Ella is at what *I think* is my favorite age right now. She is eight months old (how??) and just makes us laugh with her squeals and slobber and smiles.
She has recently begun rolling everywhere she wants to go, hitting her head on everything in her path. Oh how she’ll cry, but a little pep talk (“ooh, you’re okay!) and she’s back on her merry way.
I’m her favorite person right now and I relish every time her smile lights up just by my presence. I know the time will probably come when my frumpy/mom hairdo/I don’t know anything about anything self will be the black spot in her teenage existence. So right now, I bask in the glory of being the greatest mom on Earth.
I should probably mention that when Carson was around eight months old, we decided that we needed another baby. With Ella being so charming, I vividly remember why I had that urge.
And the two of them together! Oh! My! Ovaries!
Speaking of Carson, two is treating him well and has it’s endearing moments. I love how he has started singing along to his favorite songs, a few words behind like a drunken karaoke singer. “John Deere! Made a better plow, John Deere! Made famous now, John Deere!…” Every morning when he gets out of bed, he goes directly to the box of his Thomas trains and names every one with great enthusiasm. “James! James’ coal tender! Thomas! Annie! Clarabel! Henry! Henry coal tender!…”
He has begun to fart at the dinner table. When asked what he should say when he toots out his bottom, he shouts, “Sank sou!” (thank you) causing me to hide my obvious chuckling.
His love of the Wonder Pets has made him very interested in eating celery. He asks for celery at every meal, sometimes even for a snack. “Celry? Pease Mommy? Wonder Pets celry?”
Conversely, there are some not so endearing things about age two. He has (and has had for a long time) an affinity for all things Daddy. Every morning when I go to get him up, he demands Daddy and throws a tantrum the size of Canada when I groggily explain that Daddy is at work. “No Daddy go work! No Mommy. Daaaaaadddddyyyyy!”
Come to think of it, he can throw a tantrum the size of Canada about most anything.
Meal time has become a spit-fest. Since I’m still learning as a parent, I made a big deal how WE DO NOT SPIT at the dinner table! NO WE DO NOT! So now spitting is ultra-cool and I’m trying to be ultra-cool about it, hoping that no reaction on my part will eventually make spitting so January 2008.
Remember how he asks for celery at every meal? Yeah, well he doesn’t actually eat it. Noooooo! He chews it then spits it out and when he can get all the little pieces out by spitting, he wipes his tongue with the palm of his hand.
Another trait that is less than endearing?
Carson farts at the dinner table.
So what is your favorite age (so far) with your kids?
Such a tough question!
With DC, just about every age was good! There were no terrible twos, or threes…but he was definitely SUPER adorable once he hit five. Making it easy to convince DH that WE needed to make babies. It took another year and a half to happen…but it did *lol* NOW he regrets it
BUT, with the girls…I don’t know. 8mo-1yr were tough for me with both of them. It was the time we experienced the depth of their issues. Sooo…that being said…
6 months for K. She was such a happy baby…ALL the time. She grew out of that WAY too fast.
Right NOW for M. She’s coming out of her shell so much and TALKING and learning…it’s the child I never knew I had. I’m loving it. Just waiting for K to catch up (she’s getting there)
Sadie’s last blog post..Note from school…
Ava at around 8-9 months was the BEST! Immobile, except rolling and starting to crawl, I was the only person on earth in her eyes, I could take her anywhere. Now, at 16 months, I have this pod-baby who is stronger than me, faster than me, and smarter than me. I dread age two….
aradia’s last blog post..It’s My Very Own Circus
My favorite age has yet to be determined.
I have to say, you make some beautiful babies!!!
Shelly’s last blog post..Napus Interruptus
I’m not sure about my favorite. There seems to be something special about every age, even this horrible, awful ‘three’ that we’re going through now. I love that I can have a conversation now, and the imagination that Charity has. But I miss the baby days too.
