The Recap Edition

Happy New Year everyone!
It's been awhile since Taryn & I have posted any updates (and we have A LOT of stuff to post), so we thought it prudent to slip in a quick note to make sure everyone understands that we haven't quit the Blogger business, we've just been busy ... and tired ... and having too much fun ... and lazy.
In the latest Biddle News, Eli is now well into his 9th month, and boy is he ever doing it with gusto and having a blast. He's learned to crawl faster than Mommy and Daddy can run. He's learned to clap his hands. He's pulling himself up to stand (on everything!) and is able to climb the stairs (we caught him on the second step and have since purchased and installed the last safety gate for the house). He's already learned how to slowly lower himself down so that he doesn't hurt his hiney. He's even started using the coffee table and couches to steady himself as he takes little steps to grab things or come to Taryn or I. And he gets pretty far. And of course he's now standing in his crib and pack n play. We put a gummy teether on the wood of his crib so that he wouldn't hurt himself (or the wood finish). He still has just the 8 teeth, but he's teething like crazy and we're expecting back teeth any day now (we felt 'em!). He's tried a lot of new food (yogurt, apricots, mangoes, asparagus, broccolli, etc. We've even slipped him some scrambled eggs, pancakes, hamburger and what not). He's eating very well - three cubes three times per day, plus cheerios and Mum Mums (both of which he loves). He's very talkative and still has the best full body laugh we've ever heard - and he's so quick to smile and laughs so easily it's the greatest thing in the world. Day Care is going really well. We love the girls there, and so does Eli, even though he's started showing signs of mild separation anxiety (he's cried a couple times as Taryn dropped him off, but every report card we get says that he's "happy, silly," and he's always smiling when Taryn picks him up in the afternoon.
For Taryn and I things are as great as ever. SBUX is going really well, and I've made some great progress in my store. My numbers are really good and my team is starting to perform really well (even without me there!). Taryn's still having a blast with her kids and is making great progress in developing creative and effective plans for their improvement. And her IEP schedule has loosened a bit, so she's not so overstretched. At home, we're DONE baby proofing (for now). We've had the carpets cleaned (and spilled 3 different substances in 3 days immediately following). Our cats are still causing problems and we've threatened them with everything from living in the garage to being put on Craig's List. I still haven't gotten my music recording software to work. I'm just waiting for the day that Nikhil makes a trip out to visit so I can rope him into Geek Squad duty. After that, it's on SexFace!
And finally, for the last month or so, we've had so much sickness in our house that I secretly performed an exorcism while Taryn was out - just to cover our bases. I had Kendall bring over his holy water (he keeps a stash just for emergencies), put on my sunday best (a halloween costume) and did the whole "demons be gone!" bit. No not really. But can't you see it?
Between my eyes and sinuses, Taryn's stomach and back, and both of our throats, tummies and butts, it has been fairly intense and very gross. Nothing further on that matter. Suffice it to say that after the exorcism, I had a good 1 on 1 with God, and she said that we had indeed filled our quota for the duration of 2010. Cheers.

Stay tuned for some great pictures and video of the rest of our time in Mississippi, the Aquarium, Xmas, Eli's 9th month, New Years, and everything in between. Chalk it up to New Years Resolution #9: to be more timely in updating the Blog for the benefit of our Family and Friends, as well as my crappy memory - and posterity, of course. Someday this stuff will be worth millions ...