A month of milestones

i feel like this month is on fast forward. so many big "little" things have happened and i am trying to capture every moment while at the same time just trying to bask in the everyday with van and rory. 

it is so wonderful to watch your children grow but a part of it is bittersweet. and just thinking about them getting big makes me want to cry.

for instance, van left the house with mimi the other day: he threw his backpack over one shoulder and walked out the door with only a quiet goodbye thrown over his shoulder........

and when i kiss him now, he wipes it off. sometimes even telling me that my breath is stinky! he's given me a complex because i can't tell you how many times a day i now brush my teeth. 

van also just started sleeping in his bed without any guard rails. we didn't put one back on when we returned from the beach this last weekend and then he told us that he didn't want it anymore

i don't have many pictures of him at this stage either, he either refuses completely, turns away from the camera or makes a funny face. i'll take the funny face any day over no picture at all!

soccer has started back up

loves wearing the bjorn and carrying around a baby(doll that is)

my silly baby boy

i just want to pinch those cheeks too

rory is now 7 1/2 months. she went from getting up on all fours to crawling to pulling herself into standing and now she is walking with a walker. it is ridiculous how strong she and i seriously feel like she changes every time i blink.

she crawled up the stairs the other day. scared me to death. 

Rory babbles all the time. blabla to her food, toys, van, etc.

her first word is mama. i love hearing her sweet little voice say it over and over again. 

if she falls and gets scared she quickly crawls in my direction for me to scoop her off the ground. "mmmmmama. mmmama."

when derek gets home from work she crawls after him and tries to pull herself into standing using his leg so he'll pick her up.

her favorite person by far though is van and when he is home she watches him everywhere he goes and just giggles. she tries her best to include herself into whatever he is playing with. and if he takes away his toys - she cries.

so it begins!

7.5 months stats:

eating breakfast, lunch and dinner (most days)

prefers avocado & sweet potatoes

nap times have fallen into a routine: early morning, afternoon and late afternoon

started bedtime training last week and it's getting there

we are still up every 2-3 hours at night. i'm sure she is doing this out of habit versus hunger but i have no clue what to do since she is in our room and can see us in bed when she stands up

so i am nursing her to get her back to sleep as fast as possible. must remember to ask her pediatrician what to do at our next visit

but until then i am just enjoying our time in the middle of the night. one of the first nights we were sleep training she woke up around 2am and as i picked her up she nestled into my arms and put her hand on my face. i melted and let her snuggle in our bed for the rest of the night!

she won't take a bottle from me or derek. we're hoping she will take one from someone else so we can go away on a little anniversary trip



march has been so cold and we are all ready for warmer weather to get here fast so we can play outside more and not be so bundled up. can we say shorts and flip flops?!?

we are heading to the cabin for easter and the week of spring break.

Hoppy Easter from one tired but very happy mama!