Tally's E I G H T M O N T H update

On the move to get whatever Mom is holding!  

Seriously, pictures are gonna get hard from here on out.  This kid is go-go-go!

Love it when he looks up at me.  

Size (Diapers, Onesies, Etc.): Still size 3 diapers, and in 9-12 month clothing.  Still not sure of his weight right now because we don't see the pediatrician until he's 9 months!

Eyes: My blue eyed boy! We got Tally's glasses and haven't been seeing much of an improvement.  We see another specialist in December to get a second opinion and we'll go from there!  He has really great days and other days that are not so great.

Hair:  Some pictures it looks blonde and some it looks more strawberry!

Sleeping: We are still getting up at night but naps (at least lately) have been SO much better.  He's finally starting to be able to put himself back to sleep when he wakes up in the middle of a nap.   

Eating: Breastfeeding and also eating solids.  More recently he has loved trying whatever I am eating and gets mad if I don't share.  We went to Costco and he kept protesting when I wouldn't give him part of my samples!  He is a social eater and wants to eat when he see's that's what others are doing.  

Milestones:
-Crawling (we now make pillow barriers in our living room so he can't get too far haha)
-Shakes his head "no-no"
-Waves "bye-bye"
-Claps his hands
-Has a teeny tiny toof poking through!  It's his top fang.  Just in time for Halloween!


Loves:
-Everything is the same from last month!

Hates:
-Getting cleaned up after he eats

This was a big milestone month for Tally!  Teething was especially hard, on pretty much everyone in the family!  I was beginning to think he was never gonna get teeth.  He has also started crawling, luckily not super fast yet but I'm sure any day now I'll be chasing him down!  He is really good at imitating and it was so fun to teach him to wave "bye-bye".

Over fall break we took him swimming and he was in heaven.  He was squealing the whole time and loved splashing his hands in the water.  We also took him for a hike and he giggled and babbled the whole way!  He loves to be out doing things.  Tally also loves other kids.  He could sit and watch his nephews play with cars all day.

We always thought Tally might be a sleep "walker/talker" and our suspicions were confirmed this month! My mom watched him while we went to Fright-mares and she said he totally sleep "walked".  He also giggles in his sleep (he has done this since he was a newborn) and it's kind of my favorite thing.  Braedon was a really bad sleep walker and we both talk in our sleep.  I also giggle in my sleep, so I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

I had my first "super-mom" moment.  We used to just feed Tally in his bumbo on the kitchen table.  I was feeding him and had him sitting right in front of me.  I turned my head for seriously one second and he had arched his back (trying to get out of the sit) and totally flipped out, heading for the ground!  I seriously felt like spider-man and caught him mid fall!  It scared us both.  I drove to IKEA that day and bought him a high chair!

This stage is so fun.  Tally loves to hear his voice and is usually making cave-man or monkey noises. I can't wait till he finally says "mamma!"  We love this little guy and are so blessed to have his happy spirit in our home!

These Pictures Don't Go With This Post

Our week has been hard- normal life stuff- but still, it took some extra effort for us to stay lifted.  Bills were paid, our car was broken into, and we got some news that our cute Tally may need surgery on his eyes.  Tally has intermittent exotropia (basically a fancy word for a lazy eye).  The biggest concern with this is the effect it has on depth perception.  It can effect things like Tally's ability to sit up, stand, walk, etc.  So far, he's right where he should be!  After patching his good eye every day at home I noticed they were getting worse, not better like the ophthalmologist said it would.  I made an appointment to see him again and he said we had three options (sort of).

1. Eye exercises

2. Glasses

3. Surgery

You can't exactly do eye exercises with a 6 month old haha (following directions is a little difficult haha) so we opted for glasses!  After calling over 15 stores I finally found A) a store that actually carries glasses for a 6 month old and B) a store that would price match for me!  I felt so adult.  I got a great deal on some glasses and we are praying that it'll help and that we won't have to do the surgery! The though of putting my baby under general anesthesia at this age is honestly terrifying to me.  I realize we are so blessed to have a healthy baby and I so look up to all of the parents taking care of children with health issues that are far more serious.  More posts on Tally's eyes to come! 

