Well, that was fast!

So Jennie-the-Wonder-Baby started crawling on Friday. Then, two days after that she decided to drop the pushing off her foot because she could go faster in two knees (see 9/25 "Jennie is on the move!" post). By Tuesday, she figured out how to get on both her feet, grabbing onto low objects.

Then, just yesterday, when Owen and I went into her room to say hello after she woke up from a nap, she decided to pull herself all the way up in her crib!

So, WOW! This progression from a baby who I could leave sitting on the floor while I took a bathroom break to the lean, mean mobile machine has moved along a bit faster than I expected. I mean, I have always known that Jennie was genius baby. Before being a stay-at-home mom, I was a math teacher and track and field coach - so I recognized her talents early on and obviously enrolled her in Calculus for Babies and secured her a try out for the USA national track team. But this... this is amazing! I am no expert in baby development, but clearly she is gifted (from an obviously unbiased, proud, mommy's opinion). Now, if only my wonder baby could figure out how to get back down so that nap time isn't a 45 minute game of up and down...

If your heading to Vegas, let me know what the over-under is for when she'll be walking. My guess is next week. ;)

Fall Festivities

It is my husband Justin's birthday today, and so as a little celebration, we went out apple picking yesterday. The weather was perfectly fall like - which was a huge relief considering our original plan was to go on Saturday. But seriously, who really wants to apple pick when its 85 and humid outside? Sunday was definitely the better day, and apparently Jennie + nice weather + apples + vineyard at the orchard equals a big draw because not only did the three of us go, but lots of extended family too! Some of Jennie's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all came along. 

It was a great group, and we had lots of fun getting apples, buying wine, and enjoying the outdoors. However, it must be said that apple picking is probably the biggest rip-off ever! It's a great fall family activity, but the cost is a bit ridiculous.  Sure, compared to other family activities that we eventually will be forking over money for (I am thinking torturous things like the circus, Disney World, and Wiggles Concerts), apple picking isn't so expensive. But I could have bought those apples for about one tenth the cost at the grocery store... oh well, its all about the event, right? Jennie had a good time, and so did we.

As you can see, Jennie loved apples! We bit off sections, and she sucked on the flesh. It was very cute. Every time she dropped it, she would look all around for the apple. Then, Justin or I would grab it off the ground, wipe off any bits of nature that landed on it, and hand it back to her (shhhhhh) - no need to waste! Its so much easier to be laid back about those kinds of things. Besides, give her another few weeks and she'll be eating piles of dirt on her own anyways, right? Since the weather will be getting colder as Jennie becomes more mobile, she will probably start by eating the dust bunnies she finds in the corners of each room in my apartment. I can't seem to keep up with them and I am willing to bet that Jennie will be GREAT at finding them. 

After apple picking, we went out to dinner. It was Jennie's first time sitting at the table at a restaurant. In the past, she was so little that she just chilled in her car seat (we keep asking her to stop growing so fast, but she isn't listening - the first of many things she will not do that we ask her to!). But this time, she was in a high chair throwing Cheerios and peas all over the place while simultaneously grabbing for menus, reaching for forks, drinking from her cup, and entertaining the whole family with her antics. I think that kids are born with multi-tasking abilities these days. It must be part of evolution...

All in all it was a great day, and the first of many fall festivities that we will do as a family in the years to come!

Jennie is on the move!

Jennie, my 9 month-old baby girl, has just started to crawl. She is going slow, but boy oh boy she is going! She is working the crawl with two hands, one foot, and a knee (pushing off on the foot - see below).

People have been telling me that "life as I know it will never be the same." While I know this means I will be chasing her around now, and using the word "NO" a lot more often, I am not sure how much I really knew about my current life anyways! It is changing so much all the time that I never really feel like I am keeping up. I mean, forget even thinking about the pre-baby life (did that ever really exist? It doesn't seem like it). Being home with Jennie is amazing for lots of reasons, but the number one is that I don't miss a thing. Nothing beats getting to see all the little changes in her every day. I have been able to witness her gradual progression towards mobility - everything from her barrel rolling around the floor, to sitting herself up, to scootching on her belly, and rocking on all fours in frustration. And now, after weeks of preparation, off she goes! I can't wait to see her get better at it and be able to chase around her cousin, Owen, who is a very adept crawler. So yes, life will never be the same - but I don't want it to be!

Owen (4 weeks older than Jennie) comes over to play with Jennie and I four days a week while his mom is at work. The two babies playing together and interacting is so adorable! Some people said I was crazy for watching another baby - but it really isn't so hard. They play together, entertain each other, and both take two naps a day (probably the biggest contributor to my belief that its not so hard...). They even make up "games" to play with each other. Just last week, Owen found great amusement in crawling in circles around Jennie on the kitchen floor. He just went around, and around, and around... they tackled each other occasionally, and had a great time. He better watch out though... Jennie might be crawling circles around him come Tuesday!