Happy First Birthday!

 My Sweet Baby Brandt,

Today you turn one, and I can’t believe it. People always warned me that time went fast, and although some days feel long, it truly is true, time slips away from us much quicker than we'd like. It feels like just yesterday your daddy and I (and your bro bro and sissy) were meeting you for the first time. You were the first baby to come out looking exactly like I had always pictured my child looking, blonde hair and big blue eyes. From the moment I laid eyes on you, you stole my heart. 

I don't quite remember what life was like before you were here. You fit perfectly in our family, and have added so much joy, fun, and love. You have been a dream baby, the kind of baby that makes mommy want to have more and more. Your smile is contagious, and makes us melt. And your laugh, oh that sweet little laugh, it's the best. Being the third, we thought you would be easy-going, and for the most part you are, but as you have gotten older, you have definitely made a name for yourself, and made sure that we know you are around ;). I suppose you just want your opinion heard. 

Watching your little personality develop has been so much fun. You definitely have a silly side, and love trying to make your sister and brother laugh. You love your siblings. It is SO cute to watch you play with them and I can tell already how much you look up to both of them. And they, well they adore you. You love dada too, probably has something to do with the fact that you slept on him the first three months of your life every night for your last nap, bonded you forever. But at the end of the day you are a mama's boy, and I am totally okay with that.

You are a total boy. You LOVE trucks, trains, anything with wheels really and you drive everything on the ground…SO CUTE! You love playing in the bath or with water and get so excited splashing. You enjoy going for walks (as long as you are worn in the ERGO, although as of late you’ve enjoyed the stroller), reading books, singing songs, the jumper, anything your siblings are playing with, eating, sleeping, blocks, musical instruments and being held. And you're most favorite thing to do is swing at the park on the swing. You get so excited whenever we pull up to the park...so cute! 

 Your favorites at the moment…

Book: Goodnight Moon, Animal Sounds, Brown Bear Brown Bear, I Love You Through and Through

Songs: Jesus Loves Me, ZOOPhonics Alphabet Song, Head Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Food: Sweet Potato, Papaya, Banana, Apple, Spinach, MEAT, Yogurt, Veggie Straws, Asparagus, Spaghetti

Place: The Park or the Bath

Toy: Cars, Trucks, Trains

Words: Mama, Dada, Bath, Wawa, Papa, Nana, Hi, ByeBye, Car, Ball

This month you have grown so much, moving around everywhere and so close to walking! You try so hard, but you still haven't quite figured it out without some help pushing a toy or with a hand to hold. You're almost there baby, you'll get it! I pray each day that you would grow into a man of God. That your little heart would be captivated by the glorious news of Jesus in the gospel. That you would see your sin, and that you would be saddened by it and find hope and forgiveness in the Savior. I pray that you would love Him with ALL your heart and soul and mind. I pray that you would lead by example, and that you would serve him ALL the days of your life! You are a gem to us sweet boy, we love you more than we could ever express. We are so so thankful to the Lord for you, and the last year He entrusted to us with you, we pray for many more! We praise the Lord for all He is doing in and through you, and we rejoice over you baby boy. Happy First Brithday! You're ONE!

All my love, Mommy 

11 Months

This is it, your final month as a baby! How are we here?! I truly feel like you were just a teeny tiny little baby curled up in my arms, but then again, at the same time, I don't quite remember what life was like without you here sweet boy. You are the perfect compliment to our sweet family, and the Lord has been so gracious in allowing us to have you as our third little one. Every day I wonder how I could love you anymore than I already do, and then my heart just continues to grow, and my love for you does too, every single day.

This month you have become so much more of a little boy to me, I look over and see you pulling yourself up on everything, standing, and can't believe how big you are getting. It is bittersweet. I love watching you explore, and learn, grow and follow your big brother and sister around as fast as your little legs will take you; but I can't lie and say I don't miss those days when slept on my chest.

You love to say mama and dada, and work so hard to say other things too. You are quiet the chatterbox when big brother and sister give you a chance to talk!

You still love baths, like LOVE them, and often crawl into the bathroom, stand up on the bath and yell baaaaaa. And the swing, you are OBSESSED! You love being outside, riding in your brother's pickup truck with him (it is the cutest thing in the world, and when we don't let you do that, you let us know how that makes you feel). You enjoy reading books, music/being sung too, playing trucks/cars/trains (anything that has wheels), crawling everywhere, eating, sleeping, balls, jumping in the jumper and on beds, animals, and are quite the mama's boy.

