Please sir, can I have some more...candy?

While we don't get super crazy about Halloween like some folks do, I certainly think it's great fun to see little kiddies all dressed up and make them practice manners when I'm handing out the candy :)
This year it was quite fun to get my own little kiddie dressed up. Opa even came home from work early to see his first little grandson dressed up. We made it about two blocks before the little guy got tired of holding his heavy metal bucket.
Without further ado, I present to you....


Levi, the Little Lion Man

 And here is a picture of the pumpkin I slaved over

Oh, wait, what? You want to see more pictures of the lion? Must be one of the aunties talking...

Holding in a smile

Should have dressed him as an owl, because all he would say was
 "whhooooo, whooooo"

I lost track of how many times he dropped the candy bucket

Nope, that is not a roar, just my normal smile

 Hope you all snagged some Halloween goodies!!

11 months

Bound and determined to stay on top of things this month...
This child is busy. I was recently at work and a coworker had brought her 9 month boy to work with her. He literally sat in his stroller quietly for at least 45 min straight playing with one toy.
And that was it folks. That's when I realized that there is nothing of the lazy, content and calm personality that I hear I possessed when I was a baby. Nope, it definitely seems that this boy is all hubby. Folks, I am really in for it.

But why does he have to be so darn cute?

Do you know how hard it is to stay mad at a face like this?

Or this?

In other news...yes, I am well aware that my son needs a hair cut. However, I am stubbornly resolved to push that off until after his first birthday, which is approaching painfully quickly.
I almost changed my mind after an embarassing episode yesterday. I was leaving for the store and quickly and thoughtlessly put a hair clip in his hair because I didn't have time to style it and I'm tired of it being in his eyes. "I sure hope I don't run into anybody I know...I can just pretend he's a girl and nobody will no better." I'm sure you can guess how this story ends.

Anyways, the powers that be say that around this age, babies should be pointing for things they want.
Check.

Using their pincer grasp well.
Check.

Drinking from a cup.
Check. (If you don't add "without spilling" as a qualifying statement)

Standing and cruising.
Double Check.

I sure wish shoveling massive amounts of foods into already bulging cheeks was on that list because he excels in that department.

He also excels at taking off his socks. So now, even though he is not walking, his little feet are shod in cute shoes all the time.

And so it is. Me and my little Levi-man, surviving in the house together. It's going to be a LONG winter I think. And most days will end like this...eagerly waiting for Daddy to come home.

This child is moving more, eating more, weighing more and sleeping LESS. NOOOOOO!!!!!

I love my crazy, hyper-active, adventurous little son to bits.

But some days, I just miss my weightless, sweet, immobile, sleepy little newborn :)

Catching up

He was NOT in the mood to be taking his nine months pictures that day. Too bad, so sad. Get used to it, son.

Loving bath-time with Daddy

That poor kitty is still just out of his reach

Ten months and all grown up

Standing, and often-times letting go!

First bike-ride...spent the whole ride trying to remove the helmet

You can see his 'trouble-maker' face here as he bangs those piano keys

Not happy about being forced to take a picture with Grammy and Cousin P

Here she is, cute as a button in her car seat

He is almost 11 months old. Time has flown. I already sent out invitations for his first birthday party (which I am already stressing out about, and it's not even going to be a big production!).
He is waving bye-bye, clapping his hands all the time, saying dada, mama, baba, and lots of other ramblings, which is a nice change from his usual grunts :) He is not walking yet, but pulling up on everything and cruising along, and loves to walk around holding onto hands.

He still loves being with his beautiful aunties (minus the one who is away at college. boo)

He is still all cheeks

And all boy

Bear with me

I'm sorry my faithful blog readers, life has truly been busy.
Don't fret, I have many posts planned, catching up on what's new in the life of Will, and what's new in the life of my crafting/sewing, photography...many things.
For now, I've got to do some more editing because I've been up to this a lot:




Catch ya later!

Be fruitful.

Normally I would say, "Check out the fruits of my labor!!!" before showing you this picture

However, I'm afraid somebody would tattle on me...
My garden would say, "What labor?!"

It's true. I am ashamed to admit.
My faithful garden, though sadly neglected by me all summer, has still come through for me.

Yes, the green beans are fewer and far between

Yes, the raspberries are almost microscopic in comparison to last year, and the large-sized tomatoes are certainly not in abundance

But this faithful garden has still managed to make my mouth water today.
Isn't he a beaut? This is a Black Prince...

And these are a multitude variety of small guys...black prince cherries, yellow pear, grape, cupid and red cherries

And this faithful garden, despite it's disappointment in my neglectful ways, still provided me the means to make this amazing caprice salad...

And now if you'll excuse me while I go devour it. Nummers.

Nine Months

While I have been doing a lot of this lately:

My son, who is approaching his first birthday much more rapidly than I prefer to admit, has been doing a lot of this lately:

Oh, also lots of getting himself into situations he can't get out of yet...like last week when he was afraid to crawl on hardwood floors ...

 Or when he opens drawers

And gets stuck under them

He's finally started babbling, and I must admit I think he has an adorable little voice. In the space of two days' time, he's started saying "ba-ba", "ma-ma", "da-da", and "ta-ta" (are you noticing a variation on a theme here?). Oh, and my parents swear he also said "Opa". Believe what you will.

His top teeth are starting to come in, so he's doing a lot of this...

which is perfectly fine on his plastic-coated crib rail, but slightly more awkward on my friend's daughter's nose.

I will admit I still get a kick out of walking into his bedroom to see this

and this

(Yup, still catching flies with that mouth)

As we've reached this nine-month stage, finger foods have made a much-loved appearance

as has that little-boy-plotting-mischief grin. Ah yes, it is starting to become apparent that this boy is his father's son. This was confirmed to me the other day when I asked my mother what she thinks his little developing personality is like in comparison to other babies. I wish I could say I was surprised when she said, "I see a little bit of a devil in him." Alas...I was not.

However, as devilish as this little boy is going to be, I know there will continue to be moments that make my heart melt, moments when I have to just give pause and thank God for this incredible gift...like when I see him sleeping on his video monitor, surrounded by his furry friends, with his little cloth-diapered bum in the air

And then moments when I just have to laugh at this silly boy...like the other day when I made the mistake of putting him to sleep in nothing but a cloth diaper...with worn-out velcro tabs

Anyways, though this boy is gonna be trouble, and though he's already getting into things and having mini tantrums...at the end of the day, he's still my sweet, happy little William Levi.

And I love him so much.