I am 8 months old!!!

I am 8 months old today and couldn't be happier!  Yeah! 

Here is what I have been up to:

• I am getting over a cold...been very stuffy (see picture below when I wasnt feeling good)! 
• Still only 2 bottom teeth but mommy and daddy can see the top ones are on their way!
• I am starting to push myself backwards on my tummy and....
• I figured out that I can pull my legs up to my tummy and Mommy and Daddy said I am getting ready crawl.  In fact, when mommy helps me push up my arms, I start rocking back and forth on my hands and knees...soon I will be on the move!
• Apparently, I am also able to find my paci in my sleep as Mommy said it was down by my feet when she checked in on me at 3am this morning and when I woke up at 6:30 am, she said it was in my mouth.
• I have a lovey...I love my fuzzy blanket!  Mommy and Daddy wish I was old enough to sleep with it all the time but she said the doctors and experts say it isn't safe yet.

Mommy and Daddy are picking out a new car seat for me.  I am ready for a big guy car seat.  Mommy has been doing lots of research to pick out just the right one.  So we are hoping to get my new ride on Sunday!  We are going to a baby store (Babies R Us) to pick something out.  Mommy also said we need to get some more baby proofing done since I am soon on the move. 

Not many pictures but we wanted to get my update posted today since it is such a big day!

Also, Mommy took some video (hope you can see the video below) with Daddy's phone of me being silly late one night this week...the picure quality isn't good but listen to me laugh!  Turn up your volume!!!  Mommy was tossing a soft colorful ball at me and it made me laugh.  Hope you do too!

Will write again soon and have more pictures!

Love you!

Aidan Russell

We haven't been hiding!

Hi Everybody!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post!  I have been busy...Mommy and Daddy too.

Here is what we have been up to since my last update:
First, an update on the basement/house
1.  After our basement flooded (due to ~15 inches of rain in 4 days and 5 inches in 3 hours), we have been busy fixing it up.  Mommy and Daddy found out from a contractor that 2-3 feet of drywall had to be torn out out of fear of mold.  So, Grandma and Grandpa Kramer came for the weekend (August 14-15) to help take care of me and get the drywall/insulation torn out.  They got it all out in time and didn't find any mold...whew!  Since then, the contractor has put the drywall back in and got it ready to paint.

2.  Speaking of painting....Mama and Papa Walkinshaw came for a visit over Labor Day.  They were so awesome to help us put dirt around the house to help water flow away from the house (and keep the basement dry), put in fabric and rock to finish the landscaping and to paint the entire basement.  Whew!  Everything looks great!  We have had a couple heavy rains since they left and Mommy ran outside during the rain to see how the water was flowing.  She said it was all moving away from the house very well! 

3.  Also, in between the basement flood and the painting over Labor Day weekend, classes started again at Iowa State.  So Daddy was busy helping the professors get their courses ready to teach and helping the online courses as well.  Mommy also got busy with work as she has 7 new graduate students in her office.  Mommy also started class again this fall after being out of class for a few semesters (thanks to me and my arrival).  So, I get to hang with Daddy on Monday nights while Mommy is in class.  Mommy is very glad she is done with class at 8pm and since I am a night owl, I am usually still awake when she gets home.

Now, my latest antics...
1.  Mama and Papa are staying connected with me via Skype.  When they were here, we skyped with Kylie and Keira which was very fun.  I am a little more interested in the keyboard on the computer (which makes Dad nervous) but I try to smile at the screen too.  Daddy also got Grandma and Grandpa Kramer a camera for their computer so we can Skype with them too.

2.  The biggest news yet...I have 2 TEETH!!!!!!   I got my first bottom tooth on Saturday, August 28.  Mommy was playing with me and when she went to rub my gums to see if anything was there yet, I bit her and it hurt (a little).  Mommy was so excited!   Then, within a week of that one popping through, I got my 2nd bottom tooth.  I am trying to be a tough guy, but sometimes my cold teething toys help me feel better.

3.  I also attended my first Iowa State Cyclone Football Game!  Mama, Papa, Mommy and I met Daddy at our tailgating spot.  Unfortunately it was too cold (Thursday night game) and rainy for me to wear my Cyclone Jersey for the game.  We had a good time at the tailgate with hotdogs and other goodies (although not for me).  When Daddy and Mommy took me to meet our 'football family', I was a hit.  Everyone loved to meet me!   I did pretty good throughout the game, but got a little scared by the first big touchdown.  I was also so tired and couldnt sleep with all the noise.  So, we left and half time and I fell asleep before we even got a minute down the road.  Go Cyclones!

4.  I have also begin wanting to feed myself.  Miss Jo (my teacher at 'school') said I am always grabbing at the spoon when she is giving me lunch.  I told her it is Mommy's fault 'cause she lets me try to feed myself at supper.  I am working on what mommy calls my 'pincher grasp' (thumb and pointer finger).  So, mommy gives me those yummy gerber puffs to feed  myself.  It is a little hard to do, but eventually I get those puffs in my mouth...then I am not so sure about them until they dissolve...yummy banana!

5.  Splashing in the bath - I still love my bath time.  Daddy caught me on video making a mess!  My favorite thing is when Mommy is leaning over to wash my hair and face, I splash really big and get her all wet!  She laughs along with me!

That is all I have been up to.  We will try to add some video when we figure out how to do that.

Will update again soon!

Love you!
Aidan Russell