I'm talking! (Sorta..)

V has yet another cold.  Actually I can't remember the last time she hasn't had a runny nose or was just 100% not sniffling, coughing, etc etc etc.  I wouldn't say she's sick, but her nose is a lot more congested the past several days than usual.  This makes sleeping a difficult task.  Although she's a good sleeper, one has a hard time sleeping well when they can't breathe through their nose.  And herein have lied the problems this weekend.  Last night was the worst.  She woke up around midnight and did not want to go back to bed.. until after 3 AM!  Yes - we've regressed back to the infant days over the weekend where we have no schedule and wake up at random times throughout the night to cry and feed.  BUT - in the midst of this chaos, while she was laying in our bed* terrorizing daddy (she thought it was playtime.  I guess I could see where she thought 3 am was a good time to party.. I once used to have that mentality, but that was a lifetime ago and I digress) she said her first word.  Her very first real word.  She's babbling dada, baba, etc for a while now, but as she was pounding on E to play with her, she took a break and very meticulously and slowly, in the sweetest little girl voice, said "Da da."  Needless to say, my heart melted and I got a bit choked up.  And today, through the day, she keeps saying and it and saying.  And it's not the dada of the babble before.  It's definitely the Dada meaning daddy.   She's so proud of her communicative achievement and so are we!

Here are some pics from this week.  I bought her a little bathing suit with a tutu for pics and we tried it on for Papa (Grandpa) when he was over this week.  She's pulling up so much better this week and is standing with one handed support.  I think she'll be walking within two months. We shall see.

*The only time she gets to be in our bed is when she's sick. 

My little ballerina.  I love how she's pointing her little toes!

I love this pic of my Dad and her!  Love how she's watching him and he's showing her all the fun things outside the window.  Oh the things you'll learn little one.

And now, here's V showing off her pulling up skills.

Umm - let's see - now push up.

Maybe if I try with my teeth. Works for Mattie.

Time to ham it up for the camera.  What's that Papa? A cell phone camera??

Paying close attention to Papa.  He's very wise.

Now, back by popular demand (consisting of myself), here's a pic of my other girl - Miss Mattie!  V's off wrecking havoc in the background while Mattie and I pose for the camera. 

And last but not least, my two girls together.  Miss M is looking very regal annoyed because we've been in her chair and are intruding on her happy place time.

- Mattie tells the funniest jokes! 

 - It aint' that funny kid.

Changing table fun

V is SO ticklish!  The below is pretty dark, but you can still hear her Dr. Evil laugh.  "I shall call him mini-me."

V laughing at Daddy's tickles

Great snow storm of 2010 - Part deux

It's March 21, the first day of spring, and we got 2.5 inches of snow last night!  Say what?!  That's right - two and a half inches, on the first official day of spring.  To document this momentous event, V took some pictures in the snow. 

Happy Spring!

I'm a boy - Psych!

V's lack of hair makes her look like a boy.  Add Daddy's hat, I have to do a double take.

Exhibits.

Wuz up!

Ah Shucks Daddy!  That's funny!

Peek a boo.

These next two pics I love because a) it looks like she's flirting with the camera and b) b/c she's looking like a little person rather than a little baby.  These pics look so "adult" to me and seem like they have glimpses of what she is going to look like as a young lady.   I love this little girl of mine.  And although she may resemble a boy for the time being, she's all girl.  So dainty, feminine, so little girl.

Updates, Updates, and More Updates

When I started this blog, I told myself I would update multiple times a week, if not daily.  Well, that has proven to be not realistic, so I'm starting a new thing.  I'm going to plan to update weekly.  This way, I will have some accountability to myself for updating.  So many things are happening with V almost daily, and I forget about them so quickly. So, I will be better about documenting from now on! 

So, now I have lots to update on.  I'll go in chronological order.

February 2010

* The great snow storm of 2010 - Part 1!

We live in the southern part of the country, and if we're lucky, we'll see random snow flakes, maybe once a year.  This year - not so much.  We got over a foot of snow in early February.  Schools were closed, roads were iced over, and we, as any non-snow seeing person would do, played in the snow.  The whole family went out and M especially, had a great time.  We'd throw her snowballs and she would chase them and then slam her nose into the snow trying to figure out where it went.  She ran around and around chasing those snowballs.  V had fun too (sort of).  She hung out in Mommy's arms mostly and observed, like she always does.  She's quite the observer and when she sees something new, she goes into serious mode until she feels comfortable with her new surroundings. 

Here are some pics from the great snow storm.

Our Street

Mommy and  V

Daddy and V

M playing in the snow

V and M in the snow.

Grandpa's snowman.  The head is lacking b/c we got cold...

And to wrap up February, here are V's 7 month pics next to Mr. Bear.

She's growing so much, daily.  Some mornings when she wakes up, E (the hubs) and I look at her and comment how she looks different.  She's a strong-willed little girl, but so happy and loving.  She loves her school and her teachers and playing with all her little friends.  She also loves dancing and starts bouncing around and jumping up and down when she hears an upbeat tune!  She's a girl after my own heart.

March 2010

As I've mentioned in an older post, V started crawling about a month and a half ago.  She's gotten really good and is a crawling machine these days.  I'm still not over the dirty floor hump and have a mini-coronary when she makes her way across the floor.  She's still not allowed in the kitchen b/c our kitchen floor is nearly impossible to keep clean between M's slober, hair, and just being the kitchen floor.  But I know I will have to make my peace with it b/c I can't keep her in the living room forever. 

So, in addition to crawling, in the second week of March, she started pulling up.  She is very cautious about this and it's pretty entertaining to watch her pull herself up and then VERY carefully try to sit herself back down.  She's a dainty little girl to say the least.  It was so great to come in her room one morning and see her standing up near the rails. 

She LOVES playing with M and uses her to push/pull herself up. 

Come 'ere you dog!

Working hard to pull herself up.

Success!!  Using M's head as support.

Working the "Russian face"

Another big development this month was V graduated to a big girl tub!  We were previously washing her in the sink in an infant tub, but she was displaying signs of wanting to play, etc, so we moved her to the bathroom to a big ducky bath!  I saw a picture of this bath on another friend's blog and had to get it for V.  The duck quacks and V loves bathtime!  She's always loved it, but now she kicks her legs and squeals with delight when I get her down to her skivies for bathtime.

Wha?? Can't a girl have some privacy?

Eating her toys in the tub.  A little soap can't hurt her, right??

First B-Day Party & I'm a Ham

V went to her first birthday party on March 6!  It was her buddy W's 3rd b-day and there were lots of little kids there.  V rocked her cool new sunglasses and her sweet outfit which consisted of a ruffly black skirt over some gray tights.  She also got a little soccer ball, candy, and another pair of sunglasses for her party favor.  A girl can never have to many shades!

I should also mention that V has started blinking in most of her pictures.  She totally hams it up for the camera and then blinks at the last minute. 

Miss V, Mommy, and Aunt N

Playing at the party

Trying to crawl out of Mommy's arms. I gots places to be people!

Rocking out my colorful tights!

These next pics exhibit my inability to keep my eyes open for pictures these days.

I can't keep my eyes open, but hey - I'm standing!  A girl can only do so many things at once.

Mr. Bear and V

Oh Mommy! You're so funny!

Hahaha! Stop it Mommy! You're cracking me up!

Oh gee!  More funnies!

That was the funniest one of all!  It's a head roll backer!

Hi Mommy!  Peek-a-boo!

Photo Shoot Fun - 7 months

I was playing around different settings on my camera, and these are the results.  These pics were taken 2.20.10.