So close...

............to walking (unassisted) that he can taste it and then we are all in trouble! I still can't believe how much babies change in their first year of life. Astonishing to think how they are when first born compared to (at this point for us) almost ten months later. Just two months ago I posted that Brenden was just starting to crawl. Now look at the boy. Am I in a time warp or what?
Sometimes I think my blog has turned into a virtual baby book for The Cute. God knows I haven't done much with the physical baby book that I bought for him. Forgive me if these posts seem monotonous for some but I think they capture the day to day little joys of life. What I find most amusing is the genuine laughter only a baby can make. You can't help but smile from the infectiousness of it:

Walking on sunshine.....

Taking Chance

A few days ago Dave and I watched a flim on HBO called Taking Chance. It is a very moving true story and one that makes you proud of having men and women who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Watch it if you can, I can guarantee you won't have a dry eye at the end of the movie. I copied the summary HBO had on their website of the film:


In 2004, Lt. Col. Michael Strobl volunteered to escort home the body of a 19-year-old Marine killed in Iraq. It would prove to be a life-altering experience. Kevin Bacon stars as Strobl in this profoundly moving HBO Films drama that looks at the military rituals for honoring its war dead from the perspective of one fallen soldier named Chance Phelps. Strobl never knew Phelps before taking the assignment, but as he journeys across America, he discovers the great diligence and dignity in how the military handle such dark duties--and comes to grips with his own issues of guilt when he meets Chance's gracious family and friends. Directed by Ross Katz; screenplay by Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl, USMC (ret.) and Ross Katz, based on the journal by Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl, USMC (ret.) (NR) ()

A parental visit and The Cute's nine month stats

Haven't posted in a few weeks. Things have been busy! Dave's parents came for a visit over President's Day weekend and we got to show them around the pretty Crystal Coast. I wish we lived closer to both his parents and my parents. They are such an invaluable part of our lives. After next year when we move to Arizona, we will all be closer to them and our friends. I can't wait! In the mean time we are really enjoying North Carolina. It is so pretty here and of course the million dollar view from our (small) home is breathtaking. I am so lucky to get up every morning and watch the sunrise over the water and let the dogs run free on the private beach. This base housing is tops! Below is a pic I snapped of the sunset while Dave's parents were here. His Mom liked this one so I thought I would put it up. The horizon line of sky and ocean melt into one another. The sunset isn't that spectacular but the water had turned so still that it looked like ice:

The Slay's at Fort Macon:

Brenden at Fort Macon.. he gets so serious when we put him the the stroller:
At the aquarium:

On another note, Brenden had his nine month well baby check a few weeks ago. His stats are:

Weight - 24 lbs 12 oz. 95-98 percentile

Height - 30 1/4" 90-95 percentile

Head - didn't write it down but in the 90-95 percentile

Hey at least he has dropped down under the 100 percentile mark! A big boy no doubt. We are in the tail end of 18 month clothing size and starting the 24 month size. I didn't think we would zoom through so many clothes in 9 months! I have tubs full of wonderful cute clothes for him that he barely wore. I guess that is just a part of it. He is almost walking now and loves pushing buttons - the literal ones and not mine - yet. In fact his favorite are pushing the DVR on/off button and the phone talk button! Don't be surprised if he speed dials some of you and there is nothing on the other end of the line when you say hello. How thoughtful of him, right? Let the fun begin!

The Cute LOVES bath time....aka the Terradactyl cries in excitement

The video is self explanatory ~ he digs baths big time! We are also teaching him the word "a oh" which is something that comes out of our mouths about a hundred times a day when he drops something or does something he isn't supposed to, etc. He is just starting to associate that with the action that happened before. You can hear him in the clip when he drops his rubber ducky - he doesn't get it just right but is starting to. It really is just endless laughs as we video tape him.

Bath time and a oh!

and of course right before we get him into the bath he gets the 'diapes away!!!' when the diapers are ripped off with enthusiasm....by this time he is almost at the crying stage because he wants in the bath so badly but somehow when he gets in there, he is strangely calm. By the way, in the Slay household one doesn't wear diapers but diapes.

Diapes away!!

Here come the choppers

I think I mentioned a few posts back that Brenden's teeth were coming in. All four front ones at the same time. It has made for a lot of sleepless nights as he wakes up often from teething pain. The funny part of this is that his smile has changed due to him biting down on the new teeth nubs. He reminds me of Marlon Brando in the Godfather for some reason - maybe it's the big pinchable cheeks? They look like they have cotton stuffed in them like Don Corleone. I tried to capture the 'new' grin below:

On another note, we have one of those tubes that drawings are stored in and of course Dave and I talk into it with a deep voice to play with the dogs and Brenden. It gets the dogs excited and makes The Cute laugh and laugh. Last night, Dave captured Brenden picking up what we do. Kids are smarter than we think - of course I am sure he was just putting it to his mouth to chew on it and a sound came out at the same time but it's funny anyhow I think.

The Tube: