Just silly.

Watch as she tries to grab the bird above her head while maintaining the perfect jumping form.  So proud of herself!

And what a year it has been!

Happy Anniversary to my love Kevin.  Can't believe a year has passed already.  My sweet man surprised me with a romantic dinner cruise on the Portland Spirit.  It was a relaxing evening (thanks to our amazing babysitters Grandma and Grandpa!).  Here are some pics from the night.

Happy Five Months Camryn Ilene!

So I've given up all hope that she will just sit there and look cute while holding the month sign. Since three months, the paper goes right in the mouth. But it's still cute.

Slumber Party!

Kevin's friend Kyle come down from Seattle for work and to play a round of golf with Kev last night.  So we had a slumber party.  See who the party-poopers were?

Pic 1: I thought us parents were supposed to be the exhausted ones?

Pic 2: So sleepy she couldn't even finish her bottle.  Note the adorable pjs from Auntie Jenny.

Not quite sun, but we'll take it.

This morning we took our chances and went on a walk.  Miraculously, we stayed dry. 

Pic 1: Ryn taking in the scenery (of the back of her eyelids) on our walk.  Note the reflections on her face.  A hint of Vitamin D.

Pic 2: A sad, saturated, molding bench we encountered on our walk.  My little point and shoot couldn't quite capture the image I was going for, but nevertheless, how Oregon is this???

Pic 3: Check out big girl Ryn riding in the cart for the first time!  Our escape to the craft store (later this afternoon, when the sky eventually erupted). 

And it's still raining...

So it's still raining around here.  To escape the drizzle, we joined our mommy playgroup and went to the movie "Babies" (click on link for trailer); Camryn was a very well behaved little girl.  The documentary sure puts life into perspective.  As I watched the adorable African babies chewing on rocks and creating toys out of their siblings' penises various body parts, I realized just how many playthings my daughter has.  As I witnessed the chubby Mongolian baby taking a bath in the same bucket the family goat was drinking out of, I realized that it is just fine if I neglected to vacuum the carpet this morning.  A little dust will not hurt her.  The photography and music was beautiful in the film.  I'm lucky to live the movie every day.  Even in 3D!

Pic 1: Camryn and her friend Lana at the movies.  So excited!

Pic 2: Check out this super cute top/dress from Auntie Kacy!  Sure beats wrapping myself in cow hides.

Pic 3: Check out my ladybug teether from Auntie Stacy!  Sure beats nomming on stones.

It was a BIG weekend for Ryn.

New BIG girl carseat, new BIG girl high chair. Oh, and, "do my new jeans make my butt look BIG?".

Pic 1: Digging the new high chair.  Get in my belly!

Pic 2: New jeans. So adorable I couldn't resist.

Little Miss Independent (or Miss Piggy?)

This girl is just so determined! More oatmeal pics, because it's just too funny.

Pic 1: Face to mouth ratio - 75:25.

Pic 2: Daddy is helping me learn how to use my new sippy cup.  I get a little confused about which part goes in my mouth. 

Video: Miss Independent.  Or, "Give me the spoon and no one gets hurt!".

More old man face.

Still making this silly face. Now it's accompanied by a silly noise. See for yourself.

Pics: Old man faces.

Raining, raining, raining...

Lots of playing inside this week. Good thing we have plenty of toys!

Pic 1: Sitting in my chair.

Pic 2: She has been doing this strange lip-biting thing. She looks like an old man with no teeth. Or bitter beer face?

Little piggies. Ten of them.

Just as cute as can be. I want to bite them.  Someone else has been biting them.  They have been hard at work in the jumper.

Pic of the day: Ten little piggies.

Messy face.

Feeding herself oatmeal. Wearing more than she's eating.  I can't intervene though, I love the independence.

Pic of the day: What? Is there something on my face?

Sitting practice

Pic 1: I am getting this!

Pic 2: I smile even while tumbling over.

Just some pics.

Pic 1: Insert foot in mouth.  Literally.

Pic 2: Enjoying the first summer evening on our porch.

Pic 3:  How much do I resemble my daddy?

Pic 4: And here he is.

Taking my new toy for a test drive (jump).

Here is the other purchase from the garage sale a few weeks ago.  She still needs to grow about a half of a centimeter to touch the ground but she has figured out how to make it bounce.  She LOVES it!

Video: Test drive jump.

Camryn, meet Elmo.

I tried this for the first time this morning (please ignore the unsightly cords, we promise to fix them when she starts crawling).

Pic of the day: I think she likes him.

Going for the 100th percentile.

This is just so damn cute, I watch it over and over.  Her Daddy taught her this new skill.



Pic of the day: Rice cereal dessert

Circle of Neglect?

In parenting circles, the Exersaucer is often referred to as the "Circle of Neglect".  But clearly whomever coined that phrase has never witnessed my child playing in hers.  Yeah, she looks quite "neglected", doesn't she?

Pic of the day: "Circle of Neglect" = FUN.

Happy Mother's Day!

Life, love, and laughter -

what priceless gifts to give our children.

Phyllis Campbell Dryden, American Writer

Happy Mother's Day to all of the beautiful Moms in my life, whether your child is human or canine, infant or adult.  I hope you enjoy your day.

I go swimming every single evening.

I just wanted to show you how little miss Ryn prefers her baths these days.  No longer is she satisfied with just kicking.  Now the entire body is involved.  Keeping a close eye on her is even more necessary.  Swimming lessons can't come soon enough!

Pic 1: Note the ears under water.  Basically, everything is submerged but the nose and mouth (and even those sometimes go under with no complaints).

Pic 2: The legs push against the wall of the Whale Tub and she springs up.  She does this over and over (and therefore exhausting herself for a loooonnnnggg night of sleep).  Yes, about 8+ hours a night!

Rice cereal (we're not talking Rice Krispies).

Last night we fed Camryn rice cereal for the first time.  She loved it!  So did her bib/shirt/chair/kitchen table.  In fact, it seemed as though Dad was not shoving it in her mouth fast enough and thus she grabbed the spoon from him and fed herself.  See for yourself.





And of course, some pictures of the feast mess.

Pic 1:  Hmm, what is this mushy stuff?

Pic 2:  Not bad.  Could use some ketchup?

Pic 3: Okay Dad, I got it from here.

A girl's best friend?

Pic of the day:  Some girls love diamond bracelets...I just love wearing my plastic links (she put them on herself).

Play date!

Today we laid out the blankets, pulled out every toy in our arsenal, brewed a HUGE pot of coffee, and welcomed Jodi and Lainnie over for a playdate.  Today was also the first day that Ryn could actually interact with her buddy, by reaching for her toys, watching her roll all over the floor, carrying on a conversation in baby babble secret code, and trying to chew on her nine-month old feet.  Here is the evidence.

Pic 1: Sharing our toys.

Pic 2: Girl time is so much fun!

Pic 3: Drooly face.