Winter photo dump!

I have gotten so far behind.  January though March just flew by!  We are finally getting into our stride with new jobs, new house, kiddos, Jessica our Au Pair living with us!

Here is a massive photo dump of all the happenings!

Enjoying some winter sun

DATE NIGHT: PROMSI

Yup late February SNOW in Portland!

Family Snow Show trip.  

First time sledding for Wes

First time sledding for Jessica

Mom and Wes date

That smile melts my heart

More enjoying the porch

Dance time at Saturday Market

Elliot taking Wes for a ride

My Cool dude

Snuggling as Elli and Dad Ski

Double swing with Grandma Cook

First time on roller skates

Who doesn't love dying easter eggs

The girl LOVES her PINK 

Wes loves his screaming!

Elliot and Kendall playing at Mandy's house on our trip to Wisconsin for Easter

Elliot the doctor checking on Jordyn

These 2 were inseparable during our Easter trip to Wisconsin!

Cousin Paige making sure Wes is safe.  Elliot is VERY scared Wes will fall

Future BFF's

Easter egg hunt!

Making ferry gardens!

Uncle Patrick.

G-ma Weis snuggles

Seriously...2 peas in a pod

Easter Egg hunt

THe whole crew at Aunt Dodis

Wes LOVES his bouncer and Madison

Rockaway Beach with the our friends for the weekend

We got a few hours of nice weather before the rain set in for the rest of the weekend.

Lots of down time and snuggles with the rainy weather

Best part....Tillamook Ice Cream on the way back!

Reading books on the Porch with Jessica

It really was THAT good!

Doing dishes with dad!

Wes is 10 months!

Wes is 10 months old and NON-STOP.  

It seems like Wes has really burst onto the scene in the last month.  His mobility is expanding is leaps and bounds.  Not only is he a FAST crawler, but he pulls to stand easily and cruises around the house on anything he can hold onto.  He also has learned to crawl up stairs all by himself now and the challenge / adventure of it is just too much to resist.  If you aren't paying attention - you will find him halfway up the staircase on an independent adventure.  You can see his mischievous eyes light up before he takes off to try to go off the bed, down the stairs or pretty much anything dangerous for a baby.

The kid can EAT!  He loves protein right now - chicken, eggs, beans, cheese yogurt, as well as the old standbys of sweet potatoes and purple carrots.  Its not uncommon right now for Wes to eat as much as Elliot at some meals. Often dinner is him shoveling food into his mouth with both hands while an adult spoons in bites between shovels and a second adult cuts food frantically to keep up with him.  He certainly has the Cook metabolism.  

Peek-a-boo remains a favorite game as does scream-tickle (the name of the game tells you how to play it). 

Where as 1 month ago he always wanted to be held, its opposite now.  After a quick hug, he is crawling out of your arms wanting to explore the world on his own. 

Sleeping continues to get better - when he is feeling well he will usually only wake up 1-2 times a night and he is consolidating into 2 naps.  When bed time rolls around - he goes from super happy to REALLY TIRED in about 15 minutes, so you need to be on your bath/pajama game as a parent - otherwise you have a screamy baby on your hands.  

He continues to have googly eyes for Jessica but has begun to develop stranger anxiety and somewhat reliably will say Mama, Dada and Elliot - particularly when he is sad and wants someone to pick him up.  It seems like he starting to understand more and more of what we say - although we are talking to him in Spanish and English and so apparently takes them a little bit to sort that out.  

He is in the middle of getting his third tooth and happily uses it to bite you if you are too slowly in getting him food.  While Mac empathizes with the hanger, we all hope Wes gets better at controlling it over time (ha!). 

New development

 - FAST crawling (watch out for him near steps)

 - crawling up steps

 - cruising like a champ

 - reliably saying mama, dada and Elli

Wes Likes

 - EATING!

 - Splashing in the tub

 - Tickle fights and peek-a-boo

 - His sister

 - The freedom to independently explore the worlds

 - working at the play kitchen and banging pots / pans to make noise

Wes dislikes

 - getting his diaper changed (poopy infant wrestling match!!)

 - sleeping places other than home (Wisconsin and the coast got us off our sleep game)

 - strangers

 - when mom / dad (mostly mom) go away

9 months!

Watch out world...here comes Weston!

In the last 2 weeks Weston has become mobile and went from 0 to 100 in no time.  We had to make a mad dash to get the baby gates back up.  He now knows exactly what he wants to do and goes full speed ahead.  In the same week he decided to pull to stand, balance on his own, cruise along furniture.  Its created some interesting conversations with Elli about sharing her toys.  He loves his new independence!

