The Vanderwalls: 17 Months!

Little Buddy,

**Cough, cough, sniff, sniff, hack, hack** Those are the sounds emanating from our house these days. All three of us managed to catch an awful cold. We've endured its unrelenting effects for about a week now. Unfortunately, word on the street has it that it will be sticking around for another week or so :(

In much more positive, uplifting news you decided you wanted to start walking!!! I'm sure I have it recorded in your blog somewhere, but I can't remember exactly when you started standing by yourself. I do know it was several months ago. You have also been walking with assistance for several months and you had taken you first steps few weeks ago, but it wasn't until Tuesday that you claimed your independence as a walker. There was really no transition between crawling and running. You're constantly motoring around as fast as your stubby little legs will carry you.

I know you will find this hard to believe, but our lives have grown to be even more crazy than usual. Mommy continues to teach and is taking 6 credits for her Master's degree, (3 of which end on October 12th, thank goodness), Daddy continues to work and go to the gym almost every day, and we have all been spending extra time at Grandpa and Grandma's store helping them out. They found out at the beginning of September that the building was sold out from underneath them and they only have until October 31st to be out. It is really sad. They aren't sure if they're moving or closing the store down. All we know right now is that there is an ENORMOUS amount of work to do in the next few weeks. Everyone in our immediate and extended family have been helping out as often as we are able. You've been quite the little trooper and you've started your own little fan club with some of the customers.

Grandpa and Grandma's store and their story made it onto the front page of the local paper last week. I included the link to the article:

http://www.idahopress.com/members/local-business-news-douglas-bedroom-design-s-future-uncertain/article_69a0b084-24d5-11e3-9e05-0019bb2963f4.html

Mommy is really looking forward to the next couple of weeks because I get my Fall break at work. Inevitably, this means more time for homework and household duties, but it also means more time with you and Daddy! We are going to try to do some special, fun things over the break, just the 3 of us.

Your vocabulary is growing daily. You now say:

Noah
No
Yes
Yeah
Hi
Oh!
Wow!
Mama
Dada
Boom
Whoa!
And many, many more things that are only understood by the likes of you

Your picking eating continues, at least to an extent. I think it has gotten better, but it has been hard to tell this week if you're being picky or if you just don't feel good.

Dancing, reading books, playing with cars, and taking tubbies are still in your top favorite activities. Entertaining yourself isn't much of a problem for you. On rare occasion when Daddy's trying to work and Mommy's trying to do homework and you aren't content to play by yourself, you'll enjoy an episode or two of Curious George.

We decided to put our house up on the market this past month. So far we haven't had any lookers, but it has been on the market for less than 3 weeks. 60-90 days is the maximum we'll leave it up for sale and then we will take it off the market and probably list it again in the spring. We aren't in a hurry to sell. We'll see if anything comes of it.

I think my cold is taking over....my head feels kinda fuzzy and I can't seem to think of what else I wanted to include in your blog this month. We have lots of fun events coming up between now and the end of October so I'm sure I'll have lots to write about and pictures to post next month.

You are loved, Sweet Baby! You are a precious blessing to everyone around you and we love you more with each passing day.