Bobby at 12 Months

bobby...wow...one. and boy are you ever a ONE year old! you just decided to start walking a couple of weeks ago and now you are pretty much a pro! you run. its sad to mama. in fact mama is quite upset that you do not seem to understand that your role as youngest child is to be the baby and also a mama's boy. nope. not in your cards. you are all about exploring EVERYTHING and do not want to be held or kept from that by no means! you are such a happy child. you bring so much joy to everyone who has the pleasure of seeing you. even perfect strangers cant help but be charmed by you. it definitely makes up for the fact that you do not want any part of baby-hood.

you are by far my easiest child when it comes to sleeping. you take 2 amazing 1 1/2 hour naps and prefer to go to bed at 6:00. i love it. please dont change that ever k? you like to do everything yourself, including eating. you are not a fan of someone trying to shove a spoon in your mouth. its just not okay in your mind. you like all types of food and will generally eat everything we put in front of you, which is also very unlike my other children. please dont change that ever too k? 

right now your favorite toy is remote controls and dvds and combs. but more than that you like playing in the dirt with your brothers and riding your new little push car (thank you grauntie stephanie and gruncle darrol!) or chasing the cat or jumping into pillows. you are the hardest baby in the world to change still...it goes all against that whole wanting to be out exploring everything bit...

i love you so much bobby b! we are so blessed to be your parents and as much as it saddens me that this house will not have another baby in it again, it makes me so thrilled watching you grow up - you are so fun and i can't wait to see your little personality blossom!

Bobby at 11 Months

Bobby! so you are taking your first steps now...you will be walking in a couple weeks...which terrifies mama! i no longer have my sweet baby Bobby B. - i have a toddler! ack! but you are so proud of yourself whenever you take steps...you actually clap for yourself.

you love it when your biggest brother takes you on rides on the plasma cars - and when bodie plays peek-a-boo. you love to eat...by yourself! not so much a fan of mama feeding you :) (just like your other brothers...hmm...big surprise!) you love olives and turkey and cheese and blueberries and blackberries and eggs...goodness...you eat at least a whole egg until you start throwing it everywhere...which is your little sign to me that you are done. thanks by the way. 

you are getting some teeth! which is not your favorite part of growing up :( - you have 3 on the top and 3 on the bottom - and more coming! hurry up and come little teeth so i can have my sweet, happy baby back!

you are so silly and love to play, but no where is this more apparent than when mommy or daddy try to change your diaper/clothes. holy stuff baby! you are the hardest baby to change...you roll over so strong...you scootch away and bomb my pillows on my bed and look at me and laugh...such a fun little game and its hard to stay mad at you with your goofy little toothy grin! i love that little bobby face! here are some silly pictures mama took of you! goofball!

Bobby at 10 Months

Bobby...you are 10 months old..you are so about ready to walk. you get in a squat and stand and it is driving mama nuts! the other day i watched you climb down the kitchen stair and it blew my mind. you full on went on your tummy and flung your leg around and climbed down a 1 1/2 foot drop like it was no biggie. 

your favorite thing is riding on the plasma car with bryson. 

you want to ride all by yourself.

you want to just about do anything that your brothers are doing.

we finally taught you sign language and you picked up like we were so behind as parents. it made me feel a little guilty that we hadn't given you skills to express yourself. because you apparently have a lot to say!

i have been saying sorry to you a lot. 

sorry that your brothers take everything from you.

sorry that you can't walk.

sorry that they wake you up from your naps.

sorry that your meal times are so limited.

but i like to think that you are so so excited to be a part of this brethren...this little troop of boys..so in tha, you are welcome! and we rest in the knowledge you will be part of the crazy soon enough!

