Back Where I Come From!

We were in Fargo in June to visit family and to go see our favorite performer, Kenny Chesney in concert. Kenny Chesney is someone who Andy and I started following back in 2002, and have seen him 11 times in concert now. We knew that we wanted to squeeze in at least one Kenny show this year, and since Auntie Heather offered to baby-sit, it was going to be Fargo for Kenny this year!

We had a great time on our date night, and only called Auntie Heather 5 times (does texting count?????). Kenny was great as usual. A highlight of the night was to see the "Back Where I Come From" video. Since I've been in North Dakota twice in the last month and spent a lot of time with family, following the loss of my dad, I've grown to be just a little extra homesick from than usual. Kenny always has a moment during the song "Back Where I Come From" when he shows images on the big screen from wherever he is playing that night. Usually the Minnesota shows I'll cheer when the local landmarks are shown, but the North Dakota shows....

I've always felt a connection with the song, written by songwriter Mac McAnally, which is all about growing up in small town America, where "clocks tick and the cattle graze and time passed with amazing grace"- the songs seems to capture where I spent the first 22 years of my life. But the words "back where I come from, where I'll be when it's said and done. I'm proud as anyone, back where I come from" have taken on a new meaning for me in the last month, watching my dad laid to rest in the place where he was born and ran around as a child and teenager. I am proud to have grown up in North Dakota. It was a great place to grow up, and I'm sure that my dad would agree with that.
We spent some quality time this weekend with Auntie Heather, and my grandma. Luke received lots of love and attention...

Overall, a great weekend!

CRAWLING!

We got home tonight from school and Luke just started CRAWLING! Crawling like he had known how all along- no sweat!

Moving Forward

Luke is scooting around everywhere these days! He started a few days ago with actually moving forwards. He's been getting up on all fours for awhile now, but he's finally connected on how to move ahead, rather than backwards or sideways. We worked on baby-proofing the living room, and Andy installed the gates last night. He's also a little speed-demon in his walker... he cruises in the thing, and seems to love to chase us down in it. I have to say I'm not liking the way it hits us right at the ankles when he rams into us... or for the matter, the smirk he gets on his face when he nearly brings us down, but.... he's moving forwards!

Teeth!

Please forgive the close-up picture of the runny nose, but it shows Luke's 2 new teeth perfectly! He just got those in 2 weeks ago. We really didn't have many problems with teething (I've heard the horror stories!). He had one fussy evening, but other than that.... lots of chewing, drooling, runny noses... nothing we couldn't handle. No fevers or sleepless nights to speak of. He's now trying "puffs" and yogurt bites with his food. They dissolve pretty quickly in his mouth as it is, but... our little boy has teeth! Yay!!

They're Cousins!

We recently gathered as an extended family for Andy's cousin Cody's graduation party. Luke is so lucky to have cousins so close in age!

Pictures

Luke is now 7 1/2 months old. He is growing up so fast! He's eating cereal and fruit or veggies twice a day, and he's starting to eat "puffs" with his 2 new teeth that he got 2 weeks ago. He still takes 2 naps a day, but is sitting up on his own. Here are some recent pictures!