Crawling and 9 month birthday video

Rhys is now 9 months old - as of yesterday. The time has flown by. (It is true what all those parents tell you before you have kids.) Dom and I really want to try to savor the day-to-day joy of parenting....and now Dom may really have the chance in the next few months. See, there is always a silver lining.

Family

In from the rain...this was taken a few weeks ago after that terrible downpour in Chicago. We discovered our front room's french door windows leak...still. Sigh. So many things to consider when you are a home owner.

Who me?

Hand in the cookie jar? Paddington's tail to pull? Rhys looks a bit sheepish in this pic, but we all know a lovely almost 9 month old has nothing to be guilty about.

On the move

While not an official crawler yet, Rhys is getting around. He was a little faster than I had given him credit for when I took this picture. Of course he then wanted to taste Paddington's food...I don't think he needs senior blend for indoor cats. Paddington's water bowl was the target today. Poor kitty.

The Path to True Love

is often paved with thorns. Case in point.
Ah well, Rhys has a playdate with a younger and older woman today at 2 pm. Maybe better luck this time.

Grandpa Marvin

DSC_0030
Originally uploaded by shemoney

Everyone looks at Rhys and sees Dom...for obvious reasons: the blue eyes, reddish, blonde locks, and downturned eyes (yes, honey, it is true). But every once in awhile a bit of my side of the family comes out. Sheila and Patrick caught this lovely pic of Rhys at the Bucktown Arts Fest four weeks ago and it just reminds me so much of my Grandpa Marvin Carlson (the Swedish side of the family). He and his sisters were hardy folks: big, stocky and blue-eyed. My Great Aunt Martha had arms that could wrestle a boar - but she only used them, as far as I know, to make the best swedish pastries.
I wonder - have you seen Rhys's thighs? There might just be a little Swede in him.

Another toy bites the dust

Rhys has outgrown the Gymini, obviously. He still likes his little friends - Mrs. Elephant (Mr. Elephant is above his changing table - the two don't often meet), Mustafa the Monkey, Gerry the Giraffe, and Polly the Parrot - but he can practically carry the gymnini with him as he attempts to crawl.
So, it too is in the storage unit. Thankfully so many friends have babies right now so I am trying to send all these items out for use. Let me know if you need to borrow a Bebe Pod, door jumper, or baby bjorn!

Sock Monkey

Rhys learned a new trick this week - much to his enjoyment and ours. I am sure in a few weeks/months this will get a bit tiring as we replace socks, shoes, pants, diapers, etc. (He has also proudly learned how to take off his bib and cap.)

Bottle Baby

For our loyal readers - remember the bottle strike of March 2008? Rhys wasn't a fan until he had to be out of necessity - (his mom going back to work at 12 weeks). Now, he is great on the bottle - except for when teething (case in point last week's performance of only taking 7 ounces a day) or when a new nipple is used (sorry, again Nolidan Clan about lunch at the zoo!).
The one thing I have learned about this baby rearing thing is that once you think you have something figured out - it changes and moves ahead of you. Rhys is keeping us on our toes - that you can count on!

Picnic in the Park

Complete with a jumping spider - smashed body not shown.