Am I impressed?

Out and about, snug as a bug, and all bundled up! Fingers crossed, March will come in like a lion and go out like a lamb... I think one of the cool things is that Brandon gets to wear colours that I wouldn't dream of wearing!! I had to include this one of me and my dad - I really value the times we have together to get out for walks, it is pretty special!!

7 months young

Slim pickings this month. It is almost harder to take a block of time and snap a zillion pics (especially now that Brandon is a lot monible) to get just the right shot for a monthly marker. I think I set a record of only taking 4 pictures with his stuffy buddy to get a shot. Weekends go by way too fast!!!! At 7 months Brandon has 2 teeth, can crawl backwards and in a circle, can say "da" and "d'oh" and squeals on occaison. Brandon can sit on his own, and then roll over and go on to all fours. With help, he can also stand himself up, which makes bathtime interesting. He sleeps pretty good, is getting better with his hands and picking stuff up, has mastered the art of pulling my hair, and introducing solid foods is going OK. I wouldn't say fabulous, but we are getting there. I am surprised by what foods don't seem to go over well - like bananas and carrots. At this point, they just don't really do it for him. He is a master roller, and we are looking forward to when he can go forwards!

Big and the small

Brandon's cousin Mike came over for a visit today - and it is really neat watching the two of them interact. Not everyone is in to the baby stage, but Mike and Brandon made a strong connection right from the beginning. The first part of the visit started out a little sluggish with Brandon hanging out on his belly and doing his patented backwards crawl - apparently Brandon was fighting a bit of something, he urped, and the moment passed about as quickly as our weather has been changing lately.

The wedge

Brandon is on the move - not having great mirrors for backing up, we have to keep on eye on him to see where he ends up underneath. Whether it be the TV stand, the coffee table, the chair, the computer desk, Brandon is awesome at flashing all two of his pearly whites to get your attention for a rescue.

Smiles

Like every other parent out there - we are totally smitten by our boy. Brandon is moving more, making more noises (attempting to babble), more fun in the tub, more fun to take out...I am really trying to make sure I take moments to just enjoy this stage because it does go by so fast. There are times I am nostalgic about being pregnant, when everything about Brandon was just potential! And already that wasn't a long time ago, and yet it feels like another lifetime ago. I also look back a few months and I can't believe how much Brandon has grown. He is just over 30 inches long, and about 24 pounds!!!! He is a big boy - currently he is wearing 12-18 month clothes (some smaller stuff fits, but not for long)and his smiles disarm me, especially with the 2 little (sharp) chicklets!

Hamming it up

Too bad you can't see Brandon's teeth - number 2 came in on the 15th!! It feels like the ones upstairs are making some noises about breaking free!

How sweet is that?

There is something about black and white photos that I really like. A little more arty, but then there are the different textures and the play of light and shadow creating new dimenions. Face it, Brandon just looked kind of cute sticking out his tongue.

All about food.

So this teething thing sometimes gets in the way of introducing solid foods. We have been on at least rice cereal now for a few weeks, and have added apples, and bananas, and sweet potatoes. Next up - carrots. I have never been as aware of food, bowel movements, and sleep as I am now. Then when teething rears its ugly head, that whole parental triad can go out the window as far as what is normal(for each particular child because as I have quickly (re)learned normal is completely a subjective experience) is concerned. Some days Brandon is an amazing eater, and then other days, he wants nothing to do with solids and wears most of my efforts all over his face and hands, and well, he could take or leave his bottle. At times like this I try to keep in mind that he is not going to starve himself and he is still b'feeding, and frankly, he isn't a little baby by any stretch of the imagination. The first tooth seemed to break through so easily, I am surprised at how the second tooth is creating such a fuss, then it seems back down again and the teething subsides... this cycle has repeated itself over the last few weeks, each time sending me seeking out teething advice, and then wondering when the next tooth is going to punch through the surface of his gums, and what I could possibly be doing different. Naps and our sleep schedule went a bit out the window for a bit, and then, with some effort, we seem to be back on an even keel of thing again. Everything seems to work better if we get up earlier in the day rather than later in the day. I think at times I am so aware of Brandon's sleep because I can have such a problem myself falling asleep. It isn't so much staying asleep for me, but getting there. I can't count the nights where I lay there, wondering when my eyes are going to droop.

A trip tp White Rock...

We love going for walks together, and going out to White Rock on a sunny day for fish'n'chips and a walk on the promenade (when the tide is in) is right up there great stuff to do. It was a little chilly, hence all the blankets, but it was a great outing. Brandon takes it all in, and coos and makes baby noises, and I am becoming oblivious to people noticing our conversations as we out and about. It helps that the succession of storms that have rolled in have started to slow because it means that we get to get out and enjoy being outside more.

Can you relate?