Ten months old

10 months old

We're into the double digits! This past month Wilder learned to crawl, and it's totally changed our little family! He's getting faster and faster--he's like a speedy turtle marching across the floor. He has found the wall plugs, and specks of leaf, and drawers to open and close, but he's not a tornado into everything (yet). It's been so fun watching him be really mobile, and he's having a blast getting around. Right now he'll crawlcrawlcrawl and stop and double over laaughing… and crawlcrawlcrawl. Just to go somewhere. If we build a stack of blocks or cups, he makes a beeline to knock them over as fast as he can. So fun. He's also still content to sit and read a book(really loves books right now) and to be worn in a carrier while we run errands. We go for walks or running with the stroller just about every day, and I think he likes seeing the world pass him by from his comfy seat.

This month, Wilder:

• Weighs 17.9 lbs. I will say he had his clothes and diaper on for a sick visit at the Dr. on his birthday, so I think he weighed more than he would normally. :-) That's a whole bunch more than last month! I don't know how tall he is to be honest. I tried to measure him and it was around 28 inches.
• He has 5 teeth--a top one is finally poking through!
• He sleeps through the night sometimes, other times waking 1-2 times a night for a snack or to be rocked for a few minutes. He still sleeps 8 pm to 7 am most of the time, and takes two 2 1 hour-90 min naps a day.
• He crawls! Rolls, crawls with military precision, drags a peg leg, practically break dances sometimes. He'll pull up on the coffee table to his knees too.
• Wilder still eats 3 full meals a day. He loves his fruits and veggies. Cutie oranges and strawberries are favorites right now. He's started eating oatmeal too and loving it. He had some pureed zucchini soup this months and stuffed his baby belly full!
• Wilder tries to share his food with us every single meal these days. 
• He says "ohlohlohl" all the time right now. Also mum and dada. Still not totally connected to us though.
• He loves reading books right now. Brown Bear, Brown Bear; Huggy, Kissy; and Sophies Colors are big favorites at the moment.
• Wilder and Pierre are still buddies. Even now that Wilder can crawl at Pierre, he just accepts the "pets" and even let Wilder sit on him the other day. Pierre is worth his (hefty) weight in gold for his patience with the baby.
• We went to Houston for a wedding and College Station for a reunion this month. That's twice he stayed in hotel rooms in a month, and he did so great. He'll even buckle down for naps… sort of. We're still working on that, but he slept at night so much better than past trips.

Here are some more photos!

Nine Months Old

9 months old

Wilder baby is 9 months old today. On September 8 he'll have been outside of me as long as he was inside. Crazy! Wilder baby is a pocket-size little boy these days. He's so much fun. We love seeing him learn about his world and hearing his baby babbling as he tells us about it. He's still snuggly and I'm grateful for those sweet times. I feel like his first birthday is just around the corner.

This month, Wilder:

• Weighs 16.14 lb and is 27.5 inches tall. He hasn't grown much since last month (and last month's numbers were our guesses) but the pediatrician says he's doing fine. He's just a little guy!
• He has four teeth--all on the bottom!
• He's slept through the night almost every night for the last three weeks. From bedtime to when it's time to get up! He'll wake up, readjust and go back to sleep without us needing to go check on him.
• Naptime however, is off. He's taking 1-2 naps a day--the third nap is gone. And the times vary.
• He's rolling all over the place and enjoying being on his tummy. He'll get up on all fours and rock back and forth--he's even crawled a step here and there. He's not officially crawling but he can go from sitting up to rolling to ten feet away in a short amount of time. This is so new--he was just recently unable to move from being seated!
• Wilder eats three meals a day these days. He loves fruit and green veggies the most. He pretty much ate his weight in brussels sprouts the other day!
• He's learned how to click and cluck his tongue, and he loves to do this all the time, especially when you do it to him!
• He plays with Pierre every day. The two are inseparable. Pierre is a saint and puts up with his clumsy petting and kicking all the time.
• Swimming is a new adventure for Wilder. He likes to kick his legs and splash when he's held in the pool, and he'll lay on his back or tummy in the baby pool.
• The tub is also so fun for Wilder. He splashes tidal waves with his hands and feet. I used to have to watch him like a hawk to make sure he didn't topple over. Now I have to watch him to make sure he doesn't face plant on purpose while chasing a toy!

Here are some more photos!

Eight Months Old

8 months old

I can't believe my baby is 8 months old. It seems like only yesterday he was a newborn! He's gaining so many skills and learning so much all the time. I am fascinated watching him observe and digest his world. We spend a lot of time playing with toys, snuggling, talking about things while I wear him running errands or walking, reading books together, petting the cat, splashing in the baby pool, laughing with daddy and eating meals as a family. This is a really sweet time with Wilder. He's so alert and talkative, but he's not totally mobile and he can't say actual words. We are having so much fun with him. My heart swells and I love him more and more every day. He is a precious gift.

This month, Wilder:

• Weighs 16.5 lbs and is 27 inches long. These aren't totally accurate because he didn't have a pediatrician appointment so Zach and I took these measurements ourselves.
• Can roll all the way over multiple times in a row to get to a toy or the cat. He doesn't go anywhere fast, but he'll get there eventually.
• Really good at grabbing things. From pots and full water bottles to grains of quinoa and bits of peach, he's got great dexterity.
• He is learning sounds like Th, d-d-d, k-k-k…. saying things like Hi, Da-da, yeah… but not connected to anything yet. He'll also sing when you sing.
• gives high fives and sometimes kisses
• Takes 2-3 naps a day. He's starting to stay awake for longer in between (about 2-2.5 hours). He goes to bed at 8 and wakes up 1-2 times a night. Wakes up for good around 7 am.
• Still only has two teeth, but he's been teething again!
• can clap his hands, kick his legs and splash water with his hands and legs.
• Favorite foods right now are watermelon and broccoli, followed by peaches.
• still obsessed with drinking water out of his own cup
• he's started nursing really fast. after 5 minutes, he sits up and acts like he's going to climb out of my lap. Not sure where he's going because he can't crawl… but it's funny.
• Stands with assistance and sits up from lying down with a small amount of help.
• Loves catching bubbles outside

Has discovered talking on the phone and FaceTime and he loves it.

Here are some more photos!

Wilder's Baby Dedication

Wink! or blinking at the camera flash :-)

Last weekend, we held a very special ceremony for our little guy. Zach and I dedicated Wilder to God, with the help of our families and our home group from our church. Some churches do this in a service, and others, just with home groups. It was a low-key ceremony. Our friend from our home group, David Kwast, led with a prayer and guided readings, and everyone spoke Bible verses over us. Zach and I pledged to raise Wilder under biblical principles while demonstrating the value of God's Word in our home, and praying for his future salvation and discipleship. Many of our loved ones prayed over Wilder. It was really wonderful to experience the love and support at Wilder's dedication. We concluded with a lunch!