I"m Ready for the WInter

Well it took long enough, but the winter is here in Colorado. Today it was only 10 degrees. Tonight it will be -11. Grammy Val got me this winter jacket just in time. I can't wait to wear it to school and show Nolan (he's 1 year and 2 months old) how good I look. He's a real grumpster but smiles when we play together.

Look at me Crawl

So Dad followed me around one morning while mom was sleeping. Here i am crawling, talking, standing and shaking this gate that won't let me go down the stairs. Twice Dad got scared and had to drop the camera and take something away from me. I'm just having fun; what's the problem Dad!!

Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we all went to the pumkin patch to get pumpkins for Halloween. I was in my Patagonia that Mom thought would never fit me. I'm still a little peanut (smaller than the big pumpkins). But I'm also the cutest.

Crawling for Apples

So my parents made me chase around this apple to show them I can crawl. Some reward!! The thing won't even fit in my mouth. UGH!! It frustrated me so much that I made a bunch of crazy sounds with my mouth.

The Changing Seasons

Fall colors are incredible. This is my first time to see trees change color, the wind gets cool. We all went up into the mountains for a nice long drive to see the changing Aspens. Here Mom sat me down and introduced me to nature. It's fun.

Crawling Around

So, now that I'm 7 months old, I can craw around all over the place. I'm still doing the army crawl, dragging my feet and legs around. Soon I'll have enough balance to use my knees and feet too. But right now, I'm doing pretty well. I was in parent's room and saw this mirror. I was so fascinated by it, I tried to put it in mouth.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs

So to end the summer Mom and Dad finally got out of Denver and went to Steamboat Springs to go soak in the hot springs. They went to The Strawberry Park Hot Springs. It was a beautiful place. I went swimming and had a great time splashing in the water, and kicking around. I felt like a fish. Take a look at the video.
fish.

Real Food Finally

Today mom gave me my first tast of real food. I'm so relieved; they've been hoggin it all to themselves. So I got this great rice cereal. Needs some salt. But I liked it so much, that I took the bowl from Dad, and ate it myself. Yummmmmm!!

All Better

Wow that was a scare - that rash and my legs getting purple. The good thing now is that I have a lot of girlfriends at my doctor's office (cause they saw me on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday). But just look at me now - back to the cutest baby you've ever seen.

Playing Around

My First Words -

Baba... mama. Those are my first words. Nothing special like "Blue"; that was Picasso's first word. But I can finally talk. I've been trying for a while, making scream sounds, and trying to move my mouth different ways to make sounds. But here it is... Proof Positive!!! I can talk.

Rash Alert!!!!

So, everyone tells me how beautiful I am and now I have this awful rash. Ugh!!! How embarassing. First the doctor thought it was bug bites, then he thought it was chicken pox. My mom did internet research and confirmed it with the doc that it's Target rash (Erythema multiforme). Whatever it is - it most likely began because Dad gave me formula that we all think I'm allergic too. I've got swollen feet, spots all over me, and I'm just darn cranky. I spent the day at the hospital getting strep throat tests, urine test, and blood tests. Ugh!!! I hope this goes away in a week. Mom gave me a baking soda bath tonight.

Newest and Cutest Picture

So my mom took a bunch of pics of me in this onesie that doesn't even fit anymore. Anyhow, here I am at almost 5 months.

The Little Bear

We all went for a hike in Evergreen. It was a pretty harmless hike. Whenever dad goes into evergreen he thinks about this old bar called The Little Bear He's wanted to go there for the longest time. Never could get any of the SNAGS (SensitiveNewAgeGuys) from Boulder to go there with him. He knew mom would love the bar so he took her there. It was a hit. She walked into this old style western saloon with bras hanging from the rafters and smiled at dad. Everyone there thought I was the cutest baby they'd ever seen. Dad and I danced a few times.

The Rosenblum's Visit

Grandpa Ken and Granny Val came to visit and we had a really good time. Dad took us all out for Indian food to this great restaurant. Grandpa Ken wasn't too excited about it. Mom said it looks like dog food; but after trying it she enjoyed it. The next day we went to the Cherry Creek State park and I went in the water for the first time. Later we went out for hot dogs and my grandparents got to see pictures of all of the hot dog joints in Chicago they grew up with. Later on mom and dad cooked the fluke that Chuck caught in Alaska. I showed them how I turn over and how I try to move my mouth to make sounds. I have a lot to say. So look out Mom and Dad; it's going to happen soon.

Cherry Creek Art Fest

July 3rd Mom, Dad, and i went to the Cherry Creek Art Fair here in Denver. This is one of the biggest in the country. Mom was amazed at all of the art and got really jazzed about it all. She whipped out a new little painitng in 2 days; then began a new one. I hope I learn to paint like her. Dad liked this landscape stuff; so he's going to be doing some of that soon. For me, recently I began to suck on my toes and started to a little screaming just for fun.