Bobby at 9 Months

bobby...at 9 months you are so ahead of your game. you are pulling yourself up and standing without assistance...you are teething, which means you are quite the fussy child at times, but that is only peppered through out your sweet temperament! 

this month we got to take you to a wedding of a dear friend and you did amazing. should i tell you here that you slept in a closet? should i tell you that it wasn't the first time? you love to be held, but more than that you love to know that we are near for when you want to explore in your crazy crawl on all fours. 

your mor mor got to watch you while we were at the wedding and had so much fun just being a mor mor to you alone...what a treat! you bring joy to everyone around you...when you aren't concerned about your teeth and we couldn't ask for a better baby boy!

Bobby at 8 Months

Bobby!!!! This is how we greet you every time we see you...and you love it...always a big big one tooth smile. the past coupla days you have been uncharacteristically fussy and i just saw today that your other little bottom tooth just cut...so that is what was up! glad that's outta the way and you can go back to your sweet little self. made me realize how amazingly lucky we are...you are such a joy to everyone!

you are getting so big - you were sick basically all of your 7th month, so i have big hopes for 8 months...you took your first antibiotic, which mommy did not want to do and held out as long as she could, but i think you were grateful to be able to breathe from your nose again and not have ear infections any more! yay to no more sick pug baby!




you celebrated your first Easter this month in Santa Barbara and you slept in the closet...which may or may not be a step up from the bathroom. tonight i put you in the crib in the boys room, but shhhhh...dont tell your brother bodie...mama is scared he is going to crawl in to "play" with you! fingers crossed he doesn't see you :)





we love to all play in the backyard for the afternoon. you love to sneak over to the garden and steal strawberries. move over bodie, there is a new strawburglar in town! you are crawling and climbing like crazy and you try so so hard to play with the big boys...its so fun to see - i know you are going to fit right in with those crazy guys!

we love you sweet bobby b!

Bobby at 7 Months

Bobby - you are 7 whole months old! you are no longer content in my arms or lap...you are on the move!...(like knees under the belly crawling like a pro and doing it fast! he also learned a new trick and likes to pull himself up to standing on dressers, steps, our ottomans, anything he can grab...that is why i included that last shot...to show you his new trick) i dont believe that a 7 month old should do this and try telling you to stop...you just laugh...

you are also starting to make sounds more - like dadadada (of course because your daddy started you on it like day 2). you are also not wanting to nurse this month. (he is doing better...i am still nursing 3-4 times a day, but the rest of the time i pump and he takes a bottle.) this is another shock to me that my baby is growing up...not so happy about it...but he is sleeping through the night most nights and for that i am extremely grateful. i am starting to feel like i can make it through a day and the fog of exhaustion is lifting...so thank you bobby!

you are still such a happy baby and make everyone around you smile - you exude joy and that is always contagious. we can tell you may just be the peacekeeper between your 2 older brothers...you already are in a lot of ways!

you love the backpack and the bjorn (which daddy wears often) you are not such a fan of the ergo...but we are working on that...you love facing the world and you want to see everything that is going on and don't want to miss a second of it!

you helped me model a zoodie this week - you make the cutest bunny ever...sorry if this causes any sort of issues later...i'll help pay for therapy...

you also started taking baths with your brothers...some times...you really only are in there for like 5 minutes until bodie tries to wrestle you or bryson tries to pick you up and then i rescue you...but you love bath time...and you love your brothers...its so fun to watch!

we love you sweet Bobby B.!

Bobby at 6 Months!

Bobby...halfway there! you are halfway there to not being my baby anymore...but joke is on you because guess what? you will ALWAYS be my baby...so just deal and make fun behind my back like the babies do, K?

so this month you are officially on the move - you are exuding your uncanny super baby strength...i saw you do a push up with just your left hand and right foot...(for any of you silly enough to try it...its freakin hard! we know...we have been trying...for the record Bryan can do one)

you tasted your first foods...and are consuming them like i have been starving you...you have tried carrots, spinach, rutabaga, broccoli, pears, bananas, apples, bread, and paper. goodness you love paper...you get super dooper upset if we take paper away from you. i am going to buy some seaweed paper whenever i remember to and let you go to town!

