// Linden Atlas: Twelve Months

Nevermind that tomorrow will be three weeks since Linden turned 12 months old, but it's been a busy month haha I thought I better finish up the "Monthly Linden" series with his 11/12 month stats and photos! I know I'm going to love looking back on these posts. I'm planning on printing his first 12 months into books so we can have them. I think my goal from here on out will just be to snap precious moments with both boys so I can print those off, too. (Speaking of which - Do y'all have any recommendations on your favorite places to print Instagram books!? I've only used Blurb in the past, so I need some suggestions if something better exists!)

This past year has been so hard and so rewarding. It's hard to believe he's already been here for 52 (55!) weeks. Linden is truly something else. And seeing Toby as a doting, sweet big brother has been so so awesome. It's easy to dwell on the trying times and the struggle, but all of this is worth it. (Someone remind me of that next time Linden dumps an entire box of Cheez-Its on the floor, please!)

While Linden was 11 months he:

+ weighed 24 pounds (on his birthday)

+ stood 30..5 inches tall (on his birthday)

+ started waving and saying "bye bye"

+ didn't wake up at night at all (!!!!!)

+ spent his first nights with daddy (while mama was away)

+ graduated to his big boy car seat (!! more on that soon!)

+ went on a "wearing strike" (we're still riding that one out. hello independence!)

Short and sweet! Now we have a toddler! It's so weird. And fun. And frustrating. How on Earth folks have another baby with their kid at this stage is beyond me! Y'all are superheroes.  Thanks for watching Linden grow these past 12 months. 

xo KB

// See all Monthly Linden posts here

// Linden Atlas - Eleven Months

This sweet boy of ours turned eleven months old last week. His first birthday party planning is in full swing and he is a bright spot in our days. I keep wanting to soak up every single minute of him because I find each passing day to be more and more heartbreaking (and exciting! and fun! and overwhelming!). Sometimes I can't believe that Mike and I made this perfect little dude. It's kind of the coolest thing ever. Just one more monthly update... *sigh* I'm not ready!

At 10 months old Linden:

+ went swimming in the Tennessee river for the first time (and LOVED it!)

+ started consistently signing words to communicate with us.

+ slept like a champ... still! *knock on wood*

+ tried so many new foods, and loved every single one of them.

+ started running! Yes, running! HELP!

+ finally got in a bucket swing and was the happiest kid in the world.

+ got in the pool for the first time, too!

Just a few more weeks and my baby won't be a "baby" anymore... he'll be a toddler. I don't even know where the past eleven months have gone.

See past Monthly Linden posts here!

xo KB

// Linden Atlas - Ten Months

The biggest news to report for Linden while he was nine months old is: HE LEARNED TO WALK! Yes! Oh my stars! He was taking two or three steps regularly before we left for Mexico, and then one day into our trip he was walking non-stop! He's all over the place and it's so incredible! We came home from our adventures and he walked up to me... I cried like a baby. It's just the neatest thing ever, honestly.

Aside from that we've just been doing life and having fun! He loves to swing and swim and he eats like a little piggy. He amazes me each and every day. Gosh I love that baby so much.

This past month Linden:

+ learned to walk (like I mentioned above - !!!!)

+ slept like a CHAMP! 12 straight hours most nights.

+ spent his first 24+ hours away from mom.

+ had a 5 day sleepover with granma + pawpaw

+ and a 3 day sleepover with grammy terri + granpa

+ ate and ate and ate! and ate some more!

+ transitioned back into a diet with dairy (!!!)

+ took his first nasty little spill down the steps.

His ten month update later this month will be SO fun because he's already experienced so many new and exciting things in the past two weeks. Maybe I'll start updating these on time again haha!

xo KB

// Linden Atlas - Nine Months

Linden Atlas is nine. months. old! I need to start thinking about his first birthday at this point... yikes! This past month was all about asserting his independence. Crawling everywhere, trying to climb on things, learning to stand all on his own (!!!)... it's been pretty exciting (and exhausting and stressful haha). He's starting to really "see" the world, I think. He's my happy little guy.

At 8 months old, Linden:

- weighed 21.5 pounds (!!!! - at his 9 month visit)

- was 29" tall (at his 9 month visit)

- learned to clap and thinks it's just the best thing.

- started eating three full meals a day.

- dipped his toes in the water (at a waterfall!) for the first time

- learned to stand up all on his own.

- learned to ride his little push-car.

- fell a lot. (So many little bumps and bruises to try and doctor up)

- is finally starting to get some actual hair (!!! - it's wispy, but it's growing!)

Next month brings the double digits... y'all, I am not ready for this!

// Linden Atlas - Eight Months

I'm only two weeks late posting this, but you know, life. Linden turned eight months old on March 23rd and he's been a little hellion ever since! He's crawling, standing, grabbing things he shouldn't possibly be able to reach, and he finally got a hold of the dog food. We take it one day at a time around here! All of these pictures and milestones are from when he was seven months, of course, but it's so crazy how he's already changed so much in just two weeks. I'm honestly not sure how I'm already posting his eight month milestone post! I feel like you don't really understand the concept of time until you have a kid. Maybe I'm biased or jaded or whatever, but time feels so different with a baby around. Even with Toby, it seemed to go much slower. Maybe that's because he came to live with us just after turning three, whereas we've seen Linden evolve since day one. Of course I catch myself looking at Toby and thinking "Who is this teenager?!" haha Six has it's own set of challenges, but six years and eight months... phew! I have my work cut out for me.

