fall Saturday fun

This fall it doesn't really feel like fall with the warm, sunny 80 degree days we've enjoyed (I guess technically it isn't fall until the 22nd of September). Today Braden and I got to enjoy more of this gorgeous weather at Anna's Cutting Garden. Anna is actually a former high school classmate of mine, and each summer/fall she hosts a fund raiser for Habitat at the cutting garden at her farm.

It was the perfect day to enjoy the flowers, as well as the yummy food that they had (pizza baked in her outdoor woodfire oven, and homemade ice cream).

The cutting garden (visitors get to "cut" their own bouquets of flowers)

When we arrived, B was still enjoying his morning nap . . .

. . . but quickly woke up when he realized that pizza and ice cream were part of the outing! :)

Grandma Jane choosing her flowers . . .

When we got home, B and I both enjoyed the luxury of Saturday afternoon naps, then cheeered on the Hawkeyes. Braden is learning to throw up his arms when we say "touchdown!"

I. Love. Saturdays.

PJ's, plaid, & peas

Can you read Braden's PJ's?

Who You Callin' Crabby?

Our little guy is usually the opposite of crabby, but we think he's teething again.

Molars.

Sigh.

It's gotta hurt . . . and to top it off, he is also currently fighting a nasty diaper rash (any tips/remedies? We're applying lots of A&D, taking warm baths with no soap, and exposing his tush to air (naked baby butt!) when we can). . . . Poor fella!

Luckily, despite all that ails him, he isn't crabby for too long . . .

. . . and is back into mischief to exploring his world :)

(don'tcha just love babies in jammies - I could just squeeze him! . . . well, actually I do!)

Disregard the big drool spots in this next group of pics . . . :)

I snapped these the other day when Braden was playing on the steps (a favorite spot, these days). He's so proud that he has learned to walk up, then scoot down on his bottom. . . but sometimes he still gives us a scare and tries to "walk" down - yikes!

Love these plaid shorts! (Why are baby clothes so cute?!) . . . I bought these for him in June, and they're still too big (9mth size - why do sizes vary so much?!), but I figured if he's going to wear them, it's gotta be now. Reminds me of a little beach/surfer baby. ;)

Finally, it's been a while since I posted any eating pics . . . sometimes we just have to laugh at the mess he makes - the photos just don't do it justice! And my camera just isn't always quick enough to capture the funny expressions that accompany the mess (another reason to upgrade, right?!).

Thankfully, Braden loves to eat everything - fruits and veggies included. Here he's chowing peas (truthfully, it's more than likely green beans - - but peas sounded better in my P themed title) . . . we're working our way through the last of our stash of baby food - Braden is right on schedule to completely ditch baby food by his birthday!

"hot"

Last night I was out running errands, and got home well after suppertime. Braden had already eaten, so Billy and I just each grabbed a plate and ate "on the run" instead of sitting down at the table for a family meal (we try to always sit down for supper together). I was sitting on the couch, checking e-mail and cutting into my enchilada when Braden toddled up to investigate - whenever we have food, you can bet he'll be right there ready for a bite!

The enchilada was really hot (heat-wise, not spicy), so I said no - hot, hot, hot, and cut up a couple of small bites to cool off so he could have some. After eagerly consuming those bites, Braden was ready for more. I started to cut up more, then blew on a piece and held it out to him . . .and he said "hot." !!!!!!

Billy and I looked at each other in surprise - and to confirm what we'd heard. Yep, he said his first word: hot. (Well, he does already say dada/mama, so I guess this is technically his 3rd word.) Anyway, he said it a couple more times - so fun!

I am anxious to see (or hear!) what words will come next. He loves to "babble," so I am sure more will be coming soon. When thinking about why he might have said hot as one of his first words, I realized that we do say it to him a lot: be careful, that is hot . . . stay away from the oven - hot, hot, hot . . . watch out, don't grab that - hot . . . etc.

I would guess the only words he hears more on a daily/consistent basis other than his name/nicknames might be "I love you," "be careful," or (ironically) no no! (But let's face it - he's at that age where he gets a lot of no no's: grabbing kleenex/TP, chewing on just about anything, ripping up magazines/any paper he can get his hands on, pulling on the dvd player, pushing buttons on all electronic devices he can reach, etc. etc. etc.

Such a fun stage, eh? :)

Haircut!

Soooo - we decided the the little guy did indeed need a trim, especially with his 1 year (holy cow!) pictures coming up.

I was a little nervous about how our wiggly/on the move fella would do, but he was so good! It helps that he looooves to have his hair combed - he will sit still as long as I comb it after bathtime. :)

Ok. Yes, I do realize that I am posting a lot of pics (and believe it or not, I took way more!). But Braden was so cute in his little cape!