You get around everywhere so quickly and pull yourself up on everything (mighty proud of yourself too). I am so curious to see if you will be walking by your first birthday.

You are so sweet darling boy, a big time cuddler, and you know just how to make mommy and daddy melt over you. We treasure you, more than words could express and we pray fervently that the Lord would save your little soul, young, and that you would be used greatly for His glory. Happy 11 months little man, we can't wait to watch you grow!

10 MONTHS!

TIME SLOW DOWN! I blink and it's the next month, or so it seems. This past month has been full of lots of fun for the little guy as his mobility has enabled him to explore the world around him in all new, fun, and exciting ways. He absolutely loves being able to roam about freely, and makes sure to make life interesting for his us all, he keeps us on our toes.

He is finally starting to eat more solids, maybe it is because his top two teeth are breaking through, or maybe it is because he had a taste of what the good stuff tastes like ;), but I am pretty sure he just likes feeding himself. He is EXTREMELY picky as far as what kinds of foods he will try, just like his sister was...lets hope he grows out of that soon!

He loves playing with trucks, trains, and cars...anything that has wheels, he is so fascinated by them. He loves music too, and all the musical instruments we have (sometimes we even notice him dancing). He likes balls, splashing in the water, being read to, walks, mommy, Christmas lights, Disneyland, swinging, his brother and sister, daddy's tickles, being outside, sleeping, and crawling everywhere.

He recently has started pulling himself up in his crib and on furniture; he is so proud of himself for doing that. And we have gotten a few waves out of him, although he likes to wave to his reflection in the mirror the most.  He even blew kisses for us, once. He babbles all day long making sure he is heard just as much as his very loud and very talkative older siblings.

His little personality is coming out more and more each and every day, and it is so fun to watch and to see how similar he is to both of his siblings and also how very different too. If I had to sum up this month for him it would be curiosity! He is so curious about EVERYTHING, and watching him discover the world and life around him is just so much fun, I love this age!

Sweet Brandt, you are such a blessing to us all, I fall more in love with sweet little you day after day. Praying for your soul, most importantly, and that you would fall deeply in love with Jesus.  Happy 10 months little bean!

9 Months!

Our littlest guy is 9 months old today! Lots has happened in the past month for this little man. He is officially on the move (watch out world, here he comes!), eating solids well, broke in another tooth, and says mama and dada regularly (both of which make us melt).

He is quite the serious observer, reminds us of his big brother. He likes to take it all in, and definitely makes you work for that smile. He is a mama's boy which I LOVE, and gets so excited whenever he sees me or hears my voice. He loves watching his siblings play and now that he is moving he definitely is wanting in on the action (not sure how excited the other two are about this).

His favorite foods are sweet potatoes, bananas, carrots, raspberries, pears, squash, and blackberries. He loves to hold his own food and munch away, which is SO cute to watch. He LOVES drinking his wawa (water) too!

He loves balls, trucks/cars (he is currently obsessed with the wheels on everything...such a boy), bubbles, being outside, swinging at the park, animals, being held, baths, crawling, eating, sleeping, being read to/books, and being sung to.

He had his first visit to Disneyland this month and LOVED it, although he wasn't so sure about the characters, he loved taking it all in!

Can't believe we only have three more months to call him a "baby"...soaking it all up with this little precious babe! Happy 9 months our blue-eyed boy! Mama and Dada adore you, and so does everyone else that meets you. Excited to see all God has in store for your little life!

8 Months

The little guy is 8 months today, and I can't believe it!

This month was unique for this little guy. He finally got his first tooth! Yay teeth! And battled his first illness which we are so thankful the Lord protected him through.

He still isn't mobile, and I'm curious to see if he starts moving towards the middle-end of this month just like Brayden did, at the moment he just rolls around everywhere and gets frustrated that he can't do much more (so we will see!). Life is going to get quite crazy once he does finally figure out how to get where he wants to be.

He still LOVES water play, reading books, being sung to, balls, blocks, watching his siblings, being outside, MOMMY (separation anxiety is in full blown force), putting everything in his mouth, and being held. His perfect sleeping record has been shaken up lately thanks to sickness, and we will see if it ever gets back on track.

