Random Thoughts -

The weather is getting cooler here. Not like Snow-maggedon or Snow-pocolipse cold, but cooler than 75. Dare I say, it even gets into the 50's and 60's at night. Thankfully the air conditioners that we had installed have heaters in them. It's nice to knock the chill out of the air. With all of that said, I try to take the kids outside as much as possible. Cayden likes to pick up sticks and leaves. Such a boy. 

Yesterday Cayden insisted on wearing socks with his sandals and a jacket. Beck just goes with the flow. Also, yesterday Cayden went to school wearing track pants and a shirt. When I went to pick him up he was wearing shorts. I asked if he had a bathroom accident, and they said no. Apparently he just took his clothes off and decided to put the shorts on. I will also add that he changed his underwear too. Silly kid.

In case you have been on pins and needles wondering what happened to the quilt that I liked but didn't like - Cayden commandeered it. He decided it was his and he sleeps with it now. BUT - he doesn't sleep with the super soft minky side down, he sleeps with the patchwork side against him.
Where does he get this stuff?

Beckham is just cute. There is a debate between Heath and I about his eye color. I'm not quite ready to concede that they are brown. They are brown WITH blue around the outside. They are really really lovely. I hope they stay this way.

I've been making Beckham food. The baby food supply here is minimal and the baby food that we had sent here is gone. Thankfully I had bought a book months ago and have been able to make a few things like broccoli and cauliflower. Carrots with leeks and sweet potatoes. Fun Fact - Sweet potatoes here are white.

And for your enjoyment a little throw back to last October. I can't even believe how much Cayden and Mills have changed. The babies obviously are bigger, but the other two...It's crazy. We miss them like crazy too. Millie sent Cayden a video today and he watched it three times in a row with such a sad look on his face. It was like he just wanted to be there in Millie's house with her, playing. I promised we would see them soon!!

10 Months

There are times when I'm scrolling through the pictures on my phone and I think, Beckham really hasn't changed much. Then I look up at him it just kind of hits me. He's going to be ONE in two months. At this point with Cayden I had been planning his first birthday party for like three months. Ha. Maybe it's the fact that we are in Brasil, that I'm like 5000 miles away from the party location, or that I know that it will be great, no matter how much or little planning I put into it. Oh, I've thought about it. But that's really as far as it's gotten. Poor guy. 

He's getting quite good at pulling up and standing. Almost too good. Like we will probably have a walker on our hands in a few weeks.

Cayden is getting so good at playing with Beckham. Don't get me wrong - we still have the occasional aggressive outburst, but I figure that will last for 10 or 20 more years! He gets down and crawls around with him and wants so badly for Beckham to chase him. He likes to act like he's feeding him, and Beck makes this lip smacking noise. It's pretty comical. 

This photo is so funny. Replace that sticker with a glass, add 18 years or so, and he could be a model. 

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Ha! These little photo shoots last all of 5 minutes - maybe. You can just tell how it can go from laughing to crying in mere seconds. 

This last one, Beckham bit Cayden pretty good. Cayden was done after that!

Beckham's Stats:

 - Weighs around 22 pounds. This is totally a guess. He seems tall. The doctor said that he was about the size of a one year old. Seems right. 

- Size 4 diapers. Needs size 5 at night to withstand the 2-3 nursings he's getting. (yikes)

-Looks cute in t-shirts and pants. 

-Favorite book is Peek-A-Who? Like it's the only one he wants me to read. Over and over again. 

-Favorite person: Probably me. He loves it when Heath comes home though. 

-He likes his walker for about 10 minutes.

-Enjoys the prison for about the same time. 

-He would rather just crawl around and pull up on stuff everything.

- He likes to bite and pull hair. LOVES it, really.

Sleeping: UGH. This has been such a stressor for me. He gets up 2-3 times a night. Every 2-3 hours. I try to let him cry, especially if he just nursed a few hours before. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'm trying to be more consistent for his naps and not walk him around so much, or at least until not walk him around until he falls asleep. I'm trying people. He does like it when I sing to him. I sing three songs and then put him down. He's usually pretty drowsy and almost asleep at this point. 

His afternoon naps are crappy. Like 30 minutes. 

Eating: Better. Still is not a fan or super textured foods, but Cayden was the same. I've gotten better about making him food. Today it was leeks, carrots, and sweet potatoes. He loved it! 

Beckham-

Here we are! Just moments away from your first birthday. You are so funny. You love to watch people, and shy away when they talk to you. You always have a smile, though. You are loving the pool and playing in the bathtub. When we sing the Wheels on the Bus and talk about the wipers, you think it's hysterical. Your eyes light up when Mickey Mouse is on, and you are jabbering all the time. I love you little boy. I love spending my days with you! I love watching you figure out things, and I know you will start saying words in no time. We love you so much, little man. 

Mom and Dad

Cayden

Ball of Energy. Singer of "That's His Name" Songs. Pants Optional Wearer. Blue Chocolate Milk Drinker. Treat Lover. Reluctant Napper. Best Hugger. Sweetest Kisser. Daily Painter. 

