Ten Months

Ahoy! The past two weeks have been super busy.  Mommy and I spent part of the week getting everything ready for Daddy's boys' weekend.  I had fun sitting on the air mattress with Leland while Mommy turned the motor on to blow it up.  It was so fun getting the room ready that we had to do it again and again.  Eventually we got everything ready for Uncles Hugh, Justin, Adam, Brady and Nick. and Mommy and I headed back to Mimi and Pa's where I sailed the carpeted seas on my pirate ship.

When we got back home, my world got crazier.  I was crawling faster, doing obstacle courses under the dining room table; I even started walking with my walker all by myself. Check me out! I. Am. Awesome. I still have a few kinks to work out so that my walk resembles less of an Irish jig but progress is progress!

 Remember my obsession with Leland's Kong? Well it hasn't improved.  In fact, I have now taken to crawling into Leland's cage to get it.

I love standing....haven't figured out how to do it without holding on to anything but I'm trying.  I've had two more bloody lips from that stupid coffee table. Someone really should get that thing replaced.

Speaking of blood, Leland had dental surgery last week and got two teeth pulled...the vet didn't tell Mommy to take his toys away so when he came home and he started chewing...he made a bloody mess. I mean that both literally and the English way.  In his absence, I kept his lower level sniper post covered. We had a changing of the guards the next day, but you can tell by the look in his eyes that Leland was using on the job so his efforts were less than effective.

Ok so with that last set of pictures I broke Daddy's cardinal rule of blogging...the picture limit. Don't worry. Just one more thing left to share.  I am ten months old! If you are counting down, that is two months away from cake!  I am still about 30 inches and 20 pounds.  I am adding to my collection of teeth and working on getting some molars...so you can imagine what a stellar mood I have been in the past few days. Right now I am refusing most food but when I do want to eat, I like turkey, cheese and puffs. I. Love. Puffs. Well, that's it. Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

Moving On Up

 Well I am moving on up in the world...literally.  I can now reach the second shelves of the cupboards, the top of the coffee table, the ledge on the stairs...watch out world! I am busy pulling myself up.

It wasn't all roses figuring out how to pull up. I got my first shiner after a face plant into the iron and glass coffee table.  Someone should tell Mommy and Daddy to babyproof a little better.  Here I am showing of the beginning of my black eye. I gave Mommy a matching one several days prior by headbutting her.  We were twinsies!

I am getting into all sorts of trouble--trying to unplug computers, escaping from the baby gate, trying to pull off outlet covers--so I am getting better about taking naps in the afternoon because I am TIRED.  Here I am in my favorite sleeping position getting recharged for when Daddy gets home.

I have become preoccupied with Leland's toys...especially Kong. If I see it in the vacinity, come hell or high water, I will get that thing and put it in my mouth.  This has created a bit of a love-hate relationship between us.  Leland doesn't seem as amused with me as he once was, unless it's mealtime, then he's my BFF.

Speaking of Leland, he made an appearance at the local Emergency Animal Hospital last Saturday.  After a miscommunication with Daddy and a slight case of Mommy-brain, Mommy let go of Leland's leash in the backyard and he dashed out the open gate.  He made excellent time if you were wondering.  It took Daddy 10 minutes by car to find him about a mile away.  Upon getting him home, his paws were bloody and Mommy realized his front pads had sloughed off from running so hard.  So he was sentenced to the Cone of Shame for three days while he took Doggy painkillers. Don't worry, he's fine.

Nine Months

Warning: I will be violating Dad's "Five-Picture Rule" because I have been BUSY.

To start things off, I have added to my repertoire of tricks.  I decided to skip the bottle and sippy cup stage and move straight to a straw.  None of that baby stuff for me! Mommy got a new water bottle for her birthday which I have taken over.  Also, I took my first ride in a shopping cart as the co-pilot. It. Was. Awesome.  I was in quiet awe of my newfound shopping perspective at first but now I can be heard spreading my joyful screams up and down the aisles of Target, Hen House and Petsmart.

 I have acquired some new sleeping positions as captured on my video monitor.  I am no longer bound by the chains of a Halo Sleepsack.  To celebrate, I enjoy hanging my feet out the slats to get a little air.  If I am not sleeping with my limbs hanging out the slats, you will find me butt sky-high in my crib on my knees.

In similar news of newfound freedoms, I have learned to open drawers, empty cabinets, dismantle carbon monoxide detectors, remove vent covers and tip over vacuums.  

I turned 9 months old last Friday and had my check-up.  Here are the stats: I am 29 3/4 inches tall...95th percentile; 19 pounds 9.6 ounces...48th percentile; and my big head is 18 inches...75th percentile....which can only be attributed to my large brain size.  The nurse asked if my daddy was tall because I am a baby giant.   When Mommy said no, the nurse said "Enjoy it while it lasts, Griffin!" Whatever that means.  I now have 6 teeth and got the green light to start real people food.  Dr. Wichman was VERY proud of Mommy for not coming in to hang out with me at night anymore, but don't worry, she didn't get off that easy.  I am still very vocal with my displeasure of her newfound backbone, particularly between the hours of 2 and 6 in the morning.

In related news, Leland had his check-up and Dr. Miller told Mommy he is "a bit bigger than last time." Turns out Mommy's habit of getting guilted by Leland's doe-eyes and giving him a bite each time food comes out of the pantry is not actually a good idea.  That combined with my love for sharing my food with him, make for a fat Leland.  Here he is pouting on my play mat after being rejected by the Keeper of the Pantry.

And, last, but not least, I met the Easter Bunny.  No tears on Easter for the guy at the end of these thumbs! I spent my first Easter having brunch at Loch Lloyd with Mommy, Daddy, Great Grandma Corky, Mimi and Pa.  I dined on cheese, zucchini bread and pancake...although Mommy usurped (hehehe) the pancake when I started tossing it over my shoulder.   She says my table manners need some work. We'll shall see about that...