Brandon now has 7 teeth - four on top, three on the bottom.  The newest top one sprouted last week, and his new bottom one snuck in either yesterday or the day before.  He likes to bite my fingers, just to show how tough he is - and he leaves marks!  He's also talking a lot more; some of the words he can say (and we understand) are: bird, ding ding ding (don't ask!), diaper, meow, kitty, Indie, dog, Benny, mama, Boe, dada, juice, this, plane, and bottle.  I'm pretty sure there are a lot more, I just can't remember them all.  Someone refresh my memory!

We held our almost-annual Halloween party (we've missed a year here and there) on Saturday, October 23rd.  A great time was had by all, if I must say.  My dear old dad dressed in an inflatable sumo wrestler costume.  Let's just say he really turned up the laughter with that thing.  I didn't get many photos; I was too busy being a good hostess and mommy!  There's also a picture of my cousin Christina and her "girlfriend", though I forgot her name.  Yep, I told you I'd post that picture :)  The last few pictures are from Sunday, October 24th.  Brandon was sweeping the kitchen, and standing without any support.  When he'd figure that part out, he'd just sit down. 

Here are pictures from Friday, October 22nd.  Brandon's first Halloween party, put on by Raytown Parents as Teachers.  It was the first time he wore his cute little dragon costume; when he walked, his little tail wagged cutely.  He actually didn't mind the costume, and even let us put the hood on his head.  This, from a baby who won't wear hats!  He really enjoyed playing in the pool with the paper leaves and confetti - but he likes being in pools.  I think he may have been confused because there was no water!  He crawled through the tunnel, chasing after a little girl.  That was the only way he'd go through.  Later, he played with some home-made play dough.  Now THAT, he thought, was pretty cool.  Plus, he liked the girl giving all her attention to only him!  The little flirt.  He was also giving me some baby dragon kisses - those involve him opening his mouth, and slobbering all over me.  Hey, at least he tried, right?

So anyway, here are the pictures of Brandon as a sunflower, from Monday, September 27th.  He wouldn't wear his little sunflower hat; in fact, he tore it up!  So he got a big elephant ear leaf, and we tried to get him to pose with that.  He just DID NOT want to co-operate!

Click here for some fun pics from Sunday, September 26th.

On Friday, September 24th, my mom and I got the latest "dress-up" pictures of Brandon, though he didn't cooperate.  She made this neat sunflower face frame, but we couldn't get him to wear it!  He would play with the corncob pipe, though.  We put him in the garden next to the corn stalks - doesn't he really look like a hillbilly baby?  There was also the mandatory tractor ride, and then playtime outside, crawling around in the grass and eating snacks.  It wasn't really potato chips; we just filled the container with suitable snacks, because he THINKS it's chips.  Or something.

We spent some time at Craig's parents' house on Sunday, September 19th - Brandon L O V E S to walk up and down the stairs there.  He also likes to peek out of the top bars, like he's some baby criminal. 

Saturday, September 18th - we got Brandon ready to go see his first car show; well, technically, I'd gone to several while I was pregnant with him (and one about a month before he was born) but this time, he'd get to actually see it.  Uncle Boe had entered his truck in the show, and had gone down to Odessa with the other guys in KC Club Grand Prix.  (We're members, but we didn't enter our dirty old GTP.  They just don't have categories for that!)  Anyway, it had been rainy most of the morning, so I got a bunch of great photos of the storm as it was rolling east.  Brandon had to take Daddy for a walk, too, and he wanted to stop to pick up every single leaf and rock, and move it out of his way.  He also made a beeline for Boe's wheels; he kept wanting to put his grubby little fingers on them, but mean old Uncle Boe wouldn't let him.  Heh.  Boe won first in his class, by the way. 

We snapped a few pictures of little sleepy-head on Thursday, September 9th.  He's so peaceful and cute!  Then, on Friday, September 10th, we went to our last baseball game of the season - it also happened to be Fireworks Friday!  Brandon was a bit nervous from the loud noise at first, but I kept hugging him tightly and whispering in his ear that it was okay, and weren't they pretty lights - and he calmed down, and started enjoying himself.  He sang all the way home.  Even though it was only a short drive.  :)

Thursday, September 2nd - our last day of swimming, I think.  Brandon is weeding my mom's garden, as usual, and then going for the compulsory after-weeding ride with Old Papa on the tractor.  Look at the little chubby tummy!

