{Semi} Wordless Wednesday

Our little mountain stair climber: 

8 Months old

I am LOVING this stage!You are so incredibly interactive and playful.I swear, everyday you learn something new.

We've been busy this month (easy to do when the weather is BEAUTIFUL!)
We recently visited the zoo and you loved it!  You enjoyed looking at the animals and every now and then you would turn around to look at me as if you were saying "mom, did you see that!"The gorilla's were a little riled up, and the giant male kept running around and banging on the glass - DEFINITELY got your attention - and scared you a few times!

One thing Houston showed us was that we need more friends with babies around your age...what better place to find a playmate than at Sushi!?!
Daddy and I went out to celebrate a work promotion, and started chatting with a couple and their adorable 10.5 month old son.  The entire time I sat there thinking "I know her from somewhere"... Finally, we figured out that we were in the same Baptism class at Church.Well, we exchanged numbers and immediately set up a play date.
It was so much fun to see you boys playing together!  We had a nice lunch and just hung out.Our first play date couldn't have gone any better.And as a plus, you slept like a champ afterward (and from what I hear, Caleb did too!)
We are planning another one real soon.

Another big and exciting change to announce:We've decided to join the world of cloth diapering!
I've begun purchasing a variety of brands and hope to start trying them out in the next month of so.I was actually surprised that Daddy was on board with the idea!We are all about saving money, and this is an easy way to do it.Daddy didn't really think we'd save too much on just Brycen, but mentioned that when #2 comes, it would really prove to be economical for us!
(did anyone else catch that, he brought up baby #2!?! YAY)
Now that I've got baby #2 on the brain...(NO, I'm not pregnant - nor are we even trying... soon, very soon though)
Where was I...
I think I've mentioned before that we recently started swim classes...The first class, you SCREAMED... the entire half hour.  You weren't having ANY bit of it.I'll admit it - I was devastated.  But vowed that we wouldn't give up and we would be back the following week. 
Your 2nd class was today and I am SO happy to report that you did so much better.We worked on easing you into the water and you cried for a little bit...but then out of no where, you began smiling and laughing and really seemed to enjoy it!

Baby Stats
Sleep:   You LOVE to change things up, but this time for the good!Going to Houston was the turning point... Up until then, you had been sleeping 10.5-11 hours at night, and then taking 2-3 40 minute naps
You are now back to sleeping 11.5-12 hours at night, with 1-2 naps per day.  We are slowly getting away from the 2nd nap, I think.
Daily Routine:  1 nap day: Wake up, breakfast, play, lunch, nap, wake up, snack, play, dinner, play, bottle, bed.2 nap day: Wake up, breakfast, play, nap, wake up, lunch, play, nap, snack, play, dinner, play, bottle, bed.
Feeding:  We are working on "real" meal times to hopefully make the transition off formula really easy in a few months.You get "milk" (formula) in a cup with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Since you are just learning, whatever you don't drink out of the cup, I put into a bottle and you finish it that way.
9/930 am - Breakfast (cereal, sometimes fruit and formula12/1230 pm - Lunch (formula, veggie, and fruit or meat)330 pm - Snack 530/6 pm - Dinner (formula, meat, fruit, veggie)745/8 pm - Bottle New Foods:Strawberry BeetsPancakesGround beefGreen onionBell PepperCeleryEggs
# of Teeth:3 (all on the bottom) Weight:birth - 7 lbs 6 oz2 weeks - 8 lbs 10 oz4 weeks - 10 lbs 4 oz6 weeks - 11 lbs 1.5 oz2 months - 12 lbs 8 oz3 months - 14 lbs 12 oz (at home estimate)4 months - 15 lbs 10 oz5 months - 16 lbs 10 oz (at home estimate)6 months - 18 lbs 5 oz7 months - 19 lbs (at home estimate)8 months - 20 lbs 6 oz (at home estimate)
Length:birth - 21 inches2 weeks - 22 inches4 weeks - unknown6 weeks - 23 inches2 months - 23.75 inches3 months - 25.5 inches (at home estimate)4 months - 25.75 inches5 months - 27 inches (at home estimate)6 months - 28.5 inches
7 months - 29 inches (at home estimate)8 months - 30 inches (at home estimate) Head Circumference:birth - 15 inches2 weeks - 15 inches4 weeks - unknown6 weeks - unknown2 months - 16.25 inches3 months - 16.75 inches (at home estimate)4 months - 17 inches5 months - 17.25 inches (at home estimate)6 months - 17.75 inches

7 months - 18 inches (at home estimate)8 months - 18.25 inches (at home estimate)

