15 months

Words: shoes (just started that today!), mama, dada, book, ball, bear, baby, boat, bowl, hi, and sometimes will say something like "Halley" when we ask you to. You have yet to say it without prompting, though.

Sleep: usually 8-6. You are not one for sleeping in. You are in between 1-2 naps.

Teeth: still 5 (top 2, bottom 3). You're getting better about letting me brush your teeth.

Eating: you will generally eat anything we put in front of you. We do need to work on utensil use, but I'm in no hurry! You have slowed down on your weight gain again, so we do need to up your calorie count more.

Reading: you still love your books! Grammy brought a whole bunch of books that were mine when I was little. As we go through them, it is apparent which books you enjoy and which ones you don't. If it's a book you don't like, you will push it closed after about the first page. Your favorite book right now is The Hair Book by Dr. Seuss. You bring it to us, and if we do not take it right away, you'll throw it at us. When we read your counting books, we point to each number. Now when we do this, if I don't point, you will use my finger to point at each number.

We have a magna-doodle (or doodle pro? not sure what the exact name is anymore) and you will "write" on it.

Potty: We usually set you on the potty about once a day, and you usually will go pee on it! This has created a whole new awareness of your penis. If we don't have a onesie or one piece jammies on you, you will have your hand in your diaper or pull your penis out of your diaper. One morning, I came into your room to find that you standing up with you holding your penis (outside of your diaper) and you had peed all over your crib! Ahhh the joys! :)

New actions: you started "jumping!" A couple weeks ago, I was lifting you up and down, and I said, "you're jumping!" After that, you'll walk around, stop, then stand up on your tippy toes! You'll also do it if we say "jump." You're so proud of yourself!

When Grammy was here, you started having a bigger interest in pop/water bottles. You will unscrew the cap, then screw it back on. You get upset if you screw it on too tight to where you can't loosen it again.

Something you've been doing for a while now (much to your mother's displeasure) is going into your room and pulling every. single. item. of clothing out of your drawers.

The cutest thing: you will get your bear that Halley gave you or my old teddy bear and will hug the bear! Then you will bring the bear to me to hug, then you hug me and the bear. You are such a little lover boy. You will also get one of your sister's baby dolls and hug the baby or bring the "baybaybaybayby" to me.

You have been really into your blocks the past couple weeks, and now will put them into the right shaped holes! You will spend at least 15 minutes at a time doing this.

14 months

You are 14 months old today! It's crazy how much you have developed into your own little person.

You say ball, book, bear, hi, mama, dada, "bum" (for bumblebee). You repeat some things when we ask you to, and you've even said something like "Halley" when we asked you to this weekend!

You are a full time walker, and have been for over a month. Just a couple days ago you started spinning! It is so cute. You'll be walking and all of a sudden you'll just pivot. So funny. You also are very into dancing, which consists of some combination of stomping your feet, shaking your arms, and swinging your head around. I love it.

You are great at giving hugs now, too!

When you are asked, "how big are you?" You put both arms straight up in the air and we say, "so big!" Grammy taught you that when you visited her last month.

You know which button turns dad's Xbox on, and you have for at least a couple months now.

You sleep from 8 or a little after to 6-7 now and it's so wonderful! You even slept well when you and I went to Auntie Mallory's house last week. You don't fall asleep very well (if at all) if not in your bed, though. When you were sick 2 weeks ago, we brought you in to our bed and you won't settle down, really. You climbed on us and kept pretty much scooching around.

You can point to your ears, our ears, nose and mouth, and can show your tongue when asked. If you're sitting on one of our laps, usually you will just start touching one ear, then the other, then nose, mouth and eyes. You're so smart! (I will shamelessly brag about you lol).

You love love love books. Every night at around 7, you go over and start looking at your books. Then you bring one over to me, and if I'm sitting on the ground, proceed to turn around and plop down in my lap. It melts my heart, and I love that you seem to enjoy books as much as I do.

You still have just the 5 teeth. Top middle 2, bottom middle 2, and the 1 next to the middle bottoms on your left.

You're coming in at about 20.6 lbs according to our home scale. We need to make a doctor's appointment for next month to have you weighed again.

You eat anything and everything we put in front of you. You've been liking cut up grapes a lot recently.

We went swimming last month and you really enjoyed it this time! You wanted to walk around in the water, or have us hold you up so you could kick your feet! You were so proud of your "swimming."

