Here's the dancing video

I'm getting so big

I thought I should update with some new pictures and fun video that Mom and Dad took of me recently. I am getting so big. Remember the "party" we had because Mom and Dad felt my first tooth, well now I have no idea why there was cause for celebration. A week later and it HURTS. I can't sleep well because it hurts, I have a horrible diaper rash and lots and lots of blowouts every day.(Mom takes 3 new outfits to day care every day). The only cool thing is that it's fun to play with the teeth with my tongue. Now you can see my bottom two teeth so hopefully this will get better soon. The other night Dad even let me try the bathtub out without my seat, so much easier to chase my toys that get way from me now.

That's right I can now stand up on my own, and occassionally I cruise (which is apparently the term for holding on to things and side stepping). While Mom was away at Scrapbook Weekend I stood up in my crib alone. Luckily, Dad knows how important the scrapbook is so he made me stay there while he ran and got the camera so mom could see and so it could make it in the scrapbook.

Me and Bear for our 9 month photo shoot. I like to throw bear around, not sit next to him anymore.

This is the car that mom road in to Scrapbook Weekend, boy do they take a lot of stuff. Actually this isnt' even all of it, Gramma and her friend, Kathy's stuff had to go in another car. Mom got 63 pages done in my scrapbook while she was away and it sounds like she had a lot of fun too (probably because she got to look at adorable pictures of me and Dad while she was gone)

While Mom was away Dad and I had lots of fun. I discovered kleenex. I hate when it is used to clean my nose, but tearing it apart and picking it up and letting it fly to the floor is a lot of fun. The great thing is when there is a kleenex mess Mom and Dad don't know if I did it or Gretchen did...hehehehe. So begins years of blaming Gretchen for things I do.

This is the picture of my first standing in the crib (when Mom was gone and Dad ran for the camera). Most mornings I talk to myself for awhile and by the time Mom or Dad come to get me I'm standing here waiting for them.

I'll try to post videos in a minute.

9 month check-up and new video

Well yesterday mom and I went to get my 9 month check-up. I was so excited that she came to pick me up from day care early, but little did I know what I was in store for. I showed off for the nurses and they all love me, as usual. I am now 18 1/2 pounds (a little below 50th percentile) and am 28 1/12 inches long (a little above 50th percentile). Everything was going fine and I even tolerated the Dr.'s exam, but then the nurse came back in. She took some blood from my finger to check for anemia. Mom said I was so brave because I didn't cry, and even she thinks taking blood from the finger hurts really bad. But then the nurse surprised me with a shot in my thigh. It was absolutely, the most horrible thing ever. I screamed so much I couldn't even catch my breath. Mom tried to convince me it wasn't so bad and that now I had a cool band-aid to show Dad. Really, she thought that would convince me it didn't hurt!

Well anyways, that was yesterday and today I'm doing much better. Mom even caught some footage of me crawling to share with those of you who haven't seen it in person yet. On Sunday I even stood up on my own, I wasn't sure what to do once I got there, but it was pretty neat.

Here's some video of me! Next week I'll post the updated picture with me and Bear, we're doing the photo shoot on Saturday (when I'm officially 9 months old)

A tooth, a real tooth!

Big news before I share the new pictures that mom and dad have taken recently. I am finally getting a tooth. Most babies get their first tooth between 5-7 months old, I'm almost 9 months old and still sporting a gummy grin. Mom and Dad felt it in my mouth yesterday morning and you should have seen how excited they got. Their was cheering, clapping, it was so much fun. We can't see the tooth yet, but Mom felt it and I keep playing with it with my tongue. Mom had lots of night programs for work last week so rather than miss seeing me she took me to one of them. I had fun entertaining the college students. They think I'm adorable.

Last weekend we had the whole Kitson crew (minus the Minnesota Schahls) over to help us trim our trees and have some fun in the sun. Grandma fed me my lunch outside in my jumperoo.

Finally, that ugly awning that Mom and Dad have been talking about getting rid of since we moved in is gone. Our living room is so much sunnier now and our house looks 10 years younger, or so I've been told.

