Yo!

Despite having a cross-eyed "tough guy" look (or because of it), Smacky fits right in with the homies at our house.

They were listening to NWA that day, I think.

First, Unbutton. Then, Button Up.

I dressed Smacky in a dress the other day for the first time in AGES. It was a little overalls-dress sort of thing made out of denim. As I pulled the ensemble over her head I was relieved that it was so easy- no hollering when it got caught on her head, no worrying that she might get stuck forever and have to live her life with a shirt/skirt stuck on her head (because really, why else do they shriek like there's a fire when a shirt gets caught on their heads?!)

Except I had forgotten to unbutton the side buttons, so her arms were pinned to her sides as I kept pulling the skirt down to get it on.

Then I laughed and laughed, and ran to get the camera. At the point of the photo, she's bored with sitting there, pinned and cute, and is trying to reach the tube of desitin from under the skirt.

Who Loves Vacations?

We had a fun weekend at the Oregon Coast, Gary and Aurora and I.

Gary and I spent a lot of the time playing with Aurora on the bed- rolling from side to side and almost off the edge a few times (once I caught her with her head and shoulders off, happily sliding towards the floor) bouncing, dancing, etc. I felt comfortable leaving her in the middle of the king-sized bed when she was occupied with a toy (or two), like in this picture. She doesn't tend to wander when she's busy.

Her activity cube and be-crowned duck were an almost endless source of amusement, as Gary and I ate a meal or talked at the table nearby.

We also had a very persistent seagull who loitered for quite a while outside our window. And right next to the Do NOT feed the ANIMALS! sign. Silly bird. Couldn't he read?

I See You!

It has taken me a long time to figure out how to spend time with Aurora that's not working time. We've spent a lot of time together doing household tasks, sleeping, grocery shopping, and driving to and from her caretakers.

But when we got time to breathe, I would look at her and think, uh oh, what now?

When she was younger, I really had no idea what to do. We just stared at each other, cuddled, and I rubbed her head and sang to her. Now that she's older, I make her stuffed animals talk, she plays with the sock monkey feet on my footie pajamas, and we play baby's all time favorite, peek-a-boo.

Of course it took me a long time to figure this out, too, but she loves it when I cover her with the blanket and say, "Where's Smacky? Where's Smacky?"

She flaps her arms to uncover herself and peek out, and then gives me a big grin when I find her. Sometimes this is what I see.

Ready for Sun

Here is Aurora at Sarah's, her new MWF caretaker, posing in her new strawberry sundress.

She's at the stage where EVERYthing goes in her mouth, and we even catch her chewing on the bottom of her bottles.

Silly strawberry baby.

Daylight Savings- Wheeee!

I never realized that daylight savings messes with everyone when you have a baby.

Last night at the new 7:30 (which was actually 6:30), Aurora was behaving as if she'd just chugged a triple mocha with extra whip. I laid her down for bed and she cried, and when I picked her up to burp her (which I confess I frequently forget to do), her eyes darted from one part of the room to another and she smiled at me, knowing that now we could play some more.

Normally I don't get her up after putting her to bed but she was so obviously NOT tired, I laughed and turned the light back on.

Here she is, having a happy afternoon a few weeks ago, lounging on the bed. I wonder what she'll look like when she grows some more hair.

Bzzzzz?

Smacky's new caretaker, Sarah, snapped this shot last week. Both Smacky and Demitri, Sarah's funny two-year-old son, had one of these headbands.



I won't show Demitri since I haven't asked for permission, but here is a shot of a very serious Smacky the Bee.