me and my little.

Merry Christmas!!

9 Months Old!

My baby boy is actually 9 months old!  NINE MONTHS!!!  omg.  make it stop! 

Took him to the doc for his 9 month appt...so happy to hear he didn't need shots.  He weighed 18 pounds, 7 oz which only brought him to the 21st percentile, but it's ok!  He's small but he makes up for it with personality!  He is so unbelievably adorable, and I know you're not supposed to say that about your own kid, but tough.  He's really stinkin cute.  He has these expressions and sounds that are way too precious... he has a million different "faces" that crack me up.... He has such strong desires and dislikes.... It's just incredible to watch this little guy figure out his world and how he fits into it.  I'm so incredibly blessed. 

He made some strides between month 8 and 9.  He started crawling - although still an army crawl, but very fast.  He goes from crawling to sitting and just in the last week, he started pulling up.  We lowered the crib down and sure enough, the day we did, he fought and fought trying to pull up in the crib.  He couldn't quite do it there, but I'm glad we lowered it.  He still hasn't said an official word yet, but he's blabbers all the time with "sayings" but who knows what those sayings are.  He is still taking 4 bottles/day, 2 naps/day and lots of play/explore time.  He is pretty content to crawl around in the playroom checking everything out and plays really well independently.  He does, however, have constant entertainment in the form of "jackson and ethan stearle" but overall, he's a happy baby boy!  We have been seeing the therapist once a week and finally making some progress with his eating.  He's evaluating around a 6 month eating level, sometimes a bit better, sometimes a bit worse.  He seems to be fond of squash and carrots but very very pureed.  He's still a momma's boy and he better stay that way if Ryan knows what's best for him.  :)

Lookalike Brothers

When Ethan was a baby, everyone kept telling me that he and Jackson looked nothing alike.  I always thought they looked like brothers... And now that C is here, I keep hearing this "He looks so different than the other two.  Jackson and Ethan look alike, but Christian doesn't look a thing like them."  So I think it's all about perspectives, and ultimately, they are all adorable in their own special way.. regardless who they look like!  But here are some fun pics to show off the boys at different stages!

Christian (8 mos), Ethan (9 mos)

 Ethan on left (8 months) and Christian on right (8 months)

Ethan (7 months), Christian (8 months)

Jackson (5 mos), Ethan (6 mos), Christian (7 mos)

Jackson (8 mos), Christian (8 mos)

Jackson (4 mos), Christian (7 mos)

 

Jackson (6 mos), Christian (9 months)

 

Jackson (6 mos), Ethan (6 mos), Christian (8 months)

Christmas Cheer ... The last 6 years.

Since I'm reminiscing...  I thought it would be fun to look back at our Christmas cards!

2008 - Our First Christmas Card...w/ our first boy.  :)

2009

2010

 2011

 

2012

 

2013

Branson w/ the Searcy's!

Jenny and I rented a townhouse in Branson last weekend and our two families joined up for a fun weekend!  We left Christian w/ my mom for the weekend and the big boys each had their BFF for a whole weekend!  Our plan was for Silver Dollar City and the Dixie Stampede, but with freezing temperatures, we opted to skip SDC and do the Dixie Stampede (the kids LOVED it), glow-in-the-dark putt putt, and some relaxing at the townhouse - which included games for Cole and Jackson and hide-and-seek for Ethan and Lily Kate!  We pulled out my old Twister game from when I was a kid, and the kids were a HOOT to watch!  Everyone got along and there were no meltdowns or anything!  Dixie Stampede was A-MAZING and the kids enjoyed the pre-show just as much as the actual show! It was such a perfect weekend!  After the kids went to bed, the grown ups hung out and watched a movie... The next day, we visited this indoor arcade and playground - the kids burned some energy and Cole won the jackpot on one of the games and won 1000 tickets!!  Such fun! Just a relaxing getaway - much needed!  I'm ready for a repeat!

 

I spy...

 Why do I feel like I'm going to see a very similar picture of these two in about 20 years?