Junebugs: Nathan turns 8 months old!

As you can see, Nathan has begun a rigorous workout routine! He just finished lifting weights and was getting ready to start some strength training exercises when I shot this picture.

Here he is doing some push ups.

Grandma Pratt is making sure to keep him suited up in Penn State gear (thanks Grandma and GO NITTANY LIONS!)

Helping Mommy with the laundry. Don't you just love those two bottom teeth!?!? Oh, speaking of teeth, Nathan got his top two teeth on the 15th! We just can't picture what he'll look like once they grow in completely! Guess we have to say goodbye to that adorable, gummy smile!

Looking like such a big boy!

His first taste of banana. We think he liked it - he's just making a face at the pink spoon we used!

Back for more "nana." He also had peaches last week for the first time and they were a bit too potent for him at first. He made the cutest sour puss face but, unfortunately, we didn't capture it on camera.

Last week Daddy went on his annual guys ski trip to Vail so Mommy and Nathan went to visit our friends, The Elsberrys, in Kansas City. Nathan fell in love with Kim and Steve's daughter, Laurel, who was so great with him (and very helpful - changing diapers, bathing, lotioning, dressing, brushing his hair, you name it) Did I mention she's only 5 1/2?!?! Whenever Nathan would catch a glimpse of her he would grin from ear to ear! Here she was pulling him around their basement in this fun wagon (and of course he needed pom poms to make the event complete).

Nathan's saying "Woo Hoo! I'm driving!"

Not a fan of crawling up the stairs! Doesn't his look just say, "Help me Mommy!"

Nathan is always standing these days. Here he is digging through his suitcase.

Here's Laurel teaching Nathan how to drive!

Kim and Laurel loving on Nathan before we left.

When we arrived home, Nathan had his very first valentine waiting for him, from his friend Sarah Ross.

Here's his bear pic from two weeks ago. Doesn't it look as though he's encouraging the bear, "Come on, buddy, it's not that far of a drop, I think we can make it!"

AWWWWW! Nathan's first official boo boo! Last Wednesday we were over our friend Melissa's house and Nathan and her son, Jet, were playing when all of a sudden Nathan took a dive (he was standing up holding on to a toy and lost his balance) and fell into a rubbermaid container. I ran over to him, picked him up and was comforting him; when I pulled him away from my chest I saw blood and screamed to Melissa, "he's bleeding!" I was a mess but Melissa calmed me down and assured me that this would be the first of many mishaps with my little boy. Nathan only cried for a few seconds and then wanted to get back to the toys; Mommy cried for a bit longer!

Nathan is still enthralled with this toy that Grandma Pratt got him for Christmas but now he's a big boy and likes to stand to play with it, so...

We put the legs on it and this seems to work much better for our little man!

Last Thursday our friend Adam (Daddy's college friend who lives in Chicago) was in town on business and came over to meet Nathan and visit with us. Adam got Nathan this super cool set of keys with a key fab that makes sounds like a horn, a car starting, the "beep beep" of a car lock, etc.

Nathan's newest trick this past week was climbing up on the bottom shelf of our picture table. This is now one of his favorite places to hang out!

How adorable is he in this Pooh sweatsuit from cousin Nikki and her hubby Austin!

Another fascination of Nathan's this past week has been Baxter's tags on his collar. As always, Baxter is the ever patient and enduring pup!

Entering the picture table shelf from the side.

Nathan is officially a carnivore (sorry Tammy). Here he is having his first meat...yummy chicken thighs that Mommy baked up for him! Baxter just loves the smell of the chicken and now sits next to Nathan's high chair begging. Nathan constantly sticks his fingers in his mouth after every bite and every now and then he'll pull his fingers out and put his hand out to Baxter who jumps on the opportunity and licks off any morsels he can find until Mommy yells at Baxter (and promptly washes off Nathan's hand).

AHHHH! I think this is one of the cutest pictures ever of our sweet little guy!

Nathan on his 8 month birthday!

He's working that dimple on his right cheek!

Does he look like a little Baby Gap model or what!?!?!

Now that he's all about standing, he can reach the middle shelf of his bookcase and boy does he have fun pulling down the picture frames. Mommy really needs to find a better place to keep them!

WHOA! When Mommy went to get Nathan up from his afternoon nap this past Sunday she found him STANDING in his crib! Wow, are we glad that we lowered his mattress a few weeks ago! When we got to church he was moved up from the Lamb room to the Bunny room since he's now a crawler - what excitement!