All in all, I can't even begin to express how much I enjoy being your mother. You are such a blessing. I love to sneak into your room when you're sleeping to steal you from your crib and rock you. You are such a lovey boy. I never imagined that I would like this age so much more than I adored the newborn/little baby stage. Just thinking about you growing up makes my heart ache. You will always, always be my baby, though, no matter how toddler/big boy/teenager/adult-ish you become!

12 months

You are now walking at home about 90% of the time, but still crawling mostly when outside or somewhere else. You also can now stand up from sitting without pulling up!

You still love playing peek-a-boo.

Now you can use my or daddy's finger and point to our noses and mouths and to your nose and mouth. You also stick out your tongue when asked.

You definitely know what "No" means and hate to hear it.

You say the words mama, dada, ball, and book regularly. Also, this past week you've said something that sounds like b!tch a couple times, and I think you're trying to say "Prince" (the cat's name). I think. Haha. But the first two times I heard it, Prince was walking toward you.

Speaking of Prince, you still love him and always smile at him.

You also love your sister, a whole lot. She's been here most of the summer so far, and you've definitely enjoyed it. She does all sorts of crazy jumping around and always makes you laugh.

You still love books and always are bringing one to Mama or Dada.

Recently, you've become very interested in your shape blocks and can sometimes put them in the right holes.

You are definitely shy around strangers. You'll put your head on mama or dad's shoulder if someone you don't know is close or tries to talk to you.

You give kisses when we ask for them! They are open-mouthed and slobbery, but so cute! You've also been giving hugs a lot lately.

Another "fun" thing you've been doing is taking all the clothes out of your drawers. Whenever you go to your room you'll drag more of them out.

On your birthday, we noticed that you got your 5th tooth! It's the bottom one that's to the left of the middle. You have bumps on the top on either side of the middle as well, and you've been drooling A LOT the past couple days.

You usually sleep from 8-5 or 6ish and sometimes will go back to sleep until 7 or 8. Then, you still take 2 naps during the day, and the first one can be up to 3 hours at around 9. Usually the second nap is around 3 for an hour or so.

You finally will hold your cup by yourself again. When you were like 6 months old you would hold them just fine, but for the past month or two you decided you needed someone to hold it for you. Finally, you've gotten the hang of it again.

You've been completely off bottles for a couple months now, and we weaned last month. You switched to formula like a champ, and the doctor wants you to continue getting formula for a couple months yet.

11 months

Oh Maximilian! 11 months old... Mama's so sad that you are about to become a toddler instead of a baby.

You've been taking 2-3 steps the past couple of days, but only between Mama and Papa. You're still cautious of letting go.

You have been able to wave for a month or two now, I love it. You can also high five!

You love playing peek-a-boo and will hold things in front of your face to hide behind.

You started saying "dada" now. You say a lot of sounds, but a lot of the time you say something that sounds like "book".

On that note, you love books. You will sit in your room by your bookshelf and flip through pages for almost an hour sometimes. You also bring your books to Mama or Papa to read. You're a genius (like your mother)! :)

You now have 4 teeth! Front top and bottom 2. Hopefully we won't have to worry about teething for a little bit.

We're still breastfeeding, but Mama is about ready to be done. I just started my new job as a nurse and I had forgotten how much of a pain pumping is. You're now 18 pounds 2 oz, 28.5 inches. I'll write another post about weaning soon.

You're still waking up probably twice a night, but now you're napping better. Maybe even too well. You take 2 at least one hour naps.

As always, Mama loves you more than anything!

10 months!

Aaaah! Maximilian, you are 10 months old, somehow!
You got your second tooth on 4/22! So now you have your front bottom right and your front top right. Your front left top and bottom look like they'll be popping through soon, as well.

We went on vacation with Grammy and Aunt Mary Ann to visit Aunt Catherine in Texas. I need to write a post about that. We went through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Your naps have been really wonky since returning from said vacation. You dropped the morning nap. We are lucky if you take 2-20 minute naps. You are definitely cranky by bedtime but we don't want you getting up any earlier in the morning. We are not sure what to do. You're also still waking up twice a night. We are hoping at your next appointment you will have gained a lot more so we can take steps to cut down on night time feedings.

Another new thing you've been doing is bringing us things and putting them in our hands if we ask you to. Also, you can now wave! You started doing that on vacation, along with intentionally playing peek-a-boo. And you have started clapping! It's so cute!

9 months

Maximilian, you are 9 months old!
This is one day late, but I had to mention that you got your first tooth today! It is the bottom right middle. You seemed very proud of yourself, and really you hadn't acted like your teeth are bothering you too badly.
We are still breastfeeding, but you are very adventurous in trying new solid foods.
Still taking 3 short naps a day usually. The first is about 1.5-2 hours after you wake up, then at 1, then at 4. You still wake up at least twice a night to eat, but you are so skinny that we are not going to take any steps to change that at this point.
You have been cruising around furniture for a few weeks now.
You definitely say "mama" and mean me, and seem to mimic us if we try to get you to say other things.