He is growing well, eating well (real food too, slowly but surely), and loves drinking water from a straw. He almost has the clapping thing down too ;).

And the greatest highlight of this month, at least for mommy, is the fact that he says "mama" when he wants mommy. Too much for this mommy to handle!

Happy 8 months little Brandt-o-bean, we love you, and can't wait to see how the Lord will continue to work in your life-you are a gift!

7 Months and Counting...

I feel like just yesterday I was posting about this little man turning half a year, and here we are again. Brandt is such a joy to have around. He loves being part of the action with big siblings and get so excited when they include him. Unless he's sleepy, teething or hungry, he is a happy camper. He loves talking, smiling, and observing everything (he is very inquisitive lately).

He still is a good sleeper and as of the last few days has become more okay with eating solids, but we still have a long way to go to make that something we do regularly...he still is taking after Brooklyn in this department. But I'm enjoying the cuddles I get from all the nursing, so I'll take it one day at a time, I know before I know it he will be eating just like the big kids.

He still doesn't have a tooth! And honestly I am shocked, one because he seems to have been teething forever, and two, because both his siblings had multiple teeth at this point in their life. So come on tooth!! Not going to lie though, I adore the toothless grin.

He is no where near crawling (like big brother at this age). He is perfectly content sitting and just hanging out and anytime he's on his tummy he immediately flips to his back. He can push himself backwards but he just gets frustrated and rolls over ;). Speaking of frustration, this kid is again, like his brother, and gets frustrated when toys don't function the way he wants, or when he doesn't get his way when he wants it...so we will see if the easy going personality I thought he had stands true as he matures.

He still loves water (playing in it and drinking it), being outside, books (being read too), being sung too, balls, music, playing head shoulders knees and toes or patty cake, playing "with" the big kids, being tickled, being talked to, playing the piano, his jumper and trees/plants.

He is growing well, still chubby just the way we like it :). We adore this sweet boy and praise the Lord for the 7 months we've had with him. We pray his life would be a sweet offering to the Lord.

Half a Year!

Somehow we have already reached this point...the half way mark to his first birthday! I cannot believe it, the days are long but boy the years truly are short. I feel like I blinked and a half of a year is gone. I cannot imagine life without this precious babe, but at the same time I feel like it was just yesterday that we were welcoming him into this world and becoming a family of 5.

He continues to grow and develop more and more with each passing day. He is in love with his toys right now, grabbing everything in sight and shoving it in his mouth (including things that are not toys too). He loves his sophie the giraffe, balls, peek a boo scarfs, musical toys, water toys that blow air/water into his face, and watching big brother's trains go around and around. He can sit up unassisted, although he still prefers to lay on his back, which is evident by his rolling over to his back the moment you put him on his tummy, so I am sure there isn't going to be any crawling anytime soon ;), and I'm okay with that. He does push himself backwards when on his tummy though and can make a 360 circle kicking those legs, so who knows. He stands very well and I think loves being at the level of his siblings.

He is still a great nurser/eater and a pretty good sleeper despite teething which has been happening FOREVER over here, we are waiting on the tooth or teeth to pop through any moment now. We have enough drool to fill up buckets. Mommy needs to jump on the solid food band wagon soon too, he has sucked on some watermelon and peaches (which he loved), and I actually tried a couple foods with him but he was NOT a fan, so I am curious how he will take to solids.

He loves being outside, the pool, baths, books, music, jumping, being tickled, songs (Head Shoulders Knees and Toes and Jesus Loves Me are his favorites), watching his siblings play (he wants to get in there and play SO badly, he flails his little arms and toes its hilarious), and being held (he is definitely a cuddler).

He chats away, SCREAMS all the time (this kid has a set of lungs), and blows bubbles/raspberries. Still waiting on that mmmmm sound for mama although he does go mmmm for food but not mama, I heard the dddddd sound the other day and of the last couple days he says dadadadadada, so daddy wins again.

I still can't believe he is  6 months old, but it has been a blessed 6 months for sure. So thankful for this little bean, and for how he has filled our hearts with so much joy. He is such a gem, and we thank Jesus for his life and pray for his salvation daily.  Happy half a year baby boy!