9 months!

You are 9 months!  Right now it seems you learn something new everyday.  You are so happy and fun!

You started full on hands and knees crawling (while we were in AR) and you are so cute to watch.

You also have become quite the climber...you pull up on anything you can grab.

You climbed up on the step of your stroller...ALL BY YOURSELF!

Your falls have become fewer and more graceful.  It seems you have even learned how to let yourself down easily.  You stand very well but don't seem too interested in taking any steps.

**(Your Unlce Jeff took the following pictures and shared them with us!)

You and your Noni

We added hard boiled egg yolk, cottage cheese, carrots and prunes to your menu.  Sweet potatoes and applesauce are still your faves and you seem to really like cottage cheese.  We were giving you Gerber while we were traveling and you did not like Gerber peaches as well as you like fresh peaches.  Everything else you ate well but it was a lot messier.  I might make your food too thick! 

You love your Daddy!

 You are waving!  It started with the oh so cute backwards wave and has evolved into a full arm wave.  You even have a little noise that goes with it and sounds a lot like, "Hi."

Family  shot

When "they" said 9 months is when babies hit the attachment phase I thought we might miss that with you since you are so laid back and we don't see too many extremes with your personality.  Well, we're in it!  You want your Mama!  If I'm honest, I enjoy it, but I try not to encourage it.  I think it's totally normal and understandable...and even the way it should be.  I love being your Mama!

The Redwood forest that you slept through.

This was while the others we doing some wine tasting...we were having our own fun.

A better 4 gen shot

The Ws

Uncle Dan was teaching you about chess...

The drive continues...

While you slept in the car we made a little pit stop at the Casa de Fruita.  I looked out my window and saw this:

I peeked in on you and saw this:

Then there was ANOTHER one!  Where are we?!?

We finally made it to Aunt Dayna's and just played and played and played.

The Gator gave you a tractor ride.  (Not really!)

We rode around on the plasma car

You wanted to go down the hill...but we did not go. ;)

This was taken right before I decided to go down the driveway on the daisy scooter...and ate it hard in the street.  Ouch!

So fun!

We had fun inside, too.

Coco teaching you how to play the recorder

Aunt D's step was a hit.

You just laughed and laughed when AG jumped on it.

San Jose

On our way home we stopped in San Jose to see your family on Grandpa Dave's side.  They were so happy to meet you.

4 generations, 1 serious baby.

Cousin Dax is just a bit older than you.

This hat kept you entertained for a while.

Sitting on Uncle Dan's shoulders

Sonoma County

We spent the week with your Noni, Grandpa Dave, Jeff and Dan.

So big!

We went to see your Uncle John and Aunt Claire and enjoyed all the fun things they have at their house.  You enjoyed testing out their restored military vehicles.

This was an Army truck

This one Air Force

And, this one a German ambulance

We walked through a Redwood Forest.

You slept.

Taking a break with your Daddy, Noni and Uncles.

North Bound

We set out on a road trip to Northern California.  We drove up the coast but had to take a minor detour due to a mudslide.  The first photographed stop was SANTA CRUZ!  We stopped by the Peter Pan and saw old friends.

Ruby's Grams loving on you.

We then ate at the Walnut Ave Cafe.

We love S Cruz!

We got back on the road and stopped at Mavericks...

Somewhere out there are big waves that people think are cool to surf...

We'll take their word for it.

Continuing on, we reached the Golden Gate Bridge  and stopped for a little photo op.

Still happy even after much traveling...probably really glad to be out of your car seat.

San Francisco behind us.

Are we going swimming again?!

À Bientôt

Our week was over and we were heading home.  We said, "See you soon" and hopped on a little airplane.  The flight attendant let us have our own row which was a huge blessing!  I was a little nervous to fly just the two of us but you are such a great traveler and people were very helpful and gracious to us.  God answered many prayers this day.

Here we go!

Mama, I could get used to traveling like this!

Once we landed we spent one night in our own beds and headed out again for more fun!  This time Daddy was with us!

PawPaw is retired!

We went over to Pleasant View to help PawPaw bid farewell to his teaching days.

You wore your tie for the special occasion.

We celebrated at Red Lobster.

Look at that face of wonder!

Are we going swimming again?!

I guess I'll just hang out pool side again.

We saw cousin Jenny's cute house and you met Baxter!

At first you were not so sure...neither was Baxter.

Yikes!  We are going to need to work on your hair pulling.

We also had to hit up Rivertowne BBQ...your family likes to eat, Buddy. :)

PawPaw shared his water with you

Just like old times...making a stop a TJMaxx...

You loved your first ride on PawPaw's shoulders!

And, we met cousin Alice!

If we live close to her when you are playing sports, she will make all of your games, too!

Arkansas!

We spent a fun week in Arkansas...a lot of firsts and seeing family and friends.


We caught up with my friend Jessica and her son Will

You loved playing with Will's big boy toys!

Will was so sweet to share with you.

Time in Arkansas would not be complete without a swim in Aunt Pat's pool.

PawPaw is the best pool partner!

Aunt Pat has the best toys!  Wait til you can enjoy all her snacks!

Your cousin Adeline is exactly one week older than you.

Cousins!  Sarah with you and Mommy with Adeline.

Another must:

Bath time with PawPaw!

And,

Play time with Great Granny!

Son, there is a place unlike any other...I have yet to find anything similar in our neck of the woods so when we go to Arkansas we will always go to...Catfish Hole!  You didn't enjoy the catfish but you sure enjoyed the after dinner treat...

Mom, I'm trying to find out how many licks to the center!

I was holding you enjoying my pop while we were checking out and you grabbed it and had such a tight grip that I could not get it away.  We needed documentation and PawPaw wanted to go down in history as the one you enjoyed this first with.

You mean I get ANOTHER one?! :)

My friend Christie and her Madley came over to play.

Madley gave you sweet sugars and you wanted to return the love...or maybe you wanted her hair.