All over the place.

I preface this by saying that I am aware that the current video situation is well-nigh close to totally untenable. I am using the video function of my point and shoot that is now four years old (I bought it in (I think) January 2005...)

That said, can you believe how well Vake is crawling now? It has morphed from a mostly-army crawl into a occasionally knees and hands or knees and forearms operation.

Bluegrass Baby

Last week, Vake went with us to a barn party- he loved the music.

He's getting more and more into listening to what's around him...

Children's Museum

On Tuesday, Taren, Vake, Huff and I went over to the Children's Museum for an after-hours event. V and Huff are enjoying the museum more and more- they will be LOVING it this summer I bet. We played with the giant vegetables in the "crawlers' area"- which Vake loved. But he loved this noisemaker even more...

And then we practiced standing up for awhile...

How funny is it that this baby already has his poses down. We like to call this one Blue Steel.

And this is my Magnum.

Have you all seen the size of this tomato? I mean, really. It's ridiculous.

In other news, Vake LOVES brunswick stew. LOVES it. I cannot express to you how much he loves it. Like half-a-can loves it. Adult servings loves it. My little southern pumpkin.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Vake and I have a little morning routine down. It is not perfect, but given that I have a 30 pound 9 month old that I have to get ready by myself, we are no longer striving for perfection. Mix in the newfound separation anxiety (I am still shocked- he will go with anyone but do not leave him alone in a room!) and we are just doing the best we can...

Last week when Eric was away, we hit rock bottom when Vake was literally in the shower with me! There! Now he's got at least six months of things to work through with a therapist!

But this week's been better. He's consented to sitting in the bathroom while I am in the shower.

Goldfish!

Here's what's delicious in our world.

I've got some good strengths in the Mom department, but I've got some major weaknesses- and they actually track my overall personality pretty well. But on Sunday, I just couldn't catch a break. Eric had just gotten home, so I was going to take Vake to church with me. Well, of course the printer's not hooked up so I couldn't print the lesson for Sunday School and then I got to the Strawberry Street Market and had already gotten coffee but left my wallet at home so had no way to pay for it (fortunately the crazy lady with the baby and the coffee looked so pitiful the woman behind the counter told me I could pay Monday) and finally I realized that I had forgotten the required snack for Vake.

So we got these. And Vake loves them.

Really loves them. Here he is getting them to his little mouth.

Happy Ninemonthiversary, Vake!

SO hard to believe that Vake's nine months old tomorrow! Absolutely crazy to think I was pregnant for nine months, too, btw!

At nine months, Vake is:

Crushing the growth curves- nearly 30 pounds(!) and every bit of 31 inches;
Loving his dogs;
the proud owner of six teeth, with two more on the way;
the smiliest, happiest baby;
able to army crawl wherever he needs to go;
still an adventurous eater;
sleeping 12 hours at night with two decent naps during the day;
making all kinds of talking sounds;
enjoying standing up at the activity table;
starting to show the signs of separation anxiety- he really doesn't like for his people to leave the room;
still a huge fan of bathtime;
able to use his thumb and forefinger in a pincher grip (comes in handy for eating goldfish crackers); and
one of the snuggliest, coziest little boys you are liable to meet!

Pediatrician's Visit

We went to see Dr. Thorpe today because of a scheduling snafu that had me in two places at once on Monday morning.



Vake weighs 29 pounds and six ounces and is 31 inches tall. To help those who, like most of the normal world, have no idea what that actually means, Vake is literally "off the charts" for his age in both categories. He is the height of the "average" 15 month old boy and the weight of the (gulp!) of the average 25 month old. Yowzers. His head circumference, 19 inches, is also the 50% for 25 month old boys.

Interestingly, his current growth is not yet predictive of his adult size and stature and won't be until he is about three.