Crawling like crazy

Brandon is keeping us on our toes now that he is crawling, he is like a man on a mission. He has also discovered he can see and "do" more if he kneels or pulls himself to a standing position (which he is regularly doing but just topples over usually once he tires of it or his balance is lost)!!!!
I still can't get over how much he changes each week, he'll be walking before we know it. He discovered the blinds this morning, I thought he was going to pull them off the wall. It seems nothing is safe from Brandon's exploring hands (and mouth). I can't wait until he stops "tasting" everything he encounters.

First tooth

It's a little hard to see, but there are teeth under those gums!!!

Dinner time

He dislikes having his face wiped clean!!!

Brandon just enjoying another good meal. He really likes carrots and sweet potatoes! We have been introducing one new food every 4-5 days....next up are green beans.

Happy 6 months!!!

Brandon had his 6 month doctors appointment on Friday. He weighed in at 19 pounds, 12 ounces and 28 inches long!!! He has stayed in the 90th percentile for all of his measurements. He is doing well and still sleeping through the night (though I still occasionally wish he'd sleep beyond 5:30am). He is sitting, crawling (no longer army style), and babbling (mostly da, ba, ma, and ga's). I can't believe how fast the months have gone, he'll be a year before we realize it.

Sitting up

Brandon needs a little assistance getting into a sitting position but once he is there he likes to have the freedom of using both hands. He has been especially fond of tags for the past several months, usually spending time inspecting it when it's not in his mouth.

Pure Happiness

This is usually how Brandon greets us after naps and first thing in the morning. He almost always is at the side of the crib looking out his door with a "here I am waiting for you" expression. Once he figures out how to pull himself to a standing position, we'll have to lower the crib mattress into it's lowest position.

Just monkeying around

Brandon has a new wrestling buddy! He has also figured out how to kneel to get to things he wants. I often find him kneeling at the sliding glass door, watching the world outside.

Breaking in the highchair

Brandon has gotten used to sitting in his highchair for meals. We occasionally use the bumbo seat but Brandon is getting good a twisting himself out of it."Yummy, I love chewing on my teething biscuit", is what he would tell us if he could talk. Kevin and I have learned the biscuits are best chewed on before a bath, since Brandon usually manages to get it everywhere

25 weeks

Brandon has developed quite a friendship with his monkey. I can't wait until he is dragging it around the house with him.

Tub time

Here is Brandon just lounging in his tub with his bath-time hair-do. Brandon still loves splashing around in his duck tub, which he is fast out-growing. Once he is sitting up without support, we will try baths in the big tub.

He is getting better at crawling but still reverts back to army style when he wants to get somewhere fast. He is able to take 3-4 crawling steps!!! We are still working on sitting up but haven't quite mastered that yet. He is still sleeping through the night and seems to be back to a day-time nap routine. I can't believe he is almost six months old.

Grandpa Jim

Isn't this a cute picture with Brandon snuggling with Lilly (and Jake using Lilly as a pillow).

Brandon just finished a teething biscuit and was looking for a little something to wash it down with.

Brandon loves to spend time at Grandpa's house in the White Mountains.

Little Camper

We camped next to a beautiful meadow where our dogs must have though they were in heaven. Jake and Lilly really like to camp with us and swim in the lake. It was a great weekend to get away from the 110 degree heat of Tucson, it was in the 80's during the day and 40's at night.

Brandon did really well on his first camping trip this July in the White Mountains. He slept well in his pack 'n' play with us in the tent and spent a lot of time crawling around on a blanket or playing in his hop 'n' play seat. It was a challenge to keep him from putting handfuls of "nature" into his mouth.

This is a picture of the campfire smoke in the trees as the sun was rising over camp on our last morning.

Brandon and Kevin fishing at the shore of Reservation Lake. I think I see a fishing buddy for Grandpa in the near future. We were joined by my Dad, Mike (his friend), Aunt Becky and Mike, Mike and Stefanie, and all four dogs.

Grandpa, Kevin, and Brandon hanging out at camp (with our dogs of course). We had a fun weekend with our friends, Mike and Stefanie (and their two dogs). Brandon did so well, we can't wait for our next camping trip....which lucky for me won't be until next year (it was a lot of work with Brandon being so mobile).

Happy 4th of July

On the move

Look out world, here comes Brandon. He took his first solo tour of our house, he even crawled to the garage door to greet me when I came home. He still gets up on all fours but just rocks back and forth. He army crawls to where he wants to be and he is quick, look out Jake and Lilly!!!

Brandon and Lilly both really like the red squishy ball. It seems that Brandon crawling makes Jake a little nervous. Lilly and Brandon are best buds....or maybe it's the motherly instinct in her.

Monkey on the move

After owning our camera for over two years, I finally figured out I have the ability to take video clips!!!

Brandon is mobile. This should add a little excitement (and a bit less relaxing) into our camping trip. Jake (our male lab) doesn't appreciate Brandon getting too close but Lilly (our female lab) doesn't mind a bit.

Everyday life

Brandon is taking both rice and oatmeal cereal very well. He seems to understand that he has to open his mouth wide and even tries to help us put the spoon in his mouth. We are still using the bumbo seat to feed him since he has yet to master sitting up without assistance but the high chair is out and waiting for him. He continues to eat well during the day, which allows for a good night's sleep for everyone and he has returned to better day-time napping.
We are getting excited for the camping trip....but not looking forward to the long drive up and back. Not to mention all the packing and unpacking.