Happy New Year!

Christmas shopping wears a girl out

Even when it's all done online.

Happy bunny

Thing One and Thing Two

They're not in love yet, but they're getting closer.

Standing up!

Nothing makes a girl want to get up off the floor like the prospect of her favorite doggie lying on the couch.

Fancy pants

Sara stepped out on the town last night, the belle of the ball.

This week's weight: 15 lbs.

First consonant

After months of vowels, Sara decided today that the letter N was worth a shot. Thus, en-en-en-en-en and ni-ni-ni-ni-ni. Good times.

More progress!

Official discharge from liver clinic.... CHECK.
Pulling self up to standing position in crib... CHECK.
Yelling all day for no discernable reason... CHECK.
Thyroid function check ok... CHECK.
Blueberries: official favorite food... CHECK.

BOO!

The tigress eyes her prey, waiting for the right moment.

...steady...

Sulking Bear

Ready...

The rare and coveted Midwestern Grumpyflower.

Teeth, o my teeth, where art thou?

Breakthrough may be imminent. Lots of gum-chomping and drooling and fussing going on.

That'll learn ya!

OK, I dared her. It was my fault. I said she didn't have the nerve to dive over the side. I suppose I should have known, by the look she shot me, that she's not a girl to be dared... without consequences.

And when her head hit the tabletop, she just smiled.

Happy Sunday

Aside from noshing the occasional shoe, Sara is also now enjoying apples, bananas, and pears. Avocados and carrots, not so much.

Hot shot

Miss Thing has given up sticking out her tongue for... sitting up! First came the tripod - 2 legs, 1 hand, then the delighted hanging-onto-something-with-one-hand-and-waving-the-other-one-around, followed by the inevitable falling-backwards-and-cracking-skull-on-wood-floor... and as of today she's sitting up with no support. You go, girl!

Sara's also discovered her vocal chords and has been exercising them liberally and loudly. Discovery of volume control on said vocal chords is nowhere in sight.

Trick of the week

Despite her mother's feeble attempts to grab it, the tongue appears, disappears, and reappears all day long.

Lobster *again*?

Sara yukked it up with her nana in Maine.

Progress report

Physical therapists, psychologist, pediatrician, and endocrinologist all agreed this week: Sara's coming along perfectly! She gets to skip cereal and jump right into fruits and veggies. This week's weight: 13 lb, 10 oz.

Chillin'

Sara spent the holiday pondering her stance on labor issues. And rolling around in the back yard.

Brrr

Sara tried on her fall duds, anticipating chilly Maine weather.

Infantus reptilius

Rolling over and (finally!) sleeping on her tummy. Sara looks amazingly turtle-like in this position, swiveling her head around to look at everything.

No 'kids table ' for me!

Ahhh.. Hyland's Teething Tablets!

Giggle

This is the loveliest sound I've ever heard.

Cutelet

Entertaining the fam over the weekend.

Fatling

Oh my!

Baby speaks!

Sara's discovered how to make gutteral sounds, so lies around all day going AGHGHGHGHGHGH.

First pretty dress

Thankyou Mary and Shelly!

jeepers creepers

This week's weight: 10 lbs, 6 oz

I miss the tiny preemie clothes!

Happy 4th of July!

This week's weight: 9 lbs. Sara is almost turning over.

Fun and sun

Having entered and exited the car seat 9 times, once for each house on the village Garden Walk (which is more of a Garden Drive-Among-The-Houses), Sara gave up and decided to sleep it out.

Baby's first sunburn. BAD mama! Use more sunblock!

RIP

The world has lost an incredible talent. Here's hoping that history will remember the joy Michael Jackson created more than the scandal that surrounded his life.

Bumbo = genius

I hope that whoever invented this seat has made a lot of money from it. Sara is handling this week's heat wave with dignity and grace. The same cannot be said of her mother.

got milk?

It's actually NeoSure, which is a super-rich fatten-the-preemie formula.

Just cute

Is it me, or is she REALLY CUTE?

A smile for Nana

This week's weight: 8 lbs 12 oz

All smiles

Smiles are fast and furious now.

Bilirubins are now within normal range, but liver enzymes are too high. Hoped-for discharge from liver clinic will have to wait another month.

I don't want to work

I just want to sleep in my swing all day.

Loving life

Sara's beginning to get the idea that she has it made.

Is time on my side?

If time were on my side, it would slow the hell down.

February..... to May.

Gardening

Entranced by the blooming pink and white clematis, Sara loaned moral support to today's outdoor project: de-rusting, priming, and painting her great grandparents' patio furniture.

Belonging to Chaica, daughter of Sara :)

Out and about

Baby Bjorn is still too large -- its recommended minimum weight is 8 lbs, after all -- but Sara's been striding out to the park every day all the same. At least the hat finally fits!

Bicycle bicycle bicycle bicycle bicycle

Two-month checkup with the physical therapist: She's making all the right moves!

Reminds me of someone......

...whose name starts with a B...... hmmm....

Future mascara model

It's almost hard to believe how long and curly those lashes are, even after you've seen them. Clearly from dad's side of the family.

Grandparents make the world go round

A bubby, a zeyde, a mamaw or a gramp
Is all that makes the world go round
That ooh-ing, cooing sound
Can make the world go round

Despondent dog

The moping, the moping, the endless moping. No matter how many smooches he gets, he still thinks he's lost... despite the food.. and the walks... and the smooching...

Awake? Who, me?

It's called a hemangioma. And you're right: It's getting bigger. But it will resolve itself. They always do. A friend's baby was born with two on his face. Worried dad badgered the surgeon to do something about them until, exasperated, he finally explained, "Look. Have you ever seen an adult with one of those on their face? No? That's because they go away." And they did.