9 Months - what the heck???

I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that Nash is 9 months old now! He's doing great! We really can't leave him alone for more than 30 seconds b/c he's CONSTANTLY on the move and finding lots of stuff to get into to. I'm not complaining, though - that means he's a normal healthy boy!

He loves to look at us through this shiny drain cover during bathtime. He gives himself lots of kisses too!

His favorite place to play right now is going back and forth and up and down between the coffee table and the couch - over and over and over...

BIG HELPER! He can pull clothes out of the laundry basket faster than I can put them in! He also is fascinated with the dish washer. Don't you worry, Buddy, one day you and the dish washer will get REAL accquainted!

Nash and Tootsie playing ball

XXX's and XXX's

Nash has become quite the kisser! AND - he uses it to his advantage! I swear - He already knows how to work me! At bedtime, I think he has figured out that if he throws a tantrum, I'll just go lay him down. BUT - he knows if he caresses my face, smiles sweetly at me and opens up for a big kiss, I'll cuddle with him all night long! So, he does that over and over and giggles about it! What can I say?? I'm only human! That being said, I'm not the only one he's been kissing!

Brooklyn Cox played hard to get at first, but before long, she reciprocated his advances!

He apparently loves farm animals too!

Lubbock or Leave It

We went for a visit this past weekend to good ole Lubbock, TX! It has been probably 3 yrs. since we have gotten out that way together. We DO love Lubbock! Even though it was best for us leave Lubbock almost 6 yrs ago, we do miss our wonderful Lubbock friends! Here are the few pictures I took of the weekend (shame on me - I was too busy visiting!).

Ally, Carrie, Adam and Branson Tungate with Nash

We went over to the Tungate house to watch the Tech game Sat. night. At one point I sat there laughing to myself, "My child is playing with Carrie and Adam's 3 kids!!!" Time flies! It seems like just last year when Carrie and I were getting in trouble in Masterfollies practice for cutting up and giggling.

We stayed with some of our favorite people on the planet - the Nelson's - while we were in Lubbock. Our visits/vacations with them are always too short! We sure do ALOT of laughing together! This is the youngest Nelson, Anna, helping me feed Nash breakfast. I think she was disappointed it was just rice cereal and not "mancakes"

Susan's littlest, Brooklyn, and Nash. They are just 2 weeks apart and Nash was in love! (see "XXX's and XXX's" post) That's also Miss Greta in the background - she's the oldest Nelson child, who I might steal if they aren't careful.

Boys are the BOMB!

On the way to/from Lubbock we stopped in Abilene to visit with the Baldridges. These are their 2 boys Penn and Hobs playing with Nash. It was hard to get them all in one place at one time! Hollie and Stephen are such good parents - I'm sure glad she had kids first so now I can call her when I need advice on raising boys!

A Full Fall Report

Well, Nash is 8 1/2 months old now and we are having the time of our lives! He's got 4 teeth and is clocking in at around 21-22 lbs. I am trying to remember all I learned in school about proper lifting techniques, b/c I'm having some back troubles - gee, i can't imagine why???! He is pulling up on everything and keeping us on our toes! This past week he learned how to get back down into sitting (after biting it pretty hard a couple of times) and how to start cruising along the coffee table a little bit. He is still crawling on his belly - he has taken a couple of crawling steps in all 4's, but it's just not as fast when he really wants to get going! He has started sharing - his sippy cup, his teething toys, big slobbery kisses - and it's super sweet! He is babbling quite a bit. Sometimes in the morning, I lay there a couple of extra minutes just to listen to him talking to himself when he wakes up. I used to wake up kinda grouchy, but how can I be grouchy when that's my alarm clock?! He has also started throwing a tantrum or two when I've taken things away from him - I mean totally dramatic - throwing himself back and kicking and screaming (I just have to walk away b/c it kinda makes me laugh)! Some of our fun times are chronicled below.

Taking a walk on a beautiful Halloween morning

For Halloween, we went up to Mark's brother's house and went Trick-or-Treating with the cousins. Nash did great!!! Well - except for the putting the costume on part. Once he was in it, he was good to go, but boy was he mad during the process! This was taken right after we got him dressed, hence the pouty face. Sorry, Buddy - I guess it IS a form of torture to be held down while your face is tickled with feathers!

Uncle Richard, Catherine, Riley, Callie, Chloe, Aunt Mo, Destin and Nash

All dressed up!

See my fine specimen of a healthy leg!

I thought he looked SO cute in his church outfit yesterday, I had to document it!

I love this sweet face! He is intensely watching Tootsie and Daddy play. I think he wants in on the action!

He was supposed to be napping when I heard crashing - he had pulled himself up in the crib and had pulled the books off the bookshelf. He was quite proud of himself!

BUSY BUSY, Boy! Here he was pulling all the tissues out. We are learning to keep the coffee table clear.

We had some family pictures taken a couple of weeks ago with the talented Penny Kendall. However, it was the first time she had done a shoot in her new studio and she said the lighting was all off and she didn't like them. So, as a testament to her integrity, she wants to do another session. I know she does good work, so we're going to try again! I thought this one was cute, even though she didn't care for it!

Daddy got some good giggles while getting him ready for his bath