Purple

Daddy came home to a very happy Baby Bella - that smile could rock the world. She fell asleep right away and then put herself to sleep later by sucking her thumb.

Does anyone besides me think the bow is the reason for the neck issues? Look at the size of that bow - it pulls her head to one side.

Playin'

Blogging from Kentucky....

Baby Bella has grown into her play gym. She can now reach the hanging toys and gaze at herself in the sunflower mirror. You can pretty much set your clock by her movements. This entertains for 30 minutes and then she is ready for the "next".

100% Perfect

Blogging from Kentucky.....

Mommy is reporting that Baby Bella slept through the night....further confirmation that she is 100% perfect.

Photo Shoot

The princess was somewhat of a squirmy bug as Daddy tried to capture her extreme cuteness. I couldn't pick out a favorite so the Baby Bella Blog gets the privilege of viewing the whole photo shoot.

Baby Bella lacked her normal grace and sweetness for much of Monday. We don't want to over analyze but we are wondering if it is the change of concoction in her bottle, her neck bothering her again, or the first stages of teething. Could it be that she just had a bad couple of days?

If only we spoke Baby Bella. She is certainly trying to tell us something with all of the jabbering she provides - our language skills are just not that advanced. (Although, her English is better than most basketball players you hear interviewed on TV)

Peas

Baby Bella has enjoyed her first few bites of baby food. The pediatrician told us we could start introducing small amounts before bed time. Mommy chose peas since that was Skyler's first taste. Peas seem more like a punishment than a celebration to Daddy, but Baby Bella didn't seem to get lost in the taste factor.

She ate several spoon fulls - after sloshing it around in her mouth for several seconds. It took her about a minute to decide to swallow the first spoon full. Mommy had to hold her hand down so she didn't suck her thumb while she had a mouth full of peas - other than that she really did very well.

Pig Cake

Congratulations to Mommy and the Dillard's team for posting their biggest day of the year Saturday. Caroline celebrated by giving Mommy a delicious Pig cake. I am sad to report that baby food is not the only new addition to the Baby Bella palette. Mommy gave her a finger tip taste of pink icing.

Private note for Caroline: My birthday is December 13th. I love cake. Hint. Hint. :-)

Baby Bjorn

Baby Bella helped daddy do some yard work - literally. She hitched a ride on the Baby Bjorn and hung around for two hours as Daddy worked to improve the landscape. Another gardener in training.

The cereal reduction experiment has produced mixed results. Baby Bella doesn't seem to mind - certainly doesn't seem to be hungry. She is spitting up at least once per feeding but nothing like our previous encounters with reflux. We are planning to stay the course to see if her system can adjust to the reduced volume.

I Love Daddy

Some days it's just all about Daddy! At least Daddy things so. Baby Bella has had a wonderful day adoring her Daddy - Saturday's are a special time for Daddy and the kids.

Side note: 9:00am Baseball games - really? Who in their right mind would schedule a Saturday morning game? Saturday mornings were made for Scooby Doo, Tom & Jerry, and Super Heroes.

I feel better now. Thanks for letting me vent Baby Bella Blog.

Ms. Independent

She did it! Baby Bella has been trying to hold her bottle since she was 2 months old (see Baby Bella Blog entry, July 16, 2009). And, she finally succeeded! (Her expression just screams: "why all the fuss, I told you "I've got this")

4 months old and she is already holding her own bottle, holding Daddy's heart hostage, holding Big Brother's hand, and holding Mommy's pearl necklace. Next week she gets her drivers licences.

October is Here

Baby Bella was ready to celebrate the start of October with her favorite fall outfit. She woke up in an amazingly good mood - that proved to be short lived - thanks to a new round of vaccinations.

Baby Bella endured her 4 month shot this morning - appropriately enough, there were four of them. She did very well, a little crankiness afterward. The evening brought a slight fever and her eyes told us she wasn't feeling very well.