This kid. This boy. This little person gives me a run for my money every. single. day. He tries my patience. He pushes my buttons. He steps to the line I've drawn, and attempts to jump over it. I know that what I'm seeing now are just glimpses into the person he will be, and not in a bad way. He's two. I'm looking for his gifts. I know they are somewhere in all that he is. I read an article about looking for the gifts your children possess, and helping to plant seeds in hopes of growing those talents and gifts. They can be as simple as organization. Or being a helper. I'm looking. 

He loves school. As a teacher, I hope that he will always love school. He LOVES art. He loves painting, and drawing, and hands-on activities. I think he inherited my crafty soul. 

School has been better. He's been having "good days." When I walk in to get him in the afternoon, he says, "Me no Hit." We've been working a lot at home on this. We pray at night that we are to help our friends, and not to hit or kick them. Heath and I have been focusing more on the positive than on the negative in his behavior which is really better for all of us. It's not that we ignore it, we just discipline and then move on. It's working for us. 

His new obsession is Cars. He has 10 or so mini Cars, and he likes it when you pull up Cars characters on Google images. Then he scrolls through them and asks you what their names are a million times. 

 He is also obsessed with his birthday. Anytime he sees something he wants. He wants it for his birthday. Ironman? Dinosaur cake? Cars? Ice cream? Appearances by Woody and Buzz Lightyear? All of it. 

 He likes sticks and leaves. Chocolate. He doesn't like talking to people on FaceTime, but generally warms up towards the end. He would rather run around in his underwear, but will put on shorts for company. Speaking of shorts: We went to the Clube the other day to order dinner (At some point I will post about the fact that I can't/refuse/don't want to cook). I was talking to a few ladies while Cayden was running around when all of a sudden, I find myself watching Cayden slip his shorts off, and start slapping them in a puddle of water. So there he was, with out shorts, in his undies (in public). 

 He started making up songs that go something like this, "Lightning McQueen is his name. Lightning McQueen is his name." Insert any name you wish, it works. 

As much trouble as he gets into, man I love that kid. He gives the sweetest kisses on your cheek, and always wants to give "Big Hugs." When I see him around other kids, I know he is a good one. He plays well with kids at the park, and even with the kids at school. His love for everyone I think is just bursting to get out. The other afternoon at school, I witnessed him giving his signature Big Hug to a smaller kid in his class. It might have been a little too hard. And maybe a little unwelcomed, but I know in the future that he will be a great friend to have. 

Beckham Connor - 9 months

Beckham Connor has reached the ripe old age of 9 months. I love getting to spend some one on one time with him during the day. Not that we do anything special or spectacular, but it's just nice to play and go about things at our own pace. Plus, he takes a morning nap, so that means I get a little "me" time in as well.

I set the timer on my camera for a shot of the two of us. I cropped my head, but that's okay. There's a movement on social media called #embracethecamera. Basically it encourages moms to step out from behind the lens and get in the shots too, so that your kids will have pictures of you later in life. I'm sure this will be a treasured photo. (sarcasm)

Beckham's Info:

Eating: He nurses every 3-4 hours.... during the day. He is also been nursing 2-3 times at night. GAH. I know. I have no words for why I let this continue, other than it's easier. It's easier to nurse him and go right back to sleep. I should be ashamed but, I deal with the reality of this horrible habit later. 
~ He eats baby food really well, most of the time. I've made pears, carrots, and such. I need to start chunking up stuff. I tried to feed him a steamed carrot today, and that we over like a lead brick. He basically gagged until he threw up. Nice, right? Now the kicker is, that he will eat carpet fuzz with no problem. Weirdo. 

Sleeping: See above. He's a pretty good napper. We do have some days where he thinks 20 minutes is good enough. But those are few and far between. 

Stats: He's 22 pounds of pure meat. He's big. At least 26+ inches. Pulls up on everything, and then he acts like he will stand up in the middle of the room, but doesn't. He wears size 4 diapers. Clothing ranges. Apparently I sold most of the 12 month stuff of Cayden's, so we've put him in a few 18 month items. Realistically, he wears 12 month. 

 In the last two pictures, he was enjoying tossing the sticker over the side of the chair, and then waiting for me to pick it back up. stinker. 

One Month:

 Two Month:

 Three Month:

 Four Month:

 Five Months:

 Seven Months:

 Eight Months:

 Nine Months:

We're pretty sure he says Mama, and I'm certain I heard Dada the other day. He likes to mimic Cayden's sounds. He was making Lalalala sounds earlier today too. 

I've started mentally preparing for his first birthday. We will be back in the US, so that makes it a little easier. I will have to take into consideration his allergies, as far as a smash cake goes, and that we went a little overboard for Cayden's 1st. Not that we should compare, but we want to be fair. 

Oh Beckham, 
Your laugh is contagious, and that smile definitely wins the hearts of everyone you meet. It's hard to believe that you will be a year old in just a few short months. You love Cayden so much, and you've even started your own version of wrestling. Unfortunately this often involves hair pulling and biting, but you can tell you love it. Ha! You complete our family so perfectly, little man. 

Love, 
Mom and Dad