Otis | 8 Months Old

Otis Perry, 8 months has flown by! You have developed so much over this past month - army crawling, crawling, pulling up, standing, sitting up on your own. I don't remember Wren getting the hang of all of that all at once like you. You are still so chill until the instant that you're not so I try to be a bit preemptive although I don't stress over it. Character building for us both, little buddy. 

You're still hit or miss with sleeping at night so we never know how many times we'll be up, but I do have you down to one feeding a night! We may just have to tackle sleep after you're weaned because I have a hunch you just like that one-on-one time with mama. That's a slim slice of pie for you and me [dearest second born] and my sappiest side has a hard time saying no to that moonlit rocking sesh too. Yep, I'm one of those.

We've had a handful of overnights away from you and a big trip planned in April, so we are already praying that your little heart will be at ease and that it'll be loads of fun for Oowa, Papa and Nana, Mimi and Pops and Shellee spending time with you and Wren. And speaking of Wren, she still makes you happier than anyone so I am thoroughly enjoying watching your sweet relationship grow! She, Daddy and I will always be your biggest fans, little brOtis (: We love you so so much!

Otis | 7 Months Old

This may be my favorite age on you so far, Otis Perry. Your hair seems to be turning more and more red and you're still looking just like Daddy (but my nose!). And you are still sporting that smile nearly all the time, but your little puckered up crying face is cute too so you really can't win for losing. Sorry, my littlest bud. 

This month you went from army crawling all over the place to real deal crawling in a matter of days. I've been looking for some baby gates that don't hurt my eyes with their lack of coolness (they don't make any!), but we're just free-styling until then. You've got yourself two new teeth - the top two middle ones to match your two bottom middles - chomp, chomp! And as if your own mobility isn't enough, you are constantly being picked up and hauled all over the house by your big sister. So far, you love the attention and don't seem to mind the brushes with death training in toughness and resilience. 

You have a thing for my ponytail (which I just cut off - oops) and funny enough, you get scared every single time you see me with a towel wrapped up on my head after I get out of the shower. Every.single.time. But I think in a crowd you'd still pick being held by me over anything, towel or no towel. My sweet little guy, you are something else. We just love you so!

P.s. If you wanted to turn a magical corner on sleep this next month that would be great. Not a condition of my love, but I think I could step up my mom game with another hour or two each night. Just sayin...

Love you more than all the sleep filled nights though, sweet boy of mine!

Otis | 6 Months Old

As if the ridiculous photoshoot doesn't portray it enough - your little personality is not so little as of late. You have grown in me such graciousness that I get to have a front row seat to these sweet [albeit sometimes maddening] stages again. 

Otis - you are all boy. Our very own Anderson boy. You are still content around your people, easy going until you want something and then you want it that instant [patience was a long shot, buddy because I've got none to pass along]. And still so smiley! And I also have a sneaking suspicion you will soon be a shameless little flirt. 

You have liked every single food we have tried, but haven't let that stop you from wanting to nurse. You are snuggly, but don't want to miss anything so it seems like you're always torn between the two. Your smile still melts.freaking.hearts and sometimes when Daddy and I get you and Wren to bed we look through pictures and just melt all over again. Modern day parenthood.

And because your HALF BIRTHDAY sent me on a little sappy trip down memory lane, I wandered upon a little snippet of sentiment that I wrote back when I was 24 weeks pregnant with you; before I knew you were you and before I knew you, my sweet boy.

"In some ways I can already feel that you are going to calm us down and keep us locked in on the simple joys of the present instead of tending to hold our gaze on the "just beyond." I already appreciate that about you."

And there you have it...feeling to fruition. You make us better already, Otis. We love you so big, brother!

Snow day | 1.19.18

There's something magic about daddies and daughters. And snow days really just take it up a notch. 

Otis | 5 Months Old

Otis - brother Otis - BROtis - you sure have come on strong this past month! You're still the most smiley dude, although now such a blur because you are kicking and wiggling constantly. You can't stand to miss a thing so the days of you snuggled up in my neck feel long gone. I can just tell that you want to be on the move! Lawd help when that day gets here. 

I keep trying to pick up on little bits of your personality and so far I think you're going to be pretty laid back but high energy (just like Daddy), talkative but maybe not quite as outgoing and social as your sister and a little on the sensitive side. We can't wait to see what else!

You really are cute on cute and we love you so much it hurts. Keep growing big and strong, my sweet boy.