11 Months

Eating: This babe LOVES food! All the food all the time! He eats everything we eat. He just doesn't eat sugar, honey, nuts, strawberries, or meat. I am sort of waiting until after a year to do meat. Why? Well we don't eat it too often and I don't think he needs it. Extra time to let his gut be. I am not too passionate about it, but also think it is a good idea to wait. Also, he is almost a year old. How?! I can't.

Sleeping: Nothing new in the sleeping department. 5:30 - 6:30 AM wake time. Bed at 7 PM although I have been trying to get to 7:30 unsuccessfully. Naps at 9AM and 1PM. Naps have been about 45 minutes long, although he took a 2 hours nap the other day and it scared me because he never does that!

He Loves:
- eating all the food (watermelon especially!)
- nursing in the morning and at bed
- crawling in all the dirt as soon as mommy isn't looking
- finally being able to play with the big kids more
- swinging
- peek a boo with sis
- his daddy

He Doesn't Like:
- He doesn't like being in forts. C and sis love forts and often try to play with him, but he screams every time.
- Sitting up for having his hair washed.
- When he isn't held during the 6PM hour. He gets really cranky and wants bed at 6PM, but we don't put him down until 7PM at the earliest.

New Skills:
- Climbing stairs
- Cruising! He is trying to walk using a push toy too.
- He figured out how to stand and sit from a stand. He is moving all over the place!
- This isn't a new skill, but he has been eating like a pro

Exciting Things We Did:

We've been working on our front yard! So close to being done!

Our first campfire on the year! 

Learned to climb stairs! 

We spent a lot of time outside!

Signs of a good summer day! Dirty and skinned knees!

We celebrated Charles' 4th Birthday! Can not believe that he is 4 years old! Such a good big brother to his siblings!

Family photos are difficult! Also, that is Lydia's go to photo face lately!

More Photos:

Lots of outside time!

because sleeping babies <3

Photo by sis on our new school chairs

His brother and sister adore him <3

Photo by C

Outside, naked, and eating watermelon - living his best life.

Sibling Photos:

A Note From Mommy: Jedidiah Hollinger. One thought of you can make he cry thankful tears. You are such a light in our lives. It has been so fun watching you get around more this month! Your siblings love it! I was always scared that you would be left out because Charles and Lydia are best friends, but geez bud, you are the center of there attention. They eagerly await for you to wake up from naps. They give you whatever you ask for and sneak you things after I say no. Lydia loves to mother you... and sit on you (we are still working on that.) Charles loves to babysit you and play with you and show you how to use all of his tools. and your daddy... you love your daddy. You actually wanted him over me this morning. Although I was jealous, I love seeing your love for him. You have been dancing whenever he gets home at the end of the day with a big smile on your face. We love you Jedi. You bring us so much joy and make us better! <3

10 Months Old

Eating: This boy loves to eat! He was a (not on purpose) vegan baby, but he tried cheese for the first time when he turned 10 months old and he loves it. Although, I can not think of a single food that he does not love. He is starting to eat off of our plate more now, although he still mainly on a fruits and veggies diet. I started thinking about his first birthday party (gasp, I know). As I was listing all of the things he loves, food and balls came in first. A food themed birthday party? ;-P

Sleeping: Jed got 5 teeth at once this month. His night sleeping didn't change much (normally sleeps from 7AM-6:00/:30 AM. However, his naps have really shortened. He use to take at least one good 2-3 hour nap a day. Now I am lucky, if he takes an hour nap. Most average about 45 minutes. Hopefully, we can figure out a way to get those longer naps back! We also would love for him to sleep in longer in the morning. We would like to move his bedtime back a little, but he really loves his 7PM bedtime, mainly because he isn't napping well. The cycle is vicious.

He Loves: 
~ To stand
~ Balls
~ Food and eating!
~ He loves his mommy and really shows stranger danger with certain people (but not all)
~ Nursing

He Doesn't Like:
~ Waiting for food or bed at night
~ Being sat on by his siblings
~ Getting his hair washed while sitting up (he doesn't mind if he is laying down though)

New Skills: 
Jed learned SO much this month! He started to...
~ crawl!
~ pull up and stand (which he LOVES, but hasn't quite figured out how to get down yet)
~ He cut 5 teeth at once! 4 across the top and one on the bottom
~ He started to wave "hi" to Daddy
~ He took his first two cruise steps!

Misc.: Jed cut 5 teeth at one time this month, so lets just say it was a rough month. Luckily, his sleep wasn't too effected at night. His naps were (and still are) not nearly as long as they use to be. During the day though, Jed was very clingy. He was in a lot of teething pain and just wanted his mommy. So there were a lot of tears flowing this month, *especially* between the hours of 4-bedtime. All of the teeth have broken the skin, now they just need to finish coming in, but overall he is MUCH happier! Thank goodness!

(*EDITED one month later* I lied. That 5th tooth never came threw. I thought for sure it was about to break, but still hasn't. But 4 teeth at once is still rough!)

Exciting Things:

We got a new play set for the kids! They love it and play on it all the time. Jed loves to swing! 

We moved Jed into his big boy carseat. He wasn't too sure at first, but I think he likes it ;-)

We celebrated Easter. Nanny got Jed his first Easter basket, but Grammie and Mama also got him one. 

We got a new walkway out front. Charles and Lydia were able to put their hands in the cement, but Jed was sleeping and we thought it would end up just being a fist anyway. 

Jed learned how to pull himself up! 

More Pictures:

<3

Yes, (future) Jed, we do take photos together sometimes. 

Two siblings thought it would be fun to draw superhero masks and "powers" (?) on their bodies.

Just some light reading...

<3 Jed you really love your daddy! Your siblings did not favor him as much as you do at your age.

Jed chowing down while mommy gets a pedicure.

Playing with sissy <3 Jed, Lydia loves you so much and gives you whatever you ask of her.

Early morning selfie

How we got cleaning done this month

Aunt Genna's sofa is super comfy and Jed fell asleep

Brother insisted on carrying you. You both loved it! (for the 10 minutes that it lasted)

photo by C

Sibling Photos: 

A Note From Daddy: Jed, you're becoming such a little man and I love it! I love to see you scooting around on the floor with such joy and then pulling yourself up to a standing position with a big grin on your face. Then you shake with excitement and fall, but once you compose yourself, you're ready to try again. I pray that you will always be ready to get back up no matter what knocks you down. Thanks for being a reminder for me to find joy even in the most mundane moments. Love you JT!