...back after a wonderful month in the USA!

So this last month has been full of amazing and fun experiences!
My Momma and Dad took me to the USA, where we spent a wonderful time with family and friends. Thank you to everybody who opened their home to us... and we look forward to seeing all of you again!



My Dad got to perform the honor of letting my little bare feet touch American Soil for the first time... my comment: chilly!



This month has brought a lot of changes: on Feb 17th, I got my first tooth, followed a few days later by my second tooth (both on the bottom in the middle). The third tooth is poking through on one corner on the top. Don't put your finger in my mouth! I will BITE!



I am better at sitting, but still not interested in STAYING sitting. During the last week of Febuary, I became interested in pulling myself up on things. I wasn't very good at it then, but by the time I was back here in Germany, I was really good at it! (Which forced my Momma and Dad to spend all of Saturday babyproofing the house!) I pull up on the couch, the stairs, my crib, the bed, legs, or pretty much anything I can find. Now I can even walk along the length of the couch while holding on for balance. The only problem is that I have not yet figured out how to get down by myself. This is especially frustrating when I am in my crib, and really just want to sleep... but I will learn soon.

Feeding myself crackers and toasted oats (kind of like unsweetened cherios) is one of my new skills too. I like offering other people my food, but so far my Momma and my Dad were the only takers.




Well, that's it for now... but there will be more pictures soon!

...walkin' in a winter wonderland...

So this post isn't exactly about Mark... but Ben, Mark, and I went on a short weekend get-away to Garmisch (which is in the German Alps), and I thought you might enjoy seing some pictures!

We got lots of rest together, despite some nights during which Mark decided he needed to eat every 2-3 hours. We enjoyed the delicious German breakfast, took naps, went swimming, had coffee and cake in a German cafe, and hiked in the snow together. We walked around the Eibsee, which is a beautiful mountain lake at the foot of the Zugspitze. See for yourself how gorgeous it was...

We were there with Ben's Dad, Larry, in October 2005 (when I was pregnant with Mark already, but didn't know it yet!). That time it was Autumn, with bright yellow leaves and turquoise water.

This time it had snowed quite a bit, but it wasn't too windy, so the hike was pleasant. It took about 2.5 hours, and was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! Mark slept most of the time, bundled in a snow suit, and tied onto Ben's tummy. Anyway. Here are some pictures I took while we hiked.


I like how the snowy branches frame this view of the lake.

I think I will watercolor this picture...

Ben especially liked this view, with the sun glinting on the water through the clouds.

Mark is almost too heavy for me to carry him like this for
very long... but Ben didn't mind one bit, and Mark loved it!

All the pictures were taken in color... they look black-and-white though!

Here is the view from the highest point of the hike.

Getting into EVERYTHING

Why hello there! Uhm, yeah. I am helping my Momma clean. That is my story, and I am sticking to it!

My Momma hasn't had time to take a lot of pictures, among other things because she is busy keeping me out of trouble! Yes Sir! I have reached that age! To get an idea of how fast I can scoot/crawl now, I got from one end of the room (where my Momma had put me and my toys) to the other end (where there was a very interesting trash can filled with all sorts of goodies!) in the time it took my Momma to load and start the washing machine today.
I have also learned the valuable skill of "fishing." Possible locations to apply this skill are: the top of the couch while lying on the floor, underneath the couch, anything behind a person's shoulder while they are holding me and not paying attention (several plants on various window sills have found a fast demise this way), my Momma's backpack that she left open (which I understand as an invitation), or any other place I can reach into where I am not sure in advance what my grabby little hands will find! Another method of "fishing" is to pull on any cable I find, and see what is on the other end! Most educating!

That's right. I found my Dad's hiking stick. How do you like my pole-jumping pose?

That's it for now. I got tired of chewing on my Momma's (freshly showered) big toe, and am now unfolding the laundry she folded a few minutes ago...

