Boy (n): A Noise With Dirt On It

                                    

 

Dirt is a major thing around here that never goes unnoticed or gets neglected.  These boys can play in dirt anytime, anywhere, and can never get enough of it.  

Miles is 10 months Old

I'm doing my best to stay caught up with Miles' monthly updates.  Our little guy turned 10 months old two weeks ago and has been exploring lots of new things.  He can now stand up on his own, without wanting to sit down immediately.  He drinks from a sippy cup and has been trying to take a few steps here and there.    It has been so much fun watching him grow up and try new things. You can tell he gets excited when he's able to stand up for a long time period without holding onto anything.  It's cute.  

To say that Miles is getting into things would be a major understatement.  He's still into climbing objects and tries to get as high as he can on something.  Miles loves being outside and in the dirt.  Being outside in the dirt is probably the one place where he doesn't need/want Brooks or I to be around.  He's content and willing to entertain himself without us around.  

Miles has also started showing major signs of independence... when it comes to eating-- he'd prefer to hold food himself or put the spoon in his mouth himself.  He'd much rather table food then baby food, but is still willing to eat the baby food- thank goodness. Miles has decided he'd rather climb the stairs then be held when going up.  The only problem is we're not ready for that!!  We're planning on keeping the gate on the stairs up, but have learned we have to make sure it stays closed.  Miles is fast and always looks to see whether it's open or not.  He's pretty proud of himself if he makes it through the gate before we can close it.  

**Pause my music to hear Miles squeal with excitement at his accomplishment!  

 
 Trying a sippy cup for the first time and standing up on his own.

 
 Practicing walking with daddy.

Helping himself to some crackers in the pantry-- told you he's independent. 

Fun Weekend

Brooks got Thursday AND Friday off of work last week so we took advantage of having him around the entire weekend and loved every minute of it.  We went bowling at our rec center one morning and had a blast!  Gavin loved getting to throw the bowling ball and he was so proud of himself that he could lift it all by himself and carry it to the lane.  Brooks tried teaching him how to bowl the right way, but Gavin didn't care.  I even took a shot at bowling, but after throwing the ball just once, my belly hurt so I turned in my bowling shoes and cheered the others on.

 

 

 

Friday afternoon we spent some time on the beach.  The weather has been amazing lately, it's actually enjoyable to be outside.  Brooks and Gavin played out in the water; Brooks took out his snorkel gear and attempted to look for fish.  Miles ate sand.  Okay, so maybe he played in it too, but he mostly ate it.

 

I just wanted ONE good picture

Is it too much to ask for just one good picture with mommy since I'm always the one taking the pictures?

 

 

 

 

It rained in Saudi.

Miles turned 9 Months Old- last month

Our little boy is growing up so fast.  He turned 9 months old on September 30th and started showing us his true personality.  He's become mobile; he climbs on anything, pulls up, reaches, & grabs for what he can get to, and is basically into EVERYTHING!   Part of Miles new personality that is showing is how funny he is.  This kid makes us laugh all the time.  He's just goofy.  He makes funny faces and random noises.  He loves picking things up, looking at them, then throwing them over his shoulder.  His new favorite spot is the dishwasher door- NOT his changing table, which he can't stand now.  Miles has learned how to lift the toilet seat up and enjoys playing in toilet water.  Ugh- gross.  We now have to keep the bathroom doors closed at all times.  He also has found the brushes that are used for cleaning the toilet bowls (which are attached to the walls behind every toilet in our house)- those are now put up.  

We've been exploring more table food with Miles, something I never would have done this early with Gavin, but I guess that's the 2nd kid for ya.  Miles is loving the food we've been letting him try.  He loves mashed potatoes, crackers, tuna, baked chicken, and rice.  He tends to be finicky with some foods, but for the most part, he hasn't turned down too many things.  Oh yea, he loves french fries... I wonder if it has something to do with how many french fries I ate while pregnant with him.  He's already had a taste of chocolate from the Chocolate Chip Banana Bread I made for breakfast and he devoured it.  He's also sneaky and put his fingers in the bowl while I was mixing the batter.  

Miles is still laid back as ever, but has started expressing his opinion when it comes to foods & eating meals.  He still eats homemade baby food, but would almost rather feed himself.  He takes a bottle every 4 hours and every evening we never know if he's going to take a dinner time bottle or if his 3pm bottle is enough for him.  He sleeps in until 7:30/8am daily and can make it to 9:00am on occasions.  

We've started working on baby signs just to see if he can pick any of it up and so far he can successfully sign "out" when in his high chair by raising his arms above his head.  We're trying really hard to teach him the sign "more" since he has started screeching when he wants more food.  Oh, I'm so ready for that stage to be over with already.  

Miles tries very hard to keep up with Gavin and is exploring the ability to stand on his own and has attempted to take a few steps here and there.  He chases after Gavin and they do great playing together.  We love listening to the two of them giggle and goof off with each other!  

 

Christmas is Here!!!

Normally, someone would start putting decorations up after Thanksgiving to allow themselves at least 3 weeks or so to enjoy the Christmas feel around the home.  So, since we are leaving for the states in about 3 weeks and won't be back to the KSA until 5 days before Christmas, we decided to decorate our house for Christmas-- just in time to allow us a few weeks enjoying all our decor and that way, we don't have to do any decorating the week we get back-- between traveling, jetlag, and unpacking you don't have much motivation.  Plus, I don't won't to spend the day before Christmas decorating the house when I'd know a few days later, I'd want to put it all up, in order to be ready for Brooklyn's arrival!  

So, last weekend after the boys' haircuts and our lunch outside, we took out the two boxes we have that stores our Christmas decorations and turned our house into a Christmas village-- okay, so I'm exaggerating, but it's definitely Christmas around the Perry house!  Gavin loved helping Brooks and I put things out and he was a huge help in putting our tree together!  He even helped with placing ornaments all around the tree. Miles was there to touch and feel EVERYTHING!  He's done awesome with the decorations around the house and other then knocking down the small tree we have, twice, he's left everything else alone.  It's moments like these, when Brooks and I realize just how grateful we are to still be able to celebrate something that means so much to us and to make memories with our kids even though we're on this side of the world.  

Gavin took this picture of his and Miles tree when it was finished!