A garden full of flowers: 8 months and almost 3 years!

Chase is 8 months old, and is my sweetie-pie stinker all rolled into one cute baby. Besides the nick-name "Bubbas" he is also known as "sweet little face." His face is just so kissably sweet, and I say, "Hello sweet little face!!!" He is a big, big momma's boy. Anyone can be holding him, and he might do ok if he can't see me, but as soon as he can see me, even if I am across the room, he will get very fussy and will reach his chubby little baby fingers out as far as they can go until I hold him. He then will put his little head on my shoulders, and will often give the other person a big smile as if to say, "I know how to get what I want!!!" As I have stated in previous posts, he still loves to be held most of the day, but he is getting a little better playing on his own. He loves anything that spins, and will take his sweet chubby baby fingers and will move them back and forth to make his toys spin. He still can't crawl, but he sits up really well, and can stand while holding onto something his height like the side of Wesley's bed. He loves to eat, and I am starting to feed him little pieces of table food. He does really well picking up the pieces with his fingers, and putting them in his mouth. He picked up on that skill really fast. He still loves to nurse, even though I have been slowing weaning him. He LOVES it, and is trying as hard as he can to hold on to that. I do love it too (most the time), and am hoping to last a year even if I just nurse a few times a day. We will see. He is also ticklish, and will give me a cute little giggle anytime I poke his chubby belly, or rub my fingers over his feet or neck. I think he will be a more serious kid than Wesley. He has a more quiet, and reserved nature to him. He is happy being outside, being near mommy, when he eats, when he is in his jumparoo, and whenever Wesley will share his toys with him. We are still working on that with Wesley. As I have stated in many posts, Chase is obviously not the greatest sleeper. He was awesome as a newborn, and slowly got better until he was almost sleeping through the night, just like Wesley was around 4 months. Then, out of the blue, he got worse and worse. I think he would be ok if I nursed him back to sleep each time he woke, but I am trying to avoid that so he can learn to go back to sleep on his own. We will see. I know this phase will pass, and I have been blessed that I am somehow managing to function during the day. God is giving me the strength and the stamina I need to take care of my two squishes despite my sleep deprivation.

Wesley is my little comedian smarty pants. Never a dull moment with that boy. He just loves, loves life and learning, and I love it too. He is always asking questions about Everyyyything. My mom has some crayons in different shades of purple. He asked, "what color is that?" My mom said "Purple" He then stated, "No...its violet!" If he asks what something is, and he is not happy with the answer, he will say, "Nooo, I'm pretty sure its a ......" We were watching a show on the Universe and through the whole show he asked, "what planet is that?" "what is that?" "What does that do?" "Where is that?" "Is that a satellite?" "What does that do?" Its impossible to watch anything with that little busy mind running a million miles an hour. Chase was babbling "mama" and I was smiling saying "Yes, I am mama!" Wesley looked at Chase and very matter-of-factly stated, "Nooo, that's not mama, that's Mommy!!" He recently has begun the "poo-poo" phase. You know...where the answer to every queston is "poo-poo" followed by wild laughter. For example... me "Wesley...what do you want for lunch?" Wesley.."I want poo poo for lunch!! me "ok...go get some then" Wesley: "Ewwwwww! Ha ha ha ha!" That is pretty much the conversation every day. Another common one... Wesley: "mommy, what are you doing?" me "changing Chase's diaper." Wesley: "I want to see the poo poo!!! Ha ha ha!!" He is also a sweet, sweet boy. He came up to me and gave me a big hug and said, "mommy..I love you" after noticing that I was getting teary-eyed watching a documentary about the NICU. He can also be a real stubborn fella, and has a temper that matches his fiery red hair! I can't believe he will almost be three. He is turning into a little kid right before my eyes. I love his enthusiasm about life, and his sweet little spirit. I am so blessed to be his mommy!