8 Months

Our little boys are growing up and changing constantly.  Just yesterday they were teeny, tiny little babies that took nearly an hour (and a lot of careful positioning) to eat 30 ml of milk.  Now, they guzzle 6 ounces or more in a matter of minutes.  Before we know it, they will have mastered sippy cups and started finger foods.  This love (and demand) for food has led to some BIG, happy and healthy boys.  At the doctor's office on Friday Alex tipped the scales at 19 pounds 5 ounces!  Will was not far behind at 17 pounds 13 ounces.  It is hard to believe that they barely weighed 5 pounds (Will was a little under) when they came home from the hospital.  Now they are wearing 12 month clothing and popping socks off of their pudgy feet...

Some of the little things that I love about you both right now...
You are using their little hands to explore and embrace my face.  I really enjoy watching you constantly reach out for each other too - pats on the head, palms to the face and fingers grabbing noses.  You use ALL of the crib when you have the wiggles.  Everything you grab goes in your mouth and you are equally adept at picking up little things and wrestling awkward things.  You almost always wake up with a smile and if you are not hungry you will play quietly in your crib until someone comes to gather you up.

Alexander...

You are so social and you always have a smile ready.  However, there are still things that make you sad or nervous...a few recent examples include pinatas (kids with sticks might be the bigger issue), carrots and your brother stealing whatever you currently have in your hands (or your mouth).  You splashed through your bath today and really seemed comfortable sitting up like a big boy.  One of these days you will be able to sit up on your own.  For now we practice and use the bumbo or booster chair for help.  When you were in your bumbo yesterday, your were twisting and grabbing everything around you.  You really loved the loud crashes that all of your toys (and tubberware) made when you threw them on the floor.  Once you advance past rolling, I think that we will both be burning a lot of calories...

William...

You like to quietly assess every new situation with a lot of looking and turns of your head.  Standing up is hands down, your preferred big boy activity right now.  The lopsided grin you flash whenever we hold you up shows us just how proud you are of your new skill.  Eating solids is another one of your current favorites.  That little mouth of yours will gobble up anything and you make delicious "mmm" sounds whenever you like what you are eating.  The last two nights you were wide-eyed and awake every time I looked in to check on you.  Whenever you saw me sneaking a peek, you smiled big behind your binkie and kicked up a storm.  When you finally fell asleep, you had one leg up in the air resting on the bumper, it looked just like a picture of me sleeping when I was little.  You don't seem to be in a hurry to crawl, but I have a feeling that when you do start moving you will want to skip that step and move on your legs instead...

We love you both so much!

P.S. Feel free to slow down, kick up your feet and stay little for awhile.  

No hurry, really...