Bella's Hat

I think the hat turned out amazing!

Our 1st Christmas

Pretty Little Lulu

My mom planned a picture session at Kiddie Creations, and picked out the most beautiful dresses for her granddaughters. The bow was the final touch, and I was pretty surprised she didn't pull it off her head like she does her hats.


Lulu's 1st Christmas Gift

I got her some lame rattles! She got so many fun toys that make lots of noise that my rattles were tossed aside almost instantly! LOL... I should have known, she needs more interation.

Grandparents & Grandchildren

Pene, Mom with Lulu, Bella, Z & Dad hanging out with the kids.

We had a wonderful visit in Colorado for Christmas. It was a White Christmas indeed. Lulu loved being around the cousins, she loves to watch interaction and playing. She totally loves the new and gentily used toys that were given to her... and I am glad she's has more things to keep her little mind ticking. She was pretty good at my parents home, but as usual she hated the drive. She slept 1/3 of the time, content for a 1/3 of the time and screamed 1/3 of the time! We made our first Gingerbread House and Lulu ate the tree when I wasn't looking for 3 seconds!

Thank You Lisa

Lulu Loves the Horse Rides

Better Late Than Never

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

She's not sure what to make of the tree quite yet. It's only half up because I was nursing this morning at 5:00 am instead of starting getting things going... I ran out of time. Maybe by tonight we'll have ornaments too?

She loves the camera.

Days in December

Lovely Little Lulu

Taking a few snapshots for a Christmas card. All these little things that help Mommies save time! Thank you Grandma for a stuffed animal to distract her, to Nana for another cute dress, to Kodak for digital cameras, and to Walmart (I never thought I would say that, darn it!) for easy Christmas cards.

Look At Me

I don't know if it's a baby girl thing but she's loved her reflection in the mirror since she could focus! She knows how stinking cute she is!

Tub Time
One place we unanimously love is the bath time! Since she could sit up we've put a slip mat under her and let her splash around and reach for toys (hard to do when laying down). I am still loving my enormous sink!

I Scream for Ice Cream
I thought we'd give Lulu a little taste of ice cram one evening... I know I am doing all these things I never thought I would do! I slowly put the cone to her lips because I though the cold would shock her... she grabbed my hand and shoved the cone toward her lips.

Then when I pulled away she screamed, angry with me again! So Gerry got her a tiny bowl & every time the spoon left her mouth she had a tantrum. Oh boy, I am praying this behavior isn't lifelong.

A Little Christmas Cheer

We are missing Leo especially during the holiday season. The fresh cut wreath adds a bit of color & cheer to the marker.

The Weekend

Super Diva

Every time she wears a drool bib to play it turns around to make her cape, and this title really fits her!

A Room With Some Floor Space

Gerry's brother came to hunt for the weekend, so I moved the twin bed from Lulu's room into the library... leaving so much space because the portable crib is so small. I cleaned up the tools and we had a place to take out toys. Once in this position Lulu likes to flip to her tummy and try to crawl, however she goes backwards for the time being.

My Piano

She was playing with a piano like this at Tracey's home and she was very interested, so I went and bought one for her. In addition I got the standing one from Lisa with some batteries and she likes it too because the keys light up (will put pictures soon).

Visiting with Uncle

She got a little help playing her piano, and some nice uncle time.

The End

This jumper is 18 mos, it's long on the legs and arms but otherwise comfortable for her. I just love the but on this little suit! Maybe this would be a good Christmas card?

Just Hangin' Out

Book & Worm

Recently Lulu started playing with the rainbow worm rattle because both ends she can grasp and put in her mouth very easily.

We've been pretty busy this week touring schools & Christmas shopping so we don't have many pictures taken. Too bad we didn't take photos because she was dressed so cute!

Everywhere we go someone says:

1) She's so beautiful

2) She's so good

3) I wish I had that sling when my kids were little

If everyone only knew what a pill she is when she's at home. I think I need to get her a few more interactive toys, but soon she'll be in child care... eek, am I ready?

Keyboarding & Mousing

Intense & Decisive

A Tale of Infant Labor

She's so intent on picking the right key.Then she really examines what is on the key.Then she looks at the bigger picture as she scans right... and then she scans leftwhere she finally sees the glow from...

the most facinating mouse in our house.

I had to put these pictures in a series because just one alone doesn't say enough.

Going Home

We had a good trip seeing Ger's mom, brothers & sister... and of course Max.

Black Friday

Hanging Out Watchin' 'Toons

Aunt Joanne bought 2 sweaters, a pair of jeans and these cute leggings... meanwhile we ran into this Baby Einstein inch worm at a used store in the neighboring area, you can't beat $3.80. Grangma also bought her a couple cute outfits & jars of puree goodness.

Thanksgiving Day

It's always nice to see family. We went to the Twin Cities for Thanksgiving, boarded the dogs and stayed at a posh place (because it was the same price as the Ramada and La Quinta). We had a good time despite difficulties nursing with a lot of distractions and way later nights that we are use to. Lulu really liked to watch football on her Grandmothers 42" flat screen TV! She really does like football but she also likes KSAX "Hometown Happenings" so that doesn't say a lot! When the HH comes on the TV she drops everything to watch the screen, it's sort of funny.

What A Doll!

All decked out in a new dress from Nana, and some new Mary Janes.
Going to see Grandma Betty for Thanksgiving Day.

Giggling with Daddy

Giggle, Giggle, Giggle

I am not quite sure how I remember how we discovered that making this particular noise makes her laugh... but it doesn't matter, anything to hear that cute giggle!

The Heat Is On

Gerry and I started reading Willa Cather's My Antonia last night. We're really enjoying it, when I remembered that I needed to make him bread for his lunch sandwiches for the remaninder of the week. I walked out to find Thing 2 laying across the heater duct. Not an uncommon event in our house when the heat is on, just never ceases to make me laugh. She actually pushes the plastic sheild off the duct so she can absorb all that heat. Sometimes she even uses the plastic cover as a pillow. We have strange animals!

Tube SocksThe yellow socks I knit Lulu before she was born fit her 3x... and that last was questionable. At the wedding we attended in October my pal Lynn was making baby tube socks and I thought what an excellent idea since all the effort that went into a heal gussest for her previous sock that she fit into for only a short period of time. So here they are... almost done, and maybe I will make a matching hat? Maybe not. I am working on some felted hats after this.

Dog Days of Hunting

Hanging Out With the Boys

Hunting firearms season is over in our zone. Thank God, I really don't enjoy walking 2 dogs and a child through the woods in blaze orange - too much prep work! Anyhow The Hunter* shot a deer in the middle of this week as you can see by the blood on his clothes (nice, right).

Little Lulu is enjoying being able to sit up. She sits on the floor and Harvey finally gets a lot of the petting he requires to be happy. Meanwhile, Grom likes the baby but is more hesitant of children after being run down by Penelope's baby doll stroller.

Lulu is now 5 mos old. 23 lbs & 28.5 inches long, and her foot is 4 inches.

We went to a Lorna Landvik author book tour signing this week. It was pretty fun. Lulu was pretty good and L.L. was really funny. Her new book is called 'Tis the Season.

I was inspired to by an infomercial to pull out my food processor (the bigger version of the Magic Bullet). I made cheesy potatoes, and banana bread yesterday. I just have to say the MB is probably a lot easier and quicker than the Cuisinart food processor I have. Changing blades and emptying out the basin are what takes the most time. However the most inconvenient part of the food processor is the 1" diameter hole that is given to shove food into... I must be missing a secondary lid?