Movie Buff

You spent a little time perusing the children's section of the movie library. Then before I noticed, you moved onto the horror section. You're growing up too fast!

Bed hog 4

You were so tired after shopping and playing all day, you just flopped down to sleep - right in mama's spot.

Fighting the Sock Monster!

Tired of the sock monster eating your feet, you take action!

Rough day

Usually, mommy lays you in bed, and nurses you to sleep. Today was hard though, those teeth are really bugging you I think. You've been really wanting mama a lot lately. To help you sleep, I wrapped us up in the moby and walked around patting and rubbing your back until you conked out.

Laundry Monster: Captured!

There's a monster under our couch!

Not too scary though!

Book Worm

Christmas Helper

Grandma's Tree

Grandmas Tickles

You had such a good time tonight. You laid on mommy's lap and grandma reached over to tickle you under your chin. You enjoyed laughing so much, you started laughing before she even touched your chin!

You warm my heart

You have some new teeth coming in, today, you have a mild fever. It's going down, but you are feeling like being with mama a little more than usual. Luckily, you don't seem to be in pain, we are grateful for that. You lay on my chest belly and legs and I remember when you only reached across my chest and belly. Your warm body rises and falls as you sleep, the rhythm, your warmth, our love relaxes me. Sleep well my love.

Playing with Uncle Jesus

We had a good time at The Hitching Post. You played with Jesus from across the table. You picked up some lemon and tasted it, it was sour, but you kept trying it again and again, so silly.

Fall Walk

Mommy had a fun outside scavenger hunt to do for school, so we went for a walk to find everything. One thing was "a shadow".

Bed Hog 3

Ever since we got a bigger bed a few weeks ago, you've been turning sideways in the middle as if you must touch both Mama and Daddy. We got a bigger bed so Daddy wouldn't be shoved off of the bed, you still reach out to touch him though. Right before this picture, Daddy asked you nicely to let him rest, he has a busy day working tomorrow and has to get up early. You promptly scooted over and laid right up next to him, rubbing your head into him. Then you turned and squirmed to touch us both. Then you came to nurse some more, as soon as you were done, you turned again to spread between us. We love you silly bed hog.

9 months, 4 days

Saw Dr. Hyndman today. She says you're doing great. You are 16 lbs 12.25 oz and 28.5 inches long. It's hard to believe you'll be 1 year old at your next check-up.

Choir

Aunt Lenna had a choir concert last night. Mommy and Aunt Rachel were in choir when we were in school. Lenna sings beautifully, and enjoys sharing music with the audience. You enjoyed watching and listening!

Anaya

Last week, mommy met Anaya, she is a sweet little girl who is very sick. She has Krabbe disease. Babies with Krabbe don't live long. Anaya is 2 years old and it's hard for her to eat, she drinks lots of milky, from her mommy and from other mommies. Babies like you have been sharing their mommy milk with her. You shared enough of your milky for her to have all day long, which is a lot for a 2 year old. Anaya and her mommy, daddy and 2 doggies were traveling through Salem from Canada to tell people about Krabbe so that other babies don't get as sick as her. They had to stop their trip though.

The last few days, Anaya has been getting sicker, really sick. Her body has been trying to get better, but it's too sick. The doctors have been helping her but she is going to die soon. This makes mommy very very sad. Anaya's mommy and daddy must be sadder than anyone tonight, saying goodbye is very hard to do. I hold you tonight, thinking of love and trying not to be too sad.

11:11 11-11-11

Every moment is extra special with you, but this moment was pretty cool on the clock. 11:11 pm on November 11th 2011.

Out STANDing

You used your play yard to stand up from sitting today.
Then later, you crawled to this box, and even though it was trying to slide away, you were able to stand up with it!

Zerberts

Its bedtime, not zerbert time, and momma's trying to do homework silly girl.

An apple a day...

Great Grandma sent home a goodie bag from Halloween for you, inside was this tasty apple. It was just your size. You pulled it out of the bag and tried to eat it. Mommy took a little bite to get it started, and you went to town on it! Grandma bagged it up for you to finish later and you tried to eat it through the bag! So silly!

Bedtime Stories

Bed Head

Peek-a-boo!

Pumpkin "Carving"

You enjoyed exploring the slimy, stringy pumpkin guts, and tasting the wet raw seeds.

Dinner with the Lauritsens

Daddy's cousin Eric and his lovely Chanda came to town to meet you. They live very far away in Colorado. Tonight, you, Mommy, and Daddy, met them and Doug, Crystal, Don, Chrisanne, Grandma, and Grandpa (basically, all the Lauritsen's) at The Hitching Post for dinner. You had a great time, we ate some tasty food and talked and watched the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series on the TVs. You were very very tired by the time we went home, you fought sleep so hard until we got to the car to go home. I don't blame you for wanting to enjoy Eric and Chanda while they're here, we will miss them when they go.

You picked me.

Sometimes, I thank you for picking me to be your mommy. Tonight, I thank you for picking my nose. You were very interested in mommy's nose, you poked and pulled at it. You would stop nursing, look up and touch it then go back to nursing, silly baby.

Flying Baby!

Some mornings, we get to stay in bed and play, snuggling, kissing, talking, reading books and flying. Today, you had lots of fun blowing zerberts on mommy's booby and arm and belly, I couldn't help but laugh!
Happy mornings make for happy days, I wish we could play every morning!

Good news

For almost 9 years, American soldiers have been working in Iraq, protecting Americans and helping the Iraqi. Today, President Obama declared that the soldiers are done with their work and can come home!
Soldiers have families. Some are mommies and daddies and aunts and uncles. They usually have to spend lots and lots of time away from their kids, their husbands or wives, their moms and dads and their friends. The soldiers will be very happy to be done working in Iraq.
Sadly, some soldiers won't be coming home. Some did work that took their life. Those soldiers have very sad families. It's good that the American soldiers come home, so no one else dies.
President Obama says they will all be home before 2011 is over, in time for the holidays.

Third Tooth and Dreams

I tried to get a picture of your new tooth, it's your top right tooth in front. Lately you've been getting upset at night, you'll wake up and cry out, I reach over, touch you, offer to nurse and calm you again. I think it might be teething pain. I hope once this one pops through completely the pain will stop.

It's possible you're having dreams that scare you. Please know, scared or in pain, or any other reason, Mommy and Daddy are here, reach out and touch us, cry if you need to, we will take care of you.

Alligator Tears

Mommy feels like crying sometimes. When it's time to go to class, and you cry as I walk away, I want to cry too. When daddy picks me up, and you're sleeping with big alligator tears in your eye, my heart breaks. It is hard for you at times to see mommy leave, and have to wait hours to see mommy. For that, I am sorry.
I promise to hold you and play with you and nurse you and smile with you as much as I can.
I love school, and love learning fun, useful and interesting things. Getting an education is important, and loving learning is a wonderful thing. I still want to just snuggle you and hold you up in the air like super baby and make up stories of monsters and silly daddies and brave little girls.
Please, know that I love you, and miss you too. Trust that your daddy is great at taking care of you, please, be patient.
I love you my tearful alligator.

Super Baby!

Rescuing people from sadness!

Homework

Sleeping in my lap, you help Mommy with homework, in your sleep. You're so smart!

Morning kisses from Daddy