just a little belle news

our belle has been a busy girl . . .

how many times have i written that?

she is still rockin' the army crawl. she tends to favor using her right arm and her left leg as she scoots around on her belly. she has been getting might dirty when we're at the gym, even gets dirt under her fingernails. thankfully papa does such a great job with bathtime.

she has decided to go on a bit of a spoon strike but is doing great with her finger foods. it was getting a bit tricky trying to get her to eat her cereal in the mornings so we have transitioned to a 'cereal smoothie' in a sippy cup and she seems to enjoy that. she still kicks her little feet and makes some pretty sweet yummy noises as she eats.

recent additions to her menu are yogurt, frozen edemame, sauteed zuchini and bell peppers, homemade sugar free banana zuchini muffins (i know, doesn't sound too exciting but they were actually pretty tasty), frozen blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and cherries . . . after which i realized those ones could probably use a bit more supervision. i'm pretty sure her fingers were blue for a while.

when anabelle lays on her back, she likes to 'treasure hunt' with her feet. she sort of feels around when she knows there is something close and then will try to scoop it up between her feet so she can bring it to her hands. she'll keep at it too if it doesn't work on the first try.

next week she is starting swim classes. we'll got twice a week in the afternoon. i'm really looking forward to it and excited to see how anabelle reacts in the pool. i think she's going to love it. this should get us all set for some quality beach time when we go home to florida in june.

on the topic of travel, anabelle have a new trip added to our calendar for september.

it's a big one!

do you know where this statue is?

i'll give more details later. first, i have to get working on anabelle's passport application, hee hee.

random:

american apparel infant karate pants - super cute!!!

ok, that's it for now.

more coming soon.

phew, i'm back online!

just over a week ago, my computer decided to turn off while i was working on it and wouldn't let me turn it back on. boo! thankfully i had backed it up a couple weeks prior so there aren't that many files that are taking a cozy nap in there. the computer is in the shop right now trying to recover the rest of my files . . . a momma can take a lot of pictures in two weeks.

i'm happy to announce that right now i'm typing away on my snazzy new white toshiba and i love it! it's a perfectly petite computer, just right for me. once i get microsoft office installed (thanks daddi-o) i'll be all set!

needless to say, i have a bit of blogging to catch up on.

first i'll start with a few fun videos.

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time to move & play

and now papa is home - time to model her anabelle crown for him

another evening after daddy got home - he makes a great jungle gym

more play

funny girl

my first mother's day

well, when your day starts like this who would ever complain?

mother's day was a lot of fun. no one told me it would feel kind of like another birthday!

my first mother's day card from chris & anabelle

(it had a picture of me & belle on the front)

chris made a delicious breakfast and it was an all around great day!

my mom sent me this poem about a week before and i think it's just perfect:

First Mother's Day

Little girls have always dreamed,
Of one day being grown;
Of having a home and family,
And children of their own.
As little girls they played the games,
With dollies cuddled near;
Of being grown up Mommies,
And now that day is here.

For cuddled sweetly in her arms,
Of the little girl now grown;
Is the sweetest dream she ever dreamed,
A baby of her own.
In all the years of growing up,
In the games that little girls play;
None will ever be so sweet,
As her very first Mother's Day.
- By Allison Chambers Coxsey

thanks mom, xo

i am so blessed to have the mother i do and to have the opportunity to be a mother myself to such a lovely little belle. i knew i was going to like this role and here i am, 10 months in, and completely in love with every moment. go team!

let's play

one of anabelle's favorite new toys . . an empty egg carton!

charley is pretty fun too

working on more coordination . . .

. . . can wear a baby out

daddy's here now so how about we all just relax for a bit.

that's much better!

learning & having fun

yesterday while i was putting together anabelle's dinner for her, i heard her start to clap on her own for the first time.

now she does it throughout the day & has a huge smile when she hears her little hands clap-clap together.

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i find myself getting a little frustrated with our dog charley here and there (it sort of like 'marley & me' issues but much less crazy), but she is such a good girl and anabelle just loves her. it definitely helps me when i see how she lights up when charley comes over to play. plus, charley is super patient with her now that anabelle can crawl over to try to catch her wiggling tail or grab a fist full of fur. here we are playing together yesterday & anabelle having blast.

she has also started to turn the page herself when we are reading her a story.

oh, & looks like we see the tip of a little tooth coming in!

in between the coughs

she doesn't cough all day. in between just a few sad faces here & there this is what she's been up to.

i heard anabelle stirring in her crib so i walked by to see if she was still asleep. to my surprise, she was in there . . . sitting up. what?! how the heck did she figure that out?

as you can see, she's pretty proud.

well done, babybel!

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i tried to put her down for a nap in the afternoon. no such luck. i went in to check on her and found this:

(i swear this is how i found her, no posing from mommy was involved - true story!)

yes, that is a neil diamond onesie. she was dressed up for daddy.

just some awesome bed head after no brushing before bed.

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daddy is home!!

(and was quickly recruited to help lower the crib. anabelle realized right before he got home that she can grab the bumper and pull herself up. i guess she was just ready to try some new things - all in one day.)

welcome home, love.

enough

ok, cough - you can leave my baby belle alone now. you are making her sad & i'm getting a little mad at you. t minue 8-ish hours until chris gets back. i think everyone could use a nice big hug. sweet dreams anabelle. try to rest.

9 month check-up

we had a busy day yesterday . . .

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trying some frozen corn, cheese, turkey, & polenta

(after some beet-blueberry-banana)

*decided to just throw this onesie away once dinner was over*

yesterday was anabelle's 9 month check-up. she's had a cold & cough so wasn't feeling great, but dr. park was not concerned and was pleased with how she is growing & progressing. she got a taste of anabelle's instinctive bouncing when she was testing out her legs, ha!

