9 Months!

Can you believe this little boy is 9 Months old??

I decided to follow this boy around with a camera one day,
to document all of his isms.
I got quite a few pictures of him like this:

(Trying to get the camera.)

Drumming on the bucket.
He's 29 inches tall & 21 lbs heavy.
I'm one buff mom!

I find this in his mouth often.

Sometimes he even crawls with it

still in his mouth.

He is pretty amazing on his feet.
He can really cruise with this walker,
& he's pretty good about turning it when
he runs into stuff.
But mostly he just walks around to the front
and goes backwards.

Crawling has really picked up in speed!
It's fun to "chase" him and hear him giggle.
Sometimes he tries to get away but most of the time
he come straight for you...
he must like getting tickled!

Most of the time he gets around like this...

(He must think it's faster)

AnD loves singing songs with Daddy.

He's cute little facial expressions melt my heart!

He's getting brave holding on with one hand!
He surprised me at church last week by walking
the halls holding on with just one hand!

Wrestling with Dad... always results in
plenty of giggles!

Some more cute ones...

We love our little boy.  The past few months have flown by!  I'm amazed he will be 1 before we know it!

Stuff We've Been Doing

A friend recently told me I needed to update our blog.  I too realized a week ago that I haven't written anything at all this month but, to be honest, no new topics have popped into my head.  For a couple days I've been thinking, "What should I write about?"  Nothing really spectacular has really happened recently, but stuff does happen.  I started writing down a list of stuff we've been doing, so I guess that is where I'll start.

We have been in contact with a family in Indiana who have been so very helpful in answering our many questions.  Talking with them has really eased my mind and helped me realize that everything will be great and is getting me really excited!  We've also talked with them about where they live, and we realized it would be a great place for us to live too while we are there.  So........ we signed a lease!  I'm super excited about this place.  There are parks nearby, and so many trails to walk and bike on(I haven't biked much since this happened).  Trails that cars won't be on :)

I really can't wait for this:

 and this

and this in the Spring!

And back there it will stay longer than it does in Idaho. 

 I'm promised they have seasons that
act more like seasons than in Idaho.

I've never experienced this
(in Idaho, Fall colors last for about a week-- if that).

We are also thinking hard about renting our house instead of selling it.  It is starting to make more sense to us why we should do this.

These past couple weeks, we have had the crud going around.  AnD got a goopy eye that didn't go away for a couple days so I took him in to get it checked out.  They never told me if it was pink eye or not, just said that he probably has a virus and once the eyes get goopy it's best to treat them.  Let me tell you, pinning down a 9 month old to force eye drops in is not fun.  Briant begged me to wait till he could leave the room.  But, I did get pretty good and fast at getting the job done.

I also got some sort of virus-- the kind I hate.  Sore throat and cough!  The sore throat is what kills me.  I went to the Community Care but they said it wasn't Strep, which I was sort of hoping for (you can take drugs to make it go away faster).  I can deal with it, I just hope and pray AnD doesn't get it-- that would be miserable!

AnD is really growing up fast!  He is cruising everywhere and getting into everything!  He uses his Activity Walker to his advantage (he just recently learned how to turn it & use it backwards).  He also like playing on the bars... well, anything really that he can pull himself up on.

We've been sleep training him in his Pack n Play.  We will need him to sleep in it at times this spring & summer, so I figure it is time for him to learn to like it.  He is really doing well with it, and doesn't ever have a problem falling asleep in it as long has he has his bear and blanket.  The doc recommends nothing in his crib till he is one but I just keep a close eye on him during the day & take them out at night when we go to bed.

I've been learning to make bread!  I have a hand wheat grinder now so I figure it is time!  I've successfully made 1/2 white 1/2 wheat bread three weeks in a row now.  I know this is another part of food storage that is so important.  Why have all the wheat if you don't know what to do with it!  My case in point.

I finally finished the CMM video!  Thanks to Devin & his wit!  Here is the finished product:

My next project is our Family Photo Album 2011 that I make from a program called Book Smart you can download from www.blurb.com.  I've also discovered alot about digital scrap booking and am implementing that into my book this year.  I just got to June and when I met my beautiful boy. As I look at the pictures I'm missing that tiny little man I used to hold for hours just to snuggle.  Fat chance at that now.

Last but not least,  is anybody else so excited for HUNGER GAMES!!??!!  Briant said he would go with me to see this one!!!  Yay!

February's Mobile Pictures

This month has been one of new discovery, baby proofing to the max, bumps & bruises (and some blood), and accomplishments.  Most of these have been on AnD's part... Briant and I just tried to keep up with him and life.

AnD found a new musical instrument.

A Man is almost 30 inches now which is 

the height limit for his infant car seat!

I found the picture we took of him right before we left the hospital...

He was screaming because he was starving, but I promise we didn't know that at the time

This is what he looks like now:

So, we got a new one.  This one doesn't come out of the 

car so even though he can fall asleep, 

we try not to let him take naps in the car :( 

Had to invest in a baby gate.

My SIL said a while ago that every baby needs a phone...

I second that!

And now he needs his own spoon too!  

Don't you love the prunes on his forehead?

Valentines yummys!  Rice Crispies with melted chocolate.

I made Briant his favorite kind of brownies (his Mom's recipe).

I cut them out into hearts

After cutting them out I roll what was leftover 

in sugar, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, etc.

GH Boards - Full of fun facts

This is one of four places A Man can play by himself

when Mom needs to get something done.

Did I mention that Briant has a new barber-et?

That's right, it's me!!!

How did I do?

I finally got the stroller I've been wanting! Yay!!

We have loved going for walks!

Happy Boy!

Mastering the activity walker...

Chillin in the high chair with Mom at Great Harvest

My new running shoes!

And seriously the week after I got them, the weather turned really cold!

Loves standing up on the baby gate!

I'm never buying this kid another toy.

He plays with stuff like this for much longer!

Into trouble...

Watch out!  He can get into cupboards!

AnD man becomes your best friend.... when he sees your phone.

Watching Dad throw the ball.

He has become very good at throwing things too,

& has a really good arm!

Tippy Toes

I fixed the humidifier!  Who knew all

it needed was a little oil to lubricate the fan.

Thanks Devin for the video!

We did origami at mutual one night.  I wanted to make this:

I didn't have all the same color paper, but this is what mine turned out like,

And then it folds back into a box.

How did I get it to finally stay together?   TAPE!

Change of plans...

As many of you know, we were planning to move to NC this summer.  Some things have changed and now we are going to move to INDIANA!  This opportunity was too good to pass up & we know this is what's best for our family now and in the future.

Go Hoosiers!!

On my list to read...

 I think this looks like a good book, and also has the potential to be a tear jerker.... but hey those are the best kind right?  I'm going to have to go to Seagull Book to get one!!

Happy Valentines Day!

A Man has a message to share...