10 months with Talmage

Favorite Things:  Teasing your sister. Amen. So help us. Alaska is going through a puzzle phase right now and you are smack-dab in the middle, all the time.  Before she can get her things to the table she hollers at you, "Talmage! No!" and you bounce up and down like crazy, enjoying the distress as if it were your own personal soundtrack, but you don't touch when she hollers. This gives me hope. That you will know your boundaries.

Eating: You seemed to choke really easily back when you were 6 months and I have been super timid ever since then to give you food that's not baby food.  I am just now getting brave enough to give you regular food, but cut up small. The weather has been warmer so you've voluntarily been drinking more water. Thank goodness. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to be our juice baby.

Favorite Foods: Lovin' on the pasta and teddy grahams. Graham crackers are too messy for me right now, they just crumble all over the place.  But the teddy grahams are already small enough they seem to contain themselves better to your highchair and you love them.

Special Talents:  You got up on all 4s and are crawling now. I am now holding my breath for you to start walking. 27 pounds is getting heavier and heavier and I know you know it because instead of carrying you up-right anymore, I am carrying you more like a football, tucked under my arm.

Favorite Pastime:  Eating.  You could eat all day.  When you are in the highchair and I bring food near you, you kick your legs uber-fast and the anticipation of the moment pulsates through your whole body.

Sleep:  7:30 is bedtime so you can be asleep by 8:15 when Alaska is finally headed that way.  You scream and cry for a good 20-30 minutes before settling down.  Ever since we moved you and Alaska into the same room you've had a harder time with bedtime.  Adjustments.

Crying:  At night when you don't want to go to sleep.  You know everyone is still partying and don't want to give it up. You will also come find me and whimper while climbing up my leg when you are hungry or tired.  It's nice that we've got a language for those two things because often enough I forget that 9:00 is here and you need a nap or 12:00 is here and you need some lunch.

Dislikes: Sweet one - there is hardly anything you don't like. You are our mild, sensitive one.

My Favorite Part: When I come to pick you up after being away at school all day you come crawling over to greet me. Miss you, too, Bubby.

9 months with Talmage

Favorite Things: Watching Alaska play around you.

Special Talent:  Crawling and then sitting up.

Favorite Pastime:  Army crawling laps around the house.  You want to explore everything and while you spend a lot of time chasing after your sister, you also spend a good amount of time crawling under and around the table, down the hall and on into Alaska's bedroom if the door happens to be open.  She has learned quickly that if she wants you to stay out of her stuff she needs to have her door closed.

NickNames:  T-Man and Bubby.

Sleep:  Up at 7, down at 8.  A couple naps, one at 9 am and another around 1 pm.

Eating: You are all switched to cereal and a baby food.  I give you 4 oz of formula in a sippy cup when you are all done. 

Crying:  At night when bed time rolls around. You don't cry until I have you in bed.  You would be happy to stay up until midnight, but as soon as I get you in bed you break into all kinds of crying.  

Dislikes:  People being too close.  You are always backing up to get a better look at faces.

My favorite part:  Your slobbery kisses.  When I am kissing on you, you will often turn on me and open your mouth wide for a taste of my cheek and chin.