The great outdoors

The weather has been perfect lately. I want to get outside every day while we still can. I don't remember exactly when the too-hot days start, but I do know that I'll think it's too hot before everyone else does.

This morning we went to Exploration Park at Mountain's Edge. We were here four months ago so it was quite a different experience this time. Namely, Brandt tried to eat everything he could get his hands on. The grass was wet (and strewn with tasty wood chips) and the hard-packed squishy stuff that squirts water in the summer was commandeered by a super annoying group of boot campers (I'm in no mood to watch people exercising) so we made do on the grass until the boot campers jogged off to go annoy their families.

Most of the babies we met up with at the park are walking already, but Brandt got to witness a lot of crawling, too. He studied up and was all hands and knees today. Needless to say, his knees are way grass-stained, but he wears it well.

Brandt's holding one of his two new Oballs in this picture. He's played with them twice at friends' houses and really likes 'em so we shelled out the dough for our own set. Dan and Brandt spent 30 minutes playing "catch" last night (Dan rolled the Oball to Brandt and Brandt squeaked while holding it over his head and threw it back at Dan). So now Brandt has three favorite activities: riding back and forth over and over on the Tonka truck, knocking down towers of blocks over and over, and Oball catch. Yippee.

Vegaroos

Someone recently started a babywearing group in town (Vegaroos) so we went to the monthly meeting today. I worried that my Ergo might be too mainstream for the other hippies so I wore Brandt in a sling...but then had to go out to the car to get the Ergo when a bunch of other moms wanted to see it. Go figure. I got to try on a pouch, which I didn't find very comfortable, but they're just so cute so I might still want one anyway.

There were more kids than moms there, but it wasn't too chaotic. Another baby draped this wooden necklace over Brandt and he really liked it. I might have to find him one of his own.

Brandt's crawling is really coming along. To get from point A to point B, he'll crawl the first couple steps on hands and knees before flopping to his belly to slither most of the way, but then pop back up to crawl the last couple steps. Weird, right? Yesterday he bopped a toy on his head and got upset and crawled all the way across the room to me while crying. But as long as he's feeling chipper, he's still slithering.

You can't spell "lotta fun" without t-o-f-u

I finally got around to serving Brandt tofu today. He liked its pick-up-ableness, but wasn't so keen on the taste. I can't say I blame him.

I made the mistake of asking Dan to choose which picture to post and he wanted to know "why can't we do both???" and chanted "before and after! before and after!" until I relented. Boys!

Designated driver

We went to a playdate at Trey's house today and man, does that kid have some cool toys!

Brandt wasn't too interested in the bounce house or the drum set, but loved this truck. This one is lower to the ground than ours so in his racing across the room he almost toppled it end over end a few times.

Reno 911

The mouse and I tagged along to Reno with Dan last night so we could hang out with Robin and the twins today. Brandt slept in this morning and although Ethan and Olivia watched him very quietly (for three year olds) he woke up moments after this picture was taken.

I haven't been to Reno since I was 19, but we just hung out around Robin and Javier's house so I can't tell if it's still the biggest crappiest little city in the world or not.

Dan was very impressed by the speed Ethan and Olivia achieved on these Radio Flyer bikes when he first saw them months and months ago. I was eager to see if Brandt is tall enough for one of his own and it looks like he's just about there!

Only one bad thing happened today: I noticed Brandt's antenna has broken again. It's the same length as the rest of his hair now, but hopefully it will grow long again.

Teeny yogini

I just found out about a free mommy and baby yoga class where we used to attend the new mommy mixers so we checked it out today. I thought it would be fun and mellow, but today was abs and third chakra (whatever that is) day. My stomach is going to be so sore tomorrow.

Funny thing: Brandt did his first downward dog this morning before yoga class! I think babies generally do that before the figure out crawling. Brandt is crawling a bit more: he'll crawl a couple steps, then flop down on his belly and slither to his destination before pushing back up to crawl the last couple steps. He's going to be so happy when he realizes he can just crawl the whole way.

I didn't get a picture of Brandt's downward dog, but I captured his first stand. I'm not sure if it really counts, though, since he was leaning on the truck with one hand and forgot himself for a moment and toppled over as soon as he took both paws off.

Waiting for yoga class, Brandt was mistaken for a girl yet again. I tell myself it's because he's a pretty little dude, but I just don't get it. I mean, look at his outfit: all blue! Plus he had his manly brown shoes on before class. Granted he's got leg warmers on, but they're blue. And his shirt has a skull on it, for crying out loud (OK, it's a rainbow skull).

