Good morning! ( remember I'm on the west coast!)
One thing that I forgot to mention in my last entery ..Spencer recently recieved the quintsential little boy toy from who else? His father. :) No I'm not talking about a b.b. gun ( I think the days of that being a "quentesential toy boy or girl are over with ) but a Tonka truck! tonka truck jr. that is .
Spencer loves it. He is to the point were he loves filling things up and promptly
dumping them..which is great for this model is ..a dumptruck!
He also loves turning it over and just spinning the wheels with a look of enjoyment that has to be saying "Hey I did that! ME! I turned the wheels!!"
It ( the dumptruck) also makes a great temporary toy box when Spencer L. is put down for a nap...one where he dreams of filling things and dumping them out no doubt.
Okay just a little after note...it's his first real big boy toy and I just thought everyone might like to hear. We have a load of film waiting to be developed with a few pictures...so I'll send them out when I have them.
Well Spencer is now trying to knock the pc tower over so I will close. ( don't worry daddy is watching him...)

hullo folks and fans!
long time no see.
the weather here has been ..well for portland it's been like somewhere else...it's been sunny,warm, and perfect for taking Spencer outside to check out the world around him.
and he LOVES it.
But suffice it to say that carrying his rather wide load around in the Gerry Pack takes up QUITE a bit of energy to say the least.
so..now while he takes a nap I will forgo mine and let you in about our little man.
Ever since he has learned to pull up on things, he has realized..hey there are things on the walls!!
Pictures of this beautiful handsome lovely baby..who is he?
hee. and more chris and I have several art prints and random knick knackery that we have found at garage sales, and it's total eye candy for him.
He loves having things pointed out and explained to him, like the birds on the japenese story boards we have hanging ( a steal I might add at 6 dollars for three lovely hardwood prints..) the clock, well just everything. He just looks looks looks and soaks it all up like the little sponges that all children are. I cannot wait to take him to the museum, like my dad used to take me.
Portlands Musuem is no Nelson Art Gallery but art is art...fun and nessesary to endulge in.
He also can turn the tv on and off.
I am nonplussed about this pitcular talent, but hey he's seen us do it, so I guess he still gets a merit badge right?
A ham at all the stores, babbling at the highest range mommy and daddy will permit.He defintely understands dada too...he won't say it unless chris has entered the room.
I anxiously await my calling...but it is a delight to hear all sounds and coos goos and chrrrruuuussssshhhh sounds he makes.
Eating solids is going well...he still likes about everything and tried rye bread for the first time today. he loved it.but i think i mentioned he loves all bread so far.
well I'm going to close for the moment...I can hear the little monster stirring. He is on such a good schedule and has just fallen right into it.Hardly a whimper when I lay him down to sleep at night.
Oh my angel...have I mentioned lately how much I love him?
I do I do I do.
until next time ( and if we get some rainy weather it will be sooner...; ) )
mamaJ

HI folks..I know it's been a bit since I've written. busy,busy,busy.
Spencer is doing great, tried some new foods this weekend...yellow squash,spinach and tomato pasta,and last but not least zuchinni and carrot oat bran muffins. He seemed to enjoy all three with his usual optimism. He's still pulling up on anything and everything in site, and this weekend has (in my humble opinon) got as close as he ever has to saying the M word...it seems to take a little more form everytime..but still is
used mostly when he needs or wants somthing, whereas the near D word is saved for when playing. (sigh) what's a mother to do?
Figure out that the next 18 years or so are going to be the same!
Speaking of looking into the future,we opened a bank account for Spencer on Saturday so that he will always have money for...well for both the good things and the bad things in life...we hope to have a nice little nest for him when he is ready to leave the nest. :~~~ ( I of course would rather not think about that.)
In closing I have to mention...Spencer is now 9 months old!!
wow!!
It's been the happiest 9 months of my life.
no holes barred.
I look foward to many many more happy months and years.
take care all.

Just a small note before I head to bed..( I know..it's 12:12 a.m...I've become a night owl of sorts)Spencer met the person ( a friend of ours Mickey)that will be baby sitting for us on Thursday, Chris' birthday.
Spencer took to him right away thankfully and vice versa.
It looks like Chris and myself can get through part of the night without biting our fingernails.
Well I speak for Chris on that note.
This will be the first time that I have been away from him for any real length of time in well..if you want to get down the nitty gritty....almost 18months!
But as noted above Spencer really liked Mickey, and Chris and I both trust him.
Granted we will probably play pool at the sports bar a block from our house after dinner...but hey..it's out of the house!
Spencer had a good day all in all, Julia came by, he played on the swingsets at the park, ( 2nd time in a swing he seemed to "get" it more this time..) daddy had the day off,the sun was out, and mama made fish again for dinner.
Come to think of it, those were the things that made me happy today too.:)
and of course our lil critter himself.
thanks for keepin up on all the spencer news that's fit to print!

Mommy Predicts Future! ( film at 11:00 )
Well brocoli was tried with cheese and all were happy.
Also discovered are "fish nuggets" (that's for the gourmet crowd of course)
a tasty treat that had one Spencer Louis squealing at the top of his lungs for more.Ahh the babes..so easy to please...all my years in the food industry, if only I would have been able to say to a displeased customer.." Well sir, why don't you have try the fish nuggets..they're quite chewy!"

He is now learned how to pull himself up in his crib ( bye bye Winnie the Pooh mobile.. :( ) and on just about anything else ( stable or not) in the house. He is so proud of himelf..looking for applause everytime he makes it up.I am sure it can be a bit disheartening when all he gets is an exasparated, scared look from his mother...but I am proud of him...he has the will of his mother and father combined and sees everyday as a new challenge...and in a way that only babies and children alone can see...these challenges are exciting and anew every morning... no Mondays are dreaded, no due dates on when to learn how to say mama.
Not to mention being on eyelevel with past cheerios and lint..everyday has an eliete menu planned in advance.
Well that's about it this Sunday morning, this week does bring a new challenge for the whole crew...Chris and I are going out for the first time in 8 and 1/2 months..( Chris' birthday ) and it will be his first night sans mama and daddy.i look forward to it and dread it at the same time.
I'll fill you in on pre-game and post game.(ha)
I'll also take the liberty to assume that all of you would like me to hug and kiss spencer for you. I will gladly add to the 1,000,000,000 hugs and kisses he recieves from mama and daddy.
until later spencerfiles!
:)

Baby turns Down Brocoli ..even when HUNGRY! (news at 11:00)
Well SPencer, who I thought would probably eat anything,anywhere,anytime you presented it to him has offically turned down his first food. Purreed Brocoli.
I thought I was being so smart and loving to give him something I find so tasty, and that is really very healthy.
Ahh well..I don't remember if I liked it as a child, I don't even know if I tried it before I was in my teens.
Maybe I'll throw some cheese in next time and see if his pallette agrees.
Cheese is a mothers best friend it seems when it comes to cooking.
In fact, the first time I had brocoli, it probably had cheese on it.
But I digress.
Spencer is healthy and happy, constantly movin and groovin. He will come to me if I say "Crawl over to mama!" and has just about mastered standing up( for a second at least..)mealtime/jeopardy time followed by BATH TIME!! seems to be his faves of the day.. I don;t know though..he always seems happy. :)
Well I had a few moments but they have dissapated quicker than Kirk being beamed up on the Enterprise.
Live long and prosper Spencer fans.