4 x 4

I am a 4x4 machine. I can crawl over anything in my path. I can also navigate my way over blankets and such when I'm cruising along the edge of the couch. Every now and again I let go of my support while I'm standing and I can stay standing for a few seconds. Every day I get stronger and improve my balance!






Here's a picture of Papa and me getting ready for a walk. I sure love walks! And also some pictures of Sequoia and her parents (and Mama) when they came to visit over Thanksgiving weekend. These pictures are from the day they arrived, which was the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Stairmaster

Yesterday Papa told me to go up the stairs to get the kitty and I did! I just effortlessly went right up the stairs. I am Master of the Stairs. And, as that story shows, I'm picking up quite a bit of language now. Mama and Papa are still signing some words to me, but I don't sign back yet. I bet I will do it soon though.




These are pictures from November when I was just learning to crawl and also to lunge. You can tell that I often got stuck against a wall because I would go backwards, and I often got one of my legs stuck underneath me. But I'm brilliant at crawling now!

Learning to squat

I am learning to squat. I hold onto a piece of furniture for balance, and then squat down on my haunches and hang out for a while until I fall over. It's very endearing. Mama hopes that I will keep doing it because she thinks it's so darn cute.




Here I am playing with my toys in the livingroom (the empty Kitchen Aid box is nearly my favorite toy!), and showing off my bottom two teeth. Can't wait for tooth #3 to pop through. Maybe tonight will be the night...

Teething woes

Well, my tooth is being very stubborn! I have a big white bump on my gum but the tooth still hasn't broken through. Yesterday was the worst day of all. All day long I was crying. Even while I was laughing, I had tears. It broke Mama and Papa's hearts.

I have great new skills. I can dance to music and videos, I can bend over and pick something up and then stand up again if I have a good grip on the couch or chair or whatever, and I can gently lower myself to the floor from a standing position. I also do this cute froggy rock when I'm crawling and I get excited. I am very, very cute.




Here are some pictures of Grandma and Grandpa visiting me. Do you see my great rattle? It's a Tupperware Shape-O rattle. The little shapes inside rattle around, but don't come out like the full sized toy. It's one of my favorite toys!

rough night

I sure had a rough night last night. I just couldn't stay asleep. I sure hope my tooth pops through today. You can really see the bump it's making, so it's sure to come in very soon. It's my upper right central incisor: E.




Here are pictures from my first professional sporting event. We went to a Trailblazers basketballs game when they played (and beat!) the Pistons. But it was way too noisy for me and I screamed the entire time. I was so scared! Every time the crowd cheered I thought they were all trying to kill me! It was better when the Pistons were ahead. People were much quieter. I guess that makes me a Pistons fan. :) Mama and Papa will think long and hard before they try that again.

Formula baby

Mama hasn't been feeling too well lately, and on Friday her doctor said she should cut down on breastfeeding me to only twice a day. She was very worried about me, but she shouldn't have been. I barely noticed the change at all. I like the formula just fine and I'm sleeping a lot better, too. I only wake up once a night now. Now that Mama's getting much more sleep and has gained some weight, she's feeling a lot better.






Here are pictures of me standing up with my favorite toy. Mama's friend Subha lent it to us. I love all of the buttons and noises. I push it around the livingroom all day long.

Cutting a new tooth

I seem to be cutting a top front tooth today. Mama could feel something last night, and today I've been very sleepy and not very hungry, so that's probably the reason. I'm sure it will pop through very soon and I'll feel a lot better. It will be my third tooth! I'm such a big girl!






Here is a picture of me in my new Christmas coat from Uncle Kory and Aunt Sandra. As you can tell by my smile, I really love it.

Here are also some pictures of a visit with Grandma and Grandpa Brudevold. We had a really great time together, as always.

Wonderful Christmas and New Year

I had a really great first Solstice, Christmas, and New Year's. We drove up to Seattle and spent a week with Grandma, Grandpa and Great-grandma Brudevold, Aunt Karen, Uncle Jeff, and Cousin Andrea. It was my first time meeting Great-grandma and Uncle Jeff. They loved me, of course. I loved them too. It snowed on Christmas morning, which was really exciting, but not enough for me to play in it. I really liked that everyone kept giving me paper and ribbons and bows and boxes. That was so thoughtful of them! How did they know that is just what I love to play with?

After Seattle, we went to Salem to see more Grandparents and Uncle Kory and Aunt Sandra. More bows and boxes! I really like this Christmas thing.

On New Year's Eve we went to my friend Logan's house. He was born in November, so he wasn't too excited about the holidays. The grown-ups all played board games. It looked like lots of fun, but no one wanted me to join in and eat the pieces! They are just so mean sometimes.






Here are some pictures from when we went to a celebration of an Indian festival at Madhura's house. I loved sitting on my friend Sri's lap and playing with her mom Subha. Doesn't Mama look nice in her Indian Salwar Kameez? Madhura is in the pink Sari , along with her mom, dad, and husband.

I have a new outfit that makes me look like a teddy-bear, don't you think? It's soft and cozy.

Here is our wreath. And here Papa and I are in front of it on our walk. Papa keeps me nice and bundled inside his coat.