Oh, and since they have a scale at the Barbara Greenspun Center, I checked Brandt's weight and he's over 15 pounds! 15 pounds 5 ounces, to be exact. I may not have mentioned his weight results from his nine-month appointment--it was 14 pounds 8 ounces, but since he'd been puking so much for several days leading up to the appointment, it seems unfairly low.

Oops I did it again

I broke the baby again :(

He was totally better and happy from Friday late morning onwards, but yesterday afternoon he was not a happy camper for the trip to Hoover Dam. So when he conked out next to me on the couch, I let him stay there and sleep off the grumpies.

Usually Brandt only rolls from back to front or vice versa, but twice yesterday he rolled four times in a row to get from one side of the bed to the other. So maybe I should have seen this coming, but when sleeping Brandt flopped from his side to his back (as he's often done before), I didn't move a muscle. And then he flipped over again...right off the couch. My laptop was on a TV tray next to the couch so he landed nose first on its wooden crossbar. Talk about a rude awakening!

But other than the banged up snout, Brandt's chipper enough today. We had fun time hanging out outside while Dan played with his new grill. And Brandt spent a lot of time perfecting his kissing technique on Dan and me--no more open-mouthed slobberfest.

Le barrage Hoover

Brandt's still been a bit grumpy and Thursday night through Friday morning he ran a mild fever (100F, or 37.7C). But still no new tooth! So I guess he was fighting something.

He perked up just in time because Emilie drove out with two vacationing cousins Friday. We had a huge day Friday and hit the strip and downtown. And Saturday we drove out to the Hoover dam, or as they call it, le barrage Hoover.

Brandt's been getting up on his hands and knees more and more, but he's not crawling for real much yet. He'll crawl a few steps, but mostly just on soft surfaces, like the couch or bed...or on the floor if there is something very enticing nearby (like a chihuahua or glass of water).

Yobaby

Is it wrong to do lunch naked in the tub to avoid a mess?

I love Brandt's Stokke chair, but I thought baby's first yogurt might be most easily done in a controlled setting.

B's been a little grumpy the last couple days so I think he might be sprouting a tooth or two.

Nine month D/B comparison

Time for another baby/baby daddy comparison! Dan is still winning in the hair category, but they seem to enjoy baths equally.

Brandt at 9.5 months

Dan at 9 months

The host with the most

Brandt hosted his first playdate today. Everyone had a great time...and I learned what needs babyproofing. Maybe eight babies running around was a bit chaotic, but I think we'll do it again soon!

Yesterday Brandt figured out how to propel himself on his Scoot 'N Scoop truck, something the box says he's not supposed to do until 18 months. I'm equating this to his future as a great cyclist. And this means I don't have to crawl around pushing him back and forth anymore...I can just sit back and wait until he drives into the wall and then turn him around. He can also drive himself up to the ottoman or coffee table and then dismount and stand up. I think he's ready for a itty bitty bicycle.

Fat Tuesday, skinny baby

This morning I took Brandt to Baby Gym at GymCats to burn some fat. The place is amazing! I was a little intimidated when I pulled up to a warehouse. I figured they must manufacture gym equipment in the back, but no--it looks like an Olympic gymnastics arena in there! The babies started out chewing on toys on a blanket, but then moved to a trampoline, and then a bigger trampoline and then crawled around on wedges and whatever this hexagon thing in the picture is.

Brandt started his second session of swim classes this afternoon. Fortunately his new wet suit arrived just in the nick of time. The other babies all have more padding, but poor little Brandt starts shivering towards the end of class. The wet suit is very cute (I'll take a picture soon) and did the trick--no shivering. Talk about a super Tuesday!

NINO

There used to be an organization called NINO, for "nine in nine out," who felt after spending nine months in the belly, a baby should spend the next nine months being worn next to the belly (or on the back, as the case may be). And they hit the nail on the head! At nine months Brandt suddenly likes playing around on the floor alone for extended periods of time. Brandt's newest game: he slithers with a block (which I think is impressive considering he still only uses 3 of his 4 limbs to propel himself) into the circle of fun and hangs out in there.

Hey look--Brandt's signing "play." Not really, but I expect him to start signing soon. He's been signing milk for a while, but I think he's just practicing the gesture rather than really communicating, kinda like saying "mamamamama" to the mirror or truck.