Monday, July 28, 2014

9 months?!

3 months until he's ONE!! I for so long looked forward to the day he was 1 and baby stage was over. Now that he is so close to his first bday, I have mixed feelings now! I have enjoyed watching him change so much over the past few months, but I absolutely love the ages 1-5 and can't wait for them! I love the interaction and playing games with him. He's really getting it ;)

 
So many 1sts this past month! He went to the beach for the first time! He went to the Birmingham Zoo (many times). He went to church and church nursery (took us a while to get brave enough...but I went alone with him yesterday!).  A lot of first foods this month. Also-the big one- crawling and standing! He's talking a lot more...usually crazy sounds. Still big on Dada and Mama and likes to scream them loudly in public :)
 
 
He's 21lbs 10z and 29inches. His head if still >90%, height is 75% and weight is 60%. We go to his official 9 month check up later in August.
 He is eating more and more finger foods and still loves yogurt, bananas, blueberries, and ice cream (occasionally). Working on the sippy cup with meals. He likes to feed himself and has had many foods from our plates already. The other day he had pulled pork and mac n cheese and yesterday chowed down on thai noodles with broccoli! People give me grief about him eating so independent, but funny enough I may be on to something. There is a big movement towards baby-led weaning. Babies start out around 6 months being given foods that are appropriate to feed themselves. Instead of swallowing puree and learning the art of chewing later (and taste, because lets be real-that jar stuff is so bland!), they learn the correct way. Babies sometimes use gagging to move food around and this scares many people, although it's a normal part of the learning process and it's not harmful. Sometimes it's hard to tell what they like and don't so that's why it's just on their tray for them to choose. There is so much information on it and we watched to see what Colin wanted to do and was capable of. Food before 1 should be a fun learning experience (and a messy one!). He's really getting the hang of it though and even ate scallops, broccoli, and rice last week! It's supposed to help them transition to just table food without texture problems after 1...we'll see! Ok, off that topic now...I just find it fascinating that these babies are capable of so much more than just sitting in a swing, haha. (I never babysat many babies under 1)
 
 
We officially have a crawler now! It's sometimes counterproductive, but there is a lot of movement going on around our house this week :) He's much happier being able to go get the toy he wants! He's good at transitioning from sitting to knees to pulling to standing too! He just gets very wobbly and eventually lets go. He's a great baby on the go and is great on errands and grocery trips. He is starting to try to climb out of highchairs and buggies though, ha.
 
 
He still likes to go out of the house a good bit and still likes his stroller. He still loves the people watch and really likes watching other kids! I think he will really enjoy going to MDO in September with babies his age. For the 1st time he got upset when I left him in the church nursery, but typically goes to other people fine. He really only naps in his crib now and occasionally in the car. He's sleeping at night 8-630.
 
 
I thank God everyday for this cute fella...we are so blessed!

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Derek lives another day;)

I think I could live at the zoo :) We got year passes and this week we got to see some cool things there. Nothing is cuter than watching a baby monkey swing around. His momma had a time keeping up! We got to see the new baby giraffe too! The elephant trainers were out feeding them and getting them to do tricks. There is a reason Colin's room is elephants and giraffes ;) so sweet!
 
 
 
Yesterday we had a date day! Jamie came over again to keep Colin. She'll be staying with him when we go to Atlanta in the fall, so we're having her come practice a bunch. She seems awesome and got Colin to drink his whole bottle, eat, and nap without problem. She has a lot of experience and still nannys every weekday after school is out (she' a school teacher). It's tough to find the right babysitters and she's a keeper! We went to lunch, shopped, and went bowling. We used to bowl every week and we are sooo bad now...it was fun though, even if I did lose every one of our bets!
 
 
 
It was a good week of seeing friends and doing family things. Today Derek was supposed to go hang gliding in Tennessee. Unfortunately, the wind stopped the company from continuing their day so they have to go back another day. At least he' alive for a little bit longer ;) While he drive to TN, Colin and I went to spend time with Noah, Chelsea, and Mason. So cool to see them so often now. That boy is a HOSS! He's almost Colin's length!
 
 
 
This boy of ours keeps learning things each day. As of last night, he can crawl in the bonus room (easiest carpet to crawl on) 6 feet without stopping! He's been working on it for a week now, but it all clicked last night. He was crawling all around at Noah's today. He crawled all around the beach side of the pool last night at the gym too! We got him an activity table this weekend for him to work on standing next! Growing fast and turning 9 months tomorrow!!
 

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Little fishie ♡

Colin's happy place is any form of water. He has loved bath time and splashing in pools for a while now, so when free swim lessons were offered at our gym, we were excited to sign him up! 
 
 
The instructors were impressed with his fearlessness and love of water on his face. He went under a few times and came up splashing and smiling. They taught him how to crawl out of the pool.
 
 
He did learn some new things and surprisingly did well with floating on his back. It was so cute to watch and we're ready to practice this week before his next lesson.
 
 
Neither Derek nor I are avid swimmers but love being in the water. Colin kicks and throws his arms so much, he may actually be good at it! Love experiencing these firsts with him and so glad Derek can be involved in all his lessons too :)
 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Settling in

 We've had a great first week back in Birmingham. Lots of house projects and cleaning, but mostly fun stuff! Derek still has 2 weeks off so now that we are done with house projects we'll be relaxing!
 
This is the outdoor pool/water slides at our new gym..the gym is insanely cool and has 2 restaurants and a pedicure place!
 
He may be a more like me than I thought...don't even think about touching his cone!
 
Cat love on the back porch :) 
 
Hey little sneaky dude! Plotting his escape plan!
 
Lowered his mattress just in time for him to learn how to stand and demand his rescue. 
 
Double date night! Restaurants with arcade games=awesome times! New babysitter was great, thank goodness!
 
Uno at 'Collins Bar'
 
Just driving through Publix..he had to steer both wheels the whole time. Kid cracks me up! 
 
Seth and Derek got the TV  mounted! Derek's life is complete now.
 
Colin and Owen playing! Heinz and Leah came over for dinner last night! So fun to see these 2 (only 1 week apart) roll and crawl all over each other! Thanks Jess for helping me get all of the food ready!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Grandma visits!

 
When we got back home from the beach, we had a family afternoon at the zoo! The Birmingham Zoo has changed so much! We'll definitely be getting family passes the next time we go! Eli and Colin really got into it. Colin stayed awake the whole 4 hours! Kendall and Mason enjoyed their strolling ;)
 
 
 



Then we had to say goodbye to Josh and Eli since they had to go back with Dad to fly home. Grandma and Aunt Beth came into town and stayed a few days in Birmingham before going to Huntsville. They hadn't met Mason or Kendall yet! I wish we could visit with them more often!
 





 

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Last beach recap!

I'm ready to go back :)
 
The house and neighborhood worked out pretty well this year. The bedroom situation was a bit unexpected..but everyone had a place to sleep (I owe ya Jess!). It was nice having so much space on the beach and it was quiet at night. I would say next time, we'll probably try a new beach. I'm into quiet and peaceful on vacation and the gulf shores/orange beach area has gotten so busy! I do love some of the restaurants though!
 
Pictures below are from mostly hanging out. My siblings and I were so grateful for our parents keeping the kids so much! I know we all got to relax more than normal. Both sets of parents were so great at entertaining the little ones too and although it was wild sometimes, we made good memories. Can't wait to see these kids in a few years interact more! I'm so glad everyone got to go this year, I know that won't probably ever happen again with everyone's busy schedules! Hurry and move back closer Shoemakes ;)