Rose Walked Today!

My sweet little 12-and-a-half months old Rose walked for the first time today!  She held on to my fingers (my index finger on each hand), and we walked together from the office to the bedroom with her giggling the whole time.  Then she let go, bounced up and down a little bit, and decided to walk on her own.  She walked about five feet and then turned toward the dresser and pulled open a drawer.  Then she turned and sat down to play with a Cinderella carriage toy that Lily had left on the floor.  I was so happy and excited.  She's taken a few little steps in the past, going from one thing to another almost within reach, but this time she was just walking with nothing around to grab onto.  It was so amazing.  She was obviously proud of herself, too.

Rose is 11 Months!

She loves to cruise!

Sweet Sister Love.

More fun with Sister!

My, how time flies.  I can't believe my "tiny" baby is already 11 months!  She is learning so much and changing every day.  She is very vocal and has been for a while.  One of her favorite things to say is "Dada," and she says it frequently now, especially when he comes home from work.  She also says "Mama."  She actually says both "Baba" and "Mama" when she means Mama.  One day recently she was holding a baby doll, and it sounded like she was trying to say "dolly." It sounded kind of like "doddy."  And at swim class the other day, one of the other moms said it sounded like she was saying "baby."

She loves dogs and cats and gets really excited when she sees them.  Her word for both of them sounds something like "duh."  She can spot dogs a mile away it seems, and often notices them before I do.  She starts pointing and talking, and I look around to figure out what she's talking about.  And there in the distance is a neighbor walking two dogs, way down the street.

Her very favorite pastime right now is cruising.  In the dining room she walks around holding on to the chairs.  In the living room she cruises along the sofa, the bench, even the walls!  She has just started learning to stand without holding on to anything!  So far it seems to happen without her even trying, while she's busy with some other interesting activity or toy that she's investigating.

She is so active and curious and into everything.  She loves to open cabinet doors and drawers, so I have to watch her very closely.  This weekend we have to do a major babyproofing.  We can't wait any longer.

She also loves to empty anything and everything.  I have to keep my purse out of her reach because she loves to get in there and start pulling everything out.  Or she'll open a drawer and start flinging the contents out.  It's a challenge to keep everything picked up, but that's okay.

As I mentioned, we are doing a baby swim class.  She is really at ease in the water and likes to splash with her hands.  Rose loves the baby doll that the teacher uses to demonstrate with.  At the first class she locked in on it and started fussing that she wanted it.

Now she seems to be more used to the doll, but has changed her focus to the water toys.  At one point in class we do an activity called the "duck hunt."  The teacher dumps out a bucket of floating toys, such as colorful plastic balls, turtle bath toys, etc.  The parents hold the babies and help them "swim" around and grab the toys and put them back in the bucket.

Rose takes this game very seriously.  She loves to go after the toys and grab them and hold on to them as we make our way back to the bucket.  Then I basically have to pry them out of her hand.  I just let her continue to hold on to one toy the whole time to keep her happy.  There were times at our last class that she would start fussing and look upset, and I'd be like, "What is it, Baby?" and then I'd look where she was looking and gesturing and see a lone forgotten orange ball floating fifteen feet away at the edge of the lane.  She just had to have it.  So of course we went over there so she could get it.  Then she was happy, gripping her orange ball, with an eye out for any more toys that might be around.

Later when we were practicing teaching her to get out of the pool, she started fussing again, and I realized it was because the bucket of toys was near her and she wanted to go get into it.  This girl loves toys!

P.S.  The photos were taken about a week before she turned 11 months. ;)

Sunny Morning

Granddaddy Days

Lily loves spending time with her Granddaddy, and she especially relishes her weekly afternoon visits with him.  He picks her up from school, and before they can leave, they must make their rounds to visit some of Lily's special former teachers.  After he convinces her that they really do need to be heading on towards home and Momma, they load up in the truck and make the short trip home.  Occasionally they make a stop to play at the playground or park.  Once home, Lily enjoys a sweet treat that Granddaddy always brings for her.  And she basks in Granddaddy's attention, showing him her recent school work or her latest dance moves.  Sometimes they play games together, and sometimes we just sit and talk.  We enjoy being together.  It is good.

Here are some pictures from our most recent Granddaddy day.  Invigorated by the new Spring weather, we enjoyed playing in the yard (while trying to get Granddaddy to stay just a little bit longer).  And then Rose finally awoke from her 2+ hour nap (woohoo!), and Granddaddy had to get her sugar before he could leave.

 I treasure this time we have together.

Ballerina Girl

My sweet Lily loves ballet.  In December, my dad, Rose, and I went to watch Lily at her ballet class.

A beautiful ballerina.

Rose is captivated.

Focusing on the teacher.

Delighted with her sister.

So happy her Granddaddy came to her class.

Music

I am thankful my husband is a musician. Mostly because he loves it so, and making music makes him happy. But also because I enjoy listening to good music. It's fabulous listening to great, live music in the comfort of my own home when one of Adrian's bands practices here. Lily loves to watch and listen, too, when she gets the chance. 

When Lily was a baby, she and I loved going to music classes such as Musikgarden and Kindermusik. Now she makes music at home on various instruments such as harmonica, shakers, glockenspiel, and most recently, drums... And she enjoys singing.  When she was about three, she would sing along with Bob Marley's “Stir It Up,” except she would say, “serious” for “stir it up.”  One day we will start piano, and perhaps down the road she will pick up another instrument as well.  How wonderful to be able to really play an instrument.

Baby Lily at Music Class, June 2008

Rose also loves music. Every time she hears Adrian playing drums or banjo, or a song on the stereo, or even me singing, she starts bopping along to the tune. It's precious.One day I will take Rose to a music class, when I can make it work with her nap schedule. For now, I've decided that we are going to have “Musical Mornings” as part of our routine. For the future, I envision a whole family music time, where we sing and make music together. It's going to be good.

Rose Moving to the Music

A Wonderful Easter

We had a great Easter this year. On Saturday we dyed eggs using food colors and crayons to decorate them. On Sunday morning, Lily was delighted to find that the Easter Bunny had brought her a basket of chocolates and other goodies, including a wooden bunny puzzle and some playdough. After breakfast we went to church, and then we went to eat Mexican food at Coyote's with Granddaddy and Grannie. Lily especially enjoyed the chips and queso. When we got back to the house we hid the eggs we'd dyed the day before, and Lily had a great time finding them. After hunting eggs and playing on the swingset, Lily was worn out, so Daddy and Sandra left and I put Lily down for her nap. Then Adrian and I got ready for his family to come over for dinner and a big Easter egg hunt for the little girls. We talked, ate yummy traditional southern food, played frisbee, and watched the girls play. A great time was had by all. After we said our last goodbye's from the front porch, we saw an owl fly silently overhead to some trees across the street. It was a full and wonderful Easter.