Declan - 7 month

Weight: 21.5 pounds (home scale)

Height: 27.5in.  (total guess)

You are wearing 6-9month, 9 month and some 12 month clothes.  Which we are running low on.  It's funny how stocked up we were on newborn/3 month and then it seems like we have hardly anything from here on out.  Guess mom just has to go shopping...shoot.  

Still hanging out in the 3's.  I think we'll stick with those for another box and then move on to the 4's.  We've been having some blowouts...and I'm not sure if we're just bad at putting the diapers on, or if you're just too big for them already.  Your weight is still within range...but son, you have the McGuire butt, and it may just be too big for the 3's :)  You most def get it from your daddy!!!

You son...are a eating machine!!! (obviously!!) You are doing so well with your solid foods!! The only thing you really haven't liked is peas...and from what i hear that's pretty common.  You tried green beans (loved!), mango (super loved!), plums (by far your fave!), carrots, chicken and beef! I'm still making your food...with the exception of the meat.  I am too chicken (pun intended!) to make meat in the blender.  So we have just been purchasing some Gerber's...and as i suspected, you are phased at all! I'm super glad we have Uncle Ben's organic applesauce and pear sauce...those have been a lifesaver! We also use his plums!  You eat three times a day...fruit for breakfast, fruit and veggie at lunch, and fruit and meat/veggie at dinner!  You take a bottle in between breakfast and lunch...again after lunch before your nap, and then usually another one around 7 when you're ready for bed.  Such a porker :)

You aren't crawling yet....and babe, I am perfectly fine with that! I'm not sure I'm ready to chase you all over!! You still LOVE to stand and pretend walk. You just laugh and grin from ear to ear anytime you are up on your feet.  I'm almost wondering if we'll just skip crawling all together and go straight to walking!  Whatever floats your boat bud!  Dad's been working with you like crazy to get you to at least get up on your knees....but you just despise it.  Gramme thinks it's because you don't have knees, just rolls :)

You just got your 3rd tooth!!! (Right eye tooth) I knew it was coming...you've been fighting sleep a little more then normal, and acting a little crabby.  But honestly, teething has not been that hard on you! We've been VERY blessed!  I just hope you continue to take it well...momma doesn't like it when you don't feel good!

You start going to daycare this week (Oct. 9th).  I'm excited for you.... I really think you'll love being around your buddy James.  I just hope you two don't kill Lynde in the process!! You'll be going Wednesday's and Friday's for now.  Gramme Doll just wasn't ready to give you up full time....and I'm not sure she ever will!  You two just have a blast together! I don't look forward to when you can talk...and tell me you'd rather stay with her.  It'll happen...I'd put money on it

You've started doing a head tilt.  It's hilarious.  It's like you're trying to look under something, but more time's then not, there's nothing to look under.  It's like you are trying to see from a different angle.  You're a goof.

This past month we've gone on a few short little trips.  First to visit Great Grandma in Wakeeny.

We went up twice this month and each time you were just an angel.  You travel so well now!!  Your Great Grandma got to love on you bunches....so did your Aunt Dana!! (Who came to watch you for a couple days while Gramme was out of town...you two had a BLAST!! plus you scored all sorts of new toys! The bath toys have been you're favorite, especially the crab! We loved having her here and can't wait for her to come back!)

You also traveled to Wichita to cheer me on in my 3rd 1/2 marathon!!! Crossing that finish line was SO much sweeter with you and dad right there to welcome me!!! 

That same weekend we got your 6 month photo's taken!  You were a little grumpy, since you decided to wake up at 6am instead of your usual 7.  So these were right around when you wanted a nap....I'm still super happy with them!! 

And here's some 7 month photo out takes.... you were being a ham!

You have grown SO much this past month...and it's been so fun to watch you discover new things.  I can't wait to see what the 7month of life brings you.... 

To the moon and back buddy...

Declan - 6 months

I'm in denial.... no way is my baby boy already 1/2 a year old, NO WAY.

Weight: 18lbs. 13oz. (75%)

Height: 26.5in. (50%)

Head: 17in.

