hmm . . . time for a haircut?

So - last night we went out to dinner, and did some shopping (whoa, I know, our Saturday nights are so very exciting these days! . . . I digress). Anyway, at the restaurant Braden was very well behaved, and was his sweet little self. Our waitress mentioned several times what a cute baby we had (thanks, we think so too). When she brought the check she asked how old SHE is.

HE is almost 11 months, thank-you-very-much.

Hmmm. Now, it usually doesn't bother me (that much) when people mistake the gender of my child, especially when he was teeny tiny, and dressed in little sleepers. Although actually, I don't really recall it ever happening . . . because most people (myself included) use clever ways to figure out the gender if they are not sure . . . for example, asking the baby's name (although with some names that doesn't help), or asking another question such as "What a cutie . . . how old are you?" to which the parent will say, HE/SHE is ___ old.

I'm not sure why that waitress's comment still bugs me . . . but at this point I think Braden looks pretty boy-ish, unless he is wearing just a white onesie and has his purple and pink binkie (which we got in a pack of pacifiers as a shower gift before he was born, and only use at home- ha!) . . . but it makes me think maybe we need to trim his hair. We've been saying that for a few weeks now, but just haven't gotten it done.

What do you think?

It is still thicker/longer in the back, but it is kinda cute how the longer parts get a little wave/curl up behind his ears.

And this is the outfit he was wearing last night - accessorized with a green bib, blue binkie, and blue binkie clip/string thing.

Billy says that the waitress was just a ditz - which is true. First she forgot the lemon for my water, and even when I requested it a 2nd time she didn't bring it. Then she forgot to take our order (came over and asked if everything was ok, and I had to say, well . . . can we order? We'd been there for 15ish minutes!). And she also forgot to bring ranch for our fries, and we had to ask for that a 2nd time. . . it was not that busy in the restaurant. So, yeah, she might not have been the brightest crayon in the box, or may have been distracted. But still, I wonder what made her think Braden is a she instead of a he?

PS - It might the fact the B has the longest, thickest eyelashes that any girl would envy . . . :)

movin' and groovin'

Finally - I got a video of Braden walking to post . . . here's the little guy 25 days after he took his first steps!

Now that Braden is walking, he is into everything. Seriously. Nothing. is. safe. One of his new favorite activities is to "hide" in the curtains.

adjusting

We're still here . . just adjusting to our new schedule. Actually, when Braden heads back to day care next week (our wonderful daycare provider is wrapping up maternity leave this week - so THANKS!!! to Grandma Jane for filling in this week), we will really be headed toward our "new normal."

Sorry, don't even have any pictures to post - I am too wiped out. Today was the first day with the kiddos at school, and it went well (looks to be a less challenging year, knock on wood!) . . . but it just takes a bit to get used to a new routine. That, and we have not been home one evening this week so far - yikes! I need to post a video of B walking - he is truly cruising around wherever he wants to go now, and is doing really well. In fact, I hear that Grandpa Jim has been counting his steps and counted 20 something (before falling/sitting), I think. :) So it is fair to say that he really is walking. Wow!

so long, summer vacation

I'm sure I won't get much sympathy from those readers who work year round, but for this teacher who enjoys summers off, the time has come to sadly bid summer vacation farewell. . .  

It's been a great summer - I was reading over posts from the past few months, and it was fun to remember all that has happened.  I think the best part has been just being at home with Braden.  I'm still not sure that I am cut out to be a full time stay at home mom (I'm sure I could "cope" if given the opportunity!), but I have loved spending so much time with our little guy.  In fact, I teared up several times today when thinking this is our last day at home - it's almost as bad as going back to work after maternity leave.

Anyway, here are some pics of some our last moments of summer fun:

Yesterday Grandpa H., Aidan, and Addie brought a puppy over to visit . . .

I think both Braden and the puppy have grown since they last saw each other in July! :)

Yesterday we hit the pool one last time - we went later in the day after Billy got off work so that we could all enjoy it together.  Braden is such a little fish! He loves to splash, "jump"/step of the edge into our arms, and float around in his tube.  We're thinking we may need to take him swimming at an indoor pool this winter so that he continues to be so comfortable in the water.

Much to this Momma's dismay, Braden has decided that he much prefers walking to crawling - and that includes the steps!

