Okay, a FEW Christmas presents!

Mommy and Daddy did let me open up a few of my presents today. I like getting presents! And I thought the unwrapping part was pretty fun too!

I wasn't too sure what to do with this at first, but I quickly figured out it's a teether that I'm supposed to chew on. How did I miss that? I chew on everything else!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! This is my first Christmas, and I was so excited! Did you know that Santa Claus comes to your house if you're a good girl or boy? Well I guess I've been a really good girl because he came to our house last night with lots of presents for me! Look at all my presents!



Unfortunately, Mommy and Daddy have been feeling lousy all weekend, since Saturday. We all went to the doctor yesterday and they have bronchitis. (Did I ever mention how much fun the tissue paper on the examining table is to crumple? I didn't want to leave!) Grandma and Grandpa Roslewski were going to come down for Christmas, but since Mommy and Daddy are sick, they'll delay until this weekend, as long as everyone's feeling better.

And since I'm such a good girl and know how much Mommy and Daddy want to enjoy my first Christmas with me, I decided I'll wait until they're feeling better before I open all my presents. (Besides, I think that Grandma and Grandpa might just have something for me too!) Aren't I nice?

Hope you all had a great day!

I'm better now

I haven't been feeling really great these last couple of weeks, with the new tooth coming in and all. It's been hard for me to drink all of my milk, and I've had problems keeping it down sometimes. Mommy and Daddy were getting a little worried because I wasn't eating very much at all. But it seems like I'm all better now, and am gulping my meals down just like before! I guess I've got to get used to these new teeth coming in.

Today I curled up with Mommy for a nice little nap. I love Mommy!

6-month checkup

Today was my 6-month checkup! Can you believe I'm 6 months old already? I am getting to be such a big girl. My height is now 28 inches, which is off the chart for height. My weight is 17 lbs 10 oz, which is at about the 85th percentile, and my head size is 42.5 cm, which is average, right at the 50th percentile. So I'm tall and thin, just like my Mommy and Daddy and lots of my relatives.

I also got some more shots. I didn't like these any more than last time. This time Daddy was there to hold me and make me feel safe, but I still didn't like them. At least the nurse was really quick about it.

A tooth! A tooth!

My very first tooth showed up on Thursday and now is really easy for Mommy and Daddy to see and feel. Mommy's thought she's felt something for a few days now, but they hadn't been able to see anything until just recently. In fact, Daddy was even able to get a picture. Now, here I am, crying my eyes out, and what does Daddy do? Does he pick me up and gently rock me? No. Does he feed me? No. Does he try to comfort me in any way? No! He grabs the camera, realizing it's a great chance to get a photo of my new tooth.






Don't worry, he did pick me up afterward and made me feel better. :)

What are they trying to feed me?

They call them prunes, and they're supposed to be good for me. Well, I guess Mommy and Daddy know best, so I ate them right up. Strangely, I think I heard Daddy use the word "yuck" a few times. Now I'm not too sure what that means, but it must mean "gee, I would like some delicious prunes too". Do you think I'm right?

Decorating the tree

This evening Mommy and Daddy decorated our Christmas tree. This being my first Christmas, they were very excited about explaining all about how to properly decorate a tree. Daddy showed me the right way to put the angel on the top, and told me that I'd get to do it next year, so I paid real close attention! I even got a real closeup look!

Look at my new bathtub!

I said before that Mommy and Daddy really needed to get me a new bathtub, that countertop one just wasn't cutting it anymore. And they did! Look at me now, I can splash away to my heart's content. It's nice taking a bath in the big girl tub with my new ducky.

I like it!

Wow, what a week!

It's been quite a week, sorry I haven't kept up real well with my updates.

This week I have finally started teething. Mommy and Daddy think so anyway. I do know that I've been fussing a lot more this week, although I still make enough time in my fussing schedule to be cute and adorable. So they've been giving me a little Tylenol and some Orajel to make me feel better, and it helps. They are very excited at the prospect of me waking up in the middle of the night again! I've been sleeping through the night for months now, I think they might appreciate a little change in the routine!

Ooh, and Mommy and Daddy tried out some faster flowing nipples for my bottles. They're supposed to be for ages 6 months and up, but I like using them now. And so do my parents, I can suck down a 6 or 7 ounce bottle in 5 minutes if I really want to! I like it! (And so do they!) I have been trying to hold my own bottle. For some reason Daddy is really interested in me learning how to do this. Who knows why? I'm trying hard, but just don't have the angle down quite yet.

