Go Tigers!

Today, I went to my first Missouri Tigers football game. (It was mom's first time too!) Aunt Katherine is in her Senior year there and got us awesome seats for the game, front row - 5 yard line! Thanks, Aunt Katherine. Even though the Tigers didn't do that great, we had a blast by the band, the dance team (I liked the glittery pom poms), and those crazy Sooner fans. I even got filmed by ABC, though we don't think I actually made TV. We also were able to meet up with my cousin Will and Uncle David on the hill by the M. This was were we spent the second half to give me a break and so I could stretch my legs. What an awesome Saturday! Thanks Dad, for taking us!

Here I am sitting on the wall. Both dad and I thought I had the perfect spot until one of the event staff told me I had to get down.



And, the weather was awesome. It got up to 70 degrees and was sunny! I started catchin' a few too many rays, so out came the sunscreen and the shades.

Puckering Up

Well, I haven't quite mastered the art of blowing kisses, but I'm getting closer. I love to smack my lips and make the sound to mom and dad. I just haven't gotten the hand motion down quite yet.

Bundle Up Baby

The weather here sure is different. We went for a short walk to the mailbox today and it took 10 minutes just to get out the door. Check for socks, long sleeves, pants, find the blanket, put the hat on, put the hat on again, and put the hat on again. Mom, we're still inside what's with the hat? Well, the minute we stepped outside together, I got the picture. It was brisk. I can't see my breath yet, not because I'm not blowing it out but because thankfully it's not quite cold enough.



By the time we got home, I had a red nose, rosey cheeks, and I even wanted to be bundled up.

So Alone

We've been exploring, and mom and I have found three parks within 20 minutes of our house. The first one we stopped at didn't have toddler swings, but some nice lady gave mom directions to a few parks that we have started frequenting.

So, the other day we went out during the brief moment of 68 degree weather and sunshine to check out the last park on our list. Mom thought this picture said it all as we realized for the first time the magnitude of loosing our playgroup friends, the playdates at the park, and the times we were able to spend just visiting with other moms and my little friends.



But as we looked back together, we realized the new adventure that lay ahead of us. The chance to cherish and keep our old friendships and make new ones. So, we started to chat with some people at the park, and I moved on to the slide where the newness of a new park item and my big smile seemed to make the day a bit brighter.

Toys, Toys, Everywhere

Well, I think I lucked out with this move. Because I have no one to borrow toys from anymore, Dad started investing in some of my favorites. (I miss you John and Dad's pocketbook misses you too!)

So since our great excursion, I've acquired the Leap Frog Learn N' Groove Table, a set of key's made by Parents (they're real metal, just like mom's car keys), the Bee Bop Band (thank you Nonni and PaPa), the Leap Frog Alphabet Drum (thank you Nana and Granddad), and the most recent being the Fisher Price Learn to Count Piggy Bank.

The Piggy Bank is great for making coin sandwiches.



I also love to take the coins out of the bank by taking off it's door. Mom hopes this isn't a sign to come on how I work with money.



Perhaps this is why I got the bank, dad says you can never start to young. So, each morning we count to 10 and learn about how to save money in the piggy bank. This is quickly followed by my lesson on how to spend money as I take it out and hand it to mom.

Welcome to My New Lair

We thought we'd take this chance to introduce you to our new home.



Well, in all seriousness, the wood pile above is one of my favorite features. (Nonni and PaPa call it our natural art work.) Dad bought mom an outside fireplace and he goes out gather and chop firewoord from the pile. Mom and I stand on the deck. I'm not quite sure why, but I find dad chopping wood very entertaining and laugh everytime I see him do it.

So anyways, here is our new house.



And here is my new play area inside of our new house.



Mom had to invest in the foam ABC playmat since the family room has a wood floor. A few slips while crawling and standing left us both crying (nothing serious, don't worry) and scurrying to find the closest Babies/Toys R' Us in the area.

Mom, dad, and I feel that God has greatly blessed us with this house. We have enjoyed the time we've spent making it into a home and look forward to filling it with love and laughter as long as we're here.