I just can't believe how much you've grown in the past couple of months.  I find myself looking at you and thinking...where the deuce did my baby go and who is this small child?!?! It makes me have baby fever already...and that's scary :)

You're wearing 6 month, and 6-9 month clothes.  I purged your closet this past month, and then apologized to your father.  He kept telling me you didn't need any more clothes, but I didn't listen.  In my defense your father is usually wrong, so I wasn't too worried about it.  Turns out he was right.  You had/have WAY too many items of clothing.  I already have two tubs full of things that don't fit you.  TWO TUBS.  You've only be alive for 6 months.  I really want a little girl next, but I think you need a brother to wear all those outfits again (to make it worth all the $$ i spent!)

Just like I suspected, you weren't in size 2 diapers for very long. (we're trying to finish off what few we have left)  A big ol box of 3's should be here tomorrow....hurray :)

You are sitting up like a big boy.  It's adorable and sad all at the same time. I can't believe you're old enough to do this....ugh.

You still just have the two bottom teeth...but you have started drooling like it's your job this past week.  So maybe your top teefers are coming in.  Or you just feel the need to soak every single shirt you own...either way.  You haven't been acting like you're in pain or anything so I continue to be thankful for that.  I'm just worried the hammer's going to drop on this soon.  We've been so lucky with you handling teething so well....soooo lucky.

You've sort of cut out your evening nap.  So now you take a nice long one in the morning (usually around 10am) for a couple of hours, and then a shorter one in the afternoon (around 3).  But that's it.  So by 8pm you're tuckered...and off to bed you go!  It's been nice to have a little Mommy/Daddy time, but i do have to admit i often stare at your monitor wishing you'd wake up so we could hang out :)

You obviously love to eat.  You've had sweet potatoes, banana's, pears, apples, peaches, and peas.  You do not like peas.  You love all the fruit though (duh.  you are my child!).  We just started feeding you a little at each meal.  You seem to do the best at lunch time.

(uncle Ben feeding you his apples for the first time)

We took a family vacation this past month.  We traveled out to Breckenridge to spend 5 days with the whole Doll gang!  Aunt Sadie flew in Wednesday night...and Bre and Ben met us out at the house on Friday afternoon.  You got LOTS of snuggles in with all three of them...you did lots of exploring as well! You rode the gondola to the top of the mountain...but slept through the whole thing.  You did your first outlet mall shopping...you also did your first sleeping unswaddled (i was not a fan of this!)

You also got to experience all that is Manhattan, KS this past month.  Mom and Dad LOVE this place, and couldn't wait to share it with you!!! We went to the first K-State football game of the season (and it was a hot mess, literally!) and spent the rest of the weekend exploring Manhattan with the rest of the McGuire's!  It was a great weekend, and I can't wait to make many more memories in that town with you! (PS. this is where you'll be attending college in 18 years, you'll just love it!)

You've discovered your head.  Well I mean you've discovered shaking your head.  So we get lots of no no's from you.  Of course you have no idea that's what it means....but it's still pretty cute. 

Oh yes.  On the way to Breckenridge we stopped at Denver Children's and met with a new doctor.  I think we've decided to do your surgery there in March.  I just felt SO much better about Dr. Yoon, and the whole team there.  So we'll be spending a LOT of time in Denver next year.  You'll be in some of the country's best hands little guy....I have no doubt about that.

(Some day soon I'll do a whole post of what's happening with your ears....some day soon)

Everyday is something new and exciting with you.  You constantly are making your dad and I (and a lot of other people too!) smile.  You have such a sweet/loving personality and I can't wait to see what kind of person you're becoming.  You truly make everyday special little guy.... we love you to the moon and back...

Declan - 5 months

(Only a week late this time....bad mom)

Weight:  17lbs (home scale)

Height: 25in (guessing on this one!)

4 month photo vs. 5 month.  I'd say we did a bit of growing :)  Look at those man boobs....i mean really!!! You decided to up the eating this past month. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with teething, but it all happened around the same time.  You went from eating every 2.5-3 hours to about every hour and a half.  You're tearing through momma's frozen milk supply pretty dang quick!  We're actually giving you some formula here and there...you don't seem to care what you eat, as look as you get to eat!

