Catching up

-Sitting up is now a success completely on my own (baths are even MORE fun this way, how is this possible??)

-Starting to push my bum up in the air, roll in 360 circles to entertain myself, & stretch toward things with all my might--let me at those cords!

-I eat 3 meals a day now (milk just isn't cutting it any more). I've liked everything except turkey w/ broth so far & look forward to having an orange nose (like my brothers did!) from eating my squash, sweet potatoes, or carrots every day at lunch

-I had my first boogie-face this month, it tastes weird

-I will sit in laps for several books in a row (until I figure out how to crawl that is)

-My bedtime is 6:30/7pm to 7:00/7:30 am, but I still HAVE to get up once a night to make sure Mom is still around & fill my growling tummy

-I love to jabber "ba ba ba" non-stop & enjoy it when others do it back to me

-getting my first haircut was another great adventure of my 7th month mark. Mom said no more mullet & now I have cute (albeit a tad strange-looking) little layers in the back where my top layer is trying hard to grow back from my rub-the-back-of-my-head-escapades.

-I have been crowned as a baby who is "very active, but content & happy" by many friends & acquaintances. Mom agrees that sums me up (other than at dinner time so she wears me in the Baby Bjorn & then I'm good to go!)

The first roast of the season...

We excitedly invited our neighbors as we spur-of-the-moment decided it was too perfect not to have a roast. Well, it's been awhile since the last so we had lovely hard mallows to share :) Luckily, Tony to the rescue ran across our field to the one store we have within a 20 min drive--"Dollar General" we thank you (too bad the neighbors were gone by then--good thing it's the intent of the heart that matters...).

"Movement in the trees" I like to call this 'artistic' shot

O' Dayton's Merry Green Day

No leprechaun could get us us with the green spread we had atop our green tablecloth:

Broccoli soup w/ wheat butter dips, grapes, milk from a green cow, and...

Key Lime Pie with some of his swiped gold pieces adorning the top!

A Proud Lego Moment

Broadway of Ft. Wayne

Free $75 tickets to the Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Heather Headley, HEAVEN! Here is a link to the YouTube version of her singing "The Prayer" with Andrea Bocelli. Ohhhh, she is goood (much better IN concert) & a great on-stage performer.

Man #1: trying to get a nap in during intermission (it started at 8pm!!)

Man #2: WOW Mom, I love this!

At the Embassy with my men, a night on the town, yeah!

All in a Saturday of Play

Welcome to the PMTC (Primary MTC)!! Daddy is the boys' teacher so he gets to attend the activities as well :)

Then they traipsed off to survey Jyson's displayed artwork in the FAME Art Day in downtown Ft. Wayne

And this is a form of art unknown to me before now where the fish IS the art (they paint a REAL fish & then plop it on the paper...artistically of course)

And, once again, I was at home with the wee one so we could preserve her very important sleep schedule--this time she actually slept, and has been doing very well for the past few weeks!! Who knew that from my last post the "sleep dilemma" was so close to resolving itself (knock on wood).

At 6 1/2 months, I'm a star!

Apparently Mommy likes to post my monthly markers half-way through the month (see 4 1/2 mo post...). No prob, says I.

My accomplishments? Well, I don't like to brag, but...

--I'm a roll-a-mainac lately, I LOVE that I can finally move!

--Moving screens known as the T.V. & computer are so fascinating to me (Mommy hopes it's not a sign of later addiction, whatever that means)

--Let's see, I finally do love food (and actually eat a lot of it, so I'm told). My favorite is how it feels as my tongue squishes it to the roof of my mouth, then as I push it & out & let it dribble down my chin. Wow, the things I've been missing.

--Sitting is fun, it really is; however, I find more joy in banging my head back HARD (I'm tough, see?) against my Mum, so she won't ever let me sit alone without adult supervision.

--I find sleeping blissful only if at least one of my chubby feet is sticking out the slats. Mommy thinks maybe it's just a ruse to get her in there to "unstuck" me when I get carried away & get both of my feet & an arm protruding. Hey, whatever works.

--I love my family & save my best smiles & giggles for them!

Well, that's all for now, I'm cute, huh? Go me!!

Our Grammie

Fact. My Dad's mother is the best Grammie there is. I talked with her today & I felt so uplifted when we got off the phone I wanted to document some of the reasons I love her.

--She's a fragile 80 something, 90 something pound lady who makes up in spunk what she lacks in mass :)

--She has an amazing memory (sticky notes are her brain, I love opening her cupboard doors just to see all 900 of them).

--She has been feverishly working to organize her "collectible generous" house for as long as I can remember (no complaints here, I've received some fabulous antique items)

--Memorable quirk: after family prayer she must pat us ALL individually on the head

--Her not-so-secret-obssession? Photos. My Dad once commented that he will have to build a wing onto his house just for the pictures/albums she passes to us & has prepared for our posterity. Come on, Dad, the rest of us are so grateful that she does so much genealogy/family history for us in picture form. So much work!! And let's not forget, when she takes the picture, "A-one, a-two, A-doodle-ly-doo!"

--Frugal, practical, but yet, she believes in people unequivocally & knows the importance of dreams

--She's a beautiful lady (we girls all love the way she dresses--well, minus the extra layers she ALWAYS has to wear to stay warm). Her eyes are so sparkly & she has the most incredible head of thick, gorgeous white hair!

--My favorite phrase of hers: "Well, I need to go put on my face." You see, she has very blonde eyelashes/eyebrows, & they disappear without make-up!

--Adorable fault: Her temper. My shameless confession is that I like to see her wield her power in the direction of my father. Doesn't everyone think it's cute to see a little ol' lady bossing around a guy known as 'dad'??

--Intensely spiritual & faithful. The family joke/tribute is that if you really want something just ask Grammie to pray for it. It works, Tony is my evidence to prove it!!

--The word that sums her up? Family. Every birthday, holiday, special occasion, hard experience, joyous event she's involved & has so much love. I want to be like her when I grow up.

Child's Play

"Mom, I can think better this way, trust me..."

The boy's idea of "tropical paradise" for little sister=Mom's flashing thought: "hello 351 strangulation hazards!!"

Daddy took the boys to "Science Central" where they got in for having good grades--aw, my little Einstein's

The "Tilted Room." Tony said it made him sick to his stomach just to be in there. Sorry, honey, occupational hazard of many child-related adventures

And this, you see, is what we did while the little mice were away...tried yet again to get mini-mouse-munchkin to nap on somewhat of a schedule for a decent amount of time (she's 6 mo, it's time!). Nighttime sleep is pretty durn good, but daytime naps? Uh, no. Some days she's great nap-wise & therefore happy Ari. Many other days she just fights it until sheer exhaustion forces her eyelids to close. Controlled crying worked for nighttime, but it's not working for daytime!!! This too shall pass, right?