7 mos

 

19 lbs. 12 oz. & 28 inches

Winston is now seven months old and quite the little man. He has grown up soooo much in the last month. Apart from moving and talking constantly, he is so much more interactive and it's fun to see him learn. He actually understands us when we tell him no and he understands when it's time to sleep, eat, play, shnuggle, etc. We are absolutely loving the stage he is at right now and I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as I can before he moves on to the next.

Here are a few things about Mr. W right now:

• He really likes eating solid foods and his favorites are carrots & pears
• His armpits are crazy ticklish
• He has two tiny toothbuds poking through on the bottom
• He can push himself into a sitting position by himself, and is often sitting in his crib waiting for us to come get him in the morning now
• He is still obsessed with his swaddle and falls asleep sucking on it
• He smiles almost 24/7
• He mostly rolls to get places, but can scooch backwards on his tummy and scooch forwards on his bum
• He is still very squishy :)
• He still sleeps 12 hours a night and usually takes an hour long nap two or three times a day
• He likes to shnuggle with mama, and will make his way over to me and then grab hold of my leg when he wants a hug
• He loves to play with his dad and kicks his feet and pumps his arms when he sees him
• He does not like avocado
• He loves opening the blinds and looking out the window in the morning
• He still likes walks and watching cars
• He likes to swing at the park and watch the other kids
• He likes to sleep on his side with his arms and legs curled up around his swaddle
• He thinks dropping his toys is cool
• He is kind of obsessed with my wallet even though he has never played with it. He also seems to like watching his stroller when he's not in it. Since they are both bright red, I think it is safe to assume that red is his favorite color.
• He has some awesome shin fat (Tyler's fav)
• He likes to grab at noses and eyes
• He loves reading books and turning the pages
• He is very good at growling, making happy squeals, and purring
• He is oh, so adorable!! See for yourself:

 

 

 

A look at those sweet chunky thighs from the back :)

Toothbuds!

Happy birthday Pa! I grew a tooth just for you!

Swaddle Love

Winston has grown up soooo much in the last month! He is constantly moving and yesterday he sat up all by himself for the first time! It only took him about 30 seconds while he was on his stomach to swing his feet around and slowly push himself off the floor. He teetered a bit the first time he pushed off, but the second time he found his balance and was sitting!! I started cheering when he made it, so, of course, he instantly realized how cool he was and was very proud the rest of the night :)

He did it again this morning (lots of cheering followed again) and then after he ate some big boy food, he drank his bottle almost completely by himself for the first time. I LOVE seeing him learn new things because I know he is loving it so much too.

Lately he has just seemed like such a big boy that I sometimes forget he is still my baby... until I see him sleeping. There is something about a sleeping baby that is so, very baby. Especially since W is very attached to his swaddle and has taken up the habit of sucking on it while he naps. Sooooo cute and so, very baby. I'm kind of obsessed with this half baby/half little boy phase!

 My sweet babe

 

 If you can't tell he is up on his knees (and there's some cute baby cleavage too!)

 

I sat up all by myself!!

W's seven month check-up is next week so I'll wait till then to give a more formal post of everything else he's up to right now.

Swingin'

I take Winston to the park at least once a week, but we always just walk and occasionally stop and play on a bench. Yesterday I realized that he would probably like to swing, so today he had his very first swing!

 

He was very giggly when I put him in- I think he liked it :)

Family Photos 2012

It's been a little while since I promised a look at the family photos we took at the end of November, but here they are:

 

 

(all photos courtesy of Melissa Puente, taken in front of Beverly Hills city hall)

6 mos

While we were in Hawaii Winston turned 6 mos old. I can't believe how fast the time has flown by with him. Recently Tyler and I were wondering why we hadn't attended an event last June and after thinking about it for quite some time, we realized it was because we were in the hospital having a baby! We kind of just feel like he's been with us forever. Lately I've had a bad case of shnuggle-itis, and about an hour after I put Winston in bed I just want to go pick him up and shnuggle close for a bit. He is just so sweet :)

Our little gent has accomplished quite a bit in the last month:

• He sits all by himself
• He reaches for us and tries to pull me close if I am sitting next to him and he wants to be held
• He eats solid foods and his favorites are carrots, green beans, & bananas (and he does NOT like plain rice, so luckily he doesn't seem to have inherited his daddy's taste)
• He rolls everywhere and can spin and shuffle backwards across the floor
• And he has discovered more uses for his vocals cords- he squeals and fake coughs a lot

Winston's personality is coming out a lot more now. He is very perceptive and likes tiny details. He will flick a tag or pick at a stitch or button for a lot longer than he will bang his toys on the floor.  He also likes mirrors, walks & watching cars drive by, his daddy, kisses on his tummy, and his swaddle. He still sleeps with his swaddle pulled up by or over his face, likes standing, singing songs (Itsy Bitsy Spider & Jingle Bells are favorites right now), his hands, and he is still very ticklish. I swear this kid laughs and smiles more than any other 6 month old. Oh, and a sure way to get him giggling is to bounce him up and down on the bed :) He is sooooo happy all the time and we absolutely love him!