I'm really growing too large for the countertop bathtub I've been using. Maybe someday Mommy and Daddy will realize this and get me a new tub! Aren't I cute? (Washcloth added for modesty.)

On Saturday, I got to see Santa in the morning! I had seen him come to town in the Thanksgiving Day parade, but now I got to see him in person and sit in his lap! He had come to Tinker Air Force Base, where Mommy works, and was in one of the hangars there. It was quite exciting. Other kids my age were crying in his lap, but I wasn't scared one bit. Unfortunately, none of the pictures really came out very well. Maybe we'll try again in a week or two! I was wearing my new Christmas outfit, do you like it?

That evening Mommy and Daddy took me to a Christmas reception at Mommy's work. I got to meet lots of new people, and was on my best behavior all night, smiling at everybody and laughing too. Mommy and Daddy were so proud of me!

Caught in the act!

I was sitting on Daddy's lap and kept trying to reach the candy bowl in front of me. So he moved me a little closer to see what I'd do. Oh boy was it fun! Candy everywhere!

My first Thanksgiving!

Well this has been quite an experience. First, Grandma and Grandpa Roslewski came down from Tulsa on Wednesday night. Then, today, Mommy and Grandma spent all day in the kitchen. And just a little bit ago they all gorged themselves with all kinds of good smelling food and desserts! Of course I didn't get any! But I DID get a great new food, pears! Yum, they tasted good. I sure swallowed them down quick. Pears and peas are now my favorite foods, along with my old standby, milk.


Did I mention that I got to see Santa arrive this morning? Here's Grandpa and me watching the parade.






I've been a really good girl for Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa. I'm getting lots of love from my Grandparents and am trying to give lots of love right back!

I was fascinated by Grandpa's coffee mug, following it every time he lifted it up and down!




And I was doing a really good job of sitting up. Not quite getting there by myself, but once I'm there, I can stay there a while!

Peas and music - what a day!

Remember how I tried carrots and liked them? Well, get ready this - I found I like peas EVEN BETTER! That's right! Mommy fed me some peas today, and although I was a little hesitant at first, after one taste I was hooked! When I saw that spoon coming at me again, I opened my mouth wide and tried to lick the spoon before Mommy got it in my mouth. Yum yum!

Then, Daddy sat down at the piano and started playing a little with me in his lap. I thought it looked pretty easy, so I reached out and started to play a litte tune of my own! Mommy quickly rushed to get the camera and captured my first performance.

Would you like to hear part of my masterpiece? You can hear the rest by buying my album, coming out soon!

Playing in the big girl tub with Mommy

Today I got to play in the big girl tub with Mommy as she took a bath. It sure was fun! I'm not a very good swimmer yet :), so Mommy had to be careful with me, but it was nice not being cramped in that small countertop baby tub. Of course, the countertop tub would be perfect if I wasn't so tall!

(Oh, and yes, Daddy was very smart and didn't take any pictures!) :)

Yum yum, I like carrots!

Finally Mommy and Daddy have started feeding me something I like! Carrots! I ate them all up today. Sure beats that yucky rice cereal or sweet potatoes. Daddy thinks that with Thanksgiving coming up, I should try turkey, but Mommy says I need to try all my veggies first. Of course, Daddy would also feed me pizza and hamburgers if Mommy would let him. I think I'll trust Mommy's wisdom on this, not Daddy's!

My eyes are changing color?

Wow! In just a day or two it seems that my eyes have changed color! They definitely have some of my Daddy's brown in them. Mommy calls it "chocolate brown". Right now they have a blueish ring around the outside. Mommy and Daddy get so excited about the silliest things!

A new favorite game of mine!

I've discovered a new fun game. It's called "grab onto Daddy's chest hair and pull". I don't think Daddy likes it so much. It's also fun to grab the hair on his head. Of course, I've been doing this with Mommy for quite a while now, so she has no sympathy for Daddy. As you can tell, I'm getting really good at holding on to things. I'll grab their shirts or pockets or pretty much anything in sight!

Grandma Roslewski's birthday party!

Today was an exciting day, I was invited to my first birthday party at my Grandma Roslewski's house. What fun! First, in the morning Daddy showed me how to properly sign a birthday card. I needed a little help with the spelling though.

