7 1/2 months old

Thomas and I are doing fine. Matthew has just left for another 2-week Toledo-Guadalajara run, and I am officially on Leave again! Because of the crazy price of fuel, the company decided to offer 3-month leave of absences with benefits to people so as to conserve costs and avoid laying people off. So Matthew and I are planning a trip to New Zealand! Not really looking forward to the 12-hour LAX-Auckland flight, but thankfully we have already flown with Thomas a few times so we have a little experience under our belts already with the wiggly one. Also not really looking forward to the next couple of weeks with just Thomas and me, but it's a great opportunity to start planning gatherings with friends that we never seem to fit in otherwise. AND, we're looking forward to a visit from Mom and Dad in the future, after they conclude their dancing in Texas! More on that later!

Thomas is learning how to crawl! He can crawl a few steps forward at a time and looks delighted at his progress. Now is really REALLY the time to do all that baby-proofing that I've been meaning to do for so long! He's also getting a lot steadier and able to keep his balance better when we stand him up and put his hands on an ottoman or ledge. He beams and chuckles. Matthew has also been taking him for rides around the house on his shoulders, being very careful about doorways! And he's getting a lot more interactive and giggly with games like peek-a-boo, airplane and "this little piggy." We're lucky to have such a happy little guy. Except when ... he cries because [insert hypothesis here]. Usually at bedtime/naptime, or for the past few days at 4 or 5 in the morning, and the running hypothesis these days is teething. Thank goodness I don't have to get up and go to a job!