Callen: 11 months

Callen's stats:

Height: 

Weight: 20 lbs

Takes two 1.5-2 hour naps a day

Sleeps 12 hours at night

Callen at 11 months:

Our cute boy is a bundle of energy now!!!  He NEVER stops moving. 

He is a pro crawler and gets any & everywhere!

He loooooves exploring every single bit of our house, and finds all sorts of stuff to show for it!

He pulls himself up to stand on everything, now.  If an item is taller than him, it's fair game.

Tries to walk by pushing objects around: chairs, stools, ride on cars, benches, etc.
He has strange obsessions with random objects like stools (this one and another one), the vacuum, microwave, etc. It's so funny.

Got his top two front teeth.  He is looking so big now with 4 teeth!

He eats AMAZING. He absolutely loves finger foods and has almost given up baby food. He's just not interested in it anymore.

He's done nursing.  We went to the bottle because he was pretty much starting to wean himself (by not being interested) but we kept it up for a little bit longer. He is officially only on bottles now. A bittersweet moment for this mama.

He's fascinated with faces and loves to touch/scratch/pinch/pat them.

Started making the 'kissing' noise. It's so hilarious and oh so sweet.

He started clicking his tongue. So fun when they start discovering their sound effects!

He started saying Mama. Best day. I love it!

He throws everything. EVERYthing. 

Really likes being outside

He stood alone for the first time. He hasn't done it a lot since, but sometimes he'll slowly let go of what he's holding onto and try to balance.

Dear Callen,

This has been a month of growth. You are soaking in every thing you can and leaving baby-hood behind. I am a little mixed on how I feel about this...I just want you to stay my sweet little baby!  But it makes you so  happy and excited that I can't be sad for long. Your enthusiasm for every bit of life is catching and we love that about you. I love the way your face lights up when you see any one of us. I love the way you touch my face as I give you a bottle and I love the sweet kissing noises you make when you lean in to plant a big, slobbery, wet kiss on me.  You like to move so much that snuggles are hard to come by. But oh, when they do come, we are all the more ready to treasure it!  

You, my little Callen, are a determined little man. That is going to help you so much in life.  We are so glad we're along for the ride.

We love you,

Mommy, Daddy, & the bros.

Callen: 10 months

Callen's Stats:

Height:  29 inches

Weight: 18 lbs 6 oz

Takes 2- 1.5-2 hour naps 

Sleeps 12 hours at night

Callen at 10 months:

This little guy  finally really crawling and he LOOOVES it! He explores everywhere!

He got his first 2 teeth this month- the bottom front. SO CUTE!

Top teeth are trying to come in but haven't popped through just yet

Still sucks on his two fingers and must have his monkey blanket to go to sleep

He's super super wiggly during diaper changes now and he hates them! Kinda tricky, but good thing he's cute!

He love love loves singing time and stories, especially stories that have real pictures in them.

Such a happy little ham! He makes us smile constantly!

He's pretty obsessed with the stairs. He has attempted to climb them and has gotten up a couple but he's still too scared to do it often, which is fine with me!

He started making this funny growling noise when hes really excited for his food.  He loves to eat (still doing baby foods).

Sat in a cart for the first time this month. He liked it okay, but he's definitely still happier in his carseat while I shop.

He pulled himself up to standing for the first time! And now he's hooked, it's the new 'cool' thing to do. Which means he can reach a lot more, UH OH!

He started drinking from a bottle.  He still nurses his morning and night feeding and then gets formula bottles in the day. He's doing great and I am SO happy he's doing so well with it. West loves to feed him when Cal lets him.

Dear Callen

This month has been another perfect one with you. Every stage, every new development is just a joy to watch and be a part of. Your brothers have so much fun with you and you adore each of them. They all have such unique and special relationships with you. How lucky you all are to have each other.  

You are such a sweet and happy baby. We love all of your exploring and every bit of laughter and silliness you bring to our family. 

We love you, little man!

Love, 

Mom, Dad, and the bros.

Callen: 9 months!

Callen's Stats:

Height:  29 inches

Weight: 18 lbs 6 oz

Takes 2- 1.5-2 hour naps 

Sleeps 12 hours at night

Callen at 9 months:

This has been a big month for our adorable little man! 

He is sitting on his own now and he LOVES it.  

He also started crawling!!!  YAY!  He still prefers to get in the plank position, then he tries to 'walk' forward like that, then he'll drop to all fours and take a few steps. He's still faster at the army crawl, though, so he does that a lot. Or he does a funny combination of the two that includes these adorable little scoots to get where he wants. He is really getting around, though, so whatever works!

He's kind of over baby toys and just loves to get into anything and everything.

