Speed Stumbling

So I know it has been forever since I last posted on the blog. Hopefully you are still checking it now and then so you will even notice this new entry. Well I have been pretty busy but really that is no excuse. I just haven't really had the energy to write and express my thoughts and emotions. I have a feeling this may happen again from time to time where there is a great pause in my writing. Raider is growing up so so so fast. He is now an official walker. Still has never once crawled or even shown an interest in it, but he loves to walk. Even lately he has entered into the world of speed walking which really is just stumbling forward at a faster pace. He also learned how to drink out of a straw which has made eating out a lot more convenient since I don't always have to rememeber a sippy cup. The funny thing is that he finally learned how to drink with a straw from my milkshake, the hardest thing in the world to suck up a straw. He must have just really wanted what was inside. When I took him in for his 15 month appointment I spoke with the doctor about my concerns since Raider was not yet pulling himself up or even going from a lying down to sitting position. The doctor looked at him and said it was probably just a Raider thing but that it wouldn't hurt to make an appointment with a physical therapist. After the appointment I put Raider down for his nap and what do you know when he woke up and I went to get him he was sitting up in his bed. I think it was kinda one of those I'll show you moments. Two days later he was pulling himself up also. So no need for that physical therapy appointment. All Raider ever wants to do these days is be outside. If I open the door he runs (speed stumbles) towards it and if I don't let him out he throws a huge tantrum. Oh well I guess he is just like his daddy always wanting to be outside. He also has grown a love for trees. He Is constantly pointing at trees even through windows. I think it must be the movement of the leaves that he is so fascinated with. Raider has just become so much fun with all the exploring he is into. He is learning new things everyday. Tomorrow Terry and Marla come to visit for a week. I am so excited for them to see what a big boy Raider has become. It is hard with them being so far away but at least we still get to visit every so often. We also got webcams and hopefully soon we will hook those up and be able to video chat over the internet. Here are some pictures that I recently took of Raider.

These pictures are from Raider's first trip to Holden Village. Holden Village is a Lutheran Retreat Center located in the Cascade Mountains and completely cut off from the outside world. It is an amazing place that Ben and I had talked about working at. Ben never had the opportunity to visit but had always wanted to. So it was so great to take Raider here with the youth from my church

Swimming pictures, Raider loves the water.