November 2013 {A lot to be Thankful for}

November was a blur!
While I was busy studying my life away and writing papers....
Tyson was:

Taking the kids to the zoo

Raking the plethora of leaves in our yard

Cooking dinner almost every night

 Watching the kids and keeping them entertained

Keeping the house clean

Bathing little Mister

 Growing a mustache

Doing the bedtime routine solo
(which anyone with kids knows is the H. A. R. D)

and working with Talmage and encouraging him to use his legs

Good thing I scored a keeper. He really kept the house running in November and December while I finished finals and prepped us for Christmas. He is a great team player, a wonderful father and the best helping husband. I bet everyone reading this is jealous...well you should be! He is the best!!

Other happenings in November included:

Dinner at Market Street to celebrate my in-laws anniversary.
This cute boy loves his grandpa.
I hope my sweet boy is cut from the same cloth as his daddy and grandpa.
Then he'll be quite the catch and a "keeper" one day too!

My oldest nephew Jadee got married and it was a beautiful wedding and we were so glad to be apart of the celebrations that day.

Ava (our little artistic girl) won the reflections contest for photography in her grade (1st). She got a medal and her entry was sent on to the district level competition. She also got to have lunch from McDonald's brought to her at school and she was so excited and proud of herself.

The theme was Believe,Dream and Inspire.
Ava took a picture of her jazz dance teacher instructing the class and wrote a little paragraph about students believing they will be dancers one day and dreaming of being on stage and the teachers and professionals that inspire the dream.
We are so proud of our "little fousa".

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at my house for my mother, my brother Sam's family and some of my nephews. I am so mad that I didn't get any pictures...not even one of the house set up, the awesome Turkey (that Tyson cooked of course) and the awesome people that we got to spend the holiday with. I guess I was so worried about hosting that I didn't get to take time to enjoy it and get some memorable pictures. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, all I could envision was the scene from National Lampoon's Christmas vacation where they carve the turkey and it deflates. But Tyson did such a good job. It was so flavorful and moist and everything turned out delicious! After eating, visiting and enjoying pie, we went to see the new Disney princess movie Frozen with our friends and neighbors the Ramsey's.
Great movie, great company and great end to a wonderful holiday!

Some of the great holiday art that decorated our house!

compliments of Ava

Compliments of Claire

 And some cute things Ava wrote about being thankful for.



And I ended the month the same way I started...with lots of homework and a little study buddy!

Eleven Months Old

The outtakes are getting more and more hilarious. He gets in wild moods and is such a ham for the camera.

The Talminator is 11 months old and getting saucy.  His little personality is coming more and more out.  He is tender and gentle yet stubborn and vocal when he wants something. Here are some things he is doing now.

-He is definitely more active. He is starting to scoot and roll and critically think how he is going to get something that is out of his reach. He has figured out how to get from sitting, to his tummy and then back to sitting. He loves to get in a somersault position and smile at people through his legs.

He is in the early stages of army crawling and often rocks back and forth on his knees. We lowered his bed because we don't want to find out the hard way that he can pull himself up.

-He is finally starting to ear a few solids without gagging and acting like he is choking. He is still a veggie lover and now loves his little yogurt melt treats. He goes berserk when he sees them and lets out a complaining roar when you take to long to put some on his tray. He loves to drink his bottle and fall asleep in this position....the chilax position!

-He is getting more vocal about who he wants to be held by. He often rejects his father and has a tantrum when he doesn't get to be held by his mom. He is so a mommy's boy and for the most part...I am basking in the love. He is cuddly and tender with me. He pats my back and he lays on my shoulder and tries to give me kisses on my cheeks. He is such a sweetheart!

-He loves the tub and loves to splash.  Whoever gets the honor of bathing him also gets the privileged of having a bath themselves..haha!

-He has a new sad forced cry when his feelings get hurt or he is shy or pouting.  He closes his eyes and opens his mouth and lets out a long whine. Then for full dramatic effect he puts both his hands over his eyes and face and bows his head in defeat. 

-He really tries to mimic sounds or even words we say.  He really likes to click his tongue or growl in low animal like voice. He mimics sounds like oh no, or ought oh! We call Ava "A" and sometimes he says it after us. Of course we are going to produce talkers...have you met my husband? He also mimics actions and this is one of his best. Can you tell mommy works too much from home?

-He is starting to defend himself a little. He pulls a little hair and has even tried to push or swat at one little girl in particular. Her name starts with a "C" and she is a big baby lover. She has actually shed a few tears due to his self defense moves.  I guess...let the wrasseling begin.

