Micah takes his sisters for an late afternoon stroll...

Soon he'll be running independently; until then it's fun to watch him toddle between his big sisters, who provide the perfect balance, don't you think?

By the way, he's 11 months old today. I guess I should start planning a where-did-the-first-year-go? birthday party soon. :)

He can't walk, but he can CLIMB!

This very joyful baby, full of surprises and determination, amazes me. You'd think with four kiddos I wouldn't be shocked too much; not with this boy--you never know what he'll do next.

Here he is doing what babies do: wanting to play with train pieces while chewing on their mother's circa-1970ish little people. And wondering how many tries it would take to sit on the scuffed, full of his sisters' scribbles, hand-me-down train table, instead of just standing there.

(Disclaimer: while you are looking at his progress, please ignore his sloppy attire. He wore this outfit to church yesterday and then came home and played so hard (while plotting his climb today, I'm sure) that he fell asleep in his crib while waiting for his nighttime bottle. I didn't have the heart to wake him up and put on his jammies. When he got up this morning, I couldn't keep this squirmy tike still long enough to snap all 150 (at least) snaps, so I just snapped two together on his backside to keep the overalls out of his way. So he looks a bit goofy...but, hey, it's just real life around here.)

One foot in...(what do you think he's thinking here? If only I had words for this expression...)
Oh, frustration!
That was just a momentary blimp... now two feet in:
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Up and almost over...

He did it! (Yeah!--I think...)

What do you think he'll tackle next? The bookcases and dressers are being bolted TODAY!

And when he finally learns to walk, we'll just stay out of his way. Because if he can't get around you, he might just walk over you! :)

Strawberry Deliciousness

A few picts from our field trip to pick eat strawberries:

Same picts...through a kaleidoscope

Little known facts and an ear infection

My baby never falls asleep in the highchair. He's always too eager to gulp down any food put in his path. But he's gummy-zwieback-cute nonetheless.

He fell asleep because he has an ear infection. Poor kid! He's had for a few days, but I was completely oblivious. He never pulled on his ears. He never had a fever. He wasn't all that fussy--even though his top teeth were breaking through. But his gunky and gross nose was constant. We even started calling him Snotty Scotty (not that Scott is even part of his name...it just rhymed...but don't you think he looks like a Scott?). And when we emptied a small bottle of infants' Pediacare, I knew it was time to bring in the big guy with a white coat. Sure enough, the ear was infected.

He's on the mend thanks to the amoxacillin and his nose didn't drip at all last night. Now that I've given you a little TMI, I thought I fill the rest of this entry with other trivial tidbits from this almost-11-months-old's life:

Micah will only fall asleep to the voice of Alan Jackson. Neither his Granny, nor I, can sing him to sleep. Mozart, Bach and Randy Travis don't cut it either. Only his crib, his blue crocheted blanket and AJ can soothe this boy straight into Dreamland.

For playtime, however, he expands his musical interests to include a variety of baby praise and classical orchestra CDs, even a little bit of leftover Sesame Street, and--prepare yourselves here--Big Bad VooDoo Daddies. This swingin' jazz group has the best baton twirling music so Micah gets a daily earful from his dancing sisters.

He only--as in no other way--drinks his formula mixed with 2 scoops of chocolate Nesquik. You think we're spoiling him? Probably--he's a tried and true Mama's Boy...because I have a glass with him. :)

He asks for bananas by name. Seriously, if a banana is on your counter, he morphs into a hyperactive monkey anticipating a feeding frenzy at the zoo as he screeches and grunts over that 'naaaannnnnaaaaa.

He's the great Houdini of pacifiers. His growing collection could be tied down to his crib or his hand or his clothes but somehow, someway they mysteriously disappear into the bottomless Paci Pit underneath his crib, not to be found until he magically retrieves them himself. This is very inconvenient for a groggy mama at 3am.

His favorite toys are a plastic spoon and an unopened container of M&M minis. He's so easy to please and keep entertained.

Any day now he'll take his first step. He's ready to run...I'll keep you posted.