Happy 10 Months, "Punkin!"

Crosby turned 10 months old a few days ago, and here's what he's been up to lately:

- He's crawling all over the house and has started cruising on the furniture. He even gets brave and lets go at times, standing for a few secs. before sitting down.
- He loves tilting his head back and pointing up at ceiling fans and lights (a trick his Dozzie taught him during her recent visit)
- He's really close to clapping; when we clap and say "yay!" or sing "If you're happy & you know it..." he flaps his arms and hits his hands against his legs or on the table
- We're pretty sure he said his first word (and meant to say it) today, and of course, it was "Dada" as he saw Chris and screamed with excitement. We'll see if it was a just a coinsidence, or if he keeps saying it appropriately.
- His favorite food is cheerios (and I must say, as an O.T., that the boy has a phenomenal pincer grasp)
- He can throw a small ball, or any other object of his choosing, and crawl after it or play "catch" with someone else (Lolly taught him this fun game)
- He's sleeping great these days and takes 3 naps a day...my how far we have come! Praise the Lord.
- He still just has 2 teeth on the bottom, and I'm just fine with that! :)
- He LOVES hiking and being outside...definitely his daddy's son

Here are some pictures from the past month:

Crosby had so much fun playing with his Dozzie during her week-long visit in
September while Grandpa lead a geology field trip here in central Arkansas.

We are so excited that Chris' parents will soon be calling Conway home!

We were blessed to get to see our good friends, Russ & Shireen, and their 2 precious sons,
Rhys (19 mths) and Caleb (7 wks). They spent the night with us while traveling back
home to Birmingham from Missouri. They are adjusting to life with 2 boys amazingly
well! We love you guys and can't wait to see you again...hopefully real soon.

I love this happy boy!

Crosby with one of his favorite chew toys, his "chicken," as we call it. He chews on the little chicken shaped bead on this ring. It is hilarious when he holds something in his mouth and crawls around like a puppy with a bone in his mouth.

Crosby fell in love with a big piece of crust from a French baguette at the new Panera
Bread Co. in town. It was great entertainment for him while we ate, but we experienced
his first real fit when we tried to take it away from him when it got too mushy.

Meet Crosby's best friend, George. :) George usually sits up high on a shelf in
Crosby's room, but we constantly catch him looking up, pointing and talking to George.
It's so cute to watch him light up when we take George off the shelf for him to play with.
Thanks Sara for the Curious George doll...obviously Crosby loves it.

Looks at the sweet face that I usually see when I go in to get him after naps. It melts my heart.

Crosby had a play date with little Clarka (3 mths younger than Crosby) from the Czech Republic. She and her parents are staying with our teaching pastor, Ken, and his family this month on holiday. Crosby was so much more gentle and sweet with Clarka than he usually is when he plays with other little boys, to my relief. It's like he knew she was a dainty little girl. :)

Crosby is so proud of his new trick...pulling up on the side of Mommy & Daddy's bath tub and turning the water off and on. It is the hot water that he can reach, of course, so Chris has now removed the knob. :)

We took Crosby for his first hike at Petit Jean State Park...

and he absolutely LOVED it!!!

I have a feeling that this is just the first of many outdoor adventures that these two will go on.

These are more pictures from our trip to the Pumpkin Patch in Greenbrier.

"I wonder if this plywood pumpkin tastes good???"

"This is my favorite! Let's take it home."

Crosby and Daddy in their Nicaraguan "guavate" shirts.

"Where's the light, Crosby?"
They are pointing up at the outdoor light on the front porch.