8 months old!

Jake turned 8 months old last week...I cannot believe how quickly the time seems to be passing by. I just want him to stop changing so fast, sometimes! :) He is sitting very well, and starting to try to get from a sitting to a crawling position. Once in the crawling position, he usually ends up moving backwards right now, rather than forward toward whatever his goal is...pretty funny to watch. He also loves to stand up & will stand up against furniture and pull himself up from a sitting position to a standing position, given your fingers to help. Then he'll usually get a little cocky and try to do it one-handed...he's not so talented at that yet. :) He is talking up a storm, making the ma, ba, wa, and da sounds...though we're pretty sure it's not in connection with anything...he does seem to say mama when he wants something. I don't think he realizes that's me...he just knows it gets a reaction. :) He loves to spit his food at me when he's eating his cereal, fruits, & veggies...just experimenting with the texture, I think...but that means he's been learning the meaning of "No-no!" :) Anyway, here are some pictures of him playing this morning & some random other cute pictures. Enjoy!

Trying to crawl toward his toys. Shortly after this, he pushed his arms out, which resulted in moving backwards and laying on his tummy on the floor, and he just looked at me, like "that's not what I meant to do..."

He was able to reach far enough to get his ball, and as you can see, he was very excited about it.

"Hi Mom!"

Happy in the jumperoo...nothing new there...except he is always jumping now...before, he just enjoyed watching the lights & toys & movement when he would shift in his seat. His legs actually touch the floor now though, so he is actively jumping.

All cute after a bath, snuggled up in his puppy towel with Daddy.

Trip to Virginia

Jake, Mommy, and Daddy spent the last 10 days near Winchester, VA for Daddy's National civil war shooting competition. Here are lots of pictures from our vacation there.

Jake in his "Mechanics and Engineers" costume, made by Grandma W. so he could dress like Daddy & Grandpa

All 3 of us at the Virgina Farm Market

Can you find Jake?

Proud boy, standing next to the big pumpkin

More standing...

"Eating" a miniature pumpkin...everything is explored by Jake's mouth these days

Feeling and smelling the pretty mums with Mommy

Showing off his talent for eating his toes...if only I were that flexible!

Wearing his camo pj's to bed, to celebrate the start of deer season back home in MI (which Daddy missed the start of, since we were in VA)

Being cute

This one is for Jake's Grandmas...as you can imagine, most of the shooters are McCain supporters due to their strong opinions about gun freedoms. One of the shooters was handing out these buttons. Mommy's undecided, but just for the Grandmas, who are both Obama supporters, we had to take this picture...don't blame him though...he doesn't get to vote until 2026!

Mastering the sippy cup

Cuddling with Mommy before bed one night

With Aunt Jen and Uncle Joe, who live in Blacksburg and came to visit us for a couple days

Snuggling with Daddy when he finally got a break at the end of the shoot!

Bath Time Fun

We got some great bath time pictures this past week...and a video below. Jake's really getting into it! Also, a couple HUGE smile pictures for you at the bottom...

Splashing Around

Funny Boy

Jake was full of smiles and laughter this evening, and I managed to capture quite a bit...Enjoy! This is my favorite noise in the whole world! :)

Self-feeding

Happy Kiddo

Lots of smiles captured on the camera this time...I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get a smile again on the camera...it seemed like every time I got it out, Jake would stop whatever he was doing & stare in wonder at this funny looking device that Mom's always getting out & flashes bright lights at him. :)

Playing in the Jumperoo...always a good time

Cousin Darlene came to visit and brought Jake this goofy moose hat from Yellowstone - He looks adorable in it, as you can see! Thanks Darlene!

Chillin' out at camp last weekend at Daddy's civil war shoot

Practicing some sitting in the Bumbo seat and playing in the camper at the shoot

This morning after breakfast...yummm...prunes & oatmeal baby cereal!

Jake with his brand new (4 days old!) friend, Arizona Sue King...for once, Jake looks like the giant... Congrats, Sarah & Spencer...and Welcome Arizona!

We worked on finger foods today for the first time, practicing those fine motor skills