Back in the Blog of Things

Well, we (mom and I) have been missing in action from the blog world for quite some time. However, we're back. We've found the camera, the charger, and the memory stick reader and now intend to catch you up on all of the things that have been going on in my life these past few weeks, well okay almost month.

But before we get started, we should catch you up on what happened before we left Texas and moved to Missouri. My last home cooked meal, yes mom makes my food, was beets! I enjoyed this very magenta food immensely and promptly received a bath afterwards. I'm not sure why mom was so hot to trot to get me into the tub, I liked the look of natural lipstick.



But as you can see here, the bath worked and removed all remnants of the beets.





This was also my last bath in my baby bath seat. As you can see, I was caught in the act of trying to get into the tub on my own. Since I'm now sitting up in it and am really ready to play in the tub, not in the seat, mom's retiring it. (One small thing I can do to help make her packing job easier.) I love the water, the faucet, and the toys (especially my waterproof book) that I can now fully enjoy.



After the bath, mom experimented with the hair dryer. It was a good thing she started me out on this in Austin to get the hang of it. It's cold here in Missouri and this has now become part of my daily bedtime routine.



We also took a stab at hats. Surprisingly enough, I've taken to them quite nicely and will leave them on my head. I've also started wearing what dad calls the "girl bow". Yes, mom puts those headband thingy's on me to make me look oh so cute. Pictures of this will appear in a later post.



And before we left, we tried puffs. The Gerber version of puffed cereal. Here I am examining this new type of food. With my first encounter, none actually got in my mouth. After a few tries though, I'm now eating them like they are candy. Mom wishes they had "power puffs", high calorie puffs, to help bulk me up a bit. Nonetheless, these have become lifesavers for mom and now go with us everywhere. We've even become quite good at passing them between the drivers seat and the car seat.

Where's Ainsley?

Well, I'm not in Texas anymore and if you've checked out my friend's blogs you'd know we said goodbye and moved on up to Missouri. So why am I telling you this 2 weeks after the fact? Well, mom only has DSL and just got it this past Thursday. Plus, we just found the camera but are still searching for the charger and the memory stick reader. So until we unpack some more, which I'm making very difficult (it's too much fun to explore this new house), there won't be any new pictures. But here's a quick update of what's transpired here at my new digs...

We made the drive, mom and me, by ourselves with dad leading the way. It started out rough but then the excitement and disappointment of leaving Texas behind caught up with me and I slept for about 6 hours in the car. Thank you everyone for praying that the drive would go smoothly. Resting more than half the trip made the whole drive easier for mom...

We arrived in Kansas City and stayed at Aunt Markie's and Uncle David's (perhaps mom can get them on the blog bandwagon). My cousin Chanie joyfully gave up her room for me and we were there for the weekend...

We spent our first night in our new home on Sunday. My bed was made and everything. Mom and dad definitely got the short end of the deal here. I'm unpacked and they're living out of suitcases and boxes. (This is still the case a week or so later, but it's getting better.)...

We've had lots of visitors and helpers since we've been here. Nana and Grandad were here the weekend we moved and this past weekend to help. (Thanks so much, you have both been such a blessing!) Nonni and Papa arrive this week to help out some more...

The weather is different and I'm trying to get used to it. But man, it sure feels cold in the morning when mom takes me for a jog. I think we need to invest in some mittens already, or go later in the day. Yes, that's right, I got a new stroller, well actually it's for mom and I love it. Dad also got me my very own house warming present, the Leap Frog Learn N' Groove Table, it was my favorite at Aunt Ruth's, Mrs. Pavy's, and Mrs. Parker's and now I have one all my own. Thanks Dad!

Well, this is it for now. Mom and I will catch you up on all of the happenings with pictures later this week, hopefully. That of course is counting on the fact that Mom and Nonni don't get lost in the box maze in the garage.

