Gil at 18 months

Yes, Gil is now almost 20 months.  I wanted to do this several weeks ago after his check up, but I didn't have great pics of him on the real camera.  Today I realized that who knows when I will actually take those pictures, so I will just use what I have!

swinging at Oakledge Park in late September

I love this little jacket.  Katy gave it to Jack when he was a baby.

October

At 15 months Gil was 21 lbs 4 oz (24%) and 31 1/2 inches (52%).  At 18 months (well really 19), Gil was 22 lbs 8 oz (22%) and 33 inches (58%).  He's still on the smaller size, but he's jumped up since that 5% at a year. 

picking pumpkins at Sam Mazzas, October

Gil found the coffee grinds in the trash, October

When he wears disposables, he can still fit in a 3 but you are almost in a 4.  He wears mostly 12 to 18 month clothes, but he has started wearing a couple of 18 to 24 month outfits.  They're a little big but they work.  And he has a few 12 month outfits that fit.  He wears a size 5 shoe.

At about 16 months, he dropped his morning nap.  He usually goes down for a nap at noon and will sleep anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours (with random 3 hour naps every now and then).  He goes to bed at 7 and wakes up at 6 or 6:30.  He is still in the crib, but he has started climbing out.  I am hoping to make it until 2 with him in the crib, but we will see!

Gil as Hedwig, October

Gil is a big remote fan and used to regularly hide them, November

He is CONSTANTLY on the go.  I like to say that Gil hasn't figured out that he's still a baby.  In fact, we all say that to him a lot at home: "Gil, you're still a baby!"  He sits at the table, he drinks out of real cups sometimes, he wants to do EVERYthing big brother does.  He will only play with duplo legos if Jack is doing it.  He will climb everything.

opening presents in Brookhaven, December

modeling Baby Gap, December

He loves building things, just like his brother.  He also loves anything kitchen related.  I think I may get him a toy kitchen for his birthday.  He loves to play with our Melissa and Doug play food sets and with any spoons or bowls that he can get to in our kitchen.  And other than that, he really just wants to play with whatever brother is into.  Oh, and he loves to get into the trash and recycling.  Seriously.  It's a problem.

smiles for Ole Miss recruiting day, February

enjoying some warm weather at Dorset Park, March

It was about this time that Jack became obsessed with Thomas the train.  He hasn't really shown any leanings like that.  He does love his blanket and will carry it around like Linus.  And he loves his pacifier.  Jack used his until 23 months (because we took a trip to San Diego then and I wanted it for the plane ride).  We are flying to MS in August, so I think I will do the same, let Gil keep his paci for one last trip and then cut him off cold turkey.

Gil's first hushpuppy (he's a fan!), March

first Easter egg hunt, also a fan, March

Gil has such a different temperament than Jack.  Jack is just really chill.  He's super energetic, but emotion wise he's pretty easy.  Gil on the other hand is all over the place.  If he is happy, he is SO happy.  Oh, but if he's mad, watch out!  At least 2/3 of naps, he wakes up pretty grumpy from.  He will cry for at least 30 minutes, throwing himself on the floor.  Sometimes, he will beat his head on the floor (don't worry, I told my pediatrician, and he's not worried).  I think some of that is because he can't tell us what he wants and so he gets really frustrated.

celebrating free cone day, at home, April

playing like a big kid at Clemyjontri park, April

But he's also pretty compliant and obedient.  Let's hope that sticks!  He is very much a family kid, and it takes him a long time to warm up to others.  He loves loves loves cuddling, which melts my heart.

I just love this outfit, April

He's still not really talking.  He has said "mama" and "dada" and "jack," but he doesn't say them on a regular basis.  He does say "hot" and "more."  He also signs alot: milk, more, please, thank you, eat, brush teeth, take a bath, sorry, go to sleep, all done.

He's had a pretty healthy winter.  He had a cold and a little cough and then he had roseola.  His liver seems to be fine though, so that's good.  He does have pretty bad eczema.  We have learned how to be proactive with the steroid creme and the aquaphor.  It is already looking better in this warm weather, so I am thankful for that!

At the pottery coop potluck at UVM, May

Oh, Gilly man.  You are a mess, but you are our little mess!  We love you and we are so thankful you are ours.

