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10 months! Happy 10th birthday, baby! I do have to say, it's late and I almost didn't post anything, but how could I not? It's tradition. Tradition! One big deal that I failed to mention is this year we celebrated 10/10/10. Get this: on this day, 10/10/10, you were 10 days away from your 10 month birthday. How crazy is that? I should have taken a picture.

Anyway, this month has been eventful. For one, you had a class picture taken. In my stuck-in-1980 mind, I thought this would be a classic blue backdrop school picture. Instead, it was full-on professional with fancy props and stuff. Of course I ordered a packet and when I got it back, I couldn't help but laugh. Can you see why? What is with the white socks with blue stripes? You, on the other hand, are stinkin' cute. {I will insert a picture here after I fix my scanner since I just threw it out the window because it sucks}

You are a rascal. I'll have you know that The Dad and I find ourselves under a table rocking back and forth every time we have to change your diaper or get you dressed. You can not sit still for 30 seconds while we change you. We have to literally pin you down which just makes all of us insane. Hopefully this is just a phase otherwise your parents will need to be institutionalized.

You are cruising around like a mad man these days. You have discovered so many joys in life that seem to be centered around the toilet. First it was the toilet brush. Next the toilet paper and now the toilet bowl. No matter how many times I pulled you away, you bee-line for the toilet brush. Son, this is really gross, especially when I find you playing in the crusty goo at the bottom of the brush holder. Now that I have removed the toilet brush from your reach you have moved on to the TP which is hung on the wall at just the right height for you to get a hold of. You can't just unroll the TP, you also have to eat it too. This can not be good for your colon and you practically bite my finger off when I fish TP out of your mouth. Finally, you have discovered the toilet bowl. You find it entertaining to crawl over to the toilet and stand there while The Dad goes to the bathroom. How endearing, my two boys being boys...until you stick your hand in the toilet bowl!! That's just too gross for words...sigh...

But despite it all, you are a very good baby. I really believe this goodness is just in your DNA and has very little to do with mine or The Dad's awesome parenting. Last weekend we left you for the first time for a weekend at Gramma Nay's house while The Dad and I went to Las Vegas for some adult time. While it was nice to get away, I missed you dearly. I called Gramma a few times to check on you. I tried to be strong, but deep down I was struggling to keep my composure. I know, it's silly. Gramma said you were a perfect boy. She and Grandpa Bear said they enjoyed your company and I believe them.

The Pretty Poppy Giveaway!

You all need to go to The Pretty Poppy to enter to win some really fabulous accessories. I mean really people, who doesn't love to accessorize with some chic vintage earrings, or a personalized charm bracelet? I've seen with my very own eyes their work and it does not disappoint. So get your little patooties over there and enter to win. Or don't, which just increases my chances to win that much more.

9 Months

Hey Shorty, it's your birthday! We're gon' party like it's your birthday! You're such a lucky boy. Know why? Because you get to share your 9 month birthday with your dad's birthday {HAPPY BIRTHDAY G!}. Every month I say how much you suprise me with your tricks because you are always coming up with something new. You are officially on the move and you are entirely capable of following me around the house without my assistance. I never know when you are going to peek around the corner. As if that's not enough you have now taken to standing on your own. You pull yourself up to whatever surface you can get a grip on. This too has it's pros and cons. You are totally awesome at pulling up, but you still need a little practice getting down. On a few occassions I've had to rescue from your crib because you stand up, angry that you have to go to bed, but you get stuck standing there. Eventually I have to rescue you from yourself.

You are almost an expert with the pincer grip too. This has taken an immense amount of practice and you were often so frustrated while trying to eat a Puff because you'd lose it just before it got to your mouth. But as with most things in your life, you are persistent and you keep trying until you get what you want.

Speaking of persistence...as part of your bedtime routine I love to read you a couple of books - classics, like Goodnight Moon and The Bear Snores On. You have a favorite too, which I was a little slow to pick up on. Tonight you were being so crazy while I tried to read you a new book that I had never read to you before. You were so squirmy and kept reaching for the pile of books on the side table. Finally, I picked up That's Not My Dragon and you sat right down, ready to listen. That's the one you wanted. I read it at least 16 times and you never bored of it. Is it even possible for you to have a favorite book at 9 months? I think so.

You hit me pretty hard this month. Not hit, like smack hit, but I was overcome with YOU hit. I am your mother. YOUR MOTHER. You have no idea what a huge responsibility this is. I have so much to teach you and you me. Right now I can't help but soak in every moment of YOU.

The Fair Only Comes Once A Year...Thank Goodness

I took JW to the State Fair today. I thought it would be fun and maybe he would enjoy the animals since he is always so enthralled with Gramma Nay's chickens. I can see now why my parents never took us to the fair. First of all, you either pay big bucks for parking or you park 3 miles away. Have you ever seen where the fair grounds are located? G.H.E.T.T.O. You risk losing your rims if you don't pay for parking {I took the risk and LUCKILY I still had all four tires when I returned to my car}. Second, it costs $9/person to get in. Think about the cost for a family of six! And once you're in, it's more $$$ for cotton candy, hot dogs, unsafe rides, a glimpse at the most gigantic alligator in the world, never mind the endless booths of crap that appeal to every little kid. The one and only time we went to the fair I can remember my mom saying, "We aren't spending ANY money." I bet you can imagine how much fun we had that day.

