Thanksgiving & Christmas 2014

The holiday season with a toddler is absolutely magical.  I wasn't sure how much Jake was going to get into Christmas, clearly I wasn't thinking.  What's not to love? Cookies, presents, lights, music...sounds like Jake heaven to me.  It was such a special time.  It is one of my favorite times of year anyway, but that feeling has about quadrupled with the excitement of children.  We started the holiday season with a long Thanksgiving weekend in Sunriver.  We even had snow, it was so cozy and beautiful.  The first night we were there it snowed while we were sleeping and the kids were both still asleep after we got up and ready...it was kind of magical.  Obviously very magical if I still remember it in June...hahaha.  Jake played fireman around the house, talking about important stuff in his walkey-talkey, Bo posed for Mimi photoshoots and they both looked adorable in Mama's matching outfits.  Jake loved the snow and his snowboots and outfit.  I think he would have worn it all to bed.  My Mom made a delicious dinner (still thinking about that in June too) and we all tried our best to sit together and eat it.  

We all came home on Saturday and on Sunday we headed out for the annual "Burnham Christmas Tree Expedition",  a family favorite event - especially for Brian.  We picked out a tree pretty quickly and spent a few minutes in the barn on site where they have a few animals to feed/pet, hot cocoa, and a santa.

We visited Santa at Macy's again this year.  Of course Jake at 2 years old was in no mood to sit on the old guy's lap and pose for pictures, but we captured a few classic moments that show the difference between a baby and a toddler.  We also went to zoo lights and this year we will do even more to celebrate as the kids will be a little older.

I could tell right away when I got the Christmas decorations out that Jake was going to be really into it this past year.  He helped hang ornaments, checked out all the Santas and other decorations.  We got a little tree for his playroom and he asked where our elf was and if he could open the advent calendar every morning.  I can't wait for this year, he will love it even more.

On Christmas eve we went to Brian's Aunt's house for dinner and Jake had fun running around with the other kids.  The timing was tough because the kids go to bed so early and they both had meltdowns.  We decided it will be the last year we go anywhere on Christmas eve for a while.  On Christmas day we did our usual routine with wake up at our house, breakfast and presents at my parent's, then presents and dinner with the Lanter's.  It was a really fun day as usual and Jake was WAY into presents which makes me especially scared for this year.  I think holidays are tough on kids, it is just SO much at once.  I realize that isn't going to change anytime soon, but we are going to try to find ways to be sure everyone can enjoy it a little more.  Fortunately we had a relaxing and beautiful week in Sunriver to look forward to.

I truly cannot wait for this year, well I think it is going to be tough to manage with two toddlers, I think the holidays are going to be just magical.  

Bo Months 7 to 9

All About Bo

 

 

Seven Months Old
Height: 27 inches

Weight: 15 lb 13 oz

Eight Months Old

Height: 27 inches

Weight: 16 lb 3 oz

Nine Months Old

Height: 27.5 inches

Weight: 17 lb 6 oz

Bo had some major developments these last 3 months.  No longer is it a surprise or unexpected when he is content all day or smiling all the time, now it is just expected.  I can easily say that Bo is a super happy little guy with a smile ready for everyone he meets.  Bo changed a lot these last few months, getting more interactive, social, and independent all the time.

Bo really only cries if he is tired, not really even if he is hungry unless his Mama forgot about him and he gets starving.  oops.  At six months we did "nap sleep training" and he was regularly taking 3 naps a day.  One in the morning about 1 hour to 2 hours after he got up, the next in the car around 11ish, and the last around 2:30.  It actually went pretty well with not as much crying as I expected.  We were on a roll for a while and then he started to change his schedule and we used our trip to Palm Desert to reset a bit.  By nines months he was occasionally taking a longer than 30 minute nap and more often taking just 2 instead of 3 naps.  He probably would have made this transition earlier, but his naps were so short he wasn't very well rested afterward.  We are and we have been in a much better position with Bo and his naps than we were with Jake at the same point.  I guess a little experience helped there.  Now if we could just figure out a way to make their naps overlap longer than 25 minutes I would be REALLY happy too.

Bo was still getting up to eat at least once at night, sometimes twice by 7 months old.  It was only 5 nights before we were supposed to leave for Palm Desert and I pulled the plug.  It took a lot of crying,  (one hour or a bit more) to be exact, but he figured it out and then that morning he slept until 7:30.  My boobs were out of control, I finally pumped a little because I was so uncomfortable and it just looked like water coming out.  TMI - sorry.  Anywho, for the first week in the desert Bo kept up what he had learned and then he decided to test the waters and since I couldn't let him cry in the condo I was back up with him in the early morning, nursing and then back to bed.  Sometime between then (7 1/2 months) and 9 months old the nursing and putting back down to sleep stopped working, so if Bo was up in the 4's and he saw me, he was up to party.  We have had to have a couple refreshers, but for the most part Bo started sleeping through the night during this time frame.

By 7 1/2 months Bo was sitting up on his own for a few seconds at a time, but it wasn't until about a month later (8 1/2 months) that he was officially sitting up tall, without falling over, for any length of time.  He would lean forward right away like he thought sitting up was overrated and he wanted to crawl somewhere.  Sure enough, by 9 months he was army crawling and rolling all over the place.  It was a pretty slow slither and he would lose focus and stop for a while to play with something, but if he was interested enough he would make his way there.

Well Bo was a slow starter on the food front - but on his gestational 6 months (I still believe those 3 weeks early is legit) he actually ate without gagging and he has been going strong ever since.  He likes EVERYTHING!  I fed him twice a day until 8 months old and then we added lunch.  He usually eats oatmeal/rice cereal mixed with fruit in the morning, some fruits and veggies at lunch, and veggies and meat at dinner.  I have fed him a lot more of the iron enriched cereal than I fed Jake.  By 9-months old he can pick up cheerios off his tray, but maybe 1 in 10 actually make it to his mouth.  He still likes to put anything in his mouth, so if it is on his tray he will certainly give it a try.  He likes the feeding net thing (as his brother did) and I have stuffed with bananas which went over very well but had to be followed the next day with some prunes to get us off the pebble deer poop.  Bo's first teeth popped through at 8 1/2 months.  He got his two bottom ones within days of each other.  He wasn't really fussy, just a little drooly and handled it like a champ.

Some of Bo's favorite toys are the ones that make noise, that he can hit together, shake, or push a button on.  Most of the time he wants what Jake is playing with.  He likes to chew on anything.  He gets excited when Jake comes into the room.  Jake can really make Bo laugh.  He likes to wave a blanket over his head and Bo thinks it is hilarious.  Bo has a smile and a laugh that are infectious.  He is very social.  Sometimes he will be whining on the floor and the minute we go to talk to him he is just fine.  He wants to be part of the action and I think crawling/scooting and being more independent will make him even more happy.  Bo took his first flight at about 7 months, he also went in a swing and the wagon for the first time during these months.  Both of those were close to 9 months old.

Bo likes to know where his Mama is at all times.  During these months I felt more comfortable leaving Bo with Grandma or Mimi to get some errands or an appointment done.  He was always great with them until he saw me and then he wanted Mama.  Bo lights up when Papa walks in the door - every single night - it might be one of the cutest things ever.  Even when Jake runs from him when he gets home or is being a little pill (which doesn't happen that much) Brian can't help but smile when he sees Bo's face.

It will be fun to watch this little sweetie's personality develop over the next several months.  He has a special part of my heart.  It's different with the 2nd baby - Jake is old enough to demand my time when he wants it, Bo is little and for the most part he just sits back until it is his turn. He doesn't take very long afternoon naps, but I treasure the time we have just the two of us.  I know Bo now, he knows his Mama and he knows how to get me good.  He is patient and adorable, he is oh-so-kissable, sometimes I just can't get enough, I want a bite.  I remember so clearly when Jake was 9 months old.  Time needs to slow down, just slow down.  I want to catch my breath and take it all in.  I'm not ready to be done with baby time yet.  We love you sweet Baby Bo.

Bo's adventures (6-9 months):