9 Months

Today this cute little guy is 9 months old! At 9 months he has 8 teeth, including his first molar that finally broke through last week. He is crawling everywhere and cruising along the furniture, getting ready to walk. He loves to push cars around on the floor and chew on paper. He is officially weaned (sad day) and eating tons of solid foods. He is such a happy guy and from what we can tell he has an outgoing personality. He isn't afraid to go up to people and get to know them.

We love you Jonas and are so happy you've spent the last 9 months sharing your sweet spirit with us!

He has his 9 month check up tomorrow so I'll post his most recent stats then.

A few weeks ago I was reorganizing the closet in the spare room, when I came across a box of letters that I had kept. In the box, I found a letter from my Grandma Carson written back in 1995. In part, it read:


"Keep on every day in every way getting better and better."

I know it wasn't a coincidence that I happened across this letter at a time when I really needed to hear its message. I am so thankful for this little gift from my Grandma, an encouraging word from the past, made even sweeter in her absence.

Heal the Toe

Randomness from this week...

Jeff came home from work yesterday with an aching back. He asked Carson to walk on his back to massage it. After Carson had been walking on him for a few minutes Jeff asked, "Carson, can you walk heel to toe?" Carson answered, "Yes, I can." and jumped off Jeff's back and went down to his feet and started gently rubbing his daddy's toes and saying in a soft voice, "Heal the toe. Heal the toe."

Here are the boys playing together in the empty train box. Why is this important? Well, it is the first time they have actually played together for more than a few minutes. In fact, I think they played for a solid 45 minutes, with Carson pushing Jonas around in the box. It melts my heart to see them interacting with each other like that!

This week we made a big transition in car seats. Both of the boys were out growing their seats so it was time to upgrade. Carson got a bigger seat, and Jonas inherited Carson's convertible. He'll be rear facing for a few more months, but he still gets to sit more upright, which makes him a happier little traveler. You may be wondering why they are buckled in their seats in my living room...I'd brought Carson's old seat upstairs to wash the cover and clean it out. Then I put them in their new seats so I could get all the straps adjusted.

I kinda got a picture of all of my men together. Ugh, I hate pictures with the flash...

Tonight Jeff got Carson ready for bed, and put him in this outfit.

Doesn't seem too unusual, right?

Those aren't shorts....they are a pair of Jonas' pants!!!! That's why Mommy dresses the boys before we go out in public!

We're Off to Look for Aliens

As you know, we're addicted to books in this family and I love to learn about new books for children. Sometimes its hard to find good books that your kids really enjoy. So I thought I'd share some good reads we've had with the boys lately and let you know what books we are enjoying! Jeff and I have loved this book! Its cute, catchy, and has a twist at the end. Its about this guy and his dog, Wilberforce, and their adventures in outerspace. I've tried to convince Carson that we should name our future dog Wilberforce, but he isn't too convinced. I recommend you read it!

Carson love, love, loves this book! It talks about two of his favorite things: backhoe-loaders and dirt! It has lots of phonemic awareness and alliteration in it. Carson's favorite part of the book: "One wonky washing machine" he'll say that over and over again! We checked out the companion book I Stink when we lived in Rexburg, and we were excited when we happened to find this one at our new library.

Have you heard of Martha Speaks? I ADORE this series! It is also a cartoon on PBS that Carson and I have to watch everyday. Its about this dog that eats alphabet soup and then, amazingly, she can talk. Martha teaches new words on her show (and in her books) everyday.

Weaning

As many of you know, I breastfed Carson for a year. It was a wonderful experience for me (after we overcame some obstacles!) and so I decided that I would breastfeed all of my children for a year. Well, this time around has been a different experience. While Jonas has been an awesome nurser, I haven't been able to produce enough milk. I guess its different with each child. So, anyways, Jonas hasn't been gaining weight very well, in fact, the doctor is very concerned that he has fallen off of his curve. So I've had to make the tough choice to start supplementing him with formula.

Ahg, this has been one of the hardest things for me to do. Believe me, the decision was tough to make and wasn't made because I think breastfeeding is "icky" or "just too much work and stress". I hate giving my son man made food and forgoing my divine design in being able to provide nutrition to my child. I strongly believe my body was created for a reason and that I would be silly not to use it for what it was intended. So we are now going 1/2 and 1/2 and it has been working out great for us. But, as all nursing mothers know, once you start supplementing, you start to lose your supply faster. So I anticipate that when he is 9 months I will probably have to switch him over to formula completely. The thought makes me so sad. But, I've done all I can and 9 months isn't bad, right?

Just thought I'd add that I am using the Playtex Nursing System....love it! Its designed to drain like the mother, so its great for babies that nurse. My Grandpa Carson bought me a whole set of Playtex bottle when I had Carson, and I never had the need to use them. But I kept them around and now I am so glad that I did!

Visit

We had such an awesome weekend in Idaho. My Dad had a hernia surgery Friday morning so we went up to check on him and make sure he was doing well. We were also able to meet our new niece, Brylee. She is so tiny and looks like her mommy! After having an 8 pound baby, a 6 pound baby looks so small, but I have to remember that Carson was that size when he was born!

We are so thankful for all that our families do for us. Each time we go to Idaho we wonder how we will be able to afford it, but we always come home with a car full of stuff. Sometimes I wonder how we can afford NOT to go! Thank you everyone for all that you do! Here is Jonas tearing up the floor at Grandma's! I am a little worried I am going to have another 9 month walker on my hands!!

Camera Shy

I attempted to do some dishes today...and Jonas decided he needed to help.

{Don't ya love that tounge sticking out...its always out}

My Shadow

This handsome little man is his daddy's shadow. He follows him everywhere and adores him. He's been like that ever since he was born. Its true! When he was born and he heard Jeff talk for the first time he turned his head right to him. The nurses were amazed and said they'd never seen a baby react like that to his father's voice. When Carson was a baby I often felt like maybe I wasn't a good mother because he always wanted Jeff. I could never calm him down, it was always his daddy. Life was more than a little frustrating with a baby who always wanted his daddy to hold him.

So imagine my amazement when we are in the hospital after Jonas was born and Jeff can't get him to stop crying. He hands Jonas to me and as soon as I am holding him he calms down and falls asleep on my chest. Yep, that's right, this cute little guy is my shadow.

He follows me everywhere. Honestly, I had to buckle him in his booster seat and give him breakfast, just so I could sit at the computer alone and post this. He's always crawling around after me, following me into every room. If Jeff takes him for awhile and then Jonas sees me, he fusses until he can get to me. I try to do dishes and he's in the kitchen tugging at my legs or standing by the dishwasher tyring to unload what I just put in. I'm trying to load laundry and he is, well, see for yourself...

Ah, it is nice to be loved and adored!