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.