Xander is 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!!

8 things I LOVE about Xander:

1. When I walk into his house and say "Hellooooo" or just "Where's Xander...?" he stops whatever he's doing (usually eating paper) and army-crawl-rolls towards me or just bursts into laughter.

2. He eats paper like it's part of the food pyramid. Magazine's for desert.

3. He can pull himself up on things and maneuver around. This was discovered when Karley & I were sitting on the couch & he rolled over to it and grabbed the edge of the cushion next to me and pulled himself up. We both looked over, smiled at him, and continued talking. A few minutes later Karley non-chalantly remarked (as he did it again on his bouncer) "Hmmm...I don't think he's ever done that before". And then, again, we just continued talking. LOL. :)

4. His bottom two teeth are delicious.

5. He eats real food (that Karley makes!) and doesn't spit it out or talk back when Auntie Sarah is spooning it in.

6. He screams like a girl and expects as much attention as one, but is the "manliest" baby ever. That kid is solid.

7. If Karley doesn't want to sweep, just set Xander in the kitchen and he'll pull himself all over the floor and pick up any lint with his T-Shirt. Who needs a broom?

8. I can never leave this out, you know it's coming....CHEEKS (and dimples).

8 months

Time for Desert!

Babies first Brooklyn Bridge

Auntie Sarah LOVES her nieces & nephew!!!! (Addy, Maebe, Xander)

It's never too early to crush

**If interested, here's an update from Karley over the past couple months**

In January Xander started eating actual food (pureed) and out of the middle of nowhere I became KarleyCrocker and decided to make all of Xanders food myself. He actually prefers my "home cooking" to jarred food however I make sure he eats both just in case of emergencies. Xander also started the year off attending three classes a week: Music, PE and Swimming. Well actually, even sometimes four: mommy/baby yoga- buts that's when I'm feeling really ambitious.
In music he sits tall and with eyes glued to the guitarists, playing with maracas and drums, well most of the time tasting the instruments rather than playing. In PE he and other babies crawl around mats and drool on each other.Im on constant watch to make sure he doesn't make the other babies cry... yes already! During swimming Al and Xander hit the pool every Saturday morning receiving exclusive lessons, one of my most favorite moments to watch. Due to the weather Xan and I spent most time this winter at home or the YMCA, which is where Xander has been coined as the Ybaby, and is doted upon by the entire staff. I graciously answer to everyone as "Xander's Mom," and have a suspicion that will be my known name for the rest of my life!

In February Xander got to go to his very first Knicks game (playing the Celtics), and go to the court after and meet Al's college buddy Ray Allen from the opposing team. He's also learned to army crawl, or swim on land, and refuses to use his knees to move around, however still manages to get into what he wants causing chaos throughout the house. Time to baby proof! His hair is still insane, a ton in the front, and thin in the back, but still enough to grow his first dread lock! He went to two more friends first birthdays and also enjoyed his first Valentines day.
Xander also got to finally experience his first Golden Washington apple, non purred. I peeled and halved it for him however he couldn't keep hold of it, so I thought of a brilliant idea, carve a hole out the center as a handle... it worked! At the very end of February Xander got his first tooth. The last week he was extremely fussy, he wasn't eating and coughed throughout the night. One night I took his temperature, studied my mommy books and self diagnosed him as teething and sure enough the very next morning was his first tooth poking through on the bottom. He couldn't stop playing with it using his tongue, and then the following the day the second bottom tooth joined the first side by side. Ohhh the joys of teething.

This March I finally took Xander to Utah (where I attended BYU-not where I'm from) to visit my friends from my college years, meet their babies as well, and kick it with two siblings who also reside there at the moment. At times I really miss my West Coast buddies so although traveling with Xan is stressful it was wonderful for such important people in my life to finally meet my son.
Xan and I stay busy with play-dates (i cant believe I actually use that annoying term now!) because he actually interacts a lot with other babies/children now. I was always surrounded by kids growing up, so I try my best to make Xander has daily interaction with someone besides me. Everyone always tells me he is such a "manly- man" baby. You definitely don't mistake him for a girl! He is completely solid and weighs a ton. His cheeks are about the only non solid part on his body, and even those are slimming down! He likes to growl really loud especially in public (sounds like a pterodactyl, and scares everyone), he thinks its funny, always wants a reaction when he sneezes and coughs, and manages to knock everything over at restaurants.

Even though its harder with an 8 month old, we still love going out for brunch on the weekends and run around the city as a family. Xander can now pull himself up from anywhere and walk as long as he holds on to the edge of something. He also can crawl (army style) and push himself into sitting position. He loves ripping apart magazines, and unfortunately eating them too. Now with a few months of eating under his belt he consumes anything i do! From fennel seed to garlic, spicy to sour... whatever i cook for Al and I, I blend up for Xander and he loves it.