His scream mask face. This is right before his forced cry

And the Best picture of the night!

His dislike of a beanie could mean he is not going to like, winter, snow, and skiing...shhh don't tell his dad.

He warmed up to the beanie eventually and daddy's reconfirmed daddy's hopes for the future!!

He attracts attention from "the ladies" and he likes it. He is a smiley flirt and enjoys the attention. What can I say?  He is a Charmer!!

Ten Months

Another Month Older.

It really feels like his time in the womb went slower then his time outside.

He is my little happy boy and my heart bursts when I look at him.

I love this age and stage and I regret any amount of time that I have to be parted from him.

(okay maybe I don't regret the turns my husband gets in the night with him).

Oh and he is getting wiggly. This is the one good picture I got. The rest of the pictures fall under the out-take category. 

 Here are a few things he is doing:

-He is finally eating the little Gerber Puff snacks without gagging and acting like he is choking. I still have to break them up, but he is doing it...and loving it.

-He loves food and can mostly hold is sippy cup to drink. He loves cold water.

-He isn't crawling but he is getting up on his knees and rolling around to reach what he wants.

-He can do all the actions to Patty Cake Patty Cake and it is so cute. He looks so proud as he "tosses it in the oven". 

-He gets mad when he is left behind and you walk away. Especially when it is mom walking away.

-He loves playing with balls and now tries to toss them in the air. Looks like he is a true boy.

-He loves his sisters and gets so excited when they play with him.

-He is getting less content to sit in the jumperoo because he wants to be on the floor. He curls his legs and makes it impossible to get his legs in the jumperoo.

-He can finally reach his legs to the floor while in the walker and is starting to move--backwards but that suits him just fine.

-He is starting to talk more rather than just say mamama and dadada. He babbles in a talking voice and looks at you like we should have understood what he just said. I love watching his tongue too because it looks awkward and cute.

-He got mad at Claire when she was getting too close and tried to bite her. Oh no!! Good thing he is all gums still---no teeth on the horizon!

-He loves getting bathed in the big tub and is quite the little splasher.

-Last but not least there has been no change in the fact that he is a Mommy's boy. I am still his #1 and I revel in it!!!

While taking the pictures, he figured out how to make the rocking chair rock and he got so excited. (Don't mind my wierd voice..I was trying to brush my teeth and really needed to spit but I had to hurry the capture the moment.)

(Still working to get this video uploaded)

Here's another clip of Claire doing what she would love to do 24/7. Talmage is a good sport.

She's Going Places

This Just Happened!

Ava learned to ride a bike!

It was a lot less painless and frustrating than I thought it would be. She had been working for a month or so with her grandpa and dad just pushing herself of the bike without pedals. Then we put the pedals back on and she still wouldn't give it a shot but she could coast pretty well.

On this past Sunday evening we decided to go for a walk. I had to convince Tyson to let Ava ride her bike because he gets a little anxious about riding in our neighbor because we don't have side walks.  I also think he was anticipating having to carry or wheel it home and that didn't sound like fun either. About half way through the walk, we stopped to chat and visit with our friends in their front yard. The kids all came out and began to ride their bikes up and down the street. One of Ava's best friends, Ava R. was riding her bike and her little 3 year old brother Sawyer was riding as well. Neither of them were using training wheels. I think Ava needed that last push to not be left behind because she just did it...with no one coaxing, begging, bribing or trying to give instruction. True to form, she does it only when she has made up her own mind and when she feels she is in charge. I should have known after potty training her that she was never going to do it when I wanted her to, but when she was darn good and ready.

She may also take a little bit after me because I was generally the last to do things. Not because it took me that long to catch on, but because I had to make sure that everyone lived through whatever thing we were learning and then I could convince myself...if they did it and lived...so will I.

I am so happy we can check this task off our summer to do list and it is only the first week of June.

 Lots of fun summer bike riding ahead....wahoo!

Eight Months Old

Holy Batman He is 8 Months Old!

I feels as if I just did one of these posts and yet...so much has changed.

1. Talmage is sitting up. He is not perfect or 100% steady yet, but he can last for quite a long time. 

If he loses his balance though, he is done for.

2. He claps his hands a lot when he is excited and even does it when prompted by us chanting "Yay". 

It is so darn cute I just can't contain myself!

3. He gets so excited to see his baby food and even gets a little impatient with whining. After the first few bites when he is so hungry, he growls "mmmmmm". He even gets mad when I take too long between bites. He lets out a angry protest.