Then we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa's house. I slept the whole way up, so I was well rested and ready to be cute and adorable for my grandparents! We sang "Happy Birthday to You" while Grandma held me, then she blew out a candle and we had cake. Well, I didn't have any cake. Mommy and Daddy are so mean sometimes! Here's me helping Grandma blow out the candle.

Later that day Grandpa gave me a silver dollar coin. Like my Daddy did when he was my age, I held on tight! This means I'll be good with money. Thanks Grandpa!

Grandma even read some books to me! It was a really fun day and I got lots of extra love and attention. I love visiting Grandma and Grandpa Roslewski! I slept the whole way back I was so worn out.

Grandpa Stoller leaves

We had a great time while Grandpa was here, and I was a good little girl except for I got another ear infection while he was here and had to go to the doctor. I'll bet that wasn't what he had planned for his visit! But we got to spend some time together and he got to see Oklahoma.

Thanks for coming to visit, Grandpa, I love you!

Grandpa Stoller arrives

Today my Grandpa Stoller came to visit all the way from Phoenix, Arizona! We went and picked him up at the airport, and he was so happy to meet me. I greeted him with lots of smiles and hugs. I'll try my best to be a little darling while he's here! He'll be here through Wednesday morning.

I am sure am talking up a storm!

I'm trying to talk, but nobody seems to understand what I'm saying! Maybe you'd like to try?

Warning - the following link contains baby babble that, let's be realistic, only my parents and grandparents will find cute and adorable and listen to over and over again. The rest of you will just roll your eyes at my corny parents.

Click here!

Boo! My first Halloween

What a silly holiday this is! Mommy and Daddy got me all dressed up, took a lot of pictures of me and generally acted goofy the whole time. But it was fun! Here I am on a blanket made by my Mommy's friend Diana Bishop. It sure is nice. Thank you!



As if I wasn't dressed silly enough already, Daddy put me in this funny pumpkin outfit to go outside.



And here I am all nice and cozy while Daddy wears short sleeves. Crazy guy!



We went to a couple of our neighbors' houses and they all thought I looked very cute! Then older kids started coming over to our house and Mommy was handing out candy. I think I'm going to like this holiday when I'm older!

We got a tornado shelter today

I feel much safer. We do live in "Tornado Alley" now, so daddy had a tornado shelter put in the garage this afternoon. It's one of the "flat top" models that you just park over, so it's nice. You can see what it looked like before it went into the ground, in the first picture to the right of the "Ditch Witch". After the concrete cures in a few days we'll get some more pictures.

Grandma and Grandpa Roslewski came to visit today

Today Grandma and Grandpa paid me a visit. It had been a full month since they had been able to make it down, so they needed their "granddaughter fix" pretty badly! Of course I made sure to be on my best behavior for them. Well, I tried to anyway.

While they were here, I got to try out a new food - Sweet potatoes! Grandpa and Daddy asked if it had butter and brown sugar on it. Silly men!

Here Grandma is trying to get me to eat some. Now I want you to notice Daddy and Grandpa in the background. Notice anything similar between them? Scary, huh? So that's what I'd look like if I'd been a boy!




Here's Daddy giving it a try. He wasn't having any more luck than Grandma. What can I say, I just wasn't in the mood for sweet potatoes today!



Grandma and Grandpa also brought down some really cute new outfits for me. Which is good because I'm growing so fast! I'm only 4 and a half months and some 6-9 month clothes fit me already. They also brought me some great little shoes with lots of tread on them for running around in. I didn't have the heart to tell them I can't even crawl yet. But I get the feeling they may have known that already. My grandparents sure are silly!

I did it again! Rolled over, that is

But this time I only did it for Mommy. Daddy still hasn't seen me roll over for real yet. Maybe soon?

Nothing much to report today

Except for my big toenails have finally started growing. Isn't that exciting?

More rice cereal today

I got to try out this "rice cereal" thing again this morning. It went a little better this time. Daddy used the spoon, and I actually ate quite a bit! I wasn't too crazy about opening my mouth, but once he got the spoon in I swallowed it just fine. Maybe it's not so bad after all. We'll keep trying this for a week or so before I get to try something else.

What you all have been waiting for, The Main Event!

I don't think I really need to write much here, the pictures tell it all!

Mommy tries to serve me my very first spoonful of rice cereal:



I was somewhat less than enamored with the flavor! Maybe it's an "acquired taste"?



