And he keeps getting older...

I was fully anticipating twelve months. I prepared myself and was pretty ready when the day come. But then came 13 months. It completely snuck up on me. I told someone just two days ago- oh, he just turned a year. He did- a month ago! Now, we're moving past twelve months, on to 13, and it'll never stop. Sad.

But G is doing great things!

•He blows kisses now. It's very sweet. I love it.

•He's walking more. He'll go from person to person, but he won't get up on his own. We'll see- he doesn't seem to be in a huge hurry but he's making progress.

•We've been working on weaning. We're now down to nursing at bedtime and then when he gets up at 5 am. I went out of town by myself last weekend, so I thought maybe we'd be done after that, but that didn't happen. Oh well! He won't nurse forever, and I know that, so it's hard to stop.

•I haven't noticed any new words lately. He said 'door' one day. And he says 'habi' and I think it sounds like 'happy'.

•He still tends to eat whatever is in front of him. The other day, he tried eating with a fork! He was very cute as he concentrated so hard to stab the food and then get it to his mouth. He's been doing great with a spoon for the past month or so.

•G is pretty much truly in all 12 month clothes. His few pairs of 9 month pants are too short now.

•Overall, G still is very active and persistent, but a mostly happy little guy. He keeps me on my toes, but it's great! There is definitely no boring day, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

He sits for a pose.

Starts to get excited.

And launches himself at the camera...

First Birthday!!

Garrett had to go and do it.... He turned one!

I'm so happy that we made it! But I'm also sad my baby is growing up.

Garrett's doing great- he's been especially good at destroying things lately. He put my phone on the toilet, pulled a lamp onto him, and broke a picture frame - all in two days. One may be rough!

With all that, he's tiny but mighty. He's created his own growth line for length- it's just below the lowest line. He is growing, just not as fast as all babies! Maybe he'll catch up one day. For weight, he's fine- about 22nd %ile- 19 lbs 10 oz. And for head, he's great! He's in the 60th %ile! He's also ahead developmentally. He can say hi, daddy, mommy, ball and yea! He will also mimic words. He's said night night and dog before. He also recognizes animals when he sees them. He go 'ooh ooh ah ah' at a monkey and 'oof' at a dog. Both of those are 18 month skills, so if there was a developmental curve, maybe he'd be above! I'm biased, but I do think he's a smart cookie. If you show him something once, he's got it. The kid is a climber and very active. I try to show him how to get down from things or what to do, and he generally can then do it on his own :)

G is overall a super happy baby. He loves to help do things. He definitely loves to be with people and loves to be busy! I get him to clean up a lot :)

I've also learned G loves to slide. He also jumps up and down when he thinks we're headed outside to play, or when he's excited about anything! 

G definitely didn't start out as an easy kid, but he's always been a sweet one. His big personality is genuinely sweet. I'm thankful for him and feel lucky to have him ;) I love, love this little boy!

0nce meses

This little boy is growing up so fast!! He is very entertaining and loves to wrestle with his big brother. We are having so much fun with him, at least when he's not screaming in his car seat :)

•Clothes are 9 and 12 months. He's short, so pants are long on him, but he can wear bigger shirts easily.

•He's still in a size 3 diaper.

•I put him in shoes regularly now, but he is a master at pulling off his socks and shoes in record time when in his car seat.

•He can now stand up on his own. When his shoes are on, he can stand for about 15 seconds by himself.

•He leaned to wave and he does it all of the time. It's so cute because it's backwards, and it's very royal looking.

•G knows how to throw a tantrum. When you take something from him, he will throw it down. Two is going to be really fun.

•The dishwasher is his favorite thing. I can't keep him out of it. He pulls all sorts of things out of it, even climbs into it.

•G is an eater! I give him pretty much everything we eat. He loves it all. And he's doing a great job with the sippy cup.

•At night, he goes down at 7, nurses once around 3, and then sleeps until 6:30-7. He takes two naps currently at 9:30ish and 1:30ish.

•G loves to play rough. Luke regularly throws him to the ground, and he enjoys it!

• He says mama, dada, night night. I swear he will repeat what you say at times. He had no issue communicating!

This one is super love able. Still cuddles up to you when you hold him. Loves to wave and smile at you when he sees you walk into the room. Just sweetness with a little attitude :)

Garrett is in the double digits

10 months!! It makes me sad and happy all at the same time. He won't be a baby much longer.

•He got a really bad cold that I thought was the flu, so I know he's 18 lbs. Hes small but definitely growing!

•G is still a really happy baby. He gets super excited when people walk in the room.

•he still plays shy when he sees strangers and its so cute.

•This kid loves to play little games- rolling a ball back and forth, peek a boo, putting toys in a box.

