Happy Half Year Birthday

Dear Frances, 

You, little pea, are six months old today. You are so full of life it’s hard to believe that it has in fact been only six months.

You are bubbling-over with baby energy. You want to see and touch (and chew) everything in sight. You will no doubt be a tour-de-force once your tiny body catches up to your great big ambition. You love to stand and have started to put one foot in front of the other when you dive and bound towards toys and kitties. 

After many months of practice you’ve mastered your hands. You can pick things up, turn them over and around, and send them flying across the room. You’ve got an unbelievably strong grip as evidenced by the handfuls of dad hair and cat fur you extract every so often. 

Your still put your whole self into your happiness – smiles are inevitably accompanied by bouncing legs and flailing arms. These smiles, especially the morning variety, are so big we can see your two tiny teeth from across the room. You also still put your whole self into your discontent - there is never any uncertainty when you're not enjoying yourself. 

You love your fur brothers to pieces, love looking at toes (your own and those of anyone else without socks on), still love your bird mobile, love the feel of tags and ribbon and love putting all of the above in your mouth. 

You are endlessly kissable, like to snuggle, and can turn even the toughest day around with a giggle. You’ve got big beautiful eyes and long elegant eyelashes and in six short months have carved a forever home for yourself in all of our hearts.

You are everything we expected and so so much more.

With love,

Your mom 

Ho Ho Ho

Look at the excitement in those little eyes. Could she be any more worked up about her very first Santa Claus parade? Probably. Despite the ho-hum face she did seem to enjoy it. Except for the horns on the fire trucks (aka every other float) which she hated. The parade was huge. Nice and long and the kiddies all around us loved it. But a little light on the marching bands. A parade can never have too many marching bands.

We're hoping to get a tree next weekend. Our very first tree! Although I've been picking up tree decor here and there this year will likely call for some creative ornament arranging and maybe even a little popcorn garland. But that's okay. That's half the fun - collecting ornaments each holiday season until one year the boughs are so heavy (and our memories so many) that we're propping them up with kitchen utensils. 

Sunny and Frances! After so much anticipation Frank's sweet little cousin Sunny (and her lovely mama Sammi) have arrived. We're all very excited and Sunny is pure perfection. Beautiful blue eyes, sweet little lips that curl into a big baby smile and so much charm. Buds for sure!

Oh hi. Nice to meet you.

(Photo by Sunny's talented Aunt Shauna)

No Pictures Please

The real reason she never naps on her own ... the mamarazzi.

Nom Nom

With Frank fast approaching the six month mark and with her being verified as tiny we decided to jump into the world of powdered cereals. Given the recent formula tantrums, we had staked out our corners and were prepared for battle. But she liked it. From the first bite she followed the spoon around with her mouth all seek and destroy. We've moved from rice onto oats and recently waded into peas (literally). It sometimes takes a bit of creativity to keep her focused, especially if her fur brothers bust onto the scene, but here's to the humble beginnings of an itty bitty foodie baby.

Airplane, what airplane? I don't see any airplane.

Bring on the bacon!

Oh wait ... let me show you how I can blow raspberries.

Back To The Drawing Board

Babies we probably won't be seeing in this years holiday ads 

(from owni.eu digital journalism).