Kirsten and Mark

The older Brit gets, the more things that happen in a week and the more I need to post about them, but something always seems to prevent it….like a baby who only takes 2 naps now and likes attention all the time. So, I have to try to remember all the things that we’ve done and he’s done in the past week. Sadly, my memory has gotten a lot worse than it used be.

I’ve written about his teeth before, but he now has 5 teeth coming in all at once. It’s made him a bit more cranky and needy. He doesn’t like to play on his own as much as usual, and he likes to have me hold him. Then he’s completely fine. It’s so cute looking in his little mouth and seeing all his teeth though. There are 3 on top: 2 front and 1 on the left side. Then the 2 bottom middle.

I’ve been hard at work trying to promote Sprout Shell. We landed in a Holiday Gift Guide by Posh Mama–thanks to one of our retailers–and there’s an interview with City Mommy at citymommy.com. We’ve also added a clearance section to our website for those of you who missed out on the sample sale and still want to get a great deal on our slightly imperfect products.

Thursday I went with my friend Kristie to an open house for a med spa in her work building. It was fun to see all the “old” women there who had obviously had some work done already, and who were searching for more things to help them look better. In reality, they didn’t look too good at all. Kind of sad. We went for the chance to win permanent makeup treatments–for Kristie. I’m way too chicken to do it.

Friday Brit played with his friends as we parents and friends celebrated Ashley’s graduation. It was fun to get together, because it doesn’t happen very often that we can coordinate schedules to accommodate everyone. Brit is still the littlest of his friends. Hudson is a couple inches taller at least. And Mav, well, Brit’s definitely not even close. It’s interesting to see how different they are, even though they’re so close in age.

Saturday Paige and Cliff were our models for some new Sprout Shell photos. These will be going up on our site to show them in action. They look a lot better that way. Thanks guys! They look great. That night we ventured into Beverly Hills for the annual Snowflake lighting party. And this is the best part–Brit got to meet Santa! I was so excited when I saw the golden chair on Via Rodeo. There was a line, but I didn’t care. He had to see him. Especially since this one was nice looking and not creepy. The pictures speak for themselves:

Mark and I then stepped in and once I was holding him he calmed down and we got a cute family pic.

Those white specs are “snow” blown out of machines on top of the building. It’d be cool if they were actually snow makers, but it blows out tiny clumps of bubbles, like soap. So not the same!

The fire works were pretty good, and Brit was mesmerized.

This week has also been a first for some foods–he tried black beans and guacamole and loves them both. I’ve tried avocado before, but he always spit it out. But, we were eating out Saturday after the party and he wanted food too. So, we gave him the closest baby-friendly food we had–Mark’s guacamole. He wanted more and more. Then, we tried black beans on Sunday and he loved those too. I guess all that Mexican food I’ve had paid off.

With the moving and climbing has come the spills and falls. Sunday he bonked his head on a chair at church. It left a nice bruise on his temple. Then yesterday he slipped and hit near his chin on the bookshelf. It left a nice red mark. But, today was the worst. He flipped the tray off his Bumbo while I was in the kitchen and as he was looking down at it, probably trying to reach it, he fell out and landed on the tray that was upside down–not smooth and gentle. I rushed over, and he only cried a bit, but soon a big red spot with scrapes developed. I felt so bad! So, lesson: no more leaving him while in the Bumbo, even with the tray on. He’s getting a new chair for Christmas.

His hair is getting pretty long on top, and curly. Sometimes it’s just out of control.

Wow. What a week it’s been! And, as I’m writing this Brit was making his final preparations for Earthly entry 8 months ago today! I can hardly believe it. He’s grown and changed so much and is becoming quite a little boy rather than a baby.

A couple of weeks ago, this was as close as he got to standing or pulling up on anything at all

Now, this is what we have all the time:

Seriously, I can hardly do anything without him climbing on me and everything else.

Sometimes he’s a little sneaky about it,

But, usually he just pops right up.

He’s also loving the coasters too. Apparently they’re a great teething toy. Maybe that cow is good too.

But, whatever it is, it’s sure exciting.

We just love this smiley, happy, curious, smart and sweet little boy!

We had our Sprout Shell sale on Saturday with great results. There are also some new developments in the wholesale and promotion departments, so that’s really exciting.

On Friday Brit waved to Mark as he left for work. It was mostly just raising his arm and moving it a little bit. So cute! He’s also gotten his two bottom teeth. Now he has his 4 front teeth coming in all at once! The one on the top is really coming in the fastest, but the other ones aren’t far behind. He’s actually doing pretty well with them, but is a lot more cranky than usual, especially in early evening. I’m excited for when they’re actually visible in pictures.

That night Mark and I had our Four-Year Dateiversary. It’s amazing we’ve been together four years. It’s gone by so quickly, and life has never been better. We “celebrated” by going to dinner with some of his friends from the Art Institute for a couple of their birthdays. It was a lot of fun, even if garlic was everywhere. The Stinking Rose is a very appropriate name.