Today was simple, today was regular, and that's why today was perfect.  Tally hasn't been sleeping well the past two nights- he's been much more needy than usual- I'm thinking teeth??  Who know's though right?  One of my favorite pieces of advice I got when I became a new mom was that "once you've got it all figured out, they change again".  Tally was sleeping through the night (finally) for the past week or so and then BAM! Friday night he was up THE WHOLE NIGHT.  He has never done that to me before!  We seriously got like an hour or two of sleep.  He wasn't crying or acting like he was in pain but he just sat there with his eyes wide open and wanted to be cuddled all night.  I usually work Saturday's so it made for a long day at work- and needless to say Braedon and I were both spent by this morning!  He was up most of the night last night and church felt almost pointless today.  We were in and out of sacrament (mostly out) and didn't feel super prepared for our Sunday school lesson.  

However- the young women and their leaders sung, "A Child's Prayer", during sacrament and Tally quited down for the whole song.  My spirit was lifted.  

Our Sunday school students (age 15) played with Tally and talked about Homecoming the majority of the lesson, but near the end I got to listen to one of our students talk about her experience in the temple, and then Braedon bore his testimony.  I could tell each of the students were listening, and again, my spirit was lifted.  

Like I mentioned, earlier this week my car was broken into and along with it my stroller was stolen, a bag of clothes for Tally that my sister had passed down to me, our essential oils diffuser, and basically anything they could find besides our carseat base.  Today my cute mother and father in law showed up with bags of clothes in the exact size that had been stolen, and I got to watch them play with Tally while I went through the clothes (to say we were spoiled is an understatement).  My spirit was lifted!  

Honestly, I started this post with no idea what I wanted to write.  I didn't even think I was going to talk about Tally's eyes, but it feels good to talk about it, and maybe even ask for your prayers.  

I'm so grateful for Sunday's, and for the opportunity they give me to feel "lifted" when I need some lifting!  (Cause don't we all sometimes?)

I love my boys, and I love where we're at in life right now. 

Oh, and did you notice? I decorated for Halloween (whoops).  

Happy Sunday! 

I Never Wanted To Be A Mom

When asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", I was never one of those girls that answered, "A mom!"  I always knew that someday I would be a mother, but I always figured I'd also have a career- maybe because my mom also had a career.  Even though my mom rarely worked while growing up, I knew she was a nurse and I also knew how fabulous she was at her job!

Now that I've become a mom, I can't think of any better "career" or title.  If I had all the money in the world I'd stay home full time, but until then I'll choose to work a little and "live without".   

"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be, How well have my children done?

" Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value. Let your first interest be in your home. The baby you hold in your arms will grow quickly as the sunrise and the sunset of the rushing days."

-Gordon B Hinckely, "Your Greatest Challenge, Mother"

Tally // Six Months

^^ My Little Man!! ^^

^^ Green beans were a hit ^^

^^ Do I have something on my face?? ^^

Size (Diapers, Onesies, Etc.): Still size 3 diapers, and now 6-9 month clothing.  We had his pediatrician appointment a few days ago and he weighs 16 lbs 9 oz, 27 inches long.  He's in the 80th percentile for height and 30th percentile for weight!!  Just a little string bean haha.

Eyes:  Still blue!  Everyone we meet comments on how big and blue his eyes are.

Hair:  Seriously Tally is a clone of Braedon- especially at this age.  He has strawberry blonde hair right now and it changes depending on the light.

Sleeping: Tally sleeps anywhere from 6-10 hrs at night.  Teething and growth spurts just throw us all for a loop!  He naps about 2-3 times a day- anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours haha.  This kid is like Russian roulette.   He loves to snuggle and takes a long nap with mom and dad every Sunday after church- it's the best!  

Eating: Still exclusively breastfed and also eating solids.  Our pediatrician told us to start hitting the solids hard so I'm trying to get a better routine in.  He's cleared to eat anything besides honey and dairy!!  It makes me kind of sad cause that means he's growing up haha.  So far he's not picky though!  He'll make an effort to eat whatever I decide to give him!  Although he does prefer oatmeal over rice cereal.  He loves to try and help me while he's eating and always sticks his thumb in his mouth in between bites.

Milestones:
-SQUEALS so loud!
-Sitting up pretty good, we can do like 45 seconds. He just loves to stand!  Every time I try to sit him down he digs his heals into the ground and tries to push off of me or pull himself up!
-Has started jumping/ dancing while we hold him up
-Is more interested in toys-particularly this stupid giraffe named Sophie (we actually love her but can't believe we gave in to the craze!)
-Loves playing with Mom's keys
-Follows objects, recognizes Mom and Dad and turns his head to find us
-Loves to chew on his hands and has started sucking his thumb
-Is totally ticklish like his parents!
-Gets this little bashful grin and bats his eyes- total flirt
-Has found his toes and loves to grab onto them
-Has started teething.  Apparently this can last for months....what???

Loves:
-MUSIC!  He thinks it's hilarious when I workout.  I put him in this little chair thing and he just bounces up and down to the beat of the music and smiles!
-DOGS- this is a new one.  He thinks their hilarious and will go into full on fits of laughter watching them bark and play!
-Baths (kicks his legs pretty furiously and loves to splash)
-Singing, Dad playing the guitar, etc.
-Standing up with help
-Being tickled, kissed, and played with (prefers it over toys)
-Sticking his hands in his mouth
-Tickling his face with a blanket or my hair
-Going on walks


Hates
-Being tired or hungry
-Getting smothered by anyone besides mom when he's tired

So far this stage is honestly my favorite.  I wish I could just bottle it up!!  When Tally gets tired or hasn't seen me in a while the second I pick him up he buries his head into me and gives me the best open mouthed slobbery kisses!  He's a snuggle bug, and he's just the happiest kiddo.  We love him SO much.

Talmage // Five Months

Size (Diapers, Onesies, Etc.): Still size 3 diapers, and size 3-6 month clothing.  I'm guessing he's somewhere around 15 lbs now although he feels SO heavy to me!

Eyes:  Still super blue!  I think we've got a clone of Braedon on our hands and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Hair:  We're finally getting some more growth but mostly just on the top! haha.  It's mostly blonde but looks strawberry depending on the light and what he's wearing.  It looks so dark in all these pictures!  

Sleeping: More consistently does at least six hours at night-maybe starting solids has helped?  It's hard to know! Lately he's been up and at it at 6 am though!  He's pretty happy in the morning and I can usually just let him babble in his crib, or feed him and stick him in his swing so I can get a few extra minutes of sleep!  He still fights his naps and we have to trick him into them haha (unless we're out and a about and he's being rocked to sleep).  He refuses a binkie (trust me, I've tried several and even put "soothies" from the hospital and a dip of breast milk to see if that helps), but he's found his thumb and once he gets that in his mouth it's game over!  Kind of a bad habit but I guess it's better than nursing him to sleep every time! Baby steps  I guess ;).

Eating: Well if you saw my post on solids you know that we took the plunge!  It's actually been kind of fun and he gets better at it every day.  I'm excited to start trying new foods and make my own baby food.  He eats about every 3-4 hours during the day and takes a bottle of pumped milk while I'm at work.  Right now we usually do rice cereal in the morning and at night!  We haven't been too consistent at night because we are usually out and about when it'd be time to do it and it's just easier to nurse him than mix it up and make a mess.  We're getting there though!

Milestones:
-Babbles all the time and SQUEALS!
-Can hold his head up great, and is starting to sit up better.  We can do like five seconds usually haha.
-Likes to be sitting up or standing (with help)
-Is more interested in toys-particularly this stupid giraffe named Sophie (we actually love her but can't believe we gave in to the craze!)
-Follows objects, recognizes Mom and Dad and turns his head to find us
-Loves to chew on his hands and has started sucking his thumb
-Is totally ticklish like his parents!
-Gets this little bashful grin and bats his eyes- total flirt
-Has found his toes and loves to grab onto them
-Has started teething.  Apparently this can last for months....what???

Loves:
-Baths (kicks his legs pretty furiously and loves to splash)
-Singing, Dad playing the guitar, etc.
-Standing up with help
-Being tickled, kissed, and played with (prefers it over toys)
-Sticking his hands in his mouth
-Tickling his face with a blanket or my hair
-Going on walks
-When his dad says, "buddabuddabaaa" haha
-When I sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "YMCA" and do the actions with his hands haha (the things we do for our kids)
-His carseat.  When I buckle him up he kicks his legs and gets super excited!

