up

Up! Pulling up and standing up. This is the newest development in the Sternad household! Steven still isn't crawling, per se, just scooting everywhere still. I've tried even teaching him, but he insists on just using his arms and pulling himself across the floor. Hopefully he'll learn soon (why, oh why did I say hopefully?).

The camera just happened to be within arms reach the very first time he actually pulled up so I got some good shots of it.

Standing man!

And here he is trying to find a better toy. Evidently all the other ones on the floor aren't good enough.

So instead of fiding him like this after naps....

I find him like this

Such a big boy. :)

summer fun

What is it about going to the pool for a few hours that makes you instantly want grilled hot dogs and potato chips, an afternoon nap and sparklers? Steven, Aunt Katie and I made our first treck to the neighborhood pool today and we had a blast! Steven really enjoyed the pool! I wasn't sure how he would do, but considering how much he loves bathtime I was thinking he would like it.

When we pulled up to the parking lot we saw that the entire pool was empty. SCORE! Then, right as we were walking in we see 2 large groups of kids coming. No biggie, we just won't have the entire place to ourselves. Within 20 minutes the place was crawling with kiddos. It turned out great because Steven LOVED watching all the kids playing and splashing. He was really the hit of the waterhole! Several kids were coming up and talking to him ("He can't talk yet?!" "Umm, no, he's 7 months old"). Some tried to steal his toys, but we told those kids to beat it please don't take his toys, but other than that we had a great time.

Pre-pool rub down with SPF 50. This is what happens when you put it in your baby's hair. How else are you supposed to get their scalp?!

road trip

Mimi, Steven and I took a road trip to Kansas and Nebraska to see relatives last week! We had a great time! We thought it would be fun since Daddy would be up in the Northeast with Grampy. While on the trip my baby boy turned 7 months old. 7 months! He's sitting up really well (and he gets there on his own, too!) and scooting as fast as any crawler and I'm pretty sure he'll be crawling in no time.

Steven did so well on the trip! I have to admit, I was aprehensive about taking a 7 month old on a 10 hour trip, then another 4 hours on top of that to Nebraska. Steven usually does really well in the car when we run errands; he falls asleep most of the time...

...but with a trip this long I wasn't sure what he would do. We took our time though, and we stopped in Oklahoma overnight. As long as Steven wasn't in his carseat for more than 7 hours in one day all was well.

We had a lovely visit with relatives. We got to see everyone- Aunt Yvonne, Uncle Randall, Kelsey and Jared and Joy and Larry Becker in Nebraska. Steven also made a new best friend- Sadie the beagle pup. Sadie was not quite sure about Steven at first- Aunt Yvonne was really worried, but before long they were having so much fun together! Sadie would actually bring Steven a toy and drop it in his lap for him to throw for her! He didn't, but she still loved him! She gave him so many kisses! It was really sweet.

Here's a picture of Steven with Aunt Yvonne (Sorry for cutting off your face!)

And here he is playing with Uncle Randall. They were pals!

If you know me at all, I've probably told you how terrified I am of tornadoes. I usually have a nightmare about them a few times a month. Late Spring in Tornado Ally was probably not my smartest vacation spot. We were actually in Burlington, KS when a terrible storm came through. The house we were at didn't have power for several hours, wind, tons of wind, rain and hail. We didn't see any tornado warnings before the power went out, but this storm then headed on to Fort Scott and the tornado sirens in town went off twice that afternoon! We had several other pretty fierce storms roll through and as scared as I was, I couldn't help but take some pretty cool photos of the wicked clouds!

Oh and Steven learned to climb steps. FUN.

he sits and lunges!

A lot has happened in the last few weeks! Steven has perfected sitting (for the most part) and he is now pulling up onto all fours and lunging! Yes, I think we are going to have a crawler on our hands very soon. And no, the house is not yet baby proofed. I see a trip to Babies R Us in the not so distant future.

