10 months-- 2 months until Shrade is one year old!

Hi there!

Look what Shrade found in the garden!

Shrade's reluctance in eating.

Fun in the Usana box.

Shrade's morning hair- he is a morning guy, happy!

Shrade likes choosing books to read with mama.

Hiking at Big Creek- first time in the backpack.

Playing with Solomon

Shrade is now 10 months! He is growing and seems like a big kid now. He is 23.5 lbs and 29.25 inches tall. Shrade can now go from standing to sitting with some control. He just started going from a sitting position to his tummy and moving around (mostly backward). He is also getting on his knees while on his tummy. These are all developments that have happened in this last month!

Shrade continues to dislike foods with textures, but has learned to eat puffs and is trying to feed himself, but is not that interested. Mama is more interested in that!

One of Shrade's favorite activities is the lift-the-flap books. I was so surprised when I read Where's Spot to him and the second time he knew exactly where the flaps were on each page. He also can turn pages in board books. I am holding up two books and giving him a choice of what he wants me to read to him. It is cute to watch him choose. :)

This month we have started a new activity- MOPS. We are looking forward to meeting some new moms and baby friends. Pretty soon we will graduate out of Mom and Baby group so we have a place to transition to and it feels good.

We have a really great routine. Shrade and I get up at 7am and walk for a half hour and pick up cans. Then we come home for breakfast and then off to an activity. Because of this Shrade is moving to one longer nap a day. On the days that we are home he takes 2 naps. He continues to sleep well through the night, except when we are not at home! Oh, well.

Shrade loves his morning time with daddy and is so excited to see daddy come home. Shrade also loves his nightly prayer times and singing/cuddle times with mama before bed.

Oh, Shrade hasn't started talking yet, but he has a special sound for our cat Abby besides the screeching. He says "sch,sch,sch" when he sees Abby.

Shrade is 9 months already!!

Shrade and his library book box that I made.

Shrade loves to stand holding on to the couch.

With daddy in the hammock. They were talking. Shrade says, "da,da,da."

Meeting Caleb Russell.

Children's Museum with Noah.

A favorite pastime: looking at himself in the mirror. How vain!!

This has been a month of firsts. We flew on a big plane to Minnesota to see Great Grandma Aletha and family. Shrade did very well on the plane and in the car except he did not want to sleep. Grrr! During the trip he disintegrated in his eating routine and gave up baby food. He was VERY hungry when we got back. Also, he had his first fever and couldn't keep much food down. We thought he might have been teething, but those molars are slow in coming.

A few fun activites that we did this month were going to Northwest Trek with the Bartas. Shrade slept through most of it, but would like to go back again someday. He also went to the Children's Museum of Tacoma with Noah. That was great!

Shrade loves his voice and talks all the time. He especially likes to talk to his "da,da,da."

Shrade had several play dates as well. He met Caleb Russell, Solomon Henley and hung out with Noah Sanchez as well as Judah Carlson, and Joshua Latin. What a bunch of friends to get to grow up with.

Shrade has started turning on his tummy in 360 degree circles. He really loves standing holding on to the couch. Another new activity is dropping objects on the floor for mama to pick up. Hmmm. All the books say he is learning object permanence. I guess!

Shrade is 21 lbs and 29 inches. I just read that when they get to be 35 inches they need to sleep in a big bed. Oh, my goodness. I wonder when that will happen.

As always, we pray with our son every night and he knows that he is very loved by us and especially by our Lord Jesus Christ who created him. We want him to come to know the Savior at a very early age.

Shrade is 8 months old!

Our walk on the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It's a mile one way. We walked this bridge 2 years ago right after it was built.

My two men! Aren't they so handsome?

Shrade likes to look for me...upside down and backwards!

Shrade is learning to count by 2's.

Looking in the walking guide for our next adventure.

So I tried to take a picture on the rocking chair, but Shrade wanted to do everything but sit. I think this was the only that turned out.

Hi mom!

Shrade fell asleep in his play yard. Too cute.

Shrade grabs the spoon and wants to feed himself.

Shrade is 22lbs and still 27.5 inches long. He sits well and plays independently for 20 minutes. He likes peek-a-boo and nightly walks with mom and dad. Shrade now has 6 teeth. He eats 3 meals a day with lots of fruits and veggies as well as 32 oz of formula. The hardest thing is getting that first bite! Sometimes he spits- no, no! Shrade continues to take 2 good naps a day and sleeps through the night about 10-12 hours. Shrade had his first plane trip this month. He did well. Shrade is starting to babble and hold his sippy cup. One new thing that is helpful is that Shrade likes to be upside down so I can clean under his chin!

Shrade loves books and is fascinated with alphabet flashcards that mama reads with him. He also loves music and playing with blocks. Shrade is having fun meeting new friends and having play dates. Anybody want to play? :)

We are so blessed with this little one and praise God everyday for this bundle of joy.

Shrade is 7 months!

This month Shrade started solid foods. His first meal was Super Porridge made with ground brown rice. All of Shrade's food is homemade. He eats avocado, banana, nectarine, butternut squash, sweet potato, pears and asparagas. He usually eats these foods combined together like nectarine and butternut squash (yum!) or in his Super Porridge. He also continues to drink 30-32 oz of formula everyday. He's a growing boy!


Shrade went on several trips this month. He went to Marysville and saw Great Uncle Steve and Great Aunt Carol as well as mama's first Kindergarten class graduate from high school. Then he went to Vancouver, WA to see cousin Ethan graduate from Kindergarten.



Just last weekend he went to Oak Harbor and saw Grandma Nettie and Grandpa Jeff as well as Great Grandma Layne. Whew, what a traveler!

He also learned to drive! (NOT!)

This month was very special because it was daddy's birthday and his first Father's Day.



One last new activity is family bike rides. Shrade has been to the Foothills Trail in Orting and Puyallup River Front Trail. On Father's Day we were caught in a thunder and lightening storm!

Shrade also got his 2 front teeth, plays independently in his exersaucer or play yard, has signed up for the Summer Reading Program and can sleep up to 10 hours at night. (Some nights not so much!)

Shrade is now 20 lbs and 27.5 inches long. We love our precious bundle from heaven. A highlight of the day is prayer time with daddy before going to bed. Good night, sleep tight!

Shrade is 6 months old!

Shrade's first time in the high chair.

A very special day: Shrade's Baby Dedication on May 9, 2009.
We will follow the words in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength...Impress them on your children."

Mmmm, Super Porridge. Shrade's first bite of cereal.

Well, this is the only picture I could get of Shrade's 2 teeth. Look VERY closely. He cut them the weekend of Mother's day! He grabbed my hand and chomped on my finger and I said , "Ouch! Oh, my goodness, Shrade has teeth!!"

Shrade's first ride in a swing at Wapato Park. He seems less than thrilled.

Look, he can sit up by himself!

Ah, my handsome boy!

Shrade discovered his feet.

Checking out the new bike trailer.


Shrade had many firsts this month:
*Cutting 2 teeth
*riding in a swing
*bike trailer ride
*eating Super Porridge, baby food


Shrade is delightful little guy. I have said that I want to send him to Never Never Land where he will never grow up. He is at a wonderful stage. He can sit and play independently for good stretches. He touches EVERYTHING. He loves to feel mama's face, especially her nose! He squeals when he's happy and laughs and giggles uncontrollably. He is learning to recognize the bottle and actually reaches for it. In May, we moved to the Older Mom and Baby group. However, Shrade is now the youngest!

He loves books, especially hitting them! We read everyday and do the alphabet several times a week as well as counting.

One other new trick that we haven't caught on camera yet is that he has learned to stick out his tongue. Too cute!

He survived his 6 month doctor appointment and weighed 19 lbs and was 27 1/4 inches tall. He's only getting bigger.

We love our little guy!