Quick notes...

We are having so much fun with our little toddler! I think we can use that term now since he's toddlin' around. :) He has even started trying to run-- it is so funny! He gets his head and body leaning forward and ends up falling because he has gotten ahead of himself, and he just picks back up and keeps on movin'!

Brenton is also very interested in fans, electrical cords, and anything else that he is not supposed to have. On a more positive note, though, he is also very interested in helping clean! Brenton can spot a broom or sweeper a mile away and demands to use it! I guess I have trained him well! Jk....but seriously- vacuums, sweepers, brooms, swiffers, you name it- he's on it!

Travis and I got our membership to the Y this past weekend and, yes, I have already used it! Saturday we went to the outdoor pool and Brenton had a blast. But let me just tell you- it is not easy to entertain a busy little bee that wants to just walk wherever he wants IN the water-- he does not understand the depth of the water or the slippery-ness (like my word?!) of the bottom of the pool-- but he LOVES the water and did not seem to mind his several face plants into the water. He just blows it all out of his face, splashes around, and keeps on going!! We got a sno-cone while we were there, too, and that was pretty much amazing!

I can't remember what I have posted on here and what I haven't so I just thought I would mention that we have had a great time with all the family that has been in town for Grandma and Grandpa Hinkle's 50th wedding anniversary, and for Grandpa Bob's birthday- and my little sisters who stayed in town last week and spent some time with their favorite nephew! And we are MORE THAN excited that Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jason live in Wichita now! They are right out by our friends Tom and Mira....so maybe we will expand our house hunting horizons that way! :) Speaking of Tom and Mira- we love hanging out with them! Mira and I walked at the Y last night, and we ended up in the parking lot until....well, late....and for that I am thankful. What would we do without amazing friends who are so faithful in the Lord that they truly lift us up anytime we are around??! We have been blessed with wonderful friends- whether we hang out with them 24/7 or not- we have some great relationships with some great people. I hope you all know how important it is to take the time to really, really connect with people-- that's the stuff life is made of. After all, we are to follow Christ's example, right?

Yay!!!

I meant to post before now, but we have been SO busy lately-- family in town, parties, the whole shebang!

BRENTON IS WALKING!!!!

He took his first few steps in May and has been gaining the courage and balance to let go since then and really started moving last week! It was perfect timing, too, because we had tons of family in town- including my parents- and they all got to share in our excitement! Today he started moving really fast, too-- I think he has figured out his own abilities and he now does a sort of half-run that is SO, SO cute!! I tried to post a video, but the file was too big so I'll have to try and get a short clip to put on here for you all to see!

Btw...because of our busy-ness this is the first month that I did not get Brenton weighed and measured right at the 10 month mark, so I will get on that ASAP (hopefully tomorrow). I am guessing he is about 24 pounds, though, and I find myself putting him down or handing him off whenever we are standing still for very long! He is so wiggly, too!

That's all for now!


Oh wait! Brenton also saw his first airplane yesterday!! I mean- he saw it in the sky on his own and followed it as it flew by!! It was so cute!! Now I can say "where's the airplane?" and he looks straight up! And, he can say dog and woof woof! Oh my gosh- it's been a while since I posted- he is also cutting 3 more teeth! (finally) :)

This week...

Brenton is starting to say "hiiiiii" very clearly now- it is so cute! And his wave has evolved into a rear facing wave that looks more like "come here" than "byebye". :) He went swimming this weekend- I bought him a little pool- and he loved it! Splash, splash, splash- just like in the bathtub! This week is going to be pretty full as daddy has softball and soccer as usual, and then we also are going to be helping Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jason move into their new house- which is much closer to us!! YAY!

Here are some pics until I have more time....








If you can tell-this was at Brenton's 9 month dr. appt.....he really likes that paper they put on the exam tables!











This was at our friends Heather and Josh's wedding- somebody busted out some balloons and started making balloon animals! It was kind of funny- Brenton loves balloons!

























We got to see Bill and Ruth while we were in Topeka!







That's all I've got right now....more later!!

Sorry, still no new pics uploaded...

