Gardner's new "tricks:"

- He can wave bye-bye (on command some of the time, most of the time when he wants to!)
- He can clap his hands (I mentioned it before, I think, but I am just so excited about it!)
- He can say "Jesus" (well, it sounds more like, "Zhhheee-shus," but it's cute.)
- He now goes down the one stair in our house by turning around first, instead of going head-first (which he always did very well and without injuries, but it did look like it might get old)
- He ate falafel last night for dinner and liked it
- He has learned how to take the drain plug out of the bathtub, how to open cereal boxes, and how to get out of his still-buckled baby bouncer seat (Houdini, I call him)
- He puts phones and remote controls up to his ear and tilts his head, then says, "Waaah-heeey!" (translation: "Well, haaayy!"...just like I do on the phone.....the things kids pick up on!)

I am excited but also a little sad....tomorrow we are going to go buy him a big-boy car seat. It will be nice to have him facing the front, though. We will only have to keep him turned around for another month. It is still a little bit sad, though, to see how far out his legs stretch from his current baby carrier. He used to barely take up any space in there. :)

Plans are underway for his 1st birthday celebrations. I am getting so excited. I can't wait to see his reaction.