Remembering Nana with Family

Matt's Grandma (Nana) passed away a few weeks ago, so Matt went down to L.A. to be with family.  He was asked to do the graveside service, which was an honor for him.

 Nana had a beautiful backyard, much of which isn't doing so well as she wasn't able to care for it anymore, but the roses are still brilliant!

 Some of Matt's extended family.  He enjoyed getting to spend time with everyone, remember Nana with them and even learn more about her through their memories. 

 Alison and Abigail were able to come too, all the way from England.   Abby is just over one year old!

 Zoe and Beth were there as well.  It's hard to get pictures of Zoe with a smile since she hates the camera, but Uncle Matt always tries!

 We sure wish Caleb and Abby could have more time together!

 Matt came home for the next week and then returned the following weekend for the memorial service.

 His dad joined him for the trip as well.

Saying goodbye was hard, since Nana has always been a part of life, but we're glad that she is at Home with Jesus now.  Death always brings the truly important things of life into perspective.

Lovin' Outside Time

Caleb LOVES being outside! We're thankful for our apartment that has a quiet, big, grassy area right outside of our door.  Whenever it's open, Caleb charges out and down the path to see what he can find!

Even a rock is a new discovery!  

 Once again, I can't choose which picture so you get them all of this moment. :)

 He'll often stop and look up at the leaves blowing in the trees or birds flying by.

Truly just happy because he's out!

Some daddy/son time! :)  I thought it was cute that they matched in their relaxing clothes!

 His new favorite place is my little bird bath!  So much fun to splash in it.  Now I just have to keep him from trying to drink it as well!

 My new favorite flowers!

More Caleb

 Caleb is always crossing his feet.  I think it's cute. 

 I figured that since he has 6 teeth, maybe it's time for a toothbrush.  Plus, whenever he sees me brushing my teeth he gets a big kick out of it and wants to try it himself.  So now we brush together....which I should get a picture of too since he thinks it's so funny!

 What a big boy!  How did he get so big?...although we laugh when he wears these pjs since they make his legs look so skinny.  :)

 We went to a going away gathering for some friends from church and Caleb LOVED getting to spend time with the kids.  I'm trying to figure out how to get him around kids more often, which is challenging with working, but he loves it so much that I'm hoping to find a way, even if it's early in the morning.

 The boys love spending time with him too.  Can you see the excitement in his eyes!?

 It's even fun through a window!

Everywhere we go, as soon as Caleb spots a kid of any age he gets super excited, reaches toward them and "talks" all about it!   He's definitely growing up!  His personality is showing more and more and his interests are growing.  He loves being outside, laughing, wresting, hide-and-seek, walking, music, dancing, and most recently he gets VERY excited about watching his "Baby Einstein" video.  I think he's mainly just always hungry for new adventure and discovering whatever he can!  We LOVE watching him learn and grow!

10 Months

I need to post these before we get to 11 months! :)  It just so happened that the day we took these it was cooler outside (unusual for July), so I took the chance to let Caleb wear the overalls that Aunt Cindy got for him.  We LOVE them but don't think he'll get to wear them much since it's too hot while they are his size.  

Can you tell he didn't feel too well that day? :)  I love how he always crosses his feet. 

 Yes, I had to work for this smile.  Too bad you couldn't get a picture of me jumping up and down making funny noises and motions to get it! :)

Fuzzy, but have to post it to show that he IS happy at 10 months. :)

Weekend with Mommy

 This last weekend Daddy went to L.A. because his Nana passed away.   I'm glad I got to meet her once before she died.

Since Daddy was gone, Mommy and I hung out all weekend, and we had such a fun time together.

 Actually, Friday I went over to my friend Clara's house while Mommy went to work.  This isn't the best picture but I at least wanted to show you who she is.  We go to the same church and she was born almost exactly 3 months before me....but we're the same size now! :)

 Mommy thinks that how I sleep these days is cute. :)  I'm just more comfortable with my bottom UP. :)  I also love chewing and sucking on my giraffe from Grandma and Grandpa.  I don't even like my pacifier anymore.

