11 Months

* 20 lbs
* Waves bye-bye
* Gives kisses
* Gives "fives"
* Cruises around furniture swiftly
* Sometimes lets go and balances while standing
* Can drink from a straw
* Loves to listen to music and dance
* Still only has 2 teeth
* "Talks" a lot but has yet to say his first word
* Fake laughs to try to get you to laugh
* Loves to play with his soccer ball and any toy into which he can drop things
* Discovered he can feed Penny from his high chair

Just Pictures

Nicolaus and I enjoyed some beautiful weather by having our very own photo shoot in the backyard. He is wearing an outfit first worn by his Grandpa Pedersen over 50 years ago. It is still in great condition and we were happy to keep the tradition going.

10 Months

* 19.5 lbs
* Waves bye-bye (sometimes)
* Pulls himself up to standing and cruises around furniture
* Still hates getting his diaper changed
* Still wakes twice at night to eat
* Loves bathtime
* Chases Roxy around the house
* Likes to listen to his bedtime story every night
* Still only has 2 teeth
* Can feed himself small pieces of food
* Points at objects and people
* Does not ever want to sit still

Just For Nana

Nicolaus' Nana's favorite pictures of him show off his baby blues. This one's just for you Nana!

9 Months

* 19.5 lbs, 28.5 inches tall
* Knows and responds to his name
* Says "Da-Da" and "Ma-Ma" but doesn't know their meaning
* Crawls EVERYWHERE
* Pulls himself up to standing position
* Still hates getting his diaper changed
* Still wakes a few times a night to eat
* Acts shy around strangers
* Has started to show interest in the TV
* Wants to splash in Penny's water bowl (and daddy lets him do it)
* Does not know how to be gentle with Roxy
* Is super-happy when he sees any animal...especially dogs
* Has 2 teeth
* Loves to laugh
* Likes to pinch. This is really a comfort thing and he does it when breastfeeding and/or falling asleep while held

Sea Glass, Sand Dollars and other Summer Stories

The Pedersens have had a wonderful and fun filled summer visiting with family and friends. We began our adventures with a trip to Ohio for a family reunion with Dad, Janice et alia. Fun times were had by all at Great Wolf Lodge where Nicolaus went in the pool for the first time and at the Harris household where he got to know his extended family and clapped for the first time. A photographer came to the house for family portraits and we will share those once they arrive. We all participated in the backyard game of cornhole and the Pedersens will be ready for a tournament at the next gathering.

The end of July brought our first beach vacation as a family. We started out in Kitty Hawk, NC with Uncle Tim and Becky where they introduced us to the Sea Glass hunting. They are pros and their collection extensive. We will never meet their excellence unless we travel to the West Coast and find the elusive red piece! Tim and Becky left with us as we traveled via ferry first to Okracoke then to Atlantic Beach, NC to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Pedersen at the famous Place at the Beach condo. Scott, Kelly, and Becca were able to meet up with us before we left as well. Nicolaus was a real trooper at the beach. He loved the sand--squishing it in his hands and disn't even try to eat it. He favored the pool above the ocean though and even fell asleep once in his float! During Beach Week he started crawling, waved and cut his first tooth. We were so glad to share those important milestones with Hans and Jeanette. The best day of all came on our last walk/sea glass hunt on the beach when I looked down and found a whole sand dollar! I've wanted to find one forever and when I saw it I nearly cried.

Now the Pedersens are back home in Virginia wondering what the end of the Summer has to offer and are in disbelief that in a few short months Nicolaus will be turning 1 year old!

Big Boy Bath!

Since Nicolaus has no trouble at all now sitting up, we decided to move him from his baby tub to the big boy bath. He loves it! Bathtime used to be a bit of a chore but now its just another playtime. He splashes like a maniac and has such a fun time with the bubbles. We will definitely need to get a non-skid mat for the bottom though because he slips and slides a bit. A towel at the bottom of the tub will work for now. I see bath toys in our shopping future! I share just a few pictures from bathtime...nanny Judy says he looks like a Kewpie doll in the last one.

A bit of trivia...The Kewpie doll was mentioned in Anne Frank's diary. She received one on her first St Nicholas Day in hiding from Miep and Bep.