Big Girl Bed

So I finally got my big girl bed all set-up. The crib is the same one that Mom, her cousins, her mom, and her grandma all were in as babies. The painting was done by my Great Grandma Mingi for Aunt Liz when she was born ( That's Dad's sister; 1971). Pretty Amazing!!! Don't worry - Mom's grandpa fixed it when he was a new daddy so no one would get their head stuck in between the bars. So here I am napping one day - Generation #5.

My Nana as "Thelma and Louise"

So Nana Van Hise (Mom's mom) and her sister Bonnie took a road trip from Nevada to Denver to see me. They happened to arrive just in time for Dad's birthday party. Mom went all out and made a carrot cake birthday cake (she remembered that Dad's grandma's made carrot cakes too). It was fun seeing Nana. She thinks I am so cute and big.

I am hearing that a lot these days. Grandpa Ken says "No Kinahora" when Dad tells him how cute I am. That's Yiddish and it means something like "Don't talk about how good things are. You never know what could happen." Mom points at me and says Shayna Punim.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day. This was very special for me since this is the first mother's day I am celebrating - ever. Dad helped me make a drawing for mom. Mom and I also had breakfast in bed. She had eggs and stuff; I had milk. In the afternoon we all went to the Shambhala Mountain Center to go to the shrine of Amaterasu. She is the Japanese Goddess of the sun. I have a painting of her in my bedroom. Mom also took pictures of trees (expect a new painting by mom soon). There's also a cool pic of dad and I here. Can you find us?

Hippy Dippy

So my Dad's old friend Sparkle bought me this tie-dye onsie in Manitou Springs. Mom loves it cause it reminds her of her hippie days in Vermont. So here's a picture of me looking really cute like a "Flower Baby". Sears photo gallery - Eat your heart out!!

My New Toy

So Grandma Barb got me this toy when she was visiting. My parents call it Floor Play. They giggle when they say that; I don't know why. But I love it (and you'll see why when you watch the video). Doctor Lisa says that this is real good for me. That at 2 months old I can do things a 4 month girl can do. I'm so smart. So thanks for the toys!!!

The Matriarchy Visits

Ok, so this weekend I got to meet all of the important women from Dad's life (other than Mom and I), and got to see why Dad is the way he is. Oy Gevult!! No, just kidding. Aunt liz (sister), Granny Val (mother), and Mingi (my great grandma) were all here. They all wanted to hold me, kiss me, take me out for dinner, go for a walk in the park. I felt like a celebrity. I'm not used to so much attention. When I couldn't take it anymore I cried. I cried a lot. I felt so bad, that it made me cry even more. It was really great to meet them all and I can't wait till I see them again. Maybe this summer if I'm not afraid of flying.

Guess who's sucking her Thumb?!!

So, I got the milk thing down, and the Soothie is great when Mom's not around. But I've been pretty frustrated that I can't fit my whole hand in my mouth. Violla!! The thumb, though, that's a great thing to have. I'm using it all of the time; and I never lose it. Oh, the joy of convenience.

Mama's Parent's Visit

I'm now 2 months old. Soooo Big! So, Grandma and Grandpa VanHise came to visit. Mom and dad told me how active these two are. Mountain biking, hiking, travelling. None of that this time. All Grandma wanted to do was sit around and look at me. ME!! What's the big deal? I'm a little girl; don't say much or do much. Whatever. Grandma had a great time and was all smiles. Grandpa and daddy did guy stuff; grilling, hanging-out, watching the basketball game. This all made Mama happy. And if Mama's happy, we're all happy. Daddy says "It works this way - happy wife, happy life."

My First encounter with a Boy

So this is Nick and I. He's a little older than me. I met him at a neighbor's Bar -B-Que on Sunday. Kinda like my parents set us up. They woke me up, and took me over to meet him. I think he was more interested in me than I was with him (was he trying to hug me?! Ugh!!). Well, he lives next door, so I'll probably see him again. But really, I don't have much to say.

"I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty..."

Hiking in Colorado

So the three of us went hiking at the Garden of the Gods south of Colorado Springs. http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm?flash=1 We had a great day. The weather was great; 70 degrees and sunny. Mom was really happy; great weather, in nature. Dad was happy because mom was happy. Mom definitely want to go back there to go on some harder hikes.
Afterward we went to Manitou Springs (the art colony place) and met this really interesting character named Rocky. He must have been in his 80's and looked like a giant out of a fairy tale. We really enjoyed checking out his art studio.