Well, I was watching a video of Sacha’s first year, and although I love his little personality now, I think that 9-10 months was my favourite for him. He was so freaken funny, and he recognized how to make us laugh. That, and his crying was minimal. He hardly cried. It was brilliant.
And now he also throws tantrums the size of Canada when we just cannot figure out what he’s trying to tell us. Good times…
mrs. mustard’s last blog post..Baking à la Mustard
I am also a big fan of the 8-9 month age, where they are learning and exploring, and yet, you can plop them in the pack n play while you take a pee and know they won’t be yelling “mamma, daddy? NO WANT IT!!”
Charlotte is 20 months and this is by far the most difficult it’s ever been. Sure, she sleeps, yes, she eats and can talk and tell me in almost full sentences what she wants, but THE WHINING – sweet baby jeebus, the whining. She can express herself, but apparently not as much as she wants because ALL she does ALL day long is whine for things.
I know it will pass, but in the meantime I teeter a fine line between loving my child more than life itself and wanting to hurl myself into oncoming traffic.
AndreAnna’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
ahh, we decided we needed another when our first was 8 mo old too. It took almost 10 mo to conceive though, for which I’m now thankful since #3 will be here in less than 4 mo – about a year earlier than planned. lol
Anyway, each age has such wonderful things, but I do believe 9 mo to be my favorite age for babies. They can eat table foods, move a lot more, sleep better and develop such sweet personalities. d is almost 3 and I’m not loving the age as much as 2. I never thought I’d say 2 was better than ANYTHING – but well, live and learn…
Attitude! That’s all I’m saying!
Devan’s last blog post..TCP
Both those ages are great. I had a lot of fun with Carter at both stages… but I think NOW is my favourite.
He’s 2 and a half and a complete ham. He can carry on somewhat of a conversation, he can play alone or with people now ( as opposed to around them), he sings and has developed quite the personality.
Though, the independence is sometimes a killer, it’s great to have free hands (and some time) again!
sam’s last blog post..the day the sucking died
Clearly this farting at the table thing is hereditary, so who does it – you or Tate?
RWA’s last blog post..Naked and supported by Rosie O’Donnell
I haven’t hit it yet…I’m sure it’ll be around the time sh turns 35.
~JJ!’s last blog post..Our newest story…
OMG me too me too on the 8 months thing! Nate just turned 8 months and all of the sudden he’s got personality x 10. The other day I was thinking, I think so far this is definitely my favorite age.
skiplovey’s last blog post..Tuesday is the new Monday
I forget. :\ I have a 3-year-old and a newborn and I’m DIGGING the newborn stage. of course, I have the World’s. Best. Baby. Very mellow and not needy in the least, highly unlike DS#1.
Speaking of needy… three is definitely not my favorite age.
Yuck, 8-10 months was the worst because Henry did not sleep for longer than 45 minutes for 6 weeks at that time. He pretty much stopped sleeping from the time he could crawl until the time he could walk and I was home and isolated and strapped for cash and the suck sucked so hard. Those months are the memory which serves as my birth control. I am looking forward to three starting at the end of the week. I think three is going to be downright AWESOME.
17 months was pretty good too because he self weaned and started sleeping regularly.
Henny Penny’s last blog post..Auction!
But, now my ovaries are twinging.
Emily R’s last blog post..Redux
Babyhead is now the Big Three…so I can’t really say if Three is good or bad yet…but I do have to say the last year was fun. He really took off with his language and we started to show him how to pick up his toys (even though he screams occasionally when we try to get him to pick them up).
I am both scared and excited to see him interact with the new baby!
I have to say though, going from One Year to Two Years was hard…it was difficult to see him as an independent person who can actually understand you and follow directions instead of a small child who can’t do anything for themselves…
Sandy’s last blog post..What was that?
