9 month old

Jolly managed, over the span of less than a week, to increase his total teeth by THREE MORE, for a total of seven. He also got a cold (either from me via teaching, or from the doctor's office or playgroup where Ephiny took him on Wednesday)... which is noteworthy only because we finally got to use the Nosefrieda to extract large amounts of snot. In spite of the cold and the many incoming teeth, he is really remarkably cheerful and still very happy.

Given his good disposition and reduced snot dispensing, we went out to run errands today. At the bakery, Jolly got his own glass (well, mason jar) of water served to him! I think it's probably because the nice people at the bakery have watched him chewing on our water glasses on previous visits. He sort of drank out of the glass, ate a lot of his very own parmesan bread-stick and was fascinated by older children coming in. (He also got mistaken for a girl three times. I think it might be time for another haircut.)

The actual errand part was when we went to the grocery store, which is totally one of the most fun activities right now with the people and the sights and the things in the cart to grab. My causing an apple avalanche was seriously hilarious. The other person in the organic section started to laugh at his belly laughter. Gravity clearly continues to be funny! (Other things that have caused uproarious laughter lately include sloshing milk in bags around to mix them, and also, "Let the Jolly Soar", a flying game to the tune of John Ashcroft's patriotic song about eagles.)

After a nap, Jolly watched me cut down stinging nettles for dinner while yanking up bits of lawn and gleefully shrieking. Being outdoors is always a super-big hit - today a bit cooler but I put him in Ephiny's old snowsuit, which currently fits well and is super-cute. I kept a good balance between having him close by in case actual eagles should soar overhead, and having him not too close to go crawling into the nettles. (My hands are still tingling.)

We are now off to the dining table to expand Jolly's cheese palate by one additional species (buffalo), because they sell the traditional fresh mozzarella at Costco and I bought everything else for caprese salad today at the market. Spring is here!