Bennett's 9th and 10th month!

Good goo. Babe, you're pulling up all over everything. You're cruising like a maniac when we hold your hands and guide you down the hall. My favorite lately is when I'm standing in the kitchen and you crawl your little head in between my legs and force your way through, don't know why, but it makes me laugh every time.

Also, lately the conversations we have. I die. You've really mastered, "ba ba ba" and "va va va" it serves as a pretty interesting talk. You're working on 3 new teeth right now for a grand total of 5!

You also climbed our 3 stairs in the back room, nearly gave me a heart attack, but your proud look of accomplishment when you reached the top eased my mind (a little). The door now stays shut :)

We've been exploring Charlotte like there's no tomorrow. Freedom Park, Discovery Place, ImaginOn are regulars. I love spending my every day with you, babe.

sometimes at the very end of day, before dinner, we snuggle on the couch and watch an episode of Baby U, we only get 2 free episodes, so I think I have every song memorized, but these moments make my whole heart, body and soul melt to a million pieces.

 

You, in the past day or two, have also learned to feed Dakota from your chair. I know I should start to correct this, but I find it too awesome right now. I love your developing relationship with Kota. You also play "fetch" with her, mostly just by grabbing her toy and with extended arm, putting it out for her to take. It's just crazy to me that you already understand that that's her toy, and how to give it to her, you're practically a baby genius. 

Bennett's 7th and 8th month!

Ah! I missed a month, but it's all felt like a blur anyway, so it's ok right? I know I'm going to immediately regret putting this in writing, but I feel like we're finally seeing some light at the end of this tunnel!! We're really getting into a routine, but if I've learned anything this past half-year, it's that everything is a phase :)

You're finally getting the hang of naps - just yesterday you took two 2-hour naps. I couldn't even believe it. That's why I'm noting it now - on Sept 9th, Bennett, you slept for FOUR WHOLE HOURS during the day. And, that's been a life changer.

Other than that, you've been busy with your new pool, you tried out the swing at the park and looooved it, and you're starting to crawl, it's not very pretty, but you get where you want, how you want.

I don't know how these got lost, but I had to add them. You saw your first Aggie touchdown (then had to go to bed) and went on your first hike, up Crowders Mountain. It's been an awesome past 2 months, I can't believe you're about to be 8 months old in a couple days.. where did my little baby boy go??

Bennett's 6th month!

What a huge month this one has been! Bennett, you got TWO teeth! You eat your solids like a champ, doesn't matter what it is - peas, carrots, bananas, apples, sweet potatoes, pears, peaches, you've had them all and scarf them down like no one's business! You can sit up on your own (well, with momma close by) and the way you grab things so maticulously, one finger gripping it at a time, makes my heart melt. You seem so interested in everything, you spend so much time trying to figure out all of your toys. I love to watch you learn. You started giving "kisses" which pretty much consist of you putting your entire drooling mouth on my chin, or cheek, or nose, or whatever you can get in your mouth. You love it, and to be honest, so do I. 

My favorite this month is when you are waiting for that first bite of food, you sit with your mouth open, neck strained forward, arms straight out and your little head shakes in anticipation and concentration. It's the best.

Oh - and Dakota! You watch her intensely, she gives you kisses right in the mouth, and will lick your hand as long as you let her. The giggle that comes when she's licking your hand is down-right hilarious. I hope one day y'all are best friends. 

Bennett's 5th month!

It's crazy how independent you've become this month. You play on your own, my favorite - when I walk into your room and you're on your back with your soft book in your face and you're "talking" to it. One day you did this for what seemed like an hour, just so content. This month, you grew some good hair, though it still looks like a receding hair line :) You moved from Dallas to Charlotte, NC! You started solids with no problem. Your smile is certainly contagious, and I miss you so much even when you've just been down for an hour nap. Bennett, we love you.

Bennett's 4th month!

Firsts this month: feet holding, crawfish with Aunt Julie, Easter, play date, wedding and Mother's Day. We also found out that you absolutely adore the outdoors. You really dig that front porch sittin'

 Bennett, you are seriously a wild man. He rolls around on his playmat like no one's business. He is starting to like his exersaucer, kicking, pushing off of his legs when held up and pretty much all kinds of wiggling. The last week we've really reverted on the "good sleep" we were getting, as you have successfully learned to roll over. The best part about month 4 has been the laugh. Ohhhh, the baby laugh. I was in tears the other day from laughing so hard with him.

As always, Bennett, we love you.

Bennett's 3rd month!

It's so true, each month continues to get better. Bennett is learning to sleep and nap better. My favorite part about month 3 has been watching him try out different faces, and the screeching. I can't control my laughter when he's on his activity mat, swatting at the dangling toys, and screaming (out of happiness) at the top of his lungs. He'll let out the highest pitch scream you've ever heard, then look at you with the face in the picture above, on the right, like, "did that just come from me?

I laugh every single time.

This month has been a busy one! We took our first trip to Houston, Bennett found his fists, started gripping toys and fingers, he met Piper a day after she was born, went to the pool, is becoming more comfortable sitting in his bumbo on his own, and went up to the medical school to show off his 3-month skills for first-year med students. Bennett, you're getting so big (and long!) and your dad and I love you so.