You love to roll a ball in front of you and then go chase it. It's adorable. You seem to be getting more used to the grass and are more okay with it touching you. You like to swing at the park.
You love cats and dogs and smile at them. You also smile at a lot more strangers.

You moved for the first time! We moved from big city to small town; a big difference. We now live in a much safer, quieter area. You stayed with Grammy and Aunt Mary Ann for a whole weekend while Daddy and I moved all of our things.
You are my little studly muffin and I love you!

8 months!

You are 2/3 of a year old, Maximilian! Mama still loves you more than anything, in case you were wondering.
You had your first haircut today! Your hair in the front went down to your nose
You now can properly crawl, although half the time you still do your army crawl thing. You did it once a couple days ago, but today right after your haircut we set you down and you crawled all over like you'd been doing it forever.
You started pulling yourself up on your first Valentine's Day! More about that here.
Still no teeth...
You eat any food we give you. This month, the new foods you have tried include: chinese noodles, rice, cooked carrots, beets, chicken noodles, pizza crust, mashed potatoes, cooked onion, cooked broccoli (didn't really like that), real peaches (peaches just don't seem to be your fave), hard boiled egg, and cinnamon toast.

Still nursing. You have calmed back down a lot so it is easier to get you to breastfeed for longer.

You wake up around 7:15, take your first nap around 9, second nap around 1, sometimes a short nap at about 5, bed around 8. It seems like you've been waking up during the night more often again. If you have gained quite a bit at your 9 month doctor's appointment, we will probably take steps to get you to sleep more.

You've started vocalizing more. It is sooo cute. You definitely try to tell us things, but we just can't understand you yet.

You've recently taken up head-butting. I'm not sure it's not on purpose. I don't know if it had anything to do with your dad buying UFC for the Xbox. You gave mama a fat, bloody lip the other day.

I love you more than anything. There is nothing that warms my heart more than when you lie your head on my shoulder after a long day and I sing you to sleep. You are and always will be my baby boy.

7 months

You started army crawling right around your 6 month birthday, and in the weeks since have become very adept at it. You can get across the room in like 5-10 seconds. It's crazy!

You get up on your hands and knees frequently but still don't feel the need to properly crawl since you are so good at army crawling. Sometimes you get on your hands and feet like this:

Hands and feet! You don't know what to do from here yet, but it's so cute! 

Still no teeth, but sometimes still seems like they're bothering you.

You are loving some foods, but not others. Foods that you've tried and liked are (baby) apples, pears, apple/blueberry, squash, carrots, sometimes sweet potatoes, and (whole) bananas, clementines, tomatoes, and pears. You haven't really liked peas, green beans, or peaches; but we haven't tried peaches again in a while. Otherwise, still breastfeeding probably twice during the night and 6ish? times during the day.

I am pretty sure you sometimes say "Mama"! The first time I heard it was right when I walked in the door on 1/22. Your dad disagrees, so I am hoping you say it a little more clearly so we can end the discussion! :)

You usually get up around 8AM, take a 2 hour nap at 10:30 or 11, then 1 or 2 more shorter naps in the afternoon. Bedtime is around 8PM, then you wake up twice, usually around 2 then around 5.

You still love the remote/Xbox controller/cell phone and will do anything and everything to get them. It's ridiculous, but so cute!

You will put anything in your mouth that you can get your little hands on. This combined with your new army crawling skill has caused the need for a bit better baby proofing.

You love bouncing in your Johnny Jump Up. Sometimes you'll jump out to the side and bounce back like that's totally what you meant to do.

You are definitely starting to prefer Mommy, especially when tired. I secretly love it!

Your nicknames currently include: Chubby, Chubby-Wubby, Maximo, Yung-Sun, Chubber-Pie, and Chunker.

6 months!

You are a whole half a year old today honey! Your mama can't believe it!

You met Santa for the first time on 12/15/11.

We just had your first Christmas. Halley got you a hammer rattle, a tub o' toys, an alligator teether, and 2 beanie baby things. Santa gave you your first Christmas ornament, a book, and some sippy cups. Gramma/Aunt Mary Ann gave you a book and a cool little tunnel/tent thing. Dad and I gave you some clothes and a toy piano.
You started getting up on your hands and knees around 12/17/11, and now can scoot backwards on you hands and knees. Today you started army crawling forward, and are so quick at it!