His favorite thing to find is paper. That is the coolest stuff, for some reason.

He has a couple weird obsessions:  the vacuum, the microwave, and the ironing board. 

If he sees the vacuum or the microwave he FREAKS out and wiggles his body and makes a lot of noise until you take him over to them. Then he kind of just looks at them and hits them. Weird, yes. And pretty darn funny!

He is our first kid to have an allergy to something...  I kind of noticed his mouth was a little red around it one day after eating, but I just thought it was from dry skin. Then he ate yogurt bites a few days later and his poor face broke out in a horrible rash.  SO...we are holding off on anything with dairy in it for awhile.  Poor guy was still so smiley even though this couldn't have been comfortable:

He loves to be in the same room with us and to babble, babble away.  He is very vocal and lets us know when he wants something!

He LOOOVES baths still.  

He adores his brothers and is so good to let them hold him, cuddle him, and pretty much drive him bonkers!

He chews on everything and is so close to getting a bunch of teeth!

We've still kept him on mostly baby foods, which he loves. He's such a great little eater!

He is a wiggle wiggle wiggle worm.  Constantly moving EVERYWHERE!

Still loves books (reading and chewing on them), balls, and toys that make noise!

Dear sweet Callen,

You are growing, growing, growing into this amazing little person that we just can't get enough of!  Your smile lights up the room and you love to flash it to anyone who looks your way.  Your happy, sweet personality is so contagious and you help to make our home a brighter place. You are such a little ball of energy and are happiest when you are exploring every inch of our house.  We love you to pieces our little Cal. You make our days better because you are here.

Love lots,

Mom, Dad, & the bros

Ryder's Binky

Well, we finally decided that Ryder was getting old enough to be done with the binky.

I was nervous and a little sad because it means he's growing up! but we set the day and did it before I could change my mind!

Last moments with the binky. ;) 

He decorated the envelope for the Binky Fairy and put all of them inside. 

Then we set them on the porch for the Binky Fairy to take away. I don't think he really 'got' that they would never come back!

We waited for a little bit and then checked on the porch to see what she left for him!

He is a Curious George enthusiast, so we figured he'd love to have a new snuggle buddy to sleep with. He also got the movie & a book to read before bed.  

He was pretty excited:

We'll see how this goes!!

Update- 1 month later

Going to bed that night was pretty easy. He was so excited to bring George with him.  He did keep asking for his binky but I explained that it was gone and he gets George instead since he is a big boy now. His little face was so sad...but he was strong and just squeezed George extra tight!   He slept really great...until about 5:30. That's when he usually wakes up and I come sing him a song and give him his binky and he falls back asleep until 7ish. For a few weeks we had  a rough adjustment of him waking up early and not going back to sleep. But a month later and he is doing great.  For the first week he would get really sad and ask for his binky, but he was always so cute about it when I told him it was gone. 

We are so proud of our Ryder-guy!!

Callen: 8 months old!

Callen's Stats:

Height:  28 inches

Weight:  18 lbs

Takes 2- 1.5-2 hour naps most days and sometimes a 3rd. 

Sleeps 12 hours at night

Callen at 8 months

This little man is MOVING!  He still rolls around, but he loves his tummy and has started army crawling/scooting to get where he wants.  He is pretty fast so we have to watch EVERYTHING on the floor now and vacuum every day to keep stuff out of his mouth!  

He chews on everything.  (he discovered his toes and those are a favorite!)

Sucks on his two fingers when he's tired or going to sleep.

Has started taking baths with brothers in the big tub.  I have to hold onto him the entire time since he's not sitting on his own, yet, but he loooves it so it's worth it.

Because he loves being on his tummy so much, I kind of forgot to sit him up often, so he's not sitting on his own yet. We're working on it and he's getting close!

Has tried a lot more foods. He started not liking regular baby food because he just wants finger foods he can feed himself. We've had  a little trouble getting his body to like the foods, though, (pooping has been hard :( poor guy) so we've been going slow with it and have gotten him to eat more runny baby fruits and veggies.

Celebrated his first Christmas!!  Grandpa Dan, Nonny Kare, Uncle Shawn & Uncle Mckenon celebrated with us.  It was so fun to have this sweet, smiley guy for the holidays. He just makes everyone happy!

He loved the Christmas tree and lights and was, of course, fascinated with the ornaments.

He talks and babbles all the time. 

He loves to do this trick where Jeff holds him up by having Callen stand in his hand.  He thinks he's super cool when and gets really excited!

Likes being read books with babies in the pictures.

He loves to jump in his bouncer.  

He really likes music and toys that make music.