Being a Marsupial

Sorry that it has been a while since the last post... my Momma and Dad have been busy! Last weekend, we were on a mini-vacation with some friends in Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest! We all (9 of us) stayed in a cute bead-and-breakfast type place, and relaxed, hiked, went swimming, ate good food and enjoyed the time together. On our hike, my Dad got to carry me in my Mayan wrap for the first time! I loved it! It wasn't as soft and cuddly as when my Momma carries me... (my Dad has rock-hard abs) but I was waaaaaayyy high in the air! And I got a good-sized nap, too.

In this picture you only see my hat... I am fast asleep. My Dad is making a silly face because he doesn't like posing for pictures.

This is me chilling out with Dad after my nap. My Momma thought Dad looked funny with a rucksack on his back, and me on his front. Nothing funny about that. I thought it was JUST RIGHT!

This is me getting dedicated at church on January 7.

Oh yeah. And this is me flirting with my Momma. Right after this, she tried to video me flirting and being cute. Instead she got a video of me spitting up on the rug and slapping my hand in it! Haha! I am definitely my father's son! (He has never spit up on video, but he enjoys foiling my Momma's attempts to get nice pictures of him). Yeah, I know. My smile is still toothless. Haven't felt any teething pains in a while, maybe I won't ever get teeth? My Momma sure doesn't mind, at least as long as she is nursing me...!

More about the "Gkeeh" and me!

So I still am not able to sit without holding on to something... the doctor said this is nothing to worry about; that this is because I am so tall, so my torso is long, and with my heavy head on top, it is more difficult for me to balance! Also, because I love moving/wiggling/scooting/rolling around so much, the doctor said that I am probably just not interested in sitting still.

BUT in further news, my Momma and Dad are pretty sure that I now have a first word. Yes, I know. This is early. And guess what the word is? It is "Gkeeh!" ...which I say again and again when the kitty is in view. I wave my little arms towards him and say "Gkeeh!" At first my Momma thought that this must just be a coincidence. But it has happened often enough now that they think I am intentionally saying it.

I love the kitty, and he loves me. Playing with him is almost as fun as playing with my Dad or my Momma!

Here I am touching the tips of his whiskers. It makes him shake is head and sneeze.

Kisses anyone? Ohhhhhh, yummy! Kitty fuzz! Yep, yep, I love our "Gkeeh!"

Crawl - Roll - Scoot - Roll - Scoot

My little world is expanding! My Momma has given up putting a blanket down for me to play on... because it only takes me a few moments to roll, scoot, or CRAWL off of it! I am still not very good at crawling... I can get my tummy and butt off of the ground and into the crawling position, but I usually only go about two crawl-steps before collapsing back onto the ground. At the very least, this gets me to move forward though!
I am getting very creative: if I see a toy that is out of my reach, I first try to stretch and reach it. If I can't, I get it by a combination of rolling, scooting, and my brand-new crawling skills. This is fun!
Hi! You were calling my name? Sure, I will smile!
Ooooooooh... I know these two people! I am getting better at turning the pages. I don't have to just wave the book around to have the pictures change. Sometimes it is upside-down, but that doesn't bother me.
Of course I haven't forgotten that books continue to be delicious.
Quick! Take a picture before I collapse!
Yep, I am definitely my Dad's son... this mouse is one of my favorite toys!

My Kitty-friend Merlin

Well, first a short update from the food-sector: I have decided that I really LIKE eating "real" food for lunch! My current favorite is mashed rice with carrots or pumpkin. I eat TWO portions worth of it, and am then so full that my Momma doesn't even have to nurse me at lunch anymore! When I see my Momma mixing my food, I make little fish-mouth movements, and let her know I am happy by waving my arms and laughing. I have tried some noodles, and nibbled on some stale bread crust, too.