I always said if the babies came out as toddlers I’d have 5. I’m not so much a baby person, but about 18 mo or so – I LOVE. Yes they have tantrums, they can’t voice what they want, but they are sooooo funny. The learning how to say things, the full and complete love of you who cares for them. I love it.
My big boy is 4 and that’s pretty fun too – he is such a little man.
Ah……my ovaries are thumping….
Teri’s last blog post..Party…like it’s your birthday….drink Bacardi….like it’s your birthday
Ooohhh, that’s hard. With Dylan I kept thinking as he got older that “this” was the best age, but that just kept happening. I still think it, he’s (Almost!) 3 now, but he’s also a HUGE pain in the ass, so that kind of takes points away from where we are now. So, with him, I’d have to say he peaked at 1-2. Super fun, manageable, learning funny stuff, etc. Once we’re past the tantrums and diapers, I think 3 will be back on top.
With Zach, who is 5 months, he’s definitely at his peak right now. Cute, cuddly, social. But, he’ll just keep getting better, until he hits (Almost!) 3 and then I’ll be right where I am with Dylan now. That makes no sense.
SO, my answer is: From like 5 months to just over 2 is awesome, then it kinda sucks for a while, then (I hope!) it gets awesome again.
AMomTwoBoys’s last blog post..Say What? Huh? What In The HELL Is She Talking About Now?
Hard question. Every age is a good one.
I really like four year olds. They are so funny! Hysterical.
They can reason and have an actual conversation. Hysterical!
OHmommy’s last blog post..Happiness & Closure
Those pics of Ella are making my ovaries hurt.
The one we’re working on is the having to pee the second we sit down for dinner. Never before, not after….but right then. It makes me crazy. Although spitting would be on my list for sure.
Phoenix’s last blog post..Fifteen degrees
I LOVE BABIES.
LOVE THEM.
From the newborn stage until toddling is probably my favorite.
I am also hugely fond of teenagers.
Loralee’s last blog post..No, no, NO!
Lets see I have one that is 8, one 18 and one 22. I don’t think we have hit a good age yet! Babies are great if they sleep, toddlers are wonderful as long as there are no terrible twos, 8, uh, the attitude, 18, the attitude and 22, well he is out of the house, but I never get to see him anymore! Nope haven’t found the favorite age yet, it has been different with all of them.
justmylife’s last blog post..When did doctors quit caring?
Ella is so sweet she makes ME want to have another baby.
As you know, that is saying A LOT.
Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..I Pee On My Feet
I have loved each age. And, at each transition I’ve said it was the BEST by far. I haven’t had a point where I was just going to ring his little neck. Until this past week. I think the molar coming in, coiciding with both he & I getting sick, has made both of us very difficult. But, I have loved every second of two and found little of it terrible. It’s three I hear is so awful. I’m a little scared of that one.
Funny you mention the celery. Mine wanted some this morning for breakfast, because the “phone…the phone is ringing.” Can you tell we’re Wonder Pet obsessed, too!
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..My Thumb Suffers from Muffin Top
The pictures are cute.
That’s not the same crying baby from six months ago now is it?
I love the newborn stage. I love floppy babies. I love the vidodin induced euphoria that makes me forget how sleep deprived I am.
Andria’s last blog post..You Gotta Fight….
Four months and eight months were two of my favorite ages!
Oh my goodness – they are BOTH adorable!
Maggie’s last blog post..Loving Lips
Every day I think we have hit my new favorite age. Really, it just keeps getting better and better. OK, so it gets worse and worse in some areas, but I still think the good outweighs the bad.
Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..She’s Going to Interrupt My Boyfriend Wentworth Three Times
Little Elvis is 11 months now, and each new stage is more fun than the last. He gets into absolutely everything and whatever Mommy holds, he needs to hold and taste. He’s figured out that most things look different on the back, and he remembers where the cool places are in the house when I take down the gate and let him loose. I love to watch him discover something and then get this huge, happy grin on his face. He’s also enamored with Daddy. Whenever Bob even thinks of leaving the room, he wails.
