JAM is 8 Months

One of my favorite photos of him to date.

I am so late with this post.  Jensen officially turned 8 months old on December 19th, but with all the busyness of the Holiday season, I am just now getting around to writing his 8 month wrap-up.  We had a very busy last few weeks, so I'll do my best to summarize it all.

One of the most important events from this past month was that Jensen was baptized on December 16th at St. Helen's Catholic Church.  It was such a special event for our little family of three.  His baptism was a symbol of our commitment to the church and to our family that we will raise our son with a love and knowledge of the Lord.  We promise to instill Christian values in his upbringing and to always set a Godly example for him in our lives and home.  I pray he will grow to have a meaningful relationship with Christ and always keep his faith his top priority in his life, no matter the circumstances.  My sweet and perfect boy. 

The service was wonderful.  I was worried how he would do because the baptism started at 3pm, which falls right in the middle of his usual afternoon nap time.  But he did great!  He played with my necklace during the entire ceremony, and was just a little ham.  He kept laughing at his grandpa, and gave the priest a strange look when he poured the water over his head, but didn't fuss at all.  I was such a proud momma.  We had so many family and friends in attendance, and it was such a special time celebrating our biggest blessing in life, our boy!  After the baptism, we had dinner and cupcakes at our house.  My dad cooked his famous briskets and they were a big hit!

Such a special moment with our boy.

I love this shot.  His face is priceless!

Another fun event was seeing the Peter Pan musical at the Hobby Center with our friends Lanna and Mike. Jensen stayed with his grandparents for a few hours that evening and had fun, as usual.  It was a fun date night and the play was fantastic!  One of my current students was one of the lost boys in the play, so that was really neat to see her perform!  I would love to take Jensen in a few years when he can appreciate it.   Sorry, no pictures to share from this event.  Boo on me.

Our Christmas was nice, but not didn't go exactly as planned.  Andy came down with some yucky virus and ran a fever Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day.  We ended up missing the Candlelight Service at church for the first time ever.  SO sad!  It's also tradition for us to host a Christmas Even meal at our house with family...Andy usually cooks his world famous tacos which are amazing!  But because he was so sick, we opted for take-and-bake pizza instead.  Yep, we ate pizza on Christmas Eve.  But it was still delish!  I felt so bad for Andy, and sad that he couldn't enjoy Jensen's first Christmas like we hoped.  Oh well, we still enjoyed every minute with our little man.  He helped us open his presents by tearing the wrapping paper and got so many new toys!  I feel like he has every Baby Einstein toy ever created and our house is definitely being overrun with baby toys.  I am so excited to celebrate all the holidays with JAM over the years.   He is our joy!

Christmas pajamas and PRESENTS!

Over the last month Jensen has officially become a mobile baby.  He moves all around the house by doing his army-style crawling.  It's so cute to see him coming around the corner following us down  the hallway.  His favorite hang-outs seem to be the master bathroom and kitchen.  He always makes a bee-line straight towards Sydney's water dish and it's become a game of who can get to the dish the fastest before he makes a huge mess.  He is fascinated by her water bowls.  Here are some stats and JAMisms I want to remember from this past month.  It's unbelievable how fast the brain forgets!

He is ALWAYS smiling.  Seriously!

Eating stickers is fun, I think...?

--Weight is 22.8 pounds, height is 28.75 inches, wearing 18 month clothes and size 4 diapers
--Went through a small sleep regression right around Christmas and started waking up crying 1-2 times per night.  Had to do a little CIO, but I think we are back to normal.
--Wants to be on the move.  The bouncer is no longer a good source of entertainment for this monkey.  
--Is trying to pull up on everything, and has done it successfully a few times
--Talks a bunch!  He says "mommma", "dadddad" (his "d" sounds like a "t"), gaggaga, hmmmmm, bababa, 
--Really loves when Sydney licks his hand.  He makes the cutest chuckle.
--Can pick up and eat puffs, cherrios, and really enjoys being a big boy by picking up his own food
--Is drinking from a sippy cup and seems to enjoy it a bunch!
--When you pat his back after a bottle/nursing session, he hums loudly.  I think he likes to hear his voice quiver with each pat, like a little Indian.  It's so funny!
--Makes this funny sound randomly.  Hard to describe, but it's like the sound you would make after drinking a really cold and refreshing coke.  Ahhh.  Too funny.
--Shakes his head "no" just to be silly
--Is one fun/crazy little boy!  Loves to be thrown around, tossed, rough-housed.  He is ALL boy.  
--Laughs and smiles at just about everything.  Mommy and Daddy are his favorite people to smile at.
--Still obsessed with the pacifier/chupone.  That's probably a given from here on out.
--Eating well, now three meals a day with snacks in between.  Still prefers pureed foods as he still has NO TEETH.  He also nurses or takes a bottle 4-5 times per day.
--Still rocking that mullet/rat tail in the back of his head.

THE Mullet/rat tail

--Gives the best open mouth, slobbery kisses.  He grabs your face between his sticky hands and puts his entire open mouth over your mouth.  Makes my heart melt when he does this! 
--Using his big boy, blow-up duck bath tub now and has a blast splashing water
--Thinks peek-a-boo is the best game ever invented.
-- Will do a side-laying plank position that we like to call the "Burt Reynolds" pose.  We have a picture of that for sure:

The "Burt Reynolds" pose

Jensen, stop growing up NOW.  My heart can't take it.  Time needs to slow down, but I know it won't.  I love you Booger!

A boy and his dog

My love.