At seven months, Linden:

- weighed 19.5 pounds. 

- slept through the night twice! 7.5 hours and 9.5 hours (!!!!!!)

- started growing some actual hair! even if it's super wispy still haha

- transitioned into his own room (!) and sleeps in his crib every night

- pulls up on everything and can stand on his own for a few seconds

- got the thumbs up to slowly start introducing dairy again

- was the lucky recipient of 300 ounces of donor milk from a friend (!)

I can't wait to share all of the exciting things happening at eight months, too! I know I'm going to love being able to look back on these monthly posts and remember what the days were like. Seriously, just two weeks late and I've already forgotten most of what happened when he was seven months... Yikes! xo

See other Monthly Linden posts here.

// Linden Atlas - Seven Months

Seven months... it just doesn't seem fair! My happy little guy is turning into a full fledged human. I mean, obviously he's always been human (ha!), but he has so many emotions and he's able to communicate in new ways. My heart just can't handle how much he's grown! I'll gladly say that six months is my favorite age so far! So many milestones and special moments. I just love him so much!

This month Linden:

+ learned to army crawl (and is probably only days away from real crawling! just. like. THAT!)

+ learned that the "alligator death roll" is super fun while mom changes his diaper

+ discovered a love for his strawberry popsicle teether

+ started feeding himself with his bottles

+ learned how to use a sippy cup and now loves it

+ transitioned from full-time cosleeping to sleeping in his own bed all night (!!!)

+ learned to give hugs and kisses (and I die every time!)

+ spent his first night away from mama/home (!!!) and did so well! (we both survived!)

Hopefully we'll start working on sleeping in his own room (!) this month, and getting better at baby led weaning. Still no teeth, but that just makes me think they'll all come at once. Heaven help us!

// Linden Atlas - Six Months

Our little Linden is officially half a year old! He turned 6 months on the 23rd. The past month was a bit of a rollercoaster and there were a few not-so-fun parts, but overall I think we're doing pretty good haha He had a yucky allergic reaction to apples and it pretty much terrified me. We stopped solids for a little bit but just recently started them back. He's a big fan of sweet potatoes! He's such a happy baby and that I am oh so thankful for.

This month Linden:
+ weighs 17.5 pounds (!!!!!)
+ is 26.5 inches tall
+ learned to sit unassisted (!!!)
+ loves being in his jumparoo and exersaucer.
+ started napping on his own again (most of the time...)
+ sleeps in his Breeze bassinet half of the night + co-sleeps the rest
+ discovered how fun it is to splash water in the bath tub

Here's to the second half of our little guy's first year! xo

// Linden Atlas - Five Months

Happy freakin' 2015! Just wanted to pop in and share Linden's monthly update! (This break from the blog has been really nice, I have to admit!) Anyway - Linden turned five months old just two days before Christmas! Five. whole. months! (Two of those pictures up there were on Christmas Eve... so technically five months and one day, but hey, whatever!) This past month was definitely a rollercoaster for us. Let's just say the four month sleep regression thing is so real! We transitioned back into full-time bed-sharing so we'll probably be moving his sidecar crib back to his room here shortly. He's been napping in his 4moms Breeze and that's been so nice. 

He also had his first taste of real (well, pureed) food just a week before hitting 5 months. His reflux is still full throttle so we had hoped introducing some solids would help him gain weight and keep the food down (he's still taking the same amount via bottle regardless). It seemed to work for about a week. He put on a bit of chunk in no time, but all of it fell right off and then some. I don't know exactly how much he weighs this month, but visually he lost some weight so we'll have to keep a close eye on that now. It was also our first full month in cloth diapers! It went SO well and I can honestly say that I am SUCH a huge fan of cloth diapering and it's so so so much easier than I ever though it'd be. If you're considering cloth as an option, I totally say do it! Maybe I'll write more about it once I feel like we're experienced enough to chime in, but I'm so glad we went the cloth route (I hope I stay glad hah!)

This month Linden:

+ had his first taste of food! He loves sweet potatoes, peas, pears, broccoli, rutabaga, etc! He's a total pro at eating from a spoon.

+ celebrated his first Thanksgiving.

+ spent lots of fun play-time in his exersaucer and door jumper.

+ transitioned right back into bed-sharing.

+ still eats every 3-4 hours (sometimes 5 (!!!))... even at night.

+ spent his first full month in cloth diapers like a champ.

+ started really learning to babble + make letter souunds (he's really good at "ma" and may or may not have said "mama" a few times... totally not on purpose though, i'm sure haha!)

+ learned how to blow raspberries and now does it non stop!

+ got really good at "petting" the dogs and cats. heart melt!

+ met so many members of our family for the first time!
+ looks more and more like me every single day and i. just. can't!

It was a really lovely month, and I can't believe the next time I check in he'll be half-a-year old! As much as I miss him being teeny tiny, this new stage is SO exciting! xo

PS; I'm not apologizing for way. too. many. photos up there! I can't help but stare at that baby all day!

See other Monthly Linden posts here!