Gil at 12 Months

Baby Gil is 12 months old, a year!

Gil continues to be a little guy.  He went to the doctor at 11 1/2 months and he weighs 17 lbs, 9 1/2 ounces, is 28 inches long, and his head is 17 1/2 cm in circumference.  He is still wearing 12 month clothes very comfortably.  He wears size 3 shoes, but it's super hard to find shoes in that size for walkers.  Most babies have bigger feet when they begin walking.

Sleep has been so good this month!  He takes two great naps, a day, usually about 2 hours long each.  It is a rare night that Gil doesn't sleep through it.  He goes down at 7 or 7:30 and sleeps until 5 or 6.  He nurses on one side and then will go back to sleep until 7 or 7:30.  

We have started the weaning process.  By next week, we should be done nursing!  I am proud for having nursed both boys for a year.  I'm not trying to be hurtful--you have to do what works best for you and your family, and this is what has worked for us.  But that doesn't mean it hasn't been hard at times, and I am glad to have made it to my goal with both boys.  Gil now takes 3 bottles of whole milk a day and then nurses in the morning.

Gil is still loving food.  He eats a couple of pouches a week (usually if we are out and about), but he mostly eats table food with us.  

Gil does not slow down, ever!  He loves walking and is constantly on the move.  He learned to clap this past month and he is always showing off his new skill.  He's not much of a talker and doesn't say "Mama" or "Dada" that regularly.

He loves to play with toys.  His favorite is a little wooden car ramp that my brother gave Jack when he was little.  He has figured the toy out and he loves to push the cars down the ramp.

Gil is a funny little guy.  He loves to cuddle and sit on laps.  He loves to be held.  And he loves to laugh.  He has a very dramatic personality.  He is either VERY happy or VERY upset.

For his birthday, we went with a few friends to a local apple orchard.  I brought some pumpkin spice cupcakes and we sang to Gil before picking apples.  I don't think he really knew it was for him, but the rest of us had fun!

Likes: food, making a mess, Jack

Dislikes: not getting the toy he wants!

Happy 1st Birthday, our sweet little Baby Gil!  We love you so much!

Gil at 11 Months

Baby Gil is 11 months old!

(Yes, he turned 11 months old 1/2 a month ago.  But this info is all based off of that!)

Gilly man is still a little shrimp.  He weighs about 17 1/2 lbs (what Jack weighed at 3 1/2 months!).  He wears 12 month clothes and will probably be able to do so for at least another couple of months.  Throughout this crazy move, he's been wearing disposables full time, and he wears size 3.

Sleep this month has been rough!  The first two weeks, while we were still in our apartment in State College, was good.  He had a few nights where he would cry in the middle of the night or wake up, but he was pretty much sleeping through the night.  But then we moved and he was sleeping in the bathroom of our one room guest apartment.  He was waking up 2 to 3 times a night!  Now that we are in our apartment, I am praying things get back to normal sleep wise.

He is a good little napper, though.  He still takes a morning and afternoon nap, which are each usually 1 1/2 to 2 hours long.

He is still a great little eater.  One of his favorite foods (honestly all food is his favorite) is tomatoes.  He loves to eat tomatoes!  He's gotten really good at feeding himself finger food.  We still give him pouches but I would love for him to be almost fully on "table food" by 1.   He can definitely do that, but sometimes it's easier to give him a pouch if we are eating sometime spicy.

He is officially walking!  He started walking on July 31st, as we were cleaning up our apartment.  When Jack had just turned 11 months, we moved and he started walking during our move too.  What is it with my boys and walking during moves?  He is still shaky and isn't a full time walker, but he can do 8 or 9 steps at a time before falling down on his booty.

He started saying Mama this month, which is fun!  

Gil is hilarious.  He loves to be tickled, held, and cuddled.  Both my boys are so snuggly!  He also has a very dramatic personality.  If he's happy, he's SO happy.  But if he's grumpy or mad, you better watch out!

But he has been very flexible (other than sleeping) with this move.  He was pretty good in the car ride.  We have done lots of outdoor activities (summervale, the farmers market, old (before the move) and new playgrounds), and he has smiled through it all.