 

 

20 pounds 28 inches

Happy New Year!

 

Wishing you lots of smiles & giggles in 2013

 

Mele Kalikimaka

My vacation with Winston to Hawaii was pretty relaxed considering all of the things we squeezed in while there. Our main reasons for going were to help seal my dad to his parents in the temple, and to attend the my brother's wedding. A big bonus was W getting to meet his Grandpa, Uncle Ben, Aunt Sarah & Uncle Justin, and his cousin Tillie. I'm so happy that my entire family knows W now!

On top of the big family events we also squeezed in a little bit of beach time (there would have been more if it hadn't rained 90% of our stay), some awesome Hawaiian eats, a bridal shower, some shopping, a mini Christmas with the fam, and lots of chillin at home talking story. Oh, and one trip to the hospital for W's fever- luckily, it was nothing more than a small stomach virus that he projectile vomited across the temple bathroom floor and said goodbye to :) 

Photo proof:

 

 On the flight to Hawaii W had his very own seat! He just sat there played almost the whole trip without making a peep, and when he was tired he just laid down, pulled his swaddle up over his face, and crashed. He is so perfect :)

 W trying avocado for the first time

W and Tillie- W would get so excited every time he saw Tillie and just wanted to grab her face. Tillie didn't always love it, but she's pretty solid so I think she'll be able to hold her own just fine :)

W opening his very first Christmas present the best way he knows how.

So happy! Thanks for all the great gifts everyone!

W's first steps into the ocean. He didn't seem to mind the water even though it was a little chilly, but the rushing of the waves he wasn't too sure about.

Mama and her little beach babe

Hawaii is so gorgeous even when it's cold

I love the color of the water behind us- I just wish W had kept his eyes open for this one :)

Sarah & Justin brought Tillie to the beach for her first time too. Tillie didn't keep her eyes open for the photo either, but unlike W, I think she was asleep- she crashed the second Sarah brought her out of the water.

All bundled up after our swim

Little grom in the making 

W just sat here all wrapped up watching the waves for the longest time. I finally took him inside when he started nodding off and almost fell over. I guess he finds the ocean calming like his mama.

 

Ang and his lovely new wife, Mary*

 

Happy to be married... and we're happy to have him married :)

 

Pa, Granna and the newlyweds**

Jay and Ben at the wedding
 

W smiled and giggled for most of our trip so I think it's safe to say he loves his family and all the attention they give him. He also loved not having to wear clothes... he reminds me a lot of Ben :)

*All wedding photos courtesy of SBrown Photography

**I am the worst Mama/daughter in the world and didn't manage to take a single photo of W with his Pa & Granna. I've been kicking myself ever since, but just know that W LOVED them!!

Merry Merry Christmas

W's first Christmas was absolutely perfect! Tyler and I have both been feeling especially grateful for how blessed we are lately, and Christmas proved just that once again. Although Tyler had to work Christmas Eve, we still managed to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Christmas story from the bible together.

Christmas morning Tyler let me sleep in a little bit while he and W made personal German pancakes for breakfast. Then we let W see what Santa brought him- a sock monkey! W LOVES sucking/chewing on his swaddles and socks, and now his sock monkey is one more wonderful thing to stick in his mouth! We opened the rest of our gifts and W got some wooden blocks, a truck puzzle and some clothes. Tyler and I weren't supposed to be doing gifts for each other this year because we recently bought a new sofa set and a large painting of Christ, but Tyler broke the rules- as always. So I gave Tyler a pair of shoes (he bought himself) and W gave him a cardy. Tyler gave me a new house phone and a Dyson vacuum. Awesome!

Yum!

Santa came!

 New best friend

 So excited!

Very puzzling :)

 

Happy boy!!

 

 Thanks for the tape measure Ben-Tyler loves it! 

 

Who doesn't love a good cardy?

Happy Christmas!

After we opened gifts at home we headed down to Tyler's mom's house and opened some more gifts with the whole family. W got some more awesome toys, books, and clothes while Tyler and I got throw pillows, gift cards, board games, gun cleaning equipment, and a basket to keep W's new toys in. I'm sure I'm leaving a few things out, but we loved everything and we think our family is the best!!

For dinner we headed over to Tyler's dad's house for some prime rib which was delish! We opened a few more gifts and then headed home. And, because we are old people, we all went straight to bed. I love Christmas!!!

 

W was just figuring out how to pull the paper off by the end of the day.

 A gift bigger than me is the best kind!

 

Handsome outfit

  

Thanks for the gifts everyone!!

I'll write another post shortly on W and I's trip to the aina and our mini Christmas there!!

Happy Holidays!!