Twice Upon a Time.....9 MONTHS!

As we welcomed in the New year, we simultaneously welcomed Sophie and CJ's 9 month milestone! Lordsy Mercy how time flies when you have two punks nipping at your heels.....

SOPHIE!

She got two bottom teeth at about 8 months and started crawling at about the same time. She can move quickly and effortlessly to all the places she is not allowed to go now...as soon as she sees you coming towards her, she giggles and starts to flee....silly girl. I don't expect her to be walking before CJ, but she is way ahead of Randi at this age. ...She has been sleeping through the night for months now, although she definitely prefers to go to bed later than does CJ...still, she gets a consistent 10-11 hrs of sleep every night.... Sophie doesn't make a lot of noise, but she is finding her voice in her very own way....she has learned that her lips make a funny noise when she sucks them in, for example.....and that a high pitched squeel is always a good way to get our attention....she's not one to carry on, cry, or fuss much...her brother does enough of that for the both of them! Sophie has a great appetite and is enjoying cereal for breakfast and fruits or veggies for dinner....she also enjoys working her hand-eye coordination with our recent introduction of finger foods into her diet...

At their 9 month appointment, Sophie weighed in at 20 lbs and 30"! She a tall, lean, Cheerio eating machine!

And CJ!

He got his two bottom teeth at about 6 months and started crawling at about the same time. Not only can he crawl out of your reach in .0009 seconds flat, he can easily pull up on people and/or furniture around him. He is a very physical little man, and with all this movement inevitably comes falls....that big head does not fall lightly either! He seems to take it all in stride though, and enjoys the freedom of going where he wants to, when he wants to, and seeing the sights near, far, high, and low! I expect this kid to be walking before he turns a year old. Like his sister, he has been sleeping through the night for months now, although he definitely prefers to go to bed earlier than does Sophie...still, he gets a consistent 10-11 hrs of sleep every night.... CJ is a very vocal kid...he babbles in a very excited way in a language all his own....I am particularly fond of his coo'ing though....he sings to us in a way that could make even the most accomplished of military bearing break a smile....with all this vocalism comes a penchant to let you know exactly how he feels at all times....good and bad! CJ has never had the ravenous appetite of Sophie, but he is enjoying his food a lot more now than he used to...I think the addition of fruit has sweetened up the pot a little for him....he always looks forward to his 'big boy' dinner and is really talented at capturing and consuming his finger foods...he has great hand eye coordination!

At their 9 month appointment, CJ weighed in at: 21 lbs and 29 inches! He is stout little man!

We are looking forward to their first birthday....milestones seem to come and go so quickly these days, it'll be here before we know it!

Happy Families!

Leah

Amber....

I had anticipated drafting a "Happy New Year" post with a complete review of the year's most exciting and entertaining events, however, "Amber" has come along and become the focus of my attention instead. "Amber" is a hunting dog that has been separated from her group. Judging by her body condition, she was either separated quite a while ago, or her owner has half starved her to death. Regardless, she's been welcomed with food, water, and a warm place to rest until her owner (as identified by her collar) can come get her. Wishing her lots of love in 2011. Her and all the other dogs out there working for a living this hunting season....

I wish I could say that "Amber's" arrival during this hunting season was not something we have experienced before. It is unfortunate that we normally have several hunting dogs in similar conditioning show up each season that take refuge with us until their owners come to claim them....I wish I could say they are normally in a lot better condition than "Amber", but they aren't....I've bathed more encrusted hides, medicated more infected ears, and filled more empty stomachs than I can hardly stomach myself....

The practice of hound hunting—using packs of dogs, some equipped with radio transmitters—to chase and hunt deer, bears and other wildlife has become an increasingly controversial and hotly-debated issue in many areas, particularly in Virginia.

These pictures have not been doctored in any way....

PLEASE feed your dogs, and hunt responsibly....

Leah