Growing fast :o)

Had to share this adorable picture of Mia:

It's been an interesting week with the baby. I think she must be going through another growth spurt b/c she's been waking up for a late dinner (btw/ 10pm and midnght) and then up for an early breakfast (btw/ 3am and 5am) when she used to sleep all the way through from around 7pm to 6-7am. Plus, she's been really fussy lately, too, which is totally not normal for her. But if I'd grown over 5 or 6 inches in the last 5 months, I probably be grumpy, too. :o)

She's already up to 18lbs, and it looks like she really, really wants to crawl soon. She can hold herself up really well on her arms, and she's got the motion down in her legs, but she can't quite pull her legs under herself yet. She made a couple of serious attemps at it yesterday, though, so it probably won't be long now!

Look what I can do!

So today was a big day! Yesterday, Mia started putting her arm down when she started losing her balance when put into a seated position. Today, I put her in the middle of my bed (lots of safe room to tip over…) and tried to see if she might try to hold herself up on her own…and she did! After sitting while leaning on her hand for about a minute before tipping over, I decided to grab the camera to get a picture. But when I propped her back up, she sat for another minute, but without leaning! So I guess Mia can officially sit up! At least for a minute. :o)

Mia figures out beverage containers...

I decided to let Mia start playing w/ an empty sippy cup this week when she demonstrated that she's figured out how grown-ups use beverage containers... Here are a couple of highlights (lowlights?) of her trying to get at my coffee and Pat's beer:

Weekend long run w/ Mom & Dad

I took this picture of Mia and Jeff about a week ago while the three of us were on a six-mile run on a local trail that followed a stream. It was a beautiful day and it was also the first time we had to stop for a diaper change during a run... :o\

Mia's trip to Seattle

So here I am catching up on news from earlier in the month! Ask & you shall receive! ;o) The big news of the month is that Mia and I flew to Seattle on the 1st of the month so that my paternal grandparents could meet their new great-granddaughter. We had a blast on the trip, but it went so, so fast! We flew out on a Thursday morning and had to fly back the following Monday. Mia was the best baby on the whole trip, and my secret is now out about how good of a sleep Mia is. ;o)There were only about five hours in the day that my grandparents really got to see her b/c she was asleep the rest of the time, including all the way through each night. Mom was very happy about that! Here are some highlights from the trip: This is Mia sound asleep on the flight to Seattle. I was really hoping I wouldn't be that woman on the flight with the crying baby...and luckily I wasn't. :o)

This is Mia and her great-granddad. So cute!!

Mia and I got out for one long run during our trip. We ran about 5.7 miles to and along part of Puget Sound. They are apparently building a golf course on the beach along the sound behind us.

Mia was snug as a bug in a rug on the drive w/ Gram & Granddad to check out the new shopping center that opened in their area.

Mia with her great-grandparents! And, if you look closely, you can see one of their cats sneaking into the photo. ;o)

Mia entertaining herself at the gate before our flight back. Unfortunately for the lady sitting next to us on this flight, Mia discovered her ability to "squawk" during our stay in Seattle...and she practiced all the way home. :o( Oh well, at least she wasn't crying!

Mia at 5 months!

Mia is five months old today! I really can't believe it's been that long already. :o) This is a video Jeff shot today after I gave Mia a bath. She's been an absolute doll this week. She's learned how to blow raspberries and picked up a few new ways to play with her voice. And I promise: more cuteness is on the way!

Finding Fingers & Toes

She's finally found them! About three days ago, Mia began absolutely staring at her fingers. She would hold her hands a few inches in front of her face and just stare. Then something would distract her, but shortly after that she'd turn back to those every curious fingers. Then today I watched her discover her toes. For a while she looked at them like she was trying to figure out when they got there, and then she managed to get her fingers hook around a big toe for a while. So cute!!

Back to School

As many of you know, I started class again on Jan 3rd. It's been a pretty interesting experience to try getting reading done while I'm at home with Mia during the day. Sometimes I try to hold her in my lap while I read over or around her, but she figures out pretty quickly that she doesn't really have my attention and demands something different. :o) My first paper of the quarter was due today, and I finally figured out the most productive way for me to get my work done. I grabbed my coffee and my laptop and hit the floor next to Mia and her toys. That way she's free to roll around and do her thing, but she's able to keep an eye on me the whole time. Jeff and I figured out the other day that she's pretty content sometimes when she can just hear or see that we're around. And luckily it worked out for me today so that I was able to finish my first paper.

Rock and Roll!

Mia's grandma got to witness a major milestone yesterday: Mia rolled over in the other direction yesterday (back to tummy). Then she proceeded to repeat the feat over and over. At one point, Mia rolled herself to her tummy and stayed there a while...so tummy time apparently isn't so bad as long as it's Mia's idea and not her mom's!

Fingers?? Toys?? Fingers?? Toys??

