Everett Orion // You're One!

*warning: picture overload ahead*

You are one year old. You are a toddler, no longer an infant.

When? .... How? .... What??


That went so fast. It flew. Every single month just whooosh! Gone in an instant.

You're the brightest, funniest, chunkiest little man. And we love you so.

And you love cake. Oh boy, do you ever love cake. (see for yourself ---->)

The love that you and Peyton have for each other just melts my mama heart. Melts it right into a big puddle of mush on every single floor of this house.

But, I suppose there is a thing as too much cake (who knew, right?)...

My goodness, sweet boy, I'm fearful of closing my eyes even to blink anymore. Before I know it, you'll be 5... and then 13... and then 18...

Time, you sure are tricky. Be good to us.
Happy 1 year, Everett Orion.
Mama loves you.

xo,

Sara

TEN months // Everett Orion

For some reason, 10 seems like a much scarier number. Maybe it's the double digits that are giving me heart palpitations? Maybe it's the new year that makes it feel totally different than last month? Or maybe it's simply the fact that you are going to be ONE YEAR OLD in 2 months! Gosh sir. You are growing like a weed. These years are surely getting shorter and shorter the older that I get.

Stats| I have no clue how long you are! Miraculously, you have maintained your weight from last month to this month. At your doctor appointment (for a terrible cough and runny nose) last week, you were around 24.6 lbs - Though, I was sure you were pushing 30. ;) Your hair is still the same: wiry, dark blonde, not growing. I am waiting, wishing, and hoping for the curls to come.

Nicknames| Rhett, Stinky boy, Baby man, Sweet man, Sweet boy, Sass-a-man and Honey man.

Eats| Nothing new to report here. All of the same foods. Santa did bring you a new sippy cup in your stocking, though! I am certain that by this age, Peyton was holding her own baba but you seem to be pretty content just letting us take care of that for you. ;)

^^"You take one more picture, Ma, and I'm gonna bop you in the nose!"^^

Sleep| You've transitioned to a bed time of about 7:30-7:45 instead of the sometimes 8:45 you used to wait until. Most of the time you sleep until around 7am though I think that you make wake up sooner than that some days, but you don't really complain and demand that someone come in to pick you up. You're pretty content just playing and rolling around in your crib until one of us comes in to get you.

Clothes and Diapers| Still squeezing into 12 month items, though I can tell they're getting snug as well. As far as diapers, you're hanging on to the size 4s... but I think the 5s are probably right around the corner for us.

Loves| To chew. On everything. And everyone. // Chewing leads to eating, which you also love to do. You could eat just about anything, I am certain. // Moving in general. Whether it's swinging your arms around, crawling like a mad man, or standing up while holding on to anything that supports you. // Still trying to take your shoes or socks off. Santa brought you shoes for Christmas and you just weren't a fan of them. // Any person that you meet. You are the happiest and the smile-iest baby in the whole entire universe. // Being nakie! As evidenced by this next photo...

Dislikes|  Being sick, which you have been for the past 2 weeks. Your first ear infection (and Mama's!) and hopefully our last. // This correlates with hating having your boogies wiped off and sucked out of your nose. // When mama tries to do anything but hold you or pay attention to you. // HATS. No sir, you are not a hat-wearing baby. You even got an adorable fox beanie for Christmas that straps on to your head so you can't rip it off as easily... but you still take it off the moment I get you out to the car. // Still not a big fan of diapie changes. There is the rare occasion where you are distracted by something else and I can manage to get through it without much of a hassle. // Clipping your nails. Fingers or toes, does not matter because regardless you are not a fan.

Milestones| The gibberish continues and I am so excited to witness your little mind learning new things. // Still no solo walking. In fact, you even rarely like to walk with us helping you. You would much rather crawl. // You can wave "hello", give "high fives", and shake your head "no"... but it's all on your own terms. // You're also becoming an expert on "giving kisses" and "hugs". Which totally melts my mama heart. // Dada bought you a toothbrush yesterday and so far, you don't like it one bit! But I can not believe you're old enough to need a toothbrush! Goodness.

^^ those tiny, chubby fingers get me every time^^

Events| Y'all, this mudroom still isn't done. I sure hope by next month we can check that project off of our to-do list. // We celebrated your first Christmas! And boy was it magical. As much as I thought you would be all about ripping the wrapping paper apart, you proved me wrong and really didn't pay it any attention. There are a few toys that you absolutely love and I am so glad Santa brought them for you. It was absolutely wonderful being able to celebrate the morning with your sister here with us and being able to sip my coffee while watching the two of you dive in to the chaos that is Christmas morning, I was in heaven. // We also took a unexpected trip to West Virginia to visit Dada's family who lives there. The unfortunate part of that visit was the reason that it initiated; your Great Pap passed away on December 30th. The silver lining is that he went on his own terms, before having to be taken off of the machines that were keeping him alive, and he was completely surrounded by his family (including you, your sister, me and Dad). // We rang in the new year and were reminded that every year seems shorter than the last and family is the most important aspect of life.

