Anson: 8 months

So Anson will be 9 months in a week and a half.  That's not the point.  At least I'm updating right?!  Most of this month was eaten up by the holidays and most of the pictures were taken then.  Needless to say, I don't have a lot of them.

I had to stop nursing Anson shortly after Christmas, because my milk was drying up.  It was sad and now I really know what other Moms meant when they say they miss it.  It's something that's hard to comprehend until you experience it.  On the plus side though, ANSON IS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!  He goes to bed at 8:30, eats at 11 and then sleeps until 7:30 (Hallelujah)!!!!! It's really been fabulous and he is so much happier (if that is even possible).

Anson is a whopping 16lbs!! He is happiest when he wakes up in the morning and from naps.  He still loves to play on the floor, especially with all of his new toys!  He loves his keys that make car noises, his squeezable, chewable rubber blocks (who wouldn't love those?), his stack and roll cups and all the necklaces that we kept from the new years celebration!  He still loves to cuddle (thank heaven) and he loves anything to do with kisses.  We kiss him or blow kisses or have one of his stuffed animals give him a kiss and he always smiles or laughs.  It's the sweetest thing!

Dear Anson,

It's been a big month kiddo and you have been such a good boy and so easy going with all the Christmas parties and celebrations and vacations.  Thank you!  It was so fun to take you to Orlando to play with your Aunty Lisa and then to take you to Portland to see your Grandparents and all of your cousins.  I loved taking you to see Santa for the first time, you were so good and not even a little bit scared of him!  It will be fun to create new traditions with you as you get older.

 Your first Christmas was a blast, your Daddy and I were so excited and although you weren't sure what was going on, you looked surprising excited each time you opened a new gift.  We loved reading the Christmas story with on Christmas Eve and can't wait for what the future will bring in Christmases to come!

 While you love to snuggle and you're super easy going, you have a mind that's all your own.  You totally know how to hold your bottle and these pictures prove it, but this was the one and only time you actually did.  You refuse to do it, because you just don't want to.  Just because you have a skill, doesn't mean you have to use it right?!?  You're already doing a great job at being a boy.  Secretly though, Mommy loves that I can still hold your bottle for you, because it gives us a chance to snuggle and bond and take a break from the craziness of the day. 

Your new found mobility invigorates you!  You love that you can get anywhere you want to go just by rolling or scooting to it.  I can already tell that you are going to get into some mischief when you start crawling and that you are going to give Mommy and Daddy a run for our money.

You can sit up totally unsupported without any supervision now.  Of course you still tumble from time to time, but that's only when you try to grab something at an awkward angle.  

You are the king as far as little kids and stores are concerned, I know that you're still young and that meltdowns could (will) be in your future, but for now you are always mellow and content to people watch the day away.  Speaking of people watching, you love to flirt.  You use those big blue eyes and smile to your advantage.

You started babbling this month, you temporarily started waving to yourself and you discovered your ability to scream (thanks Dad for teaching me). I enjoyed blasting, singing and dancing to Christmas music with you all month long.  You love being read to and I try to read to you each day and thanks to Aunt Lauren, Natalie, Papa and Grandma Barlow and Aunt Lisa, you have piles of books to read!  

Thank you for being you Anson, you light up our lives and our hearts are bursting with love for you.  Thank you for being content to ride along anywhere and everywhere whether in planes or automobiles, you are so laid back and that makes Mommy and Daddy's life much easier.  Thank you for loving us and thank you for being the sweetest!  We love you Dude!!

Love, Daddy & Mommy