Learning to crawl....

And the mobility phase has commenced....

Things we do with our face

"I found my tongue-ing..."
"Smiling..."
"Laughing..."
"Thank goodness my tongue is still here-ing..."
"Inhaling..."
"Scrunching..."
"Burp-up-ing..."
"Swallowing..."
"Disgusting..."

Cute pics

Top two pictures: from my sister's wedding in Boise a few weeks ago

Bottom pic: Ryan explaining to Melia that we all have to wear a bib when eating

Birthday talk already?

Oh my, people are already asking about Melia's b'day. But it is still 3 months away! I can't believe it...she is growing up so fast.

The plan is to celebrate her b'day here at the house on June 21st, which is also her grandpa's b'day, and also happens to be one day after her daddy's b'day, and also happens to be 3 days after Auntie Amy's b'day, and about a week before Future Uncle Chad's b'day. Did I miss anyone? Oh! Melia herself! She's on the 19th...

We are so blessed to have so many people in Melia's life, and people who are asking what they can get M. for her b'day. With all of the craziness around the toy industry of late (does it contain lead, is it Made in China, is it PVC, are there phalates...need I go on?) we have made a conscious decision to try and purchase toys that we believe (and hope) are non-toxic and safe for her. So much goes in the mouth and the thought that she could be chewing on something that may contain lead or phalates is a bit unsettling.

There are a few toy companies that we really like:

Plan Toys

Haba

Maple Landmark

Holgate Toys

US Made Toys

And a few stores:

http://www.childtrek.com/

http://www.1888toys.com/

http://www.rightstart.com/
http://www.step2.com/

There are lots of things that she needs, like wooden blocks, puzzles, shape sorters, a playmat, walk and roll push toys, nesting cups, Imagibricks giant building blocks, play cube activity center (see 1888toys) and always books.

If you would like to get her clothes, she will most likely be wearing 18months by then, so while 18months is fine, 2T is probably best. August and September are warm months, after which we really cool off.

Annual passes to things like the zoo, Habitot Children's Museum or Lawrence Hall of Science would be cool too!

Anyone reading this is invited to her little soiree, and gifts are NOT necessary. But should you want to get her something, we hope this helps. And of course, money for her 529 plan is always a good thing.

Much love to all!

A few of my favorite things @ 9 mos

Melia's favorite things:

Favorite food: anything really, but cottage cheese and bananas are at the top

Favorite comforts: sucking her thumb while nuzzling something soft, preferably a blankie or her stuffed pal, tiger

Favorite toy: sound stage (see picture), balls

Favorite thing to do: drumming and singing

Favorite activity: swinging, taking baths, attempting to crawl

Just too damn cute!

Better than ripping paper (see the following: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXm696UbKY)

Giddy Up!

Learning to ride Daddy's knee!

Swing, Swing, Swing!

We were in Sausalito last weekend visiting a really cool pottery place called Heath Ceramics and decided to stop by this cool park for Melia.

Peek-A-Baby

Oh man, this is hilarious...


By the way, did I mention that Melia is now sleeping through the night? And has been for 2-1/2 weeks now? Oh sweet dreams, thou art mine...

Carseats are funny

Red Bull, it gives you wings

My milk must have super powers. Everytime I feed Melia she suddenly gets this super boost of energy. It doesn't matter if she is dead tired. One gulp of milk and she has wings.

Oh my, teeth. Two of them. Cute, you say? Ouch, I say.

Here is Chuckie, getting ready for a leisurely stroll.


This is Jessica, she is 3 weeks old! Can you believe Melia was once this size?

Tofu and Peas

Melia doesn't like tofu, I mean she REALLY doesn't like it.

She is normally a very good, and clean, eater. Even the peas (which she loves) were turned down.

Just sit already

So Melia began sitting a couple of weeks ago. But until she did, she gave her abs a real workout trying to get to the sitting position. Check this out:

Hi Tooth

No pics of it yet, but the tooth a'comith...

Top 10 suggestions by people who love Melia on how to help the pains of teething:

1) Rub brandy, whisky or bourbon on the gums
2) Frozen washcloth soaked in apple juice
3) Hyland's teething tablets
4) Tylenol
5) Suffer through it
6) Frozen bananas or peaches
7) Cold bottle of water
8) The handle of a hairbrush
9) A bib for all of the drooling

and my favorite...

10) A toe to suck on

Here is what really works: sucking on the end of my toothbrush while it is vibrating.

Christmas and New Years in Colorado

It was a lot of firsts for Melia: first plane ride, first Christmas, first snow, first New Years, first NASTY cold, first time meeting cousins and an uncle...

We had a wonderful time and took a ton of photos. I will get an album together shortly, and post the link here. In the meantime, enjoy these memorable photos!




