New Book

Back to the topic of reading. After reading Unthinkable I felt still in the nonfiction mood so I picked up Outliers. I had read The Tipping Point by the same author last year and enjoyed the format, so I was happy with this book. I love learning things through stories and this is the approach both books take. It has also made me even more sure of my decision to one day delay starting school for Moses. If you have any interest in the real back stories of success you must get this book.

I still have not picked up Lost: The Search for Six of Six Million again. I just need something a little less intimidating during the summer I guess. Anyone have any suggestions? It's not quite time to make my annual Beach Music read just yet. I will post a picture of my sweet dog eared copy when I start summer read.

Things that make it easier..

At play group we are alway swapping stories and products that we use all the time. I even will give advice in the baby aisle at Target about things I use. So for all of you mommies and mommies to be here is my current "if I didn't have this I don't know what I'd do" list.

Graco Contemp High Chair

I will confess, whent it comes to large gear I let Brett make the decisions. He is great at product research and I trust he will make good decisions. I can get Moses out of this chair with one button. e also seems very comfortable in it. It wipes down really well and the tray can be put on from the sides or the front and goes on without hassle. I also like the neutral color.

Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster

I mean really who names these things? Anyways, when I saw Amanda and Karla with these at playgroup, I immediately thought, "Problem solved!" We travel often and this thing is great! The Bumpo didn't work for him after he started crawling. I keep this in the car so if we are visiting friends or if we are eating out somewhere with questionable high chairs I can just grab it. Let's face it, not only do they just chew on the wooden high charis but Moses can get out of one in 3.4 seconds.

I also frequently shop littlelavender.com and really enjoy our church's Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale. I have always held a firm belief in trying to be as frugal as possible and these have been where I have bought most of my nice clothes for Moses. I also go to the Patsy Aiken Sale in Raleigh. I do have one sharp dressed man!

Growing, Growing and Gone...

Once again, I have been neglecting my blog. I promise to be better! We will actually be in town the next few weekends so hopefully that will make it easier. So this means a long post to play catch up.

Last Tuesday Moses had his nine month check up. He weighs 18.25lbs (25%) and is 29.25in (75%). That means tall and skinny. The doctor actually wants us to come back in for a weight check in a few weeks. She thinks it is because he is so active and is burning up the calories combined with learning (ahem, insisting) to feed himself. Other than that, he looks great! So we have made it nine months (fingers crossed, knock on wood etc) with just one cold.
He is still doing a little letting go while standing and I am trying out new freedoms with him as well. The living room is still the "main" play area but I have decided for now to take the play yard down. This gives him a lot of free reign in the house. He is starting to learn what is ok to touch and what is not. This also lets me do things in different room instead of being confined to one or two. He also HATES being left in the play yard or pack and play when I am not in complete site.

On Friday we headed to Emerald Isle for Memorial weekend to stay with my parents. It was great! Saturday at lunch I had a mini reunion with the Kroegers and Jimmy. We all brought our significant others and of course Moses. It was so awesome to spend time with them. Our little family was also able to get to spend some time on the boat. Moses even touched his first live fish! He played so hard with Mimi and Papa and just had a blast. On the way home, we stopped in Goldsboro for his family reunion. Of course Moses had to check on baby Lila and make sure she was doing ok.

So we're back home for now, but our summer is shaping up to be busy! Just think, in less than three months we will have a toddler on our hands!

Nine Months Old!!

If eight was great, nine is just fine! Every day it is something new and usually funny. My favorite new thing Moses is doing is "dancing." When he hears music he will starting bouncing up and down and/or beating on something. He usually does this in restaurants when he hears the music they are playing. He has also become quite the flirt. He loves making new friends wherever he goes.

Moses is definitely getting more independent. He insists on eating mainly things he can feed himself like toast, sweet potatoes, fruit, veggies and some chicken. I think he is really over baby food. He even tried a cheese quesdilla this weekend! Moses also has started to very briefly let go and stand some one his own. He only does it about once or twice a day.