Crawling, for Real

The Highchair

These pictures make you travel back in time to when the entire highchair was made from wood. Don't worry, you're not looking at a baby picture taken in the late 70's. You're actually looking at me sitting in my mom's highchair. Yes, for all those who are aghast that mom would reuse such a critical piece, it is safe. (Although mom did say she would update the harness. The old metal clip has seen better days and the safety pin to adjust the length of the strap between my legs is a little suspect. But hey, it works.)

I do have to get used to the whole tray thing and not being able to freely look every which way whilst eating. A good thing for mom while she's spooning in the food, a little upsetting for me in the beginning (I definitely like my freedom). I did figure out one thing though, the little balls that are on my backrest are good head scratchers. Mom laughed pretty hard as I kept rubbing my head on these.

I've enjoyed three meals here so far. The second being the most enjoyable for me and the most trying for mom. It was great fun to smear food all over the tray. (Mom accidentally dropped a spoonful of apples, apricots, and oatmeal and I went to town.) Surprisingly enough, mom was a good sport and gave me even more food to play with when I had finished eating. According to her, I was "exploring texture." Of course, this resulted in an immediate bath afterwards.

Mastering a Skill

Mom and dad never thought it would happen so quickly, but I am repeating the skill of standing up throughout the day. Mom got some better pictures of this for everyone! It's causing a little trouble though, they're constantly moving me away from what I want (standing at the coffee table). Is it the finger prints on the glass mom, or are you really looking out for my best interest?

Mom didn't quite get to the camera fast enough so she missed the first step...me reaching, really hard, for the spinning wheel that I'm holding onto here.




My legs are a little wobbly here, but I've figured out how to hold on to something tight and increase my stance to improve balance.














Check me out...standing on my own two feet. This new found independence of mine has been hard for mom. I think I saw a tear yesterday all because I'm so grown up! I don't know what will happen to her when I talk or walk!

Waving Hi!

This new trick actually doubles as two since I can also wave bye in the same manner. I've been successfully waving at everyone for about the last week. Most of the time on cue from mom or dad. Who knew that my accomplishment would result in waving about a 100 times a day. It never ceases to amaze mom and dad, so they continually ask me to do it. I better learn some new tricks now to put some variety or spice into their life. If you look closely at this picture, you can see I'm trying to learn how to snap while waving. I love it when mom and dad snap their fingers and I try continously to recreate that noise.

A Little Help Here Please!

What a surprise mom had this afternoon when she came in to get me from my nap. There I was looking at her, almost right in the eye. I was standing up in my crib! Wow, how did that happen, she wondered. Well, I just pulled up a little on my bumper pads, got stable, and then reached high for the edge of the crib. Low and behold, those legs I have do more than just crawl...they help me standup as well!

Watch out mom, walking may not be far behind!

Playing by Myself

I am now truly sitting up on my own. No hands behind me waiting to catch me if I fall, no pillows surrounding my possible landing zones. Just me, myself, and my toys. Sitting up gives me a whole new view of the world and also has given mom some high expectations. Like the fact that I should play by myself for a little while. I guess I should have expected this when I combined reaching for my toys, crawling to get to them, and sitting up.

I am getting so big, and talented. If you look closely at the pictures you can see that my hair is now growing over my ears. (Mom is now constantly trying to tuck it behind them, but it needs to do a lot of growing before she's permanently successful.) I am now waving hi when someone asks me to "Say hi." And, I'm just learning how to show everyone that I am a big girl, as shown in the picture below. When mom says "Big girl" I raise my arms really high! I also do this when I hear her say "Up." It's slightly confusing.

Big Longhorn!

Mom's not quite sure...is it a cow, is it a steer, or is it just a big ol' longhorn? Just in case your curious, it's not a real one. It's a big, bronze statue by the park that mom and I go to. I thought it was pretty cool to see the longhorn up close and personal. Maybe one day I'll be a Longhorn at UT. Then again, I could be an A&M Aggie, a Mizzou Tiger, a Michigan State Spartan, or I could be like my dad and be lots of things (an Indiana Hoosier, a Fighting Illini, and a GMI Bulldog).