8 Months

It's funny how different you are with second children. With Alec, I was always really excited about him getting older throughout his first year. I couldn't wait for him to sit-up, to crawl, to walk, to talk. With Charlie, I am the complete opposite. I can't believe how fast the months are flying by and it really makes me sad to see how much he is growing up right before our eyes. I really wish I could just press pause, but, I can't, and little Charlie certainly doesn't seem to want me to:) Month 7-
* Charlie pulls up on everything. He then lets go with one hand and balances very precariously before letting go with both hands and wiping out. He falls and bangs his head ALL the time, but he is not all all dettered by his bumps and bruises, and he continues to climb on everything. I am sad to say that I will not be at all surprised if he is taking steps on his own in the next month. * He has started to moan and grunt very loudly at us when he is unhappy. It's actually an awful noise and one that we hope doesn't stay around too long. He is usually moaning/grunting while he eats b/c we don't feed him fast enough. I have found that dumping finger foods onto his tray helps a lot with this b/c he can then shovel food into his mouth on his own while we refill his spoon. * He is a pig. Matt is constantly telling me to stop feeding him b/c he thinks he is eating too much, but according to my doc he will let me know when he is full, which isn't very often. * He had his second ear infection this month (crazy for us b/c Alec has never had one) and he was a very unhappy boy. We were up with him throughout the night for about 4 days in a row, which was really hard on all of us. He is totally back to normal though and back to sleeping through the night, which makes us all happy. * He still loves to babble mama, and baba and squeals, shrieks, laughs and giggles all the time. * He still loves to be held and I am trying to hold him often b/c when he's not in my arms he is getting into some kind of trouble. His favorite things to do are dump over the dog dishes, pull leaves off all the plants and eat them, pull over the fireplace utensils and then bang them around flinging black soot and dust everywhere, find every power cord in the house to pull out and chew on, and pull up on every single thing he sees, specifically the most unstable and dangerous things in the house, like glass candle holders, Alec's toys with wheels, and doors that open. He's a maniac!! * I still get stopped by at least one person a day who tells me how much Charlie looks like his big brother Alec!
* He is still a very content and happy boy. He has started to show a bigger preference for me this month, but he still adores Alec and Matt and is happy to be held by anyone and he will smile and chat away with whoever catches his eye. Happy 8 month birthday our liitle Ruchie Pip, we think you are the coolest and cutest baby ever!






Balancing on both knees is also a new favorite position that results in face plants quite often

I love this b/c he is gazing up at Alec:)

Fall Fun

Thanks for the adorable hat Drammy, it's perfect....

vintage Alec:)

Happy Halloween

We had a busy and fun Halloween weekend! The boys were both darling in their costumes and got to put them on a few different times. We went to a little Halloween party at Alec's gym on Friday afternoon that they got dressed up for, and then Alec had his first school performance this morning, which was done in costume. They also both had a great time trick-or-treating this evening in the neighborhood. Like with the 4th of July, Wheaton does not mess around when it comes to Halloween. I have never seen houses so decorated in all my life, nor I have I ever seen so many trick-or-treaters. It was a fun holiday and we loved spending it with our golfer and little "Chuck."

This one pulls up on everything, which is a bit of a mess right now b/c he wipes out constantly. He had 3 new bruises on his forehead this evening from his antics today.

What mom?

What Charlie did while we carved pumpkins

Alec hard at work on Saturday night


The finished products

At Alec's performance this morning

Alec and all his classmates - preschool musical shows may hands down be the cutest things ever.

Alec did really well, although he was very serious throughout and didn't sing too much, but he did actively participate.





At the end of the show all the kids got introduced and they said what they were dressed up as, Alec was not shy in telling the audience that he was a professional golfer.


More trouble

and doing his favorite thing, which is pulling leaves off all my plants and then eating them


Before heading out to trick-or-treat, with their cute candy sacks from Aunt Kat



The Hawkins joined us for trick-or-treating, so Alec got to hunt for candy with Jimi


and Charlie sported the official Charlie Brown hair-do for our evening out in the neighborhood.

Sneak Peek

The boys debuted their costumes last night for the Halloween party at the community center. We skipped the costume pageant this year since Alec already has a trophy, but we still went to play games and do some trick-or-treating. The boys looked adorable, and Alec received endless complements on his costume. He and his buddy Sam, who was dressed up as Jimi Hendrix - at his own request, got their picture taken by a staff member and asked if it could published on the park center website. They looked adorable. Halloween is SO fun with little kids. Behold - Charlie as Charlie Brown, and Alec as a professional golfer. A huge thanks to Retta for sewing Alec's knickers:)

A few more shots with the pumpkins, which continue to be an endless source of entertainment for both boys.



His real golf clubs were a heck of an addition!



Charlie and snoopy



How cute are they?

Alec and Sam - Sam kept going around telling everyone all night that he was Jimi, pretty funny.

Ryann and Charlie

I was a little doubtful about bringing the golf clubs, but Alec loved having them and wore them all night.

Veolia was there too, so Alec got to jump in the trash truck.

Just a few hilarious shots - Alec was grunting in the family room this evening while I was in the kitchen. This is what I found. He told me that the pumpkins wanted to spend the night here.