I think I have officially stolen this blog from Marvin. I guess its time for the monthly, a few days before a holiday update (five days till st. Patricks day)
Braden has made many new advances in the past month. His list of current foods includes: carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas, pears, apples and rice cereal. He can sit up mostly by himself, unless he decides to reach for something off to the side, then once he starts leaning momentum takes over and he's down. He yells at us on a daily basis, for a variety of reasons, anything from exhaustion to boredom to having a coveted object taken away. Anything and everything is for his grabbing and his grip surprisingly strong for someone who weighs seventeen pounds. After a few painful and almost bloody experiences I am about to resign myself to wearing my hair back and putting the dangling earrings aside for a few months. He also learned how to grab himself in the tub, much to his father's amusement.
Last week Braden and I went to Boone to see my parents, who have been snowed in since Christmas or so. Grandpa Joe enjoyed having B take off his glasses and put them back on, and Grandma was so taken with him that she came back with us to babysit while I went to work on Friday! Next week we will head to Laurel Hill to see the rest of the Smith clan, who will undoubtedly be surprised at B's accomplishments as they haven't seen him since Christmas either. Then its back up to Boone on Sunday to meet with my cousin Noel, his wife Synnoeve and most importantly, meet their new baby girl, Liv. So with all that traveling ahead it is critical that our cars be on their best behavior, they have both been awful this week, mine is in the shop for a new computer (luckily under warranty) and Marvin's needs brakes/brake work (supposedly getting fixed tomorrow...) So right now we have a rental and are getting a first hand look at being a one car family. I don't think its for us. Tomorrow night we are watching our favorite 15 month old, baby Z. she is exactly nine months older than Braden so whenever she and B are together her mom, Shannon, and I can imagine what it would be like have one baby right after another. Then we look at eachother and shudder, and I think about becoming abstinant. Actually Z and B are both super adorable babies and when in the wrong hands can give one the strong urge to procreate. Well that's all for now, till the week before easter I guess...