Ah, but Daddy got some on my fingers! You know how good those fingers taste. Maybe, just maybe, this stuff will be okay.



Or maybe not...



I was really happy when they decided to call it a day!



We'll try more tomorrow they tell me. Where's that pizza and hamburgers Daddy was talking about?

A little more "chair time" today

We're going to try solid food a little later today, but I spent a little more time this morning getting used to my chair. Mommy and Daddy like it because I can sit right at the table with them while they eat, which means I don't get cranky.

Next I am determined to eat that lion with my spoon!

We bought a high chair

Since the doctor today gave me the go-ahead for solid foods, Mommy and Daddy went out and bought me a high chair tonight! They won't feed me any solid foods until tomorrow, but had me test it out so that I'd be used to it by then.

I'm not so sure about this!

Four month checkup today!

I had my 4 month checkup today and boy am I growing!

Height: 27" - off the percentile chart!
Weight: 15 lbs 10 oz - 90th percentile
Head circumference: 16 inches - 40th percentile

I keep growing and growing and growing!

I also got some more shots, which was no fun at all. I think I did better than last time, though. Mommy held me through the shots which made me feel a little better.

But the best news is that the doctor said I could start eating some solid foods! No, Daddy, she doesn't mean pizza and hamburgers, she means rice cereal!

How can you tell when a baby's tired?

When she falls asleep like this!

If a baby rolls over and there's no one to see it...

So I did it today! I finally rolled over from my tummy to my back. I was laying on Mommy and Daddy's bed and they were making me have the dreaded "tummy time". Oh how I hate tummy time. Of course I put all this work into figuring out how to finally get onto my back, and as soon as I get ready for the attempt, Mommy and Daddy step into the bathroom to brush their teeth or something. So I did it anyway, I'm not going to wait around for the old fogies. When Daddy came back out, there I was, on my back! Needless to say Daddy and Mommy were pretty impressed, but sad that they didn't get to actually see it. Naturally I have not been able to reproduce the stunt, but I will keep trying until I can. Hopefully another one will happen soon!

Turner Falls, Oklahoma

Today we went on a fun trip down to Turner Falls in southern OK. There is a natural 77 foot waterfall and lots of pretty scenery. We even had a picnic lunch there.

Here I am with Mommy in front of the falls.

Daddy even got to do some rock climbing!

And here Daddy took a picture from up there of Mommy and me. Now how did he get that picture if Mommy just took a picture of him? Could Daddy be silly enough to climb up there twice? I think so!

Here's a picture Daddy took from the top of the falls. The bottom of the falls is on the left, on the right is the river leading to it.

We really had a lot of fun. We'll have to go back next summer and go swimming!

Aren't I cute?

First doctor's visit today :(

It seems like I caught a little something over the past few days. I've been sneezing and coughing a lot and my appetite has gone down. So today Mommy and Daddy took me to the pediatrician. She checked me out and said I had an ear infection. I got some antibiotics and hopefully I'll be better real soon. It's no fun being sick!

This also means that I won't be able to have my four month checkup until next week. It was supposed to be on Thursday, but they can't give me my shots since I'll be on the antibiotics. So it'll have to be next Friday. Unfortunately, this means Daddy will have started at his new job and won't be able to take me. So Mommy gets to hold me again while I get my shots!

And the doctor did weigh me today; I am up to 15 pounds even!

How do you eat a Giraffe?

One bite at a time! Yum, yum. And the Zebra is next!

I have discovered my toes!

I have toes! I just figured this out while sitting on Mommy's lap. I looked down, and saw these silly little things wiggling down there. So I had to touch them and study them. And guess what, they're attached to me! Maybe next I'll try to get them in my mouth like everything else I can touch. I bet they taste good!

I definitely laughed today!

Today was it, Mommy and Daddy say I definitely laughed today. Mommy was making funny faces and trying to tickle my feet, and I lit up with a big smile and a little laugh, followed by a happy squeal! Daddy was right there and saw and heard it too. I think my Mommy and Daddy sure are funny!

I'm really trying hard to hold my bottle

I usually get one hand on it, but that's about as far as I've been able to get so far. But I'm trying! One of these days I'll be able to hold my own bottle, I'm sure of it.

Sorry I haven't written more lately, but I've been so busy talking (my own language, of course) and I'm really smiling at everything and everybody now too. I'm quite a popular little girl whenever we go out!