We started giving you oatmeal cereal mixed with breastmilk on 12/10/11, but didn't start giving you it every day until last week. You spat it out-a lot!- until a couple days ago as well. I gave you sweet potatoes twice and half a banana once. You smushed the banana up more than anything, but did lick it a couple times. The sweet potatoes you were not a fan of until today.

You can sit up unsupported still, but still prefer to be on your tummy.

You are so smiley and happy almost all of the time. Such a pleasant baby.

You are trying to stay up later and wake up in the middle of the night the past couple of days as well. I don't know if you're having a growth spurt or if being at Grandma's had anything to do with it. You usually go to bed around 8, wake up by midnight, then wake up either once more or twice more. You wake up for the day at around 8 or 9.

You are becoming more and more dextrous every day. Mama did not even realize how much control you now have over your fingers.

You can still fit in some 3-6 month clothes and are starting to move into 6-9 month stuff.

5 months!

You're 5 months. Mama can't believe it!

Still breastfed. I'm getting excited for you to start trying foods, though as well! We had your first Thanksigiving, though the only taste of turkey you got was through mama!

You can sit up unassisted for a few minutes at times, the first time was 10/28. You are pretty close to being able to stand, too! You also found your feet at right around the same time that you started being able to sit.

You scoot yourself around a little bit. You scoot yourself around a lot when you are mad hehe.

We had your first Halloween and you went trick or treating as a shark! You are so damn cute.

You starting blowing raspberries. I love it.

You spent your first night without mama or papa on 11/11/11. You stayed with Grammy, Aunt Mary Ann, Great Grandma Bailey, and Halley at the Howard Johnson hotel in Waterloo.

You also went swimming for the first time on 11/12/11. You seemed to enjoy it much more than I thought you would. You even kicked your legs a whole bunch!

You seem to like reading books even more now. It's so fun!

You're still waking up usually twice at night to eat, though now it's more like at 12 then 5, so the long stretch is getting more convenient for mommy!

Still in 3-6 month clothes.

Every day you do new things or make new faces or sounds. I love you so much, more than I ever though was possible. You are the cutest little boy and you'll always be my baby.

Love, Mommy

4 months!

Eek! He's 4 months!

We have been really busy this month. The young man rolls onto his tummy from his back nearly every time you put him down. He smiles so much and also laughs! It is so cute!

You can now reach your feet to the floor in your walker. You love spinning this sphere thing that's on there.

You can pick up things! We hadn't been putting toys down on the floor with you because you were uninterested. Then, on 10/18 you were sitting with Papa in the chair and you tried to grab the remote. Since, we've put your toys in front of you and you grab and shake your rattles.

You are starting to like reading books with Mama now. Before, you didn't have very much patience, but these days (as long as you're not too tired), we can read several books and you seem to pay attention.

I don't want to jinx it, but we can usually put you down for naps or at night awake and you can put yourself to sleep. You usually go to bed for the night at 8:30, wakeup sometime between 11-2, then once more at 4-6. (AKA, you are waking up 2-3 times a night, up from once a night at 3 months). Now, we put you in your crib when you go to bed, after your first feed, and then at your second wakeup we bring you into the bed. We usually get up for the day between 8-10. Then, usually naps are at 10 or 12 depending on what time you got up, then 3, then 5ish. Mostly, you will nap for 45 minutes to an hour.

We are still breastfeeding and it's still going well. I think you sometimes get impatient when you have to wait for the milk to let down, so then you don't feed for as long during the day, and I think this has translated into your more frequent wake-ups and wanting to nurse all night long. I don't think you are ready to skip any night feedings since you don't eat too often during the day.

You met your uncle Rob and aunts/uncles/cousins from Mommy's side at your great-grandma Ruby's funeral. You did really well during the service, just looking around.

You've found your feet and grab at them frequently!

You can roll over both ways now! You would much rather be on your tummy these days, and you can scoot yourself around a bit.

You're wearing all 3-6 month clothes now.

You're still my smiley baby, and even laugh now. That melts Mama's heart. You have the sweetest little giggle.

Mama loves you more than anything in the whole entire world!

3 months old!

My baby boy is 3 months old today. I have no idea how this happened! You are the cutest little boy I've ever seen. Ever.

Mommy going back to work hasn't made you too sad, it seems. I miss you a whole lot though. Your auntie Brandi watched you for 8ish hours one Sunday while your Papa and I went with your Grandma Bielenberg and Darren on their boat. You did well, although she said you were a little whiney. Other than that, no one has babysat for more than 4 hours when Grandma Karen did back in July.