Hates
-Going down for a nap

This phase has been SO much fun.  Talmage is even more interactive and is just such a little love.  I can tell he has the sweetest spirit and he brings SO much joy into our lives.  I don't remember how I filled my days without him!

What We're Doing

Doing a little catch up, and writing up what we're up to as of late.....

^^ Am I a bad mom?? ^^

If you're friends with me on snapchat pictures like this are pretty regular.  I'm obsessed with that squishy face!!

This is my attempt at trying to lose the baby weight.  Taco salad has been on repeat.... I use ground turkey, and make my own ranch w/plain greek yogurt and a ranch packet!  Also, any of you girls out there also doing #thekaylamovement?  I seem to get to about week 6 and then fall off the wagon.....burpees are death.  Where is my motivation??

Tally and I have been taking trips to the library.  The walk in the stroller is nice and I like to think that I'm picking out books because he loves them but really I'm just sick of re-reading the books that we have and I need a variety haha.  I didn't exactly LOVE any of these.  Will someone please make a Harry Potter picture book for me??

I got this little gem of a journal from Target.  Braedon rolled his eyes and reminded me about all the other "cute" unwritten in journals that I have.  He told me I wouldn't write in it, which has been my motivation to make sure I keep it up! (HA!- we work well together I think).  Basically it's just a line a day, and I write things like, "Tally realized he has toes today and has started grabbing them at every chance he gets".  The journal is meant to be kept for FIVE years, and is set up so that the next year I will write something on the same page as the previous year.  Such a fun little comparison!  

This was taken on the 4th of July- Tally was as hot as hades so stripped down to the diaper was the answer!  A little ghetto but I'm telling ya this kid loves to be naked.  The laughs and smiles were worth it!! Also, can we talk about his cheeks for a minute??  His face is literally sagging they're so large.  

In other news.....Braedon is busy away working on secondary's for med school and I'm trying not to think about moving (my eyes start to sweat).  My job changed about 2 months ago and as a "transition nurse" I've started to attend deliveries and take care of the baby.  It's amazing to be able to be a part of something so spiritual, and truly incredible.  It's also quite a rush and can be nerve wracking- time is pretty crucial if anything needs to be done to help the baby breath after delivery etc.  I love the adrenaline rush but the responsibility is very real!  

Talmage still remains the center of our world.  He's starting to sit up really well, laugh, look for mom, and squeal and babble.  Sometimes Braedon and I have different opinions on how to parent, and that can be challenging, but we are learning so much from each other and I'm grateful for a husband who's so involved with our family.

Thanks for reading!

Talmage Starts Solids

Talmage had his first taste of "solids" this week!!  I was planning on waiting until six months but after talking with a friend I decided to just go for it.  Talmage isn't sleeping through the night and (I think) has started teething so he's been fussier than usual.  I figured I'd give solids a try and see if a little more food would perk him up!  Honestly it's been kind of fun (and messy).  I've just been mixing it with pumped milk.  He seemed pretty confused as first and mostly just liked biting down on the spoon and squishing the cereal between his little toesies! haha.  However these past few days he's been doing really great with it and doesn't cry so I figure that means he likes it??  Hasn't exactly changed a whole lot in the sleep department though.  I swear, all this mom stuff is so new to me and really I'm just pretending like I know what's going on but really I'm texting my friends and calling my mom and googling just about every little thing. 

Also, this adorable little stink REFUSES to take a binkie.  He's starting to figure out his thumb...which is cute and all and calms him down... but I feel like I'm just trading one bad habit for the next?!!  I've tried different binkies, and even put a little milk on the paci/ some soothies we have from the hospital and the stubborn boy STILL hates it.  Any tips out there??  He will NOT fall asleep unless he's sucking something (yes, boob or thumb haha).

I'm getting excited to try some different foods.... any suggestions on what to try first??  BABY FOOD RECIPES TO COME! (SORRY THAT I'M YELLING, I'VE JUST BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THIS SINCE I GOT PREGNANT).