9 months, really, already?!!!!!

I cannot believe the little human you are becoming. You have the best tempermant of any baby I have ever met. I think that any one has ever met. You can just tell how kind hearted you are and easy to please. You really have a permagrin on your face. It is the most amazing feeling when you get a glimpse of us when we pick you up out of your crib, or walk back in to a room, and you just starting smiling and cooing. Your smile is jsut the cutest and beyond infectious. It makes everyone feel so warm and fuzzy and so important. AJ you really make the world smile.

Your mobility is growing leaps and so are you. It is really amazing thinking that not long ago when I would rock you to sleep you were just so tiny and now at your last appointment you weighed around 21 lbs. You are such a big boy! You are still topping the charts for height, so lets just keep on growing boy! You are sitting up on your own, you still prefer the scoot motion to the crawling motion. You are a monster in your ferrari, let nothing stand in your way alive or fixed. (Poor Reilly boots) You are pulling yourself up to stand. When you hold us by our fingers you are well aware of the walking motion and get so excited. It is only a matter of time that my step count goes through the roof chasing you around.

When I take you to Kathy's you have a line of kids waiting to see you. They sometimes even chant, "AJ, AJ." It is so fun, they just love you too. I am so glad you already have a network of friends and Kathy takes good care of you.

The whole way to and from Kathy's house you just talk to me and on occasion I will sing and you just smile the whole time and giggle. Daddy is teaching you to say "Uh Oh," so we play that game back and forth. I love looking at you in the rearview mirror, you are a dream come true in all ways. We have been blessed with the best baby EVER, I am sure of it.

When you and I get our quality alone time, we have a snack and then vacumn, and then you crawl everywhere and try to get to all places I have blocked off- just like you are supposed to! Then we engage in a little face time with Grandma, she helps babysit that way too!

Then you let me know when you are ready for a bottle and fall asleep in my arms. Once again I never want to put you down, sometimes at night I rock you to sleep and just keep on rocking until my eyes start to close- you are always in good hands!

We had a family Valentine's night with cousins and aunts and uncles and once again Auntie terry made sure you were the best dressed in your "Mr. Valentines" outfit. It was too much, we loved it.

Things are just so much more fun with you! Daddy and I have gone on a few dates with you and you are always full of conversation and laughs, can't wait until the next one.

Keep on growing honey, keep on smiling, keep on pulling yourself up on tables and in your crib. Keep on laughing, keep on talking, and keep on loving. You just keep on being you and all of us will just keep on supporting and loving you.

TEAM COLLINS FOREVER!

8 months and a BIG boy

8 months has really been quite a ride. From swimming in Florida and rolling around in the sand, back to below zero temps and snowsuits, you have really starting becoming a big boy. Your mobility is upon us whether it is rolling, scooting, your own type of crawl, or kneeling and rocking in almost a plank position, you find a way to get from point A to point B and get there quickly. This also applies to the Ferrari that you were gifted. You are so fast in that walker and banging in to everything you can. This includes the dog, pushing laundry, and even the vacumn cleaners- like you are moving a sled on a football field! So funny! We are starting to AJ proof the house as everything goes in your mouth and with all the crafting your sisters engage in there is bound to be reminansce wherever you go.

I am so impressed by your constant talking, cooing, and ability to say Mom Mom and Dada, and make sure you get our attention when you need us. You still smile all the time and do some kind of grunting with a sumo motion. Daddy and I laugh to hard because it is almost like you are in a wrestling 'go' stance with your elbows in. It is really so cute and funny because you laugh at us- laughing at you doing it. You are starting to say Ba for your bottle but when you are saying it, Daddy and I starting cracking up. We will have to tell you about barkbusters and the BAHHHH we did with River. We are really silly! I am trying to teach you to wave goodbye but you like when I wave your hand for you. You also love to hear me sing, I feel like a superstar. You really love music and giggle at the ABC's. I love driving home with you and watching you in the mirror, you just smile at my voice and then talk the whole way home and loudly. Lots of fluctuations of the word Ahhhhhh.

This also happens in your crib-you soothe yourself and then when you have had enough you let out a few cries to make sure somoene picks you up. We do this in the morning, I try to sneak in the shower without you catching me. Then when you do I let you crawl all over the floor and sometimes I blow dry your hair from afar and you love it. You also make sure to leave me a gift in your pants...and sometimes it has made me late to work, we have had to do a shower rinse off when you caught me for only the second time and your pee shot to your head! I can only laugh because all you do is laugh at me. Oh how I love you so!

You are a  very strong boy with not as many rolls as your sisters but your legs are a little chunky or look like kankles ( Hee Hee). Your hair is becoming a light brown with a red tint in the sun and it has gotten so long, Grandma said you could be a Beatle and Auntie Terry things you would have been Paul. We will wait just a little longer until that first haircut. You my dear complete the trifecta with your blue eyes. Never did I think I would have the most beautiful blue eyes children, the most beautiful yes, blue eyed, no.

You skin is so soft and you still love your baths and then we lotion you up. Your wardrobe is expanding from sleepers to onesies and pants as you are so fashionable. You can thank Auntie Terry for your themed outfits!

Your sisters absolutely adore you. Danica was holding you after school and Charli came in and said you have been holding him for an hour it is my turn.... ummm it was like 30 seconds. So lets just say between the girls constantly in your face, Reilly licking you, and Mommy and Daddy holding you- you are at no moment not loved. Oh and I didn't even mention Grandma and all your cousins, aunts, and uncles too.

You are the third wheel to date night and different adults only parties and what a wonderful third wheel you are. You are actually not the third wheel but the piece that completes us all. Oh AJ how we love thee, I cannot even count the ways!