I will work on the pictures later! Just wanted to write a quick note to say that we had a great weekend in Topeka for Heather and Josh's wedding and even got to visit Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bill. While we were in Topeka Brenton decided that it was a good time to practice walking and actually took about 7 teeny-tiny-wobbly steps and was so proud of himself! We were, too, of course and I have a feeling the next time he wants to "practice" (he really has to be in the right mindset or else he just sticks his feet out and sits on his butt instead of trying to walk) he will really starting to get somewhere! I can't even explain to you how cute it is to see him moving all over the place, but wow! SO exhausting....I don't think you can "childproof" enough for this kiddo! He finds EVERYTHING! Hmmm....what else is new....oh! Brenton dances now! He has been for a while, but I kept forgetting to write about it! He sort of bops his head and shakes his little booty- almost every time any upbeat music comes on! For instance, TV commercials will come on and wherever he is playing he will start groovin'! Then, once he realizes everyone is watching him he really keeps it up! "Brenton, are you dancing?!" And he just grins and grins!

I promise I will work on the pictures!! .......

We had a great weekend with my family last weekend- and had some new family pictures taken (I'll scan and post later). Brenton was so worn out from all the fun that he actually slept in yesterday and today! :) Travis started his new job at Coleman yesterday and seems to really enjoy it. Guess what one of his first jobs is....the company took pictures in the middle of winter to be ahead of schedule for the summer camping season, but decided that the model looks too cold in the pictures so Travis' job is to photoshop a tan!!!!!! What a great job! He is also working on some icons for some new line of water-submersible flashlights that you will see on packages in the stores later on! It is really exciting for him and for me to be able to see his work through to completion! Let's all pray that this becomes a permanent position!

Let's see....what else is new? Brenton is getting closer and closer to walking- he can go all around furniture, walls, people, anything he can get his hands on- and he is FAST! He is also crawling....well sort of! He moves his arms and then one leg, with the other leg sort of tucked and dragged. Last week when he was at home with daddy he learned "nose", which is really cute. He can't say "nose" but he can sure find it on your face and honk it! He also learned how to blow bubbles into a cup through a straw- I'm not sure if daddy taught him this one, too- but it causes a lot of backwash, which is not so fun. Yesterday he figured out how to climb off of his riding toy into a standing position, and last night he woke up in the night and was standing in his crib again! Travis and I have talked so much lately about how much fun we are having and how fun and smart Brenton is becoming. Not that he wasn't before, but this age is great!

This week Travis and I actually get a day off of work for our friends Josh and Heather's wedding in Topeka and I get Monday off for Memorial Day-- yay for bank holidays! Call us and we can hang out!!

Progress!

Just a quick update as I head off to fix breakfast for the little guy-- one tooth is finally coming in!!!!!! Bottom, left- we can feel it- it is for real this time! Also, Brenton took 2 or 3 steps last night BY HIMSELF!! What a big boy! Then, of course, we could not get him to even stand on his own for the rest of the night- but we got it on video on my grandma's camera so we will have to get that from her so you can all see it!

We are still looking for child care so please keep us posted if you know of anyone REALLY good!

9 Months

It is strange to think that Brenton has now been here with us basically as long as he was inside of me- yep, we are at the 9 month mark! I think the doctor's office may have written down his measurements a time or two because they say he has only grown a half inch in length, but I think he is getting really long/tall. He weighs just over 22 pounds and is doing so great! Brenton is starting to crawl like an inchworm and it is so funny! He lays flat on his stomach, scoots his legs up so that his butt is sticking straight up in the air, then moves his arms and he is laying on his stomach again! He only does it sometimes at this point and really does not seem to enjoy it much- except for when it gets him to something he wants, of course. What I mean is- he still does not really enjoy being on his stomach compared to how much he does enjoy standing up and walking. He can walk very quickly around all furniture/semi-stable objects now and has started letting go with one hand. We have also stood him up without anything to hold onto and he will stand for a second and sometimes take one step before falling! Brenton is a smart cookie, though, so if he does not want to stand up he has learned to push his feet out fast and not let weight be put on his legs. It is hard to describe some of this stuff in writing, so you should all just come and visit us so you can see how big he is! Personally, I think he is trying to talk more, too....I have heard a few syllables that are very close to words like "up" and "poop". :)

Thanks for reading! And if any of you know of a good source for child care please send me the info- we are looking for noonish-6ish, Monday through Friday.