the Joy of being Little

It's funny how the littlest things make a child happy. Denver will squeal for delight if you reach out your hands for him to grab onto so he can walk around. He also enjoys going to the park and the beach which is 2 of the places we "visited" a little over a week ago (on the weekend).

Here Denver is getting ready to go to Daddy's softball tournament.

A picture of Mommy's boys before we left.

Fun at the Park

Denver loves to swing! (but don't push him too high or he'll start to gag...he must have gotten motion sickness from mommy!)

Daddy thought it would be fun to play in the wood chips. Denver kept trying to put them in his mouth and Evan would grab them away. Except Daddy must have missed one because when we got home and he went to change him he found a wood chip in Denver's mouth that he'd been chewing on!

Denver's First Day at the Lake/Beach

After I got up from sleeping (from working Saturday night) on Sunday we went to Lake Vermillion as a family so Daddy could go fishing and we could all soak up some sun.

Evan caught a big carp. He also caught several bull heads, but he didn't keep anything.

Denver loves the water, but the lake was still too cold that he cried when I'd put him in it. He liked splashing in it on the edge of the shore, but didn't want to sit where he'd get wet too long because he'd get cold!

"Whoa...what's that...that looks like fun!"

7 Months Old!

Finally...here are Denver's 7 month pictures!

Our little boy is busy learning new things like always. We went out to eat the other night and the little stinker was sitting next to Daddy in the booth and the next thing we new he was standing and banging on the table. He was quite proud of himself. Denver got moved to the big tub because he was getting too big for his little tub and trying to do too many tricks in it. He likes the big tub, but tries to pull himself up to a standing position on the side and Mommy's so scared he's going to go flying, but Daddy says let him work at it. We actually have a video of this, but I don't care for everyone to here us arguing in the background about him going to biff it into the side of the tub!

I attempted to get video footage of Denver playing with his Daddy and walking with Mommy, but the camcorder must have been having issues because it did not record what it was supposed to...it's very strange.

Denver continues to love his food and absolutely LOVES his pears that Mommy and Grandma Verni made! We have started experimenting with what else he can mush in his mouth and eat (toast, potatoes, chopped up meat...Daddy even gave him some ribs from his plate, and noodles). Not all of these have gone the best, but it's been fun experimenting. At the same time I've been a little nervous because some times he gets too many new things in one day that I'm afraid if we have a reaction we won't know what it is and some times he chokes! Here is a video of Denver eating toast by himself! (Denver would like to feed himself all the time and forget about anyone else helping him or doing it for him!)

Denver is still not crawling, but he's more interested in you helping him walk around so he might figure out how to crawl after he learns how to walk! He does sit in the floor and walk his hands out so far that he ends up flopping on to his tummy, but he doesn't really like it when he flops over.

This past weekend we had a fun weekend so I'm sure there will be another post soon!

Mmmm pickles!

Before we get to the reason for the title of this blog I had to first share some bath time pictures and video of Denver. I think it's time for Mom to get the tub clean so Denver can move out of his baby tub and go to the big tub as he has learned how to maneuver himself around in his tub.

"I may not crawl, but I can still get to where I want to be!"

Now for the pickles!

We let Denver suck on a pickle the other night when we were out to eat with Evan's softball league after their game. He loved it. He wants to eat big people food and wants to be able to do it himself. We'd take any suggestions people have for things he can do himself. Denver also loves to eat bananas in his baby food feeders. (For those of you who do not know what baby food feeders are they are a little thing that has a mesh compartment where you can snap food into and then there's a handle where they can hang onto and eat it and the mesh part prevents them from getting a big chunk that they can choke on.)

Last week my mom and I made baby food for Denver. We made pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, 2 chicken dishes (one with rice and veggies and the other with potatoes), green beans, and carrots. Denver had his first taste of chicken the other night. He wasn't so sure what to think of it. Making Denver's food was so rewarding for me as now I know what my child is eating!

