Wesley David: 9 Months

Weight: He hasn't had his 9 month checkup yet (when is that again?) but my guess is somewhere in the 48 pound range. Okay okay, maybe thats a littttle high, but seriously, he is such a big boy! Definitely in the low/mid 20's, but I have no idea! 

Clothes: 12-18 months fits best, but He can still fit into baby gap 6-12 months (barely). I have been shopping for clothes for next summer....Penny will be almost 3, and Wes will be almost 2. But since he is already in the 18 month clothing range, he's surely going to surpass 2T clothing....Penny is always right on target with the size clothing she wears, so long story short, I'm shopping for 3T summer clothing for both of them next summer. How weird is that?!

Likes: He is seriously just the sweetest little guy. He likes most everything, he isn't fussy or clingy, he is so incredibly content, all the time. He LOVES his sister, she makes him laugh so much, and so hard. He likes the little wooden piano, and "singing" along to it. He likes to eat banana's and pretty much anything mixed with yogurt. He also loves those soft baked granola bars, officially the most solid food he's had so far, though we're working on more! He loves this little wooden hammer we have, he carries it around with him a lot. He loves being outside with David, exploring. He also loves chewing on pinecone, hah! He loves toilet paper and pulling it off the roll, of course. He is pulling himself up and is THIS close to standing unassisted. He can hold it for a couple of seconds before bracing himself again. He also really enjoys our air vent covers, of course.  

Dislikes: hmmm...seriously, not much. Of course he doesn't enjoy being hungry or tired, but thats literally David and I can think of. He's just mr. content. I love it, so much. 

Social: He is so sweet, he loves watching other kids/people play, and David and I always jokingly say that he's longing for the day that he can join in! He's so funny, he doesn't get upset that he can't quite keep up yet, he is just content (again) watching and playing with little ones his size, where he is more engaging. 

Milestones: He is pulling himself up and super sturdy doing so. He uses his little walker and is doing so good at that, until he runs into something and can't go any further. He's doing pretty good with eating, isn't really picky yet, but I have totally slacked trying to ensure he is moving on better to solids. When I remember, I'll give him something I'm having after I've mashed it up a bit. He has 4 teeth! And I think another one is coming through soon. He is sleeping pretty good lately, He will sleep 8-9 hour stretches, wake up, eat, and then usually go back to sleep (though not guaranteed). This is still fairly new, though, but he does seem to have cut out one feeding. One more left! He has totally mastered crawling up the stairs, but thankfully isn't super interested in them so we have avoided permanent baby gates so far. 

Penelope Darling: 9 month update

Wesley David: 8 Months

Weight: He had a growth spurt at some point this week I'm sure. He seems so much bigger. My guess is at least 22 pounds or so? No official number until his 9 month checkup! 

Clothes: When I buy him clothes, I get them in 12 months now. They fit with a little room to grow...hoping they will last the rest of the summer! 

Likes: sticks, leaves, etc. He loves being outside and exploring. But then again, he loves being inside and exploring, too! He is such a sweet little guy and he just loves doing things...with me/dad/sister, or by himself. I love seeing his sweet mind work. He is loving food! He has gotten so adventurous with trying solids and I can definitely tell he is staying full longer! He is starting to like water! We took a beach vacation a few days ago to Texas, and every day we played in some sort of water. He was unsure until the second to last day where we played in some fountains and he really was getting into it! He loves when his sister gives him her full attention and makes him laugh. She can make him laugh like no other!

Dislikes: Same as last month...not much. He is just so so happy and content. Water was the only questionable thing, but then again, see above. He is seriously happy all. the. time. Though teething has kicked in, off and on, and that makes him super cuddly which you know, I don't really mind. 

Social: On our Texas trip, he started interacting with Addy, my friends 6 month old. They would just sit there and stare at each other and then trade toys. He is loving playing with his cousin, Charlie. They are so so sweet together. When we are all together, they are nearly always following each other around, playing with the same toys, its adorable to watch.  

Milestones: He is using his walker! He is so proud of himself when he is wobbling around on it, his gummy smile and squinty eyes are in full force. He is crawling up the stairs like a madman! He is waking up just once a night (a 12 hour stretch), but I think he is close to dropping that. He is getting much better at eating solids and I think once he gets enough calories during the day he will be set...He's so close!!

Penelope Darling: 8 month update

Wesley David: 7 months

Weight: I'm guessing 19 pounds? He won't have a 7 month checkup of course, so we wont have a solid number for one more month, but that is my guess! He is so chunky and it's PERFECT. 

