While Mommy is away in Europe, Peter and Hayes are keeping track of her trip on the computer. Peter's mattress hair has earned him the nickname "Little Indian Brave" from Aunt Rocks because it looks like a little feather sticking up.

Okay, so we have more for you after all.... we received Peter's 9 month pictures today, and thought we'd send on some highlights. 

Despite a few more tumbles and a bruise here and there, 

Peter has more smiles and tricks to share with you...

opening drawers - or at least making noise with the handles

climbing up on chairs (persists despite a few entrapments)

a sunny Saturday

*Apparently it was a good luck outfit - Hayes scored his personal best on the golf course!*

close-up of bedhead

lounging on the deck at the lake

sleeping at the lake... comfortably?

a tender moment with Teddy

spoon trick

watching the clothes spin in the dryer

10 months on Tuesday - can it be he's almost a year old!?  I know he's going to have a wonderful time with the Bryants while I'm away for a couple of weeks.  I'll be super lonesome, but I know he'll be having so much fun that he won't even know I'm gone.  We may not post again until after I'm back from Europe, but rest assured there will be lots to catch up on!  

Happy Memorial Day! We've returned home from a trip to the lake and Peter was so exhausted he actually went to bed without finishing his supper. That, dear friends, is noteworthy. Our main goal this weekend was to familiarize Peter with the water. He loves bath time, but we were unsure how he would react to such a large tub. He was hesitant at first, as the water was a bit chillier than his bath, but he took to it soon once he realized that he could move around so much more than in a tub. Peter's first boat ride was also a hit. We're actually not sure if he realized he wasn't on dry land, but he did love to look over at the water. For all the nervous Nellies, we did have a life vest for him, and he wore it for a bit before it began causing fits. We'll be working on that...

the first swimming lesson

Floating is fun! (Note his hands - he was clapping.)

...but cupholders are more fun!

Watching water splash with Lee

Think he's comfortable?

Both boys needed to stretch their legs once we got home...

We have a crawler.

Unfortunately, I don't have any photo documentation yet. I have been chasing him around various venues sans camera as I need both hands to pry his little fingers off of cords, furniture, and my hair. Soon, I promise... perhaps even video!

We had a delightful visit in Louisiana. Not even tornadoes and a train derailment were going to deter us! (Funny that Lafayette got national news coverage twice in three days...) Anyway, we were fortunate to see lots of friends and family, though it was a quick trip.

Peter's energy is just busting out all over the place. He is in constant motion, usually either blowing raspberries or commentating in his own language consisting of n, m, b, and k sounds. 

A glimpse into Peter's life:

We begin each day with a little light reading (actually, picture skimming).

Playing captain of his very first vessel...

His boat also serves as a fort!

I love cheese with lunch!

At the doctor, weighing in at 22 lbs, 8 oz and 29 1/2 inches 

A cool drink on the porch mid-day - from a 30 year old sippy cup, no less!

Making faces at Mommy through a window

Now is this jumper in the same shape we left it?

A nice Publix employee gave Peter a balloon - needless to say, it didn't last long.  

... and a kiss before bedtime!

Hmmmmmmmm.

Peter and Sarah are headed down to Louisiana for a visit with friends and family. The drive down started inauspiciously with heavy rains and tornado watches all over Mississippi and Louisiana, but by the time they got to Jackson it was smooth sailing.

Peter is crazy with excitement to see his Nanny and cousins Luke, Sarah, Madeline, and Adam.

So we got new phones today and finally joined the camera phone revolution.  Thank goodness, because I was able to quickly capture a priceless moment.  Peter literally backed himself into and under our ottoman and got stuck, since he can only crawl backwards.  He attempted an army crawl, then tried to roll over, and finally voiced his frustration in a series of squeals.  Right when he was about to be rescued, he quietly lowered his head in defeat.   

Indeed, life is good at the Bryant house.

After a warm start to Spring, we're having very pleasant, cool, weather. The sun is out, the plants are green, and Peter is growing like a weed! His 4th tooth on the bottom is coming in, bringing his grand total to 8 pearly whites.

And so it begins.... Peter has had his first taste of temptation, and it is not looking good for his well-meaning parents.  He has discovered that he can reach up and out for things that are close to him, thus overturning baskets (see left), pulling down books (see left), and sometimes even causing bodily injury (photos withheld).   He is pulling up on all fours, contemplating intensely on what he should do next, but so far he has not figured out the coordinated arm/leg movement.  We are really hoping he can hold off until we get the new furniture that keeps all kinds of tempting cords and  buttons out of his reach.  Plug covers will be the least of our concerns if he beats the furniture delivery man!  

We have a big weekend ahead of us.  Peter is officially a bottle-fed baby now, so he can spend a long weekend with Reenie and Grampa in Birmingham while Hayes and I hit the road to attend a wedding in Mississippi.  Hayes will hold down the golf course and I will test out the spa then we'll head over to see some old friends for the first time in quite a while.  Our friends from New York will be there, along with all sorts of college friends and it should be great fun.  We'll miss Peter and we'll miss introducing him to everyone, but something tells me I won't be missing him at 6AM... 

What a week it has been! Peter finally realized that the world is much more interesting from a sitting position, so he's choosing to sit more than ever.  His balance has drastically improved in just a week. He's already so enamored with his surroundings that he's getting onto all fours and trying to crawl. Out come the outlet covers!

His two new favorite toys are a ball and his very own chair. The stuffed chair has become a great place for reading and relaxing after a long day's work. (Pardon the paint patch in the background - we're sampling colors.)

Much like the empty water bottle, the ball is a hilarious addition to Peter's toy chest. He'll roll the ball with us and lurch forward to catch it, but his favorite thing to do is try to eat it.

HAPPY EASTER!

Me and my girls.