1) A walk in the snow. It was 15degrees outside and Melia LOVED it! She and I did a quick jog along the road and she was laughing the entire time. After about 20 minutes we had to head back inside as her snot was freezing on her lip.

2) New Years, 12:10am. Melia went down for bed, and then woke up on her own at 11:45. She didn't want to miss her first ball dropping!

3) Melia's first snowfall, Christmas Day. It was a blizzard outside, windy, snowy...gorgeous! Melia went back in with daddy, who couldn't handle the cold, and mommy went sledding. Daddy's no fun.

4) Grammy, Auntie Lisa, and Auntie Heather made some fun stuff for Melia. Here is a long hat and blankie.

5) Reid read a book to Melia and Alec. Oh man, it was too cute! Melia LOVED her cousins and had the best time with them. (Cousin Seth didn't come until the 26th)

Check back on Monday for a link to the rest of the album.

Hello 2008

Its a new year, a new day. So many things to be thankful for. One thing I am thankful for? The right to no longer update the blog weekly. Pthaat! to all of you who gave me crap each week when I didn't update it. Call me if you want an update! It takes time and well, I am sorta busy these days! It was too much. I couldn't go on like that! It was inconcievable! That, and my computer ran out of disk space so I couldn't download anymore pics. But this is my new computer with lots of room for pics- I will still update often, just not weekly. I will download new pics this weekend, and get the blog updated with new Melia pics.

Happy 2008 to all!

Love, Krista, Ryan and Melia

Guess who Melia saw?

Meeting Santa...










(scary beard)


New high chair...










(ready for take off!)


New trick...






(fav foods: oatmeal, bananas, winter squashes. least fav: avocado, peas)


First ride on a carousel...

Hats off to you

We 3 peeps spent Turkey Day in Tahoe. It was cooooooold yet there was no snow to be found anywhere. But it was gorgeous.

Do you think we brought enough hats to keep Melia's head warm? She is just too damn cute, dont'cha think?














Click here to see more pictures from our trip:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=ejd5ehd.1xueywht&Uy=-e205y7&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

Like my mother before me

SLEEPY HEAD

Melia sleeps with a blanket on her head. I know, some of you out there will think: "Ooh, bad mom. Aren't you worried about SIDS?" Of course, but it really isn't that common. And I have a cool crib alarm that my dad and Marcia gave us- if Melia stopped breathing the alarm would go off.

Here is the funny thing: did you know that I sleep with my head covered? Always have. My mom used to tell me that she would check on me constantly throughout the night to be sure I was still breathing. Good thing I have that alarm.

This picture was taken this morning. Ryan said to me, "Well we know she has your DNA for sure."

POOR MOMMY

I have mommy burn-out. I feel like I am losing brain cells daily. My memory is shit. So much for grad school, eh? Seems all my college education is good for these days is how to successfully change a poopy diaper. But, to my credit, I could kick any mom's butt at diaper changing. Bring it on. And folding teeny-tiny onesies used to be cute. Now it is just laundry. Which in-and-of-itself is annoying. My only saving grace is that we bought a really cool new high efficiency washer and dryer set...we will see how long it takes before the novely of that wears off. I can't even bring Melia to the gym anymore because she talks too much and is considered a liability. I need some SERIOUS adult stimulation where the discussion consists perhaps of philosophy and aesthetics instead of baby's inconsistent sleep patterns. Blah, blah, blah. Poor Mommy. Enough whining.

HELLO TURKEY

We are off to Lake Tahoe tomorrow. This is our 5th year going to Tahoe for Thanksgiving. Only this year I am not pregnant (hello chip-shots!) and we have our cutie pie with us. Have a fantastic Turkey Day, everyone!

Go with the Flo

So Aunt Flo showed up. Ladies, you know who I am talking about; Men, don't ask. 13 months! It's been 13 months since she was last here! This is sooooooo annoying.

I am always caught off guard by how much my love for this little lady grows each day. Each morning, no matter how little sleep I get the night before, there is just something about seeing her adorable smile in that little crib of hers when she awakes. Ryan saw it for the first time last week. He says to me "Is she always this happy when she wakes up?" My response: "Doesn't it just make your day?" How could it not.

I have car envy. Or should I say crossover sports utility vehicle envy. I really want one.

You've read the headlines, right? The ones about PVC-this and PVC-that and how it is bad for our kids and our environment? I guess you'd only know if you have little ones running around. Well, the stuff stinks. PVC's that is. Think "new shower curtain" smell. Yah, I don't really want those poisonous gasses around my little one. So a fellow mom and I are inventing a new product. I can't tell you what it is quite yet because I KNOW one of my devoted readers will steal the idea. But just know that something big is coming to the world of baby. The PVC-free world, that is.

Our little girl is sick again. Poor baby. I think she caught my cold.

We didn't really take any pics this week but watch this video- her new facial expression is just hilarious!