15 pound 14 ounces

28 inches

here she is before the dr, feeling a little worn out but looking cute.

we've gotten several great hand-me-downs from friends and family. yesterday i decided to dress anabelle in one of mine - look familiar, mom?

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anabelle has lots of new friends that she can't wait to meet (me too!)

hope all the mommies are doing great - & that you don't mind that i posted pics of your sweet kiddos on my blog.

hunky baby jack

dashing baby hank

radiant baby emma

charming baby camden

handsome baby copeland

three more babies are on their way this summer. we are so excited to know their names & hear their stories.

cheers to shannon, alexis, & suzie!

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cold #2 for anabelle has been a tough one - this one came with a bonus cough and again, chris has been gone. ends up that having a sick baby can be a little scary on your own (even though it's just a little cold).

great news, he's coming home tomorrow!!! i am so thankful. he's been so busy when he is home that it has made this DET feel extra long. i need my muggy back. we need him back.

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here we are during our steamy playtime (chillin' in the bathroom with the hot water running)

after a fabulous nap

trying out a fabulous new clip from grandma

getting some sun & fresh air during a park/coffee date with miss amy

anabelle only got up once last night and then we got to snuggle a bit once we got up later

(my new favorite pic!)

right now anabelle is making her way around the living room, the most she ever has and quick too! i turn around to type and then she's over by the fireplace or heading down the hall to get my shoes. oh gosh, she's almost on top of charley. hold on . . . . .

charley is being great with her but i know she just wants to lick her head to toe, yikes!

hands on the rug, feet on the hardwood floor - i spy a baby downward dog, oh my!

anabelle is 9 months old!

this busy beauty doesn't sit still too long on her own these days. she sure is good at turning things over & over - this sign included.

simply put, anabelle rocks! i just love her - obviously. we are having a great time together (but are missing chris like crazy).

anabelle is working through cold #2 (this time with a bonus dry cough). i'm trying hard to limit my mommy worry. just wish chris was here to remind me everything is ok & be here for these new (sort of scary) things. in the meantime, i'll keep calling my mom (thanks mom!) and some of my mommy friends. anabelle happens to have her 9 month check-up tomorow so it will be good to talk with her pediatrician.

i have her 9 month slideshow all ready, so here you go!

anabelle is getting more & more coordinated. she has learned to hold a toy in each hand and tap tap tap them together. she's also working on finger foods. tonight she tried some heart-to-heart cereal for the first time. she did great! it was the most she'd ever eaten on her own. hopefully she'll get over this cold quickly and get her regular foodie appetite back.

thoughts & favorite things

anabelle had seen her buddy mason sing like this before and just figured out how to do it herself. some of the prettiest music i've ever heard!

the army crawl is starting to pick up speed & i surely feel like i need to vacuum all the time. how is it that her favorite things to crawl to are my shoes and charley's toys? gosh, the two dirtiest things in the room!

anabelle is starting to enjoy a few finger foods. sam was sharing his frozen waffles and bananas. she sure does like squishing things through her fingers. tonight she seemed to prefer to see how her dinner felt instead of how it tasted.

we sure are missing chris . . . still. there is a chance he'll be home a day early and we can't wait. hurry up, muggy!

i have been wanting to share some of my favorite anabelle related things. if i was oprah, i'd buy them for everybody!

susan's favorite things:

(with links)

flip video camera

exercise ball - we got ours at target. get a big one. it works like magic with anabelle.

bob stroller - if you sign up to be a member at REI, you get a 20% off one item coupon (wink wink!)

boppy pillow - we use the boppy all the time and it has been really helpful on the airplane.

urban bonnet - took me a little while to find a sun hat that i liked. love these!

boob toob nursing cover - another fabulous etsy find. easy to use and it covers everything.

mother's ring - i had trouble deciding if i wanted a piece of anabelle jewelry and then i found this. she has a lot of different engraved options. i purchased the personalized stacking ring and it turned out perfect!

inktastic & etsy too - anabelle has several unique special goodies from both of these sites. i recently ordered her a 'mademoiselle anabelle' onesie from inktastic.

angel dear lovey - anabelle has the owl. we call him 'hoot'.

sleep sheep & giraffe - we have the smaller travel ones

quick as a cricket - a special book from my san diego 'mom friend'. anabelle loves it.

ergo carrier

diaper dude diaper bag - chris picked out our diaper bag

lilypadz - silicone nursing pads, they really work

uncle bubba

while we were in maryland we were able to also squeeze in a visit with bubba. anabelle even got to hear him jam.

the next morning we went to church and then out to alexandria. it was such a beautiful day. topped it off with a round of delicious cupcakes.

mom-cation

anabelle & i just got back from spending the week with a dear friend up in maryland. sweet betsy is an amazing momma, a special friend, and a very busy lady with three kiddos under 4 at home. we met when our husbands were in flight school together back in kingsville, texas. we have had a lot of fun together over the years, enjoyed some tasty meals (especially at the bread basket), and definitely shared oodles of conversations. now here we are, both mommies with amazing kids. it was a low key & joyful mom-cation . . . with several lattes & four carseats in the minivan, ha!

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here is betsy's youngest, sam (11 months)

"hey sam, what ya doing over there?"

this robot looks like he's working a bit harder these days. not sure how much longer anabelle will be able to wear this onesie.

we headed to the playground one day. as you can probably guess by the picture, we didn't stay long.

looks like sam told anabelle a pretty great joke here.

anabelle with matthew (3) and grace (4)

hugs & love to the meyer fam!