Back From Christmas

I just got back from Christmas and I thought I would share a few things.

1. Flying is okay. The trip is definitely longer coming home than going to New York, but it's okay. On both flights random people told Mama and Daddy that I was the best baby on the plane. As if they needed some random stranger to tell them that!
2. New York is awesome! I got off the plane and instantly breathed the fully oxygenated air. It was gray, no blue sky. New Jersey was fun, busy and trafficy, and obnoxious a bit. The drive up through New York was neat. Very different from my Big Sky Country, but neat.
3. Grandma and Grandpa gave me great presents, I have so many clothes now it's amazing. But my favorite was when Grandpa stood over me while I slept and willed me to wake up, and then acted surprised that I was awake.
   
4. Nana threw me an amazing party. I met all sorts of extended relatives and had some great new cousins to play with. I got lots of presents and it was so much fun.
5. Gigi and Poppa were fabulous and their house is huge! I loved my princess tree, and now Mama has to get me one at home for next Christmas. There was a major Boxing Day party where I met more cousins. Generally I was cute and fabulous. And there is no way that the little puppy Smidgeon is any cuter than I...no freaking way.
   
6. I am a ham. When the camera turns on me I smile. When people talk to me I smile.
   

Christmas was good. Traveling was fun. It was neat to meet so many new and exciting people. I can't wait to get back to New York this summer, although we will be bringing the minions this time. Maybe I can get some more minions to sign up on my cross country trek.

Life is Good

Yesterday Auntie Autumn came by to give me a present for Christmas. She bought me a CD that has nursery rhymes on it set to music. It is SO much fun. Every night Daddy and Mama read to me a book, a poem/nursery rhyme and then a good night book. I am very much into the nursery rhymes and music, so I love the new CD. We listened to it all evening last evening. It was great!

And, clearly I love presents. I took it and immediately tried to chew on it. I then took the bow that was on it and put it on my head. I am really, seriously, the cutest baby on the planet.

My Daddy

This is my Daddy. Isn't he cute? My aunties call him studly, which of course he is. The picture on the bottom is us getting back from a walk (I'm in front in the Baby Bjorn) and the one on the top is us cuddling on my rocker (I'm the one in yellow). I'm very lucky to have such a good Daddy. He takes very good care of me. He now takes me to Musikgarten because Mommy can't anymore and he is the only Daddy in the class. Pretty cool, huh?

Drama Queen

Tonight my Gramma Darlene came by for a visit. She hasn't seen me in a while and she cares, so she came by to see me. Every time she held me I cried. When she made faces at me, I laughed and then I cried. Generally I was a drama queen. This may be a sign of what will happen when my family travels to New York next week, which is not good. Gramma Darlene doesn't get her feelings hurt but all the other grandparents do...

Well - I'm a princess and I only want to be held by my parents. Get over it world!

Foiled Again

My parents are becoming generally more and more difficult. My favorite thing to do in my crib is to pull down my mirror and throw it across the crib. Mommy decided this was dangerous because maybe I could suffocate under the mirror (seriously, as if that could happen). So she went out, got a ribbon, and tied the mirror very securely to the crib. For the first 45 minutes I realized I couldn't pull it down I worked at it and worked at it. I cried, screamed, complained but still the mirror wouldn't come down. Mommy came in at one point and I was completely wrapped in a bear hug around the bottom of the mirror trying to break loose the ribbon. Someday I will figure out how to untie it and then I will throw that damn mirror across the room.

Mommy and I are going to have words - as soon as I speak this English.

Musikgarten

Yesterday I was a star in Musikgarten. I reached out my hand to strum the guitar when the teacher came around, I was mesmerized by the blocks during Bim Bam, I tried to sing, I smiled whenever anyone talked to me, and generally I was the cutest baby there.


Watch out world! Here comes the next great musician!

Boat Ride

This week Mommy and Daddy began playing some new games with me. Here you see me and Daddy playing Boat Ride. This game develops my balance, exploration and visual stimulation.

I Am Very Sad Right Now

My parents have instituted a policy that I think - quite frankly - is evil to all babies. They now take away my bottle half way through my feeding in some effort - they claim - to help me avoid spitting up. Well I feel the need to post about how evil this policy is. I just screamed and screamed when Daddy pulled my bottle away.

