Just because...

What a cutie! :)

Happy Monday!

Ten Months

Dear Levi,

Ten months! You are at such a fun age right now. You are so observant. You listen carefully to each sound you hear and are always ready to explore and find out what it is. I love watching you take in all of your surroundings and learn new things.

You started waving at yourself and at Mom and Dad a few weeks ago but decided it wasn't for you! You completely stopped for a little while, but I've noticed you waving again in the last few days. You make lots of noises, and you've said mamamama and dadadada a few times but you don't use any words consistently.

I love to see your personality change as you get older. You are still a momma's boy, but lately you've been following Dad around the house and even patting him on the shoulder when he picks you up. Maybe we are turning the corner in the momma-separation anxiety department! You hate to hear the word "no" and usually drop your head into your hands and cry when we say it but sometimes you look at us, smile, and giggle.

You are a loud little boy. You love to scream- when you're mad, sad, happy and excited! Mindi said the other day you were standing next to the couch, and Aubrey was sitting up there playing. You screamed, and she fell off the couch. She looked up and said "Wevi (I love that!) scared me!"

You are an expert at cruising around furniture now, and you've experimented with standing on your own and even taking a few wobbly steps between furniture. You will even cruise along the wall to get around. You are a fast little guy! When you see what you want, you don't let anything get in your way- even George. The other day you crawled right over him (or at least tried) to get to the night light plugged into the wall.

You've started antagonizing George lately. You love to pull his tail and his ears. He doesn't seem to mind. Usually, he just gets up and moves away, but you startle him now and then. You also love his toys, blankets, and bones. We have to watch you carefully. A few days ago you were crawling around, and all of a sudden we heard you choking. We ran over to you and found a piece of George's bone in your mouth! YUCK! You threw a nice little fit when we took it away from you.

You have 4 teeth now! We noticed 2 new ones in just the last week or so. You weigh about 21 pounds. You're still wearing size 3 diapers, and you are wearing 9 month clothing and a few 12 month shorts to fit around your buddha belly.

This month brought the end of my summer at home with you. I have absolutely loved being home with you for the last few months! I loved watching you grow and learn and being the one here to take care of you. This year Mindi is taking care of you. We will miss getting to see the Drennons every day, but I know that you will have fun with Mindi, Aubrey, and Brooklyn. It's already fun to see the friendship between you and Brooklyn. The other day when I went to pick you up, you two were standing on either side of a toy jabbering at each other.

I've been working on a few things for you birthday party. I can't believe it, but it will be here before we know it! We love you!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Big Lora, Little Lora, and Levi

While we were visiting my grandparents (see the post below this one), we took some pictures with 3 very special trees...yes, I said trees. :) My grandparents have had agriculturists come out to look at the trees and try to pinpoint exactly what type they are, but no one can figure it out! They took the original tree from my great-grandmother's yard. I was named for her. She was known as "Big Lora", and I was "Little Lora."

You can just barely see "Big Lora" in this picture. The tree is off to the left side of the picture.

Levi and I with "Little Lora" This tree sprouted from "Big Lora"

And not long ago, my grandparents noticed another tree (just like the other 2) pop up along the fence line. It is now known as "Levi"

Way Out West

A few weeks ago my mom and I loaded up Levi and traveled out west with my aunt, cousins, my cousin's wife Haley, and her kids to see my grandparents. It was a trek out there, but Levi did great! He loved all of the entertainment he had in the car. In fact, he loved it so much that he didn't sleep at all on the 9 hour trip out there!

While we were there we did a lot of visiting, took the kids to the park, and took a tour of my mom and aunt's favorite spots around town. Levi loved my Gigi and Pops' house and cruised around the living room in circles. The furniture was just the right height- he wore himself out! He loved spending time at Meemaw and Poppie's house too. He enjoyed watching all the big kids play and fighting with Landry for snacks.

One night, Levi would not go to sleep. I fought it for a while, but finally just decided to let him get up and burn off some more energy. While he was sitting with me in the recliner, he'd look over at my mom and just burst out laughing! She wasn't even acting silly, but for some reason he thought she was hilarious. When Mat gets really tired he gets silly like that, so maybe Levi is taking after his Daddy on this one.

Levi and Gigi on the porch. I have lots of fond memories of early morning "Gigi coffees" (which is a lot of cream and sugar with a splash of coffee) on this porch.

Watching Pop work in the yard

This picture is blurry, but it is too sweet not to post!

Precious Landry

Meemaw and Levi playing with the beach ball

Levi's first trip to the park. Unfortunately it was way too hot to stay and enjoy for very long.

Our little daredevil loved the swing!

Hanging out with the big boys

What a fun week we had with our family! We only wish Daddy could have joined us for the fun!

Splish Splash

Bath time with Dad is so much fun!

Ice Ice Baby

Levi loves cold things like cold cups and Sonic ice. He's like a little bird when there's a Sonic cup around- right there waiting for a piece of ice. A few weeks ago, our air conditioner went out, so I let Levi hang out in his diaper and gave him so cold washcloths to play with. He loved it!

Distractions

Mat likes to make up songs, and he's pretty good at it.

Last night, while I was trying to feed Levi, Mat was shaking a can of puffs. Levi was completely uninterested with what I was doing (which is unusual since I had food), but he was loving the noises Dad was making and the song he was singing:

Distractions, Distractions

Mommy hates them, Levi loves them

Daddy is the one who does them

Distractions, Distractions....

It sounds kind of like Winnie the Pooh. You'll have to ask Mat to sing it for you the next time you see him.

This morning he started singing it again and then said, "Aren't you impressed- it rhymes and I resolved the melody"

I love my husband.