You are not hating tummy time nearly so much anymore, and you're able to hold your head and shoulders up really well. You also can get your legs under your butt and are so close crawling it seems. You just haven't figured out how to make it all work together yet.

A couple days ago you "dove" out of your swing while I was writing checks for bills. I still don't even know how you managed that. I looked at you one second, looked down the next, and heard BOOM, WAHHH!

While I was at work last night you fell asleep in your walker. Papa took a picture and it was soooo cute.

You smile so much and "talk" to us quite frequently.

Naps have been going better. We started letting you fuss a little bit before going back in to pat you and turn on your mobile and usually it only takes once if at all before you fall asleep.

At night, you usually go to sleep around 8:30. Sometimes you wake up at 11ish, sometimes you sleep until 3-4. A couple of weeks ago you slept 8:30-6:30 two nights in a row! That was amazing. I've started just bringing you into the big bed with us when you wake up. I am much more comfortable cosleeping than I used to be.

You are still a boobie baby and going strong. We have an appointment in a few days so hopefully we'll get your weight and such then.

You're wearing mostly 3-6 month sleepers, 0-3 or 3-6 month onesies and pants.

I just love you so much I can hardly stand it!

2 months!

2 months?! Where has the time gone? I go back to work Monday and am pretty sad about it. Your 2 month doctor appointment is on Tuesday so I will update stats at that time.

You rolled over from your tummy to back on July 30th at 1 month and 3 days old! We were at Gramma's and Gramma and I were sitting and watching you and we couldn't believe what we saw! You did it once again about 2 weeks later and Papa got to see you that time.

You are smiling so much these days. Big sis can always get you to smile, it seems. She really loves holding you and taking care of you.

We are still nursing and I think it is safe to say we both love it. I would like to continue until you are at least 6 months, but am slightly worried because you seem to eat so much so quickly when I am gone. I need to have a talk with Papa about that. You rarely will take a pacifier, and sometimes I think you appear hungry when you just want something to suck on.

You usually are ready for bed at about 8 or shortly after. The past 3-4 nights I have been holding you for about 15 minutes after you are done nursing as you sleep because that is usually when you stir. This seems to be working so far, as 2 nights ago when we did this you slept from 8PM-5AM straight. You had been waking up 10 minutes after I put you down and/or at 11PM. You always wake up at approximately 4AM, though when you hadn't slept straight through it's usually more towards 3AM. I usually put you in your crib at bedtime then bring you into the bassinet the first time you wake up. Occasionally, I will bring you into the big bed when you wake at 6 or 7 to try to sneak in another hour or two of sleep. Other times we come out into the living room and end up napping in the recliner.

This month you met your great-great aunts Neda, Charline, Maxine, and Catherine; your great-great uncle Owen; and your great uncle Kenneth. You traveled out of state for the first time to Rock Island, Illinois on August 13th.

You seem to be chunking up a bit more, hehe. Your little thighs each have a roll on them now-adorable! You are completely grown out of newborn sized clothes now. You are about to be too big for 0-3 month sleepers as well. You still fit in 0-3 month onesies and pants, though definitely not for too much longer.

I think you are the cutest thing ever known to man. Your eyelashes have gotten much longer and frame your big blue eyes so perfectly. I never could have fathomed how much I would love you. I even find you adorable when you cry. On one hand, I wish you would stay my baby boy forever, but on the other I can't wait to see you grow and become your own little person.

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

One month!

I can't believe my baby boy is a month old. It totally seems not long ago, but also forever ago that we were meeting you for the first time. This month has been filled with joy as we watch you grow. You already are grown out of some of the newborn sleepers and onesies, lengthwise more than width. Your cheeks have gotten pretty chubby, but they don't seem as relatively chubby as when you were born. I am going to try to go to the breastfeeding support group at the hospital on Friday as I am very curious how much you weigh right now.

You are really good at holding your head up and can support it yourself for about 15 seconds before you start wobbling. You are still nursing and I think it's still going really well. Another thing that's improved a lot is your eye function it seems. I think you actually look at us on purpose and can even see us!

I want you to be my tiny little baby forever. I love sitting with you in my arms either with you looking back up at me or watching you sleep. When you are falling asleep you do this thing where it seems like you're having a good dream because you smile every few seconds. It is the most adorable thing ever. Your little chin quivers when you cry, and I also think this is adorable. Your dad says my chin does the same thing when I cry. You love to be held and sometimes you wake up when I try to put you in your crib or bassinet.

I am going to try to schedule you for one month pictures for tomorrow.