Biter

No more gummy softness here. . . not that her bites were ever that soft, but now there is a sharpness peeking through. Yay, first tooth. She won't let me get a picture of it though, well what there is to see of it. It's not actually a full tooth yet. She's embarrassed, or just likes to smile with her tongue sticking out. I guess without teeth to hold it in it makes sense that way. Here a few pictures of her nonetheless. . .
This was Dave's birthday lunch. Miley looks ready to use her half a tooth on that yummy food. She's actually pretty well behaved in restaurants, but I'll add more to that when I do her 8 month post in just a few days!
Just some more cuteness all dressed up. . .

These were taken after church. . . after the flower in her hair had disappeared.

Paying it forward

*I'm totally disappointed in all my blogging buddies. . . I can't believe you're all too lazy to pay it forward. Well fine then. I had some great ideas for what I was going to make, but oh well. I'm sorry you didn't want to play, but I'll pay it forward a different way then.
I was the recent beneficiary of a delish cake (one of my faves actually) made by the talented Anne, and now it is time for me to pay it forward. Though now that I think about it, Dave ate his share of the bounty so he should be doing this too. Hmmm. We'll see.

The recipe can be found HERE, for the Sour Cream Blueberry Coffee Cake.

{The Rules}
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!

2. Winners must post this challenge on their blog, meaning that they will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on their post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought that count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate pictures and comments! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along.

Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER...Pay It Forward!

~So the rules say it is for my blogging friends only. Sorry everyone else. I was thinking about changing that to anyone, but decided that I'd stick within the blogging community for now. If you're disappointed, you might want to just start up a blog. . . it's free, and fun. Until then however, you are not eligible. Before you get all disheartened, I may very well publish this Pay it Forward challenge again for all you non-bloggers some time. . . so keep reading.

It's your Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart, we love you soooo much!

Pajamas, day two

Crap on toast.

That's the general feeling at our house. Miley is mastering the art of blowing bogey bubbles. Proof that I don't feel well would be the lack of photographic evidence of her trick. Then again, I don't think you'd want to see it anyway. Let's just say that impressive amounts of snot are involved. I'm talking Guiness would be interested. Feeling uncomfortable by this topic yet?

Our picture for today will be a formidable pile of tissues (no we don't save them, we just use so many in a matter of five minutes that that is impressive enough).

Well that's our life for now. Pray that Dave is spared from our plight. I couldn't take another sickie here.

Curse the mall.

Spring Break

Here are a few pics from our spring break with Grammie and Aunt Tiff. . . Miley thinks Tiff is so funny. She giggles constantly around her.
Here's Mie trying out her new trick. . . push ups. This would be the last time she wasn't being held for the week.

We planned on going swimming when our fam got here, so we thought we'd let Mie try out her swim stuff beforehand to get used to it. It was a successful first run in our bathtub.And then in the pool, we got this face. . . She eventually warmed up to the swimming idea, but only if I was holding her. She loved to float on her back and splash. The pool just needs to be warmer, and I think that would help.

Miley is so spoiled. She got a lot of new clothes from Tiff and Grammie. Attention from Grammie. They both love books.

We celebrated Dave's birthday early by going to Pirate Island Pizza. The food was good, and the games were fun too.
Miley experienced a couple of firsts. . . sitting in a big kid high chair, and eating french fries. She wasn't impressed with the fries so much. Crazy girl.Experiencing bubbles for the first time. . . not impressed. The bubbles were part of the booty we took home from our successful Pirate games.

We had a fun time shopping, playing pickle ball, Wii, and games, eating yummy food, and just enjoying each other's company. Thanks for a great spring break girls!

2 hundred

My two hundredth post! I feel an obligation to make it a good one and also an urgency to write it since I won't remember it's significance if I wait to post another day or time. I totally missed number 100; I hope it was meaningful. Now here I am at 200, and I have nothing to add, but here I type nonetheless. . . so forget the good part. All I've got is random snippets from my head today. . .

After a discussion with my husband about OCD, we decided that everyone probably has a little in them. We found a couple of his quirks, but for the life of us could not come up with something or anything that I do compulsively. Now I feel different. Should I be disappointed that I don't have this mental trip wire? Maybe I'm not thinking hard enough, or Dave's too scared to tell me the truth that I'm a psychiatrist's dream case? I'm afraid to open up this question to everyone however, so keep your opinions to yourself. ;) Ok, if you must tell me where I'm crazy I guess I can read that. I will have a defense handy for any such suggestions however.

