August 09

This month passed in a whirlwind! We've been incredibly busy since we moved into our house doing little things to make it "ours"...painting, ripping out walls and doors, installing closet organizers, putting up a fence, discovering hardwood under the kitchen linoleum, etc, etc. All very exhausting, but fun!

We've also found time to enjoy living in this wonderful location and have enjoyed long walks to explore the neighborhood, meeting the neighbors (and their dogs), visiting my sister Jill (who lives only a few blocks away) and taking advantage of the proximity to the Greenbelt and lots of parks! But my favorite part of it all is sitting on the front porch in the evening and watching Koen's face light up as he calls out to every car, bike, dog or squirrel that wanders by.

Koen is now crawling like a speed-demon and walking around furniture, but he has yet to take his first unassisted step. He's such a cautious little man :). He makes up for his lack of motor skills by being a chatterbox - he never stops talking (wonder who he got that from?). Right now his favorite things to do are to dance, play with very loud and obnoxious toys (thanks everyone for the birthday presents!) and chase the cats and dogs. He's got five teeth and puts them to good use as he eats all the time! He still doesn't like bananas, and olives aren't a favorite, but he'll eat everything else you put in front of him. And if he's not eating, he's begging food from anyone else who is eating. I don't know where it's all going though because he's still a little guy. He was in the 20th percentile for heighth/weight at his one year check up but he's got a big noggin (90th percentile).

I went back to work at the end of August with mixed emotions. I was excited to be back to doing what I love, but it meant giving up precious time with Koen after a summer of enjoying being home him. I am greatly reassured that Koen is in good hands with his grandmas and I count my blessings he's surrounded by love every day. Every day with him is a joy and it's going so fast...