Familiar?

Sometimes Fiona reminds me of other things...

Uhhh, Drivers Wanted?

Fiona and I spotted this clever Target shopper today...

Fall days with Fi

(Written Sunday night ) Jim went to bed early so he can, as he put it, "get up yesterday for a butt crack o'dawn flight" to Santa Barbara (a rough day of golf...) . So, I enter happy blog land, as I always do, when the house is quiet and I can pour over masses of super cute Fiona pictures. I've nearly become professional, carrying a digital camera- sometimes two- in my bag as I never know when the next fresh expression or toothy grin will strike.

Fiona engages everyone with an instant smile and coordinating dimples. Her abrupt little bursts of laughter make for a whole cycle of us laughing at her and her laughing back at us laughing. Jim's become a pro at monster faces, peek-a-boo, and hide-seek--which at this point merely means turning one's head away from her then suddenly turning back. Yep, you're face has "disappeared" and suddenly "reappeared" and that's enough to bring about thralls of hearty chuckles.

Yesterday she made her way across the King sized bed--something about the comforter and her pants helped her along. I'm not sure if I can count this as first crawling since she was slow and sort of army shimmying too. The floor brings frustration, rolling onto side, therapeutic finger sucking, and tears to convince (ie, manipulate) me to just pick her up and bring her to whatever she wants, mainly, to me. Day by day, she's getting there and the outlet covers and door latches are on stand-by.

As always Fi's still a fashionista. While Harper's & Vogue are predicting metallic and leopard , Fiona's forecasting lime green and zebra...

Beginning of a happy fan-hood...

So close...again

Friday Fiona exhausted herself with crawling attempts. Jim and I had to step in to call five minute time outs as she was so determined to keep at it through tears and bouts of hysterical finger sucking. This was the first day I've seen her transfer from sitting upright into to crawl mode. Uh oh.... Still fresh and happy here. Another first, she's wearing her first pair of real blue jeans.

So I posted this before but was hurried because The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader tryouts show was starting and I didn't check spelling or make sure I had the image I wanted.

New thing...

We start every car trip with Fiona in her car seat, shade retracted above her head. About five to ten minutes en route, just behind my shoulder I hear little fingers methodically folding the fabric & plastic, inch by inch, until the entire canopy is scrunched down in front of her. Caught in the act...

Snarkley Bunny

No cute pics today, poor little Fi is recovering from her first cold. It started Thursday as fussiness I attributed to another tooth. She didn't sleep all that well then Friday we journeyed cross town in the rain for a co-worker's baby shower. The party, at another co-workers house, was mayhem with other babies, toddlers, presents, people coming & going and after two hours Fiona was spent. Friday night our exhausted little girl just couldn't get comfy- Jim's turn as I was working Saturday- and by morning she had a wee fever and snarkley nose. She perked up for Grammy during the day then before bedtime nurse mommy suctioned all the yuk from her little nose for an easier night. This is a quite scene by the way, with Jim holding her head steady as I attempt to plunge the thrashing target. It doesn't take long for babies to recognize evil things like bulb suctions or thermometers--even the baby experts struggle here. We kept Tylenol going, got up a few times to settle her at night, and by Sunday night/Monday morning she was approaching normal fussy again. No fever and she sounds clear but at moments still has the classic baby, crusty nose. We got back to our typical day routine today and she happily greeted her crib at a quarter to eight this evening. Check that one off our list of firsts.

Stinky Feet

Jim once asked me, "When do baby feet stop smelling fresh and start to smell, like, well, feet?" That's info I didn't pick up in nursing school so I told him it's along the lines of, "How many licks does it take to get to the inside of a Tootsie Pop?...We'll have to see." One morning, just after her six month birthday, I was extracting Fiona from her cozy, footed fleece jammies when I thought, "Gee Fi, your feet are little stinky." So, there ya go, the answer is at about six months. Alas the freshness of our soft, little newbie is fading.

Fi's personality is flourishing. She was a bit grumpy today, dealing with those two last teeth popping up on the bottom, but I captured some fun time on the living room chair after a good nap and full tummy.

This 9 mo sweater set is still a little roomy. I think Fi looks like quite the dainty little girl in it though. I was shopping for our friend Courtney's soon-to-arrive baby boy today and felt in different world over in the boy department with all the camo, navy, and khaki. Before we knew what we were having I never would have guessed how pastel & frilly I could be. I was so excited to put Fiona in her first pair of tights the other day. I did find some awfully cute, brown cargo pants for baby Graham though :)

Beautiful day in the neighborhood

It's a glorious northern cal fall day--one of those things that keeps us living right where we are. Enjoying the sunshine and blue sky, here's Fiona, sitting up tall and smiling for daddy from the Magnolia tree in our front yard.

Since Zoe licks so much Fi doesn't spend much time hanging out with the dog but when I let her she loves to watch, touch, grab, or bite anything furry. Coordinating the two of them to sit for a picture requires some patient orchestration. As I hone my skill I may try to add in the cat...

Go Longhorns! Wooo!

This is Fiona's latest comfort measure...Two fingers down, two up..."Hook'um Longhorns!," the University of he Texas at Austin game gesture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_. We've pondered if this means she won't be a UC Aggie. Or we're wrong and it's the symbol for devil, which at times Fiona may indeed be expressing (as does President Bush...? http://www.infowars.com/articles/nwo/bush_inauguration_illuminati_hand_sign.htm. )
Either way a successful placement into her crib for nap or bedtime means as a I dash out of the room I catch a glance of these two fingers slipping into her mouth followed soft little sucking noises.

New buy...

We finally got the rocker/glider everyone said we should have, and for only $20 at the used baby store. Fiona does like a good rock but focused on her feet this time. It's not ultra plush but it suits her room and fits nicely in the corner like I wanted. Maybe some day I'll cave and get the big glider ottoman.

Fiona, version 2.0

Couple of things to be happy about this week.... First, the new TV season has started and once again I induldge in my guilty pleasure...Dancing with the Stars followed by the Bachelor--- two hours of "train-wreck" televsion I, l-o-v-e, love (then I spend another two hours talking about on Tuesday.) I figure I am a Desparate Housewife, I know first hand Grey's Anatomy is not true, and too much murder/crime mystery TV, while one's husband travels all the time is bad, so go Jenny Garth & 25 catty females fghting over a guy they don't know... As for Fiona, she continues her journey toward perfection. Well, to us. Jim returned from India sans parasites, new disease, or a dot, on Saturday and found Fiona even happier and more fun than ever. She's been sitting up steady and playing in her room, playpen, or on the floor quite a bit so I get little breaks to run into the bathroom, brush my hair, eat...normal things I used to struggle with while she screamed. I like this occupied but not crawling everywhere phase. She "talks" constantly... in the grocery store, in her car seat, just sitting at home. High pitched squeals and shrieks non-stop. Jim refers to her as Fiona, version 2.0--witty software humor. Even though I work two days a week, leaving her lately has been harder. Check out her new stats from MD appt today. She's lean but healthy, really tall, and had two more shots that made her sleep all afternoon :)