What You Missed

For the past month that we have been absent from this website, Braden has been sitting, standing, pulling up, crawling, climbing, and cruising- which apparently is the word we're supposed to use for Braden walking while holding onto furniture or toys.

Is that enough of an explanation for why we've been absent?

Yes, we can sum up Braden's seventh month in one word- BUSY!!! He's busy, we're busy, everything in life has been so busy! As much we love watching Braden getting around on his own and discovering everything with such gusto, we sure do miss the days when we could just plop him down on a blanket with a toy that rattled and leave him there as long as we needed to, safe in the knowledge that he wouldn't go anywhere. Nowadays, if we turn our heads for a second, there's bound to be a bruise on his head, or a bug in his mouth, or something valuable or dangerous in his hands.

And now that he's getting into everything, and he never wants to stop, we just can't seem to get anything done. It's a major production to get out of the house, and to try to get anything of real value accomplished takes major work and planning. Every simple thing we do, every routine place we go, every tiny move we make is something new and incredible for Braden, and he wants to explore it. If I try to do something as mundane as dusting, he wants to snatch the Pledge can away from me so he can figure out how that lemony-scented spray comes out. If we need to just quickly run into the grocery store, he wants to get out of the cart so he can experience all the colors and smells and shapes he sees. If we dare to attempt to go out to eat, he insists on getting down to crawl around and explore his new surroundings. It's insane.

He refuses to sit still for two seconds while you change his diaper (changing and dressing times have become daily nightmares), and sometimes he can't even eat because his head is too busy darting around the room, afraid he'll miss something.

So, because of how busy he keeps us, and how very far behind we are in everything, we've had to make some changes. We are insisting on dates together without the baby, at least once a month but aiming for twice, and each month Bill & I each get to spend the better part of the day alone, without responsibility, to do with ourselves what we wish. And we spend a lot less time on unnecessary distractions (like this computer). All so that we don't go crazy ourselves.

But here's what you didn't see from Braden's 7th month:

We took Braden to the Aquarium











He met some new friends (like his buddy Kenrick here):




And he saw old friends, too:

Braden & buddy AJ



Braden & cousin Kiley at her 1st birthday party


Braden & his best friend Cassie on one of Mom's visits


Braden & Mike



He spent lots of days in his pool:


And lots of time crawling out of the pool:



He started feeding himself (rice cakes, biscuits, cheerios, etc...):




He even started walking around with his walker-
and took HIS FIRST STEP the day before he turned eight months!!!




AND..... Drumroll....

Two Teeth!!!!