Happy Half Birthday!

Yesterday, my baby turned 1/2 a year old.  I can't believe it.  Neither can she:

Everyone was right when they said time flies... Good news is, 6 months is my favorite age so far!  I'm pretty sure that every age has been my favorite.  First she was super tiny and cute and slept a lot, then she started smiling, then making awesome noises, then grabbing and reaching, and now sitting and eating.  I'm not sure it can get better.

We had a busy weekend, now that she can do so many things...

We played some hide-and-seek:

Not a super great hiding spot, but she's getting better...

We went to a birthday party where Stretchy played in the grass and made some friends:

We hung out downtown and Stretchy drank her first coffee:

And of course, it was her 1/2 year birthday.  Which meant I took lots of pictures:

And might have even bought her a cake:

Which she thoroughly enjoyed!

Frosting is kind of like finger paint... proof she's going to be an artist.

The cake after Stretchy was done

Nap Anyone?

According to Mirriam Webster:

nap: to sleep briefly, especially during the day.

According to one almost six-month old baby that lives in my house:

nap: to engage in vocal and mouth exercises, dorsal activities, occasional spurts of crying and whining and/or experimenting with bodily functions while in the confines of one's crib (see video below).

I, for one, cherish "nap time" as it allows me to get some chores done (or more often check e-mail and write blog posts) and occasionally take a break with coffee and a magazine.

Up until now, naps were short-lived, but soundly taken... now, well... let's just say my house is dirty, if you write me an e-mail, I probably won't respond... and as far as blog posts... they may be few and far between.

Recovering After an Awesome Easter Weekend

Stretchy, Bob and I had a great Easter weekend at my parents house in NH.  We got to rest (while not preparing Easter dinner), eat Easter candy, go shopping, visit with family and eat lots of good food.

Stretchy took her first wagon ride (altered with her favorite rideable household object, the laundry basket):

 Went on a swing for the first time:

She got to play in a giant bed:

And tried to use the camera:

Now, however, it is Monday.

I dislike Mondays.  I would say "hate," but not all Mondays are ALL bad...

Mondays are the days with the most chores- like changing the linens and towels and cleaning up after the weekend.*  We inevitably have to go grocery shopping because we eat all our food over the weekend (or worse, never bought any food for the weekend and have to resort to "pantry finds" for lunch...).  AND I'm always tired because we do extra stuff on the weekend and I can't quite catch up on my sleep with an almost six-month old hanging around.

Mondays after a weekend away are even worse.

There is definitely NO FOOD.  Especially milk.  Which I need for my coffee in the morning.  No coffee = cranky Mommy.

There is a GIANT PILE of crap in the foyer that needs to be put away.

There is a GIANT PILE of laundry... plus the linens and towels :(.

I am extra tired because we got home late and someone didn't want to go back to sleep once we got here and felt the need to wake up at 6:30.

AND it's always kind of a let down after a holiday.

So instead of doing anything about those chores, or those piles, or that lack of food, I will sit here in front of my computer and mope.

I wouldn't want your mood to be altered by my negativity though, so the following photo-splosion should lift your spirits!

Happy Easter!

Unfortunately this year, Stretchy was too little to do most of the prep for Easter... no dying eggs (we probably would have ended up with a dyed baby and dyed kitchen), no filling baskets (she would have unfilled them)...  Maybe next year.

She does look pretty cute in ears though!

Playing with the Big Kids

Stretchy and I usually go to a play group once a week or so.  She has two super cute friends- one who's almost a year and another that's three and a half months.  Since they're all so young, they usually don't interact much...

This weekend, we met two other families with older babies- one 21 month old, and a brother and sister: 18 months and 3 and half years old.

I was really surprised at how well Stretchy did with the big kids.  Actually, maybe I was more impressed with how well the big kids did with her.  They were so gentle and cute.  All of them tried to entertain her by giving her toys.  And the best part?  She was totally entertained and didn't even need me to sit and play with them!

Here are some cute playing pictures:

I don't have pictures from the other play date :(  Hopefully next time... 

On another note, we're also trying to teach Stretchy to play more by herself.  Now that she's sitting, she's a lot happier playing with her surroundings!

What an awesome zebra pillow!

Ooo, and what a cool rug!

Why is there an octopus in my bed??

And this picture, not because she's playing, but just because she's cute :)