We are also hearing a lot of words from the little guy. His most used word is "mama" followed closely by "dada." He can also say hey, up, and bye bye and or course my dad's favorite Papa! Moses' top teeth have both broken through and are SLOWLY coming down. I have never heard of teeth coming down so slowly. I can also see one coming in next to his bottom teeth.

He also has a new sleeping companion named Rocky. Rocky is a "lovey" that is a little brown dog that was given to him by our friend John Rock. Sleeping has actually been adjusted due to Moses tendency to always wake up at 6am no matter what time we put him to bed. So now we put him down around 6pm. I kid you not, he goes down like a light at this time.

I am sure I am forgetting something but life is quite a whirlwind chasing after him right now. We are so lucky to have such a good, sweet boy as our son. He is the best little boy in the world as far as we are concerned!

Trip to Wilmington

This weekend we went to visit Nana and Vernon (Brett's mom and stepdad) in Wilmington. Yes, I know, we are always on the go! I think Moses had a good time. He loves to explore every place he goes and see what he can get into. We did a little shopping and enjoyed some of the neighbors as well. Today before we left we had a few minutes of fun at the swings and slide before the rain ran us out. Thank you for having us Judy and Vernon!

Mother/Son Mini Vacation

When the weather gets warm, I get the itch to head to the beach. I can't help it! Tuesday Moses had some pictures made in Kinston, so we decided to head to my parents house. I had been invited to a birthday dinner for my friend Amber on Friday night. I really wanted to go, so I decided we should just stay! I love the flexibility of being a stay at home mom.

It was so nice to be at my parents. They were working, but we snuck in a lot of time together. Moses and I took walks, went to the park, and broke in the new hardwood floors! My parents have been remodeling so they had a lot of workmen in and out. They definitely kept Moses entertained. He would stand in front of the glass door and watch. He would beat on it and wave and blow bubbles. I gave him his toy hammer and he showed it to them. I think they enjoyed him a lot as well.

We came back on Saturday afternoon. Brett was VERY happy to see us. I had a great Mother's Day. Brett and Moses got me a new pair of sunglasses and my parents treated me to a nice lunch before we left. When I got home I had sweet cards from friends and family to great me. It was greet! Being Moses' mother is the best thing in the world!

Update on Moses!

Lazy old me has not downloaded pictures this week. I know, BOOOO! I am still getting back on track from being out of town and now possibly for a lot of this month. It's hard to get much done when you have little hands getting into everything!

My buddy is growing up. He is starting to let go of things when he is standing. He doesn't fall down but squats back into a sitting position. He has stood alone for a few brief seconds. He definitely has the balance. He cruises along on the furniture and his toys.

Moses has also found his rhythm. When one of his toys makes music, he starts bouncing up and down and smiling. He also will wave he hands and try to clap. He can't quite get those hands together. I think I have been unknowingly bouncing and bopping when his toys "sing" so I guess he has picked up on it.

The talking has increased as well. At church and the grocery store this weekend he was saying "Hey!" to everyone we passed. Brett picked up at the store and was carrying him and Moses kept repeating "dadadada." He says "mama" usually at diaper changing time and when I feed him.

This week I have finally started seeing the whites of those top teeth. The gums have been swollen for a while but they have slowly started making their way down. I also think he is getting another bottom one. He is being much better about eating. No more throwing up!

In the last few weeks I have also adjusted his sleep. No matter what I do, Moses wakes up between 6:00 - 6:30am. He is my sunrise baby! After some reading, prayer, and common sense thinking, I have begun putting him down for bed between 6-6:30pm. Takes him no time to fall asleep and he doesn't wake up until morning. What has this done for naps? Those have moved up too. His wake times are the same, I am just putting him down sooner and he falls asleep quicker. Moses is less cranky and generally happier. What about mommy? You'd be amazed at all you can get done when your day begins so early!