you came with us to portland to meet your very special "twin" Ezra (born almost exactly 24 hours after you). it was so fun for daddy and i to spend some alone time with you enjoying your baby self! we smothered you all weekend with attention and kisses and competing to make you laugh.

daddy carried you in the Bjorn throughout the trip and everyone would comment and oooh and aaah over how cute you are...it made daddy feel like a rock star (i dont think he minded all the attention one bit!)

you are enjoying sitting up and putting anything in your mouth you can get a hold of...like dirt...you tasted dirt for the first time by the way.

we moved you out of our room, much to the sadness of mama, but you seem to enjoy it since you sleep sooo much better, much to the happiness of mama! you like to sleep on your tummy and scoot your little legs up and i like to watch you sleep and try to whisper to you to stop growing so fast! you dont listen...of course!

no teeth yet...no hair either...we adore your gummy smile and i have a feeling your 7th month may see an end to it.

you love your brothers too and they return that love right back, especially Bryson...he missed you so so much while we were gone!

we love you Bobby B.!

5 Months Old!!

 Dear Bobby,

I know you want to start moving around. You see your big brothers chasing each other and climbing, playing baseball and golf and riding bikes and it looks so fun...but you are only 5 months old. You are not allowed to crawl yet, let alone walk...so please quit this scootchin business...its making mama nervous! You are my baby...i need you to be a baby for a little bit longer, k?
Thanks,
Mama

sheesh...this kid does not want to listen...he wants to go! no more putting him on the couch or bed and knowing he will stay put (dont worry...no accidents) he is also starting to sit up and can do it for almost a minute! he is doing p90x with us...working on his core...

this month bobby has really started coming out to play - he has found his little toes...has taken an interest in all things he can put in his mouth...he is so alert and happy and we are having so much fun. me and bryan take turns making him smile and smothering him with kisses.

i am constantly trying to open my heart for him to grow up...i love love love babies...knowing this is our last is so bittersweet for me and i am anxious all the time that time is going way too quickly for me...so i am trying to enjoy every single second i have with this precious babe of mine!

Bobby at 4 Months

So i will stop apologizing for being late...i made it before he officially turned 5 months, so success!

Bobby in his 4th month experienced his first Christmas, his first trip up to San Jose to meet all the fam, his first New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (which was completely uneventful for him! He got  his first cold, rolled over for the first time, laughs belly laughs (he is oh so ticklish!)

Bobby is the most erratic sleeper - i can not find his rhythm at all - some nights he won't wake until 5 a.m. and other nights he is up every hour...now that he is feeling better sleeping has gotten a little better, but the holidays were rough!

Bobby found his hands...oh boy...he loves those hands...always in his mouth - always grabbing - he found an interest in toys and grabbing things. He still likes to be swaddled and sleeps better that way, but Mr. Wiggle Worm can get out of it so fast!

I'll say it every month (hopefully) - Bobby is the sweetest baby! My dream 3rd child...just so happy to just sit and watch everyone and smile big ole smiles...We love you Bobby!!

Bobby at 3 Months

 our sweet little bobby is 3 months! (3 months and 1 week to be more exact :) )

he is so so sweet and we can't stop ourselves from kissing him about 500 times a day. just look at that face! you would too!

Bobby went on his first plane ride this month to Colorado and saw snow for the first time. He celebrated his first Thanksgiving with Mor Mor and Papa Howard and he was our best little traveler! His Grauntie Stephanie made this cute little pirate shirt for him (and matching ones for the bigger boys and they LOVE them!)



he is getting over a second cold (thank you big germy brothers!) but it hasnt affected his sweet demeanor.

he very patiently sits in the office while mommy works or while mommy sews and whenever you look at him he smiles, like "hey! thanks for looking at me!" its kinda sad...but he is mostly in my arms because i can't put my baby down...i think i am afraid he will grow or something if i do...my last baby...so sad...i will baby him until he is old and then i will sneak into his room like that creepy book, "I love you forever"

Sorry in advance Bobby!

