Christmas

I am READY! Christmas is almost here...



Skylar is really getting in the Christmas spirit



We are packing and heading out of town for Christmas. There will be snow where we are going, so Skylar will get lots of new experiences on her first Christmas.



Christmas here we come!

Shining Star

My grandmother was an amazing woman, for so many reasons in so many ways...I couldn't possibly start to explain them in here. But, I remember mostly the way she cared, and the way she loved. Her love was always so warm, and unconditional. Tough, and tender at the same time. She put her all into loving people, and everything inside her shined through to the surface where everyone could see it, and everyone could partake of it.

The last thing I told her before she left us was that I was pregnant. Even in the state she was in, her joy spread across the room, lighting it like a rainbow after the storm.

Then my daughter was born...and one of my first thoughts was that she looked like my Grandma. And still today, I see her great-grandma in so many things she does. I can only hope she has also kept alive her great-Grandma's heart for people and her family...and of course, the way she loved.



My grandmother is my shining star. I can look into the sky to see her, or I can just look in my daughters eyes.

oops...I found a few more

Skylar told me a few more things she wants for Christmas. These are only a few ideas of course. :)
This great feeder is one of them:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404768


and...
balls!:
This Giggle Ball: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2333410#prod_prodinfo


And then the kind of balls that you put in a ball pit. As much as Skylar hates sleeping in her playpen, she would love to play in it when it was full of balls!

And, sippy cups. Different kinds for different ages. Its time to test some out.

My Christmas Wishlist

Yes, even a baby can have a wishlist for Christmas...if you were wondering.

SURE AND SECURE CUSTOM FIT GATE:
(the only gate I can find that it long enough to fit an 8' opening).
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265804



FLASHCARDS!
ones with spanish and english, numbers, objects, letters, animals, famous people, (preferably real pictures).



A few fun toys:
MOZART MAGIC CUBE:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267590



BRIGHTLINGS EXPLORATION CENTER:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2649280


BUILDING BLOCKS, BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS! The kind that sound like paper when I touch them. The fabric kind. The cardboard ones. Learning books- any books.

Pacifier keeper - the thing that attaches from your clothes to the pacifier so when the pacifier falls out it doesn't fall on the floor.

None of these have are exclusive at Toys r us, they can be bought anywhere...



Merry Christmas...a little early.

First Halloween

Halloween, Pooh Bear style.





Our little Pooh Bear did an awesome job on her first Halloween. She sang Winnie the Pooh songs, said "trick or treat" to all the neighbors, and walked to everyone's house as happy as any kid could be...Ok, maybe not quite like that...but she did have a great attitude which is all any parent could hope for. we left the house after bed time, and she was not cranky all night. (She was much more like a zombie than a Pooh, but happy nonetheless). We went to a neighbors house so Skylar could have her first trick or treat- and of course, we took pictures.



Then we headed over to a little party where she was a hit! The night was a blast and Pooh Bear had a good time with all her friends. (She also stayed in her costume for hours- WOW).

Just a few

These are our favorite new pics...Just gotta love this baby; she's the sunshine in our life.



If you aren't happy after looking at that smile, there is something wrong with you!



If she was a little older, this look could proably get her anything she wanted from us.



Still a favorite. We should have money coming in for this look...she's a professional.

Does it get any cuter?
So, just wanted to spread a bit of our sunshine with the rest of the world. Have a bright happy day full of daisies and blue skies!...we will.

FOOD!

Well, today we officially started Skylar on solid food. Is this supposed to be a fun day for her? I am not sure how most kids handle veggies in the beginning days, but Skylar does not seem to want to experiment with any new food...she could probably eat rice mush forever and never feel like she is missing anything. We started with carrots. I hear it is a good first because they are a little sweet. Skylar did not receive the memo explaining that this was a sweet food and she was supposed to like it. She wasn't impressed, though it went better than the test run with the beans. At first, she seemed to handle the taste ok, she swallowed it down and didnt make too much of a grimace about it. As we went on, it got worse, and eventually she was gagging. I decided that was enough carrots for one day when she was putting her face in her hands as she was at the very end of her rope and praying God would just wisk her away from this awful situation.

See, I could still make her laugh even though food was in her mouth. She didn't mind it too much.

And now she isn't so sure about this stuff anymore. And then.....


the face!



ok, she has had enough for the day. We'll come back and torture her some more tomorrow. Life is hard.

Honesty please

We have reached an impassable bridge in our journey as partners and parents. I don't really know if there is any way around this one, or any rebuilding in our future- it is that much of a "difference of opinion" we could say. So, this is a blog asking for help. It was Daddy's idea (of which he is now renigging on) to blog about this, so I am going to follow through, hoping we can bridge this gap in our relationship and help us to move on to brighter and better things. Here it is:

What do you think of this outfit?
One of us likes the outfit, one of us hates it. Skylar has no opinion. At the time of these pictures she had poop in her pants, so the look on her face in no way expresses feelings about the outfit, but only feelings about the poop.

