Baby Bella's First Snow

Another first for Baby Bella but she was less than impressed. The family ventured out for some fun in the sun - snow style. The pics tell the story. All had a good time - Baby Baby less than the rest of us.

Blowing Bubbles

It must be a cold and snowy day - Mommy and Baby Bella passed the time with Mommy blowing bubbles and Baby Bella smashing them with her mouth. It was a PJ's, Hot Chocolate, and fireplace kind of day. Encore please.

Snow Day

So what do you do when schools close and the parents come home early? Well, Mommy shares a girls moment and paints Baby Bella's toes. Daddy sits at his desk and tosses the baby instead of tossing papers.

Can't we order more snow days?

Practice

Baby Bella still isn't crawling but she seems intent on standing. With one hand firmly locked in Mommy's hand, Baby Bella was trying her best to stand around looking cute. The cute part she conquered - the standing part - well, she is working hard to make it happen.

The fun part is how proud she is of herself - she gets that "look at me, I'm too clever" look on her face. Her killer smile has taken on a new dimension - she now shows teeth. Two on the bottom and one on the top - what an amazing age.

AWWWWWWW

Nothing like comfy PJ's and a warm fireplace on a cold January day. Baby Bella made the most of the long winter day - now all we need is snow. Let it snow!!! Let it snow!!! Let it snow.!!!

100th

The Baby Bella blog pauses to celebrate, what would have been, Granddaddy Blythe's 100th birthday. Mommy, Papa, and Grandma Jane took flowers and balloons to the grave site to celebrate the occasion.

We all miss him very much - we are so grateful he was able to see and hold Baby Bella before his passing. She may not remember much of him on her own, but she will know him from the stories we tell and the love we share.

May we all live such long and prosperous lives. And may we aspire to consume as much candy as he did in his 99 1/2 years. (maybe that was the key to his longevity)

Empty Nest

"There's a tear in my beer, 'cause I'm crying for you dear........" OK, Daddy - Man up!

Mommy and I experienced a little bit of empty nest syndrome when we had to move Baby Bella from the bassinet to her Pack 'N Play. She is just too big to stretch and be comfy in the bassinet.

Wow, the bassinet just looks so empty sitting there at the end of our bed. We decided to place the Pack 'N Play beside the bed. But you have to admit - she is just adorable when she's sleeping. From the look of her arms all spread out - it won't be long before we have to move her out of our bedroom and into her crib in the nursery....

..."There's a tear in my beer, 'cause I'm crying for you dear...."

Wildcat

Baby Bella cheered the Kentucky Wildcats onto a convincing victory over Arkansas. Sorry Kelly!

Notice she is using a hair brush instead of pom-poms. This is a new theme in her young life - she loves to wave her hair brush around. It's good for at least twenty minutes of entertainment.

Note to self. Hide the hair brush when you're changing Bella's diaper. It stings when she raps your knuckles.

Breakfast with Daddy

Daddy took the kids out for breakfast at Steak N Shake. (or Shake N Shake as Skyler called it as a kid) Today was all about Baby Bella and Sky Man - no office, no phone, no emails, no laundry, no, no,no. Just Daddy and the kids.

How am I doin'? Better than I deserve. This is life!

Blogging from....

Home. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is an old saying: "You usually have to eat your words when you use the word "never." Yep.

I used to say my child would never play with food on the table and would CERTAINLY NOT EVER - I MEAN NEVER eat off of the table. I was wrong!

The family celebrated Daddy's return home with a dinner at Olive Garden. It turned out to be a teachable moment for Mommy and me. Baby Bella taught us that she likes to both play and eat shredded cheese. And best of of all - the rest of the family gets to finish their meal without a screaming Baby Bella.

It isn't entirely easy to see in this iPhone photo but you can see that Baby Bella is sitting in a restaurant high chair - with a wonderfully decorated cover to prevent her coming in contact with germs. But we let her eat off of the table - are we crazy? What kind of parents are we?

My next child will NEVER eat off the table. :-)

BB & B

Blogging from Northern KY....

