First Thanksgiving

We spent the holiday week with the Crow family in Idaho. It was nonstop adventure and you had a ball.

You spent most of the time watching your cousins race around in their fun frenzy. You could not keep your eyes off the boys and were utterly entertained to watch them play. And they loved you back as only little boys can; Khia made all kinds of faces to make you laugh, Phin gave you slobbery kisses, and Dane showed you how to use all of his toys. 

Grandma Crow has lots of books and toys at her house for you. You were in heaven with her rocking horse and quickly figured out how to press the ears to make it whinny and gallop. 

See more photos here.

Culinary adventures

Welcome to the world of food! I'm not sure you're happy to be here yet.

As per modern advice (bound to change in the next five minutes) we started you on rice cereal at six months and have been introducing a new vegetable every few days. I thought you'd be really into this, gobble it all right up, and turn your nose at the old milk offerings. Instead, you mostly just take a tiny bit of food into your mouth, move it around and then spit 90% of that out. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat until we are both bored and covered in goo.

And you are so smart Lucy B. You've discovered that making a raspberry with food in your mouth is - Very! Exciting! I have to agree but I'm not so fond of the cleanup. I've started to put aprons around your necks rather than bibs because those bibs clearly weren't cutting it.

At last - you do seem to savor the squash a little. (and it blends in a lot better than the peas!) Thank goodness for Grandma Crow's garden!

See a video of Lucy "eating" here.

Botticelli Girl (with breast pump)

Posted with LifeCast

Daily inspiration: faith

I do not think that I will ever reach a stage when I will say, 'This is what I believe. Finished.' What I believe is alive ... and open to growth.

~Madeleine L'Engle

(read on pilgrimsteps)

6 month appointment

The numbers (drumroll...)

Weight : 18 lb 10.5 oz

Length: 27.5"

Head circumference: 17.25"

Wow Lucy - you have grown so much! You have consistently stayed at the top of the chart for weight and height. My mom and sisters all promise that you will slow down eventually and I do hope you will - otherwise you will be taller than me or your dad by Christmas.

You are such a curious creature and every day you are discovering something new. Today you discovered that the paper covering the doctor's table is a fun toy - hooray! 

You have managed your first set of immunizations without any trouble which is a huge relief. It is not fun to watch them stick you and I am grateful a couple of doses of tylenol has kept you happy during it all. In fact - you still haven't been sick yet at all.

You are sitting up by yourself now - though I keep pillows nearby for the inevitable fall now and then. You love jumping in your large, music-playing bouncer. I guess this is great exercise because after only a few weeks, your juicy little thighs are already starting to thin out.  Oh the baby meats - every little ounce is adorable. It is going to be hard to watch it go.

You are making all kinds of sounds and babbling all the time. You also spend time every day growling and shrieking. You show boredom or displeasure with a rather expressive array of grunts. You are our adorable baby, crazy bear, and howler monkey all wrapped up in one. I'm sure you are copying us most of the time but it seems you've come up with some of these sounds on your own. 

Your hair never fell out and is now growing in thicker and longer. It's so adorable and I confess that I rarely cover it with hats unless it's really cold or bright out.

So what's next?

We will be starting you on food this week - how exciting! And apparently we need to childproof the whole house soon or it will go by way of the doctor's table - yikes. Your teeth should be coming in one of these days. And then there's algebra and prom. I think it's safe to say we will be busy for the next 20 years.

So much to celebrate

November 4, 2008 was a big day for our family and for the world. 

My mom turned 70 years old. We were in town to help celebrate at her surprise party. And watching her love her grandkids and treat them like they are the most precious things in the world - I've fallen in love with her all over again. She is amazing and I am so grateful to have her in my life. 

November 4th also brought us  a new president and at last I am hopeful for a better future. War, skyrocketing national debt, economic downturn, health care system in crisis,  - it's been a scary time to watch the news. I do hope things start to improve.

And the most powerful man on the planet will soon be black. I am also so excited that you will grow up in the world where a black president and first family are normal. Don't get me wrong - I didn't vote for him just because he is black - but oh, I am so happy that he is. This is such a huge step for mankind. I am proud of us for moving forward and hopeful for a more diverse and equitable leadership for our country and beyond.