Eight Month Pictures

I have been remiss! I took these pictures nearly a month ago and I am finally getting around to posting them! Sorry to all you who love and are far away. Here is a series of his 8 month Girafferoo pictures - there were too many good ones to pick just one this month.

   
And here is a time lapse of what happens when you get close enough to the boy that he thinks he can reach you:
First, the idea strikes and he reaches:
 
Then he lunges with no regard for personal safety:
 
This month Donny also got to meet his first baby chicks. He was pretty unimpressed, although he did really like the glowing red heat lamp that hung over them:
 
Here are a couple more of my favorites from this month:
In his car seat box:
 
and all ready to go!
 
Donny is getting stronger and busier all the time, but he is still showing no interest in crawling or moving around the room in any other way. I am thrilled that he will still stay put! I can put him on the floor with a basket of toys and a couple of pillows to protect him from himself when he randomly squeals and throws himself backwards, and he is still going to be there when I check on him. This makes taking him to the office much easier than it will be when he is mobile!

Our most recent development is that he will now say "hi" (more like Hah, hah!") and as of today "bye bye" (also bah, bah!) and wave when he is prompted to do so. So cute! I caught him waving at another baby today.

I am getting ready to go to New York for work next week. Packing begins soon, and a new haircut and color, and trying not to think about leaving Donny and Andy for a whole week... I can't be too sad, because I will see 10 shows while I am there! and schmooze with 15 or so others who are doing the same job I am in other places across the country. Being a Mom makes me both dread and be excited for March 24th!

And one final photo for this post taken by my sister:
 

Images from CYT this year

For those of you who love CYT like I do... and for those who are interested in what I do, here are some images from the last year of CYT shows in Vancouver/Portland.

                    

Look Who's Tired Now!

 

Well, our 7 1/2 month old has graduated to a big boy carseat! At nearly 22lb, he had maxed out the weight limit for the "bucket" seat, so now we are carrying him to and from the car. Donny seems to be thrilled with his new luxury seat. He has lots of room to wiggle in and a better view out the back window. He also likes to be sitting all the way up. In the baby seat he would try to sit up by pulling his head and shoulders forward as far as possible - and hold it that way for much of the car ride. This picture was taken on the way home from a long day at the theater. 

My play Little Women opened Friday night, so he has had a week of babysitters and hours at the theater. He is a contented guy, and doesn't seem to mind the shuffle... though he does get a little overwhelmed in the green room with a dozen little girls cooing over him! Here he is on move in day, following his director Mama all over the theater on important business:
 

Rehearsals went really well, and the show is one of my favorites. Below are some pictures from rehearsals. First of me giving direction to some of the parent volunteers, and some parents working on sets backstage:
  
One of the actors having facial hair installed:
 
And a couple shots from the show:
  

My choreographer (and good friend) Rhonda, one of my actresses (also my housekeeper on occasion) Audrey, and myself at the cast party after opening night.
 

Donny got all dressed up for opening night too! He tried to help usher, but he was too distracting, and wanted to eat the programs instead of passing them out, so we had to fire him.
   
He danced with me at the party too... but we didn't stay long because it was almost eleven when we got there and he hadn't slept since 5:30.

Another milestone passed almost unnoticed this week. It was Valentine's Day, the fourth anniversary of our engagement. But, with Andy in the sound booth, me in the audience taking notes on the final dress rehearsal, and Donny entertaining his sitters, we didn't do much besides exchange chocolate and cards. Donny got his first Valentine with a cash gift from Grammy and Grandpa Shire... It didn't impress him much.
 

What a cutie pie! Here he is talking to the camera.
 

Now this tired Mama is going to put herself to bed!

2:09 am

7 months old!

Who's seven months old?

 
Donny has grown dramatically in the last month. 
He is now 20lb 11oz (almost too big for his car seat!) putting him at the 83rd percentile for weight.
And at 27 3/4 inches he has jumped up to the 73rd percentile for height! Look at that leg stretch!
 
Donny recently tried on an outfit from Singapore that once was a gift for his older cousin Jack from Uncle Danny and Aunt Betsy who live in Singapore. Isn't he a doll!
 
Speaking of his cousins, Donny finally got to meet his cousin Katie and visit Jack last month. He didn't pay much attention to the baby (she was adorable, but sleepy). He liked watching his busy toddler cousin moving around though! Here he is with his Grandparents and the cousins.
  
Our big boy is a sitter now! He sometimes falls still, but usually it's on purpose because he likes to play the "down! up!" game on one of our laps. Unfortunately, it hurts when he does that on the floor - so I still put a pillow behind him if I'm not going to be close by to catch him. He sure likes it!
   
I can't believe the joy he brings to our house. What a blessing!