So here I am in my baby bouncer, which my Momma or Dad put me into to feed me, because I can't sit up yet on my own. I have already eaten, and as soon as my Dad finished feeding me, the kitty plopped down where he had sat. Oh boy, do I love the kitty! Whenever he comes near me, I get excited and laugh, and I like watching him... but nothing is quite as fun as cuddling him!

When I am feeling cuddly, I rub my head on people. Well, when I rub my head on the kitty, he rubs back! My Momma sometimes has to get fuzz out of my mouth afterwards... but that doesn't stop me from trying to lick him...
Uh oh. All this grabbing the kitty's belly fur might not be such a good idea afterall. Look at my hands. They are furry! Am I turning into a kitty, too?

Oh, he is soooooo soft... *grab*
*giggle* Heheh, that tickles! Stop licking my forehead, kitty!



Well, that's it for today, folks! Hope you have all had a good start into the year of 2007!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

The Bradley family wishes you a very merry Christmas!!!!

Happy Mark's-first-food-day! (I am 6 months old now!)

So, I am not sure what posessed my Momma and my Dad: Today I turned 6 months old, and for some very odd reason, they thought it would be a good time to introduce me to solid foods! Well, quasi-solids... I am not sure if mushed-up steamed carrots count as "solid" per se...

Haha! You're funny, Momma! I am supposed to do WHAT? Eat that stuff??! It looks nothing like milk, and that green spoon looks nothing like where the milk comes from. You're so silly!

Ok, this is my very first bite of food ever. I had no idea what awaited me!

*full body shudder* -Wow. This tastes really weird. Yuck. Or is it yucky? Swallow! Quick! Uh. Oh. *Gag* Not THAT quickly... Ewwwww!

(a few spoonfulls later) This is disgusting!!! I think. Ugh. ...or is it?

Yeah, I would say I have had enough of this messy nonsense. Just gimme some yummy milk! I've had it for 6 months now, why switch to something else?










More pictures of his next meal to follow! We will give him "food" for lunch from now on... and maybe some nibbles of stuff here and there. =o)

Catching the Kitty!

Hello again! Glad to see you! Hope you haven't gone crazy with Christmas shopping yet... my Momma and Dad have decided NOT to Christmas shop this year! They are going shopping together AFTER Christmas! But we still have lots of gifts under the tree that my Dad won't let my Mom peek at. I have tried to help her by taste-testing the packages, but my efforts are foiled each time.

Well, that darned tooth still hasn't made it through my gum, but it doesn't bother me as much right now, as long as I have something to chew on. I am not fussing as much, and I am sleeping better, too. In fact, a few nights ago, I didn't even wake up until 6am!

Today I had my check-up! Aside from making me take all my clothes off in a cold room, and then poking and prodding me with chilly tools, it wasn't so bad. I can't get my shots until I am actually 6 months old (which is on the 25th), so I didn't get stuck with any needles this time. Anyway. I am sure you have all been holding your breath to find out just how big I have grown: I am 28.7 inches long (74cm), and I weigh 19.2 lbs (about 8900g)!!! Yep, yep, I am a big, big boy. Just like my Dad. My parents don't need a work-out gym... they can just continue to lift ME all day!

Look at me play! Dad hung a blank CD from my playground, and it is fun to chew on!!!

Ok, so remember my lesson in caterpillar-crawling? Well, I have a much more effective mode of transportation these days! It is called the speed-rollover (also used in war zones, by the way!). Once I get going, I can go and go until I hit a barrier (the couch, the playpen, or the kitty!). Yesterday I had so much momentum that I rolled right on top of the kitty... he was surprized, (as was I) and was able to wiggle out from underneath me, but I had his tail pinned, so he wasn't going anywhere! I started pulling his ears, and got a few mouthfulls of his fur... but then my Momma spoiled the fun by freeing the kitty... coming to think of it, this was probably a good thing, because he was beginning to bite my feet!

