Carden's Splits!!

Carden found a way to SLIDE his way down to the floor instead of just plopping down!
He always makes me smile! I just love being a mommy!

Well, I just feel like writing down some thoughts. I'm excited to go back to teaching dance but then at the same time sad. I really don't want to leave Carden, but I also want to help our family financially (seeing we are in Law school). I know that it is only two hours that I will be gone from him on Tues and Thursdays, but sometimes that feels like a lot of time. I'm thankful for this job and I know it will be good for me to keep up with my dance technique. It is a hard job but very rewarding to see children learn as well as have fun! I'm also thankful though to have a sister that lives so close so that Carden will be able to go play with his fun cousins while I am teaching. Sometimes I just can't believe how Brynley did it with going longer than two hours from her first newborn baby! Well, we will see how this next semester goes...

I need to just report some things that Carden has been doing lately:

Tomorrow Carden will be 8 months old! The last month he has been doing some pretty amazing things (well to me as his Mommy):
1. He is getting so good at picking up cheerios or any finger food and putting it in his mouth.
He uses his little pincher fingers and it is so cute. He won't let me put it in his mouth, but instead will pinch his fingers until he gets the cheerio (which usually takes ONE try!)
2. He loves to find his Binky and put it in himself.
3. He loves to smile both with his lips and his eyes! This lady at Walmart on Thanksgiving day was just blown away by Carden's shining face. She said that he OUT BEATS any Gerber baby ad! She couldn't believe how happy he was! He is a happy baby.
4. Like when he wants to get out of the bath or his walk around toy he will just reach up with his hands. He usually does his whole opening and closing of his hands (like when he eats and wants more) but tries to stand up and grab for your hand. Carden loves to stand. He is getting so fast at getting up to the fridge, wall, chair, bed, tub, etc.
5. He especially loves to chase after you! He is good at finding Mommy or Daddy! He is a fast little crawler. He loves to catch up to his Daddy before he goes back to his "Den" to study and then grabs his pants and pulls his little body up to get some kisses and hugs from him.
6. Carden has been fidgety lately when I try to nurse him to sleep. So now instead I just cradle him soooo close to my face.
7. Carden found out how to play "Peek-a-boo" with Grandma when she was here using the blanket over the head. He loves this game and starts to giggle every time you say "boo". Tonight I was playing with it while he was standing up to the chair and he laughed so hard that he just fell back to the ground. It was great!
8. He loves to stick out his tongue. He loves to say "Daa Daa". He has been so much more vocal lately. It is almost like he is singing when he starts to talk! (It reminds me of SAM!)
9. Carden loves to drink out of a cup. He loves to eat any kind of food. He is getting so good at eating chunky foods. He loves avocado, strawberries, bananas, and when Daddy feeds him cereal in the morning with apple sauce!
10. Carden is still SO BALD, but we see there is a little shagginess going on lately on the sides of Carden's head. We actually might have to give him a hair cut!!!

I think this sums it up. It is just so fun to watch Carden learn and grow!