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:

Brennan-5 months

Age: 5 months

Brennan's favorite things: Brennan still loves to touch everything. No matter what I'm holding in my hands, Brennan will reach out for it. He loves to explore with his hands. He pets the side of his changing table, and the wall next to his changing table. He plays with all of the objects on his Exersaucer. He holds his toys. He always pulls his pacifier out of his mouth and sometimes it even makes its way back into his mouth the right way. I can't believe how fast he is learning!
Brennan loves Baby Einstein. It doesn't matter how upset Brennan is, the second he hears the opening theme music, he strains his head to look at the TV. He could watch it for hours.

Our favorite things: We adore how content Brennan has become! He's a totally different baby from a month ago. He is always so happy!!! He will just lay wherever we set him. Before, he ALWAYS had to be held and we ALWAYS had to walk while holding him.
We adore that Brennan is such a great sleeper. He's been sleeping in his crib, in his nursery, since he was 3 months old. He has slept 10-12 hours straight through the night since the first night in his crib. It's almost too good to be true!

Outtakes:

Brennan-4 months

Age: 4 months

Weight: 11 lbs. 14 oz. (3rd percentile)

Length: 25" (50th percentile)

Head: 41 cm (50th percentile)

Brennan's favorite things: Brennan still loves to be held. Nothing makes him as happy as being in our arms. Sometimes it's draining, but I know I'll miss this when he's a toddler, pushing me away and wanting to run and explore on his own.
Brennan loves to use his hands to touch. He loves to caress my neck, hair, and face. We just put his Exersaucer together and he's enjoying reaching for the different objects

Our favorite things: We adore Brennan's voice. He has been so vocal. He puckers up his lips and "whooos" like an owl repeatedly.
We adore watching Brennan hit his milestones. He recently rolled from stomach to back for the first time. Ryan and I were both there for it. We couldn't believe our eyes, but then he did it two more times.

Outtakes:

Brennan-3 months

Age: 3 months

Brennan's favorite things: Brennan loves to have his diaper changed! (I know it's weird) It's not actually the new diaper that he loves, it's the act of changing into it. He loves laying on the changing table and when we talk to him and tickle his belly!
Brennan loves when Ryan comes home from work! No matter what kind of day Brennan had, he is all smiles the moment he sees Ryan!

Our favorite things: We adore when Brennan nestles into us when we hold him! As his muscles get stronger, he's able to snuggle his head into our chests and hold tight onto our shirts.
We adore how Brennan's eye contact has increased. Now he gazes right into our eyes! He also follows us around the room with his eyes. It's so sweet to think that he's taking it all in now.

Outtakes:

Brennan-2 months

Age: 2 months

Weight: 10 lbs 13 oz (15th percentile)

Length: 23" (35th percentile)

Head: 40 cm (85th percentile)

Brennan's favorite things: Brennan loves to be held. If he's upset, it's usually enough for one of us to just pick him up to soothe him. What a welcomed development ;)
Brennan loves to take baths! The minute his body touches the water, he is instantly relaxed. He'll just chill for 5 minutes, then he starts to get really excited and likes to splash with his arms and legs.

Our favorite things: Ah man, we have so many, how do we decide?!? We ADORE Brennan's smiles! Every day he smiles more and more. At this rate, he'll have a permanent smile on his face by 3 months. He is the happiest in the morning, after his first feeding. It is my all time favorite moments with him.
We adore the noises Brennan is making. Our favorite is after he sneezes, he lets out a loud sigh. We get so excited when we hear his first sneeze, because the anticipation for that sweet sigh is the best! He is also trying to communicate with us. He'll carry on back and forth, like he really has input in the conversation.

Outtakes: