8 & 9 months

Blythe is swiftly approaching 10 months!  I knew that I would fall behind on these monthly updates soon enough!  I don't have much to report since my details have fallen by the wayside!

 During Month 8 Blythe started baby food!  She started right after her 7 month birthday on Feb 13 with sweet potatoes (same food H started with).  She did great!  I know 7 months is a little later, but I didn't start her on rice cereal til 6.5 months.  With #2, I was not in a hurry and we were traveling SO much during Jan and Feb that it was easier to wait.  Also, I have to make most of my baby food here ( a practice that I am not too fond of), hence the later start!  That is all I have for month 8 other than Blythe being complete preciousness!

Month 9 took Blythe from rolling to scooting.  She had kind of a limp crawl, dragging one leg behind the other.  Motion was in full effect!  (She is now completely army crawling!)  During month 9 she was trying to get up on all fours, rocking back and forth, scooting ALL over the place, and by the end, army crawling!  She started waving this month and WAVES ALL THE TIME!  She waves when she cries, when you hold her, when she's playing...she looks at a person, makes eye contact, then looks away and waves.  HA!  She laughs so much, and is SO smiley.  We just love her.

On her 8 month birthday i went away for a few days and although I pumped, my milk dropped a lot.  But, with some work it went back up, so she is still nursing 4 times a day (sometimes 5) with a little bit of formula at bedtime or if I'm away from her,  takes 2 good naps and sleeps great at night, but does like to wake up early sometimes.  Ugh.  She eats great, but gets so distracted, and is so active that she is starting to thin out, but still just the most precious girl ever!  She loves her lovey, and is still a thumb sucker, but only when she's tired!

Gege (pronounced guh guh, means 'big brother') got in the picture shots this month....

 Every day he asks, "mom, I just want to squoosh her cheeks, may I please???"

 His favorite face to make!  Did I forget to mention she's teething like crazy?  No teeth yet, but  she puts everything in her mouth!!  Harrison still to this day has never put anything in his mouth, so this is very new to me!!

And finally, a good shot of little miss 9 month old!  I'll be back soon with some 10 month snapshots!!

4 years

4 years ago today we lost my stepbrother, Kevin. 4 years. 4 years. It feels like yesterday.

Today I took Harrison to school, got a baby-sitter for Blythe and went off to be by myself to remember him. And I cried and cried and cried.

Every day I think of Kevin. Every day I miss him. Some days it hits more than others. But, when I look at this face, his smile, I grieve for myself that these are just pictures and not him. I wish so badly that he was still here.

I fear that I will start forgetting the times we had together...the sound of his voice, the way his eyes danced when he laughed, his larger than life heart, his desperation to be freed from his addictions. The memories fade, but the mark he left on my heart never will. I have written more about him in past years here and here.

Kevin's death was SO sad and tragic and unexpected. And there were parts of his life that were so sad as well, but he was such a tremendous person. As I ran into 2 friends today, Lori and Sonya, all I could say to them was "I wish you had known him". And I wish they had...I wish everyone could have known him. He was so special to me.

Knowing Kev changed my life. He taught me so much about being spontaneous, enjoying each day, and loving people as well as receiving love from people. His life was such a gift to me. So today I celebrate his life, and I grieve his death, and I am so thankful for all the moments in between. I long for the day when I can see him fully alive, healed and whole.

Kevin, I love you, buddy. I still feel like every time I go home, you should be there. I hate that you're not. I miss you every single day, and I wait anxiously for the day when I see you again.