Our Little World: March 2009

Sittin' Pretty

We have been having so much fun lately! Everything from playing with the dogs to dancing to silly songs. All the while, our beautiful little daughter is growing up before our very eyes!!
She is almost sitting up on her own already! She is such a strong little girl! She amazes us on a daily basis. She now rolls over in both directions!! (Still only back to front though. She decided to skip the whole front to back process.)
I have so much fun with her, whether we are just taking some pictures, or playing with toys, or getting my things done around the house, while she has some good ol' Daddy time. It all makes it so worthwhile!
Of course she is getting to the age where she has favorites. Her favorite dolly. Favorite toy. Favorite book. Favorite parent (Daddy wins this one!!) It is so amazing to see the world through a child's eyes! I can only imagine what comes next!! If only the time went a little bit slower.

One of my faves

Quality Daddy time

1st Solid food experience!!

She is now eating solid foods. (See what I mean... the time is flying by so fast!!) She was exactly 5 months old and I just couldn't wait any longer. She would watch us eat and she seemed so intrigued. She was telling me "It's time Mommy."
I had so much fun feeding her!! She did pretty good, although there were some moments she seemed a little disappointed. (After all, have you tasted that stuff?!)
She seemed to get the hang of it pretty quickly though. Now, she knows what's coming when I get the high chair ready. She seems to like it now.

Not too sure I like it Mommy...

The sun is shining? This I have to see

Finally... the moment we have all been waiting for! The sun is shining. It's 61 out. Let's go for a walk!! I couldn't just stay at home when there was a beautiful day waiting outside our door!!
We bundled up comfortably, threw on our shades, and hit the road. Well, sidewalk.
It felt so good to just soak up some rays and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin!! She had a great time too. There was lots for her to see. A kid walking his dog, cars, trees. She usually hits the snooze button a little ways into the short walks. But this one was an adventure. There was so much to take in.
Once we got on Ustick, it was even cooler. She got to watch traffic! It made me smile to see her just looking around with her cute little sunglasses on. She really had a good time. I liked it so much, I came home and got Vandal and took him for a walk. This is when she fell asleep. THEN I brought him home, got Molly, and took her for a walk. (I can only manage one dog and the stroller at a time. Contrary to popular beliefs, Mommy's only have two arms.) It was a good hour and a half of excercise for me, a nice nap for her, and both of the dogs got to get out and enjoy some new sights also. Aaahhhh... spring is here at last!

All dressed up and ready to stroll

Carrots... in my cereal, please

Yesterday, I decided to try some carrots in the rice cereal. She thought that was pretty neat!! Her face lit up when she got her first bite. I then tried the carrots by themselves... Not so much. You would have thought I gave her a lemon wedge.
So I went back to the cereal/carrot mixture and she ate and ate and ate. Of course, what fun is eating if you can't make a little mess. She has made a few attempts to feed herself with the spoon. She will be in no time, I'm sure.
Our little girl... already eating solid foods. I always thought these days would never come. Now, here they are. We really have to pay attention or we may miss something!

Nummers!

Happily messy and ready for the tub

Sleeping off her first cold

So, the day after being poked and prodded at the Doctor's office, her first cold kicked in. Poor girl!! She was so stuffy and she had a cough. It was by far harder on me than it was on her. I didn't sleep much the first few nights. I kept waking up to check her breathing! New Mommy syndrome?
A baby with a cold is a sad thing as a parent! It's not exactly as if you can tell them to "blow" into the kleenex or give 'em a cough drop to help their throat. Not even a little chicken noodle soup.
She didn't seem to be too bothered by the cold. Except, of course, for me always picking at her nose with rags and the snot sucker. I did learn that a warm wet washcloth is acceptable to her.
She is finally over that icky cold, and now the teething is getting to her. Just one thing after another.

Home pho

tography
Melanie absolutely loves to take a bath. I have a feeling she will be a little fish, just like her mommy. I decided to give her a sink bath, now that she is finally big enough. She was so content to just kick back and enjoy the water. She sucked on her little cloth ducky and once in a while, she would put it in the water to get a "refill." I had so much fun just taking pictures of her. Oh, to be that photogenic!!

I love these feet!

Eye lashes a mile long

Innocent...

Taking pictures of her was so much fun for me, that I took even more after the bath. I also learned something- In my experience with "professional" photographers, it is very irritating that these people charge you a ridiculously high price to do something that cannot possibly cost that much.
Sure, your baby is only this young once and constantly changing, but why pay someone to "bond" with your baby in a way that you can, on your own. In your own time. Without having to settle with pictures of a fussy baby or the hassle of driving around town, etc. Not to mention handing over your hard earned precious dollars!
Brian and I realized that the pictures we take of her are far better than any we have had the "pros" take. They are more true to who she is. Drool, a frown, a funny look- that is our daughter. And those are the moments we want to capture!
I have always had a passion for photography, so it just makes sense to do what I love while I am home. Who knows, maybe someday I can start my own business taking pictures. And I could be the first reasonably priced photographer for miles around.