He sat on Daddy's lap for the cut

Before shot of the longish hair in back

If you look carefully in this one, you can see how long the hair in the back was (it is wet and combed to stick out)

You can see that he was having fun! We did give him sunglasses to play with/keep him busy . . .

He loved Carleen!

. . . but wasn't so sure about the razor (I thought this was too funny)

The after shots . . .

What a big boy! ;)

Labor Day Weekend

Friends + Family + Food = FUN!

We had a whirlwind weekend . . . despite having an extra day off to enjoy, it sure seemed to go fast!

On Sunday evening we had friends over for quesadillas . . . here Billy and Aaron and make their quesadilla creations - yum!

Braden loved them (surprise, surprise!)

And I think Allie did too . . .not sure about that expression (I think she's humoring me for taking pics . . .)

When our tummies were full, we headed outside to play bags/cornhole, and enjoy the gorgeous evening weather.

This morning Braden slept in, thus allowing us to sleep in (yes!) . . . hopefully he is breaking the pattern of waking up at 6 - we'll see tomorrow . . .

Once he did wake up, I loved having a leisurely breakfast with this sweet fella and his smile - I wish I were always this happy in the morning!:

Later in the morning, we packed up and headed to Lake MacBride for a picnic lunch with the Miller family.

It was the perfect day for a picnic . . .

. . . and a relaxing afternoon of lounging and playing even more bags!

Grandma Jane was the definite winner . . . she smoked everyone with her beanbag throwing talent!

Ahh - what a wonderful 3 day weekend. We wrapped up our evening with ice cream from Yotty's to bid farewell to summer. I know summer doesn't really end until the 20th, but it always feels like Labor Day marks the end of the season . . .

Now we're looking forward to/planning B's 1st birthday party! Can't believe it will be here in less than a month.

11 months!

Oh, boy! We've got an 11 month old! Yikes - this year has gone by waaaayyyyy too fast. Now that I'm back at school, I can't help but remember last year at this time (frantically making sure I had everything in order in case I delivered early, and eagerly anticipating meeting our sweet boy) . . . and I sort of miss those days (especially the first weeks with a tiny newborn)! In some ways it seems like last week - in any case, I can't believe Braden is already closing in on one year. Wow.

The great thing about B growing up is that he just keeps getting more fun! (More work too, but more fun!) He now has a mischievous side, and loves to laugh . . . one of my favorite things is when Billy and Braden are playing, and Billy gets Braden laughing hard - so funny!

Last night when we got home from a walk (and enjoying this beautiful fallish weather, as well as a stop at Yotty's!), Braden was in the mood to be a busy body. He was making laps around the kitchen, into the living room, and back.

He still loves to hang out in front of the dishwasher and check out his reflection . . .

It's a good thing B is so active . . . check out the little belly he has acquired since eating more "real" food (and he hasn't met anything he doesn't like)!

He sure loves his meals! ;) Braden is starting to show interest in using a spoon, but usually feeds himself with his fingers.

Sometimes he just likes to bite on the spoon . . .

And it is always fun just to get messy!

This was a BIG month for Braden. At 11 months he:

• is walking!!! (and sometimes trying to run - this does not work well, but is funny to watch)

• claps/plays patty cake

• sometimes waves bye bye (Grandma Jane has the best luck with this one)

• sometimes will do "so big" - often after a delay

• has learned how to (safely!) scoot down the steps on his bottom - so he can now go up and down (but yes, we still use the gates)

• is wearing size 9 - 12 month clothing (and a few 6 mth items), and size 2/3 diapers

• loves cantaloupe, string cheese, bananas, and ice cream - but will eat anything. He chowed down on broccoli and chicken one night this week - I am thrilled that he is not one bit picky about trying new foods

• will bring objects to us (yes! this skill will start to come in handy!)

• laughs a lot

• gets worried when mommy or daddy leave a room - if he is left alone, he follows you

• likes feeling/touching different textures

• has eyes that are looking more brownish than bluish

• takes a good afternoon nap (around 2 hours, sometimes more or less), but is sometimes dropping his AM nap (not sure how pleased we are!) depending on how early he wakes up in the AM (he started a new trend about 2 weeks ago of waking at 6 (!!!) instead of 8) . . . however now that he is back at daycare, he is worn out at night and has been going to bed earlier (8ish).

And, as always, here are the monthly pics (and a sampling from the past, this time from most to least current):

11 months:

9 months:

5 months:

1 month: