Bella is already in training for a new Olympic sport - bed falling. Last night - after a full weekend in which she visited her grandparents in Dalton, used the toilet a lot, swung on a swing by herself (not a bucket swing) - she cracked her parents up.
After a bath and a bottle, we were all on our bed reading books, when Bella - dressed only in black pants - stood up between Jen and I with her back to us, held out her arms and began counting down in numerals of her own creation. "Tee! Kai! Say!" And then she'd fall forward on her belly and face into the comforter and reamin motionionless there for a few seconds while the judges compiled their scores. Then she'd get back on her feet, hold out her arms, count down (or Up?) and do it again. And again. She probably did that 25 times, and her parents were in tears it was so funny. We began calling out number (real and imagined) and other words like "orange" and "orangutan."
A classic moment for Bella we hope to capture again sometime on video. Look for her in the 2026 Olympics Games!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
CAMERA PHONE PHOTOS
Since the digital camera is broken, here's some shots out of my cellphone's camera. Some are recent, others not so much anymore. But each is a wonderful memory!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
FIRSTS!
Drumrolls, please.
Yesterday evening, Bella used the toilet at home for the first time! Her mom escorted her to the toilet, helped her up the step stool, and she sat down, urinated, and then sald, "all done." There were many cheers and hugs and high-fives for some time afterward, and calls were made to grandparents to let them share in the experience. It capped a day filled with clean-ups all over the house (and at one store). We're so proud of Bella, and she repeated her feat today as well.
She also got her first haircut today! Her bangs had been bothering her, hanging down in here eyes. So her Mom got a little pair of scissors and managed to get them trimmed back out of her eyes.
Bella also spent time today painting with her mom. We put down a big piece of paper over her new table and let her go to town with the water-soluble paints. Bella had a great time, had to take an emergency bath in the kitchen sink, and completed two works of art that will hang with pride on her home (once the layers of paint dry out).
This afternoon, Bella finally named one of her stuffed animals that did not have a name. The littlest monkey is now know as Hop. She spent an hour this afternoon with hop and Purplepotamus, wrapping them up in one of her dresses and letting them take naps on the floor in it.
She also gave her old man a big hug first thing this morning, which was a great way to start Fathers' Day!
Oh, and she turns a year-and-a-half old on Monday, June22!
Yesterday evening, Bella used the toilet at home for the first time! Her mom escorted her to the toilet, helped her up the step stool, and she sat down, urinated, and then sald, "all done." There were many cheers and hugs and high-fives for some time afterward, and calls were made to grandparents to let them share in the experience. It capped a day filled with clean-ups all over the house (and at one store). We're so proud of Bella, and she repeated her feat today as well.
She also got her first haircut today! Her bangs had been bothering her, hanging down in here eyes. So her Mom got a little pair of scissors and managed to get them trimmed back out of her eyes.
Bella also spent time today painting with her mom. We put down a big piece of paper over her new table and let her go to town with the water-soluble paints. Bella had a great time, had to take an emergency bath in the kitchen sink, and completed two works of art that will hang with pride on her home (once the layers of paint dry out).
This afternoon, Bella finally named one of her stuffed animals that did not have a name. The littlest monkey is now know as Hop. She spent an hour this afternoon with hop and Purplepotamus, wrapping them up in one of her dresses and letting them take naps on the floor in it.
She also gave her old man a big hug first thing this morning, which was a great way to start Fathers' Day!
Oh, and she turns a year-and-a-half old on Monday, June22!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
BEACH BABY & MORE
Whew! We survived our trip to the beach last week, and back into the groove of school and work.
The drive down was difficult for all three of us as we left at 8 p.m. hoping Bella would basically sleep the whole six hours. She eventually fell asleep at 10 p.m., and woke back up at midnight when we had to stop for gas and a bathroom break. She did not want to get back into her carseat (or the car for that matter) and pitched a fit with her mother sitting beside her for nearly two more hours while her daddy did his best to tune it out and get to the beach. She fell asleep a few minutes before we arrived, and then stayed up fussing until 4 a.m. when she passed out between her parents in bed. No rest for the weary: she got up at 8 a.m.
We stayed with the Michaels - Kenny and Sarah - and Wes and his fiance, Anne, and Ashley Martin (Wes' sister) and her three-year-old boy, John. Bella took to all of them almost immediately, though that first day was a little testy.
On day two, we spent probably six or seven hours on the beach. Bella didn't want to go into the water, but enjoyed standing at the edge with her parents or being held and dipped into slightly deeper water. She really loved playing in the sand, seeing dogs on the beach, and running around. We kept her slathered with SPF 30 Badger sunscreen, and fortunately she did not burn. Though she did tan after two full days on the beach.
Back at the Michaels' house, she really enjoyed running around with John (and some kids that belonged to a friend of Anne's who dropped by). She totally dug Mama Say and Grandpa Kenny and their grandparent vibe.
The trip back home was better, as we left right before her nap time and she slept until we got to Columbia, where we had a leisurely lunch. Then her Daddy rode in the backseat with her the rest of the way, reading books, playing games and looking at anything we could find to look at.
BUT THE BIG NEWS came before we left for the beach. Bella is now using the toilet at school! I realized something was up last Monday when she came home in the same pants she went to school in. Then during dinner, she indicated she wanted to get down from her chair. So I put her down and she grabbed my finger and led me to... the bathroom. I asked her if she wanted to use the potty, but she back away and pooped on the floor a second later. So we're trying to sit down with the new assistant at school, Liz, who is reportedly amazing with kids and the toilet training.
Other than that, Bella is talking more and more, mimicking words we say and enjoying playing with her little train set on her new table. Again, the camera is broken, but there may be some beach photos forthcoming. Stay tuned, Bellaheads!
The drive down was difficult for all three of us as we left at 8 p.m. hoping Bella would basically sleep the whole six hours. She eventually fell asleep at 10 p.m., and woke back up at midnight when we had to stop for gas and a bathroom break. She did not want to get back into her carseat (or the car for that matter) and pitched a fit with her mother sitting beside her for nearly two more hours while her daddy did his best to tune it out and get to the beach. She fell asleep a few minutes before we arrived, and then stayed up fussing until 4 a.m. when she passed out between her parents in bed. No rest for the weary: she got up at 8 a.m.
We stayed with the Michaels - Kenny and Sarah - and Wes and his fiance, Anne, and Ashley Martin (Wes' sister) and her three-year-old boy, John. Bella took to all of them almost immediately, though that first day was a little testy.
On day two, we spent probably six or seven hours on the beach. Bella didn't want to go into the water, but enjoyed standing at the edge with her parents or being held and dipped into slightly deeper water. She really loved playing in the sand, seeing dogs on the beach, and running around. We kept her slathered with SPF 30 Badger sunscreen, and fortunately she did not burn. Though she did tan after two full days on the beach.
Back at the Michaels' house, she really enjoyed running around with John (and some kids that belonged to a friend of Anne's who dropped by). She totally dug Mama Say and Grandpa Kenny and their grandparent vibe.
The trip back home was better, as we left right before her nap time and she slept until we got to Columbia, where we had a leisurely lunch. Then her Daddy rode in the backseat with her the rest of the way, reading books, playing games and looking at anything we could find to look at.
BUT THE BIG NEWS came before we left for the beach. Bella is now using the toilet at school! I realized something was up last Monday when she came home in the same pants she went to school in. Then during dinner, she indicated she wanted to get down from her chair. So I put her down and she grabbed my finger and led me to... the bathroom. I asked her if she wanted to use the potty, but she back away and pooped on the floor a second later. So we're trying to sit down with the new assistant at school, Liz, who is reportedly amazing with kids and the toilet training.
Other than that, Bella is talking more and more, mimicking words we say and enjoying playing with her little train set on her new table. Again, the camera is broken, but there may be some beach photos forthcoming. Stay tuned, Bellaheads!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
FISHEYE
Since the digital camera is broken, I broke out the Fisheye lens camera I bought Jen a few years ago. I used very slow speed film, so most of the shots came out very dark - but as long as you can see Bella, you got a great photo!
Monday, June 8, 2009
TALKING & TOOTHBRUSHING
First off: our digital camera broke (of its own fruition, nothing Bella did to it), so we don't have any recent photos or videos to post.
But before we head to the beach for a few days, I thought I'd let everyone know that Bella is talking more and more, and apparently now singing much of what she say. She imitates words we say to her - so we are watching what we say around the house - and are now learning a Word A Day. Today's word is "silly." Because she is. She loves to say "apple" and "cheese," and eats plenty of both. She hasn't said "watermelon" yet, but that hasn't stopped her from eating a lot of it!
Brushing teeth is proving to be a monumental task, so I thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone reading this has suggestions for how to get Bella to brush her teeth. Got to fend off the cavity creeps!
But before we head to the beach for a few days, I thought I'd let everyone know that Bella is talking more and more, and apparently now singing much of what she say. She imitates words we say to her - so we are watching what we say around the house - and are now learning a Word A Day. Today's word is "silly." Because she is. She loves to say "apple" and "cheese," and eats plenty of both. She hasn't said "watermelon" yet, but that hasn't stopped her from eating a lot of it!
Brushing teeth is proving to be a monumental task, so I thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone reading this has suggestions for how to get Bella to brush her teeth. Got to fend off the cavity creeps!
Monday, June 1, 2009
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