up, up, UP!!!

That is what Seth is wanting to do more and more--stand up!! He is now a professional crawler and loves to play a little game with Spencer where he follows him down the hallway laughing as Spencer crawls too! But his favorite pastime these days is to try to pull up on whatever he can get his hands on. To celebrate his accomplishment, he giggles after he pulls himself up...as if to say "yay, look at me, Im so big!" STANDING TO LOOK FOR A TOY
TRYING HARD TO STAND

FAVORITE TOY OF THE DAY...THE DIAPER BOX


PULLING UP ON DADDY!

From Texas to Tennessee

Every year (well since last year) we always end the summer by going to visit family in Tennessee! We were really hoping Seth would be crawling by this time...and he was, kind of! I think he really got better at it while we were there. Seth took his 2nd plane ride this time, which was only about an hour, which I think was about all he could handle. He's actually a pretty good traveler and loves to people watch at the airport, especially older kids that are running around...he laughs at them! Our fun filled trip to Tennessee included a trip to the Memphis zoo where Seth rode his first merry-go-round (which he loved! see the pics below) and lots of fun with family!! There are lots and lots of pictures below...ENJOY!! THE WHOLE FAMILY! THANKS BRYAN FOR TAKING THE PICTURE!
SHOWING AUNT K HIS DUCKIE

SPENDING TIME WITH GRAN-GRAN!

HE WAS QUITE THE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL

SHOWING POP HOW HE CAN STAND

HOLDING ON TIGHT TO GRAN (HE'S SHY AT FIRST)

PLAYING WITH POP IS FUN!

HE LOVED BRYAN!

NICOLE IS FUN!!

FUNNY BRYAN!

AW UNCLE STEW!

AUNT MALISSA MAKING THE INTRODUCTIONS

LOVING HIS AUNT K

WEEEEEEE!! WE LOVE AUNT K!

SOME MONKEYS CAME TO VISIT US DURING LUNCH

THAT UNCLE STEW IS FUN TO PLAY WITH

PANDA!

HE OBVIOUSLY LOVED IT!

HE'S HOLDING ON TIGHT....AND I'M HOLD HIM TIGHT

THIS IS FUN MOMMY

ZOO TIME WITH GRAN AND POP

POP IS DISTRACTING ME GRAN!

9 months

Seth turned 9 months old Aug. 4th (the day we left for Tenn. to see family). So of course we had to continue with or traditional monthly photo shoot with the blocks. We took a picture at home and also when we got to Tennessee, so Spencer's side of the family could be part of our tradition. Our curious guy can hardly sit still for even a minute before going after the blocks! So gone are the days are me trying to do the photoshoot alone...I usually have to have Spencer reposition him after every shot haha! But its still lots of fun to see how he has changed over the months! He started trying to crawl at the end of 8 months but really didn't get it down until about 9 months. Spencer's side of the family got to see him really crawl! He's also eating more table food like diced veggies and fruit, lots of whole grain bread, cheerios, and pieces of chicken. He will still eat some of his baby food, but really enjoys table food more! He of course will still take a bottle at times, but I think he is slowly weaning himself off. He had is 9 month checkup on Friday, he only had to get one shot and one blood test where the stuck his finger (they put a cute bandaid on his finger, of course he tried to take it off). He weighed in at 19lbs 15oz and was 28.5in. Our Dr. said everything looked great! Seth is also babbling and saying 'mama' (not always to me), this is accompanied by lots of drooling! He has 2 little teeth on the bottom and I think I see one about to come in on the top..which will look really funny until his other top one comes in too! He is going through a little bit of separation anxiety....where he doesn't like to be away from us or he cries for a short time when we drop him off at the nursery at church or a the gym child care. He is also pretty scared of strangers and gives them the pouty lip and usually starts to cry if they look at him the wrong way...talk about touchy! But it just takes him a while to warm up to people...I guess I can understand that. We cannot believe that Seth is already 9 months old...only 3 more months until his 1st birthday....which I am already planning for by the way!! Here are some 9 month pictures.

It was so hot one day and he was fussy, so I stripped him down--then he was perfectly happy!

Spencer trying to hold Seth back from getting the blocks so I could snap a picture

All dressed up and ready for church!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Here's a video of Seth finishing up his bathtime. That evening he was really "talking" and babbling and it continued on as he was getting his bath. So I rushed in there with the camera....and that little booger got shy all of a sudden, like he was embarrassed. Anyway, you get to see him splash and talk a little!

"May I have that toy please?"

Seth and I have started a new morning routine. Just about every morning after he eats breakfast, we go outside while its still bearable with a blanket and some of his toys. Our neighbor Leigh Anne and her daughter Hope (13 months old) usually come out and join us since the two kids are basically on the same schedule. Its also a good time for the mommies to chat, which has been great for me! The play time usually consists of Seth and Hope sharing toys as best they can and Seth giggle while he watches Hope play and practice her new walking skills!

"I'll take that toy, thank you!" So sorry Hope!
cute little babies!

...the son of a preacher man...

Spencer is getting to preach for the whole month of July and August 1st again this year while our pastor is away on sabatical. Spencer is doing a series on spiritual growth and the morning for both services he used Seth as an illustration! Stating that we would be worried when Seth turned 5 if he was still doing the same things he was doing when he was 8 months old. He compared that physical growth to our spiritual growth...stating that we should be worried the same way if we didn't grow spiritually over the years, but yet we are not concerned one bit that we are not growing spiritually at all. Anyway we were proud of Seth for doing so well. He did try to grab Spencer's microphone one time but that got a good laugh....he was good entertainment. I told Seth that if he was older I would have bought him ice cream for being so good!! Im sure the video and audio of his sermon will be up soon on www.southcliff.com !!

8 months

On July 4th Seth turned 8 months old! Its hard to believe that in 4 short months we will be celebrating his first birthday! We had his ears rechecked last week from his ear infection last month and they are all clear! (He also weighs 19lbs. 5.5oz) We are just praying that it is not a recurring thing like his mommy's. He officially has 2 teeth now! The second one just broke through yesterday, but it still looks like he only has one. Im working on getting a good picture of his first teeth, but some little boy doesn't want to cooperate :) He's getting closer and closer to crawling, but still not getting the hang of it. Im sure that when he does there will be no turning back! He still has a really big appetite and will eat just about anything we try to give him. He's slowly weening himself away from the bottle, but still takes it some during the day and before he goes to bed. Over the past few days with all the rain, he loves to look out the window and watch it...he is completely mesmorized! He has also transitioned out of 3 naps a day to only 2 naps...every once in a while he will take 3 if he's really tired. He's growing so fast and looking like a little man more and more everyday!!!

playing with his Pop (spencer's dad)

Happy 4th!!

This year was our first year to celebrate Independence Day as a family of 3! It was also the day Seth turned 8 months old(see 8 month blog). The whole day was packed with things to do! Gran and Pop (Spencer's parents) took us to eat after church before they headed back to TN. Then that night we went to a pool party...I lathered Seth up with lots of sunscreen! We also had a little photoshoot up at campus. My mom made him a little July 4th romper that fit him perfectly! As you will see from the pictures he was completely in love with the little windmill!! Here's some pictures from our 4th of July!