 Saturday was the first time I figured out how to look at books all by myself.  I'm really starting to like books, especially the kinds with things I can touch and feel.  I always make sure Mommy feels them too by taking her hand and putting it on the page. :)  That's what she does with me, so it only makes sense to help her too.

Sadly, I'm still dealing with digestion issues even though I've eaten all the right foods and cut out the wrong ones.  Now we're trying Miralax, which seems to be helping.  This is the last picture you'll get of me pooping.   I'm getting older so I don't think I'll want to share them after this.  I know it looks like I'm just standing, but that's what I have to do....and concentrate really hard....THEN, sometimes I can get the job done.  Mommy says "poor little baby" to me a lot.  At least I get lots of hugs after I finish. :) 

 On a more interesting note....check out my teeth!!!  I have 6 now!

We didn't get any pictures of it, but Mommy and I went swimming after I helped her clean the house. :)  I LOVE being in the water.  Then we went out to run some errands and just do something out of the house.

I got to experience The Dollar Tree for the first time!  I like shopping these days, since I get to play with the toys and different things at the store that I've never seen before....AND I get to see lots of people.  I especially like seeing little kids!

 We went to Big Spoon so I could eat my dinner.  Mommy got frozen yogurt and told me it's a good thing I didn't know what I was missing.  I'm not sure what she meant, but I really enjoyed my peas!

We had to stop at the grocery store for one thing and I suddenly got a burst of crazy energy.  Mommy was laughing at me, which made me want to have even more fun.  I took off crawling down the aisle and wouldn't stop!  Don't worry, it was a clean store and I washed my hands afterwards :)  I had so much fun and would have stayed if Mommy didn't say we had to go home for bed. 

 When Mommy looks at the computer I like to walk around under the table!  We play peek-a-boo a lot and it really makes me happy!

 Mommy just thinks I'm cute.  

Sunday morning we went on a walk to Starbucks for breakfast before church.  We get up at 6 in the morning so we had plenty of time.  It was really nice, and not too hot yet.  It's been over 100 lately, so the morning is the best time to be out!

I liked Mommy's drink better than my food but she wouldn't give in and give me more than a sip! 

 I don't get to watch TV much at all, so when she put on a video for me after church and nap I was REALLY interested.  I didn't even move for a long time....

 ...then it got to a part that I thought was really funny.  It had lots of moving colors which I thought were great!  So.....

 ....I went to try to touch them!  I hope I can watch it again soon!

Well, there's more, but those are the pictures that we got.  This is one last one right before I'm about to blow on Mommy's leg, my new favorite thing to do!  It's really funny.  They do it to me all the time, so I finally figured out how to do it back!

Daddy got back late Sunday night, and when I saw him sleeping in the morning I got so excited that I just had to wake him up.  He was happy to see me too!

"All By Myself"

A few weeks ago Mommy was feeding me and I decided that it was MY turn to try out the spoon.  I often hold one and sometimes throw it, but this was the first time I tried eating with it.  If you ask me, I think I did pretty good!

 I admit, though, that I STILL haven't figured out how to scoop anything onto the spoon.  That one is a mystery to me.  I'll keep trying.

I also get frustrated when the food falls OFF of the spoon.  

Why doesn't that ever happen when Mommy or Daddy feed me?  Hmmmm...

See....I can do it!

 Ok, so I admit, sometimes I just get tired of working so hard and decide it's easier AND more fun to just grab the bowl and go with it! :)  (notice the bowl I'm using, Trina! Perfect size)

Mommy thinks I'm crazy to try and eat the bowl, especially a glass one....but hey, how should I know how anything tastes until I actually try it!

Lately I prefer picking up chunks of food (and I don't choke anymore), and if mommy or daddy feed me with a spoon I'll let them scoop it and then I sometimes take it and eat from it!  This eating this is pretty complicated, but I'm learning a step at a time.  :)