beck is still one of the chillest and happiest babies on the planet. Or at least in our family. Big switch from his sister, who is straight drama 24 hours a day.

Damon has been traveling a lot lately, which makes things tough for a momma on her own all week (give me alllll the chocolate!), but it gave me the chance to get everybody on a pretty good routine (daylight saving time be damned!). I know I'm jinxing this, especially since we are headed to FLA soon, but things around here are running pretty smoothly. For now. You know, until it all turns to chaos.

Nine Month Stats

25lbs 3oz (91%) | 29.5 in (99%)
The nurse never writes down Beck's actual head measurement, but it's over the 100th % - which means he's essentially a bobblehead.

Major Milestones

I'm crawling - mostly a fast and aggressive army crawl, but I get up on all fours now and then.

I can stand at the sofa, and I'm just starting to pull up on my own.

I've got more teeth: two on the bottom, two on the top, & two more top teeth getting ready to cut any time now.
I'm finally chugging my water from a sippy cup, you know, before I toss it on the floor.

Favorite Pastime

I'm always crawling & making sure mommy never gets to sit down - I'm all over the place.

I Love

Eating - bananas with peanut butter, cheese, sweet potatoes, peas, chicken, cheerios, cinnamon toast

And sleeping with the top of my head smooshed into the side of the crib.

I Could Live Without

Getting changed - one of these days, I'm gonna roll right off the dresser

Happy Friday! 

Happy Birthday Zoey!

A couple of weeks ago, our baby girl turned four. Three and a half was a...challenge. But I swear, she woke up on her birthday like a completely new kid! So grown up.

party pjs | teepee

It's like all of a sudden, she's got a huge (and easily understandable) vocabulary, imagination for days, and amazing comedic timing. And when she's not the sweetest little marshmallow...so much attitude! And a bit of a temper, too. Such a sensitive soul. Sometimes the smallest thing can throw her off and ignite ALL the emotions. But a snuggle and a kiss on the forehead can bring her right back to laughter.

This kid is always surprising us with the stuff she knows and can do.  Just the other day, she put together (after demolishing it, of course) Rapunzel's Lego swing almost entirely by herself by following the instruction guide, "Just like you showed me momma." Zoey is clearly a genius.

She wants to know more about everything, loves "reading" books and being read to, loves maps and puzzles and coloring and building things while wearing a tutu and ballet slippers. She is a ballerina princess after all!  She is crazy for animals and prefers stuffed animals to dolls most days. They are all over her bed, inside the teepee, the floor of her closet, playroom, and our bedroom at all times, and the kid inside of me is totally ok with that! 

Music and dance are a huge part of her life. She is totally her mother's daughter with this one! We listen to music almost all day, so there's a lot of dancing going on around here. She loves tutus and Misty Copeland and is already loving her pre-ballet class. But it's the fact that she knows the words to a song after just two listens that might make me the happiest. I cannot wait to take her to her first concert!!! 

Sprinkles are her life. Z insists (and has been like this for at least a year and a half) that sprinkles be included somehow at every meal and snack. On her yogurt, cereal, trail mix, even on her peanut butter and jelly. Zoey will remind us at every meal, like we would ever dare to forget! We're always well-stocked, and I even made a mason jar full of "Zoey's Birthday Sprinkle Mix" for her cake. It's one of my favorite things about her!  She's told me that her food is more yummy with sprinkles. Whatever works!

Zoey's little brother is probably her favorite thing in the house and I would be lost without her help. I'm always asking her how I got along without her when she was a baby. It isn't always easy for her when baby comes first, but her heart is so big. Last night, we had some horrible thunderstorms roll through in the middle of the night. Our thunder-phobic mama woke up, freaked out, and came scream-crying out of her room. When I scooped her up and brought her to our room, the first thing she said was, "Where's Beckett?" She was so worried about him in the storm. (He barely even moved during all that thunder. Boys!) 

tutu dress

Four Year Stats:

34 lbs (44%) | 3ft 4 in (54%)

Favorites:

(Zoey answered all of these on her own.)

Color: PURPLE!!! Mom. You know purple is my "fabe-rite".

Foods: I like grapes! And strawberries. And chocolate chips. And cereal. With sprinkles.

Treats: Ice cream! With sprinkles.

Toys: Legos! I need more Legos, mom.

Books: Piggie and Elephant. They're so funny! (She then launches into a super detailed retelling of her current favorite, I Really Like Slop.)

Songs: "Punzel's" song, in the boat with "Gene" when they see the lights. (I See the Light -Tangled)
In the car my "fabe-rite" is the Hands Clap song. (Fitz & the Tantrums)

Movies: Frozen and "Punzel." I can't pick, mom.

TV Shows: I like Sheriff Callie and Daniel Tiger. I like both of 'em. 

Animal: Zebras and "mingos" (flamingos).

Friend: Kiki! And Witt (a boy in her My Gym class.)

Place to Go: My Gym! Miss Morgan is sooo weird! (She means that as a huge compliment. We both think Miss Morgan is pretty much the best!)

Thing to do outside: Bubbles

Thing to do inside: Doin' a project. Or dancin'.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A ballerina...and a doctor for animals. I like to help animals.

Her day started with a donut tower, because...sprinkles!

The only thing Zoey wanted to do for her birthday was go to the playground, so, since the weather was perfect, we headed over there...along with everyone else in VB! She got a little daddy-time while there, cuz I was stuck in the car with a napping bambino.
There was an incident with the buttercream for her cake (two batches had to be dumped!), so I had to replenish my ingredients (third time's the charm) and she put her new purple tutu dress back on and we enjoyed her cake the next day. Probably a good thing, in retrospect, cuz donuts and cake probably would have sent us all into diabetic comas!

And some favorites from the last few months...

I still can't believe she's already four!

Beckett is Eight Months Old

You guys! I can't with this kid. He insits on growing like a weed and I'm so overly emotional about every little milestone he makes. I guess that's what happens with the last baby. Every stupid little thing is that much more special. "Oh my god! It's the last first french fry! Gah!" Ok. Maybe I'm not quite that bad. Beck hit 8 months right after Valentine's Day, and a few days before Zoey's 4th birthday, and you guys, I've been feeling all the feels.
I seriously need to get a grip already! 

Eight Month Stats

24.5 lbs (99%) | 29 inches (89%)

He's still in size 4 diapers but has made the jump to 12-18 month clothes. It really depends on the brand, but they're in there and it freaks me out. The kid is a giant!

A few weeks ago, we were in a little local shop we love, and there was a sweet little girl toddling around with grandma chasing after her. She came right up to Beck in the stroller and I asked how old she was. Grandma answered, "She turned one a few weeks ago and just started walking. Has yours started walking yet?" Haha! Lady, little man is only 7 months old!!

Major Milestones

I had my first real food - cinnamon toast. Daddy calls me an eating machine

I cut my first tooth (now have bottom two with more on the way soon!)

Finally rolled from front to back & now I like to roll all over the place

I'm army crawling & trying to get on all fours...soooo close

I finally ditched the infant car seat & now I have a big one just like my sister's

Favorite Pastime

clapping

playing with toys that make shaker sounds (like these and this)

velcro-ing to mommy

I Love

anything Zoey does

bath time

kicking with gusto during diaper changes...even at 4am

I Could Do Without

mommy being out of my eye line

drinking water from a sippy cup

This boy has the most delicious cheeks!