He used to crawl up steps very proficiently, and I didn't worry too much about him on the stairs (except when he reached the top and would turn around ready to head down head first) - but now he insists on using the railings/spindles to "walk" very unsteadily up and down - be still my heart!  (We usually have the gates up and in place and only let him do this if we are right there to watch/help.)

I am just amazed at all that Braden can do these days - from taking his first steps to eating more and more "real" food, to learning to clap and wave - he's definitely making the transition from "baby" to "toddler."  I am so thankful to have been home to watch him grow and learn this summer.

And now that summer is over, it's time to see if I got everything accomplished on my list from June (found it when reading those old posts):

1. Spend lots of time with Braden soaking up that sweet smile and being momma instead of "Mrs. Hartsock" 

- DONE!! Loved it!!

2. Paint the kitchen and living/dining room 

- Done - see pictures below!

3. Exercise every day (no more excuses of being "too busy/tired after work")

- no comment (ha!)

4. Catch up on scrapbooking, paper and digital

- still need to work on this - sounds like a good winter project, right?!

5. Create a blog book (blurb.com) - am excited to try this!

- downloaded the software and my blog, but need to edit it

6. Sort out our closets and garage and get rid of things we don't wear/use

- did, but perhaps needs to be done again!

7. Clean the "dump" room/storage room - this task is waaaaayyy overdue, but the Type A organizer in me is actually looking forward to it! In fact, it will probably get done this week

- done, but this tends to be ongoing too

8. Read, read, read

- I am satisfied with the number of books I got to read this summer

9. Have carpet professionally cleaned or figure out how to rent one of those shampooer things and do it myself

- yes - had it cleaned and so glad we did!

10. Rearrange kitchen cabinets for babyproofing purposes

- still working on 

11. Wax and detail car

- done!

12. Learn/do baby sign language - we've been slackin' on this and really want to try it

- we're working on it - Braden is showing more interest, but hasn't signed anything yet

So here's our kitchen in "edamame" green . . . and the new curtains I sewed (yes, I sewed!!) . . . We originally wanted to get roman shade, but our window is a weird size, so it would have cost a small fortune to order a custom blind.  I really liked the old curtain (which was this same style, just didn't match anymore), so we decided to just make a new one. I/we couldn't decide on the new fabric, so I made 2: one in a light cream with a swirly pattern for spring/summer (first pic) and one in stripes of darker colors for fall/winter (2nd pic).  I made them both for a fraction of what a roman shade would have cost. :)

new toys

Recently we've noticed that the baby at our house is getting so big!  Not necessarily size-wise, but personality/what he can do - wise.  Although I do miss the little baby stage, it is really fun to observe Braden's new accomplishments and discoveries. 

At 10 months (almost 10.5 months), some of his favorite things to do are:

• play/climb under our kitchen table (I need to get some pictures of this - I'm told this was a favorite activity of mine at this age too!)

 • "cruise" from piece of furniture to piece of furniture, taking a few steps here and there to avoid having to drop down and crawl; he also seems to like practicing walking to us (esp. mommy!) and can take 6-7 steps now

• carry things around (usually in his mouth so both hands are free) - it is so funny to watch him transport a particular toy around the house

• push buttons - usually on the remote, but sometimes he'll go for the dvd player or the laptop

• clap and waving (he likes to wave both arms very enthusiastically instead of one, and will only sometimes do this to mean bye-bye)

Anyway - since his abilities and interests are maturing, B has gotten some new toys!  

The first one I picked up for him after reading about it on another blogger's list of her son's (age 12 mths) favorite toys.  It is a magnetic farm toy in which the child can match the fronts/backs of animals (or mix them up) and it plays little songs about the animals that are created.  Braden's daycare provider had told me that he liked the fridge magnets at her house, so I thought we should try this one out.

At this point he mostly just likes to move the magnets around (and perhaps try to bite them), and pushing the button that plays the song. I think it will be awhile before he really "gets" this toy, but it does keep him occupied when we are in the kitchen.

B's other new toy was a surprise from Grandma Hartsock.  Daddy came home one night this week with a big box - Braden was so excited to examine it that he sat right on it!

Thanks, Grandma!!

This toy is a lion on wheels that can be used as a walk behind toy (perfect for B right now) or a ride on toy when he gets older.

