Catch up

 A little catch up on photos from the last month.  Trip to DC, Raleigh NC, and the beach for Thanksgiving.   We also went to a park one day to see how Siler liked the slide and swings.  Enjoy!

 wright brothers memorial...

 hanging out at the beach with Parrish's family

 oh wait, this is my family!

ok, more beach with p's fam...

 i came back from the grocery store and wondered where  siler and parrish were.....he had put her in her swim suit and they were on the beach....hysterical and why i love him!

swinging is fun!

7 Months Old!

Dear Siler,


I have heard that humans are the slowest mammals to develop and I beg to differ.  You are only 7 months old but it seems like you are doing so much now.....sitting up, moving backwards on your belly, laughing, eating real food (sort-of), reaching for everything, rocking on your hands and knees, moving towards things that you want (sometimes). I realize that you would not survive left on your own in the wild but I think your accomplishments are happening quickly.  You are ONLY 7 months old!

I haven't updated this in about a month...whoops.....it's been a little busy around here.  Looks like we are moving to Berlin so I mostly pack and get stuff ready for the move.  Hopefully once I get to Germany and it's cold and dark for a month or so I will get lots of blogging done, we'll see.

This past month you really solidified your sitting ability.  We took a photo of you sitting on a stool, and while your dad was right there, you didn't even almost fall off!  You can lean over and take your socks off and then fall over on your face and eventually get your legs out from under you and move around on your belly.  You are great a turning toward things that you want but going forward is not where it's at for you.  You have mastered pushing yourself backward and usually there is something interesting in that direction so it seems to suit you just fine.  We have had to do some baby proofing, no more pennies and other small objects left on the floor.  I have also stopped putting a quilt on the floor for you to play on.  There is no point, you are off of it in minutes.....now I must vacuum. Daily.  If there is dirt or leaves or who knows what on the floor that the dogs brought in you will put it in your mouth if you can.

You are eating real food now.  When I say real food I mean liquidy real food.  I thought that you would really love it but not so much.  You don't seem to hate it, you let me keep putting spoonfuls in your mouth and you don't cry, but you shudder and make faces and and push what you can out with your tongue.  You have had sweet potatoes, butternut squash and peas.  Same reaction for all really.  It's not replacing nursing at this point....

You continue to be super laid back.  I can sit you down on the floor and you just play with toys.  You love to sit in front of the mirror and talk to your self.  Just yesterday you really enjoyed moving your fingers and checking that out.  Pretty exciting stuff.  I like to say that you are waving but that might be a stretch.

I'm afraid that when you start talking there is going to be no more silence, ever.  I better start getting my creative juices flowing because I'm going to need to answer LOTS of questions.  Hopefully I'll be able to provide satisfying answers.  You love to make noises and experiment with tone and volume.  You have had a bit of a runny nose and cough lately and that has led to a wide range of new noises that seem really thrill you.

I don't really feel the urge to get too sappy in these posts.  It seems like a no-brainer that I think you are the most wonderful, smartest, cutest, coolest, best baby ever!  Of course I love you more every day.  Of course I feel soooo lucky that I am able to stay home with you and watch you grow.  How can I not?  Duh.  But I will say that you continue to be such a wonderful part of my life.  I still look at you and can't believe I get the honor of raising you and showing you the ropes.  It's really cool.  I know that I get less cool by the minute but I think that we'll still have some fun together, until you are about 13.....

I love you so much,
Mama

Traveling like crazy!

We did a DC visit so dad could nerd out a Neuroscience convention.....you and I moved into Mandy, Julius and Marens basement.  They are the best hosts!  Thanks WacDonalds!  We also got to visit with JG and Maria and meet Chloe, visit with Shea,  meet Mick and Gina, and see Cornelia and sweet baby James.....we are so lucky to have so many wonderful souls in our life!  What a rockin' community (although spread out) you were born into.

Kisses from sweet Chloe at the DC zoo.

Hanging with beautiful Shea.

Shoo-shoo and Mimi exercausing!  Maren is practicing her big sister skills.  She's gonna do great! 

Watching a little Sesame Street with the girls before bed.

Lucky enough to get Mick's hat and lucky enough to get to hang with Mick and Gina!

Meeting with Bames and Cornelia!  Bames was showing Siler his mad crawling skills!

Overalls UNITE!

Whew!  Thats a lot of friends to meet in just a few days!  Makes me realize how lucky we are but how I wished we all lived in the same place!

6 Months Old!

Holy Tamoly!  You are 6 months old!  I know I say this every month, but really,  where does the time go??    This month you have learned to sit up.  You went from very wobbly and bent over then falling over to pretty strong and able to lean forward and then back up.  You have really been working the abs.  Not quite a 6 pack yet, but close!  This past week we spent a bit of time in DC with Julius and Mandy and Maren.  I think watching the 2 1/2 year old really gave you inspiration.  You hadn't really showed much interest in rolling until we got to DC and now you roll back and forth, you aren't using it as a way to get places but it in the skill set now.

You contiue to be a fatty with the biggest cheeks ever.  I love it!  I'm guessing your still in the high 90's in percentile.  You grow girl!  We'll find out the monday after thanksgiving when you have your 6mo. appt. and the doctor says "get that girl on some real food!"  I have this funny feeling you are gonna make the 5-hole fat kids proud! I'm looking forward to the new foods funny faces.

You are such a super sweet kid I still can't imagine you throwing a tantrum.  I know that you will, but really, so sweet.  You did actually do a little protest yesterday when I took the water bottle from you and gave you a toy instead.  It was a weak protest.  You just moved on.  That seems like a good life skill to have....

You really are loving the exersaucers.  You sat in one at Mandy and Julius' for about an hour or more.  Content.  So laid back it's silly.  I can still lay you in the middle of the bed and you stay there.  We can still have mornings where we all just stay in bed until 9 or so.  If you are not tired you will just lay with us and play with our faces or a toy.  I imagine by next months letter that will not be the case so I'm trying to live it up.

Things are going to be a bit crazy the next few months as we get ready to move to Berlin, Germany. It will be an adventure for sure.  I'm excited that you will be bilingual, at least for a few years.  I doubt that we'll be speaking German to you when we get back to the US.  At least that part of your brain will get used for a while....

You are sort of starting to hug and kiss.  I say sort of because what I call a hug is you pushing your body into mine and gumming my shoulder and your kiss is just an open mouth slobber on my face, but you are getting the idea, right?

I know this is just sappy mamma, but I love you so much, more and more every day.  I love every phase of your life so far and look forward to every bit of your life.  I know that some people believe that babies choose their mammas and if that is true, thank you.
I love you to pieces!
Mama

Visits....

Both of my parents visited recently so here are some photos from that.  We are getting ready to do a big trip to DC, Raleigh and the beach.  More after Thanksgiving.....I would also like to note that a few days ago I laid Siler down on a quilt on the floor like I always do and turned around to the computer to send and email and then looked back and she had scootched off the quilt onto floor and was reaching for a basket full of toys.  My life is about to get more interesting!

I have no idea what Parrish said to my dad but apparently only my dad heard and it was REALLY funny! He was probably complaining about me calling for a group photo...

First time in the high chair at the table.

Hanging with Colonel

Alternative halloween costume.....

Hanging out with Grandmom in the Lowcountry.