I’m all about three. I also really liked one. One was so great – the naps! Oh, the naps were glorious. Plus, she was so easily amused.
Now that I have no. 2 on the way, I’m looking most forward to the age six months to one year. That was such a fun time.
Your kiddies are so cute they are edible.
Mrs. Chicken’s last blog post..You Can’t Argue With Her Logic
I’ve loved a lot of my kids ages. Two was a love hate for BC because there was such an amazing amount of growth, but boy was he a pain sometimes. Now he’s 3 1/2 and such a big little man. He’s helpful, thoughtful and kind. He cleans up *gasp* his own playroom with little help from me. Wow.
eClaire is talking. She is so much more fun now that she can communicate. She’s a little less clingy and overall happy. (I’m her favorite too!)
So I’d have to say that just 2(girl) and 3 1/2(boy) are my favorites currently. I’ll let you know next week if my opinion is the same.
Smiling Mom’s last blog post..What a small world
Ella and Carson are SOOOOO incredibly cute. My favorite age? Anything after 3 months!
MamaGeek’s last blog post..Dog. The Bounty Hunter.
I have SO MANY favorite stages. I LOVE babyhood. I loved breastfeeding. I loved snuggling and baby yawns and oh! The babyness of it all!
But I also LOVE toddlerhood. Yes! I did! I loved their learning to talk (oh! the lisp! and the conversations!). And learning to imagine (oh! the come-to-life stuffed animals and even–talking hands!). And by the time the third came around, even the temper tantrums started to amuse me–because I knew it was a quick fizzle and would be over and she’s be really cute again soon. And I love just watching this new, unique PERSON start to emerge. I think the whole reason why we decided to have a third–it was just so fascinating to experience!
School-aged kids wear me out more than the toddler. But I still love watching them learn and having intelligent conversations with them. And comparing Harry Potter theories. I can just do without that school-aged attitude (I don’t have to listen to Mom and Dady anymore–they are soooo lame!) that they pick up day ONE of kindergarten.
I’m anxiously awaiting what the teenage years will bring. Thank heavens it’s still a few years away!
Carrie’s last blog post..The LULL before the next storm
Thirty is looking pretty good right about now.
Oh, The Joys’s last blog post..Making the Tough Choices
When Princess passes gas (tyvm) She says “That was my bottom burping, bottom stop burping, that’s besgusting”
I love 4.
Monkey climbs and then splutters everywere. Drives me bonkers. I love this age (1 and 4) so wonderful.
My ovaries quivered at Ella’s picture! Damn you@@
Rachel’s last blog post..Granny
i always loved em all at 10 months. that seemed like the best ever.
but.
in a strange but wonderful way, i am enjoying the roo-girl at 13 more than i ever thought possible. although TRUST ME, there are typical hormonal hissies, she is delightful and funny and affectionate and full of joy.
she calls me her best friend, and tho i know that is not the case, it makes me smile.
who knew!
janet’s last blog post..How I scored a half a doughnut this morning
Ella is so gorgeous! And I love that pic of Carson with her. He’s growing up so fast! He’s definitely not “Peanut” anymore!!
One of my favorite ages is 12-18 months. I wrote about it here (http://passthechocolate.blogspot.com/2007/10/early-toddler.html)
And I’m still loving Elise at this age. But she is definitely entering the terrible twos. Already.
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It’s hard to choose! I do know for sure that with girls it is anything prior to 13. No question.
I think 3. I have loved three.
amy’s last blog post..Nearly Wordless Wednesday – About Disney…
I love ages 6-10 months. Liam is almost 8 months and it makes me cry! He’s growing so quickly and well, I’m not sure I can convince my hubby to go for 3.