•G is a great eater. He eats basically everything we do. He did have a small reaction to eggs, but Benadryl cleared it up.

• G is still in 9 month clothes pretty much. He can wear some 12 month, but not a lot yet. He seems to have a longer torso and short arms and legs.

•This kid is on the move. He's a great crawler but he's even better at pulling up on everything. He is starting to stand on his own some, but I don't think he'll walk real soon. 

• He and Luke love to play in his crib together. Garrett loves being with brother and loves to interrupt his games. They will play with each other at times and it's very nice.

• He still wears a size 3 diaper.

•Garrett is hilarious. He can rock in his high chair and make it move so much, it seems it'll come off the chair. He makes great gestures with his arms and proclaims, "du!". He's also very smart and laughs at all sorts of things. He loves getting tickled, and he loves to dive off the couch.

Nine months!!

We're so close to a year now, it's weird! I'm starting to think about 1st birthday things- what in the world?!?

Here's how Mr. G us doing!

-17 lbs which is about 15th %ile

-26.25 inches which is negative %ile, literally below the line.

- head is 55th %ile- what really counts :)

- G is a better sleeper. He gets up between 2 and 4 to nurse, but sleeps well otherwise.

-He's pulling up all over the place and over thanksgiving, he eve climbed a stair.

-G is still all over the place crawling. He loves chasing Luke around. 

- He pretty much only wants to play with Luke's toys at this point. He is not into baby toys.

- He's really happy all of the time. He's a trooper these days.

- G still takes 2 naps around 9 and 1. I can flex them a little, but he'll only take two- no matter what!

- G wears size 3 diapers. He can wear 12 month pj's but he's still mostly in 9 month clothes.

- This kid will eat mostly everything. And we've moved him completely to table food. He loves it all! He also can use a sippy cup with a straw like a pro.

- G also likes to bang :) and he loves to be sung to.

This kid has really become such a lover. I love being around him. He can be demanding but he loves to be held and he'll lay his head down on my shoulder which melts my heart. I love it :) and I love him.

8 months

Garrett has become an awesome baby that's so much fun to be around! He has the sweetest smile and loves a good laugh. Here's what he's up to:

- G loves food! He continues to eat baby food and enjoys everything I put in front of him. He's starting finger foods like bread and strawberries.

- Sleep is definitely still going well. He goes down vey easily at 7. He nurses around 3 and then will usually sleep until at least 6:30. Sometimes he chooses to get up around 5:30. Those days are hard. He naps at 9 and 1. He usually only needs about two hours total for naps.

- He's moved up to size 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.

-G loves bath time. He gets so excited to get in the tub. He also knows when it's time for bath when I get his towel out. He just lights up!

- He loves Luke so much! Luke loves to push him down, but there's still love :)

- G got his two bottom teeth right after he turned 8 months.

- G started to crawl!!! He's now on the move which has made things interesting. G is definitely happy to be moving while Luke is a little unsure. I'm glad he's moving because he can get to where he wants- very nice!

- Along with crawling, he's starting to pull up some. He's gotten to his knees and is trying to get to his feet. 

He's becoming a toddler all too fast! I feel like I'm losing my baby. It's exciting but a little sad, as well. But, either way, I love, love, love him!!

30 weeks=7 months

Mr. G is over half way to a year!! 

This month has been good in many ways. I can say that life is finally a little less survival, and we're finally able to start enjoying things around us :)

•sleep- yes! We are getting it again!! The day G turned 6 months, we sleep trained him. He actually took it on pretty well. He cried for 45 minutes and then slept int 6 am. He's had a few other nights when he's cried for a bit. I thought he'd be past that after a month but I guess he just needs to express himself! Now, he's down at 7, wakes between 4 and 5 to be fed, and then he sleeps anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours more. Not too bad and much better than before!

-His naps are pretty good. He goes down around 9 and then between 12 and 1. He only takes one good, long nap a day. The other tends to be shorter, but he seems ok with it.

-G wants to crawl so bad! He's reaching for things and will get down and turn circles on his belly. He hasn't gotten to the rocking stage yet, but I feel like he's almost there.

-He's up to size 3 diapers and is in 9 month clothes. He had short legs and a long body, so pants are long but onesies fit great.

-He's a great eater! So far, he's had carrot, sweet potato, parsnip, peas, broccoli, spinach, butternut squash, pear, apple, blueberries, peach, and banana. We do some finger foods like puffs or small pieces of toast.

-G loves to be out and among people. He loves watching kids play and can not wait until he gets to also.

-He's a very happy baby for the most part, and he gives everyone a huge smile. I get comments about how smiley he is. It's nice to hear because a few months ago, I never got compliments about him- just odd looks of concern. He's definitely made a turn around and it's great!