^^This picture will for sure be pulled out to show all future girlfriends, ha!^^

^^ "MOMMMM, I'm done (D. O. N. E!) with pictures!" ^^

Can't wait to see what month 11 holds for you, sweet boy!

xo,

Sara

9 months || Everett Orion

9 months in, 9 months out! From here on out you'll have been outside of my belly longer than you were in it and that just makes me sad. I can't believe you're already N I N E  whole months old. Where does the time go?  Just... where? Before I know it, I'm gonna turn around and you'll be nine YEARS old. But, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

^^ do you spy those two tiny front teeth? ^^

Length| So tall! I don't have an exact height/length for you right now. I'll get ya at your 10 month mark, promise.

Weight| About 25lbs. Super chunk. I mean, you're just the most scrumptious butterball I've ever seen.

Hair| Nothing new or crazy to report. Your hair is still growing steadily. It's definitely wiry like your Dadda's, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some sweet baby curls in your future!

Eyes| So bright and happy, as always.

^^ what it's like trying to take pictures of you nowadays :P ^^

Nicknames| Rhett, Stinky man, Honey man, Little man, you get the picture ;)

Eats| Puffs, puffs, and more puffs. Cheese. All sorts of baby foods. You seem to really like fruit, but you are honestly willing to eat just about anything. Which is awesome! Pickles and lemons don't even phase you. Also to be noted, we were at the store this weekend and I realized that we only have a few more months of buying formula - thank goodness!

Sleep| Keep up the awesome sleeping habits, sweet man! You are down for the count anywhere between 7:30 and 8:30 (sometimes 8:45ish if you're feeling rambunctious). You nap fairly regularly. I can almost always count on you to fall asleep on the ride home from GiGi's around 3ish for a few minutes. Though, your sister has been giving us quite the run for our money when it comes to bedtime. Ever since she got this GI bug a few weeks ago, shes been waking up in the middle of the night 1-2 times a night just crying and calling for us. Nothing is ever really wrong, but she just wants us to come comfort her and stay with her. Poor girl. I am just thankful that you aren't both up and calling for us all hours of the night. #knockonwood

Clothes| I'd say that we're limited to 12-18 month clothes. It's so crazy to think that you once fit into a newborn onesie... I mean, how were you ever that small when you're so big now?!

Diapers| Size 4, still. And back to the pampers. You potty trained yet?

^^ selfie? ^^

^^ I luuuuuurve your chunky legs, sir ^^

Loves| Mom, Dad, Sister, EVERYONE. // Everything that we talked about last month (which is basically everything in the world). // Being silly and laughing. // Crawling ALL OVER the place so super fast and getting into anything and everything. Especially when you know one of us is chasing after you and you think you're escaping. ;) // When we get ready to go out to the bus stop when Peyton comes home; I swear you know what's happening and that you soon get to see her. // Eating! Good gravy, to you love to eat. // Being naked. If it wasn't for the fact that you would make a huge mess without a diaper on, I am 100% certain you would be pleased as punch to roam the house sans-diaper. // The Christmas tree. I've caught you quite a few times trying to pull off some ornaments or just grab a hold of the branches. // Taking off your shoes and socks, especially in the car. // Trying to rip out my hair on the daily, haha.

Dislikes| Everything that I said last month! Ha. Which included: Being tired but not wanting to go to bed. // Not being held when you're cranky. Or tired. Or when you just want to be held. // Still not a fan of Mama trying to get your boogies out of your nose. Don't think that will ever change. // Having your diaper changed! Oh my word, has this gotten so difficult. You want nothing to do with diapie changes anymore. The second we lay you down on the changing pad, you fuss and try to flip yourself over immediately! Sometimes it takes two people just to keep you belly-up for the single minute it takes to get a new diaper on you. // The same goes for changing your clothes. Such. A. Hassle! // Being confined to your jumper or your walker for any period of time, unless you're in a really happy mood.

Milestones| You can say Mama now! and all sorts of other gibberish including but not limited to: rara, mama, dabama, and ahhhhhbda. // You can stand up all on your own for a handful of seconds and I am sure that you will be walking running around in no time flat. // You are becoming even more interested in eating whatever food we are eating and you even go as far as to try to drink out of my glass with me whenever I take a sip of something. // Along the same lines, your dexterity is improving to the point that whatever you pick up with your tiny (I mean chubby) pincher fingers actually goes in your mouth with better aim now. // You are also becoming more conscious of when you are doing something bad... but you think it's hilarious! Oh man, are we in for some trouble.

Events| Still working on finishing up that mudroom! We'll get there, though. We've just had a few hiccups. // We went to visit Mama's friend Kristin and her sweet new baby boy, Adrian. I can't wait to see you two grow up together since you are only a few months apart. // We celebrated Thanksgiving and it was so much fun! Love me some turkey dinner. // You met Santa for the first time! We went to Rocky Ridge Christmas Magic with your sister and your cousin Noah and you loved looking at all of the lights. // Before that even, we went and got your first Christmas tree! We were on the ball this year and went the Saturday after Thanksgiving to pick one out. Normally, we're scrambling to get to the tree farm around the middle of December. // Christmas is sneaking up so quick and I have been so thrilled preparing for the holiday with you and your sister. This year is our year to have Peyton with us on Christmas morning and I remember how excited I was when I realized last year that you two would be able to spend your first Christmas morning together.

xo,

Sara