Thursday, August 29, 2013

Moving Fast

Last weekend it was this. This past weekend we had this...





Holding both of Dada's hands.

And this...





She let go of a hand and all her clothes.

And this...





She had been at it a while and got tired. She has her trusty tampons, though. And that crawl is still pretty darn adorable.

At daycare yesterday she did this:





Have you ever seen anything sweeter?

And Gabe FaceTimed me yesterday evening to show me this:

[caption id="attachment_4095" align="alignnone" width="480"]Blurry because she's on the move! Blurry because she's on the move![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4096" align="alignnone" width="480"]...and so proud! Big girl so proud![/caption]

We feel she had her first official solo steps on Sunday. She took about 2 with Gabe and then 2 with me later in the afternoon. It's amazing how quickly she's progressing with this walking business. Big girl indeed!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Big Back Teeth




One in and 3 breaking through. And still smiling... she's showing those pearly whites off.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Flying Solo

20130827-114716.jpg

Today I am traveling for the first time by myself since Miss Penny was born. It's a strange feeling. I keep thinking I'm forgetting something. Even when I was packing I was saying "this can't be all I need".
But as evident from the picture above I haven't stopped thinking about my sweet girl. I'll miss her and daddy very much but it's good for us all, I think. And I'll see them in a few short days with stories to tell and many, many, MANY kisses and hugs to give.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Mom Moment

I felt like such a Mom doing this:


20130826-110920.jpg
Actually I felt like my Mom :). I liked the feeling.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Holding On

Penny has started this interesting thing where she tries to hold onto as many things as she can fit into her hands, such as her crayons. She's done it with Q-tips and now these:


Yes, those are tampons, but don't forget the baggie clip, too.

She will then crawl around holding onto whatever it is and stop along the way if one falls out. It's truly interesting to watch. Her persistence is quite  admirable :).

Sailor Penny

Just because...


She warms my heart. My sweet girl.

Budding Artist

I've been wanting to color with Penny for a while. I was looking forward to giving her crayons and after this I thought she was ready.
[gallery type="square" ids="4069,4070,4071"]

She created this masterpiece. You have to admire the use of white space. I think she's got some talent!

[caption id="attachment_4068" align="alignnone" width="560"]Penelope's first drawing Penelope's first drawing[/caption]

She actually seemed to enjoy crawling around holding the crayons more than she did using them. I think I'll try one of those marker sets that only colors on special paper, that way I can put caps on the markers for crawling, and should one come off, the carpets (and wall, appliances, furniture, etc.) are safe.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Friday Hi

Having fun with Doggy Big Guy.


Looks comfortable, doesn't it?

Thursday, August 22, 2013

After Bath Ritual

While she looks through her books, I comb her hair. It's quite relaxing for me and she seems to enjoy it too. I hope that lasts :).

20130822-215732.jpg

SummerSlam Weekend

As mentioned, we traveled to LA this past weekend for WWE SummerSlam. While I was at the press event we had on Saturday, Gabe and Penny spent the evening together.

We discovered Penny can now do this:






Take two:






We have been teaching her how to back down the stairs in our apartment and it seems she's getting the hang of it!

On Sunday we attended a brunch that was also part of the event, and got our picture taken with Ultimate Warrior:


A highlight of Sunday (for me anyway, I'm sure SummerSlam was up there for Gabe) was this:

[caption id="attachment_4045" align="alignnone" width="336"]Not the greatest pic but I didnt' want to disturb her. Not the greatest pic but I didn't want to disturb her.[/caption]

It's not that often that I get a nap with my girl these days so it was extra special to get to do so.

Later that afternoon Gabe headed off to the event:


and Penny and I took a walk around the area and explored the hotel a bit. It was her first time in LA after all, so we had to go up to the Roof Pool.


[caption id="attachment_4046" align="alignnone" width="480"]Miss Penny took this one herself! Miss Penny took this one herself![/caption]

Unfortunately this is as close as we got to Stone Cold:

[caption id="attachment_4048" align="alignnone" width="480"]Our larger than life ad inside LA Live. Our larger than life digital ad at LA Live[/caption]

Penny and I did actually see him when we were getting out the elevators at the hotel lobby on Sunday, but I lost my nerve to say something to him. Oh well, maybe next year.

It was a great weekend and we felt lucky to be able to bring Penny along with us. It's a pretty cool thing that she is welcome at so many of our work events. It's got to be because she's just so darn cute!

[caption id="attachment_4042" align="alignnone" width="480"]At SFO after our return flight on Monday morning. At SFO after our return flight on Monday morning.[/caption]

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Multitasking



20130821-192955.jpg
Flipping through a book and listening to her phone. I can easily imagine her doing this as teenager :).

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Maybe She'll Write the Next Great Novel

She got a hold of my Line-A-Day Journal and this is what she did.