Food update- Steven is doing pretty well with solid foods. Only problem is he really doesn't like taking them from me (or Matt really). For some reason he would rather eat from pretty much anyone else but us. I'm told this is a phase, but I would love for it to end soon. I can get him to open his mouth for about the first five bites, but after that I'm practically forcing it in his mouth. He likes it, I can tell, he just doesn't want to work for it. He does have good days here and there. Like yesterday- he ate a ton! But today, only a few bites. Oh well. He does have certain foods he likes and dislikes- we all know how the apples incident turned out, and he doesn't like green beans either (well, at least the ones I made him). He LOVES peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, he likes carrots and bananas okay and the first time I gave him peas he didn't seem to mind them. I think next week we are going to try avacado.

These next few pictures are from a baby play date I went to with Steven at a friends house. Steven just started cracking up laughing at another little boy who was there. It was hilarious and I'm so glad I caught it on camera!

This is a picture showing him on all fours.

And this picture is completely out of focus, but I think he looks so cute! Like a mini football coach. :)

And here he is, sitting up all by himself like a big boy!

I never thought

Looking back this Mother's Day, being a mother for the last 6 months has been the most fulfilling of my life. Don't get me wrong, I loved just being a wife, but my son has given my life so much more meaning. He has made our home so much happier, so much more complete. I've learned to be selfless, to be patient, to appreciate all my husband does for me, and to smile and think about what a beautiful, healthy baby boy God gave us even at 3am when it seems sleep is no where in sight. My little boy has changed my life in so many ways I can't even begin to list them. Except that I will.

I never thought I would love nursing my son so much. Despite the pain the first few weeks and all the stresses that breastfeeding brings, I wouldn't trade the bonding time for anything. Except for the biting. I would gladly give that up and he doesn't even have any teeth yet! :::shudder::: I pray everyday he's just like his daddy and doesn't get teeth until he's over a year old.

I never thought buying boy clothes would be as addicting as I thought buying girl clothes was. It is.

I never thought I wouldn't mind changing endless amounts of poopy diapers. And inspecting each and every one to make sure they look as they should.

I never thought I could fly out of bed so quickly when I hear the cries from my little one. It's amazing that I haven't slammed into any walls when I run across the house just out of a deep sleep.

I never thought my heart would melt a little more with each and every smile, with each and every giggle, and with each and every tear.

I never thought I would miss him as much as I do when I'm away from him.

I never thought I wouldn't miss reading. I would rather play with my son! But I do look forward to bath time (for me) when Steven's asleep and I can maybe get a chapter of Harry Potter in before I fall asleep and risk drowning in the bath tub.

I never thought I would be one of those moms with a kiddie CD in the car CD player all the time. I have 2 and I rotate them. I actually like them and keep singing them even when we aren't in the car.

I never thought getting peed on in public and not being able to change clothes would really have no effect on me. It happens. It will dry. I do get upset when it gets in my hair though.

I never thought I would nap with my son and love it so much. I really look forward to our morning nap together. And he sleeps so good in our bed!

I never thought I would want to shave all my hair off. I'm very surprised I have any left since several handfuls get yanked out every day. OUCH. Ponytails, everyday.

I never thought I could love someone this much.

I never thought rolling over, sitting up and solid foods would be all I talk about with my friends. What did we talk about before?

I never thought a boy other than Matt could steal my heart so completely.

I never thought a red headed baby boy could be so damn cute.

I never thought time would pass so quickly. It seems like last week we came home from the hospital and now we're getting 6 month portraits taken.

Here are a few of my favorites (ignore the watermark):

He's such a joy and I'm so happy to be his mommy. :)

Easter and Great Grandma Sternad

Easter weekend Matt's Grandma Barb and Aunt Deb came into town from Iowa for a visit. We had a lovely time with them! Great Grandma Sternad (GG Girl) was very excited to meet Steven and see all her Texas family. Steven was exactly 5 months old the day they came in. I forgot to take his traditional monthly picture, so these will have to do. Here are some pictures from our Friday night visit:

Steven also had a great Easter! The Easter Bunny(s) were very good to him!

Aunt Katie and Uncle Tom got him some cool cars! Vrrroom!

B and Nana got him a basket full of books, turtles dressed as bunnies, and lots of other goodies!

GG Girl got him an Iowa Hawkeyes Piggy Bank. He loved the bank so much he thought he would give it a kiss (or eat it). Ummmm, pork.

And then everyone made a contribution in the bank for Steven's college fund.

And here is Steven when we told him he would have to pay for college himself.

And then the big bucks started rolling in!

apples: yay or nay? you decide