Too sweet to resist...

Walkin'

Here is a quick shot of me walkin' with those block furniture things I was telling you about...oh yeah...and don't think I can't do it one handed...

My babies and my wagon

The babies are growing and are just too soft and lovable! Mommy doesn't actually let my hold them by myself- I don't really understand why not- I just want to give them a little squeeze- what's so wrong with that?

Uncle Billy was painting his house over the weekend and the babies came over to spend the day with us! I even let them borrow my wagon to transport them all safely. I do love my wagon, but you can see here the biggest current issue with me riding in it...I MUST be standing at all times- this does not quite allow for the relaxing wagon ride around the neighborhood mommy had in mind. When is she going to learn?

9 months!

Well, can you believe it? It has been 9 months (already -and yet only) since I have graced you all with my presence! I am super busy these days...let's see, what's new?

First, I had my first bout of ear infections about two weeks ago now. It started in my left ear and after a week of antibiotics it somehow spread to my right! Despite the yuckiness I have been in good spirits which my mommy REALLY appreciates.

Next, my last visit to the doctor for my 9 month check up was somewhat consumed by the ear issue, but the good news was that for the first time I didn't get any shots- what a relief! I actually lost a pound weighing in at 18lbs, 12 oz. I have also grown a bit since my 6 month visit measuring 28 1/4 inches (these put me in about the 65th percentile for weight and the 75th for height). My head circumference is 17 1/4 inches which is still a little below average. I passed my development screening as well, proving I could hold two objects at the same time- 1 in each hand, clap, hit two object together and other silly stuff that Dr. Bellah always asks me to do.

Third, I have lots of new tricks and hobbies. As you can see above, I don't just crawl and stand anymore, oh no. If I am up, I must walk. I cruise from chair to chair, around the coffee table, and pretty much anywhere I can get as long as I am holding onto something. I even take the blocks that my Zara gave my parents to use as furniture and use them like a walker (mind you I have a perfectly good lion walker that Aunt Quinny and Uncle Dave got me for Christmas, but I just seem to prefer real things as opposed to toys). When I am done walking or standing I do a very graceful PLOP onto my bottom...luckily I still have those diapers to soften my fall.

I continue to try new foods and love them- my new favorite- pasta! Like I mentioned above, I still prefer toys like cell phones, remote controls, pens, etc. My other favorite activity is to climb up and take my toys onto the granite hearth in the living room. It is just my height. Mommy has some pictures she will post of that.

One more thing- my babbling is progressing and I do finally say da-da (although indiscriminately). No ma-ma in sight- :-( but I do say MMMMMM now when I eat something I like-which is pretty much everything. My baby sign is coming along as well- I seem to understand certain signs like eat (big surprise here), milk, bath and ball but I don't sign back yet. We're still working on it. Well, folks, that is what I am up to at 9 months- just playing, loving life and hanging out with my family.

Movin' on UP

Trouble...need we say more?

Want to hear the worst part?

Remember that super-wide staircase we designed so that it would be oh-so-easy to move furniture in and out...ah, yeah...it seems there is no baby gate that is of comparable width...hmmmmm...Could we honestly be back to the 'bigger is always better' argument?

New babies!

I suppose I have been the center of attention long enough, sigh, there is a new show in town! Captain and Lady Tennille are live and in concert with 10 beautiful new babies!

Captain and Lady are Uncle Billy's dogs and we were on call to help with the delivery of the pups. Uncle Bill called us about 8am on Monday morning and four puppies had already been born. Luckily, I was there to help coach her through the last six- I mean, I really don't know what she would have done without my motivation- just look how involved I am.

You can't really see, but earlier today, unaware of the breaking news, I got dressed in my best puppy shirt (It is from Ms. Suzanne and it reads "Well bred";-) hoping for puppies and I got my wish! I was secretly hoping for some black Goldenese puppies...but no luck, I am pretty sure these are plain old boring pure bred goldens. Oh well, maybe next time.

Sunny Sundays!

There's nothing better than spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with friends! We met our friends Marlena, Andy and Luke for lunch at one of our favorite joints- Top Water Grill (recently featured in Coastal Living!). We had lots of fun, great food and started working on our tans!

The Big Mamou

The Big Mamou they call it...I don't know...they tell us there's a song. Well, I guess if it explains some of this madness, I would like to hear it! So, like we mentioned a few days ago, we attended and participated in this parade Marti Gras day. Wow was it eye-opening! Above you can see the riders- they are the drunk crazy people on horses. They follow the capitains from stop to stop (which are secret until the day of the parade) and at the stops they are judged on things such as dancing, costume and how many chickens they catch!?! Yes, they release chickens and the riders (again, drunk) chase them around until they are caught. It is really quite amusing, not however, the best idea for you animal rights activists.

Below you can see that all the people follow the parade in cars and trailers. Our trailer is there to the left- complete with outhouse. This might sound strange but we spent the entire day (8am-4pm) on this trailer in the middle of Louisiana wetlands...drinking...it was in fact very convenient to have some privacy, if you know what I mean. Many other trailers had facilities as well (as you can see to the right) but ours was by far the most popular (see below for an upclose and personal shot)!

Oh...the pancakes? It's a long story...

A few more shots of the insanity- mommy said this was a lot of fun but a very dangerous brainstorming session for daddy.

Beads!

Just for the record, I earned these beads just for being the cute little girl that I am. These are also, by the way, about THE BEST toy ever made. They fit right around your neck and don't fall off, they are great to chew on and don't come off, and even after you do take them off, they are great to hang on something and practice my standing trick in order to get ahold of them yet again!

What did you say? Throw the beads? I don't think so- they're mine!!!

First stop: Eunice

We arrived in Eunice on Sunday afternoon and had fun exploring the town and finding some lunch. Now, if you don't like pork products, this is not the place or the festical for you! If you are hungry in LA during Marti Gras your choices are: pulled pork, boudin (boiled pork with rice), boudin balls (same as before but breaded and fried), sausage (still pork), and last but not least, cracklin (the oh so tasty pork skin- complete with hair!).

After lunch we listened to a band, danced and did some shopping for Marti Gras gear. We hung out in Eunice most of the afternoon and then headed back to the cabin to settle in.

Blayne goes camping!

This past weekend- well- Sunday through Wednesday, we went on my first camping trip! Now, I'm only 8 months old, so don't look for tents and canteens here folks, I need slightly more comfortable accomodations. We took a trip to the some crazy little towns in Lousinana to see how they celebrate Marti Gras. We went with our friends the Hoerners, who are originally from New Orleans, and were accompanied by the Batchelors and the Swishers making for a total of 12 of us sleeping in a one bedroom cabin! Mom was worried about me waking everyone up in the middle of the night, but I did great! The much bigger concern was the one bathroom shared by those same 12 people...one of them being daddy...

We had a blast! We left early Sunday morning and stopped in Eunice to check out the parade and festivities on the way to the cabin. Monday we ventured into Mamou for some pre-Fat-Tuesday fun, Tuesday- Marti Gras day- we participated in a parade/processional in a "float" and finally Wednesday we headed back to Houston. We had great weather and I had so much fun seeing all the different and exciting things...the same for which mommy is glad I have not yet developed any long term memory.