Swinging

More spring weather in January means a walk to the neighborhood park and my first time on a swing without being held by mom or dad.  We packed a lunch, ate in the sun, took a little swing, and then I got to ride on daddy's shoulders on the way home.  

Daddy Daughter Double Date

The usual Sunday routine is: church, home for lunch and nap and hanging out, small group, then home for dinner and bed.  It's a little tough on me because church usually interferes with my morning nap and then small group interferes with my evening cat nap.  Plus, it's hard for me to go the full two hours of small group without interrupting mama.  So, we decided as a family to change it up a bit.  Every other week either mommy or daddy will go to small group and the other will stay home with me.  On the weeks that daddy goes to small group it's not really different than any other evening: mama and me hanging out, fixing dinner, waiting for daddy.  On the weeks where mama goes though... it's so fun and so special!  I get daddy/daughter date night and mama comes home looking SO refreshed after a couple of hours of adult conversation without the entertainment... fine, distraction of me.

Two Sundays ago daddy and I went to Lowes together and that was definitely fun... being daddy's little partner.  This Sunday though, daddy and I met up with Haven and her daddy for a daddy daughter double date!  

This arrangement is probably temporary and driven by my current needs as a somewhat attached 8-month old, but I'm going to appreciate it while it lasts.   

Enjoying a Car Ride

Mr Stomach Bug is a baddddd man!

What a crazy couple of days.  And not in a good way.  On Friday mommy was feeling sick so daddy stayed home from work to take care of me while mommy rested.  I barely saw her all day, which is really strange!  Daddy started to feel bad too, so I was pretty bored all day.  The house was quiet, no one was playing... it was really boring.  In the evening mom's friend Tiffany visited like she sometimes does, but before I knew it, she was strapping me in the car seat and taking me out the door.  What the heck?!  This has never happened.  What could be going on with mommy and daddy that they would send me out of the house for two hours?!

The next evening I found out.  Out of nowhere all the wonderful food that normally goes in my mouth... came out :(  Sorry if that's too much information, but it was terrrrrible.  I froed up about 5 times between 6pm and 1am.  At that point I was able to sleep until 7, thank goodness.  While I was getting sick, mama held me and rubbed my back and told me I was such a brave girl.  She kissed my head and I got to sleep on her chest.  We curled up with a comforter on the couch (along with paper towels, a trash can, a change of clothes for us both, ugh) so that daddy could get some rest for work the next day.

While mama was sick she of course prayed that I would not get it.  She also prayed that if I did get sick, she would be well enough to take care of me.  I am thankful to God that mama had the strength to stay up with me and was well enough to hold me.  It made a terrible night much more bearable.

The next day I had an all liquid diet (which is fine with me because I'm 8 months old, milk is still my favorite!), took seven long naps, and then slept 12.5 last night.  I'm happy to report that the entire household is up and running this morning, business as usual!

If you're happy and you know it....

Clap Your Hands...

It's a little hard to hear that actual clap sound in the video, but it's there!!

Eight Months

Hey friends!  I'm eight months old today!  Still no teeth, still not crawling, and not quite 17lbs.  I weigh as much as my mama did on her first birthday though.  We're just little :)  I love to chit-chat.  My favorite sounds to make are dada, nana, tata (always whispered), baba, and ppplllttthhh.  And I said, "mama" just briefly yesterday.  If no one is paying attention to me I let out a short high-pitched yelp to get someone to look my way.  I get really excited when mama sets me in her lap to read a book.  I just want to grab the book so badly and put it in my mouth, but I know we don't eat books so my palms sweat and I can hardly contain myself.  Mama and daddy play rough with me on the floor and it makes me laugh really hard.  I like to find and pick up any tiny thing (dirt) I can find on the carpet during tummy time.  I'm getting really good with my pinchers!  I love to eat apples and oatmeal, mashed potatoes and gravy, bananas, avocado, fruit and greek yogurt.  I do not love to eat peas.  I've finally gotten the hang of the church nursery and time without mama in general.  For my 2/3 birthday today I'm heading to Haven's to play with all of my baby friends.  Wednesday mornings are still my favorite.  

Making funny faces

Burning Calories

Burning calories the best way I know how since I'm not yet crawling...

Two Christmases

I don't know what just happened, but I had the funnest (that's a word, right?) time at grannie Annie's and grandpa Lenny's.  I was just minding my own business when a seemingly normal morning turned into excitement galore.  Papers and ribbons and tags, oh my!  I was way less interested in what was inside those lovely crinkly packages than I was the wrapping itself.

A week later I took off on my second flight to Chicago.  I did awesome once again.  I just played nicely in mama and daddy's laps.  I had breakfast and greatgramma Lydia's with the many Meitls, visited my Jarvis family, and saw my cousin Laura get married!  The ceremony and reception were beautiful, and I had my first taste of fish!

Since there are so many pictures from the holidays, I will let them do the story telling.  Enjoy!

Modeling my santa hat at grannie and grandpa's house in TN

Pretty in pink with grannie

Just landed in Illinois and making my first trip to Portillos!

   

Looking at all of the "artifacts" at gramma Lydia's house with Tina.

Playing at grandpa John and grandma T's

Being silly with great grandma T

Singing songs with great grandpa John

 

Mommy and daddy snuck out for a date night.  Is that a pitcher of long island iced tea?! :)

Watching my first snow flurries fall from the sky

Bundled up... baby it's cold!

The view from aunt Carol and uncle Bob's

Sleeping in with mama and daddy on a cold Illinois morning

Tortillas at gramma Lydia's are amazing!

And that's how it's done!

Getting ready for Matt and Laura's wedding.  I'm so excited!!

Uncle John!

Uncle Marty!

Uncle Art!

Posing with mama in front of the lovely tree

Blowing kisses

Great gramma Lydia looks stunning!

Watching the wedding with daddy

Flirting with the beautiful bride

On the way to the airport early in the morning...