Month Six was pretty eventful. Not in the sense that a lot was going on around here, but yet there was always something to do. Six-month-olds actually do stuff. They squeal and laugh. They obsess over the family pets. They scream when they don't get their way. They eat a lot of new and different things-- in our case: cereal, sweet potatoes, bananas, pears, butternut squash and green peas, so far. They enjoy toys, especially noisy ones, like rattles and toys that sing in that tinny or electronic baby-toy way. They sit up on their own, roll over and position themselves to find what they are looking for. They can play independently for short periods of time. Having the TV on now seems wrong. I caught baby girl watching Oprah the other day when I turned my back. It's a little early for that, I think. But the point is she has been busy everyday. Just doing little, exciting new things.
There has been some reading.
Busy Doggies is a particularly interesting AND delicious book.
There has been a good amount of reaching and rolling.
Quite a bit of just looking cute.
Playing with the feet, especially sucking on the toes, has been a hit around here.
The thumb is also quite delicious, though slightly less delicious than toes or Busy Doggies.
Sweet potatoes are pretty yummy.
Until they are not yummy anymore. Then they are awful.
Petting the dog is the best. Well, almost as good as grabbing the cat's tail. More on that later. xx
I know some very, very talented Blogger Goddesses. Some are creative, some are straightforward. Some are activists, others just journal their daily thoughts. Some are sweet, share recipes, the Gospel, photos of their kitchens, photos of their pets, their kids, the excellent bottle of wine they had last night... And some are truly great writers-- a treat to read. Some are prolific writers-- you have to slog through the details to get the point. But all Blogger Goddesses, to claim the title, actually write. All the time. Nearly everyday. And if not everyday, at least three times a week. They have stamina, they have discipline, and they are out there on the web, grinding it out, even if it means a post at 11 pm after their evening abdominal crunches. I admire these women and their determination, but a Blogger Goddess I am not.
The chances of me getting to Blogger Goddess level are nil. For example, my baby girl just woke up from her nap, a bit early. I am struggling to keep writing while she bounces in her Jumperoo. It just doesn't seem like I should keep writing now for some reason. I'm too easily distracted! Gotta keep my eye on the prize. A completed blog post. Go, go, go.
I think I will copy Blogger Goddess numero uno -- my friend Andrea from the aforementioned "A New Day Rises" blog -- and share a list of things that have been making my days brighter lately, in no particular order.
Bergamot. Bergamot makes my day brighter. My dear friend Melissa bought me some Caldrea Cypress Bergamot soap and lotion for Christmas. If she would have bought just the soap, I would be in trouble because my hands would be so dry from overwashing. It smells so spicy and delicious. Also have been drinking Earl Grey Double Bergamot black tea. So, there, Bergamot is the first thing to mention. Also note:
Snuggling with my baby in bed. Watching her learn new things. Making baby food. Kissing her little neck, feet and hands--and the occasional open-mouthed, sloppy baby kiss in return. The smell of rain in the air. Cozy slippers. Not having to leave the house Monday mornings. Oatmeal cookies. Bookstores. Craft stores. Coffee dates. Where I usually get a Chai Latte, not coffee. So I guess that is a Chai date. Netflix Watch Instantly feature. Fancy cleaning products. Fancy list paper. Fancy anything that will motivate me to do things I normally shy away from. Long, uninterrupted showers. A rarity! Neighborhood walks. Grocery shopping.
Seeing my husband get home from marathon training, all bright and excited. And a little limpy. (Twenty mile run last weekend around Green Lake in Seattle. TWENTY MILES and the kid has only been training since late fall. He's a natural, I tell you.)
Text messages. Especially funny random ones. Pandora. Thank you figuring out a way to remain in existence. Automatic cat litter box. And when my husband empties it.
My new apron from Anthropologie! It is more like a dress, really. It is one of those fancy motivational tools.
Pearls. Perfume. Gifts from my man. Anticipation of spring. Cooking sans recipe.
Reminiscing. Old photos. Looking forward to watching my baby girl experience so many new things. Love, love, love.
WOW. December flew by! And here we are in 2010. I have a tickly feeling that this is going to be a great year. I will be turning 32 in January, which sounds like the perfect age to be. I hope it feels as good as it sounds! Since my last post (the much needed hair cut -- so glad that was done before holiday photos), we have had a lot of firsts. First visit with Santa, first Christmas party, first Christmas, first solid foods, first trip to the grocery store sitting in the cart like a big girl...so much going on it's been difficult to find time to write. On top of that, I am moving my office home so that I can manage my practice more easily. I will continue to see clients in my old office space-- I'm just renting a conference room and reception help now. I hope this transition will make things easier on all of us.
Baby girl and I joined Da-da at the annual family Rotary holiday celebration where she met Santa. Her little buddy, Jackson, had visited with Santa just beforehand and cried bloody murder so I decided to sit on Santa's lap with her...she was well mannered and didn't really need me along. (Mama ruined the picture, I think.)
Baby Rotarian.
Meeting the big guy for the first time.
The reason Mama decided to sit in the picture.
For better or for worse, we did not get out to many Christmas gatherings this year. I made a gingerbread house with a dear friend, attended a cookie exchange with some great ladies in the neighborhood, and, as a family, we attended a little early evening gathering with other babies present. The other babies were slightly older-- ranging from 9 months to 14 months, and ALL boys-- but my sweet pea held her own. As the only girl, she even got to wear the sequined Santa hat.
For Christmas, we had my parents-- the oh-so-excited maternal grandparents-- visiting. It was a non-stop love fest for baby girl. She was very fatigued by all of the cooing, kissing, hugging, and loving bestowed on her by her adoring grandparents. Here are a few photos of opening her first Christmas present.
Just when we thought our fun had ended, we were graced with a fantastic visit by some dear friends who live in New York City, but intend to find their way back to the West Coast sometime in the next year or so. They found out they were pregnant about a month before we did. Here was the first meeting between our little ones!
Yes, you're seeing this right-- they held hands right away! ADORABLE.
Whew. It was a whirlwind of a December, but we are ready for the new year. As I type this, I am looking at boxes and boxes of legal files, office supplies, filing devices, etc. that are going to somehow fit in my new "home office." For the time being, we're just shoving some other furniture out of the way so that I have some space, rather than leaving my computer and files perpetually at the dining table, which drives my husband nuts. It has begun to drive me nuts as well because I can never find what I am looking for! Eventually, we plan to wall off half of what is now our TV room to create an office space. This house desperately needs more storage and a bigger utility room, so that is likely what the rest of the TV room will be converted into...pantry, laundry, storage cupboards. We will then just put our TV-- which we seldom use-- in the living room. Husband is jazzed over the concept of a wall-mounted flat screen in the living room...we'll see what happens.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2010. I can't put my finger on why I think this year is going to be great, but I just have that feeling. xx
Sweet baby, 6 months.
There has been some reading.
Busy Doggies is a particularly interesting AND delicious book.
There has been a good amount of reaching and rolling.
Quite a bit of just looking cute.
Playing with the feet, especially sucking on the toes, has been a hit around here.
The thumb is also quite delicious, though slightly less delicious than toes or Busy Doggies.
Sweet potatoes are pretty yummy.
Until they are not yummy anymore. Then they are awful.
Petting the dog is the best.
