Well, it's official. I'm now SO behind that I completely skipped one of Branson's month updates :(. We did still get pictures, and I had notes written down, I just never actually completed the post. So here's what's been going on with our sweet Bran-man for the last two months.
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First of all, I love this little boy with all of my heart! He is so smiley and just lights up whenever we come into the room. He loves his big brother and doesn't seem to mind it when he wrestles with him, even if it is a tad unfair right now. It's hard to get him to sit still sometimes, but when he does he gives the best snuggles. He often falls asleep in my arms during Relief Society these days and I think it's my favorite time of the week. It's extra nice because Nolan is in Nursery, there's no messy house around me urging me to get up and clean, there's no TV to distract. It's just me and Branson. I keep thinking to myself, this right here is what mothers miss about having babies and small children. There is something so incredibly beautiful and rewarding about holding a sleeping child in your arms. And cruelest of all, it's gone before you know it! You're so busy surviving and getting from one day to the next that you wake up one morning and realize they don't fall asleep on you anymore like they used to. I know I'll miss it terribly when all of my babies are grown, so I'm going to try to treasure every moment while I'm in the middle of it.
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7 MONTHS
Branson is a beast. He seriously manhandles toys. Toys that should be way too big or heavy for him he pulls down like it's no big deal. For instance, he pulled down Justin's big 3 ft dinosaur and just swings around solid wood toys like their xylophone, etc. It's kind of a problem haha.
He can pretty much hold his own bottle and it's glorious. Nolan held out for way too long on that one.
He's learned how to army crawl and within a few days had mastered getting across the room surprisingly fast.
He loves food and gets upset if I take a second too long getting him the next bite.
He watches everything his big brother does.
Nolan cannot leave him alone. I wish it was in a cute, lovey-dovey way, but it's not. Now that Branson has started moving, he's also started touching Nolan's toys and he is NOT ok with it. The second B touches something, or reaches for something, N pounces and yanks the toy away. It doesn't matter if he wants to play with it or not, he just doesn't want Branson playing with it. We're trying to teach him that 1. Most of the toys are for sharing, 2. If he does have special toys, like his foxes or his blanket or his letters, he needs to keep them up where Branson can't reach them, 3. If he just has to have the toy Branson has in his hands he needs to give him another toy to play with before he takes it away. He also completely loses his marbles, flails all of his limbs, and screams like a banshee every time Branson touches him. Oey.
The good news is that I think this is temporary and just a result of it being new. N isn't used to having to share his toys, and it's only been recently that he's even had to worry about it because Branson couldn't crawl before. It's also very clear that Nolan really does love his little brother. He is always upset when Branson gets hurt or cries for too long, and will even share his beloved blanket with him if B is super upset.
Crashed out on the floor ♥
Reading with daddy. He still just wants to grab the book ☺
Giants baby!
(they stink this year, but we're not fairweather fans ☺)
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8 MONTHS
We took 47 pictures to try to get a good one of him (no seriously, I counted). I remember this stage trying to take pictures with Nolan. They just don't sit still anymore! With Nolan it was difficult, but he'd at least give us a second before he'd start squirming everywhere. Branson, on the other hand, is crazy. We had about .2 seconds to get a picture before he was gone. And we were counting our blessings if it wasn't a blurry one. It was such a workout that Justin and I had to switch roles halfway through the 5 min session haha! So, because they're funny and completely ridiculous, I have also included a bunch of outtakes. Do you see what we're dealing with here?!
Here's what's been going on with our Branosaurus Rex lately:
He loves Nolan so much. Anytime Nolan comes in the room he lights up and gives the biggest smile!
He climbs over everything. Yes, over. Branson's motto is that the fastest route to get somewhere is a straight line, doesn't matter what is in his way he just climbs over. I have a feeling B is going to give us a run for our money in that department. Nolan never really showed much of a desire to climb on things. He's never even been one to climb on a couch and jump off. Nothing like that. So for the last 2 years none of our furniture has been anchored and we haven't really been worried about it. I have a feeling we're going to need to change that real quick with little Bran-man.
He is constantly moving. Sometimes he'll be crying, crying, crying so you get him some food and he attacks it, only to drink about 3 sips and then he wants to squirm off your lap to go do other things. But, that being said, when he does settle down, he gives really good snuggles.
He is happiest when he's being held while standing up. Or when someone he loves comes in the room ♥
He loves bouncing and splashing in the water.
After a couple dangerous and frustrating bathing experiences in the last week or two I finally gave up and tossed the baby bather thing and just put him straight into the big tub. I was worried about doing that because he's still not 100% stable while sitting up. So for the first 30 seconds of the first bath I tried to just have my hands ready in case he fell. Finally I wisened up and just put him on his belly. Voila!! Bath time is now a fun and enjoyable experience. He splashes and moves around at will and I can just sit nearby and watch. No stress. Well, except for maybe that one incident last week where he pooped in the tub ☺
He has the best cheesy smile EVER! It's seriously the cutest. Observe.
I love how he always covers his face with his hands or plays with his hair when he's super tired.
You gotta do what you gotta do to keep this boy contained. Sadly, I don't think this will work for much longer because he'll just climb right out.
Just lookin' super cute and getting into everything at church.
I can't believe we have a goo 10 more months of this. Can't wait for nursery haha!
This is Rafe Black. Me, Nolan, and Branson and Rafe share a common ancestor, William Black. Well, this particular Sunday Branson was being a little difficult. He was squirming like a crazy person in my lap, but when I put him down on the ground he'd cry. I was super over it, and was about to pick him up again after I'd just put him down, when I saw Rafe motioning for him to come to him. Branson saw him, smiled, and crawled right over to him haha. Then he sat on his lap the rest of the meeting. So cute! Cousin Rafe to the rescue!
He loves all of the new foods he's been trying lately!
Crazy kid!
The many faces of Bran-man!
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We love our Branson!!
