Update

Life's been a little crazy lately. StoneMason just cut tooth number five, and is in the processing of cutting two more. Joy. He's also mastered pulling up on EVERYTHING. His favorite is to pull up on the piano bench, stretch his fingers WAY up high, and hit the keys on the piano. It usually results in him hitting his chin on the piano bench on the way down as he topples from his precarious, unbalanced position. He might knock out those teeth as fast as he gets them in. Poor guy. His other favorite is to crawl up stairs. Unfortunately he hasn't figured out down yet. We have just a few steps to get into our living room, and he's constatnly trying to go down them head first. It's pretty entertaining to watch, and he gets mad if we try to turn him around to teach him to go backwards. Maybe someday he'll get it... or maybe we'll buy him a helmet.
We're pretty much unpacked, except a few boxes that I've just hid in a room- out of sight, out of mind. Pictures will get put up eventually- for now, just covering a few of the major nails will suffice. For those out of state, it is a balmy 50+ degrees everyday and the grass still has some green in it. Maybe we'll have a green Christmas. I certainly hope not.

We're in!

Yeah!
We made it... a few bumps on the way, but we are official homeowners and everything seems to have turned out for the best. Well, the bank is probably more of the official homeowner, but still.
Now, for unpacking...
I'll post pictures... when I find my camera... and if we get the internet set up this week... (I'm posting from my mom's.)

New Names

In case we confuse a few...
We've renamed ourselves. Courtesy of our neighbor, our son is now "the Little Stone Mason." We might just call him Mason. It sounds kind of like the little engine that could.
His name is due to the fact that EVERYTHING he grabs is immediately pounded up and down, up and down.
Husband here is King Drake. Ask his friends.
I am the Barefoot Queen- but since I never talk in the 3rd person, that doesn't really matter. Drake never posts anyhow...

4 teeth

No wonder hes been cranky.

Chopin, Beehoven,....Elder....

StoneMason is starting early. We have a competition going with Beethoven.
He even has artistic looking hands. My grandmother and piano teachers would all be so proud.
Classic "Deer in the Headlights"
He seems to be enjoying himself.
And he even lets Dad play duets with him.

See what I mean?

At least the binki made it to his mouth...

House anyone?

I know...
Lets buy this one!

We're supposed to close on Halloween. We'll be official home owners and

officially back in debt (but only for 30 years).

Creative

StoneMason has some interesting perspectives on the way things work. For example, cribs are for playing peek-a-boo. He peeks over the edge and laughs at us when we put him down for a nap.
Exersaucers are for crawling under like a tunnel.
Binky pacification isn't only achieved through sucking. For him, it's all about how and at what angle he makes it go into his mouth. It's just as soothing (and definitely more fun) if you put it in your mouth sideways or even backwards
When our cell phones ring, we are sure Mason is thinking at least one of the following:
- "That sounds good. I bet it tastes good."
- "Who cares who it is, how about those lights and that music."
- "I'll get it."
Paper is many things for him such as the most terrific toy, a nice noise maker, a tasty treat, and great for origami (the cloud he made was amazing).
According to Mason, food can be used for eating, art work and spitting. My personal favorite is when he uses food (or at least our desire to feed it to him) to show us that we can't impose our will upon him and that he has a little will of his own. Mason and his gaping mouth will happily be devouring every bite of food we put in front of him and then all of a sudden, the mouth closes and his face gets serious. For the next few minutes there is nothing you can do, short of using your own two hands, to get that mouth open. Then, out of nowhere, he starts eating again.

I did it...

before...

and after.
I was sick of getting my hair pulled, so I cut it! Its the shortest its been since I was little.

"scawling": a combination of scooting and crawling

All we do is place a cell phone (his favorite thing) across the room and call it so it lights up and makes noise.
He can't resist...
he was a lot more cheerful the first time though... this was his 3rd.

*sorry, this is a bit long. I should have cut some of it out... and the cell phone is a bit loud since it was right next to the camera... we'll do better next time.