Baby Bella and Ms. Brandi celebrate a laugh and hug at the end of the day. Ms. Brandi is Bella's teacher at the Children's Center - she and Bella have become really close in a short amount of time. I sometimes wonder what secrets these girls are sharing as they talk and laugh together.

Everyday is a Girls Day Out in Ms. Brandi's room. Go Girls!

Next

Blogging from Northern KY.....

Baby Bella "helped" Mommy assemble the new big girl car seat. My precious little angel is now my precious big, forward facing angel. (why do they grow up sooooo fast?)

And, of course, Baby Bella had to taste it to see if she approved. She and Mommy took it for a test sitting in the kitchen to get the straps adjusted.

Tomorrow I will be buckling her up in her 16th birthday car. Why do they have to grow up sooooo fast?

Chewyyyyyy

Blogging from Northern KY.....

Baby Bella engaging in her favorite pastime - chewing on anything. Mommy reports that her first top tooth has broken through. We expect the drooling and chewing to escalate in the coming weeks.

Have A Great Day

Some days, a fresh diaper is all it takes. Baby Bella was all smiles as Mommy freshened up her diaper. Can I say how nice it is to be back to normal? A trip to the changing pad is just a trip to the changing pad - not a potential job for Mr. Clean and a new tubby.

Home Improvement

Baby Bella sporting her new chair-top high chair. The family is celebrating with Baby Bella since all of us have tripped over the high chair base about, uh, a thousand times. Baby Bella loves it because it puts her right at the table with the rest of the family.

Close is good - just not too close. We discovered that she likes to push off from the table with her feet and can turn herself over. Fortunately, she sits between Mommy and Daddy. Both of whom noticed she was suddenly on two legs - be still my beating heart.

Side note: I formally and eternally renounce the notion that girls are less adventuresome than boys. Baby Bella is both active and dangerous! And surprisingly, it isn't an accident. She loves making Daddy jump to protect her.

NFL Playoffs

The family had a wonderful evening watching the NFL playoffs and celebrating our Colts. COLTS WIN! Nice that everyone is feeling back to normal and able to simple enjoy the day.

New Wheels

One advantage of being stuck inside is that you get the occasional odd chore completed. Mommy gathered up the energy to un-box the jogging stroller and take Bella for an inaugural ride around the bedroom.

BTW, did I say Skyler was the healthy one? Little man woke up at 2:30AM with the same wicked virus the rest of us survived. He provided such good care for us, does no good deed go unpunished?

Sign of the Times

Baby Bella making a statement with her hat. The ear infection requires us to keep her ears covered anytime we venture outside.

Update on the Yuckie Muck.... Baby Bella is better in terms of the stomach virus but is still struggling with the cough, congestion, and ear infection. Mommy and Daddy are better, just not up to full speed.

Skyler remains the healthy one in the family. Go Sky Man.

Swing Low...

...sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home. A band of angels, comin' after me. Comin' for carry me home.

Some days, an old spiritual says it all. I told Deborah they were so close that I could hear the chariot wheels. But that might have been wishful thinking on my part.

Daddy, Mommy, and Baby Bella all took ill within hours of each other. A wicked stomach virus mixed with head cold symptoms. Yikes! Three out of four of us sick at once. Skyler should receive a humanitarian award for the care he had to provide in the last 24 hours.

OK, yes, I am being dramatic. I admit to being the third worst patient in the world -right behind my Mom and Dad. But this was bad. The worst virus I have ever experienced.

No pictures today, gotta go take a shower. I was just thrown up on - again.

Laundry

Baby Bella's version of helping with the laundry is to pile the warm cloths on top of her while we try to fold them. Help is good, right?

Baby Bella has had a rough 48 hours with her very first ear infection. Under good care and on her way to recovery, we pray.

Baby Bella....

the monster. Yep, we have created a monster. It has become increasingly difficult to eat or drink anything at the table since Baby Bella learned that salad dressing splashes if you smack it and that ice tea is good through a straw.

Check out the eyes - that longing, with the "I am parched and desperate" look. The focus, the reach......the monster like qualities of Baby Bella.

Playin' with Daddy

Good Times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I should have edited for space, but I didn't have the heart. Good Times!!!!!!