I also enjoyed 2.5 – 3 years with Quinn. Even though we went through potty training, but it was like he was figuring everything out and was So! Excited! About! Everything! He’s just over 3 now and this is fun too – learning so much and amazing me each day. I honestly think the only age I DO NOT LIKE is months zero-three. Yeah, they’re cute, yeah, they’re small, but holy hell – it is not easy at all. If I could just hold a newborn for a few hours a week and then go back to my predicable (scheduled naptime) life I would be happy.
Cathy’s last blog post..7 months – Wordless
I have yet to find my favorite age. It doesn’t seem to help that they were born 12 months apart so I have yet to appreciate any age and then a wee bit later the next child goes through the same phase and it’s a LOT different.
Enjoy Ella! AND OMG your feedburner is at 339 holy crapola Go you!
Kara’s last blog post..I will not complain
Ah! I’ve composed a similar post (in draft, of couurseee) because I love LOVE the eight months mark. Baby O is finally a little man. Man Baby! We love him.
I’m officially hooking them up. Because, you know, Internet love is all the rage. Especially among 8 month olds. (And older woman! GASP!)
You make cute kids.
Mrs. Flinger’s last blog post..Just like technology… if your baby pooped on your ipod
Those are two gorgeous kids you’ve got there!
For me, my favorite time is right around a year old. They’re mobile, either crawling or walking, they can start to eat on their own, but they still take naps and don’t talk back yet. And they are still so in love with mommy, too!
Christina’s last blog post..Still Running On Fumes
They are BOTH SOOO cute!!
I have favorite things about every age and not so favorite things!
I loved 1 and 4 with Liv.
With Gabe, Im LOVING him being a baby. He’s so funny.
Stephanie’s last blog post..WW- The kids again!
I have to say that as my kids are getting older, I’m enjoying it more and more. As much as I miss the cute cuddly newborn phase, I love that we are starting to reach a point where we can do more and more things as a family. We’re planning a trip to Northern Ireland in two summers and no one will be in diapers or need a stroller (hence the reason why the trip won’t be this summer). That being said, I loved 6-9 months where they could sit up and play, but no go anywhere!
Alex Elliot’s last blog post..When Smaller is Better
it’s an unfair question. each stage is always the best one. i always think…he/she can’t get any cuter or more amazing and then they do.
ali’s last blog post..a cruel trick, a dog, and a blanket
I really love having a 6 year old (almost adult conversation!), but my absolute favorite hands-down is when they are brand-new. I love them in the first few days when they are super skinny and knobbly and smell like heaven.
Just the thought of it makes me want to have another. Right now. And I have a 4 month old.
Jenni’s last blog post..I Need To Do More Stuff!
this is such a great post. it was the topic of the mamablogga group writing project in october, here’s mine: http://imabima.blogspot.com/2007/10/tomorrow-one-day-older.html
i agree with you — your daughter is at that great age that really makes you want to do it all over again… i keep looking at my 3rd and really, my uterus is aching…
phyllis’s last blog post..Facts About Trees & Green GIVEAWAY
Oh the kids are so cute! I just want to pinch them.
I’m really loving the stage Arlo is at now – he’s so interactive. He and Elliot are having squealing matches lately and it’s hilarious. I have to say, I’m also enjoying the fact that he’s not mobile yet. Then the fun shall begin.
I don’t know what my favorite age is. I do like them from about 6 months to a year. Then after about 18 months (when the novelties of the super-tantrum wear thin) they are fun too, especially all the mispronunciations of new words.
andi’s last blog post..A belated angry letter to the man in red
i agree with you — seven to nine months is the BEST.
slouching mom’s last blog post..Equal Opportunity Teasing
Sweet sweet littles.
I have to say that having bigger kids – now 10 and 6 – is so much fun because of what we can do together and the conversations we have – we just really dig each other as people, and they’re not so old that I’m uncool yet.
But I do miss the sweetness of the littles.
Beta Mom’s last blog post..Beta From The Beginning
See, we really liked 4. I was not a baby person very much. They scared me.
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