Speaking of eating, you've tried some sweet potato's that momma made you.  First try, you really didn't care for them! Second and third attempt you started to come around!!  I can tell you're going to love to eat just like you mom and dad!

You are wearing size 2 diapers.... and I'm afraid you won't be in those long at the rate that you are growing!  I am refraining from stocking up, because I know the second i do, you'll switch sizes on me! You are wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes, some 6 month mixed in there as well!  I can still get 3 month pants/shorts on you as well.  But I'm really trying to get you in all the 3-6 since you're growing so fast, don't want to waste any cute clothes :)

You are doing so well with your sitting up.... it won't be long until you can do it unassisted!! We're working on the rolling over from your back to your tummy.  You've done it before, but you just don't care to do it near as much as you like to roll from your tummy to your back!

You've also starting standing (with help obviously!).  You used to HATE when we'd try to make you stand.  You would automatically buckle your knees and smile at me...you're a turd.

You've almost outgrown your travel pack n' play.  I really don't want to have to lug around the big one,  but we'll make it work!  Maybe you could just stop growing and then we wouldn't have these kinds of problems. 

(staring contest with the toy.  you won)

You're doing SO much better at traveling!! And you have done A LOT of that!  Our latest trip was to KC so momma could go to a work training!! Your Gramme came along, and you guys shopped till you dropped while i was busy!! You love to shop.  You love to look at all the colors, and the cute baby in all the mirrors!

You're adjusting well to your hearing aids.  I think they bother us more then they bother you.  I think it's silly that you even have to wear them, when we know they aren't helping...but we gotta do what the insurance company says!  You've made a lot of new friends lately that are helping you with your ears.... We see Wanda at home once a week, Dena in Wichita once a month and Dr. Kryzer every few months up there as well.  We've also met a lot of other families that have little kiddo's with hearing conditions too!! We're part of a parent group in Wichita and I can't wait to see you running around with all the other kids getting into trouble :)

You're still staying with Gramme every day while mom and dad go to work.  You're pretty smitten with her...which just makes my heart happy!! You guys go on morning walks, hang outside on a blanket under the tree, and swing in your new swing that we hung for you!  I think in September you may start going to our friend Lynde's twice a week.  We think you'll benefit from some interaction with other kids, and I'm sure Gramme (although she won't admit it) could use a break!  You're buddy James goes to Lynde, so I'm sure we'll be getting phone calls in the future telling us all about the trouble you two cause!!

You have TWO teeth!!!!! Your front bottom teeth are both in, and you spend most of your time messing with them!! You love to have your hand in your mouth...and when that's not in there, you're running your tongue along them! You haven't been that fussy through this whole process and for that I am very thankful!  You have a little bump up top, so i think you're working on that one now!! I can't believe you have teeth...you're growing up way to dang fast!

This past month you got to see a lot of family!!! We visited Bridget and Gage while we were in KC.  We sure do wish they lived closer, I think you two boys are going to be best buds! We also had the Doll family reunion this month, and your Aunt Breezy came back for it!! She soaked up all the time she could with you!!  Aunt Sadie was home at the beginning of the month as well....so you've been a little spoiled this past month!!  We can't wait for our family trip to Brek in two weeks.... you'll get to spend TONS of time with both of them! (and uncle ben too!!)

You're such a little talker.  You tell stories all the time, and can get pretty animated!  You have a REALLY high pitched scream you'll do when you're really getting into it.  It's pretty cute!  You're Poppa Steve can get you going pretty good too.... You just laugh and laugh at his funny faces!

Still sleeping all night!!! (Woot woot!!)  Every now and then you'll cry in the middle of the night, but I think that's just been because of your teeth.  You don't actually wake up, you just cry or whimper in your sleep....nothing a pacifier can't fix!  You're still going down around 9 or 930 and getting up around 7.  You'll just lay in your crib and jabber...telling stories and doing your dolphin kicks! (you're still swaddled so you look like a a dolphin when you kick!)  You are the happiest little guy in the morning, and I love that we get to spend some time together every morning before I drop you off at Gramme's! Dad gets a little jealous sometimes!

There isn't really any words to express just how happy you make me and your dad.  You are our biggest accomplishment, and we couldn't possibly love you any more!!!   To the moon and back buddy....to the moon and back :)