Isaac [7 months]

Hello there sweet Isaac...

7 months old and on the go already!

You sit very well, although can't quite master that position on your own from being on your belly. You are crawling of sorts. The traditional "crawl" is intermixed with your own scoot-scoot-push. Regardless, you get around, and you seem to be more interested in everything that is NOT placed in front of you to distract you. You like floor vents/registers, crumbs of any kind, the leg rungs on bar stools, shoes, cords...pretty much anything that is disgustingly covered in germs or is dangerous you are a big fan of! So, the baby gates are up, most doors remain closed, and I am constantly trying to pick up the little things that get dropped within your vicinity. 

You are often greeted by your brothers. Noah and Jonah in particular are eager to go "talk to you" in the morning or when they hear you waking up from your nap. Noah has been calling you "mama baby" lately, which I have no idea where he came up with that name. But he says it all airy, "mmaaammma bbabbbbby, how are you??" I tell him it actually sounds kind of creepy, but neither he or you seem to mind, so I guess for now its alright. Jonah still is very fond of you, checks on your every move and lets me know if its ok or not. If he thinks it is unsafe, he will physically try and block you or simply snatch the item away from you.

You enjoy their presence most of the time. It doesn't take much to entertain you...so these goofballs climbing in your bed while you were lying in it didn't seem to bother you at all! You will often squeal and talk LOUDLY with delight!

You are usually a VERY happy baby. I can know you are tired or hungry if you get fussy. The exception to this has been teething. Those ol' teeth aren't very nice and you've needed extra holding/snuggling for that. In the evening, its Daddy that can often get you to go to sleep if Mama has tried (and all you think you can do is eat from me...which makes your belly just hurt if you're already full!). Its always so cute to see you lay on Daddy's chest...I'll tell him how jealous I am, because there's just nothing quite like a baby lying on you sleeping like that.

That warning on your shirt holds true...

you are not afraid to chomp down on anything and everything with those ol' teeth. Your teething game is strong, and you have 4 teeth already! There really is no reason you need all those teeth yet, so you could probably slow down in that area. But you do give the sweetest big smile ever!

As far as food goes, we are starting to feed you "food" twice a day, and you haven't really refused anything..which is nice! You nurse about 3-4 times during the day...and Lord have mercy, I don't even know how many times you wake up and I feed you to easily help you back to sleep at night. It happens..that's what I know. If by 2 years old you're still getting up this frequent we'll get serious. But until then, I figure you will probably figure it out at some point just like your brothers.

You are aware of where Mama is. It is sweet, you light up if I walk in a room, and your head is on a swivel if I'm not the one holding you. You will reach for me if I'm near you (you will do this somewhat for Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa as well).

 Your hair is starting to lay down! It is light brown/dark blonde with a tint of strawberry blonde like red sometimes. Your eyes are still bright and blue. I would think you'd keep your eye color, but I bet your hair will continue to get darker like your brothers. You have just grown like crazy. I don't know how much you weigh (more than last month!)..more than 19#. But its just nuts how long you are, as you are FILLING out 12-18 month clothes! And you and Jonah wear the same size 4 diapers..also craziness!

These cuties...

in the evening especially, everyone is a fan of either "holding or talking to or giving kisses" to you. You like playing "peek-a-boo", it gets an immediate smile every time. You are also ticklish...even when I clean you off with the washcloth you will giggle. You grab and swat with those little chubby hands..and you're quick! I think every time I've attempted to wear a necklace I have to take it off as you will gladly pull/grab it hard enough to nearly remove it yourself.

You like to be kissed on, "got", and playing "this is the way the Lady goes" on Grandpa's knee. You have also discovered there is a super cute baby that looks at you when you look in the mirror...its so cute. You get so excited to see 'that baby'!

Celebrating Christian [8 years old]

Our oldest boy is EIGHT! Each year, the number makes it seem that much harder that it has been that long ago that we were in the hospital meeting our first baby boy! But, here we are, and he is EIGHT and great!

We had a couple of celebrations... the first with the Sweigart family.

 He chose haystacks..and a "cookie" cake for dessert.

A big highlight was getting this ripstick...it certainly looks hard to me!!

The Hershberger family came the following Sunday evening.

We had spaghetti and a rice krispie "cake" for dessert.

 He got more Keva planks..which he promptly put to use with Grandpa H in building a very cool creation. And then, I recorded the knocking down the creation in slow motion, which I'm pretty sure he considers equally as exciting to watch.

Isaac was his happy little self, and really liked Great Grandpa H's hearing device.

On his actual birthday, we took Christian and Noah to see Cars 3. That evening, we had supper (haystacks...again!) and then opened our family's gifts to him...and went to Grandma and Grandpa's for angel food cake! His brothers got him a nerf gun that was PRETTY exciting...something else to use to knock down those awesome creations!

Happy Happy Birthday Christian....may #8 be GREAT!

Christian [Eight Years]

Christian..eight years old.

I feel like you are in the middle of a big growth spurt. You have grown so much over the summer, getting tall and solid...like a grown boy! There is a much shorter list of foods that you don't care for. It has become so much more of an encouragement to endure your younger brothers picky ways as it doesn't feel like it was that long ago that you were the KING of picky eating. Some of your favorite foods; haystacks, pizza, hamburgers (even with pickles and mustard sometimes!), spaghetti, cucumbers, vanilla yogurt, watermelon, cantaloupe, pancakes, bacon, chicken/wild rice soup, and ICE CREAM is hands down your favorite dessert. 

Oh you like to have fun. You love to play outside or build with blocks of some form inside. You also like to draw, and man, you are good at it! You like school, you thoroughly enjoy learning and reading...and are very social (maybe a bit too much!). You read very well, and really like to read chapter books. 

 You like to build, always thinking up how things are made or creating something. You like when Daddy lets you make things with his scraps. You also like making towers or creations with blocks, cups, etc...and then using a nerf gun to make them all fall. Often when you build inside, you listen to Adventures in Odyssey. You like to have space to yourself, especially if your brothers are VERY curious what you're up to. 

You can be so funny. You had put Noah's glasses on here. And when you get going, your laugh is still one of the most contagious laughs I know. It is so full of happiness. 

You are a good big brother. Its not always an easy job for you, but you do such a good job. You read to them, give them a "hey buddy", hold their hands when we get out of the car, help put their shoes on, and encourage them at the supper table to try their food. They sure do bother you plenty..but when you shine in that big brother role, it makes my mama heart so proud.

Christian, you are an amazing young boy. You have a crazy good memory, always thinking, love being around others, and have opinions regarding most everything. We love you so much, and look forward to seeing how GREAT this #8 year will be!