Likes: eating, walking, tomatoes

Dislikes: not getting to do what he wants, sleeping in his pack and play in the bathroom (wouldn't you?)

Happy 11 months, Gilly Man!  You are our "favorite favorite!"

Gil at 10 Months

Baby Gil is 10 months old!

We were a month late on his 9 month check up (because of traveling down south), so I actually know his weight and height.  He is 17 lbs 10 oz (11%), 29 inches (57%), and his head is 44 cm (14%).  He is still a little guy!  He has a few 9 month outfits he can wear, but he is almost totally into 12 month clothes.  He is still in size 3 diapers and his one size diapers are still set pretty small, although we are in the second size of Thirsties DuoWrap covers.

Since we got back from vacation, sleep has been pretty good.  He takes two two hour naps a day.  He goes to sleep so easily!  He is getting really close to sleeping through the night.  Okay, I'll go ahead and say it--he is mostly sleeping through the night now!  But that happened the day after he turned 10 months old, and I'm a few days late on this post.  We had to do some cry it out to get there, but I have dropped the dream feed.

Gil LOVES food.  I still can't even believe that.  He prefers the pouches to being spoon fed.  He sucks those things down and likes all of the different flavors.  He also loves to eat real food.  We break off little pieces of whatever we are eating (as long as its not spicy or doesn't have avocado--he has reactions to avocado), and he loves it.  

He is moving all over the place.  He has started standing up by himself for several seconds at a time.  He can go from sitting to standing and then back down again, without holding on to anything!  Jack started walking right when he turned 11 months old, and I have a feeling that Gil will be similar.

This month he said his first word, Dada (why is that always the case?!?).  He still has yet to say Mama, but hopefully it will come soon.  He also likes to wave, but isn't a fan of clapping.

He is starting to show his little personality.  He wants to play with whatever big brother is playing with.  He does not like if you stop him from doing what he wants to be doing.  He loves to snuggle and give kisses.   He is our sweet, silly Gilly monster!

Likes: cuddles, playing with Jack's toys, food!

Dislikes: not getting to do what he wants

Happy 10 months, Baby Gil!  We love you!

Gil at 9 Months

Baby Gil is 9 months old!

***I am posting this late, but the picture and the information are all from that time.***

Based off of his weight at 8 months, I would say Gil weighs a little over 17 lbs right now.  He is close to outgrowing his 9 month footie pajamas, but other than that, he can wear most 9 month clothes.  He is still wearing size 3 disposables and his cloth diapers are set pretty small.  He is just a little guy!

Sleep this month was awful!  That's not totally fair.  Before we went on our trip, it was good.  He would cry maybe once at night, but he could usually go from his dream feed until morning.  But then on our 3 weeks trip---whew, it was bad!  He woke up every 2 to 3 hours almost every night.  I think part of it is sleeping in the room with us and part of it had to be the pack and play (that thing is not that soft or comfortable!).  And we also didn't feel comfortable letting him cry when we were in other people's houses.

All of Gil's teeth have broken through since last month, and he now has 6 teeth!  His top two teeth are spread apart a little, and I think its really cute.  I don't think his orthodontia bill in 12 years will be that cute, but right now I like it.

Gil takes two two hour naps a day, and he, even while we are traveling, is doing pretty good with that.  Speaking of traveling, this little guy is a champ!  He has done amazing so far with all of the car rides.  I love having two good travelers.

This month was major for Gil and food.  I feel like he finally just started loving to eat!  He ate a lot of baby food and he got to try to baby friendly table food for the first time too.  He is definitely a carb fan.

He started crawling a day or two after he turned 8 months.  He also started pulling up a week or so later.  He is a pretty fast little crawler.

He had his first beach trip this month.  He is NOT a beach fan.  But when you immediately stick a handful of sand in your mouth EVERY time you are on the sand, it probably isn't very fun.  He did okay in the pool.  

He also had his 3rd trip down to Mississippi.  He got to see his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and great grandparents.  Of course, his separation anxiety kicked in big time right before we got there.  So he took a while to warm up to family.  And if I was in the room, he wanted me to hold him.  This has been strange for me, because Jack was in daycare from 2 months on, so he wasn't overly attached to me.  But Gil just wants me, sometimes!

 (Gil's thoughts on the sand...)

Likes:  Mom, food, crawling everywhere

Dislikes:  Mom being in the room and not holding him

Happy 9 months, Baby Gil!  We love you!

Gil at 8 Months

Baby Gil is 8 months old!

We went to the doctor about 2 weeks ago for the second round of his flu shot, and he weighed close to 17 lbs (side note, that means he is about the same size as Jack was...at 3 months!!!).  He is in mostly 9 month clothes, but he can wear a few 12 month outfits (they fit him lengthwise but are a little big in the middle!).  I just moved him up to size 3 disposables at night.

This month has been a game changer sleep wise.  We did a little cry it out at 4 a.m. right after he turned 7 months old, and, for the most part, since then he has been sleeping from his dream feed (10 or 10:30) until morning.  Sometimes he wakes a little on the early side.  And sometimes he cries out once in the middle of the night.  But, for the most part, he has gotten pretty consistent with this.  It has been so incredible!  I finally feel rested again!

Of course, the past two nights have been awful.  He would do that right before I post this!  Seriously though, he's teething and has a little cold, so I think he is just feeling really rough.

Speaking of teeth, Gil's top 4 teeth are coming in all at once!  The top left one just broke through the skin last night (I don't think the middle of the night waking was a coincidence), and I think the other 3 are close behind.

We just switched Gil to a 4 month schedule.  He is doing amazing on it!  He theoretically gets up at 7 (but it's usually more like 6:30), goes down for a nap at 9, sleeps until 11, goes down again at 1, and sleeps until 3.  And then he is up until bedtime at 6:45/7.

We have had a much better time with solids in the past couple of weeks.  He is starting to gobble them down.  So far, he has tried:  green beans, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, apples, blueberries, pear, mangoes, banana, and avocado.  His favorites are apples and green beans!  He is not a fan of the puffs yet.

He is SO close to crawling.  He actually can crawl...backwards!  Doesn't that seem like it would be harder?  He gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth, then goes the wrong direction.  I think we are really close though.  He is really good at getting himself to a sitting position from lying down.

This is just such a fun stage.  Gil has been fussy the past week or so with teething, but he really is so smiley and fun!

Likes:  Jack (seriously, Jack just has to look at him, and Gil bursts into laughter!), cuddles, singing, eating grass

Dislikes:  not getting the toy he wants, teeth breaking through his gums (who doesn't?)

Happy 8 Months, sweet Baby Gil!  You are an absolute delight!

Gil at 7 Months

Only a week late this time!  Not too shabby.  Take that, second kid stereotypes!

Baby Gil is 7 months old!  

I'm not sure on his weight.  We go to the doctor next week for the second round of the flu shot, so I will find out then.  If I had to guess, maybe 16 1/2 lbs?  He is completely in his 6 to 9 month clothes.  He is almost out of size 2 disposable diapers (maybe another month or so) and I just moved up to the size two Thirsties Duowrap covers.

Sleep is slowly getting better.  This month, he had a couple of nights where he started to stretch his sleep out more and more.  I just keep reminding myself that he will eventually sleep through the night.  It will happen.  He is an amazing napper, though.  He goes to sleep really quickly and usually sleeps until his next feeding time.  I am thankful for that because I am usually able to get one quick cat nap a day!

His two little teeth are the cutest, if I do say so myself.  I think it won't be too long before the top two come in.  He chews on EVERYthing and is constantly drooling.

He is still not a fan of solids.  I have been a bit more consistent in offering them to him.  He just doesn't quite get the hang of swallowing something that isn't milk.  He is so different than Jackie boy, who gobbled down anything in front of him!

He is getting to be quite the pro at sitting up (doesn't he look proud of himself here?).  He can get across the room quickly by just rolling around.  I don't think we are too far away from crawling, but he isn't really interested in standing up at all.  Which is good--I am not excited about having two boys to chase!

I was just saying to a friend that this is one of my favorite stages.  Gil can sit up, laugh, babble, and play.  He is an absolute delight right now.  I love seeing every day what knew silly thing he has learned.  And we are starting to see little bits of his personality come through.

Likes:  Jack, toys, being tickled

Dislikes: when you take a toy away from him!

Happy 7 months, Baby Gil!  You are our "favorite favorite!"