Alder in a Box

The other day we took pictures of Alder for a moving/birth announcement card to send out to friends and family. Alder absolutely loved being in the box with all the paper. Who knew a cardboard box and some paper was so exciting. We just picked one for the card, but thought all of them were pretty cute.

What a Difference

As I went back through our videos taken of Alder since he was born in January, I could not believe the difference. He has grown so quickly and developed in so many wonderful and engaging ways. This first video was taken when we was just a week old. He cannot control his arms and looks just so confused by the world around him. I want to cry just looking at him at that sweet newborn stage. As he grows, I miss those early days but fall quickly in love with all the new milestones he reaches, the person I am getting to know and the excitement he has for all that is around him.



Alder at week one.


Alder at 8 months


He loves his walker and while cruising in it the other day he found our antique and very delicate lawyer bookcase. He stopped, studied (as he does all things) before touching it, reached right for the knob on the second shelf, and would lift it and drop it, lift it and drop it. He did this with great caution. Alder amazed us at how many times he did this over and over again. I tried to capture it on the flip video this morning, but as sensitive as Mr. Man is to his surroundings he made a beeline right for me AND the camera.

Sacked Out

Please do not call Children's Services on me. I had laid him at the top of the pack 'n play with one blanket on him and the light blue one was at the foot of the bed. He obviously turned himself horizontal across the pack 'n play and pulled all of his blankets up to his face. Its just amazing that babies do all of this in their sleep and do not wake up.

My two front teeth

Alder has cut his two front teeth and he looks just so funny with them. They came at a great cost though. Last week and the week before Alder was just miserable. Because he was teething and was so congested, he got a double ear infection. Oh, he was pitiful. When Alder cut his bottom two teeth back in June he was congested then, but would just cry and be inconsolable. It was just like that this time around too. He would just cry and cry. Nothing would make it better and he would not even nurse (honestly... it really wears you out). This picture was taken one morning after a crying spell and a lot of tugging on his ears. I think you can tell that his face is all blotchy, but I was able to capture a smile because every time I get out the camera he smiles. I sat with him on the chair and we watched a little baby video snuggled up with each other. It was so sweet and he sat there as he watched patting my arm. That made all the bad naps, sleepless nights, and fussiness worth it. By the way, Alder's two front teeth are seemingly HUGE and every morning the teeth seem two times bigger than they were when I put him to bed. Funniest thing.

Favorite Activity with Dada

I took this video before we moved but this "activity" continues to be Alder's favorite thing to do with Dada. The higher the better. Such a boy already.
*Jared is careful yet the 10 foot ceilings in our new house are extremely tempting.

Such a Big Boy

The Mountains

Now that I am finally caught up into August the month has just now passed. It was a very busy and chaotic month with a move, constant workers in the new house, and settling in but we were able to get away for a week with my family to the mountains. We have loved going up to the mountains summer after summer. The days are filled with sunning on the dock, tubing, boat rides, reading, long mountain walks, cool breezes, and sweet family time. I do not have a picture of all of us simple because when we go we never leave the house really except for the grocery store and so there was no one around to take a family shot. Oh well. Enjoy!

Lee and Charlie's Wedding

In late July I was privileged to be apart of Lee Ade and Charlie Stout's wedding. These two I have know for the longest time. Charlie and I grew up down the street from each other and Lee and I have been dear friends since 7th grade. Lee and Charlie dated almost 10 years before getting married on July 19th. For most of those years it was a long distance relationship and I think all of us that know them are so amazed at their committment to one another. It was a great weekend seeing old friends and Lee was a most beautiful bride. I enjoyed the laughter, stories, and hearing everyone's hopes for the future. It is a special thing... those relationships from high school. I feel blessed that so many of my close friends now are ones that I made back then.