Just for the record, the kitty and I are friends! We are! I don't torment him more than he lets me... He has figured out that I am rather fun to play with, and he frequently plops down right next to me. Sometimes he even bats the toys away from me. Here he decided his ears had been pulled enough... and was TRYING to get away. Haha! But my grabby little hands were too quick for him!

Swimming, Teething, and going to work with Dad!

You have probably begun to wonder what I have been up to! Well, let me tell you about the highlights:
Last weekend my Dad and Momma took me to Frankfurt to visit Jasmin and Timon! While we were there, I got to go swimming for the first time. It was quite the adventure. For the first 5 or so minutes I wasn't quite sure if I liked being in the water, and would hold on to my Dad or my Momma for dear life, making a very unhappy face. Then I realized that I can wiggle all sorts of waggles in the water! Those of you who have seen me "live" know how much I love wiggling... well, it works even better in the pool! I got a fright the first few times my wiggling arms made me splash my face... and then I gave Dad a fright by grabbing onto his chest hair! My Momma let me float on my back, supporting just my head, and I accidently dipped my face in the water a few times while "floating" on my tummy... but I liked it, I did! I also got to play with these weird streams of water that looked like cables (cables are FUN to play with) and were spraying out from the side of the pool. Tricky things, they were... I'd try to grab one, and it would squirt me in the face! Then my Dad and Jasmin and Timon played with me in the water for a bit while my Momma swam laps. After swimming, I was really hungry and thirsty, and then it was bed-time. I didn't even wait until we were home, but fell into a deep, deep sleep in the car. I enjoyed swimming so much that my Momma and Dad are going to take me swimming more often... and we will get a disposable waterproof camera to take a few pictures next time!

Hmmm. What else hav I been up to? Ahhhh! Yes! I got to go to work with my Dad! My Momma had a doctor's appointment, and Dad decided to take me with him to work. He had me sort through files, and I got to deal out a few article 15s to some soldiers... not really. I mostly basked in the admiration of his co-workers, and chewed on Dad's wallet and his cell phone. He had brought my own toys, but Dad's cell phone is SO much more interesting! Just wait til I have teeth! After a while, I got tired and took a nap... and then when I woke up, Dad brought me back to my Momma, and I had a good meal of yummy milk!

Speaking of milk, my Momma is still breast-feeding me 100%... but on Christmas day I will be 6 months old, and I get to try "real" food for the first time! ("real" as in mushed up pumpkin or peas, and cereal). I bet my Dad and Momma will get some good pictures from the experience!

Please admire my toothless smile... because it will not be toothless for much longer! I have spent the last three days being very uncomfortable because my first tooth is trying to come in on the bottom... it still hasn't quite made it, but the gum is red and swollen, and there is a little white point peaking. Lots of slobbering, and chewing on everything, everyone, and anything helps. My Momma also puts some ointment on my gum that numbs it. She tried it herself, and she shuddered from the taste just like I did, and then was weirded out when her lip went numb! I want to be held all the time right now, and am pretty fussy... it is a first for my Momma and Dad, but they will learn... cuz I have 23 more teeth that will come in after this one!

Uhm, no, I am not on a leash here... this is just a ribbon dangling for me to play with. I love playing with cables, and so my Momma and Dad are trying to re-direct my interest to ribbons and string instead... but cables are so much more yummy!

Ah, yes. My book. The edges are a bit more worn, but it is just as delicious as ever! If the pages aren't too wet, my Momma looks at the pictures with me and makes the animal noises and explains what they eat. I really like the horsy-noise and the sniffing bunny is great fun, too!

When nobody is available to read to me, I talk to my book myself. I am not yet able to open it, or turn the pages. But the good old kittens and airplane never fail to fascinate...

Yes, so I am told that traditionally babies are supposed to play with the dangly toys that hang off of this thing. How boring! It is so much more fun to pull myself over by the legs, or to push the whole thing around! I also like lifting the whole contraption by one leg, and chewing on the round blue ball on the end...