Fortunately JW is small enough that he is free admission, loves to cruise in the stroller - so he didn't complain once about the 3 mile walk to and from the car; could care less about the rides or the most gigantic alligator in the world and hasn't tried a corn dog to know just how enticing a FOOT LONG corn dog can be. So we looked at animals, art and people. I especiallly loved the lady in the Creative Arts area who had gigantic painted on eye browns. She should have entered herself. I would have given her a blue ribbon. Holy cow! I was impressed. JW could have cared less.

Little lambsy wanted some attention. I gave the little guy a pat on the head. Once again, JW paid no attention.

Zuckerman's famous pig was some serious bacon. Never mind for JW. We strolled through the chicken barn too. JW thought, "Whoopty damn doo. I get to feed Gramma Nay's chickens whenever I want."

Do you see a theme here? I'm glad JW humored me even if he could have cared less. I think we'll do it again next year :)

For the Stalker in You

I don't know if you link from my blog to another in my Blog Stalker list...? If you do, I've moved this list to the bottom of my blog. I kind of want to feel a little less cluttered without actually deleting this list (I'm a hoarder) and besides I use Google Reader to stalk now {highly recommended}, so this list isn't even close to up-to-date for the number of awesome people that I know everything about, but don't really know a thing about. Is that creepy? Hey, takes one to know one {wink wink}.


Stalk this: You know I can't post something without a picture of JW cuteness. This was captured a few months ago at Omi's birthday party. Gotta love the binky chap and the party pooper expression.

While camping in Jackson Hole over the weekend, Bullwinkle Moose decided to wander through our campground while we were eating breakfast. He came frighteningly close to where we were sitting. I don't think I've ever seen the Cushing kids sit so still and silent. After Bullwinkle walked away and we could all breath again, six year old Clara gleefully declared, "That was better than first grade!"

Dubster and His Balloon

While at my sister's house celebrating her little guy's third birthday, JW became fixated on this balloon. His pure excitement and a brief moment of disappointment has been captured right here for the record.

8 Months!

Happy 8 months old birthday, baby boy! You are becoming quite the little boy. I think this is because you have figured out how to crawl and you are certainly on the move. This new found freedom has its pros and cons. While this is still a new endeavor for you, you currently only manuever around the small area you occupy with your toys, however I can tell you are on the verge of discovering that your little arms and legs can get you places. This can be dangerous since you are quite inquisitive and mama hasn't exactly JW-proofed the house.

This month you spent several days on the shores of some body of water - Bear Lake, Island Park Reservoir and a swimming pool. You seem to like the idea of getting in the water, but once you're actually IN the water, you're a little uncertain. If I had to guess I'd say this uncertainty stems from the temperature. You definitely don't enjoy being cold and said lake, reservoir and pool weren't exactly hot springs. I don't blame you for being leary. I didn't exactly jump in myself.
You did like the beach though. The sand was especially entriguing and...tastey? You were somewhat content on the boat too - your first boat ride ever - as long as I didn't get too excited and start yelling {like when Grandpa Ted flipped Auntie EZ off the tube and I laughed and hollered. My excitement freightened you}.

Thank you for being my sweet pea. While you have your cranky pants moments, your schmoos and loves, laughs and drools make my days.

Nature's Harvest

Earlier this spring my mom gave me four tomato plants for my garden. She's given me tomato plants before and as soon as I plant them they disappear. I've always blamed little bunny foo-foo for eating them, but I have a second, even better theory that G has pulled them out of the ground thinking they were weeds.

Anyway, this year I planted the four plants and lo and behold I have tomatoes! Here is one I picked {on accident} a few days ago. A little window-sill sunshine ripened it right up. And I turned it into my favorite summer treat - an open-faced tomato sandwich. Holy cow, that was one awesome piece of fruit. You can't buy that flavor in the grocery store.

In other great news...JW officially has a highchair! Isn't this a beauty? I would guess circa 1987. Totally vintage. I had mentioned to my neighbor that I needed a highchair. I had made a trip to IKEA to get their cheap-o delux set and they were out! Two months on backorder! I guess IKEA underestimated the Utah baby mill. Anyway, when I got home from work last night this was waiting on my porch. What a difference it has already made in my life. JW eats soooo much better now that he's trapped without distractions.

And in case you can't tell from the above photo, there is an awesome heart sewn right into the vinyl. By the shape of it, I wonder if it was an after thought in the Chinese factory, or maybe someone's first day on the job.

Rachel Zoe Round Up

The new season of the Rachel Zoe Project has started. In case you don't know who Rachel Zoe is she dresses celebrities because, you know, they are far too busy to dress themselves. It's ok, I didn't know or care about RZ either until her reality show appeared on my favorite reality channel and I got sucked in to RZ madness. Trust me, it's mad. And ridiculous. And flamboyant. OH the flames!

In case you missed tonight's episode, let me summarize in my best Rachel and Brad quotes possible {to be read in your best Brad voice because even if you don't have a gay entourage, this is how everyone on the show talks. You have to be stressed out too because this shiz is what stresses them out because OMG it's 4 hours before the Globes and OMG, there are MAJOR storm clouds rolling in}:

"What are Cameron, Kate and Jen going to wear to the Globes? Let's go to the Land of Styling. It's so major! Kaufman Franco, Versace, McQueen - a big, delicious present. OMG, there's shoe shortage. How do you pose without a train? It's tricky. OMG is it raining?! It's raining! How can it rain an hour before the Globes!? I mean, what can I do? I mean. This is like an nightmare. OMG, look at Kate! She is so major!"