Bobby at 2 Months

okay...i am a wee bit late for this post...i realize...almost 2 weeks late, so he is more like 2 1/2 months but humor me...

sweet bobby b. he is a little sweetheart - this month he has really been cooing like crazy - big huge smiles for us and any time you pay him attention he is over the moon about it.

this month he has been active like crazy - holding his head up so well and practicing jumping on daddy's lap.

he has been sleeping much better too. he still spits up a lot, but wakes 2-3 times a night, and now i can help him go back to sleep after his second waking. the trick is to put him in the bassinet, not hold him...much to my sadness. i wish i could cuddle him but its not helping either of us out.

big brothers are in love with this boy too. they fight over who gets to hold him. i sneak peeks of bryson singing to him and bodie sneaking kisses. he is such a perfect little puzzle piece to our family. he fits in seamlessly and i could not imagine our life without him. although its only been 2 1/2 months...i feel as though he has been a part of our family all along...its odd...but this month has really been about me feeling like our family is complete and he helps seal that deal ;)

Bobby at 1 Month

bryan and i left the bigger boys with my brother and sister-in-law this weekend and headed to ojai for a wedding of a college friend. we took bobby with us and it was so much fun to have bobby alone for a little bit. he smiled at me for the first time friday and he seems to be starting to grow into a little human.

we weighed him today and he is 7lbs 9oz...almost 2 pounds heavier than when he was born! he doesn't fit the premie clothes and is almost too big for newborn...and newborn diapers...he is also crying a lot less, which i hope to mean that all his indigestion issues are getting better too.

but poor baby is all kinds of jacked up right now...he's got acne on his face, cradle cap on his head, thrush in his mouth, he is getting over a little cold (had his first fever already...thank you Bodie Booger Man!) so he sounds like a little piggie...just before he got sick i was thinking we were turning a corner as far as the no-sleep thing was going, but that is back on...baby is awake! a lot!

i can not believe it has only been a month. it feels like forever ago that he was born. we are so thankful for our baby bobby...for all of our boys...we are looking forward to seeing what kind of personality this little guy is going to bring to the *already crazy* mix. my only concern is that i am so sleep-deprived-zombie-mom right now that i will not remember any of this...

Bobby at 2 Weeks

Wow...2 weeks...i think because i haven't slept for 2 weeks it more feels like 2 months...this is our Bobby at 2 weeks.

We had a check up today with Sue and he now weighs 6 1/2 lbs - which means he has almost gained a pound in 2 weeks! which is so nice, since this boy needs to bulk up if he stands a chance against his brothers...bodie does not understand the idea of "gentle" or "nice" or "do not throw that golf ball at your brother's head" - such is a house of boys...as bryson keeps reminding me..."mom - now we have FOUR boys!" i also overheard bryson tell his daddy that this is a boy party in this house. so true...

Anyway - our sweet Bobby B. is a fat baby in a skinny baby body and nurses ALL the time...like ALL the time...like every hour on the hour...i am so going to lose this baby weight in no time...pretty stoked on that...sure i will be a walking no-sleep-zombie-mom, but i'll fit into my jeans!

he is so alert and so expressive already. i dont believe i have ever seen a newborn so alert. he seems to have a lot going on behind those big eyes of his.

also because of his teeny size, this baby is somewhat of a rock star. I can not go anywhere without a million comments...almost as annoying as when i was pregnant, but not since i agree with their comments on his cuteness...its true...but the comments about 3 boys are sorta annoying...and the recent ones i keep getting, "are they all yours?" like i have a pre-school with me or something...anyway - i am still hormonal...obviously...

to try to give you an idea of size, here he is with our dumb (but very loved) cat BBQ...

by the way, did you know BBQ has his own theme song? it goes, "BBQ, BBQ, there is no other cat as dumb as you" and there is a song...its delightful. we love you BBQ...

anyway - as you can see BBQ has quite a few pounds on Bobby, but not for long!!!