EIGHT MONTH

this month tops the last that topped the month before that was even better than the previous. life with Titus Crete just keeps on getting better.  I speak for everyone when I say that we are over the moon in love with this little dude.  holy mobile he is all over the place and would climb the walls if he could. watching him grow and change and come into his very own personality has just been surreal for us. 

I cant believe its been eight months!!

whats new

SO many changes this month.  let me see if I can wrap this up into a summary:)

• crawling + moving  this boy is NONSTOP on the move.
• he's becoming much more vocal- making all kinds of noises and sounds, like MAMA. *cue the hallelujah chorus* that comes when he is especially upset and I at least pretend like that sound is him calling me. he talks to his toys and things in his crib when he's just woken from sleep. 
• we are slowly becoming an expert at pulling up.
• he gives the best kisses..  he grabs your face and leans in for a wet smooch!
• bath time is his FAVORITE.
• he is excellent at self play.  as long as he's right in the middle he is content with keeping himself busy for a good while.
• he's wearing size 3 diapers, 6(-9) month clothes.
• AND WHAT'S BETTER THAN A FIRST CHRISTMAS?!

E A T

 we are eating all kinds of things!  he's a pretty good eater, there hasn't been a thing he won't eat.  we have introduced him to lots of new things this month.  I feel like with Canaan I was giving him WAY more things, in fact, I'm certain I was. Titus just isn;t as interested. We put food in front of him and he mostly plays with it. If we try to give him a taste of chicken, etc, he usually turns his head. He's still learning and we are ok with him exploring his food and he will eat it when he wants to.

My supply dipped some when pumping while away at work, stress, and some other issues I was having. So Titus transitioned to half breastmilk/formula and we did this with Canaan until he was transitioned. It was super hard for me and I still wonder if he has noticed. This kid goes with the flow even more so than Canaan.

S L E E P

Titus has a pretty consistent sleep schedule. 

most nights he will sleep all the until 4am, wake to eat and then go back to sleep until 8am 

typical sleep routine

wake: 8am

nap #1: 12:00-1:30pm

bedtime: 8pm 

P L A Y / D E V E L O P M E N T

this boy is a mover.  Titus is pretty skilled at getting around now.  

trying to keep up with his big brother is his life's goal. he keeps up pretty well, if I say so myself.  his crawling has become more efficient this month- last month he was more rocking and scooting on all fours and now this month he is here one minute and gone the next!  a little speed racer and can crawl so quickly across the room- before you realize it, he's gone.

he's started with the 'separation anxiety' - fussing here and there if I leave the room.  its short lived but very real! Its mama or no one most of the time.   

he recognizes himself in the mirror and loves to see himself in it. he's all smiles about 99% of the time.  I am so thankful for such a happy, smiley, little boy.  

T I T U S

you are like a revolving door of change baby boy.  it is SO hard to believe how much you've grown and evolved- even in just the last couple months! 

  your eyes and smile are contagious.  my silly, crazy haired little boy- I cannot get enough of you.  this last month has proven to be a big one for you and your independence.  you have gotten so much better at playing solo and while mom and dad play with you on the floor.  you are SO adorable and simply beautiful to me, my sweet baby boy.  8 months.  time is flying and I'm trying to soak up every little bit of it.

8 month photo dump

SEVEN MONTHS

Here we are again with time flying out from under me,  there is something so sad about saying I have a 7 month old. I think it is because we have jumped that half a year old mark and we are just high tailing it to his first birthday. He is closer to ONE than my itty bitty newborn.  he's grown exponentially over the last 30 days and from what I can recall, I think this is the most he's changed in just one month's time- even though it makes me sad to say he is getting older I do love it -  I can say that this month has been my favorite so far. I am absolutely loving this age.

whats new...

• big boy baths.  we've had so many 'baby's firsts' this month- one of which is baths sitting up in the tub. 
• scooting.  all over the place.  he doesn't quite get himself in the crawling position just yet, but we are so there.  he will get nearly on all fours and then start rocking. i can set him down and walk out of the room for a second and he is on the other side. 
• sitting.  100% unassisted and prefers it this way. 
• FIRST TOOTH-TWO TEETH
• laughing.  those big belly laughs-TO. DIE. FOR.
• interaction + reaching.  his interaction with toys, the dogs, and other people around him has improved a lot.  he reaches for people he wants to be held by and definitely plays the 'look hard with a huge grin to get attention and then bury my head somewhere to be shy' game.  totally precious.
• Canaan wears size three diapers and 6(-9) months in clothes.

E A T

He loves to eat-anything. I haven't been too crazy with spacing out all the foods he is offered.. at least the low allergy types- roasted sweet potato,  squash, rice, apples, banana, avocado, chicken, and oatmeal.

P L A Y / D E V E L O P M E N T

play time has become much more interactive. he has started to figure out how to turn the pages of a book to see something new.  we will sit him in the middle of  the floor with some toys and within just a few moments he's scooted and rolled himself over to the side to get the toy he wants or caught his eye.  scooting- goodness hes' a pro.  so, the smart little cookie will get what he needs without worrying too much with the technical movements to do so.  

he loves anything that makes noise or lights up.. and if it doesn't make noise, he's banging whatever he can find to force sound out of it.

Titus loves to play, but wants someone close by. he will play in the exersaucer for 30 solid minutes if the Canaan is around entertaining him.  he has gotten so much better at entertaining himself. He will sit and play contently for quite a while all on his own before he wants someone to play with him.

he loves to sit in the front of the cart and would be far too angry if we left him in the car seat to walk about the grocery store- even for a quick trip.  he's too cute though, so I don't mind.

S L E E P

Brother gave him some teether pillows LOL

this little boy is an amazing sleeper. he sleeps from 8pm to 4am and then eats and goes back to sleep until 8am. Dad has finally taken over nighttime feedings! 

Titus wont just nap anywhere- he wants to be in his crib, and I don't blame him- its comfortable.  but we have made a real habit of always letting him sleep in the same place around the same time.. so naps in the car our just randomly falling asleep wherever isn't the norm.  

he struggles when he is away from home to nap, but I think he is starting to get more comfortable. He almost always gives us a good solid 1.5-2 hour nap when we are at home on his normal schedule and most of the time we try and stay around the house so we can let him get in at least one good nap during the day.

typical sleep routine

wake: 8am

nap: 12:00pm-2:00pm

bedtime: 8:00pm

T I T U S

sweetest Titus.

you are every bit of the little boy I imagined you would be when I dreamed about you while you were in the womb.  you are most definitely a mama's boy, but you love your daddy too.  I cant even express to you the joy I feel inside when you reach for me. your heart is solid gold.  that smile of yours is ever so contagious and I cannot get over what a little gem you are, both inside and out.  we giggle and are silly together all day and I am reminded of how very blessed I am.

your baby hairs stick straight up-ALL THE TIME.   you are using your fingers and hands like a pro- grasping your toys and food and even the smallest little speck on the ground.  its really amazing to watch you observe  all of your surroundings, you are amazed by life and I'm catching myself learning to be more amazed at the world we live in. 

seven month photo dump.