Brit also sneaked in giving “High-5s” just before his 8-month mark. Mark tried it last night, and he put up his little hand and did it a few times. I tried it again today and he’s done it every time–except when Paige was here. There he drew the line. Maybe it’s just a mommy/daddy thing. We think babies and little kids are funny like that. Like the singing frog. They’ll do lots of things for their parents, but as soon as anyone else is looking, they have no idea what you’re talking about. Here is a video of Britton giving 5.

Yes, that tiny little white line by his lip is a tooth. It seemed to be visible one day, and broke through the next. He’s also getting the one next to it as well. He really didn’t want to cooperate for a photo though. So, two top teeth coming in, but that bottom one remains the same as it has been for the past 2 1/2 months–a white dot.

By the looks of things, he’s going to look pretty cute with teeth too, so I’m excited. But, not so excited about feeding him. That won’t be so much fun.

Last Tuesday he was so patriotic. He exercised his right to rally, and he voted. Well, I did those things, but he was there, so it’s kind of the same thing.

This week he’s also discovered more of the apartment and now enjoys climbing up on things. He doesn’t usually pull himself to standing, but can if he wants to. One of his favorite things is the book shelf. He loves playing with things on the bottom shelf. He climbs up in his crib now too, so we need to lower it again.

I bought him a plate so we could introduce more than one food for dinner, and not eat from the jar. It also has lots of colors and teaches red, green and yellow in Spanish, English and French. He wanted to show it off. I think he’s pretty excited.

I’ve made him some home made baby food because it’s cheaper than the store-bought variety. I’ve made green beans, peas, carrots, pears and apples for him. Strangely enough, he likes the store kind better! I have to mix mine with the other so he’ll eat it. This is last night with the green beans. He loves them otherwise. Oh, and the orange dot is from his other food. He likes to move around, and that’s where the spoon landed.

This is the moving..he lifts himself up and back. Silly kid.

He’s also eating bread now, and rice. He used to have a really hard time getting the food to his mouth because it would end up in his fist and not come out, but he’s getting better at using his fingers and more and more food is actually making it into his mouth. It’s interesting how they seem not to get it, then all of a sudden it clicks and they can do something. In the past few weeks he’s just taken off and does so much more, and has figured out so many things. It’s really fun to watch.

Pretty much, Brit was born to be a penguin. I had so much fun on Halloween dressing him in his costume and taking him places. I don’t know if he had fun, but he didn’t complain, and seemed to like the attention, so I’ll take that.

The night before, we got a great surprise from someone..we’re assuming friends. “The Halloween Ghouls” (my name, not theirs) dropped off a cute/scary carved pumpkin and a candy bar note. It was great. Thanks, whoever you are!

We went to Mark’s work in the early afternoon. It took a half hour (remember, it’s 2 miles) because they had already closed Santa Monica Blvd, right next to his work, for the West Hollywood Halloween party later that night. And, because I’m such a rule follower I didn’t turn down one of the side streets earlier and take a One Way alley that I could have…which, because the road was closed I ended up doing 10 minutes later anyway.

I took a pic of him first, in case something happened–he’s a notorious barfer. WARNING: Excessive Proud-Mom-Gushing and High Number of Penguin Pictures Ahead…Proceed at Your Own Risk

He’s was a hit at the office. Brit’s with his biggest Napster fan, Missy.

Later, we went with Mav and his parents to the Grove/Farmer’s Market for some trick or treating. We didn’t really need more candy, we just wanted to show off their costumes to more people. It was pretty crowded, but lots of fun to take them around and see their reactions as well as see the cute costumes on other kids. We saw a Princess Leia and I’ve decided our someday daughter will be that when she’s like 1 or 2 ’cause it was so cute.

Elephant and Penguin together…only on Halloween.

Hey, don’t I know you?

A pretty cute Elephant, with his unlikely dad, Michael Phelps…

Brit even held his pumpkin Halloween sack

After the Grove, it was time for the Trunk or Treat at church…

Brit taking candy from “strangers,”

I think this was Brit and Audrey’s conversation: “What did they make us wear? Crazy parents!”

Me and my cute little penguin

Mark’s scary pumpkin all lit up…

The strangers in our house…A Guitar Hero and Wolverine. They looked pretty amazing.

We had a small gathering at our house after the candy grab. I had to make traditional Pumpkin Stew and why not have others benefit as well? It was fun eating and talking and playing games too. The babies even cooperated by sleeping! Yay!

I don’t think Brit’s first Halloween could’ve been much better. He was so good about his costume and didn’t complain at all. We dressed him as little as possible because he kept getting so hot in it, but he was an angel. I must say, he was pretty much the cutest little penguin ever. His little face just fits so well!