It's so hard to decide! I watched Mia trying to chew on both hands and a couple of linked rings for about twenty minutes today. Here are some highlights, including amazing bed-head, a shot of her flipping the bird, and a brief attempt to fit her whole fist in her mouth. Jeff and I are trying to decide which of these to show her prom date when the time comes. ;o)



And just 'cause, here's another cute picture of Mia from the other day. We can't believe how big she is already!!

Mia rolling over

Even though Mia seems to be enjoying tummy time more and more, she's definitely happy that she can escape to her back at will! ;o)



Note: What the heck is w/ the crazy stripes in this video?? *sigh* Gotta love technology! ;o)

More of the orange ring

Mia rolled over!!

Today was a big milestone! During tummy time this morning, Mia rested her head to the side as she started getting tired. Then, instead of trying to pick her head back up, she just let the rest of her body follow her head until she was laying on her back. She looked surprised for a moment, and then she went back to protesting that she was still tired. ;o)

Mia & Daddy

Aren't they cute??

Mia does things on purpose!

It's my favorite thing in the world that Mia can do things with her hands now! I think I posted a picture of her a month or so ago where she was waving one of these little rings around, but she had no idea she was doing it. Mostly, I'd stick it in her hand, her fingers would close around it, and then it'd be there until she unknowingly relaxed her hand. Now I hold these in front of her and the look on her face says, "In the mouth!" Then she starts reaching for it, and as soon as she's got it...in the mouth it goes! So this makes for some pretty cute pictures.

Now, it would have been terribly inappropriate to have taken (much less posted!) pictures of what happened next. She sat there contentedly playing for several minutes until she absolutely gagged herself and threw up her entire breakfast. What is with that?? It is called a gag reflex, right?? What the heck? And she looked at me afterwords as if saying, "Mom, that sucks!" And I'm thinking, "Yeah, I would think so..." Yet, she keeps doing it!! She's going to be the first kid with a teething sofa, b/c I'm so about to take away all of her toys that are smaller than furniture...

Mia's Baptism

Mia's baptism was yesterday, and she was a perfect angel the whole time. :o) The cutest part of the ceremony took place when Pastor Tony was holding Mia at the very front of the church, and she practically leaned into the mic to say "ehhrrr" in a very serious-sounding sort of way that sounded like she was responding to his final blessing. He laughed and said, "I think she just said Amen!" It was so sweet! Mia's family was there to watch her big day. Jeff's Aunt Melody, who is now Mia's godmother, drove down from Fresno to be with us. Mia's grandparents Karen & Pat, her great-grandmother Marie, and her auntie Heather were also there. We're so glad everyone was able to share in this special day with us!

Finally, a reason to use those hands

Mia has been impressively apathetic about figuring out how to use her hands and fingers...until I put this dragonfly teether near her mouth. She is very interested in figuring out how to keep it near her mouth when Mommy isn't there to hold it. You can watch her efforts here. You can also watch her explore that gag reflex... Still not understanding that one very well! :o)

I'm officially a mom now

Remember when you were little and your mom would lick her finger to clean off your face? Remember how that was the grossest thing in the world? Maybe you'd had jelly or something on your chin, but now you had spit there instead... And remember how we all wondered how exactly that was a better situation?

Well, it's apparently an unconscious maneuver. Mia had some dried milk on her cheek the other day, and I totally licked my thumb and wiped it off. Then I froze and thought, "Oh no, I just did that..."

Now that I've apparently become a turncoat, I thought I'd speak out on behalf of moms everywhere and explain why this is actually okay. Three reasons:

1. Spit is invisible, and whatever was there before wasn't. If your kid can't actually be clean at the moment, at least she can look it!
2. I have been covered in Mia's slobber for months, so it's fair, even if it isn't sanitary.
3. A mom's spit has magical disinfecting properties. Just like slaying monsters under the bed and undoing really big knots, it's one of the super powers they give you before you leave the hospital.

Mia's Baptism - Next Weekend!

Hey, everyone! Just wanted to let you know that Mia's baptism will be next weekend. If you'd like to attend, just drop me an email so I can let you know where & when. Dress is pretty casual, and we'll grab brunch at our favorite diner afterward.

Laughing in the New Year

Happy New Year! Mia got us off to the right start this year w/ a real laugh on New Year's Day. :o) Jeff & I spent New Year's Eve at my mom's house on a (mostly inflated) camping mattress. The next morning, we laid Mia on it and Heather started pressing down & releasing part of the (mostly inflated) mattress, causing Mia to rise and sink. It was pretty funny to watch, and Mia apparently thought it was the funniest thing ever, b/c it caused her to really laugh out loud for the first time!

This is a picture of Mia in her very own chair! No, she can't sit up on her own yet, but this chair is designed to prop up babies 3 - 18 months. I love it b/c she likes to sit in it and look around, and I get a few minutes to eat breakfast and drink my coffee w/ two hands!! (Thanks, Chris!!) And you'll notice that she is wearing the most adorable pink Converse. ;o) Every time she's worn these outside, we get stopped by someone telling me how flippin' adorable Mia is in her little shoes. (Thanks, Dolly!)