Diaper Size:Still size 3.Currently using Parent's Choice or Pampers for daytime and Pampers Overnights Clothing Size:6-9 month onesies/shirts, 9 month pants, 12 month sleepers/rompers size 3 shoe
Hair Color:birth - brown and quite a bit more than we were expecting1 month - brown - you are almost completely bald on top!2 months - brown and it's finally growing back3 months - brown with a nice bald spot in the back4 months - Still brown but lightening a lot - I think it may end up being a dirty blond.5 months - lightening a lot.... brown to dirty blond6 months - dirty blond - it has lightened a TON7 months - dirty blond8 months - dirty blond
Eye Color:birth - dark blue-grey1 month - starting to lighten but still blue-grey 2 months - dark blue3 months - Still dark blue-grey4 months - "sunburst" - you have a brown inner ring (most days) with blue-grey outer ring5 months - bluish grey6 months - blue grey (YAY - it looks like we got our blue eyed boy!)7 months - hazel? blue? definitely not entirely brown!8 months - blue grey some days, hazel others. Favorite toy/entertainment:This was easy this month - it is hands down your Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Table!You would play for HOURS at this thing if we let you. 
Nicknames:Monkey doodle, Stinko, El Chub o, Bubba, Bubs
Funniest Moment: There are 2 this month! #1: Your first swim class!This probably shouldn't be the funniest, but we can't help it!
You were totally fine with just your feet in the water, but the moment we eased you in, you SCREAMED.  The funny part was that we'd get your smiling and laughing and then you'd pause and look around... then go back to crying.   #2:  The first night sleeping without your sleep sack.You recently mastered standing up - well our normally EASY bedtime, turned into romper room.You wouldn't lay down for anything.  Before we even had a chance to cover you up, you were on your hands and knees crawling around.  You then stood up (pacifier in mouth) and proceeded to jump on your bed.  You were smiling ear to ear and just having a riot.
Favorite Moment:Watching you learn to stand up - now we can't keep you sitting! 
Words:DadaMamaBabaBob Milestones:CrawlingPulling up"Walking" along furniture
Firsts:St. Patrick's DaySleeping in a hotelPlay DateSlidePlaying in sandSwim Class
Here are your 8 month photos:

Brycen, thank you for making our lives complete.I love watching you grow and take everything in...you are so curious about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE around you! You are an absolute joy to have in our lives.Love you!

Fun with food

I think he liked it!

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday

Sweet dreams: 

This is how I found Brycen during his recent 13.5 hours of sleep!I can't help but notice how BIG he looks in his crib - no longer that of a baby, but a toddler!

Vacation

The first official Chandler Family Vacation was a success...
We recently arrived home from Houston and I am pleased to announce that we had a fabulous time.
Brycen was an AMAZING traveler.He did fantastic on the flights although each descent was a little rough on his ears.He had one kinda major freak out on the return however it was because he was starving.We obviously don't feed him... ever!
There was ONE old lady on the first flight that had some choice words (said to her husband, but loud enough for me to hear) when Brycen started fussing (while boarding)...because he saw his bottle and wanted it... RIGHT NOW.  
Upon finishing his bottle, he was asleep for the entire 45 minute flight.
We received so many compliments and praise for how well he did.Take that you cranky nasty old woman... my child was so well behaved and I didn't receive so much as an apology :)Oh well.. some people just want to whine and complain when they see a baby on a plane.
I won't lie, I was EXTREMELY nervous about flying with him.  He's a newly mobile little guy who rarely likes being held as it is, let alone for 3 hours of flights.  But he proved us wrong and was incredible.
Traveling with an infant was stressful - we would be completely out of our element, so we needed to bring his comforts of home with us!  This resulted in him having the largest suitcase (as well as part of mine!)
Beware: Picture overload!

Our Suitcases - Mine (and some overflow of Brycen's), Brycen's, Brian's

He LOVED hanging out in our bed

The bathroom vanity - notice the baby take over!

Brian with a Johnny Cash Acoustic Guitar

Front facing in the rental car - he LOVES it

A visit to the Natural Science Museum

The take over continues into the bedroom area!

At NASA trying out a space helmet

Lookin' good hubby!

Brycen and his "Back off! I need my space" onesie - how appropriate for NASA!?!

NASA again - part 1 of the FREEZING cold tram tour

Part 2

Even with all of his toys, he chose to play with the cardboard from his food!

Crawling on his jungle gym, I mean our bed

Although not pictured, we also visited the Fine Arts Museum (and the special King Tut exhibit) and the Downtown Aquarium.  We ate lots of great food (Joe's Crab Shack, Texas BBQ, Tex Mex, and an amazing steak at Shula's), as well as some adult beverages with friends.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip.
Can't wait to plan our next trip...a trip back home!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My how things have changed since having Brycen!
Normally today would've been spent drinking... way too much.
Instead, I spent the day with my family!

The day wouldn't be complete without an impromptu photo shoot in the backyard!

I figured he'd be crawling all over...

however he just sat there and posed...

until I put the camera away!

An afternoon at the park

We visited our neighborhood park the other day and it gave me an opportunity to play with my camera... and now my editing software (a gift from my amazing husband!).
Brycen LOVED being outside.

And I think it's safe to say, there will be a lot more visits to the park!

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday

Sliding fun:

Side note: We live in a nice neighborhood, and it was very upsetting to see the playground equipment drawn on!