Other than that, last night I slept for the first time in my own room. Finally! I've been waiting to get into my own space for four freakin' months. And I enjoyed it, I lounged out in my crib; I had my own humidifier; I chatted with myself at 1245am for no apparent reason and then fell back asleep.

Now if only those minions would get to the killing of my parents like I asked them to....jeesh, taking away a princess's bottle mid-feeding, INDEED!

4 Month Report

It's been a while, I know. But the life of a Princess...well, it's busy.

Today I had my four month appointment. Let me tell you about the torture. First they take me in and they take off all my clothes. Then they give me medicine. Then some woman came in and touched me all over. I tolerated this for a while then I screamed. After she was done I smiled at her. Then in came some crazy other woman with needles. She tricked me by having my parents talk to me while she stuck in the needles. Very strategic. So I screamed at that too.

But all in all. I am doing very well. I am in 30th percentile for weight, 12.8 lbs. I am in the 74th percentile for heighth (woo hoo I am tall!!) at 25 inches. My brain is in the 49th percentile for size. So, all is good. I am developing just like I am supposed to.

Grandpa said "get that girl a basketball" and I agree!!

Everything's Good Here

Well, not much has happened here.

I've laughed. I've said my first words, yes indeed I said "how are you". I've had my first babysitting appointment, mostly I slept through it. I had my first Thanksgiving, didn't get any turkey so I wasn't real impressed.

Here's a video of me, because I am so cute.

Big Night for the Princess

Last night Mommy and Daddy moved me out of their bedroom to the den. I now sleep in the pack and play bassinet in the den. Mommy came out to check me at 2am and Daddy came out at 3am and Mommy got up at 530am to check on me again and then they finally let me wake up at 730am. Each time I was asleep on my side. I love my pack and play bassinet. I love that I get to move around more because there is plenty of room. I love to wiggle.

I have to tell you I am very happy to be in a different room in my big bassinet. Eventually Mommy will let me sleep the night in my own crib in my own room.

Registering Complaints

I have now learned that if I am pissed about something I should scream. Cry and scream. On Friday I was sitting on Mommy's lap crying and the minions ran upstairs. I stopped crying because I was stunned they would run away during my crying. And then I screamed until they came back. I mean, seriously, they are my minions, they should always stay around when I am crying.

I am also just about to leave my bassinet which is evident by my sleeping with my face pushed up against the side. Seriously, I am a baby who loves to wiggle around and travel. I need my space!

Laughing

Today I was watching the minions wrestle on the floor while Daddy held me. I then started to laugh. This is my first laugh, which is a rather big deal. Mommy first almost cried and then grabbed the camera, but it was too late.

I am very cute.

Fun with Auntie Autumn

Last night I spent time with my Auntie Autumn. We danced, read books in Mommy's office, played, and all in all it was fabulous. She brought me a multi-colored giraffe and now it has a place of prominence in my crib. I LOVE it. I like to suck on it.

Thank God for my Mommy's village all of whom take care of me!

My New Teeth

Well today I loved Musikgarten again. I got up, I sang, I stood up the whole time and watched everyone dance and sing. I especially liked the Bim Bam lullaby with the A and D xylophone chords. I was totally entranced.

Then I was crying. Mommy's friend Noelle said, she's teething. Mommy said no way, she's only 3 1/2 months. Noelle said, no Leah, there are two teeth in her mouth. Mommy looked more closely and saw two teeth!!! She rushed home, called the doctor who said while it was unusual to have teeth this early, it was not unheard of and that she should relax. Daddy said I was so physically advanced that I'd probably be an athlete but dumb as a door...

Hopefully I will continue to not be cranky. Oh, and, I sleep on my side now in my crib, so when I wake up I am looking at myself, which is the best thing to be looking at.

My New Toy

Mommy is very concerned that I do some tummy time. I mean, all the babies have to do it, so I have to do it. Problem is I hate tummy time. I cry and wimper and Mommy and Daddy have issues dealing with that. So Mommy bought me a new toy so that I could do my tummy time and have fun doing it. Below, click and watch me spin!