I recently found a website that I found totally interesting. I try to read through my blog posts before they are posted for all to find grammatical or at the very least spelling errors. I don't like to misspell things. Punctuation on the other hand. . . well who cares. I've got to say that I really don't like the exclamation point. I'm not sure I have a real reason for this. Just a general feeling I've noticed. Anyway, this website answers grammar questions, like who vs. whom, and lay vs. lie. . . etc. etc. And my very favorite of all. . . good vs. well. Look here. I don't like the word good either. Maybe words can qualify as an OCD thing? I don't know, but I like knowing which word is correct.

I noticed in my pantry today that we have three brands of peanut butter. Brands, not kinds. We actually have creamy and chunky in all of those brands, so the peanut butter is taking up some serious shelf space. How did this happen, I don't know. Wait, we might have a yucky organic peanut butter in there too, make that four brands. That one will be trashed though. How can anyone stand seeing that top layer of oil and stomach mixing it in before consumption? I like to be oblivious to the fact that I'm eating that oil and probably worse in my inorganic version. Ignorance is bliss.

So it has become obvious that our dogs eat healthier than we do, except maybe Miley. I'm assuming her formula and baby food are as healthy as the labels say. Though, the minute she gets to eat a french fry, she will be in the same boat as us. Our dogs only get organic-human-grade dog food. That sounds a bit like an oxymoron, especially since it still smells like dog food and nothing I would eat. There is some seriously bad stuff in pet food. I put a lot of research into their current food, and now the store is no longer carrying it. Blame the lame supplier. Anyway, now we're looking for a suitable replacement. The dogs don't mind trying out the new kinds (we get samples). We try to mix it in with their regular food, but this is what they do. . .
They pick out the new stuff and spit out their regular food on the floor. Gross. Luckily, Nilla is a very clean dog and doesn't let this remain. Mocha on the other hand, is a messy pig.

After trying a dozen photo paper brands, I've decided that Costco's Kirkland brand photo paper is better than them all. I guess I can't say all, but it definitely beats Kodak among the long list of other brands I've tried. It's whiter. You need a good white base for a good picture. And it's cheaper. You can't beat that. It also doesn't have that strange texture on the back that some photo papers are so fond of. I'm not. I'm definitely supporting generic in this category.

I just finished reading Ender's Game today. Ummm, I don't get it. What's with the cult following? It was depressing and demented. I thought I'd try a sci-fi, but it turns out my instincts were right. Sci-fi = lame to me. I have a quibble with the book too. What is with the need to use foul language? Not a fan. Not impressed Mr. Card. A little hesitant to read another of his works, even in a different genre.

I'm going to insert a couple cute pics of my Miley here to get that stupid book out of my mind. . .

Ok, all better now.

Miley's hair is out of control. It's growing all crazy and she's a little fuzz ball now. I'm not sure what to do with it. We're a little concerned that gluing a flower to her head on the same place may lead to a bald spot. Ok, I don't really think that would happen, but I don't want to risk it. Her hair is still too thin to use clips or barrettes. . . and I don't like the headband squeezing her poor little brain. So for now, she's all natural without extras on her head. Though we do like to spike it up. It's just fun, and it's getting so long that her spike is getting impressive.

I'm infatuated with a show on TV about wedding cakes. Ace of Cakes, on the Food network. I don't know if it will be able to hold my attention indefinitely, but for right now I am totally impressed with their culinary/art skills. I totally think of you Kari, everytime I watch. One day you could be there. Though the bakery is in Baltimore so I'd rather you weren't that far away.

This is becoming endlessly long. That's what makes number 200 so special I guess. I'm making up for the fact that I probably won't post anything next week. Spring Break, wooo hooo. I only know that because some of my fam is coming for a visit. Spring vacation is a whole season long for me.

Thirteen days until Dave's 31 birthday. Just a little heads up to the fam on that one.

A perfect day includes. . .

. . . a trip to Barnes and Noble where we browse for hours keeping our purchases within the reasonable realm (though this is the challenge of the visit), and then we sit in the cafe and sample yummy desserts.

Dessert and a new book, sounds like heaven to me.

Speaking of books, I was sitting on the floor with Miley the other day reading my book while she played with her toys. When I got up to do something this is where she ended up. . .


She had her book and was lying in my spot looking at it. She was actually on my pillow, but I didn't get to my camera in time for that shot. Close enough though. She's too funny.

Confessions of just another ordinary day

Happy Monday, it's an impracticality in my mind, but I try. . . sometimes.

On these days I don't have to drag myself out of bed and force myself to get ready. Not me. I am a morning person after all. I definitely don't put my hair into a bun immediately out of the shower and forget to comb through it all day long. That would never happen.

After all that effort, which was no effort at all for me, I don't immediately change right back into my pajamas after getting spit up on during breakfast. Not me. It's Monday, I don't give up that easy.

I would never only do my chores halfway, like the load of Miley laundry that I absolutely did not take straight out of the dryer and drop on her floor to be put away at a later time. . . not yet determined. I would never.

