Whew!

I'm tired! You're tired! We have been very busy and tackled a lot of new and interesting situations in the past couple days. We have had company and are still on our way to more this next weekend with your Uncle Craig arriving. You also caught a cold, haven't been eating much and have had, to put it mildly, not so fun sleep issues. I'm thrilled your Father got back last night and that this is also the last week of the training away from home. Ultimately though it's felt weird to me it's been nice to have so much going on because that means we are accomplishing lots too. That I AM still capable of that. :) Let's see... 7 teeth, holding steady on weight but slightly taller, lots of crawling still and the standing, getting up and down, cruising is in full swing. You are very pleased that you can seek out the objects you desire, mainly poor Tucker. lol. You chase him all the time and LOVE to use your first word "Kitty" over and over when you see him. You have reached the point of separation anxiety that they "warn about", still it means you are "developing" right on track. When someone you've been interacting with leaves, and it's not until a definitive door click, you break down in tears. You have also started showing frustration when we take something away from you, and a mischievousness when I tell you "No" and pull you away from something, you will get this sneaky, full-of-humor, smile on your face and zip straight at what you were removed from until I can find something that captures and diverts  your attention. I have a great feeling that tonight is going to be a good night. Daddy went out with the boys, you ate dinner actually, are sleeping great so far, I just made myself tea, so I'm going to go crawl into bed alone, read for a bit and then get some good Zzzz's. Night Love.

Nothing much...

You truly are wonderful. Such a light to my spirit. Making me a better person day in and day out. Appreciating the small things. Seeing things through your eyes. You're crawling fast as lightning. Standing and "cruisin" about. Lots of talk, lots of laughter and play. I can tell these moments fly by. 

Your Father is Amazing...

Only with great love can one endure great heartache. In the time I have known your Dad he's been such a happy, care-free guy. He's always been strong but we've never really gone through a test like we are now. He left this morning for training in Mooresville and tears flooded his face. It absolutely kills me because he just wants to stay with you so bad, at least come home to the same house as us every night and he feels so alone and far away. I am proud of him however. I had no idea he possessed this kind of strength. To love and care for us so much that he's capable of leaving us for a time. I wish the circumstances were different. I wish he didn't have to work at all for that matter. I am grateful though for this gift he gives us, our ability to be together. Never doubt for a moment Haydin how amazing your Da is... for I tell you right now, his strength of character, resolve and capacity of love far outweigh anyone you will meet in life. 

Standing ovation...

While at the hotel this past week I turned around only to find you just standing on your own. You had been playing "pull up and kneel" on countless things in the room. Seems you can make it a bit further. I'm still trying to digest your ability to be all over the place with crawling, including times when I loose you (ok, I never LOOSE you, you'll just get farther or hide somewhere I didn't expect). There have been numerous head banging incidents too as-of-late and that makes my stomach just churn with angst. I wonder if that will get any easier? You WAIL when hurt now too with big crocodile tears... truly yucky for Momma to witness. 

Well, you also are developing quite a little personality. My "always happy, sweet-smiling" babe now throws mini fits of indignation and frustration. God forbid I take anything away from you. Sends you into cry-about-it mode. But you are easily steered away from it, usually. Not yesterday though. Your Auntie Colleen and I were at the arboretum yesterday and I gave you a daffodil to hold. You did really well keeping it outta your mouth, but soon a petal was gone and after fishing it out of your mouth it was time to get rid of it. Boy was that traumatic! ;) Also with doors... it's so funny if you are crawling towards a cupboard or door I have open (including the fridge doors which are too high for you to reach anyhow) and I happen to shut them (though most often it's not directed at you, just me done with my task involving said doors) but you are quick to cry about that. Taking it as a personal slight I'm certain. 

Spring is in the air and it's just SOOOOO wonderful... I can't even begin to tell you. Last summer you were so little and I was learning the ropes so there was not much we did. Now however... the world is our oyster!

Staying in the hotel...

We stayed in a hotel this week in Mooresville to be with your Daddy. He's away training for a new job. No fun for any of us as we all miss each other. It did his heart good to see you and yet I know it makes him sad too. Anyway, we didn't make it into the pool this time but we will try for that next time. You did so good being in a different place regardless of having a cold and teething. I wish you would have been able to sleep in your playpen that night to keep our new routine going but since it was a king size bed it was pretty comfy for all of us. Last night was long and tiring despite my initiative to go to bed early and alone. You woke lots. I don't know if it makes it more or less frustrating remembering the week before this when you slept alone all night and I only went in to feed you a couple times. That was heavenly. We all got much more sleep than normal which I think is so important at this point. Today is pretty cold and we are supposed to meet up with lots of people throughout the day. Momma's friends that want to see you. 

Valentines Day = 9 months.

