Learning new things

Did I mention Blake is already 7 months old? I can't believe how fast time is going by, and how fast Blake is changing. It seems like he learns something new every day.

He is still working on his new skill pulling himself up to stand. He loves finding different things he can hold onto while he stands by himself.

You can tell he's really enjoying being able to stand in the clothes basket.

It looks like I'm holding him, but I've actually only got my hand poised for a quick catch. Those little legs are still a bit wobbly.

More construction photos. We are getting so much closer to wrapping some projects. This last weekend we tackled the kitchen floor. We laid down laminate hardwood and we were able to finish it in a weekend! These are before photos.

Love his little surprised look. Obviously he didn't see me with the camera.

He's getting so much better at his new ability of sitting up and playing by himself.

Of course he really prefers if you sit and play with him. All those toys are pretty neat and really starting to fascinate him.

Using the "force".

One of the many new things Blake is learning is how to self feed smaller foods. He's getting better at picking up small pieces and putting them in his mouth. I couldn't be prouder that his fine motor skills are advancing.

The big yard sale is this weekend and as part of getting ready for it we went to storage last night to sort out what we are selling. Blake started out sitting in one of his three swings. (Yes, I ended up with three of them somehow so I'm selling two.) He was contentedly snacking on his little baby snacks for a little while. Eventually he wanted out so I spread a blanket on the ground outside of the storage unit and sat him on it.

A few minutes later I hear him start to cough. I think to myself that's funny I wonder why he's coughing? To my dismay he'd scooted to the edge of the blanket and managed to get a handful of small gravel and was seeing how they tasted.
Vance held him while I fished three rocks out of his mouth. He's pretty good at spitting food out so I don't think he actually ate any. I hope.

While we were making dinner last night Blake learned another new thing, opening the oven door! Thankfully we were not using the lower oven to cook, and obviously in the future I won't be. (Yes that's also the new floor in these pictures!)

Hope, Spring and Green Things

Yesterday was Easter. Blake's first I might add. We didn't celebrate by hunting Easter Eggs or eating too much candy. Instead we thought warm thoughts of our friends and family we weren't able to see, took time to thank God for his daily goodness to us, and enjoyed the day as a family.

It was a beautiful 80 degree spring day here so we got out our boat and decided to head to the lake. We had a great time, complete with a picnic on a little island and a Canadian goose that I thought just might crawl in our boat with us. It was a close thing until Lil' Vance threw most of his sandwich bread in the water. The poor goose literally was a stuffed goose after that, too much soggy bread even for him to eat.
The only real misadventure of the day was when we got out our little camera, to commemorate Blake's first Easter and his first boat ride, ping when the batteries! We never did recover one of them so from now on I guess I'm carrying spare batteries among other things in my diaper bag.

The fresh air, warm sunshine and hum of the boat motor soon lulled Blake to sleep. He napped most of the time we puttered around. We came home and vetoed the ham I had bought and instead grilled some steaks. Maybe not the most traditional Easter dinner, but very good.




Blake visiting with JW and Lorelle Murphy on one of our first really nice days.


He's actually not napping with the cat in this picture, although it looks like it. He'd tipped over and closed his eyes against the bright sunshine.

Much better! Sitting up!
It's an unbeatable combination for a happy baby, sunshine, outdoors and a kitty cat that doesn't mind his hair pulled.
Blake using the force. He seems to do it when he wants to be picked up or wants to move. Chin down, both arms extended and fingers spread. I see it a lot now.
There's my cute boy!
Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.

On to projects, last week among many other things we tackled our sidewalk. Long ago we ripped out the front side walk to no where. The one that meandered from our front porch and stopped just shy of our mailbox. A weekend and a sledgehammer did the trick except for this 4 foot slab for the step up to the porch. It was a good 14 inches thick with lots of rerod. So Vance rented a jackhammer and here we are finally breaking it up. We plan on pouring a new side walk from the driveway to the front porch. Imagine that, one that actually takes you somewhere!
Blake learning how to work the jackhammer. Okay it was shut off, but how cute is that? He stood on one handle and could hang onto the other one.
Look Dad I'm helping.

Blake's latest and most notable accomplishment is last week he managed to pull himself upright and stand up while hanging on. He is very determined to be upright.