The "best" is HERE!!: September 2014

Yes, this perfectly sums up my feelings today as well......this child CANNOT be only a month away from his first birthday. This NEEDS to slow down!!

What a busy month it has been! Alex is officially crawling all over and getting into absolutely everything.

He has started walking behind a stroller or push toy and will pull himself up on just about anything.

He LOVES to play "catch" and is discovering how to throw the ball and then chase after it and throw it over and over again.... He says "ball" pretty clearly.

He is in to....well, everything. He is super quick, too - not a good combination. He has certainly had his share of bumps and bruises this month, too.

This month he has been a less than stellar sleeper - it seems he is up just about every night once again and his sleep is all over the board. I do try to sneak in and take funny pictures of him sleeping just like I used to with Makenna...

I'm pretty sure he fell asleep doing the Irish Jig this night....

This was one of his naps at Auntie Rachel's house - he was so tired he fell asleep toppled over

My favorite is the nights he fell asleep after nursing and just snuggled right into me. He doesn't do this very often so when he does I try to really savor the moments.

Here he is working on some pretty serious bedhead.

The gangsta snooze...

The super model snooze..

And my favorite - we used to call this the "ruffle butt" snooze with Makenna.....so sweet.

This past week it was a struggle to keep him awake until 7 for bed time so I started putting him to bed at 6 or 6:30 but then he would just be up and at em at 5:30 to start the day..... way too early.

So, we are slowly working on getting back on a normal schedule but I'm sure it will take a little time. The wedding this week threw us off a little with late nights but he did take 2 awesome 2 hour naps yesterday so we'll see. I think there must be another tooth getting ready to poke through any day now too. He still just has those 2 cute bottom teeth!

We've had a really fun month this month including....

Alex's first plane ride

A Mama-Alex vacation to South Carolina to visit Auntie Rachel

His first ride on the Merry Go Round

And a fun family vacation in the Dells

We enjoyed LOTS of family time together

And are a little sad that summer is already coming to an end

Alex is a VERY good eater and will eat just about everything I put in front of him. He LOVES chicken and toast - probably 2 of his faves.

He is still nursing 4 times a day - when he wakes up and then late morning, late afternoon and then before bed.....well and then the dream feeds when he wakes up and it is still the quickest way to get him back to sleep.

He is starting to be more and more vocal though you can't really understand much of it yet. I did get him to say "truck" and "clock" the other day and he says mama and dada quite a bit, but mostly when he is yelling and/or whining and not necessarily in context.

He's started shaking his head now, too whenever we shake our head no or sometimes just out of the blue because I think it feels funny. Silly boy.

Sissy: Well, Alex your sister has officially started smothering you. It's funny it took until 11 months, but she is in your face constantly.

Lately she always wants to hold you..

Most times it is incredibly sweet

Other times you just REALLY want to get away

She just loves you SOOO much!

This month she has really done a great job helping mommy out watching you - she is sure to let me know when you are about to get into something you shouldn't. She calls you Bubbers most all the time and still refers to herself as Sissy. She has started trying to outsmart you with toys and when she finds you playing with something she wants, she will try to find a different toy to lure you in with so she can go steal the one that you had. So far, you are easy bait and you go for the new shiny toy just about every time. I'm sure that won't last long.....

Yesterday she told me that she wanted to marry you when she grows up. I told her she couldn't and she was pretty sad. She insisted that she was going to. When I told her she needed to find a good boy that loved Jesus to marry instead, she told me "Bubbers loves Jesus, Mommy!"

Mommy: Alex, I've had such a fun month with you! It started out with some sweet sweet time together when you and I went to visit Auntie Rachel.

I'm not sure if you were a mama's boy before we left, but you sure were by the time we got back.

I can't say that I mind it one bit:)

Now that Sissy has started school, you and I get to hang out on Tuesday and Friday mornings and I LOVE our time together. I try to get all my reading and chores done while you are napping so that we can just play together when you get up.

You love the one on one time though you seem to miss your sissy when she is gone. You love going to the bus stop with us every morning to drop her off.

And can't wait to see her after school. Your little hands and feet go crazy when you see and hear the bus coming.

Even when it is cold and raining.....

I love you so much, buddy and I must admit I am pretty sad that you are growing up so fast. Each new stage is more and more fun though, I must admit. I love you Alexander Brooks!

Daddy: Alex, your daddy is crazy about you. I know I tell you that every month but he sure is. You should see his face light up when he gets home from work or just about anywhere for that matter and sees you and your sissy. He is so very excited to see you and can't wait to see your face light up when you first catch a glimpse of him. He loves to see your smile first thing in the morning and give you a kiss before bed.