Denver was 7 months old yesterday. His 7 month post will be coming. I have an idea for these pictures, but Daddy has to go shopping with us to get the "props". I hope to get some more video footage taken this week as well. Denver loves to stand and walk. He's getting so strong he'll just pop himself out of your lap to stand up. There is a little fear so he usually won't stand up until he sees your hands there for him to grab onto so he doesn't fall over.

Also, Evan came home when I was trying to finish up my blog yesterday so I forgot to include the picture of him and his big catch (25 inches).

Father's Day

I want to take the time to tell all of you about the wonderful husband I have and how great of a father he is to Denver. Evan is a hardworker who can do anything he sets his mind to, he's loving and caring, great at making people laugh (including Denver!), dependable (for the most part, that is....don't expect him to actually get the hamburger out of the freezer so it's thawed the next day though, sorry honey, but it's just funny that I continue to ask you to do it, but rarely does it happen), trustworthy, honest, and a clean freak (of course I could go on with lots more wonderful qualities that he has, but you get the point).

Father's Day weekend Evan got to go spend the weekend with his Grandpa Poots and cousin Jordan in Pierre where they went fishing. I on the other hand was at home working nights at the hospital. Saturday night when I was frantically trying to get ready for work I realized once again what a wonderful husband I have, as now I was home alone trying to pack a lunch, make supper to eat before I left, pump, put my stuff together, etc, etc. I barely got everything done in time as I ran out the door and then I remembered how much Evan does for me each and every day (especially when I'm working a night). When I work a night Evan tries his best to be home between 5 and 5:30p.m. so he can help with Denver, finish making supper, and help me get all my stuff together (whether it's packing my lunch, getting my pump stuff put together, or whatever). It's little things like this that he does for Denver and me everyday and that makes him so special to us! I couldn't have asked for a better husband or father to my child (and hopefully children down the road).

Here are some pictures of Evan being the wonderful husband and dad that he is each and every day and some from Father's Day.

Evan loves sports and has in turn taught me to love them ALMOST as much as he does.

Evan was wonderful during my labor with Denver. He was so loving, caring, and PATIENT

Evan was absolutely amazing with Denver the second the gave Denver to him. He also did great with the change in our original plans of delivering Denver and helped me feel better about things.

Love at first sight!

Daddy does almost all of Denver's baths!

Proud DadEvan picked out Denver's life verse and is a great example to

Denver of how to be a wonderful Dad!

Another Twins fan is born thanks to Evan!

Father's Day at the Zoo

Denver and Daddy posing for a picture after looking at some animals at the zoo.

Riding the Carasouel at the zoo

Photo Contest

We entered Denver in a photo contest. The winner will be on the cover of Parents magazine in November. People can recommend photos once a day and the most recommended photos each week could be featured in the weekly newsletter. Go vote for Denver! Gallery Link: http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=196700992

Swimming Pool Fun

We took Denver to the fitness center (that we are members at) and took him swimming. Denver continues to LOVE the water. There were a fair amount of kids so he was busy looking around the whole time.

Denver and Daddy going down the slide.

The next night it was still hot outside when Daddy got home from work so Denver got to go in his own pool! He enjoyed that as well.

Notice the sunglasses didn't last long!

"Now that I got the sunglasses off how do I get this hat off?"

Denver is not afraid to try and move around while he's sitting, but he still can't hold himself up well enough to crawl. He just sits in a tripod position on the floor and leans way over that if you didn't see his feet you'd almost think he was in a crawling position. There is little fear...he's wanting to pull himself up from a sitting to a standing position using things such as an EMPTY laundry basket. If we're not careful he's going to take a good tumble and not be a happy camper. (I'm sure we'll have plenty of those since he's a boy with little fear!)

"Yes! I finally figured out how to get this silly thing off my head!"

Of course Daddy left the frog outside to dry last night and it was windy today and Mommy had to go save it down at the neighbors house. Don't worry, it's okay, so Denver will have many more swimming adventures in it.