I defnitely wouldn't dress Miley in the first thing I grabbed despite the color combination it might contain. . .without a flower in her hair. Unthinkable.

I wouldn't eat rice crispy treats for lunch and nothing else. Right Dave? I love to cook and would prepare a healthy meal to keep my energy up. I wouldn't feed my daughter only green vegetables all day to make up for my own diet. That'd be torture, and definitely not like me.

I didn't spend all of Miley's nap reading a book (that I've read twice already) instead of the numerous other things on my Monday to do list. Not me.

I would most definitely pay very close attention to everything I was doing and not drop anything on the floor, to frequently to keep count, or hit my knee on the stupid counter brace again. I'm not clumsy, not me. I'm no dropper.

I wouldn't neglect getting the mail because it looked chilly outside. I'm from Idaho, I've got thicker blood than that.

. . .Or avoid answering the phone, because I was sure it was cursed to be nothing by telemarketers or people seeking favors. Not me, I'm not superstitious.

I wouldn't turn a blind eye to the full trash can and leave that for my husband who has worked all day. That's definitely not me; I'm a good wife.

Spending my time typing this post would be out of the question. I would be folding that laundry.

I didn't have another rice crispy treat for dinner either. . . and go to bed truly satisfied that I had survived another Monday. Not me, I'm an optimist and would expect better. ;)

Happy Tuesday, instead! (Thanks Anne/Staci!)

Happy Birthday Tiff!

Happy Birthday to Miley's most fantastic aunt!

And Nilla's favorite cuddle buddy

And well, we love you too! Happy Happy Birthday!

Sunshine!

To enjoy the outdoors, Mie needs her shades, which she loves.
When she has her shades on she has to make this face. . . always.

Hoping springtime finds all of you very soon. . .

7 Months old!

SeVEn

I really can't believe it's March. I was just trying to survive February and now I have a whole new month to organize, including, but not limited to. . . Dave's Birthday! On top of that we now have a 7 month old. . . which is what I'm here to talk about today.

I haven't taken the Chunky Monkey pics yet, that's the plan for tomorrow. . . until then, a little about our girl;

I think Miley has magic eyes. I don't know if they'll let her put that on her driver's license, but to me, that's the only description that is fitting. Depending on what she's wearing, or her mood, her eye color changes. I just love them. I can't stop marveling at how pretty they are. Now, I just have to figure out what color to call them. . .

With persuasion, M will hold her own bottle. She's starting to like the control it affords her.


Her favorite place to be when I'm working. . . on my lap, throwing toys at the dogs.
She's a mobile monster, but not a crawler yet. She likes to be on her tummy getting into trouble.
Some of the recent trouble she's gotten into. . . stuck under the chair in the living room.
Miley sits like a lady, with her ankles crossed. I think it's the cutest thing.She does not, however, want to sit up on her own. She can, but she'd rather lounge like this; she probably learned this lazy move from her Dad. . .

M is a good eater. She loves her food, with few exceptions. She drinks out of a sippy cup and holds it herself. Last night she demonstrated her desire to be a big girl. Dave made smoothies and brought one to me. M didn't like being left out, and yelled for D to bring her a cup too. With sippy in hand, she was appeased. Can you tell that our girl loves to laugh? I can get her to laugh anytime (barring tantrums, but maybe even then, I haven't really tested that one). I LOVE her giggle. And if you get her laughing hard enough it inevitably leads to the hiccups.

This is one of Miley's favorite things in the whole world. Her musical giraffe. She gets him at naptimes and in the morning. She'll squeal with delight when she sees him, or even hears us open the closet door (that's where he's kept), because she knows he's on his way to her.
And of course, more dresses. . .
I think this is one of my favorite dresses so far. I don't know if I can say that, but it's definitely up there. As you can tell from the picture, the TV is on. This is her, "I'm smiling, Mom, like you wanted, but not necessarily at you" look.

She likes to talk, now it includes the tongue, often popping out when she's repeating da da da da. She also likes to sing, which is what we classify it, and unfortunately whine. She's opinionated, I can't fault her for that one. M has opinions about most things, recently it was the flower in her hair. . . she wanted it out, and then tried to eat it. This is new, she usually likes it when I do her hair with something pretty and never bothers it. Maybe it was just the day.

She lifts her shirt up to slap her belly, frequently puts her toes in her mouth now, and once and awhile finds a finger or thumb in there as well. Right now, my fingers are more appetizing to her than her own.

She likes to make loud noises with her toys. M discovered that she can get Mom's attention really fast when you bang a toy against the glass in the entertainment center.

M likes all things shiny. D thinks this is super girlie of her, but I think he is secretly excited to buy her pretty stuff. ;)

I think that's enough Miley info to satisfy or saturate all. Happy seven months! It's gone by fast!