the Graham Cracker House

What better way to celebrate Arbor than walking through amazing gardens and coming home with a tree!  A FREE tree!  It doesn't get much better than this. I only wish Bjorn could have been with us.  Alas, he was at work. Luckily, we had awesome friends to explore the gardens withe and soak up the sun. This was my first time to Red Butte Gardens, and I am told it is much prettier latter in teh summer when more things are growing.  The vines and wires and mazes are usually covered in greenery.  Still- it was great for a nice spring walk.

love Barrett's cheese smile!

Gabe attacks the Giant lizard

Steven and Gabriel chillin'

There's crawling... and then there's CRAWLING.

At first it was really cute as he moved around the room, stopped to pick up toys, smile at us, put something in his mouth every now and then.  Now he is full throttle darting from room to room, never staying put.   Any and everything on the floor goes into his mouth.  I am trying to vacuum a lot more often but it's not easy!  I am becoming quite skilled at the quick blind sweep. He cries from reflex, but I am over and done with it in seconds.   We've started moving "pretty things" into higher locations.  My child is taking over my  house.  I knew this day would come (and secretly- I love it!)


He is a good sleeper and good napper. Not great, not perfect, not bad, just good.

broccoli face

Mangoes are one of his new favorite foods. They are up their with bananas.  He eats and likes most everything we feed him.  Avacados and green beans are low on the favorite list- but he eats them.   We use the baby grinder a lot to mash up whatever we're eating.  I've figured out breakfast with oatmeal or cream of wheat.  After it's made I scoop out a large spoonful for him then we pour our respective milks over the cereal, top with fruit, and eat.

8 months old! (day after)

napping with daddy.... he was feeling sick this day

resting with Daddy- again. why is this the cutest thing in world to me?

matching mommy's blue eyes

here comes trouble!

getting into Daddy's room....

 AND THE OFFICIAL PIX (taken with photo booth due to the camera missing in action this day):

Before 10 am this morning I fished 2 objects out of Gabriel's mouth (candy wrapper and piece of cardboard),  changed a poopy diaper, watched Gabe spill half a bottle of mouthwash onto the bathroom counter and floor, fed the mini-man bare bananas with my bare hands, found pen marks all over his chin (which may or may not have occurred while I was attempting to sleep-in), prevented him from falling down stairs more than once, and snuggled my little one to sleep.

All in a days work for a busy momma.  This is just the morning!  He doesn't hold still for anything anymore. Well- mealtimes. He is very good about eating and not being too messy and stays in his high chair ('cause he's stuck there!). He keeps me on my toes!  We stay active all day long.  He takes naps pretty well, and I have learned to use those nap times to accomplish some of my adult responsibilities.  No more mommy naps for me :(.

I love it when he crawls to me.  When he sees me across the room, and realizes he can get to me- he lights up and charges forward- full speed.  It is awesome.  He love making him laugh and giving him kisses and cuddles and nibbles and tickles.  He is easy going and enjoys it all.