WALKING AND DANCING!

Memphis started taking his first steps at 9 months old. By Thanksgiving (9 1/2 months) he was walking on his own pretty well. As soon as he turned 10 months old he decided he didn't like crawling anymore and now walks everywhere. He can stand up from sitting all by himself and can actually walk faster than he crawls (I think that is why he stopped crawling). Here are a few videos to enjoy of our growing boy!!! I don't know why but Memphis loves shaking his head no He does it all the time so watch for it in the videos.

This video is from Thanksgiving down in Blanding with Danny's family. Teddy (Danny's brother) was having his missionary farewell. He invited friends over (all girls:D) and Memphis was just showing everyone his new walking skills. The next video is Memphis dancing. He loves to dance and does it whenever any music is playing. He just wanted to show off for the ladies and Grandpa Royer came in to watch too:)

BABY'S 1st THANKSGIVING!

We drove 5 hours south to Blanding and stayed at Danny's parent's house for Thanksgiving.  It was so fun to see everyone and Memphis loved playing with all his aunt's and uncle's and of course grandma and grandpa Royer!  Also at 9 1/2 months he started walking!!!  Still comes as a shock to me when I look over and he is walking instead of crawling.

Here is what Memphis thinks of long car rides!  Actually he did so well on the way there and back.  Just slept and ate and watched movies.

Memphis ready and waiting for his first Thanksgiving feast!

CLEVER BOY!

So Memphis has discovered a new way to get into things that are higher than his reach! He pulls down the DVDs and as they start stacking up he climbs on top of the pile and then starts working on pulling down the DVDs on the higher shelves. I have OCD have to have my DVDs in alphabetical order so ya I screamed when I saw what he had done. Now the DVDs are blocked so he can't get to them. So of course he moved on over to the book shelves and has done the same thing. Pulling down the books making a pile and climbing up the pile of books to get to the higher shelves. SMART BOY!

Memphis with Daddy and his guitar.

So on Sunday Danny was out of town so I was by myself with Memphis at church.  Since I had to play in Primary the Primary presidency tried watching Memphis for me.  He just does not sit still wants to always be by me and loves to play some of the piano keys.  So, they took Memphis into Nursery and they let him stay the whole time.  They said he did so well playing with the others.  They told me I could take him to nursery starting in Jan even though he will not be 18 months for another 6 months.  I sure am lucky!  It will be nice to play the piano and not have him to watch over.

All ready for church but first he has to practice playing a few notes!

We got approved for a home loan so we have been looking with our new real estate agent at short sale homes.  We have looked at about 8 houses in nearby cities.  They are going for a great price right now and then we can get the new homeowner tax credit.  We are also interested in Danny's cousin's home in Lehi but we will see if that works out.

ARRR We be Pirates!

I am finally posting our Halloween pictures.  Memphis and I dressed up as pirates.  It was a lot of fun.  I don't think Memphis really knew what was going on but it sure looked like he had fun.

World's cutest pirate:)

The hat didn't ever last very long.  I think it was just a little too tight as you can see the lines on his forehead.

Memphis and Mommy at our ward's trunk-or-treat.  Memphis loved chewing on his sword.

At my elementary school Halloween Parade with all the specialty teachers.  We all decided to dress up like pirates this year.  From left to right: Art teacher, Music teacher, Computer teacher, PE teacher, and Memphis.

I am helping direct our elementary school musical and Memphis goes with me to practices.  We got a walker as a gift for Memphis and it just doesn't roll very well in our carpeted basement apartment so I took it to school for Memphis to walk around the big gym.  HE LOVES IT.  He walks (more like runs) around for the whole hour of practice.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A FUN HALLOWEEN!

LATEST WELL-BABY CHECK-UP:  So at 9 months our pediatrician gave us the go ahead to wean him off baby things.  We can start giving him dairy and whole milk so we don't have to pay for expensive formula.  That means I can start putting away the bottles and getting out the sippy cups.  He has two bottom teeth and one top one is working its way out so he is eating off our plates now.  We can move him to his new front facing car seat.  He gets around really well crawling, walking holding on to things, and walking by just holding on to one of our hands.  The pediatrician thinks that he will be walking by Thanksgiving.  I kind of don't want that to be true because I am not mentally ready for a more mobile baby but we will see:)  At his 8 month checkup he weighed 22 pounds and at this checkup he weighed 20 pounds because he is more active.  I also officially put away his 9 month size clothes and he is wearing 12 month size clothes.  My baby is growing up!

New Discoveries!

I love watching kids learn and discover new things.  The little things that fascinate them I take for granted so it is just fun for me to remember the little things.  I am teaching my 1st and 2nd graders how to hula hoop and jump rope.  They get so excited when they can finally do them.  I can't hula hoop so they have fun laughing at me.  The 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are having contests with me to see who can beat me at jump roping the longest.  It is going to whip me into shape.  They are so good.  And we are finding new ways to jump rope.

Memphis discovered something new during his bath about a week ago.  We don't have a bath tub in our basement apartment so I just have a little inclined tub for him that fits in our shower.  I had him lay down so I could soap up his little piggies and I had filled the tub up more this time and his ears were under the water.  He said ahh and then just started laughing.  Then he would say it again and laugh.  He would do this over and over.  He has discovered that his voice sounds different and feels different when he is under water.  I loved watching that and it was fun to laugh with him.

It also SNOWED on Tuesday for the first time this winter season.  It snowed so bad up in Highland were I teach school that we had to have an inside day.  We got about an inch, enough to cover our field and so after school I brought Memphis up because last time it snowed last winter he was just a newborn. I let him play in it and test it out.  He didn't really like it because then he was cold and wet.  Forgot my camera but it will snow again so maybe next time.

I have not blogged in awhile so just an update that we are all doing well.  Last week Memphis had a fever for four days so Danny and I took turns staying home from work.  I stayed home the most and all Memphis wanted to do was cuddle because he didn't feel well enough to do anything else.  I CHERISHED EVERY SECOND of those cuddling days because now that he crawls and walks around with things he just doesn't want to cuddle anymore as much.  Jump roping all week made my knee go out and I pulled all the extender muscles in my right wrist about a month ago so I have a brace on my knee and wrist for the next couple of weeks.  Danny had his first attack with kidney stones in August and battled pain for about 3 weeks but now the biggest stone is stuck and we are just waiting and waiting.  Don't really want to pay for surgery because his emergency room bills are coming in and they are expensive.  We are excited for all the holidays coming up and spending time with family and friends.

MEMPHIS IS 9 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!  Still can't believe it.  My elementary school also had our Halloween Parade today and Danny and Memphis were able to come and join me:)  Me and Memphis dressed up like pirates along with the rest of my speciality team of teachers at my school.  I took lots of pictures so I will post them soon.  Memphis also has his 9-month well-baby check-up today after school so I will let you know how big he is!!!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE:)

Camera time!

First tooth

Now there's a smile:)

Standing tall with mommy

Teething Bites!

Teething has begun.  Memphis got his first tooth on Sept 21 which went ok but now the other bottom tooth is coming in and he is just not a happy baby anymore.  When my wisdom teeth were coming in it hurt so much so I understand.  He is not sleeping through the night anymore and not having a good time at day care.  But I know it doesn't last forever so better times to come.  I also took him in to the pediatrician and he is now a big 22 pounder!  Growing never slows down.  He is crawling faster and trying to stand on his own once he gets himself up.  Still can't believe it.