Tunnels...

Fender and I tried our first Gymboree session today and the theme was tunnels...excellent timing considering my "homemade" version at home earlier this week. :) Auntie L came over to play with us too. At the first tunnels, Fender was cautious and wouldn't venture through any until we made our way through the big one. After that he seemed more relaxed and never met a tunnel he didn't like. The most fun to me, was when they turned out the lights and we had been about to enter a teeny tunnel and the flashlight peeked his interest so much that the size didn't seem to matter after that. Intersting note, we learned that even at this age the hearing isn't fully developed and they don't hear in stereo like adults do, so we also tried out several noise makers inside the tunnels to help expose them to all sorts of different sounds. Gymboree was a lot of fun, but due to the closest location being an hour away, or more if the traffic is bad again like it was today, I don't think we'll be going to any more. :( So here are pictures of our boy at his first, and likely last Gymboree.
First, very wide tunnel.
 
Very small tunnel where we learned that flashlights trump tunnel size.
 
Listening to sounds and playing with lights in tunnels.
 
After the class was over, we couldn't keep him from going through yet another tunnel. :)
 

Gymboree part 2...

Fender loves to climb and this slide with grabpoints and footholds was all too easy. He climbed his way (first to his ball) and then to another tunnel. All the kids rolled the big bag across the mats together in the last picture.
 
 
 

Everywhere...

This week I built Fender a tunnel made of cardboard boxes. It took him a little bit to warm up to the idea, but after pushing one of his toys through and climbing through myself, Fender finally ventured through on his own...over and over again. :)
 
 
 
 

College Football Saturday...

Fender played the day away last Saturday and learned all about college football. Note Daddy's FSU cap and his Texas Tech sippy cup. Tough week for the Seminoles. But not the Red Raiders! "Go guns!" :)

 
 
 
 

Fender LOVES peaches...

Here...let me show you...
On the morning these videos were taken, I had taken time to carefully cut up a peach and peel off the skin as part of Fender's breakfast. Apparently, I was wasting my time, as he proceeded to show me how he "prefers" to eat his peaches that very same evening. The first video is shorter, but the last video is worth a watch if you have the time. Slurps up. Enjoy.

11 months old...

Fender is 11 months old now. That sounds so grown up already. At-home-measurements show 30 inches tall and about 25 lbs. I can hardly believe it. Less than a month and he will be a one-year old. He is walking around lots now. Getting more proficient everyday. You can see the determination in his eyes when he wants to walk from place to place. He even started taking his hand down away from mine so he can walk by himself. He is such a sweet boy, but independent for sure. I miss the “baby” days already. I can see them slipping away even more now as we prepare to wean him from bottles and formula to sippy cups and whole milk. I’m most sad about losing my nighttime holding ritual. He gets his last bottle of formula right before bed and I hold him while he drinks it until he falls asleep. I love it and quite frankly I don’t want to ever give it up. But he is getting older now and it is more important that he learns to go to bed and fall asleep on his own I suppose. Oh…my sweet baby boy is growing up so fast. No way a whole year has nearly gone by! Truly blows my mind!

I'm walking...a video...

Here I go. No stopping me now...

A long day part 1...

Saturday began with a 9am funeral for a relative by marriage, and really neat woman. Then it was off to catch up with Fen's Uncle Bobby before the game. Though the pictures don't show him much worse for the wear, Fender somehow managed to lean in and hit his head on the only hard part of a soft footstool and got it right on the vein. In moments, his vein was protruding and all around the spot was swelling...way too fast for my liking. We were calm as needed to be and worked our way upstairs to get some ice to see if the swelling would stop. It was very unnerving and yes, we mentioned a possible trip to the doctor, but as it turned out, that wasn't necessary. Thank God! When we got into the elevator, despite the injury seemingly continuing to grow, the moment Fender spotted the pool out the glass windowed elevator, he was fascinated, stopped crying and had moved on. Drew and I continued to worry, though I knew if he was that easily over it, and he wasn't passing out from the pressure, and the fact that the bump was going out and not "in", that these were all good signs and he was probably going to be just fine. Thanks also, to Uncle Bobby for worrying enough to have his trainer (Brian) take a look at him and confirm a bad contusion. The trainer said he seemed in good spirits, and a doctor's visit probably wasn't necessary, but to be sure to keep ice on it a bit longer and make sure the bump starts going down. Yea. Yikes. And ouch.

Bobby headed for a little rest before practice and we met up with a friend of ours at the Galleria. She and Drew started working at Watson Wyatt at the same time, several years back, though neither are there now. She has three kids now and they are all so precious. Her oldest, girl is pictured below with Fender. She has a boy who is three and a baby girl who is only a couple of months old. It was great to see her and the kids.

After the galleria, we headed to watch DC United play FC Dallas in Frisco. More pics from the day are in the post just below this one. These are from the first part of the day. And by the way...DC got a shut out. Way to go Bobby! And they won 4-0.

 
 
 
 

A win for DC UNITED...

Fender and Dad get ready for the game...
 

Fender and Momma...looks like Fender's had a long day already...
 

Antie L to the rescue...a nap on her shoulder and all is well...
 

Late night crew went to dinner after the DC win. Boys: Alex, Bobby and Logan. Girls: Ahsley and Loren.
 

Rock Climbing...

Okay, well, rock"ing" and climbing...and not so much rock climbing yet. Two more videos...

Fender loves the rocking horse.


In typical "boy" fashion, Fender climbs up the stairs too close to the edge and then wants to turn around and head back down head first. Don't worry, he didn't and all is well. Never dull around here. He is very quick and you never know what he might be thinking about getting into next. :)

Walking...

Last night was full of surprises...
First, after a week of taking only a couple of steps once or twice a day, last night he decided to try to walk everywhere first, before crawling. It was so much fun to watch him take slow, steady steps and even steady himself back up when he got going too fast and was about to fall down.

Then, while I finished up at the computer last night and he was playing on the floor, I said, "Fender, are you ready for a bath?" And next thing I know, he's crawled into the bathroom and is standing at the bathtub ready to jump in.

And as if that wasn't cool enough, he even helped by lifting each of his own legs so I could get his shorts off so he could take the bath. Prior to this moment, there has been zero help getting bottoms on or off. He seemed completely oblivious in that regard. But he has helped get his shirts on and off for as long as I can remember! I'd say from at least five months on, maybe earlier.

So in one night, our boy grew up so fast. I can't imagine what will be next... stay tuned...

Catching our breath...

Well with all the action, the little tyke needs a breather once in a while. The first is Fender resting after playing at the beach. The bottom two are crashing after church last Sunday.
 
 
 

Cousins...

Great Grandmother Powell, granddaughter Alix and her son Cameron, grandson Drew and our son Fender. Cameron just turned two years old.
 
 

Grandmothers, Grt-grandmothers, & Godmothers...

Grandmother
 

Grt-Grandmother Powell
 

Grt Grandmother Boswell
 

Godmother Manassa
 

Galveston, Texas...

Busy week for our boy. On Monday we headed for the beaches of Texas with Granmama, Auntie L and Mom. Tuesday we played. Wednesday we came back home. Thursday got sick, went to doctor, got antibiotics and felt better immediately. Friday road trip with Mom, Dad and Sebastian (doggy) to visit Dad's side of the family in Mississippi. Saturday played and then slept on the drive back home. Today trying to get back into regular routine before Monday. Here are a few pictures from the beach.

Road trip with Granmama, Auntie L, and Mom. Yea!
 

The sand was so much fun. Granmama buried my foot in the sand when we tried to dig a hole to china.
 

I climbed all the way up this chair by myself! I'm such a good climber!
 

I LOVED the beach, the wet sand, salt water and all. Jumping in the waves was my favorite!
 

Piano recital 10 months...

Note the fine motor skills being used to single out notes in this one. :) I'm not posting this because I think he's the next Mozart...I'm just an easily pleased parent and happy to share these moments with the rest of you if you want to see them. (Remember you may have to click on the picture once and then click on the triangle "play" button.)

Without further ado, here's Fender's first lullaby tune...

Many faces of Fender...

The past couple of mornings, Fender has been climbing up the steps outside to our deck. And when I dropped him off at at daycare yesterday, he went straight over to a big new slide in the middle of the room and proceeded to successfully climb up the wrong way. It was impressive. I was just watching in utter amazement. The determination in his face, the leg and arm strength to climb up the slippery side of a slide at 10 months old. He never even got frustrated at all. It was really coool. Well, when I went to pick up "my little climber" at the end of the day they said, "Nope, he's not your little climber. He's your little WALKER!" Wha?????? Yep...apparently he was sitting down doing much of nothing, and then stood up and took 5 steps straight for the swing. He has taken several on his own today. No video of said walking yet, but they are coming, rest assured.

So for now...here are some of the many faces of Fender.
Happy in his daddy's old red overalls!!
 

Fender's inquisitive side...the boy studies everything...
 

Learning the video game controller already...
 

Mr. piano...
 

Ten months old = Tonka truck fun...