He is his brothers biggest fan! The boys can always get him to laugh and smile.

Started giving the sweetest, slobberiest, very best baby kisses.

Likes to watch baby signing time.

Doesn't cry when he wakes up. At all. So we usually just have to keep checking on him every 10-15 minutes around the time he usually wakes up. Because we won't hear him at all. IF he does start crying, it means he's been awake in there for awhile.  Oh this boy is so sweet and content!

Dear Callen,

Your personality is really starting to shine through. You are so interested and curious about everything around you and you just love all of us. You love being in the middle of everything and are happy just to have us near. You definitely like being held and snuggled, also. You are still so sweet and happy and smiley. Truly, much of the joy and peace in our home comes from you.  You love your time with me in the evenings and we just talk and laugh and make silly faces at each other. You like to scrunch up your nose and sniff in and out, it's so funny!  We have so much fun with you, every single day.

You have our hearts, sweet boy, completely.

Love you,

Mom, Dad, and the bros.

Callen: 7 months

Callen's Stats

Height: 28inches

Weight: 18+ lbs

Takes 2-3 naps a day, each 1-2 hours long.

Sleeps 12 hours at night

Callen at 7 months:

He learned to roll from his tummy to his back. 

He loves being on his tummy and pushes himself in circles to get to all of his toys.

Loves playing wtih toys and chewing on everything

Loves bathtime and splashing. He gets so excited when he hears the water running for the bath!

He tried food for the first time! So far he loves rice cereal, oatmeal, applesauce, and pears. Not a huge fan of sweet potatoes.

He celebrated his first thanksgiving and got to spend time with Grandma & Grandpa D. He also met Uncle Johnny & Aunt Rachel. 

Still babbles constantly and smiles all the time.

Laughs and giggles for his brothers and lets them hold him.

 He absolutelely LOVES his crib and nap time.  He has a snuggle blankie that he loves and MUST have when he goes to sleep. It's this cute little monkey attached to a blanket.

He sucks his two fingers when he sleeps or is tired.

He is so content and happy and just the sweetest boy!

Dear Callen,

This month we have been able to reflect on those things that we are most grateful for. You are definitely one of those blessings. We feel so lucky and blessed  and grateful that our Heavenly Father sent  you to our  home.  Your smiles and  happy personality are a joy in our home and help to bring out the best in all of us.

You are learning and growing so quickly and we truly  feel it in honor to be a part of that.  

We love you, our beautiful, sweet littlest man.

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, & the bros

Callen: 6 months

Wow! 6 months have flown by.  Here's our little guy's growth month by month:

Happy half-birthday little man!!!

Oh this boy is such a joy- we all just absolutely adore him!  

It is so fun to see his fun personality emerge.

Callen's stats:

Height: 27 inches

Weight: 17 lbs 2 oz. 

 (officially our chunkiest baby- we LOVE those rolls!!!)

Takes 3 naps/day. Each 1-2 hours long

Sleeps 12ish hours straight through the night. (awesome!)

Solely breastfeeding- about to start solids

Callen at 6 months:

LOVES babbling. He talks to us constantly and gives the best, hugest grins.

He's been rolling from his back to his tummy, but he hated being on his tummy. This month he started really enjoying being there and is pushing himself up with his arms. He also  wiggles around to try to get the toys he wants. So cute.

He loves jumping in the bouncer.

Met his Aunt Amanda for the first time.

He is such a cuddle bug and loves to be held and sung to.

Enjoys massage/lotion time at nights.

One of his most awesome accomplishments is going to bed ...we NEVER had to do a 'cry it out' time.  We just put him to bed around 8ish and we don't hear a peep until morning!

Is such a trooper with his bros.  He really lets them hug and love on him without getting too fussy.

Is super ticklish on his tummy, chest, & neck.

Loves snuggling with his monkey blankie to go to sleep.

He is such a happy, content baby. He really just loves being around all of us and watching the happenings!!

Dear Callen,

We love you so much, our sweet boy. You are the calm in our day and definitely a joy to all of us.  

You light up the minute you see any of us and give us the best smiles.

You laugh at your brothers and love to be around them. We got out the bouncer this month for you.. you weren't quite sure what to think at first, but now you are a pro. You love turning yourself around in it to see the different toys and bouncing as high as you can!  And oh the sound of your laugh- it is pure happiness!  If any of your brothers are grumpy, I just have to ask if they want to hold you and the grumpies melt away. They answer an enthusiastic YES and race to the couch to hold you in their arms. You hold that magic, my sweet sweet boy. You make our days brighter and better. We are so glad you are part of our family.

Love love love you, little man.

Love, 

Mommy, Daddy, & the bros.