I Love That Babies

Are completely pure. To them everything is wonderful and fresh and new.  A baby will look at a button on a couch as if it were the most interesting thing in the world, and use every bit of concentration and motor skill they poses to explore all aspects of that button.  Nothing is that wondrous to adults.  Adults see way cooler stuff everyday and give it nothing more than a jaded glance.

I think we could learn something from babies...

Blaire even thinks piggy-backs are cool.  Babies...

Fun With Jane and Larry

We spent the weekend in Brawley with my parents.  We had a lot of fun hanging with the folks, and it was great for Blaire to spend some time with her grandparents.  I even have to give Grandma and Grandpa an assist for Blaire's first word.  Blaire said "Dad" for the first time on Saturday with a little help from the grandparents.  Good times.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Pioneer Museum, Imperial CA.  Blaire learned about beef.

Blaire needed to make a call...apparently to someone in 1901

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the fun weekend!

With One Word...

Blaire proclaimed me the winner of the first word contest.

Blaire at Seven Months ...

Stops traffic (no really, people in cars have literally pulled over to say, "that baby is so cute!").

Has a big girl smile (almost 4 teeth now!).

Thinks her Daddy's her boyfriend.
Sleeps on her tummy with her little tushy in the air.
Does a great impression of "The Godfather" and "Chewbacca".
Enjoys squash and sweet potatoes - bananas, not so much (takes after Daddy on that one).
Loves Los Angeles (hiking, beaching, celeb spotting, farmer's market shopping).
Hobbies include: sucking on toes, running with mom, music class, watching the big kids play at the park, and being kissed by mom a zillion times a day.

One year ago

One year ago we had a secret.  It was just between us.  I had been nurturing and loving my tiny secret since October.  I sang, read, prayed and dreamt for my secret every night.  And then, on February 2nd, we decided it was time to share our sweet secret (oh, and shock the pants off everyone at the same time).

February 2nd, 2010.  The day I announced I would be a mommy.  What a great day it was.

Weekends

Weekends are great.  I get to spend more than a half hour a day with Blaire and also get a little face time with Ally.  The weather has been absolutely beautiful here for the last couple of weeks, something I've had to observe from my office window for the most part, so the weekends also provide an opportunity to get out and enjoy LA's best feature- clear sunny days.

Last week we took Blaire to the LA Zoo.  When Ally first suggested it, my response was "LA has a zoo?" That's how well I've done getting out and seeing the sights of our fair city.  Yes, LA has a beautiful zoo, and going there is like going anywhere else in LA...difficult and crowded.  We circled the parking lot for about 10min before finding a spot, and then waited in a "Splash Mountain" sized line to purchase a ticket to get into the actual park.  In just a shade under an hour we finally gained entrance and began the experience.

A couple of notes here about the zoo for those novices out there like myself:
1) Don't go in the middle of the afternoon.  This is when animals sleep.  Lions are much less interesting when they are huddled in a giant cat-mass in the corner, napping.  And no matter how cool you think Koala's are, when they are sleeping on a branch and all you see is an arm peeking out from behind the leaves, they lack luster.
2) Wear sunscreen.  Zoos aren't as shady as you might think.
3) Don't bring a 6 month old.  Your child may have started noticing your pet cat and may even track the occasional squirrel outside the window, but I'm willing to bet she isn't  prepared for a couple of hours of animal showcasing (especially sleeping animals).

Blaire had fun with the flamingos as we first walked into the park, but lost interest quickly thereafter.  By the time we got to the Giraffes she was o-v-e-r it.  Having said all that, we had a fun afternoon as a family and I thought it was still worth the time and money.

The monkey Ally's holding isn't the only one in this picture.

Parents- "look Blaire, Giraffes!"  Blaire- "who cares!"

I was having a Mufasa moment.  Notice the monkeys on Pride Rock?

Holiday Wrap-Up

The Holidays are over.  So is my obsession over finding the perfect "baby's first Christmas" everything (gifts, stocking, pj's, etc.)  I have now channeled that obsession into finishing Blaire's nursery.  Getting closer.  Pics to come soon!  For now, enjoy some of the highlights from Baby's first Christmas, New Year, trip to Ferron, 10-hour car ride ...

My gift this year

The gas station was all decked out

New Year's Eve at Papa's

Remind you of Ralphie's kid brother from "A Christmas Story"?