So Daddy is gone right now and it's soooo hard on me but I'm trying to stay strong for him because I think it's even harder on him. I can't imagine being far away from you for that long. Also, you are now officially crawling all over. Not only that but trying to pull up on things which is just scary as you crash and fall. Loud thwacking of head hitting the floor isn't Mommy's favorite sound, nor the heart-wrenching screams to follow. You quickly forget though as all kids are so resilient. You wake up through the night though to practice your skills, and crawling in bed is just exhausting to me. I want to just lay there and let you wear yourself out but you would end up on the floor and that's just no good. I know the solution is just to always put you back in the crib as we've been doing more of that but with Da gone it's lonely and oh-so tempting to keep you with me. Still I can admit that this makes you wake much more than necessary. Lately you aren't interested in solids either and tend to take in the majority of your calories throughout the night. lol, leaving me with maybe 5 hrs of broken sleep. I love you so you wild child! ;) 

My 30th Birthday...

I just put you down for your morning nap. You've been getting up around 6 each morning. You've been sleeping so well lately and even staying in your crib for the majority of the night. It's bittersweet. While we are proud of you and know it's for the better so that you are well rested, and we get much needed rest too, I'm missing you next to me. Daddy goes away soon for training at his new job and it will be very hard for me to go to bed without him, let alone stick to the plan and keep having you sleep in your crib. Anyway, today I turn 30 and I couldn't be happier. This has been the best past year for me yet and the one we are headed into I'm so excited about. I feel so blessed to be where we are at in life right now. We have everything we need and continually are gifted with more. I feel so looked after by the Creator. Oh, and my Birthday presents were all kitchen/cooking themed including 100 cookie cutters! They are so neat because I can see years of fun ahead of us with those! I love you son. 

Lots going on...

You get frustrated a lot right now. You are soooo on the verge of crawling and you know where you want to go, I think you even know how your body is supposed to crawl, it's just the mechanics of it. But you do a lot of belly scooching and then roll to your final destination. Your top two teeth are through and you even have two more coming in. That's also added to the fussiness. You also have gotten to crunch on "puffs" and "rice husks" and it's fun to see your mouth manipulate and do the different movements required of chewing. You are sleeping better though despite all this. We are working on you sleeping in your crib longer at night. So far though I haven't been as "good" about putting you back in there as I should. I tend to keep you with me in bed after the first time you nurse because, well, it's so nice to cuddle you. Even though it means Daddy and I don't sleep very well. That's what is determining the change. I know all three of us would feel a lot better to be getting more sleep and not broken sleep. Besides you are so smart and concious of what is going on I feel we really need to do it now. Shoot, you are almost 9 months! Your Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit you in a couple days and they are so very excited. Also, Daddy got a new job and he'll be starting that soon. He's going to be away ALOT! for training and that part sucks ALOT! So we are going to be doing tons of driving together and also staying with him in a hotel. You are waking from your morning nappy. xoxo

Party time!

So we went to a baby gathering this Wednesday and that was fun. They were all boys and only one girl and it was fun seeing all the differences and similarities amongst y'all. Then tonight we had a playdate/potluck at our house. Your Daddy was here for this one and I think he had a decent time after things got rolling. I'll have to agree with him that it's kinda weird and uncomfortable to meet so many new people all at once. Not to mention he just wishes his current friends that he likes all had kids rather than having to meet new ones. I totally agree, but it just hasn't worked out that way. We are the only ones to have a baby in our passel of friends. Anyway, I keep telling him it's important for you. Not only for interaction time at this age but for forming a network of families with kids your age for the coming years. Babysitting, playdates, outings, adventures. Heck, you'll need buddies for many years before you go to kindergarden. Still, it's so overwhelming. I get all stressed out having events here because I tend to want things to go perfectly. They always go well, I don't know why I worry. You are such a great baby sharing all your toys tonight, your space, your parents. You never fuss around other kids. Your Dad hasn't ever seen you in that kind of setting before tonight so he was proud. Oh, and you tried your first finger food, cereal puffs that just disolve in your mouth. I haven't given you any of that stuff before but one of the other moms gave me some information on a few products that you can definitely handle right now. I'm really excited about going out and getting some. You did enjoy the new texture and activity of eating them, I think anyway. So, it's only 8:30 and you are already in bed. Daddy went to go catch a drink with your Uncle Chris. I'm bored as anything. Might go hop in a toasty bed and read. I love you son. 

Ps. Your top two teeth punched through yesterday. Hooray because they will stop hurting you, yikes as I'm scared regarding nursing you!

Happy 8 months!

So you sit really well and are leaning over to the side to then roll on your tummy. Looks like you are on the verge of crawling with lots of pushups and scooching around on your belly. Lots of times you go backwards. You also get somewhat frustrated with this since you are intentionally trying to get somewhere or something. Your verbalization is expanding. There are now "b's", "g's", "r's", "l's" and your Dad's favorite, of course, "d's" that trail into da da da da. You are so physical and vocal right now, in fact you are laughing hysterically as I write this because I sneezed and now am fake sneezing and you are loosing your mind, thinking it's the funniest thing ever! You two sweet teeth are farther in. You are eating so many different foods too. I must say that peas and regular mashed potatoes are your least favorite. Bananas being number one. You haven't hit the stage where you are scared of strangers yet, in fact you let everyone hold you. Which is good because everyone WANTS to hold you. Time to change you... no time to finish this. I love you son.