He continues to wake a few times a night, scream when we are not feeding him fast enough or if he wants more of your attention.  On the flip side, he has the most amazing laugh you have ever heard and can light up a room.  He has started to play peek-a-boo with you, hiding behind things and popping up.  

Driving the other day Wes was fussing a bit and Elliot made it her goal to make him happy.  Next thing we know they are both laughing hysterically going back and forth.  It was the first time this happened and it was AMAZING! 

New Developments

-Crawling

-Pulling to a stand

-Cruising

Wes likes:

-His new found freedom with crawling and being able to pull himself up to a stand

-Food!

-Big sister laughing and playing peek-a-boo with him

Wes Dislikes: 

-Changing his diaper....man it is getting tricky

-Big sister pushing him over...fortunately it is not too often.

8 months!

Weston Pea!

So he is officially known as Weston Pea in this household.  Elli even introduces him as "Weston Pea" to her friends. 

Wes continues to be a voraocious eater.  The boy just can't get enough.  Sweet potatoes still dominate as his favorite, but peanut butter toast is a close second. 

Every since he was a baby he has always done things to a rhythm.  Even when you would put him to sleep, he loved to be tapped to sleep to a rhythm.  Now that he is getting older, he loves to dance to music.  I am convinced he is going to be our musician.  Elli and Wes go to music class and it is a hit for both of them. 

Wes continues to scoot on the ground, always ending up going backwards.  Poor kid, someday he will get where he wants to go.  He is always happier on his feet however.  One of his favorite activities is walking holding your hands.  He also loves making "parades" though the house with big sis and his push toy. 

Sleeping is.....slowly improving.

Weston LOVES Jessica our Au Pair.  We call her "su novia" or his girlfriend ;)

We think he had his first words!  There is LOTS of bable, but we think he actually said "elli" as his first word!  She was trying to play with him when he said it so that is good enough for me.  Close second to this was he said Mama and reached for me as I was leaving for work...heart breaking to leave right then after he said it for the first time!

In the last few weeks he has definitely developed an attachment to mom and dad.  Up to now he was pretty content to be hanging out with anyone.  Now he will lung out of your arms to come to mom or dad, depending on his mood.

New Things:
-Dancing to Music
-Words!  Elliot, Mama and ? Dada so far
-Standing on his own
-Exploring his body and shaking his head "no no no "

Weston Likes:
-Standing and walking
-Eating
-Big sister
-outdoors

Weston Dislikes:
-Sitting...he would much rather stand to see the world!
-Wet/soiled diapers!
-Green beans!
-Being hungry...the boy has hanger issues

Wes 7 months!

What a big kid Wes is these days!  Earlier last month we did sleep training and it REALLY helped everyone's sanity.  We are now getting TEETH!  Which is amazing but not great for sleep, he is back to waking very 2-3 hours :(  We now have 1.5 teeth, that second bottom front tooth is just making its way out to the world!

Wes is full on rolling now, mostly from back to front.  As of about 1 week ago, if you set him to sleep on his back, he rolls to his front faster than you can get out of the room!  We suspected he wanted to sleep on his belly and he LOVES it.  He is also mastering being up on all 4's...you can often find him practicing in his crib at night.

He continues to HATE being hungry, wet diapers or being tired.  Where as Elliot had a great "old man laugh" we will always remember Wes' high pitch scream!  It can be happy, fussy or mad, but man that scream would get anyone's attention.

Mac is convinced Wes already said dada.  I am not so convinced.  There is ALOT of babbling going on though.

Wes LOVES food.  It is amazing how much he is eating already.  The only thing he hasn't liked is ground chicken, literally he gagged himself.  If you don't bring the food fast enough, you are lucky enough to hear his scream.

He continues to be SUPER ticklish and have a smile/laugh that will melt your heart.  Between the ocean blue eyes, the small dimples and lovely smile, it is hard not to forgive the sleeping and screaming.  He really is the most ticklish kid I have ever met!


Wes Likes:
-Smiles
-Tickles
-FOOD

Wes Dislikes:
-Ground chicken (even the good stuff, homemade with some flavor!)
-Wet diapers
-Big sister bites (oops)

New developments:
-Sleeping on his tummy and rolling
-Babbling
-Bringing objects very easily and clearly to his mouth including food.

What the hell mom!