I think it's so interesting how she's figured that out- she's never seen me write in it. She does have a magnetic little tablet that has a pen-like stylus so that's probably where the connection was made. What a smart cookie!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

On Our Way to LA

I had to travel to LA this weekend for work so Gabe and Penny joined me. Gabe will get to attend WWE SummerSlam and Penny may get to meet her first celebrity crush in person!


20130817-133937.jpg
Eating peanut butter Tutumelon at the airport (Boo in tow).



20130817-144552.jpg
Having snacks on the plane.



20130817-144745.jpg
And then pretending to be sick with Daddy :).

Friday, August 16, 2013

Friday Hi

20130816-123005.jpg

Just chillin in the new Pumas Mommy got me yesterday.

20130816-123140.jpg
Pretty cool, huh?

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Got Milk?



20130814-202453.jpg
Penny's doctor called today to say her blood test results came back "great. Completely normal on everything". So we introduced real milk tonight. Half formula, half organic whole milk. She drank most if it so hopefully the switch will be a smooth one.
Milk it does a body good.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Crib Adjust

We had know for a while that we really needed to move the mattress in Penny's crib down. She does this almost every morning and we were lucky that she never tried to climb out:


Penny played 'hit the mattress' with Boo and Daddy while I started the job:


Gabe finished and that was that. This was just another reminder that our little girl is getting bigger everyday :).

[caption id="attachment_4013" align="alignnone" width="480"]Before... Before...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4012" align="alignnone" width="480"]...and after. Much safer we think. ...and after. Much safer we think.[/caption]

Uncle Tone

Our friend Anthony was in town this weekend visiting from L.A. and we were lucky enough to have him come over on Saturday afternoon to hang out for a bit.


Penny was quite enamored with him and  definitely enjoyed climbing on him and playing with him and the pillow :).
[gallery type="square" ids="4006,4007,4008"]

Great to see you Tone!

Baby Rosemary

We met beautiful Baby Rosemary for the first time today (well Gabe had met her on Friday evening before heading to the Giants/Orioles game).


20130811-174508.jpg
She is a beauty and so good. We also received some lovely birthday gifts for Miss Penny which Murphy was a huge help in opening.


20130811-174600.jpg
It was great to see the Graces and meet the newest member of their family.


20130811-174650.jpg

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Magnetic

Penny's new game is to play with the letter magnets I recently bought and put on the fridge. She likes to take them off and put them in a bag. It's quite cute and maybe she'll be a little bit of a neat freak like her Mama and her Mama's Mama. Although if the other magnets strewn along the kitchen floor are any indication, I don't think we are there just yet :).
[gallery type="square" ids="3995,3996,3997"]

Friday, August 9, 2013

Making Moves

To round off Penny's birthday presents we got her an activity walker. After she opened it, she wasn't quite sure. It took a bit to get used to it:






But she quickly got the hang of it:





You'll have to excuse our squeals in the beginning- it really was the first time we saw her walk, even if it was with assistance, but look at her go!

So we thought we should get her dressed:





Would you look at that hair.

And why not in her birthday suit, with her birthday walker:






Our girl is making moves for sure!

Friday Hi

20130809-151743.jpg

I was going to post a picture of Penny happy in the car this morning because both Mommy and Daddy took her to daycare (we carpooled because Gabe is going to the Giants/Orioles game tonight- Go O's) but I forgot to take the picture.
So here's a picture of a picture I have in my new office. It makes me happy everyday so I figured I share it on Friday.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Big Girl Blood Test

Penny had her one year blood test drawn today. They test for iron to make sure she can start moving on to milk. Who knew they now draw the blood from her arm, like they do an adult? I guess I thought they would prick her foot like they did when she was a teeny baby. Not that either or them is any fun.


She obviously did not enjoy the experience (likewise for Mommy) but luckily the lab technician was pretty speedy and it was over quite quickly. Some big cuddles and hugs made it all better, and I was very happy to supply them.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Dinner and Jazz

Inspired by Poppy, Penny and I have been listening to jazz while she eats dinner. She's got some rhythm, don't you think?




Sunday Morning Movie

Watching Despicable Me.

20130804-104541.jpg

20130804-104639.jpg

She loves those Minions.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Friday Hi

We are having dinner with Melissa, Jordan and Baby Kian. Fancy Friday night out!

20130802-192806.jpg

 

They weren't sure what to make of each other, but we predict fast friends in the future.

New Teeth, No Fun

Miss Penny is getting more of these:

[caption id="attachment_3956" align="alignnone" width="480"]Teeth, not sunglasses. Teeth, not sunglasses.[/caption]

There is a lot of this happening:


And we think it might explain this:

[caption id="attachment_3955" align="alignnone" width="480"]I call this her Popeye face. I call this her Popeye face.[/caption]

and this:


and this.

She is more fussy than normal, especially at mealtimes and is not feeling her bottles at all. We thought it might be due to the little cold she has; who wants to drink milk when they are phlegmy. But while brushing her teeth last night I discovered at least 2 more little buds breaking through. I think it's her molars which we've heard can be a bear. We've been giving her  Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets and lots of extra hugs so hopefully this will pass soon. Poor girl.