Dear Xan Xan,
Another month down and you continue to amaze me. Your walking skills get better and better even though you don't seem to care much how well you walk - you are going to do it no matter what and at whatever peril. When you watch video of you walking at the beginning of this month you were wobbly and unbalanced when you could get a few steps in. By the end of the month, the world was yours to explore!
at 10 months:
at 11 months:
In other news we are still struggling with getting you to like food. I'm sure one day we will laugh and talk about how much you hated solid foods and you'll be 100 pounds over weight or something. I hope not. If it sounds like I am a broken record in our attempts to get you to eat and how many times we have failed well, try living it.
We sit you in your high chair every day, usually three times a day, just on the hopes that one day it clicks. When or when will it be? Everyone has a "solution" and then they quickly learn just how difficult it is. Remember - the doctor said we could start feeding you solid food at four months. We have been trying ever since. Ugh. As you can see in this picture most the food we give you ends up in your hair.
We fill our days up with doing various fun activities - playing down in the basement, in the backyard and various outings with family and friends. On thing you get to do weekly this summer is go to "Music Together" over at your friend Miles' house. There you learn all sorts of songs that the dads sings to all their kiddos - it must be quite a sight from an outsider - but we have a good time. Your instructor, Dawn, brings her "autoharp" which you all love to climb on and play at the end of each class. In this picture you are playing a drum by John and Chris.
We did so many things this month from more visits to the zoo to a visit to the humane society to look at dogs for your uncle Jase.
We spent a lot more time outside because this super rainy spring started to stop and get sunny. You went to your first REAL Salt Lake soccer game (and your second).
You had visits from your Roark cousins, and your aunt Mim and Uncle Kevin.
There was one visit that was not a good one, however. That was a visit to the ER! Your Papa took you out for a bike ride one evening. When you came back you weren't quite yourself - unable to stand, looking a little off in the eyes. I was going to take you upstairs to take your temperature and you threw up - three times. Then you started to pass out. We panicked and quickly called 9-1-1. They arrived super quickly. They checked you out and found nothing super pressing but felt it would be best to have you checked at the hospital. So we gathered you up and brought you there for a long evening of tests. It ended up being nothing they could figure but it was a long and scary night. Our best guess - motion sickness! :-(
You LOVE outside and want to get out there as much as possible. Luckily your super awesome neighbor, Cecilia, has a swing that you can use pretty much whenever you want. How great is that?
We had a couple of great holidays to celebrate this month. It was your first Independence Day! To celebrate we did something new: the bike parade in Centerville - you just watched.
We did something old: the 4th celebration at Eaglewood Gold Course in North Salt Lake
And we did something lame: 4th of July celebration at Liberty Park (it was new this year and while we had great company the fireworks were pretty lame). You actually quite liked the fireworks - pointing and saying your first word "Light" over and over again...it was a lot of fun to watch you. You didn't get scared at all!
The other holiday we got to celebrate was Fathers' Day. For most it is Father's Day which denotes one Father...for us...lucky us, and you, it is Fathers' Day - because you have two Dads! Fathers' Day this year was a beautiful day so we decided to go out for some quick pictures on our front steps. They turned out pretty good.
To top off our month of adventure we took yet another plane ride. This time to visit your great grandma Mosman. She is your Nonnie's mom. She lives in Alberquerque, New Mexico - where your Papa grew up. It was a great adventure to see some of your family roots. It was great to finally meet this great grandma - for both you and me. Here are four generations:
While in New Mexico we got to see the sights a bit, including driving up to Sante Fe! We had a great trip and you were such a good boy sleeping very well.
You got to meet a lot of your great aunts and uncles as well. It was really great to be with so much family. They were so loving and welcoming!
One morning you got up early. It was a great opportunity for me and you to go explore the neighborhood. So we did before it got hot. We went to a local park and spent some daddy-baby time together. I loved it!
Well, it was a full summer with lots to do and things to see. First experiences abound! Next month we will be rounding out your last month of firsts. We might even venture down to Lake Powell! Although I'm not sure we can handle it. I was sort of hoping you wouldn't be walking by then so I could keep a better eye on you. We'll have to see. But we will continue to enjoy the summer - lounging in the back yard, over at the neighbors, or just traveling the streets in your diaper. Summer can't be beat!