4. Just when I think he can't be more of a mama's boy...he turns it up a notch. Just recently he has started 

crying when he sees me, even if his dad is holding him. It is good to be loved!

5. He loves the wind and giggling endlessly as it blows in his face. He doesn't seem to mind the way it

takes his breath away.

6. He is seriously the most easy going laid back happy baby. He can sit in his stroller for along time and 

just goes with the flow of what I am doing...a walk...watching me at the cross fit gym, hanging out at

the park or the zoo. As long as he is in good company, he is happy.

7. He has started trying to mimic sounds. When I say "ma ma ma" in my deep possessed voice, he tries to growl it back and it is so cute. He also mimics us when we excitedly say "da da da". He doesn't

know what they mean but he loves to say them.

8. He has decided he loves to pull his binky clip off his shirt so he can eat it. He pulls and pulls until he get that thing loose. He is a determined little man.

He is the most loved little thing right now in our home. His sisters just adore him and Claire still can't help herself when around him. She is the definition of mauling!

Here are some cute videos of him practicing sitting up.

Here is Claire's attempt to get some attention doing the same thing. She makes me laugh!

And here is Talmy doing a little clapping. He wasn't the most cooperative on this occasion.

Six Months Old

Little man is half a year old!

I know I say this a lot but where does the time go?

I finally feel relaxed with a baby and now I don't feel there is enough hours and moments in a day to enjoy it and enjoy him.

This little man has brought so much happiness into our home. He lightens our moods with his smiles and squeals. Claire use him like snuggle/cuddle buddy. She often lays by him on the floor as she watches tv and he plays under his activity gym. She sucks her thumb and with her other hand rubs his head. Luckily he doesn't act like he minds too much. She also nestles his hands to her face. She just can't stand not to touch him. Ava thrives on the undivided attention she gets from him.  When she is around, his eyes are glued on her. He sits with a huge grin on his face tracking her every move, waiting patiently for her to make eye contact and when she does he squeals and giggles. He loves to watch her dance and jump and wiggle (all the things she does best). He adores her and she adore him (and the attention). Ava loves having a #1 fan.

Something else that has really seemed to blossom this last month is the bond between Talmage and his daddy. Of course he has recognized and smiled for Tyson for a long time, but they now have "their ways." By that I mean that they have their way that they relax in the lazy boy together, or the way daddy carries him like a postal package as walks around the house doing this or that. He now acts ubber excited to see his daddy when he comes home from work and won't take his eyes off his dad until he gets acknowledged. When daddy finally does look at him, he bows his head with a cheeky grin and shyly looks away. Daddy helps with the rough nights and it has helped to build their bond. I love watching the boys bond in action.

Some new things this month:

Stranger Danger- 6 month pictures were challenging because he didn't want to smile for the lady

Food-he has had rice cereal and we are gearing up for vegetable later this week.
Mobility-he can now roll from back to tummy and tummy to back quite masterfully. he also kicks his legs so hard that he really get the bouncy seat going.
Dexterity-he reaches and grabs at everything and he is almost as quick as a professional pick pocket. He especially loves little girls pony tails and braids.
Vocal-he is still very squealy and now likes to hum when he eats and sometimes as he is falling asleep. He also makes that noise (how do you describe) when you breath in and sound like your gasping for air. It sounds so funny and he looks so proud of himself when he does it.
Balance-No signs of sitting up yet. He does well with the bumbo but doesn't seem to have the balance quite yet for sitting up. That is okay though, we are practicing. We put him in the walker and he loves it. He feels like he is in the action and often just giggles for no apparent reason when sitting in it.
 Faces-He is trying to mimic mouth movements and Ava will sit for a long time just sticking out her tongue and watching him mimic her. They both end up in stitches just giggling.
Snuggles-He has always been snugly but I love that when he is shy or tired, she just lays his head on my shoulder. He will stay that way for along time or until he falls asleep. My girls did it occasionally but it was not a common occurrence like it is with little man.

Did I say he melts my heart? Well just in case I didn't get that point across yet....He Does!
He is the sweetest, easiest going, loving, smiley boy and he is mine!

The difference between first bite and second. He takes after his father I think!

 

 

 Tongue in action.  He couldn't quite figure out how to get it out of the way.
Mmmmm isn't he delicious?

6 Month Stats
Weight: 15 lbs 22% percentile
Height: 26 in 40% percentile