B loves pushing this thing around the house, except when he pushes it into something and gets "stuck" - he hasn't figured out the concept of turning yet!  Lucky for him it there is a fairly straight path from one end of our living room all the way to the kitchen.

We also tested it out as a riding toy, but B's feet don't quite touch the ground.


And just a funny observation . . .

initially Braden's favorite things about his new toy were the box and the instructions!  It will be fun to see how he reacts to wrapping paper/boxes/gifts on his birthday!

beach pool baby

We've been hitting the pool a lot this week (and hope to go at least once next week, but Mama starts back to work on Thursday and has a LOT to do before then) . . .

The pool was one of our favorite spots this summer (when it was warm enough!) - Braden loves the water, and we could almost always count on playing with cousins too.  Here are some shots from this week:

mmmm - Iowa corn!

Braden got to try some yummy Iowa sweet corn for the first time this week!  It was so nice outside that we ate in the backyard.  Love it!

This is good stuff!

All gone!

So we really just let him pick up an ear that had been eaten (for the picture above and below) - though he has 8 teeth, he actually didn't eat much of his corn like this: . . .

 . . . but in little pieces like this:

Braden's vacation

I got to go on my first vacation last week.  On Friday we drove to Clear Lake, IA to spend the night and break up our long drive to Walker, MN.

Here I am with Daddy at Clear Lake!

We got to stay at Uncle Josh's family lake house, and Daddy even got to go jet skiing while Mommy met a friend of hers for supper.

On Saturday we drove for a looonnnnnggg time to Minnesota.  I slept a lot, and also played with toys in the car.  I only cried a little bit, and Mommy and Daddy said I did a good job in the car.

This was our destination:  Big Rock Resort on Leech Lake.

Daddy's family has been going here for years.  It is a fun place! We stayed in 2 cabins right by the lake (this is actually the view from the boat harbor):

Our cabins:

Each cabin had its own kitchen, a full bath, and 2 or 3 bedrooms.  

I found some fun new things to play with in our cabin: a cooler and laundry baskets!  These kept me busy all week. 

I used the laundry baskets to "cruise" around and practice my walking skills.  I had a great time playing with my cousins too!

Addie woke up early every morning to come and play with me.  She earned the nickname "mama 2" by the end of the week.

She also let me have some of her ice cream!  The lodge at Big Rock had yummy ice cream cones. Whenever I saw someone eating one (or anything else that looked good to eat!), I would hurry over to them in hopes of a bite.

There were lots of fun things to do at the resort. . . .

 . . . a dock for fishing in the boat harbor. . .

 . . . swimming in the pool (I only got to go once because Mommy and Daddy thought it was too chilly for me, but my cousins got to go every day!) . . .

 . . . more laundry basket fun in our cabin . . . 

(see the handle they made with Grandpa's belt?)

 . . . enjoying the beautiful view . . .

 . . . and campfires almost every night.

Of course we made s'mores (and pies) - everyone said they are so yummy!  I just got graham crackers.

We had to bundle up in the evenings, because it got cold.

Some people liked reading books (Grandma said she didn't read as many this year.  I think she was too busy playing with me!), or we had fun just hanging out in the cabins . . .

 . . . and enjoying the scenery outside.

I also got to go on my very first boat ride.  It was fun, but windy! I only got to go on the boat once.

I watched Daddy and Aidan tube. Brrr!

The big kids and Daddy played on this cool water trampoline in the lake. I can't wait until I am big enough to try it . . .

 

 . . . and someday I want to learn to ski like Daddy!

I learned something new this week . . . I figured out how to walk 2 or 3 (and even 4 one time!) steps!  I can also stand up without using anything to pull up on now. Mommy and Daddy are so excited!  Mommy video taped me, but it is on our other camera that she doesn't know how to upload.  Maybe she will post a new video of me walking soon.

 

I stayed in the cabin with Grandma when Mommy and Daddy went fishing. Aidan caught a lot of fish!

Everyone was cold on the way back to the cabin after fishing one day.

We had a great vacation at Big Rock! We're already looking forward to going back next year. :) 

I am a little sad that Mommy has to go back to work soon, since summer vacation is almost over.  I think she is more sad . . . she keeps worrying about getting ready for school!  I am so excited because she told me we are going to go to the pool every day that it is hot outside this week, since we didn't swim much last week.  We'll have a lot of fun during these last days of vacation!