Marine Park

!We found the perfect spot to sit and watch the world go by. This was taken at a homemade bench that over looks like Indian Arm and Deep Cove. So this is the view looking down, and then looking out.


Gotta love that timer function on your camera to capture snaps when you are the only person around! One of Brandon's favorite acts of will is to take his hat off - so I can't tell you how many times we rolled over his hat.. his sunnies... :D this was a great day, and a perfect spot for a picnic.

in the backyard...

Now that the weather has been pretty awesome, I haul the playpen in to the backyard to contain Brandon while I do a bit of yard work. Of course, I heard a funny noise behind me, and I had to laugh as I captured our boy, hanging on for dear life to the side railing. As I wound things up for the day, I let him hang by our garden, he wasn't quite eating dirt... but he was *dang* close... at least it wasn't kitty kibble this time...

Hey Mom!! Dad!! Guess what? I can stand in the playpen or in the crib!! Cool eh???

10 months young....

Trying to make note of the monthly markers has gotten a tad more difficult - to put it mildly. Sit quietly with a stuffie? Have you met our son??? I have a bunch of blurry pictures of Brandon with Tigger in the chair, until I finally resorted to having Tigger on the coffee table and Brandon having his will with the poor stuffie. Hard to believe that Brandon is 10 months old now!

At 10 months, Brandon is pulling himself up to a stand and can babble up a storm (remind you of anyone??). My heart still soars when I hear the "mumumumums" since it was "dadadadada" for the longest time. Every now and then he squeaks out what sounds like a word, but it is just an experimental stage and cool to experience. Brandon still has 6 teeth, and we are getting out for as many walks as we can. Brandon is pretty much over the perfectly pureed baby food - he loves to get his hands, face, and hair in to the whole eating experience.

swingers....

When we go for one of our favorite walks, we finish off by going on the swings!! Brandon loves going on the swing, and laughs and giggles and holds on for dear life! Check out those chicklets!

This is near....


And this is far.... :D

a day at the beach

Styling and profiling!!

Ken, Brandon, and Uncle Kelly

I think that it will be really cool in a few months (weeks???) when Brandon is up and walking. It will make going to the beach that much more fun!!!! He is pulling himself up, and every day this is a skill that is getting easier and easier. I try to get him to practise sitting (I always see this one group of moms and babies in the park, and some of those babies sit.. sit?? what is that???) and as soon as I get him in a sitting position, he is twisting and turning and flipping in to a crawling position so he can move.

island style

W

At the park!

Still learning about bringing sun screen, sunglasses, hats, and appropriate sun gear for Brandon along - this parenthood thing is definitely a learning process!!!

couldn't resist the smile....

...although I am not sure what happened to his hair today?!

Brandon's new digs...

The last week has been busy!! Brandon's room has undergone a complete transformation, and is now a room that he can be pretty proud to call his own. Lots of open space, and the colour it bright and clean :D lots of hours and elbow grease between the floors, walls, and ceiling, nothing like a little bit of team work!

9 and 1/2 months young...

So... we were on holidays and it just didn't happen to get this marker done anytime before now. Oops. It is getting harder and harder to snap the shots with Tigger because Brandon is definitely on the move!! This week he has started to pull himself up on stuff and I have learned the hard way to not keep anything with in reach on the coffee table, etc.

At the Calgary Zoo

Catching a bit of the sun!

Oh Deere (and a few from the farm)

Yes. It seems to be a genetic thing that little boys will grab hold of the wheel when given the chance...


And finally a really one fun that Ken snapped of us in the field...

Trying on some hats....

Here we are at Fort Calgary, trying on some of the old RCMP hats...

First major junior hockey game

We got to catch a game at the 'Dome and the Hitmen won!! A pretty impressive show was put on, and Brandon did really well with the lights and noise.. granted he did wait for the Zamboni to make it's appearance :D

Blooms!

Off to the tulip festival!!

Playoffs have started!

Happy Easter!

Our handsome and happy young man!

Going on a road trip....

Here Brandon is, chilling in his new carseat. We were hitting the highway early Saturday morning, heading for the ferry to the island. It is hard to believe that Easter is already here... next year will be a lot of fun with an egg hunt, and I am sure that Brandon will be a bundle of energy and then some. Good Friday was awesome, spent time with both sides of our family, and Brandon is taking his first steps in a forward crawl. His mobility gets him so excited!

My guys

Junior.. and the Third.
And me with a smile on my face, behind the lens.

I am clean!!!

It seems that it is in the bath tub that Brandon likes to practise pulling himself up and standing. The edge of the tub is just the right height for him and I just kick back and watch, with my hands hovering on either side of him just in case. I am glad that he loves water (so far). Water babies is going really well - he has floated on his back, been under water, and even gone on a big water slide twice. I am impressed, and so happy to be doing water babies together. I really hope that Brandon loves the water even half as much as I do. I can see lots of trips to the pool and beach in our future!

I like blueberries.

In my hands. On my face. All over the place!

8 months young

Brandon is now 8 months old, and he has 4 teeth and is working on his next top tooth. Solids are fairly well established, and we have gone with more fruits than vegetables, but I am trying to strike a reasonable balance between the two. Brandon still crawls backwards, and in circles, and is really, really close to getting in to high gear and moving forwards. This is a kid that really wants to move and is just a smidgen away from making it happen. The months are clicking by way too quickly - it seems unreal that Brandon is already 8 months old and becoming a little tall boy. His laughs are precious, and he rarely cries. I would still say that he has taught me as much as I have taught him.

The shrinking pads

It is getting harder and harder to take "static" shots of Brandon when he is awake. When he is up, he wants to be on the go-go-go! Trying to get him to stay still while I snapped a few pictures was next to impossible. As you can see, he is at the stage where everything about the hockey pads is interesting, and can go straight in his mouth - which isn't necessarily a good thing!

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh Matey!

That thar be sun in my eyes!

Bananas?

Introducing food is going pretty well, we are pretty much focused on lunch being the meal that includes solids, and we are starting to include dinner with some solids as well to get all of us used to the idea of eating around the table. Brandon hasn't seemed all that keen of the mashed up naners in cereal, so I handed him one the other day. He loved the texture, and being able to use it as body paint. It was funny, I just kicked back and let it happen, having a few washclothes handy. It is cool watching him figure stuff out.

Happy St. Paddy's!

Could that grin be from guinness foam?

We have 3 teeth!

Although you can't see it, Brandon got his third tooth yesterday! He has the bottom 2, and then he is startd from the left, the second front tooth (incisor?). The front tooth is going to be right behind it since it looks like it is pretty close as well. Teething was far worse for the bottom two as oppsed to the top ones (so far, knock on wood).

So cute.

Just a quick snap because Brandon was having a particularly cute moment! No, I am definitely not biased or anything. It is amazing how fast babies change - he isn't the wee bundled up baby that he used to be. I'd like to think that I make an effort to take a deep breath and enjoy the small moments (and the big ones too).

Racing jacket

In honor of the grandfolks heading south to watch the fast cars race, Brandon donned what we call his racing duds. Granted, it is amazing how fast he can do laps of the living room... in reverse gear!

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?