Easter and all that stuff

For Easter weekend we headed down south and spent some time with mom and dad in Cardston and with Coy’s parents at the ranch in Mountain View. We had a great time with the folks, playing games and going to church with them on Sunday. On Monday Miles met the cows for the first time and he went crazy!!!! We got within 15 feet of about 50 cows with their calves and Miles was flapping his arms, kicking his feet, and squealing with excitement. No big surprise, the cows didn’t stick around, but we still couldn’t get the smile off of Miles’ face. On the way back from Southern Alberta, Coy decided to pull a Britney and let Miles do a little driving. I'm guessing however, that I was the only paparazzi snapping pictures.

Miles is also becoming increasingly mobile. He's now sitting up on his own officially as of March 29th - without too many face plants. He's finding himself trapped in some awkward places and is keeping our hardwood floors spic n span as he pushes himself backwards all over the place.

Happy 1/2 King MAB

I have a girlfriend who has declared the six month mark between her birthdays as her half birthday. She started this when she was in elementary school and even though she's the middle of seven children, her parents, brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews all continue to observe the 1/2 birthday with her, including cake and presents. That’s impressively persuasive. No one else in the family gets a 1/2 birthday. Anyways . . . today is Miles 1/2 birthday. Can you believe how quickly time flies. We couldn't be happier about being Miles' parents. He's really starting to show his personality and his will (could be interesting), but looking forward to every minute of it. Happy 1/2 big M! Its finally started to warm up in Calgary so we've been trying to get outside a little more. On Thursday Miles went for a walk with his friend Simon. Yesterday Miles and I went for a walk in the weasel head at North Glenmore Park. It was gorgeous, but also fairly deserted. I decided to call Coy and let him know where we were just in case we never returned home - I figured bears and crazy people would be our biggest concern. Does anyone know when the bears decide to wake up?

We don't want you to miss anything

For those just checking in, there are actually two new posts below for your viewing and reading pleasure.

"Solid Foods?"

We thought it was time to introduce Miles to "solid foods" or at least some really runny rice cereal. The clue that it was at least time to try him on solids - Miles has been staring at every piece of food we've been putting in our mouths for the last three weeks. So today (as in Monday March 19th) was the day. The first two pictures above are "the before" . . . you can see that the anticipation is high. He actually really liked the food for about 10 bites and then he just really wanted to suck on something . . . my hand, the high chair, so we were done for the day. All in all I think it was a big success. His face was as messy before hand from drool as it was afterwards from a very small trace of cereal. Go Miles!

Life is getting more exciting

So Miles is starting to move around, but as Coy described it, he's kind of shy about letting us know his techniques. He rarely moves when we're in the room except for the occasional role here and there, but when we leave we'll come back to find him in the most interesting places. Below I found him half way under the loveseat in our kitchen.I went downstairs to put a load of laundry in and when I came back I found Miles about five feet from where I'd left him, gumming the exersaucer like crazy. You can't really tell from the picture, but his face was covered in happy drool.

Coy and Miles have something else in common . . . their extreme love of milk. On another of Miles' escapades about the kitchen, I came into the room to discover him playing with all of the "to be recycled" milk cartons. Although Miles doesn't yet take his milk in this form, I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before he can keep up with his papa's milk consumption.

The Ladies' Man

Miles and Grandpa . . . just hanging out.

We thought it was time to post again. I can't believe how fast the time flies by and how quickly Miles is growing up. I need to get him weighed, but I'm pretty sure he's pushing 20 lbs and I'm feeling the pain. But he's soooo much fun and already a determined flirt. I was visiting teaching at a friend's house yesterday. She has an 8 month old baby girl and I don't know what got Miles going, but every time he looked at baby Kiera, he would start to giggle uncontrollably. The best description of his laugh is that it's Scott Swendsenish and very contagious. He had all of us in stitches. I also caught him holding hands with another friend's little girl last Saturday. I think we may need to keep our eye on him. What kind of parent puts their kid in the laundry basket anyway?

Miles spends a lot of time in his exersaucer allowing me to get one or two things done in a day. Thank you Amanda and Seth and Eve.Miles' glow worm friend. He spends a lot of time chewing on the light bulb nose and we're waiting for it to become a hazard.

The Bumbo

Miles' first time in the Bumbo chair. Both Coy and I had to get in on this pic. The next day . . . he's starting to get the hang of it, but still a bit tippy.

Coy and Miles getting in some solid papa and son time. Coy goes for the more mature reading. I'm the one reading him "Fuzzy, Fuzzy, Fuzzy." We've decided Miles has an extra drool gland. This guy has gotten juicy. He's shirts are usually soaked within minutes of putting them on. I'm running out even as we speak to buy extra bibs.

Miles' First Christmas

We had a great Christmas, made especially fantastic by the addition of Miles to our family. We spent Christmas at Coy's parent's ranch in Mountain View. There were 41 of us at the ranch and Miles was incredibly easy going and happy, despite the craziness and having croup. The highlights . . . as always, the Special Olympics Christmas Eve program was a big hit, especially when Charlie's 40 year old daughter-in-law did the splits. I'm not going to lie, it was impressive. Paint can curling on the pond out front was also very enjoyable. There was also a Karaoke competition in which I took an early lead, however Coy's sister Neeley knocked me out of first place with her perfect score.

Miles towards the end of the Special Olympics Christmas Eve program. He's thinking, " And this is the family you stuck me with?????"

Miles spent some time inspecting his stocking loot while he waited to open his Christmas presents - we didn't open presents until 11:00 am, so he had a long wait. I had no idea that Miles was a Harry Connick Jr. fan, but apparently he'd asked for Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas CD.

Miles with his cousin Colby who was born in April.

The Nativity Pageant

We took Miles to his first Nativity Pageant on Friday, December 22, 2006. We got to see both Anna's & Krista's fabulous work as shepherds, but we missed Natalie who had just come off stage. Thankfully it was a warm night by Calgary standards and Miles seemed like he might have some interest in this nativity thing.

Canadian Winters

The first time I put Miles into his snow suit, I couldn't stop laughing and so Miles couldn't stop smiling . . . but true to form, this was the closest I could get to capturing a smile on film.

The many faces of Miles

Miles is getting incredibly smiley and talkative. There's nothing to beat his big smile in the morning when I get him out of his crib. This is Miles with Grandma Beaton. Check out his cheeks! We're pretty sure he's about 13 1/2 pounds, but we'll find out for sure at his 2-month checkup this week.

Miles and friends.

Miles and Sam got to meet when Jessica and Sam were up for a visit. Miles is quite in awe of his older and much wiser cousin. Eliza, Anna, and Miles at his family baby shower.

Apparently only Bennett & Miles got the memo . . .

So poor Miles was out and about with his mom all day. By the time we got home at 5:30, we had just enough time to get a few pumpkin pictures alone and with friends, before Miles was DONE for the day. No trick or treating this year. It can be tough to maintain your manliness with fringe at the neck. I think Miles does a good job. Simon Allison stopped by for a visit. He looks pretty tough!

What, more pictures?

Sorry for all the pictures - Grandma has been asking. Finally, a total smile caught on film. That was a lot of hard work!

This is horrible to say, but baby bodies remind me a little to much of the frogs we disected in junior high. I think its the rounded middle.

Miles is quite pleased to hang with his friends Leroy (a boy's name on Coy's list - vetoed by Carolyn) and Ella Tingle.

Smiles . . .

Miles has been smiling for about two weeks, but most of our attempts to capture his smiles on film were less than satisfactory. I hope you enjoy.