A Couple Days in the Country

Just found a couple posts in the hopper that never got published. Here's one, from a day in late May when we had a little mini family reunion in Orange and took a walk on the Montpelier grounds (near Mom and Sean's house) up to a race horse retirement community.

Peter with Aunt Anne;   Andy, Katie, and Luke visiting with a horse

Up close and personal with the horses:

The next day, on another walk, we visited some chickens...

...and some horses that were cooped up, we found out, because they are crazy.

But I'm sure the little boy brought them much joy and they talked about his visit for the rest of the week. 

These Feet Were Made For Walkin'

This boy is on the move! His army crawl is much improved (time to get out the baby gates!). But while he can't balance or walk on his own yet (and while we still want to encourage him to crawl), Peter prefers walking around--usually holding an obliging finger or two--to any other means of travel. He's finally putting to use the walker functions of a couple Christmas gifts, the V-Tech Sit-to-Stand from Aunt Anne and Uncle Scott, and his Radio Flyer wagon from Nana and Grandpa Sean. 

Cruising with the V-Tech:

He really flies...until he runs into something. 

I think it looks like good practice for cutting the grass. 

The wagon works similarly for pushing, but he can also ride in it, which he loves. 

Sorry to say that he immediately figured out how to stand up in it:

I got a little photo happy here and snapped a bunch as Peter made his way from the glider and my knees, to the ottoman, and on to the diaper and wipes boxes that we've been playing with and using for standing and learning to pull up. This little progression is, obviously, a merge from the exploits of two different days.

Starting out after nursing:

Shoving off; looking back for reassurance (or because he has a hard time turning his back on an iPhone.)

Making his way around the ottoman and excitedly talking about it

Bridging the divide to the boxes; arriving

Going for the prize--the crinkly packages of baby wipes

10-Month Pics

Last week when documenting our first zucchini, I took advantage of the photo op for some 10-month photos of our rapidly growing boy child. Here's a sampling:

10 Months

Ten Months of this beautiful, sweet, rowdy little boy. 

For Posterity: At 10 Months, he is army-crawling and cruising with the help of furniture or push-walkers or an obliging finger or two. Our house is beginning its baby-proofing transformation. Peter has two teeth coming in, and his haircut from last month is already starting to grow out. He murmers and rambles and declares, "maahgloo!" and "yerrglish gish." He eats pretty much everything we give him, but really loves peanut butter and banana, baked sweet potatoes, Beechnut macaroni&beef, cheerios, and just about any veggies seasoned with garlic and herbs. Peter loves his new radio flyer wagon, electronics (esp. mommy's laptop), paper, water, and Leuka. His favorite single toy is the garden hose, and he has a passionate love/hate relationship with the vacuum. 

Here's Peter creeping into the closet to explore, and Leuka taunting him. 

Trying out his new shirt from Grandaddy and Oma.

Facing off with the beast:

Helping Daddy finish his dinner

Doing the cheerio thing

Happy Ten Months, Little Love! We can't believe what a little boy you're becoming. 

We love you so much and we love our life with you. We thank God for the gift of these ten amazing, life-rearranging, heart-growing months.