Whew!

It's been a very productive week here at the Graham household. We have purged, cleaned and organized our entire garage and shed - with the help of A. Corrina, a donation from Grandpa and Grandma G. in the form of shelves, and with a lot of patience from the little one. =) I really wanted to post a picture of it for everyone to see because I am so proud of all that we accomplished but, really, it still just looks like a garage with storage - so you wouldn't be able to appreciate it unless you had seen all the *stuff* that we tossed, organized and donated! But let me assure you it was a grand feat! =)

I have since purged, cleaned and organized our closet, dressers and various piles in our bedroom. We also cleaned, organized and purged Des's closet and room - storing away all the little clothes in the hopes that #2 can appreciate the color blue. =) We also sorted through all our books (if you know us, there's a lot), donated some and packed some away that are worth keeping but that don't get opened frequently enough to crowd our little space. And I have started on the guest room closet and storage space under the bed. After that I may have to go next door to find some projects! =) Just kidding, my list is still plenty long to keep me busy well into next year! =)

Des continues to work diligently on becoming independently and completely mobile. He's got crawling down to an art and now he is perfecting his standing, pulling up and cruising. He has started to dabble in taking steps but his amibitions far outweigh his balance - so its more of a falling while feet are moving sort of action instead of a walking action. We become more convinced that he knows his first word: uh-oh (is that even a word?). He says it everytime he drops something or when he hears a loud noise. The next word he is working on is ball. Although it only sounds like ba and he says it fairly indiscrimitely.

Last night was Marc's staff family picnic. Des was certainly one of the stars at the party. Everyone keeps saying how cute he is and he, as always, picks up on the cue and smiles big and pulls a talent out of his hat to get big laughs. He got his father's good looks and his mother's flair for theatrics! Dangerous combo! =) He especially liked Marc's boss - but has met him before and always gives him the biggest smiles, seems like. He did not, however, let himself be passed around. He was more than happy to entertain from a distance with mom or dad holding tight. When someone went to pick him up it was all shyness.

So Marc is back at work and Des and I have been entertaining ourselves without the big man around. We've been doing pretty good, if I do say so myself. I'm looking forward to cooler weather so we can maybe take somewalks in the afternoons. We got to take lunch to Marc this week for a fun break in our day but once the kids are at school we can't do that anymore (mostly because he only gets 30 minutes for lunch). They shampooed the carpets so we've let Des crawl around the choir room floor practicing his steps (the floor has 3 built in risers perfect for a crawling baby). When Marc comes home, he usually comes thorough the garage and as soon as Des hears the outer door close, he points to the inner door with a smile and waits.... Then gives a squeal when Marc makes his enterance. =) He knows his dad, for sure.

Asking for a raise for Dad at the staff family picnic.

Still loves to find the kitties.

First guitar lesson.

Bonus Video

Just for fun...

New Talent, Same Frustration

So, Des is finally a pro at crawling and pulling himself up on things and even starting to grasp the idea of cruising while hanging onto furniture, *but* he is still frustrated at not being able to walk. The poor guy just wants to GO! I thought once he started crawling we would be done with that, while it has helped with him being able to entertain himself longer, it certainly has not diminished in any capacity his intense desire to be biped. Soon enough, soon enough - if only I could reassure him of that. In the meantime we are having a good time testing his abilities and challenging him.

We had tried and tried to get him to pull himself up on furniture or to hold on to furniture while standing and he always refused, not really getting the possibilities. But we spent 20 minutes with our friends in Powell with their 20 (?) month old and Des watched him and then was pulling himself up on the couch by the time we left! All it takes is the right motivation I s'pose.

We went for our 9 month well-baby check this last week and got all good news. Des is growing like a weed but only vertically not horizontally. He is 50% for height and only 17% for weight. So we've added goat's milk to his diet and are trying to incorporate new (heavier) foods into our daily routine. But the doctor wants us to wait 5 days in between each new food so its taking a long while even when I cheat and only wait 3 or 4 days. He is healthy and active, though, so the doctor is not worried, but I am definitely paying attention!

We came back home after Marc refinished my parent's deck and the monthly run for our usual horde of groceries was done. We have been trying to make this week count as it is Marc's last of summer vacation. *Sigh.* It was no adjustment at all for us to slip into summer mode (except trying to remember that not every day was a Saturday), but I fear that it will be a big adjustment to return to our school year schedule.

Des's new favorite game is to chase Monte and Tana. We are very impressed with Monte as he has been super tolerant of Des's antics. Tana on the other hand won't come within 3 feet of him since he started being independently mobile. Monte lets Des pull and pat and will eventually leave after enough is enough but has never lashed out or gotten mean toward Des which we are extremely grateful for.

The fair was this past week - and while it is a small event here in rural Wyoming - Des enjoyed the entertainers as well as all the farm animals. At least I think that he liked them - it was all a first time experience, the sights and sounds, so he just kinda stared at it all...

First true crawling moment (ie more than 2 feet).

Laughing in the car - what a great smile!

Pulling himself up to play with the box.

Other favorite game - he holds the ball in place with his feet and then hits it with his hands - over and over. Marc calls it "wrestling" with the globe, which is really what it looks like.