Brennan-12 months

Age: 12 months

Weight: 21 lbs (50th percentile!!!) He's come a long way, since not even being on the charts at 3 months old!

Length: 30" (50th percentile)

Head: 47 cm (85th percentile)

Brennan not only started pulling himself up onto his feet this month, he also started walking along furniture. He's so strong and so fast. He can climb all the way up the stairs and is usually up three or four stairs before we can run to be behind him.
Brennan is just starting to get a little attitude. If you close a cabinet that he is playing in, or take away something that he's holding, he'll whine and kick his feet for about 3 seconds, then gets over it.
He is very generous with our dog, Xander. He absolutely loves picking up Xander's toys and pushing holding them into Xander's mouth. Xander has warmed up to Brennan so much more this last month. He'll actually take the toy that Brennan is offering him. That's about as friendly as he's willing to get so far, though.
Brennan loves to hear his own voice. Sometimes he is so intense when he talks, it just cracks us up.

Outtakes:

Brennan- 11 months

This was a huge month for Brennan! He finally started crawling! I was at my grandma's place and we were all standing around, saying our goodbyes, when Brennan crawled right across her rug! It was pretty neat that my grandma, mom, dad, and brother were able to witness his first crawl. Ever since that moment, he hasn't stopped for a second ;) The moment I set him on the floor, he is off.
Brennan also started pulling himself up this month. It started at about the same time as the crawling. I was shocked when I went to get him after a nap, and he was holding onto the crib railing looking at me.
Brennan has continued to be happy and content this month. I love when I open his nursery door in the morning, and the first thing I hear is him giggling! He loves to give me kisses (usually open mouth on the chin.)

Outtakes:

Brennan-10 months

This month Brennan sat up on his own for the first time! He was laying on his stomach, then pushed back until he was sitting. All it took was the one time, and he acts like he's been doing it his whole life. He still hasn't started crawling, but he sure gets around by rolling repeatedly and scooting on his butt.
He's still incredibly happy. He has a perma-grin! Everywhere we go, strangers comment on how happy he looks. I definitely credit his joy to having a daily routine. He takes his naps at 9AM, 1PM, and 5PM like clockwork. He goes to bed at 8:30PM and wakes up at 7AM everyday! He also eats every 2 hours and that just keeps him happy :)
Brennan is a total people-watcher. He leans over my shoulder and watches people whenever we're out running errands. He's intrigued by everything they do.
Brennan's top two front teeth have been coming in for the last few months. It's bittersweet, because he looks so darn cute with that little gapped-tooth grin, but he doesn't look like our little baby anymore.

 Rubber duckies

 He loves his grandpa!

 Mother's Day

Strong shoulders

Outtakes:

Brennan-9 months

Age: 9 months

Weight: 18lbs 5oz (30th percentile!)

Length: 28" (50th percentile)

Head: 46cm (70th percentile)

Brennan is so close to crawling. He gets up on all fours and rocks. Sometimes he will go backwards, but most of the time he gets frustrated and flops to the ground.

Brennan has been doing this fake laugh recently. He says "hehehehehe" almost from sun up to sun down. It's so cute! He loves hearing his voice, as do we!

It's so nice that Brennan enjoys playing by himself now. It's almost a little sad when he tries to wiggle out of my arms, because he'd rather be on the floor with his toys, though! 

This month we celebrated my mom's 60th birthday! We went out to dinner at Johnny's Steakhouse and then went back to my grandma's for cake and cheesecake.

The Rosenquist family at Johnny's Steakhouse

Playing with GG

 We took Brennan to his first Brewers game this month. He loved it! He was talking at the players and kicking his feet. Bernie (the Brewers mascot) waved to him.

Brennan and me in the Johnson Controls Stadium Club

We had a wonderful Easter! We hosted my family on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday evening, we drove to Eau Claire and spent time with Ryan's family that night. Then, we had brunch Easter morning with Ryan's extended family. 

Easter brunch

My family sporting Jus' Poke shirts (my cousin's new restaurant)

Outtakes:

Brennan-8 months

Brennan was so happy this month! It takes very little effort to make him smile or giggle. Usually all it takes is a look in his direction. Brennan also thinks our dog, Xander, is hilarious! He's always cracking up when Xander has an itch, yawns, or is just laying in the afternoon sun. (Xander is not so amused by Brennan. He rarely gives him the time of day.)
I know it's so cliche, but we really can't believe how fast Brennan is growing up. He's starting to look like a little boy.
He enjoys playing on his own. He'll sit and study his toys for about 10 minutes, before he gets bored.
Brennan has tried a variety of foods. His favorites are bananas, apples, and pears. He's not so fond of avocado or carrots. He really puts it away, too. He can eat an entire apple in one sitting.

He's so sweet

He's getting strong

So fresh and so clean

Outtakes:

Brennan-7 months

Age: 7 months

Brennan's favorite things: Brennan loves touching everything and anything! We went out to dinner the other night, and Ryan was holding Brennan on his lap. Before Ryan even sat down, Brennan had his hand on the steak knife. He quickly went to the plate, napkin, salt, and then to the butter. It was hilarious watching Ryan trying to keep up with him!
Brennan loves to eat solid foods! This month Brennan had his first taste of real food. He has had avocado, banana, and sweet potato. I think his favorite so far is banana. We're going to try peas next.

Our favorite things: Brennan is sitting up so well. It's fun, because he can play in a whole new way now. We always joke that he has a little engineer mind. When we handed him a brightly colored plastic piano, he turns it over to the blank white side and studies the screws and battery cap.
Brennan is finding his voice. The sweet sounds he makes are too much for us. I love hearing him babble to himself in his car seat, or over the baby monitor when he wakes up in the morning.

Outtakes:

Brennan-6 months

Age: 6 months

Weight: 14lbs 3oz (3rd percentile)

Length: 26.25" (50th percentile)

Head: 43cm (50th percentile)

Brennan's favorite things: Brennan loves to reach for everything! He extends his arm out whenever I am carrying him, in hopes that he'll get his hand on anything that we walk past. He doesn't care what it is, it can be a person, the refrigerator, or even the wall.
Brennan loves his Christmas gifts! My parents gave him a Jumperoo, and he will go nuts in that thing. His latest move is a smooth sway, though. My older brother gave him a play gym mat. He will lay on it for an hour, just trying to reach all of the hanging toys.

Our favorite things: We adore how incredible happy Brennan is. There is nothing else in this world that warms our hearts as much as when Brennan smiles at us. We were in a waiting room this week, and I had Brennan's car seat facing away from us. Suddenly we hear him just giggling away! I look and there's a little girl in his sight. She's just sitting there, holding her mom's hand. She wasn't giving him the time of day, but he laughed at her for a good 10 minutes.
We adore that Brennan recognizes us. Just seeing one of us makes him smile. We also have to be careful that we don't make eye contact if Brennan is content. If he spots us, he starts fussing and needs attention. He's starting to get a little separation anxiety. Even though it makes us feel very loved, we're trying to discourage this behavior.

Outtakes: