May updates

(I obviously started this post in May and never got it finished so I finally sat down and tried to wrap it up. Since I started it David has started crawling!!! Had to add that incase I don't make it back for his 9 month update!) 

David is almost 8 months! I have the hardest time keeping track with how hold he is! It is all going by so fast. Over the last month he has mastered being able to sit up unattended for long bouts of time. He isn't pulling himself up to sitting by himself  yet but I don't think it will be too much longer. He's also starting to get on his hands and knees and rocking and I just want to push him down and yell "no!!" Why the rush to move and crawl - we have plenty of time for that sweet boy.

And oh what a sweet boy you are. I don't know how it is possible for you to be the happiest baby we've ever had but you are. He always has the biggest smile for everyone and is just so much fun!! Tickling him and making him giggle is just too much fun! We all love to play with him and make him laugh as much as possible! Over the last month I rejoined the YMCA so you have started going to the nursery a few times a week. Of course you love it and they all say what an easy sweet baby you are :)

Getting a good tickling in the car seat!

Super David hangin' out in the exersaucer (you are pretty much over the exersaucer and would much prefer to be set down on the floor with some toys instead being "stuck" in one place :)

Getting a bottle from big sis! You have gotten so jumpy and squirmy lately it's hard for anyone to feed you! You want to look all over the place and it's hard to keep the bottle in your mouth! Sometimes you will attempt to hold your bottle but usually you like us to do it :)

 You and Benjamin are becoming quite the pair. I can't imagine how much fun ya'll are going to be this time next year. Benjamin was pointing out your eyes, nose, and teeth and you thought is was the funniest thing!

Then some of the other kids wanted to be in a pic with you. This picture totally cracks me up. You look so scared! Like, "mom, why did you leave me in the middle of all these crazy kids!! save me!!"

We took this pic one day to send to Daddy at work - Go Gators! (we know you really love Alabama but we've got to throw Dad a bone from time to time :)

Mother's Day with my crew! 

David has also started joining us at the table! I still only feed him baby food about once a day which he likes ok. I think he loves sitting with the "big" kids way more than the actual food!

Doing his sitting up thing!

Squishy baby cheeks! Good sleeping right here :)

Happiest Baby on the Block!

Just a swingin'! He loves to be outside in the swing and watch all his brothers and sister run around!

Benjamin is a super busy boy! J and I love to watch him play because he is always very focused and intentional with what he's doing. You can just see his mind working as he builds things or moves things from here to there. He loves to ride in his little car around the house. He flies around the kitchen and will give a wave and a "bye" to all. His latest trick is saying Roll Tide and while he won't do it on demand - he will give a big roll tide at the that most random, unexpected times and crack.me.up :)
You have also mastered the temper tantrum quite well.  I don't remember any of the older kids doing this. When you don't get your way or don't like what we tell you you will stick that bottom lip out and give a big huff and a pout and if that doesn't get our attention you will go lay down on the ground and cry. It's quite a show :)


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Straight out of the bath the rooster cow-lick is tamed- for a moment...

...and it's back!

This kids LOVES salsa! and any food for that matter! He's an eater for sure!

 His first ride on the "tractor" with daddy - he liked it ok until I came up to take a picture - then he wanted momma :)

 James pushing him around in Gracie's baby's stroller

Riding sisters 4-wheeler with her kitty bike helmet :) 

John-Mark put his pj's on all by himself - can you tell? :) He was cracking me up because he kept pulling on his shirt trying to get it to cover his belly. I was laughing too hard to help him fix it!

James dressed he and his brother this day - can you tell? :)

One day John-Mark was giving me quite a day with whining and crying. I told him he was acting so much like a baby I was going to make him take a nap in the crib like a baby.  He was pretty upset when I put him in Ben's crib but when I went to check on him 5 minutes later he was out! My little plan back-fired - or did it!?!  He usually doesn't take naps anymore but obviously he needed one this day. Ben didn't know what to think about someone sleeping in his bed!

Gracie wearing her princess dress mom-mom made her. She wanted to put a baby in her belly so here ya' go :)

Pretty girl wearing Mom Mom's glasses. 

You can't see them really well in this picture but she got her ears pierced this day. The big boys went to Cedar Key with J and Papa for their first fishing trip so I took the other three kids to my mom's for the weekend. We decide to have a special girls outing with Gracie and took her to Claire's to get her ears pierced. She was super excited! I was so proud of her. She didn't even shed one tear when they pierced them (they did both at the same time). She had quite a little audience watching her so I knew she would be tough - she's proud like her momma - which can be good and bad... She's done great with them and hasn't complained once about them. She picked out little pink heart earrings as her starter pair. Love my little girly girl!

The boys fish!!! They had a great time and got to meet lots of family on J's dad's side. So glad they finally made it to the "motherland" for a fishing trip :)

They're just playing right now but before they know it they will be our yard helpers :) 

It's summer and John-Mark has been swimming like a fish! He passed the swim test at the Y yet again the first time and he's been having a blast! I'm thinking about putting him on the swim team for the summer and see how he does. He loves to swim so much I think he will love it!

FINALLY baby girl learned how to swing herself!! Woo Hoo!!

I posted this pic on Facebook. They were pretending they were king and queen with lunch bags as crowns and JM has a back pack with a sword in it since he was a knight. I love their imagination play!! I'm sure they will have some complaints about being from a large family when they get older but being bored won't be one of them!!!