Where did my baby go?

I dressed Owen today and then remembered a box of shoes that I'd found in the boys closet (all left over from when Colin, Carter, Everett and Finn were younger). So I put a pair of those shoes on Owen, stepped back and looked at my baby, only he didn't look so much like a baby anymore! (Sob sob.....just kidding.... sort of.....)

Clap clap!

Owen, you are growing up so fast and for some reason, today, when I slipped those shoes on you, I noticed it more. True, there was a twinge of sadness that you're growing out of your baby phase but it's mixed in with a whole lot of joy because every day a little more of your personality comes out. And because you look so darn cute in your outfit today.

Lately, you love to clap and wave at people. It is so cute! As much as you love to clap, you hate to nap in your crib! It's really not your fault, we're introducing it pretty late in the game! We'll keep slowly trying to get you comfortable there. In every other regard you are such a go-with-the-flow little man.

Love you buddy!

Owen is 9 months!

Owen, you are so special and we are so thankful that you are a part of our family!

It's hard to believe that you're nine months already! It was just about this time last year that I finally shared the news of my pregnancy with more than just close friends and family. I was so excited and grateful to be welcoming another baby into our family and yet also worried about how we'd manage you and your four active brothers. If only I knew then what I know now. I'd have never worried.

One of the things I'll remember most about this time in your development, are your little hands and how proud you are to be able to pick up pieces of food off your tray. 

And how unfazed you are by all the constant commotion around you! 

You just fit Owen. You were always meant to be in our family and we love watching you grow!!

9 months, what's working?

***Once again, I'm late publishing this as the boys are actually 10 months now :) I wrote it a while back, just forgot to put it on the blog. How does this happen every month?!

Finn

Everett. I wish I'd gotten his whole head in this picture as I think it's so sweet of him. He's riding on a giraffe rocker that the boys just LOVE.

Carter

I won't make this post as long as the '8 months, How are things going?' post ended up being! Some of how it's going is the same. The babies still go to bed at 6 p.m., take a bottle at 10 p.m. and wake up around 6-6:30. We still keep a swing outside their bedroom door and whoever is having a hard time ends up there. Lately they seem to be looking much bigger in the swing.... I hope they don't outgrow it soon though, it's gold to us for those middle of the night- I need him to settle and not wake up everybody else- moments!

They eat baby food twice a day and also LOVE, and I mean LOVE puffs and cheerios. This is my go to activity if they are having a hard time, or if I need to do something for myself like maybe eat my lunch. I lay out a baby blanket, sprinkle a bunch of puffs on there and they come crawling over happy as can be. The OT in me loves that it's working on their fine motor skills too :)

They are playing with each other more and more with each passing month. They're not yet engaged in high level play of course, but peek a boo, looking at each other and laughing, and just sharing attention with each other is a daily occurrence. I especially love watching this aspect of their development unfold.

Lastly, this tunnel has provided hours upon hours of fun for them. I think its a great thing to get for any kiddos around this age. They crawl through it, play peek a boo, and just have such a ball. I like it because when your child is crawling through and you peek in, it provides such an opportunity for rich engagement/ eye contact. Again, we don't get out all that much, especially now in the winter, so we need  simple activities to keep things novel and exciting!

Hey there Finn!
This tunnel by the way is from IKEA, same as this one just different color

I also started keeping the toys in a laundry basket. Does anyone else do this?? It's not very aesthetic but we are beyond worrying about what matches our home decor these days! It's just easy- for them to see and choose what they want, and for us to clean up toys at the end of the day.

"Hmm, what can we get into??"

Everett sees something he likes. He's going' for it!