Eight Months

Another month has passed in Braylen's life!

My sweet Braylen Thomas is 8 months old.  No stats for you, just giraffe shots.

For those like me that want to see how much he grew
from the last month. 

As I packed up some of cousin Luke's 9 month clothes, I stumbled across PJ's with the same design as the ones he wore on his homecoming.

3 days old.  Newborn size PJs

8 months old.  9 month size PJs

Every month brings new challenges and joys.  This month, my joy was having a stationary baby.  It was easy to plop Braylen on the floor with a bunch of toys and know he was content for a while just sitting there.  In the last week Braylen is showing some signs of wanting to do more than sit, roll, and dive.  Suddenly I wish I had done more story times, signed the kids up for professional pictures, and soaked up these precious minutes even more than I have.  This boy will be on the move soon for the rest of his life soon.  I have a feeling my joy this month will be my challenge next month.

My challenge this month was naps.  Braylen has turned into a great sleeper.  I skip all the hullabaloo that I do with Evie before nap/bed and just put him awake in his crib.  He's my "easy one" with sleeping now!  He will sleep in the car, but he will not transfer or even stay asleep once I put the car in park.  The two naps have really put a damper on Evie's playtime.  I know everyone has their opinion about routines and strict naptimes, trust me, I totally judged my sister for being so strict about naps.  I get it now.  My kids are SO much better when they can nap at home, normal time.  The same goes for bed.  Braylen naps from 9am-10:30/11 and Evie starts melting down about 11:15 am.  It makes it really difficult to do anything!  I feel trapped in my house again.  My sister reminds me it is only 1 year of my life.  It stinks right now, but we will get through it.

Braylen and Evie are interacting more and more.  Evie strangles hugs Braylen a lot, which of course is adorable... if she wasn't choking him.  I like that she requested Braylen join her in the "boat".  The two of them giggling at each other is music to my ears.

"Row, Row"

It's all fun and games until someone gets her hair pulled

There are subtle changes each month like Braylen is making more sounds and his fine motor skills are improving.  I was about to write this post with no major milestones, but low and behold, Braylen went from laying to sitting in the last two days.

I have a feeling a lot will change in the next month.

I most certainly do!

The ZOO

Evie and Braylen get enough hand-me-downs from various families, so in lieu of more crap in my house toys and clothes, I am encouraging "experience gifts" from grandparents for birthdays and holidays.  There are quite a few great children museums and activities in the area that can be pricey to do.  A family membership is a great way to experience these places with my kids and it's ok if we are only there for one hour.

Pops and Paula got the ball rolling by giving us a membership to the Maryland Zoo for Evie's birthday.  I've gone twice with the kids this summer.  

Outing #1- June with Hettinger cousins (and Auntie L)

Look how tall Evie is!  That mop of hair is Cole :)

The zoo is pretty much a zoo.  The part I remember most is the kids playing musical stroller seats.  Braylen was the only one who nicely stayed in his assigned seat the entire trip.  The rest were fighting over who sat where.  Auntie Laura ended up with 3 kids on her double stroller... and about 6 water bottles on board.

This is a picture for the ages

Outing #2 August with Lisa and Emily

This time I ditched the heavy stroller and used my more-storage-friendly side-by-side stroller.  We anticipated musical stroller seats again.  We didn't factor in Emily getting upset when Braylen rode in her single stroller... So sometimes we pushed around our bags in the strollers and carried kids.  You know how it is.

The polar bears are worth a membership.  This polar bear planted
himself right by the cool air. 

The ostriches were in the water

Evie watched the elephants for a long time

The crew for this outing

Get ready for Evie and Emily cuteness!

Running to see the lion

Emily was scared on the tram ride, so Evie held her hand.

Another end of the zoo picture :)

Next time, we are taking Daddy.  I felt like I ran a marathon when I got home.  9 more months of zoo adventures.  Let me know if you want to join us on our next trip.

Thanks Pops and Paula for a fun, free event!  My guest are enjoying the discount they receive too!

Best Purchase EVER

Or it's at least the best purchase made recently

I am thrilled with my new-to-me double umbrella stroller.  Moms have varying opinions (shocking, right?!) on strollers.  I have a heavy, expensive double jogging stroller which I felt I needed after rave reviews from moms.  Eh, it handles well, but it's so bulky and heavy that I break a sweat dragging it in and out of my garage car trunk.  Honestly, I have buyer's remorse about it.  We walk the neighborhood so much that I wanted something light, easy to assemble, and with enough pockets to hold my phone, keys, and a bottle or two of water.  