Here are a few more pictures so you can get a good look.



So, please leave an ANONYMOUS comment (so you can be completely honest and have no fear of revenge) for us and let us know if you love it or hate it. this will determine if she wears it ever again. this is your time to give us advice. Click "comment" at the bottom of this blog and type to your hearts content. I will even help you get started...My feelings on the outfit are _________.

Thanks.

Change is not always fun

What are you doing? that looks funny...


OH GROSS! Help, I am getting poisoned! This is not yummy mush. (I think I'm gonna hurl).


Mommy, please...no more. Someone save me!

vacation?

Well, we took a vacation for a family reunion this last weekend. We went to Gatlinburg and stayed in a chalet. We toured Dollywood (saw Dolly-which is another story in itself), ate at Dixie Stampede and other great places, rode rides, went window shopping, talked and visited with lots of people, and I have to say, it is really nice to be home. For the most part we had an ok time but I don't know if Skylar could say the same.. Dont get me wrong, if Skylar had been happy, we would have been happy, but sometimes things just don't work out that way. "Vacations" just aren't the same anymore. Skylar got tired of the carseat after about 2 hours or so- and we had another 3 to go. She didn't sleep on the trip there. She didn't sleep when we got there. And she didn't sleep that night. Sounds normal for some people I know, but when you typically have a baby that takes regular naps and then sleeps for 12 hours straight at night, this seemed like the world was ending for us. She slept for maybe 6 hours that first night and was up for good by 4am (which was 3am our time). There were people all around us so we were just trying to keep her quiet all night, and stressed out of our minds.

However, the next night she did better- only because she was just worn out from the day before. I think she doesn't like travelling right now. She is a homebody. A peaceful, sensitive, homebody...happy to stay at HER home, sleep in HER bed, walk around HER neighborhood, read HER books, and just be with mommy and daddy. Oh did I mention she was also cutting her SECOND tooth at the time. (Yep, 2 teeth in 2 weeks, and I think I feel one coming in on the top too).

Now she is much happier. She is back to her normal self on her normal schedule while her parents are still trying to recover from the "vacation".

We did manage to get a few good shots along the way-
This was the only one we got of the first day...a not- so- special moment with daddy

Day 2- a much better moment with daddy.


I know I am adorable.
A picture perfect moment. Pop Pop and I are dressed in our best.

I loved meeting my aunt Anna. She's Grrrreat!


And Naomi TOO!


Thanks everyone. We all love you!

Bite This

Well, Skylar has gotten her first tooth. It cut through just Friday- which explains her foul mood that day, and the next. The only things I could do to sooth her were sing her favorite song that fixes everything- "Jesus loves me", or go outside with her- I don't know what it is about being outside, but we don't even have to do anything, and she loves it.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of her tooth though. If I pull down her lip, she sticks out her tongue. If I make her smile and laugh, she sticks out her tongue. If I pull her fingers out, she sticks out her tongue. Now you are probably wondering how I saw it in the first place...well, I felt it first while she was biting my finger, I didn't see it. But when you spend all waking hours of a day staring at a kid, you can eventually catch a glimpe. So, I may be the only privileged person to see this mystery tooth, but trust me, it is there. Wow- it all happens so fast. In the blink of an eye she really will be driving off in a car. (now that's a scary thought).


Since I can't show you a picture of the tooth, here's a great shot of her tongue!

Sometimes Moms exaggerate...

...This is what Andrew said a few days ago when I told him his daughter sat up by herself. But, a picture is worth a thousand words, which means I dont have to say anything else. :)

Another First

Today Skylar went swimming for the first time. Besides missing a nap, she had a blast. She is a natural in the water! She kicked her feet, splashed around, and even went under water and didn't get water up her nose or cry- I think she might have even liked it. For a 4 1/2 month old, we think that's pretty great, but then again, that is our job to think she is great at everything, right? So, what's on the agenda for next week- hum- piano, boxing, soccer...

Dedication

Dedications are always called "baby dedications", but really its the parents getting dedicated. I mean, we are the ones that have to stand in front of the church and promise we will do all we are supposed to do to raise our child according to Gods ways and teach her about Jesus. Thats a big day! So, I guess we all got dedicated Sunday at church. It was very nice. Our childrens pastor came out and did Skylars dedication. He cries every time he even talks about children, so of course holding our baby did the job. We took lots of pictures and video taped the whole thing.

And Skylar didnt hurl, poop, or cry during the process. Wow! Yay Skylar


Skylar and her proud Daddy.



Skylar and her proud Uncle Moo Moo.