Post Office Fun

And because I forgot it on the last post...

Here is Belton on the scale in the post office (after hours, of course)! This is how we have weighed him every month (that we didn't go to the doctor). He is usually pretty squirmy, so it takes a while for the machine to register his weight!

Belton: Eight Months

Our sweet Belton is growing so much!! This month he has started mimicking us when we shake our heads and wave. He will shake heads back and forth with us with a HUGE grin on his face!  Belton also started reaching his arms up to us when he wants to be picked up. It is so sweet!!

Belton is trying SO HARD to figure out crawling right now! He sits and tries to reach for his toys and gets on all fours sometimes. But, that usually results in falling on his tummy and rolling over back and forth. I know he'll figure it out soon (and trust me, I'm perfectly happy having an immobile baby as long as possible!), but he is starting to get grouchy when he just can't get where he wants to go! It's so cute and so sad all at the same time. Any day now, buddy!!

Eight Month Stats

Weight: 21 pounds, 6 ounces

Length: 28.5 inches

2 teeth

 

Baby Belton wears some 9 and some 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. He is just growing and growing. He has grown over an inch this month! 

Belton sleeps very well, from about 9 PM to 8 or 8:30 AM. It is perfect, I don't have to get up ridiculously early, and Matt and I have some time at night before we have to go to sleep! He is starting to maybe settle down on his naps a little bit. He is definitely taking one longer afternoon nap every day, as long as he is being held! I usually put him down for his morning nap though, which generally means he wakes up after 45-50ish minutes.

My favorite part of the whole day is when I go get him out of his crib in the morning. He is so sweet and excited to see me and cuddly! I just love this little guy!

Belton is a great eater! (can you tell??) He usually has 5 bottles a day, and has finally started liking solids! We are feeding him two pureed feedings every day, at this point. We'll see what happens when we switch that up on him! He did try (and love) yogurt yesterday though!

Belton's favorites right now are: waving, shaking his head, fruit, being sung to, playing in his crib before falling asleep, walking (with lots of help), being held/cuddled/worn, jumping, chewing, playing with remotes and phones, watching us get water out of the dispenser on the fridge (he grins in excitement and leans forward to get as CLOSE to the dispenser as he can, cute!), reading, any and all interaction and love from Mom and Dad, playing with new things, rolling, being tickled, bath time, blocks, music and playing peek-a-boo.

Happy Apple!

The Happy Apple is a toy that my siblings and I all played with as kids.

They don't make it anymore, and when I looked it up I learned that it was only made from 1973 to 1984. Belton sure does really enjoy this vintage toy!!

Belton's First Wedding

 Also known as Lauren's wedding! Matt's cousin got married last week and we went to her pretty wedding! Belton enjoyed some time with family!

Aunt Abbi got in lots of Belton time!

 "Hitting" Papaw!

Check out that chunk of a baby drinkin' milk!

She's Ready to Pop!

My sister-in-law Jennifer is going to have a sweet baby girl in a few weeks. Julia, Mom and I threw her a shower with the theme, "She's Ready to Pop!".  We had jalapeno poppers, poppin' pepperoni muffins, fruit pops, chips and dips, petit fours, oreo pops and soda pop! I think it all turned out great!

Some of Jennifer's sisters and her mom filling out the "pop quiz" at the beginning of the shower.

 The favors, pink trash popcorn that with notes that said "Thanks for POP-ping by!".

 Ms. Wilson, my high school choir director and longtime family friend, and my mom talking!

 Jennifer got some super cute pink baby boots for the little girl!

 We also had a bubble gum blowing contest, fun!

 The Hervey Girls

 The LeBoulanger Girls

We had a great time and can't wait to meet the newest little girl!

I Made Something!!

So, I haven't sewn much in my life. I remember making (or helping make, I'm sure) a quilt for baby dolls when I was probably 8 or something, and I made a wall hanging for Julia when she was in college. But since then, pretty much nothing.

My good friend offered to let me borrow her (second) sewing machine for a while, and we had a couple of get togethers where she helped me figure out how to use the machine. Then, I made some baby blocks for my soon-to-be newest niece! After I finished those, I decided to make at least one for Baby Belton!

I love watching him play with something that I made him! So fun!

Trying to Crawl

 Belton is trying to hard to crawl lately. I really think it could happen any day now!

 He sometimes gets himself into this position all by himself!

 And with just a little bit of help, like Dad's hands held in the right place...

 ...he can get up to standing!

 Belton really loves to stand!

Highchair Hatred

 Seriously, my baby hates his highchair.

 We put him in it, put on his bib, and this is what happens!

 Sometimes he calms down a little bit when he has food in his mouth, but not always.

It's Bath Time!!

 Now that Belton sits so well, he has loved sitting up during bath time!

 He plays with the toys, and tries to figure out how to pick them up in the water.

And then, when he is ready to get out, he holds his arms up to Matt and sometimes grabs his fingers and just smiles at him until Matt takes him out. It is so sweet! I love that he is figuring out how to communicate with us more and more!

Mother's Day

 I had a wonderful first Mother's Day last week. I didn't change a single diaper all day long! :-)

 And this sweet little boy was just as sweet as ever!

I am so grateful to be a mother. I am grateful for Belton and the chance I have to raise him and teach him so many things. I pray constantly that I will have the wisdom that I need to be the kind of Mom that Belton needs. 

I am blessed to have a wonderful example, my own Mom! I am starting to learn, just a little bit, what kind of sacrifices she made and work she put into raising all four of us. She raised us in the gospel, and the influence of her righteousness is far-reaching. Thank you for all that you did, and continue to do for me and now my family, Mom!

I am also grateful for Kelly, Matt's step-Mom. The blessings in his life that stem from her influence are incredibly obvious to us both. You know how grateful we both are for you! Thank you for all that you do and are!

Happy (quite late) Mother's Day to you both and all of the other Mother-figures in our lives!