Date Night!!!!

Finally went on a date together this last week to a Brad Paisley Concert (with Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne.) It was a really great concert, if you enjoy country, and would recommend it. Though I swear my hearing took a hit that night. We were probably the only ones there fashioning homemade earplugs out of scrap paper. I must be getting older. Either way, even the Lord was being supportive of our efforts to get some time together because he stopped the rain (after it had been raining all day), I'm sure just for us. Sorry, no pictures of little man, this entry. But he's a cutey-pie still!

8 Month Fancy Photos

Our (No) Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is always a bittersweet holiday weekend to me. It means fall is really here, though the 90 degree temperatures would disagree with me. But at least its really on its way. I love fall and summer. I'm always a little sad to see another season pass but love each of them for what each of them bring (love the cooler weather but have to put away my white-I know, but I just can't let go of the rule.) I don't know if I could really ever give any of them up. Anyway, we had a great family weekend. Monday was a (no) Labor day for us and we went to the zoo and had a picnic lunch on the grassy open area there. We then enjoyed a free chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A while wearing our KSU and Illinois gear (it was a national promo yesterday in case you missed it.) So I didn't even cook dinner. Hayden was being stalked by the "Eat mor Chicken" cows because he was the only child in the eating area. He could barely get a Cheerio down without another cow coming over to attempt to get a smile or wave from him. But he did dig the cows. Anyway, it was a lot of fun. And though I don't know week from weekend, it was fun to have Dada there with us for a long weekend and Hayden is in Dada deprivation right now on Tuesday.

8 Months!

Hayden turned 8 months on September 1st. It was as if he knew. Last week he started babbling all the time. Dadadada, babababa, and some other things that sound like things like "I love you" but not quite. More like "Iwawu" as he crawls on mommy and buries his face in my stomach. He decided to cut two teeth this week. He started feeding himself this week because he didn't want to eat from a spoon (and Sadie found her new best friend at mealtimes.) He learned how to crawl up stairs (though it is just too much work to do that all the time.) He got really good at pulling himself to standing. He's a little speed demon at crawling which is why we had to instate the "baby prison" aka the playpen which amazingly he seems to like and keeps him entertained and safe for awhile while we eat or get some things done. It has been a whirlwind of a week. It seems like just when you think you've
got it all down, he changes. It's always a little wistful to see him grow out of clothes, and toys, and past certain stages. It really does go fast. I love each new stage though and will enjoy this one while we're here. Here are some fun pictures to show you his development this month.










(Cheap toys...and you always know where he is)













Everything is a teething toy...this one actually is though










Experiencing grass...not rocks

Travels and Reunions

Forgive the lack of posts in the last two weeks. Hayden and I, and Daddy for part of the time, have been traveling. We went back to Kansas for our 10 year high school reunion. I didn't really notice the years passing but when you have an anniversary to mark a significant amount of them having passed by, then you kind of realize that you are, in fact, getting older. I know, I know, stop complaining, I'm still in my twenties. Still, it was good to see friends that I hadn't seen in a long time.









We also got to visit grandparents and great-grandparents, my sister and her family, even some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Hayden got to swim in the same pool that his mommy swam in as a baby. My grandparents still live in the same house and put this pool in the summer I was born. I love it that he got to swim in it with his Aunt Katie and cousin Colton. I love having roots. I love that there are some things in life that are still there. Still constant. I miss having them there everyday. But I believe my living far away will ensure that I don't take a minute of them for granted. Hayden also got to experience animals that we don't have around in the everyday. He loves our dog Sadie (oh my you should have seen that reunion.) But he is an animal lover indeed. Grandpa introduced him to their horse George and to the cat Jezzie. Guess he got that love for animals from Grandpa. Grandma went the flora route and taught him about apples and pears in their orchard. I'll make some of his baby food with that after I get apples and pears when they pick this fall.
































Our next leg of travel was to Michigan to visit a long time friend, Kristi and her family. Her son is just a little bit older than Hayden and they were off to a great start in the car. Hayden got to visit the zoo in Grand Rapids and we also visited Lake Michigan which is more water than I've seen in a long time and more than Hayden has ever seen. We had such a great time and wish we could see them more often!