Another Day in Paradise

We brought Smacky's jumperoo home this week from Granny's and she had a fun time jumping while Gary worked this afternoon.



And what's that in the background? Could it really be SUNLIGHT?
Also, if the expression in this photo says TEETHING to you, you're right. I came home last night to an exhausted Gary and a screaming Smacky. Thank god for infant tylenol!

Cookieface

I realize after posting this that it isn't the most flattering picture of Smacky, with her stuffing a cookie into her mouth with both hands.

They are thin, crisp gingersnaps that turn soft when they meet your mouth. Perfect for a drooly baby!

Here she is after gumming her cookie. Most of it ended up on her chin but she looks determined to finish it.

Maybe she's just trying to keep it from her bug, who's staring covetously. (see right of photo) Naughty bug! stay away from Smacky's cookie.

Spaghetti and Swimming

Today was a day of fun firsts!

Granny got me and Smacky a present of swimming lessons at the Mt Scott Community Center near our house. They remodeled it a few years ago and it went from a plain rectangular outdoor pool to 2 indoor pools and a hottub. It's fancy now! There were about 10 other parents in our class who sang to, propelled, accidentally dunked and then comforted their babies along with me.

(This is a stock photo from their website, not a photo from today.)

I didn't think ahead last summer in order to get a suit, so Smacky wore an old onesie instead of a real swimsuit like some of the other babies. All in all it seemed like it was at least tolerable for her. She didn't seem uncomfortable but she was definitely working on getting her swimming legs. Hopefully Gary or Granny can come sometime and get some photos of Smacky in the pool.


In other news, I ground up some
spaghetti and sauce today and Smacky had her first spaghetti. I was surprised that she liked the strong flavor but she gobbled it down, extra garlic and all. Too bad I didn't think to grind up some garlic bread.

Arlo helped me peel, cut, and grind apples for baby applesauce for a different meal. What a good helper!

Precious Sleep

Smacky and I haven't been sleeping well lately. Not well at all.

Whether due to the fact that she's back in daycare, or that she's adjusting to life after having two weeks at home, or just that I'm slower on the draw with the nighttime bottle, she has been up in the night fussing QUITE A BIT lately.


I made an executive decision to use disposable diapers in bed since I was changing her cloth diapers 3-5 times each night. This way I don't change her at all and she only eats when she wakes. I thought we would get more sleep this way but it feels like less!

Yesterday, her first day at Kindercare in a month, there were new/different caretakers, new screaming babies and screamingly bright fluorescent lights. Hence, Smacky only took three ten-minute naps.

Gary somehow enticed her into sleeping for two hours today, but apparently she's still sleepy, as evidenced by this photograph. She loves to rub her eyes when she's about to fall asleep, sometimes keeping herself awake with those tiny fingers.

Growth, Finally

Aurora has a new office- a highchair given to us from David York's son Joseph. (Thank you, David!)

The graphic on the chair looks like a little hat, doesn't it?

Now she can see OVER the table instead of rooting around at our feet like a common swine. Way to move up in the world, baby!

Play With ME, Not The Computer!

Due to heavy snows (and media hype, and me believing it), I worked from home for almost two straight weeks this month.

It was fine when I wasn't too busy, or when Gary was able to watch Aurora while I worked, but at times she had to be patient and play by herself with her toys. Luckily she's very self-directed.

After awhile, though, a baby runs out of patience, and it starts to show.

Exercise, Baby!

Just a little photo (since it's blurry) of Smacky in her new exersaucer.

She got the exersaucer and three small toys from Santa. Then we went to my parents' and she gave them each a present and received several in return.

Today she and I braved the slush and walked the half mile to Billy's to check on Sylvia Snapper. She had caught a Christmas mouse and left it as a token of affection for Billy and Colleen. So thoughtful!