Clothes: I went shopping for him last week at baby gap and stocked up on all 6-12 month size. he is just so big, I love it! I bought him a pair of sweatpant material overalls (SWOON.) and they fit Penelope, too! The only difference is they have to be rolled on him :) 

Likes: Things that aren't toys. ugh. He is such a little boy, and even more specifically, he is such a mini-david. He would rather play with the vacuum cleaner, the dogs collar, etc. He loves real things and getting to know them. Its as if baby toys don't fool him. He knows it's a phony and he wants real world things! He still loves his sister (when she's gentle!) and when we ask her to make her "funny sound" Wes gets the biggest kick out of it and laughs and laughs. He also loves when she runs right up to him, stops, makes a funny sound, and then runs away....repeat. He loves laughing at her. He loves Callie! He loves when people just talk to him, and he loves being around all of the activity, he doesn't like being by himself. 

Dislikes: Truthfully? There isn't much other than the obvious (being tired, hungry, etc.). He truthfully is such a happy, happy boy. Towards the end of the day he wants to just be held, when he is tired and wants to just snuggle. It is the sweetest. 

Social: He had his first little playdate with a girl two months older, and they were seriously adorable. They splashed and played so sweetly together. they smiled and stared quite a bit. It was precious. 

Milestones: He started CRAWLING three weeks ago! It is INSANE. And not only that, but he is full on pulling himself up, and has been for a week or so. This little guy is something else. We are in North Carolina, but decided we need to lower his crib when we get home, he is all over the place! While we have been here, he has loved crawling over to the curtains and playing with them, they are sooo funny to him you guys... ;) 

Penelope Darling: 7 months

Summer lately

I was both anxious and nervous about this summer. Everything stops in the summer, including everything I regularly do during the week with the kids. I was nervous about having an abundance of free time with no set things to do or look forward to. No mothers day out for Penelope, no Friday morning bible study for me, no regular weekly activities that we can drop in on that we take such advantage of during the school year. Just endless amounts of hours during the day to fill. I was nervous about filling them and keeping them (and me) from going stir crazy. Penelope's last day of school came, and it was the sweetest little program. I got a book of all the things she did that year, and a sweet alphabet book she worked on also. And that day I got so incredibly excited for summer break. I decided to embrace all the down time, and to make it a summer that I remember from growing up, regardless of the fact that they wont remember any of this. I decided to plan fun adventures and playdates with her friends. I got excited that she would be turning two in the middle of it and had fun planning two little celebrations. I stocked up on fun summer activities, including lots of bubbles for her bubble machine, sidewalk chalk, and a few pool toys for the backyard baby pool. At that point, I truly couldn't wait for it to all happen.

The kids and I are spending 10 days in North Carolina with my parents, one of my favorite places on earth. The first time we came, was the same month David and I started dating, over 10 years ago. Its incredible bringing my fiance, husband, and now children here. 

At one of our favorite swimming spots, a little lake with sweet little boat houses all around the edge with one little opening that is the perfect place for swimming. Penny adores it, Wes is still deciding about the water...

Our new neighborhood (we moved about 6 weeks ago) is absolutely incredible. A few weeks ago, they had a neighborhood pool party. They had food trucks, inflatables for the kids, raffles, and of course swimming, all free to enjoy. We can't say it enough, we love living here. 

And of course since that opening day, we have gone so many times! 

When we're not at the pool/splash pad, we're in our backyard, It is hands down our favorite thing about our new place. 

Penny and I made chai spiced cupcakes the other day, and she of course licked the spoon. Even better, after a few licks, she'd dip the mixer back into the bowl to refill it....sneaky girl!

Sitting at the lake with my sweet little boy. 

These ducks greet us each day at the lake. 

Those curls!

Penelope and Poppy came back inside with these flowers...Penny came up to me with them outstretched in her arms and said "mama!" and then pulled them back to herself and said "...and Penny's." 

this boy and his cutoffs! Walking on Main street. 

Buddies. 

Wes absolutely loved this Idea. Penny on the other hand, said "all done", so we stopped and took her out. She ran to the swing next to him and said "up."

We were planting a garden and she insisted on riding in the wheelbarrow with the flowers. And sticking them up her nose to properly smell them.

Those faces! hahah!

I seem to only find time to sew when I am in North Carolina, so I made this little dress for her. 

The best possible way to wake up from a nap. 

Picnic at the winery. 

Pool days every single day. 

This ducky was what Penny would take baths in when she was first learning to sit up. Now its a favorite little outdoor toy. 

This girl is "just as weird" as I am, according to David. And I love it!

 He is just getting so big! Sweet little man.

He started crawling at 6 months, and we are so proud of him!

I can't help but braid her little head of curls now that its long enough. And she (sweetly) keeps them in (indefinitely). 

I think this qualified as Wesley's first playdate with someone his age. Usually they cater to Penny's age, but we ran into some friends at the splash pad and hung out with them the rest of our time there, and it was pretty cute. 

David works from home 1 day a week (give or take). Which means snack breaks are a million times sweeter. 

Summer also means days on the lake, which Penny, our waterbug, loves. She is such a guppy and has so much fun jumping in and "swimming" around. 

Penelope Darling: first and last day of school: MDO year 1

I don't think she could have possibly changed any more in one school year. This was actually only 8 months or so apart, and I can't believe how big my sweet P. Darling has grown!