We discovered on Friday, August 27th, that Brandon was too big for his car seat.  We thought that the maximum weight was 35 pounds; turns out, it was 20 pounds and 26 inches.  Brandon is 20 1/2 pounds, and 29 inches, so we had to get him a big boy seat a little sooner than we'd planned.  Anyway, his first ride in the big boy car seat was on Sunday, July 28th, at midnight - we were returning from his second birthday party.  He was asleep, though, so didn't get to enjoy it.  We got some pictures later on Sunday, when we went back to pick up the goodies from the party.  He really seems to think he's a big BIG boy, and enjoyed looking out all the windows to see life passing him by.  He sang and kicked and giggled and just had fun.  On another note - still only 4 teeth; the last one was just a false alarm.  He's finally getting up on his knees to crawl, and he likes to walk, but only if we hold both of his hands.  If we let go of one, he gets a little mad (i.e. throws a little Brandon tantrum!)  We've been giving him a little milk, and he can eat just about anything - except nuts and honey.  We've tried giving him a few cheese cubes, but he made a funny face and spit it out.  Also, click here for some pictures we got of some really cool storm clouds this evening.

Brandon had his *second* first birthday party on Saturday, August 28th.  I made an Elmo cake for him, but because we ran late (as usual), I was slow at decorating it.  I should've done it the night before, but I didn't.  Anyway, here are some of the pictures from the party, including the party where Brandon fell asleep.

*** N E W S F L A S H ***

Brandon celebrated his first birthday in style - by running a low-grade fever as his third top tooth started to come through.  (**Note:  the fever was NOT caused by teething; it appears if Brandon is sick for the first time in his life.  UPDATE:  He had roseola, but was over it within a week.  It's nice to have our baby back, but there's no new teeth.  We just thought there was.)

The moment we've all been waiting for - first birthday pictures!  The following pictures were taken on Saturday, August 21st - Brandon got sick on Sunday, his actual birthday, for the first time in his life (he ran a fever of 104.7 at his highest!)  So you'll see pictures of some of his great aunts encouraging him to start opening presents early - and there's a few of his cake.  Those are flames on the top.  Last, but not least, birthday boy eating his own little small cute cake!!!  They're in no particular order, by the way.

We went to a union picnic on Saturday, August 14th.  My dad got to show Brandon off to his old-fart union buddies (no offense to old farts, or union buddies - but really.)  There was also a giant blow-up rat there, that Brandon didn't know what to do with.  I had to explain the significance to Craig.  :)  The last few pictures are of Brandon eating from his bag of potato chips.  He thinks he's pretty hot.

On Friday, August 6th, my parents, Craig, and I took Brandon to his first political rally, welcoming John Kerry and John Edwards into town.  It got to be too crowded for us before we got much of a chance to hear either speak, and Brandon was getting scared, but we did see John Edwards' motorcade drive by as we tried to get out of the parking garage.  He waved at us!  Also, we found it interesting that, out of 25,000 people at the rally, less than 100 appeared to be Bush supporters.  They looked lonely.

!! AND !!
On Wednesday, August 4th, Brandon's fourth tooth - his second top one - broke through.  It's barely peeking out, but it's there!

Tuesday, August 3rd, here's Brandon and Old Papa napping - Brandon had the remote, Old Papa had the bear.  The last two are of Brandon trapped under a dining chair.  He'd managed to crawl under it, but couldn't figure out how to get out.  We actually had a hard time getting him out, because he wouldn't let go of the chair; he kept trying to stand up, and would bump his head.  We rescued him eventually.

It was H&R Block day at Kaufman Stadium on Saturday, July 31st.  Tickets to the baseball game were $3, so Craig and I bought 5 - so my parents could join us - and took Brandon to his first baseball game EVER!  There was a good-sized crowd, and the Royals won.  The bonus is that they got 16 hits; if they get 12 or more hits in a home game, every fan can take their ticket stub to Krispy Kreme and get a free dozen doughnuts before the month is up.  We still have two dozen to pick up.  Brandon really had a great time; in fact, he managed to squeeze in a little nap.  We can't wait for his next game!

Pictures from bathtime on Thursday, July 29th.  I had been trying to get some pictures of him folding himself in half to drink his bath water, but every time I tried, he'd stop. 

On Tuesday, December 8th, Brandon decided to call his uncle Boe at work.  Here's the resulting .wav file (it's so cute!)  Note:  You may have to download the file to your computer to listen to it.  Email me if you need help!

I finally got around to writing my birth experience down on November 22nd - which was also Brandon's 3-month birthday.  Click here to read it.

If you haven't noticed, the older photos and updates have been moved.  Please click here to see them!