Here's my Guitar Hero Family

Look how cool we are...we are SO punk!!!

Poker Night

Tonight I had such fun. Daddy played poker with the boys and lost $5. Mommy and I went with the ladies to Great-Grandma Stauffer's house. We had fun. Ate some pizza, ate some breadsticks, drank some diet coke, did some screaming, played some guitar hero...it was fantastic!!

I am SO punk.

Talking

Today I was chatting with Mommy. Here's our conversation.

My Parents Are Idiots

Mommy and Daddy bought for me when I came home from the hospital a fantastic pack and play. Basically it's a play yard that has serves as my crib on the first floor. It has these great features, lights, music, vibrations, etc etc. Mommy thought the mechanism was broken because it wouldn't work. Tonight, while in the Babies r Us, Mommy saw that the mechanism took 2 batteries. She came home and realized the mechanism works fine, she just didn't know to put batteries in it.

Are you kidding me? I could have been rocking out to music and vibrating for weeks now!!!! Jeesh Mommy!

New Formula Size

Well, now I am draining 5 ounces of formula at a sitting. Draining it. I am so hungry that Daddy thinks I am having a growth spurt. I also am no longer able to use my 4 ounce bottles so Mommy and Daddy have to go out and buy some new 9 ounce bottles. But they're totally fine with that. My sleeping has adjusted a bit too because I am too hungry to go all night, so now I am waking up around 3am after going to sleep at 9pm. Mommy and Daddy are hoping that once I start drinking the 5 ounces at each feeding I'll be able to sleep through the night again.

I am also very talkative. I have quite a bit to say, but unfortunately no one in this use speaks my language. I guess I'll just talk to the minions - oh yeah, the minions are my dogs.

College?

It's great, uh huh, to be, that's right, an S U Orange...

The training begins....

Halloween

So, it's my first Halloween. Here's my costume!

Musikgarten

Mommy signed us up for Musikgarten, so once a week on Wednesdays we go to sing and dance. We've learned a bunch of songs, well mostly I sleep while Mommy learns the songs. But today I decided it was time for me to stay awake during the Musikgarten. I was engaged. Every time the teacher sang I looked at her, I watched the other little kids run around and play and I grabbed a scarf when it was the scarf song. I didn't wave it around, but I held onto it and considered waving it around. I also really liked the sound of the guitar. Very much.

Now I am in my crib contemplating my beautiful reflection in the mirror, making cooing sounds, and playing with my fingers.

It's been a good day today.

Napping

Today was a rough day for me. I cried and cried for an hour and a half straight, Daddy almost died he was so sad for me. My little puppy Mac followed us around the house because he wanted to fix the problem, but he didn't know what the problem was. Then Mommy came home and now I am napping. This is a new thing for me, I take a long nap in the afternoon. I am lying here, sleeping away, with my Lammy next to me. I love my new little Lammy. What's funny is Mommy keeps coming in to look at me. She checks to see if I am breathing, which of course I am.

Life is still good.

My Fingers

Over the past week or so I have discovered that I have fingers. These fingers are very interesting and I spend a lot of time looking at them. I especially like to hold them together in front of me and watch how that works. Right now I am sitting next to Mommy while she works. I am giggling and smiling and watching my fingers.

Also, Mommy and Daddy have put me on a schedule the last couple of nights. I've been going to bed by 930pm and waking up at 6am. This is working perfectly for me as I enjoy sleeping. I am almost too big for my bassinet that sits next to Mommy and Daddy's bed so we are all contemplating my next step. Will it be to my crib - which I am personally rooting for as I LOVE my crib - or to my pack and play? We'll see.

Family Visits

Technically the Princess is not writing this blog, but maybe someday she will. In the meantime, this allows me to dedicate space specifically to her life story rather than splicing it in with my own random ponderings.

This week my great aunt and great uncle came to visit me. My great aunt and I spent the week shopping, decorating my room, eating out at lunch, going to museums. It has been great fun. My great uncle was very funny. Usually I cry when I am put in my infant car seat but great Uncle Jim made faces at me and I laughed instead.