Banks and Charlie

Banks just can't help it but he's popular already. Our friends have lots of babies so Banks was born with a whole bunch of ready made friends! Don't be mistaken...I'm not above forcing his friendships. Anyway, we were in Jackson last week and Banks got to hang out with one of his very best friends, Charlie. They were born only one day apart so it really is mandatory that they love each other...

"What?"

the activity of choice: chewing toys

"Oh, Charlie! You're hilarious!"

Warning:

No babies were harmed in the taking of these pictures.

As you are about to see, Banks is in to EVERYTHING these days. About three weeks ago he discovered he could pull up on his knees and hasn't stopped doing it since. It makes me very nervous as he's had a few spills trying to get back to the ground.

Opening and closing the drawer. Over and over and over again.

A plethora of no-no's on the coffee table. Don't worry...the candle wasn't lit.

A man on a mission. See the determination in his eyes???

Pulling up on the coffee table yet again...

And now pulling up on the chair.

Into the plant...

Into Buford's food bowl...

Under the baby gate...

Under the chair. Looks like he got busted, doesn't it?

He also thinks it's hilarious to pull up in the crib and throw his paci's over the side. I don't think it's that funny. Notice we had to lower the mattress to the lowest setting...sad!

Baby jail...

And, so you don't think I spent all my time the last few days taking pictures of things my child shouldn't be doing here are a few pics of his first time in the swing at the park. He loved it!

Ole Miss Baseball!

Banks went to his first Ole Miss baseball game last night! The weather was perfect and we had a blast. We went with the Darbys and the Sorrells and Banks had a great time with his friends Emerson and Mimi.

The Ladies Man... All decked out in their Ole Miss attire...
And I must say that I am dying to have a girl one of these days. Mimi and Emerson had a mad game of Ring Around the Rosey going and you have to see how cute they were!
Ring around the rosey... Pocket full of poseys...
And Mimi falling down!
Banks was so sleepy when we left. I think he was out before we got out of the parking garage! I always like to tip-toe in his room before I go to bed to check on him and this is what I found. The picture is a bit blurry...I rushed in, snapped the picture, and ran out!

Both paci's...with one resting on his cheek!!!

Outside!

Since the weather has been so nice we've been spending LOTS of time outside. B loves to chill in his bouncer on the patio! You'll notice his irresponsible parents let him get a little too much sun Saturday...tisk, tisk.Gram and Grumps came to visit last week and we had a shrimp boil one night. Here's Gram and Banks pre-boil.

Banks LOVES riding on anyones shoulders! In an attempt to prevent further burn I made a trip to Target today to get baby sunscreen and a hat. Couldn't you just eat him up???

Easter

We went to Batesville this year for Easter to be with Matt's mom. Banks had a great first Easter with family!

Mimi and Banks

Mimi, Matt, Banks, me

Loving the eggs...

Checking out the loot

Getting a family picture is MUCH harder these days. Banks is really interested in looking at everything and wants to check it all out.
Strike one...

Strike two (man I need a tan)

Better but still not looking at the camera...

Boys...

Apparently there is something difficult about raising boys. There are a bazillion books dedicated to the subject and endless amounts of advice to be offered regarding rearing boys. At this point in Banks' life, it doesn't matter much. If I laid a Barbie and a truck out for him to play with I think he might actually go for the Barbie but in a time period shorter than I'd like to admit he will become more boy-like and I could use some guidance on the subject!

Boys really are a different breed. And I'm not just saying this because I'm an only child and really only know the world of girl. They're just different. For example (and Matt, I love you and please don't hate me for posting this), Matt comes in yesterday with his chest puffed out-so proud of himself and props his foot up on the arm of the chair. He proceeds to point out his crazily long toenails and states that he had been trying to "see how long he could get them to grow out before flip flop season." Seriously??? Who thinks of this stuff??? It's gotta be a guy thing. I'd like to say that he succeeded and those things were gold-metal-award-winning-long. Which reminds me that Matt may have some bizarre infatuation with long toenails because last summer he gouged my ankle with one of his long toenails and it LEFT A SCAR. Anyway, back to the point...what am I to do with a BOY??? My grandmother predicted that I would have a house full of "grubby little boys" and so far her prediction has come true. So, if I'm going to have a house full of long toenail growing boys I've gotta learn how to raise 'em right!

Our church is offering a parenting series on nurturing boys. I'm getting the book (Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys) ASAP and planning on attending the series in September. Surely I can manage to read a book by then!!! And thankfully, Clint and Jeri Anne found out they're having a little boy in August so Banks will FINALLY have a boy to play with around here!!! We're so excited that they can beat each other up one day!

And, on to what you really want to see...some pictures of Banks! He's eight months old now which is just crazy to me. He's eating all kinds of bits of food, dragging (not crawling yet) himself all over the place, and talking up a storm (new sounds are ta, fa, da, sh...but no ma). It just gets more and more fun everyday!

Pulling all the toys out of the basket

This is a picture of a picture so it's not that great...here's his first visit with the Easter bunny!

Working on the crawl...check out those cheeks!!!

A little play time with my daddy!