Eight Months

Eating

JJ is still eating 4 times a day.  Sadly, we're done nursing.  I'll admit, it is a little nice to be done, but I was sad at first when I realized it was really over.  :)  JJ eats 6 oz at 8am, then has fruit, 8 oz at 12pm, 6 oz at 4pm, then veggies/meat and fruit, and 8 oz at 7:30pm.  Lately he has tried stuffing, Aunt Christine's sweet potato praline and ice cream.  He likes it all!

Sleeping

JJ is in bed from 8pm-8am (unless I'm working, then he's up at 6:30).  Sometimes he's awake at 7:30, but he stays in bed until 8.  He hasn't been sleeping on his tummy at all lately, but he has been using his binky!  He loves his binky now.  When we're home he naps from 10-12 and from 2-4.  Even with teething going on he still sleeps soooo well.

Playing

He still loves to sit or lay and play for long periods at a time.  He rolls all around the living room, or just stays by his toy bin and pulls everything out.  He got a hand-me-down farm from his cousins and he loves it!!  He really likes all his toys and John says he has a good imagination to sit and play so long.

***disclaimer***
this post was never finished.  i hesitate to try and finish it now, one month later, at the risk of getting things wrong.  my sincerest apologies to my little man for neglecting to document this milestone!  :)  but you may as well enjoy the picture...

 

mishmash

First real temper tantrum occured tonight!!  (I'm not as excited as the exclamation points would indicate.)  It was cute, it really was, but I know it won't be cuter as time goes by.  He wanted to touch the tub plug that was on the side of the bathtub.  I told him no, and he didn't touch it.  Then he reached to touch it again.  I sternly said, "JJ, no."  He pulled his hand away, then proceeded to cry like a little baby.  (Yes, I know, he is a little baby.)  Then he kicked his feet in the water, just to let me know exactly how upset he was.  He kept looking back at the tub plug, then crying harder.  Seriously, the most pathetic, funny and possibly scary glimpse into the future I've had thus far.

And he fell asleep tonight while I was feeding him.  First time he's done that in a long time!  So of course I lifted him up to my shoulder and laid on the couch with him like that for quite awhile.  I'm definitely a fan of putting him to bed when he's awake, in his own crib.  But I'm also a fan of enjoying those little moments that are gone before you even know it. 

Oh yeah.  Exactly 8 months ago I was in labor.  Massive labor.  Can't believe how long it's been, and that tomorrow my little man will be 8 months old!  Time to take a new picture and write a monthly update!

Don't Forget...

The way he wobbles his head when he's being silly, then waits for me to do it, then he does it again.

How he pulls the bottle out of his mouth when he's had enough, holds it up, and starts talking to it.

His little fingers scratching against his mattress.

How his frown turns upside down when I sit down next to him to play.

The way he empties his entire toy box all over the living room floor.

Sometimes in the morning when I get him up, he has one binky in his mouth and one in his hand. 

JJ wants to play with anything that is not his.  Remote, phone, paper, whatever.

His feet go a mile a minute.  Seriously, all the time.

Friday Phone Dump

time to clean the tub

reading books on mommy & daddy's bed

trying to keep him up for the time change.  and failing.

love this little face!

thanks Livy

all free

love my big boy thomas pj's

this never gets old

of course.  what I need is gone.

Today

I thought I had time to write, but a train whistle just woke up my snoozing baby.  So we'll see how long I get.

Today is a house-overhaul kind of day.  We had a very busy weekend, and glancing around the house, it shows.  I did manage to get the laundry done (and folded!), but it sits in piles throughout the living room.  If we just keep wearing stuff, eventually the piles will be gone, right?

Today is a dinner-for-lunch kind of day.  John has to work later, so we're going to have Pasta Alfredo (homemade!) for lunch, which will give us both leftovers for dinner; me at home, him at work.

Yesterday was a miss-my-baby-while-working kind of day.  I stepped into the baby room for about a half hour to cover a break.  While playing with those smiley babies and giving a bottle, I couldn't help but miss my little man who was spending the day with Grammy.  Lucky him.  Lucky Grammy.

Tomorrow will be a busy, long work day.  Mainly packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I gotta get in all my baby snuggles today, because there won't be many tomorrow!

Today is all I'm promised.  So I'm gonna go rescue my babbling baby from his crib and give him kisses.  It's amazing how much I miss him, just over night.

Who gets to choose?

At the risk of opening up a can of worms, I have some thoughts on my mind.  And since this is my space, I'm gonna let 'em out!

After the announcement of baby number 20 on the way to the Duggar household, I was a little surprised by the reactions I heard.  In all honesty, I believe my initial thought was, "Really?  Another one?"  But that was mild when you consider what other people were saying.  And loudly voicing.

I know the Duggar's are public figures, and therefore pretty much putting themselves out there for public scrutiny.  But the more I think about the reactions they're getting, the sadder I get.

November is the month that I lost 2 babies.  The most tragic and sad days of my life.  Those were babies that we wanted, that we were ready to welcome with open hearts.  Now, we have our wonderful son.  The excitement over his arrival from the very first day we found out he was on his way was monumental. 

Can you imagine announcing your pregnancy and being met with rolled eyes, mentions of 'birth control' and much, much worse?  I can't.  And who the heck are we to say how many children someone should have?

Here's my main point, since I seem to be having trouble getting to it:  The world is all about choice.  A woman's right to choose.  And I can't help but see the irony in this situation.  A woman can choose to abort her baby, and the majority of people think there's no problem with that and will stand up for her right.  But a woman deciding to have her 20th child (when they can afford them, and seem to have a loving home), people don't think she should have that choice?  Does that seem like a double standard to anyone else??  Worse than a double standard, since women are given the right to abort their baby, which is murder, like it or not.  And women are slammed for bringing life into this world, regardless of their ability to provide for and love those children.

I guess I'm done.  While I do wonder how the Duggar's can possibly come up with another 'J' name, I would like to offer my congratulations to them.  A new baby is a blessing.  A new baby should be celebrated whether it's number 1 or number 34.  It's a miracle that not all women are afforded.  Will I have 20 children?  I can pretty much say with all assurance that I won't.  But if you want to, and can do so without government assistance, more power to you.  If there were 20 JJ's in my house, I can't imagine anything better than that. 

Except maybe a bigger house.  :)

Made for this.

I was totally made for this.

And nothing makes me happier!

I am so blessed to be Mommy to this adorable boy.

It's impossible to have a bad day with him around!

I love you JJ!



Friday Phone Dump

coupons in the mail!

JJ the tiger

drink of choice

niece & nephew

we sit on our bottoms in the tubby!

don't think you'll be able to reach...

picture to send to Daddy while he's away

playing with a pitcher so Mommy can make some applesauce

My Little Tiger

JJ had a great time at Trunk or Treat Sunday night at our church!

His favorite 'treat' was this kazoo.  He chewed on it for no less than 30 minutes while we strolled around to the many trunks!

It was chilly out, but he didn't seem to mind.  He enjoyed spending some time with his cousins!

There was a very angry bird:

A pirate that wouldn't pause for a picture:

A beautiful Tinkerbell:

And a cute little puppy:

What a group!

And a few more of my little tiger:

He was so tired...this is him sucking on his pacifier when we got home. 

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the festivities...apparently I was a little more focused on the kids!  But it was a great time and I can't wait till next year!  I wonder what he should dress up as...