Hello From California

Hello everyone, we are still visiting our family in sunny Orange County California (it was 70 when we arrived on Sunday!). Violet had a very exciting week, with many firsts.... some of them not as much fun as others!

• Her first time in California!
• Her first 18 hour car trip (with minimal fussing)
• Meeting Auntie Tree in Visalia (Mommies hometown) and some fun gifts.
• She also met her family here Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins for the first time.
  
• Her first visit to the Emergency Room the day after Christmas - She had a fever for 2 days, and has a cold over a week, so we called our doctor and he recommended that we take her. She is fine, no infections only a virus curable with love and Tylenol. The nurses were crazy over her though, they would peek their head in the room to get a look at the "cutest baby".
• She met Santa on Christmas, and was very excited to tear the wrapping off all of her gifts, we have LOTS of pictures of that! And she gets a second Christmas with the Barnetts next week.
  
• And the best of all! We see teeth, so after days of not feeling well, now she's teething, and just before our 18 hour (2 day trip) drive home.
  

Once we arrive back I will download all of our fun pictures! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

My First Teddy Bear

Violet received a very special gift today. A Vermont Teddy Bear She was very curious about him, I think they will be the best of friends. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa DeGroot, see you on Sunday!

An Example

Of why Violet cannot be left alone. She is very curious about EVERYTHING, she especially loves cell phones and TV remotes (I predict future engineer).

Busy Week!

It's been a while, work took up my extra time this week, and those 2 precious days I didn't work I spent with my favorite baby in the world. Violet has learned a few new things though:

• Yelling. although I think in her mind she is communicating somehow, but for us it's just yelling. She especially likes to do it when the television is on.
• She has tried banana, apple, and sweet potato and so far seems to enjoy all. Today she thought it would be funny to eat and yell at the same time, thereby spitting banana everywhere, she thought this was incredibly funny, I smell like banana's now.
• She's sleeping all night!!! I have had to wake her up in the morning to feed her. I've been able to sleep through an entire night. It feels wonderful.
• She scoots around, it isn't crawling but pushing her feet on the floor to move herself wherever she want to go.
• She loves shiny things, especially my necklace, earrings, and buttons. Hold on to your valuables!

bounce bounce bounce

Who loves Avocados?

I've been reading a lot lately about baby food. What are you supposed to feed them first ? When is the appropriate time to begin solids (can you really call something pureed a solid?)? Our pediatrician gave us the green light to try some very simple veggies or fruits. Breast milk has been Violet's nourishment since July 5th, and tonight that changed. I made a big salad for dinner, she eyed it mysteriously. So I mashed up a teeny tiny piece of avocado (my favorite!) and put it on my finger, well she gobbled it up. Grabbing at me for more. How exciting I think Violet just had her first taste of food, and enjoyed it.

Happy 5 Months!

We have had a very exciting week! Many adventures. Violet started daycare yesterday, and it went surprisingly well - and I went to work today, and now I'm exhausted.
She is not traumatized by the experience, and seems happy. I met some of her little friends in her room, they are slightly older (by about a month) she grabs onto them and holds on tight, its really cute. As you can see from the photos below, she is really trying to sit up on her own. I keep the pillow behind her, since she still topples over. I really can't believe its been 5 months, where did the time go?

Wish Me Luck

Violet starts day one of child care tomorrow. Pretty big deal for us, both of us. I think we both might cry a little bit tomorrow...

Family Time

My Grandparents and parents made the trip up to Portland this weekend to come and visit. They were predicting snow all day, so I was unsure if we would actually be able to see them, but as usual the weather reporters were wrong, it didn't snow. We spent the day just hanging out!

Lucy, Randy, Diego, Lisa, Violet (who really wants to play with Diego) & Betty

Fred, Robin, Lisa, Violet, & Joyce