Playing with Sophia

We watch Sophia Simpson (friends' daughter) on occasion.  Her and Tanner are only a few weeks apart, so it's a pretty easy babysitting job. (We baby-swap with them quite a bit.)  We think Tanner was showing off for Sophia or something, because he was going crazy! 

Tanner is not very interested in Carly anymore, so Carly was excited when Sophia wanted to pet her.

This is what he does all day, stand up and bang on whatever his hands are touching.  Of course, it's always better when the thing he's banging on makes noise..

More messes....

Tanner is getting better at making messes.

 Stands up to the kitchen cart and pulls everything off.

Usually the zip lock bags are spread all over the floor.  This is why I only keep zip lock bags and his dishes in here; I figured it's the least harmful mess.

 story time

Doggie Water and Soggy Bottoms

Movin' and Grovin'

 

Well Tanner is almost 8 months old! Holy cow, that went fast. He has been crawling for a while now, and is getting really good at standing up to furniture and pulling everything off (ie coffee table in the living room). We have moved to a little house, still in West Seattle, and are loving the quiet street. We now have a dog, chocolate lab named Carly, and are slowly getting used to that. It's like having a baby, but an even crazier one than Tanner. It was pretty tough at first, but I am loving her company now. Especially because Jake is gone so much. Although she would be more than happy to greet a robber and show him around our house, I feel safer with her here. Odd, but true. Anyways, here's a little update.... Mostly about Tanner, of course

 

This was a few months ago, but it was an awesome place to bike.  Duthie Hill.  It was a lot of circuits that met back in the middle, so we traded off baby watching.  Jake wore him in the pack just on the easy trail on the way into the center.

 

 

This was a while ago too, but it was really funny.  It was one of the first times Tanner had touched grass, and he didn't like it at all.  I set him down in it, and he gave this high pitched cry until I picked him up again.  He still hates crawling in grass.

 

Last weekend we went to Kennewick with Starlie and Nate to see Brian Regan. Tauni and Isaac came to watch the kids, and we all had a good time laughing.

 

Our new house, Tanner playing the piano with grandpa.

He must have been one tired boy to fall asleep in Jake's arms!

 

Eating! (With a rotten cold)

Honestly, this is Tanner's favorite thing to do.  If he's not sitting on your lap, he will stand up to the piano, fingers barely reaching the keys, and play the same high notes again and again.

What a big boy

Cougar Mountain

Last Christmas my (Jake) parent's got us a baby hiking backpack.  Tanner has been a little too small to try it out until now.  We decided to test it out on Cougar Mountain and we loved it.  Tanner was either sleeping or smiling the whole way up.  I think he really liked seeing all the colors.  We were a little unsure about what he would do when he got tired, but he had no problem falling asleep (as evidenced below).  Beautiful trail, and it's only 20 minutes from our house.  We are very lucky to live where we do.

 Tanner thought the camera was on the other side

Apparently this is a comfortable sleeping position

"Mom, why do you always embarrass me in public!"

Tanner's new favorite thing: drooling.  He's really good at it...really.

If this picture didn't make you smile, you should probably go see a therapist.

Another one of Tanner's talents: licking things.

Ellisha's momma-bear instincts came out when a bee started flying around Tanner.

Life is getting "normal" again

 I think life is getting a little more "normal" now.  Of course, our normal is different than normal used to be.  The best advice I was given before Tanner came was that after each child is born, we have to find our new normal.  So now, finally, I think I have adapted to the dramatic change in schedule, and am able to leave the house without falling apart.  Feels pretty good actually.  I like this whole mom thing.  

Here are a few pictures from the past few months since this little boy came into our lives.

At Chrissy's wedding.  Tanner is almost 3 weeks old here and as cute as ever.  It was the first social thing we really did after he was born.  I am so glad I was feeling good that day! It was a wonderful sealing.

 

Doesn't she look beautiful?! I am so happy for her! Chrissy and I have been good friends since she moved into our ward in middle school.  High school was a blast with her, and it was so fun to be in the temple with her and Robbie.

 A few days after Chrissy's wedding, at the doctor's office again.  I had the flu and a cough came with it, so they ask you to wear these cute masks so nobody else gets sick.  Jake wore one to make me feel better. 

March 26th, our first time hiking with Tanner! We went to Cougar Mountain just 20 minutes away from us.  It was a beautiful hike and it felt so wonderful to get out into mother nature.

A mine shaft that looked like it was a hole to the other side of the earth.  

While we were in Utah for Sheila and Ryan's wedding, we went to Jake's grandmother's wedding in the Provo Temple. I liked how the pretty spring flowers were covered in snow... Only in Utah

Easter egg hunt after the dinner on Friday night. 

Saturday, Sheila's wedding.  Cute little Tanner

We stayed in Utah until Monday, so we went hiking in Spanish Fork canyon.  Loved it

 A few cute pictures of our little boy.  He is growing so fast, I can't believe he is already 2 1/2 months! He is a very happy little boy and talks all the time.  I can't decide who is better at baby talk, Jake or Tanner.

 

 One of my favorite pictures.  Not really sure what I was eating that day...

Picture is really dark, but he is sucking his three middle fingers just like I used to.  I kind of hope he doesn't make a habit out of it though.  My dad put duct tape on my hand/arm because I wouldn't stop.

Pretty sure this was Dallin's outfit.  I love this book