First Word!

Max is 8 months old today... man, time flies!

This week is pretty momentous- he signed his first word! We have been signing several words with him over the last few months, but when he is eating in his high chair facing us he's a captive audience, so it's no surprise that "more" was his first sign! Now, his production is a bit off (haha) but the same thing happens with baby speech, right? They don't always pronounce words correctly at first (isn't that what makes it so cute?) but the important thing is that we know what they mean. So he's been signing "more" when he eats for about a week now. Then this morning I was playing with him turning him upside down and he spontaneously signed "more"without any prompting at all. It's pretty cool that he could figure out how to use it in a different context! Here's a video of our breakfast last week. He signs it several times, it is when he brings his hands together and grabs his thumb. It's fairly long (3 min, I think)



He also babbles a TON! Here are 2 cute videos of his babbling. It sounds like "blah blah blah"... No spoken words yet, although he babbles "mamamama" as much as I'd like to think he's saying Mama, I know he's not. I'm betting that "Dada" will be his first word cause he is just so in love with his dad!



In other news, We're all getting ready for Thanksgiving up in Bonney Lake (near Seattle) with Rons family. My parents and grandma are coming along, too. Should be fun! Grandma came over on Tuesday and I taught her about email. This is an 80+ year old lady who didn't even know hoe to use a mouse... and she did great! It will be fun for her to get family photos, etc when she checks her email at our house.

Max wants to walk really badly. He pulls himself up on everything, and will stand unassisted for a few seconds- it gets longer and longer everyday. He has 4 teeth, 2 top, 2 bottom and it looks like the next two on top are on their way. He chews on EVERYTHING these days.

My parents have been great at babysitting while I work once or twice a week. Usually just a few hours while Ron is upstairs working, or once in awhile while Ron and I get a date night. It is so great having them close, and Max loves them so much.

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Photos

Jack-Jack
Max-O-Lantern

Max's Laugh

We bought a Storypeople print that says: "The first time his laughter unfurled its wings in the wind, we knew that the world would never be the same." and it's so true! When you realize that you have such an effect on someone- to make them so happy- it truly changes the way you think about life and parenting! He's pretty fun, and he smiles and laughs so freely.

Here's a video that we took today of Max and Ron playing. His laugh is totally infectious!

October

We've been busy, but hope to post some videos soon! Today is Halloween- Max is going to wear a Jack-Jack costume (from The Incredibles) cause he looks just like him with his little spike of hair. Breana and family are coming over tonight, so I'm sure we'll have a great time with lots of pictures to share.

I have been sewing like a champ ever since we returned from California. While there, my Aunt Barbara gave me some lessons and I made him a cute sushi outfit. Since then I have borrowed my moms serger and taken a class on sewing my own diapers. I've made some pretty good ones! Now that we are washing our own I get to play with some fun designs instead of the boring (and tedious) diaper service prefolds. I have made several of them into fitted diapers so I don't have to fold anything. I've also made some pocket diapers that are like fuzzi bunz, and some fleece pants, which repel water and work like a cover. Mom and Dad (Cindy and Sam) also got us two FABULOUS snap-ez all-in-ones . These are nice- no covers, just the one diaper (hence the name... all-in-one) so you just pop them on as easily as a disposable. They are great to have in the diaper bag and not have to struggle with snapping, stuffing, wrapping, etc. a regular cloth diaper. Anyhow, enough about diapers!

Ron has been working with the shopsmith that his parents recently passed on to him. He made a beautiful planter box to cover the frame for the window AC when we remove it for the winter. Pictures of both out recent projects coming soon!

Here are some recent pictures of Max

Sushi pants and shirt I made for Max


On our trip to the pumpkin patch


Eating bananas

Naked time!

Playing with Kaden and Kylin

We've sure been having a lot of fun with him! He is very mobile and loves to explore. He's really easy going, loves people, and laughs easily.

Happy Halloween!

Breastfeeding Icon

Mothering Magazine had a call out to design an international symbol for breastfeeding. This would be similar to the wheelchair symbol for accessability, or the women and men seen on a bathroom door. It would be for places where they have a mothers lounge, like an airport. You often see a picture of a bottle on these places, but since breastfeeding is the normal and healthiest way to feed our babies, shouldn't the symbol on these lounges reflect that? It feels like bottles are overwhelmingly present in our American society- at baby showers, on wrapping paper, with dolls...many kids think that this is the only way to feed a baby! But I digress...

The idea of having an icon is great. Many of the designs are perfect. You can click the link below to view the 12 finalists and vote for your favorite. The rejects are also posted and many are beautiful or funny... worth a look! I liked number 7 the best (above) because it is more clear that the baby is nursing as opposed to just being held, but it might be too stylized for an airport, etc. 8 is my second pick. What do you think?

http://www.mothering.com/sections/action_alerts/icon-contest.html

We're Back!

We're back from our trip to California. It was great to see so many friends and family members. Brittanys wedding was beautiful, and the celebration of Pauls life was incredibly moving. Below are a few pictures to hold you over until we have time for a proper post!

Dinner at Chez Reid

The cousins kiddos all together (except missing baby Wells)

Grandma Ammi and Max hangin out at Grantie Barbaras house

Uncle Larry and Max at the wedding

Father and Son

Cousin Christopher

Cousin picture! Beautiful Bride Brittany, Larry, Mandie, me, Kathie, Debbie

the gorgous Auntie Lauren and Max

Quick Post

So our computer is broken. again. It has been sent back to be repaired, but this means no pictures or long posts for awhile. Max and I are at the library now, typing one handed with him in the sling,and he's starting to squeal (his new thing) so this is quick! We have much to catch up on. Max now is doing a funny hop/crawl thing- he looks like a frog. But it means he can now get from point A to point B on his own! We have video that we will post when we get the computer back.

Next week we head down to California for my cousin Brittany's wedding and to see friends and family. We are looking forward to it.

I hate to post such sad news, but Paul passed away on Tuesday. Even though I knew it was a strong possability, the forever optimist in me really believed that he would pull through. It is a sad time, and I don't think it has really sunk in that he won't be there greeting me with "Ellie Belly!!!" next time we visit. It really makes me think about how important it is to let our loved ones know how much we care. I know the Porter family is one that is a good example of that- they always know how much they are loved and valued, and I know Paul knew that as well.