Other than that, our little miracle was declared the picture of health. She is 26" tall (88 percentile for her age) and weighs 16 lbs. (93 percentile for her age). Yes, she has been diagnosed with chunky monkey-itis.

The pediatrician has suggested that we cut in half the amount of cereal we add into her bottle to deal with reflux. The assumption being that she has now out grown the reflux. Let us pray that that is the case. So tomorrow we begin a new feeding test to see if she keep it down with just one table spoon of cereal. It' either that or sign her up for spinning classes.

Pulling Hair

Baby Bella dressed warm for her evening excursion to Cracker-Barrel - a surprise opportunity to see Grandma and Grandpa Cain again. She was pure delight and took seriously her role to entertain the table.

We did experience another first - Baby Bella grabbed a hand full of hair as big brother came within arms reach. The first - but, surely, not the last time she will be found guilty of pulling his hair. This time Big Brother didn't mind at all - hmmm, I wonder how long will that last?

Fall Yall

Baby Bella was ready for a brisk fall morning - long pants and socks helped my little cupcake get ready for on cooler tempts.

Baby Bella is struggling with torticollis in the her neck again. Mommy has had to resume the stretching and neck massages. The pediatrician warned us it may resurface during rapid growth periods - duh, that could be everyday for this little girl. LOL!

Going to Grandma's

An exciting day for Daddy and Baby Bella. They were able to spend half of the day with Grandma Cain. (Yes, many people say they look alike - you be the judge) They laughed together, giggled together, ate together....and yes, Grandma rocked her to sleep a couple of times.

In the end, Rachel and I couldn't tell who had the most fun - Grandma or Baby Bella.

Sunday Best

Aw, another Sunday in paradise. Baby Bella enjoyed wearing her Sunday best and spending quality time with the fam.

Sweet Dreams

Baby Bella cherished a day of nothing but time.....time with Daddy and Big Brother while the monsoon season continued in Spring Hill. In the end, a nice nap in the swing was in order.

Daddy and Big Brother napped also - shhhh!

Celebrate Good Times....

...come on! (courtesy of Kool & The Gang)

It was party time as Daddy made it home in time for dinner with the fam. Hugs, kisses, and a large smile from Baby Bella, who was doing her best "so you think you can dance" routine on the carpet. A little break dancing, actually.

Big Girl

Blogging from Kentucky.......

Baby Bella was all smiles as she sported her new, Size 3, diapers. Yes, indeed, the Princess is growing up fast. She was so proud she launched into her signature, celebratory, kicking routine.

(The same one she does when Daddy comes home....can't wait to see that again)

Hold 'em Close

Blogging from Kentucky.......

Daddy sat and cried with a client today as the gentleman discussed the recent death of his 3 mo. old grandson - a victim of SIDS. So very sad and so very frightening. I just can not imagine loosing one of my kids. Wishing I could hold them close tonight - but I know Mommy is loving them up for me.

Praying...."Lord, watch over my babies tonight - and every night. And may they love the Lord their God with all of their heart, all of their soul, and all of their mind." (and might)

All Hearts

Blogging from Kentucky......

Baby Bella stealing hearts in her Valentines PJ's. Yes, we do know that Valentines Day is February 14. But little Ms. will be too big for these pj's by then. Daddy is having heart trouble of his own - a broken heart from missing the fam.

Show Off

Baby Bella was dressed to the nines to meet some of Mommy's old friends. Mommy and Bella Boo are spending the day on the Nashville social scene.

Lil' Panda

Our little Panda was so sweet as she lounged around with the fam - a magnificent day of rest and football. Mommy and Baby Bella napped together for the second straight Sunday afternoon - I think we have a new tradition in the House of Cain.

Baby Bella is on a new feeding schedule that allows her to be put to bed at the same time as big brother - uh, yeah! We have renamed that first hour after kids down: The Mommy and Daddy Sanity Hour.