The trees getting trimmed so Daddy can work on his gardening. Thanks everyone for coming to help us making our house even prettier.

Bakka and Gram brought me mom's old Cozy Coupe. Now I have one of my very own. I was able to make it go backwards by myself.

Emily and I checking each other out. We haven't seen each other in a little while, and I was very jealous of her cool Cubs hat.

I am showing Emily my toys. She did not understand I was SHOWING her my toys not letting her play with them. Gramma tried to make me share, but these are mine and I didn't want to share. Gretchen was having the same problem sharing with Luna (Andrew and Wendy's new puppy). We had fun together though. I'm sure Emily's mom will soon post our cute pictures from the park when we were swinging together.

And this is why mom and dad have to childproof the house. I am on the move and of course I want to get into everything I'm not supposed to. That's my job I'm a kid.

We bought a jogging stroller so that mom and dad can take me with them on their runs. They keep saying how much harder it is to run while pushing this, but I don't understand. It seems pretty simple to me, I even manage to take a nap sometimes.

Opening Day not so good, but at least I'm cute!

Unfortunately, the Cubs did not fair so well in their first game of the season, but I'm a fan through the good and the bad. I just might be the cutest fan they've ever had. I wonder when I get to go to my first game? Daddy wanted to be sure Mommy got a picture of my cute socks too. If only we could stay home and watch every game together, that would be great!

Grandma and Grandpa Gerken got me this cool inflatable pool and fun balls to play with at their house. Uncle Brett and I agreed it wasn't enough balls to fill the pool and have fun. So for Easter he got me another 100 balls to go in it, but we think 100 more would be perfect.

"What, they're not for me to eat?"

Ok, I'm ready already give me an egg and I'll color it. I'm not sure what the fuss is all about, but it looks fun.

Wait, what there is not chocolate in here. Why do mom and dad get chocolate and I just get puffs and Baby Mum Mums, not fair!

And people ask who I look like? Me just sporting some Easter colored pajamas.

After a fun Easter weekend in Wheeling, we got home in time for a fun storm to come through DeKalb. We played in the living room so we could listen to the rain and watch the lightening. I entertained mom and dad with my hide and seek, made more fun by my discovery of these neat curtains.

Can you find me? I can't see you so you can't see me!

Here I am! Hahaha, I am so funny and such a good hider.

For those of you who don't know this past weekend I mastered a new skill. I can now go from laying down to sitting. Mom and Dad were pretty impressed and now I'm moving about a lot more, still no crawling forward, but who needs it when you can crawl backward, roll over, sit up and get to and from without it.

Go CUBS!

Cassidy's Playdates

Just relaxing with a morning cup of milk before heading to day care. The weather is turning nice so we get to enjoy lots of cute dresses now!
Thank you Gram and Bakka for Easter book that sings. Cassidy loves it and was trying to turn the pages all by herself.
" I have no idea why my parents think putting these toys in this silly basket is a good idea. They're not as easy to play with in there. No worries I can take care of that in no time"
Cassidy had a big weekend visiting with friends. Sunday Kayleigh and her parents came to visit. This is Kayleigh with her dad. He was too busy playing a game with us that he didn't see how hungry she was for the banana.
The girls playing (Kayleigh is about 5/12 months older than Cassidy)
On Saturday Cassidy and I headed to Hennepin to visit with Natalie and Erin and so Cassidy could finally meat Addy. (Addy was sick last time we got together so they didn't meet then). Addy is 4 1/2 months older than Cassidy.
"Give me that hand, I want to chew on it. I promise I'll be your friend if you just let me put in my mouth for a minute."


Close-up of Addy showing us her mommy's shoe. I think she was ready to head home and we weren't getting the hint.
Hmm good, this water tastes so good.
We don't want anyone to think that Gretchen is being neglected. she is still the princess in the house and Cassidy is her protege.
This is what happens when Cassidy "helps" me clip coupons on Sundays. The coupon paper makes such a fun noise she cannot help herself. She got hungry from all her work and had to stop for a quick bottle in the middle.