I stuck to my guns this time and didn't let any mom talk me into the double stroller they had and therefore I should have too.  I wanted this one.

It's perfect.  Evie and Braylen love sitting next to each other.  Evie, Braylen, and Emily play musical seats when we walk the neighborhood.  (How is it that I bought a double stroller and still end up carrying one of my kids??)  And its compact fold leaves room for a trunk full of groceries.  

I am so HAPPY with my new stroller.  I am excited to take the kids out now.  No more swearing under my breath while I try to fold up my huge stroller as someone waits impatiently for my parking spot (as both my kids scream from the backseat, my blood sugar is low, and half of my life needs to be emptied out of my trunk so I can fit the stroller.  Been there too?).  

Little People

50% of Evie and Braylen's "play dates" are really time for me to hang out with other moms.  Evie and Braylen aren't old enough to really play with their mommy selected friends, but I like to think they are getting some socialization while I have about 10 minutes worth of conversation spread out over 1-2 hours.  Most of our dates are with mommies and kiddos I've met at church.  I am curious if Evie recognizes her "friends" in the nursery on Sunday mornings.  I don't work in it so what happens in nursery, stays in nursery.

Evie and Braylen didn't realize they met some of their lifelong friends over the past few weeks.  I plan to stay in touch with my college roommates for forever, so that means E and B will be forced to be friends with their kids.  This didn't work so well for Parker and his to-be dog friends... let's hope the kids don't growl and snap at each other and ruin the fun for everyone :)

Erica and RJ came to Catonsville for a play date.

RJ is one week older than Braylen.  ~7 months

Evie at school + two stationary babies = actual meaningful mommy conversation!

Jackie, Alex, and Logan met the kids and me in Springfield.  This reunion was way overdue!

Checking out each other...or each other's chew toys

Braylen ~ 7 months.  Logan ~ 9 months

Logan gave my family a little reality check of what it will be like when Braylen crawls.  I thought I heard a lot of  "NO Braylen"s now!

Alex ~ 30 months.  Evie ~ 26 months

The crew

The other 50% of our play dates are with Emily.  We see Emily almost every day for a walk around the 'hood.  Evie and Emily demand to see each other as well as take off running to her buddy's house.  There is no forced friendship here.

Don't be fooled by Emily's lack of emotion... she loves her Ev

The humidity broke and we had a chance to play outside at Emily's house

I haven't seen Evie smile this much for the camera
since the amusement rides in OC!

Proud of dirty hands

30 seconds later, she needed to have every drop of paint off of her

Note to G- Emily needs a cute smock like Evie's :)

I hope some day these pictures will resurface on a collage at a high school graduation party or a wedding.  The giggles, smiles, hand holding, and unprompted "I'm sorry"s tug at my heart.  I adore our little people!

Sitting on the Docks of the Bay

Today we took the kids on short trip to one of my favorite places in Maryland, Annapolis.

A few fun facts about Jason and Marisa in Annapolis:
* When I worked for JHU's Center for Talented Youth in college, we made the trek over the Bay Bridge from Chestertown to Annapolis at least once every few weeks.  We shopped, day dreamed about owning a boat, and toured the grounds at the Naval Academy
* Jason lived in the Annapolis area for roughly 9 months before we got married
* We got hitched about 15 minutes outside of Annapolis... overlooking the water :)
* After eating crabs at Cantler's or near the Bay Bridge, we always stop on Main Street in Annapolis for ice cream and eat it on the dock.
* Evie took some of her early steps on the dock

We can't believe how much the "Uptown" area has changed since Jason lived there!  We parked a little ways out from the dock with the plan of eating lunch in a less populated restaurant.  The kids enjoyed the stroller ride to the dock, Evie anticipating boats.

Pregnant women and strollers of all sizes were in the majority on the dock.  And of course everyone is taking pictures of kids, couples, and families with the scenic backdrop....

Snack time after a long and strenuous car and stroller ride

I prefer to sit with the kids on a bench, many feet away from the water

Jason prefers to sit with his feet dangling in the water.
I have a serious fear of someone falling in...

B-man's baby fine hair blowing in the breeze

Deciding which boat she wants

Even my two year old longingly stares at the fancy boats

stealing Braylen's toy

As G would say, "fish mouth"

By the time we got back to the car, the kids were exhausted and we were just about ready to drive home.  Instead we stumbled upon a super yummy-farm-to-table-sounds healthy- type place.  Our grass-fed beef burgers were amazing and the kids were entertained by Sophie and french fires long enough for both of us to inhale our meals.   After diaper changes in the car, the kids were strapped in and asleep within 4 minutes of pulling out of the parking garage.

Her thumb wasn't needed very long

Braylen needed a little more help falling asleep

I really want to eat crabs now.... time to line up the sitter so we can pick for hours :)

Hot, Hot, HOT!

All week the weather in the Baltimore area has been hazy, hot, and humid.  I spent most of the week keeping the kids indoors, cool in our air conditioned house.  By Friday, Evie and I were stir crazy and needed a new activity.  Even though the Excessive Heat Warning made me nervous about Braylen's well being, I packed up the kids and met Auntie Laura, Cole, and Hannah at the pool.

I know swimmie diapers do not hold any liquid in them, just solids, therefore I kept the kids in normal clothes until I got to the pool.  Changing them in the car was the worst part of the adventure for me.  They were cool in the car, but I had serious sweat standing in the beating down sun.  I must have looked like a hot mess strolling Evie, carrying Braylen in the Ergo, balancing the pool float on the stroller, and schlepping my huge pool bag on my shoulder.  Luckily Auntie met us at the gate and we managed to get in one more time for free :)  

It was a race to see how fast I could get everyone in the baby pool.  It was stinkin' hot!  Evie took a little coaxing, but eventually was walking around (in) the pool.  Braylen enjoyed relaxing in the baby float.  He made it about 35 minutes before he was ready to get out.

Under the mushroom fountain

Evie moved into the baby float and Hannah pushed her around the pool.  Evie adores her cousin and this made both of them so happy.  Evie's face was hysterical when Hannah pulled her near the mushroom fountain.  

Just call us the Hollencamp Floppy Hat Club

Any one else concerned about Hannah's eyes being sucked in?

Every outing I do with my two small children that is a success is a huge accomplishment for me.  Having my sister right there is comforting and very helpful.  Hannah is also a big help with Evie these days.  Evie loved the pool so much she cried when I told her it was time to go.  We'll be back on a slighter cooler day.  I was one tired mama!!

7 months

A little about Braylen Thomas at 7 months of age

Size

Weight: 18 lbs. (48%)

Height:  26.25 inches  (15%)

He wears size 3 diapers and 9 month clothes.

Gross motor skills

Braylen is a sturdy sitter.  He has tumbled very few times.  While I want him to sit still for many more months, he has a different agenda.  He becomes very frustrated on his belly because he wants to move.  He flails his arms and legs as well as a little up on his knees action, but no sign of crawling.  He does more crunches than anyone in this house trying to go from back to sitting.  He is also diving forward (and losing his last meal in the process...) to get to his belly.  We passed on the snap n go stroller (holds his car seat) and have replaced it with an umbrella stroller.  A sitting child makes a big difference!

Fine Motor skills

There has been lots of raking, grabbing, and reaching at/for toys this month.  He is a fierce hair puller. He picks up his sippy cup and puts it in his mouth.  He has great hand eye coordination.  He is intrigued by bottoms and toys that make sounds.

Food

Parents that have good eaters don't know how lucky they are.  Every meal that Braylen eats without a fight (which has been just about every one) is such a relief to me.  Feeding Evie was so challenging and frustrating.  I am counting my blessing for a good eater.  Favorite foods include sweet potatoes, broccoli, and apples.  He has tried many fruits and vegetables.  I will introduce some protein this month.  He consumes milk 5-6 times a day.  He eats his 3 meals with us at the table.  

Personality/language

Braylen is easy going.  He doesn't fuss when held by a new person.  He lights up when he sees his sister or the dog.  He is the most vocal when he is in his high chair.  He knows that means it is time to eat and he wants food immediately.  He likes to snuggle into your neck and wiggle up our torso.  After our beach vacation, Braylen started talking to us.  Dadadadadadada comes out of that gummy mouth.  He is so darn cute.