Come Fly with Me

I have been waiting for my boys to be big enough for the swings!  Finally, on their 7 month birthday, we took a walk to our local park and let the boys try them out.  As all kids do, they loved it!  Their giggles and laughs were music to our ears.  Since that first time, I have taken the boys back everyday so they can swing.  Part of it may be for their enjoyment and part of it is so I can scope out other moms and maybe meet some people in our neighborhood (stalk much?).  Also the natural light and inevitable smiles make for some great pictures!

7 month stretch

Food, family, fun!  That is a good summary of month 7!  

Food!

One of our main objectives was to introduce solid food before the boys' 7 month birthday.  We were a little late to this party for several reasons, but like most things, good things happen when you take your time!  First we started with some practice sitting in the new high chairs.

(Look how happy and excited Brady looks.  Foreshadowing: that does not last)

Finally, on a Saturday when both Chris and I were home, we decided to pull the trigger and give the boys some rice cereal.  Brody loved it!  When he took his first mouthful of food, he looked at me like I had given him the missing puzzle piece to life.  

By the second mouthful he was already pulling the spoon into his mouth and feeding himself.

Brady attacked his first meal like he does everything, with gusto.  He was so excited by what was going on the was trying to grab and devour everything, that is, until he got the first mouthful of food into his mouth.  He thought about it and then proceeded to make a horrible "yuck" face each time he got food anywhere near his pie-hole.

(Who are the rookie parents who  used a glass bowl when feeding their kids.  Derp!)

Unfortunately for him, this face makes Chris and I laugh hysterically so we just keep trying to give him more food.  

So far the boys have tested rice cereal and apple sauce.  The response to the apple sauce was the same, Brody loved it and Brady shuttered with each morsel. After a couple of meals and a batch of homemade roasted apple sauce though, he seems to be enjoying food a little more.  If nothing else, his convulsions have stopped! We plan to keep giving food to Brady and hoping that one day he will end up actually liking something! For now, we are content with trying to establish a family dinner time and letting the boys play with food. 

Family!

Since moving to California, we have been lucky enough to see family on many occasions.  We has a BBQ in Santa Cruz where the CA contingent once again wined and dined!  The boys loved seeing everyone!

Fun!

This month we took two trips to Santa cruz so the boys got to see the ocean twice!  The second trip was primarily so the dogs could romp in the ocean too!

This month the boys have really taken playing together to a whole new level.  When sitting or lying next to each other, they now try and get the toy that the other one has.  It took 7 months, but I suspect this is the start of a lifetime of me redispersing toys to each boy as the other one steals them away.  Its the circle of life I guess.  Also, they constantly grab each others faces now.  

Brady.

Brady has transformed from a honey badger to a spider monkey.  This kid is too funny.  Whenever he is sitting and sees something that excites him, he opens his mouth into a huge smile, starts to squeal, and rocks back and forth on his butt while flailing his arms.  I swear one day he is just going to launch himself right onto his brother or one of the animals (usually the cause of such excitement).  This little guy is nothing but potential energy.  He is a total stomach sleeper and loves to pound on anything you put in front of him.  He laughs ALL THE TIME and it's the sort of laugh that reminds you of Beavis and Butthead. I hear him laughing away to himself in the car, in his crib, while playing with Brody and, of particular enjoyment for Chris and I, at the most inopportune times you can imagine.  He smiles at everyone who passes and will squeal with delight if you tickle his neck or feet.  He is such a good humored silly guy!

Brody.

Brody has really come out of his shell this month and has gone from being the observer to being an adventurer.  He has mastered rolling and now rolls with purpose to either get to a toy or get to me.  The other day I was standing while he was playing on the floor and I heard a noise at my feet.  Brody had rolled over to me and had used his noises to get my attention.  When I looked down at him he beamed at me with such pride and I of course returned the beam since I was so proud of him!  The same day, I was watching Brody play with Brady and my poor little meatball rolled right out the door.  Crawling is on the horizon for him and then there will be no stopping him!  He was enamored with the ocean.  He has learned to say "Boo" and knows that when he says "boo" Chris will blow on his belly.  Brody continues to "Brody-bite" and I still love being bitten!

(Wouldn't it be mean if I just let one baby wear this shirt.  Luckily I have two!)

These 2 guys are so much fun to be around.  Happy 7 month birthday!